there’s something fascinating about atsumu and oikawa, two of the top setters in the nation with an insatiable thirst for volleyball and victory, having such diametrically opposing views about leaving home (atsumu staying an hour from his hometown, oikawa moving across the world)

i feel like atsumu's the type to lay down roots and stubbornly cling to them, constantly pushing himself forward but staying close to what he knows. oikawa feels much more transient, able to adapt wherever he goes, even going as far as changing his nationality.

and i think it's //especially// fascinating how, even if this was unintentional, this attitude towards home is reflected in their playing styles: atsumu expects everyone to meet him at his level, so of course he's the one with established roots and comfort in his environment;

oikawa brings out the best of anyone he plays on a team with, so of course he's able to build a home halfway across the world and make it a permanent one

ok i have a break from work time to brain rot

we all know that oikawa is the only one who's fully willing to change everything about himself for volleyball, for whatever his team //needs//, to become whatever the world needs from him to be the best, and that attitude contrasts SO sharply with atsumu's "take me as i am"

oikawa's entire character arc brings me to tears but comparing it with atsumu's drives it home even more — oikawa leaves japan to improve, arguably to avoid having to go head-to-head with kageyama constantly for the spot of starting setter in the olympics, but atsumu stays.

atsumu's need for home and stability seems to overpower his drive to always, //always// be the best, and he's willing to share the olympics spotlight with kageyama — oikawa is the opposite. it's fascinating.

and i honestly wonder how much of it comes from osamu and a need to stay close to him, even if osamu isn't playing professionally (maybe //especially// because he isn't playing professionally). signing on to a division 1 team a heartbeat away from his hometown is just wild