For so long, Oikawa viewed Kageyama and Ushijima as threats, things to be feared. To lose to those you are threatened by is to fail on a deeply personal level. It is to look within and find yourself wanting. It is to see only your flaws and insecurities. https://twitter.com/kayarin_/status/1302692641138642944

But after this match, perhaps because of his conversation with José Blanco, perhaps because of his own growth and maturity, Oikawa’s mindset changed. His rivals became, not threats, but challenges. Challenges can be faced head-on, challenges can be overcome.

A loss becomes no longer a failure but a chance to learn and grow. And, as Kayarin said, these defeats can be handled with dignity more than with despair. The Oikawa who loses the second Seijoh match is slowly but surely learning to have faith in himself and is becoming aware +

of his personal value. He was able to stand firm, stay strong enough to help support his team (especially Iwaizumi) cope with this loss, and look both Kageyama and Ushijima straight in the eye. They were his rivals and his challengers now, not threats to his self-worth.

In the face of defeat, Tooru held his head high. He was no longer the small, insecure child cowering under the glare of Ushijima, but a great king standing face-to-face with an adversary who was now his equal.

And because of this, because he was no longer trapped and shackled by his own insecurities, he was able to stand firm as Seijoh’s ruler and help lift up his team when they needed him. He was able to set aside his self-doubt and care for those around him more than ever before.

And when he thanked his team for the last three years, when he finally allowed them to see his true self, it wasn’t stemming from self-loathing or fear or uncertainty, but from a place of deep and unconditional love and gratitude. He knew that they had always been there.

They had been there through the ups and downs, triumphs and despair, they had seen his lowest points and his moments of victories and never once left his side. And so he faced this final defeat with grace, faced his rivals with dignity, acted as the captain he has always been +

put aside the facade he had so carefully built for himself, discarded any concern about appearing weak and to them, to Seijoh, to his team and his family, said thank you. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for loving me unconditionally

and without question. Thank you for never once doubting me. As hard as it was, as much as we never made it to nationals, as much as we struggled...thank you. Thank you for the last three years.