Hello dear readers, I am going to start with my current obsession. The Haikyuu fandom is in an uproar again with anime fourth season approaching soon. Yes, we are ready. Haikyuu fans have been eagerly waiting for the national championship arc. However, in the manga there is still a training camp arc in between both which is equally important. This article contains manga spoilers so read on if you don’t mind them. I tried to take into account all the existing fan theories and opinions. Leave comments and your thoughts about who do you think would win the nationals.

Who will win the nationals?

If we treat the matches as an uphill climb it will mostly be Itachiyama but fan favorite to win right now is Bokuto. Currently as the captain of a powerhouse team Fukurodani, Bokuto Koutarou is optimistic and stronger than he looks (mentally too… see new manga chapters.) Fans of the anime have seen the training camp arc and met the Akaashi- Bokuto duo which is hands down one of the favorite setter-spiker pairing there is. (Okay, sit down Kageyama and Hinata. You too, Iwaizumi and Oikawa. Yes, we love you too)

Coming back the manga (spoiler alert: you have been warned.) Karasuno has beaten the Miya brothers the championship favorites of the year. The Legendary Battle at the Trash Heap/ Clash of the Ages has already taken place. My god that was one beautiful match… anyway… things have happened, and we are currently battling a little giant Hoshiumi Kourai (another amazing player…. That takes the list of Haikyuu players I currently like to: ALL)

We know that Furudate, the mangaka of Haikyuu is known to stick to realistic scenarios and judgement. (Looking at you Kuroko. Never mind that… I enjoyed Kuroko no Basket a lot too. If you guys want me to ramble about KnB then please let me know in the comments. PS: I absolutely love comments.)

So realistically we know that Karasuno is strong. But are they strong enough to win the nationals? I mean Hinata is only a first year and although the team is amazing with the third years being good players and cementing the team. But are they exceptional?

 We know the strongest teams at nationals are Itachiyama and Fukurodani. Kiryuu the third ranked ace being already beaten by Bokuto. Bokuto seems to be moving forward at a steady pace towards the win. But Karasuno is one team that I think might be beaten by Fukurodani. It is so much better to be beaten by those who taught you, players who you love and support. I mean the one reason Nekoma vs Karasuno was so thrilling was because they went at it like old friends… it was truly memorable.

Meanwhile coming back to the reasons, I think Karasuno won’t win is because they aren’t strong enough yet. The current theories say they will win the nationals next year. When Hinata is in his second year. We would still have libero Nishinoya ‘the guardian deity’ and ace in the making Tanaka. We might see additions to the team with interesting first years and we already know Ennoshita is all set to take over the captain duties. (No one can replace Daichi. One of my most favorite characters in Haikyuu that I just might write an article for him.)

Keep in mind that reasoning for this is based on a solid foreshadowing:

• Why Karasuno will win against Kamomedai but not move beyond Semi- finals:

The Karasuno third years’ goal was to step on the national stage, and they are currently playing quarterfinals against Kamomedai full center court. So, I’m afraid that’s the end of the road for them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost the match against Kamomedai’s Hoshiumi.

But it would make better sense if they get beaten by Bokuto or Itachiyama in the semi finals. If they face Itachiyama in semi finals and lose it would serve as an introduction to just how powerful Itachiyama is and set the goal for next year. If they lost to Bokuto it would be a bitter sweet read.

The reason they won’t lose to Kamomedai and advance to the semi finals is simple: The Kamomedai match is personal for Hinata because he’s battling against someone like him but far more skilled and a year higher than him. Hoshiumi is another little giant ace of his team with skills and game sense that on the surface surpasses Hinata currently. With the real Little Giant on the scene (yes!! He showed up after years of waiting. Tenma Udai is a cinnamon roll very similar to Hinata. He is soft but we all know he was once scary enough to shock big sister Saeko.)  watching the match between two current little giants. I think Hinata would do well to take his place as Karasuno’s Number 10 Little Giant 2.0

In fact, what makes me so sure is in passing Tenma supports Hinata with “Do your best new Little Giant!” I mean why would you need anything more to confirm the passing of a legacy.

 Hinata and Kageyama have said things like they want to beat everyone but that’s a personal motto. Rather it would be better to say that they enjoy going against stronger opponents. But even if they lose now, they made it far. They made it far enough in their first national championship and though it would absolutely break my heart to say goodbye to the third years. It’s rewarding that their hard work paid off in the fact that they made it. Karasuno is practically a powerhouse again. I still maintain that they beat Kamomedai and go to the semi-finals to get beaten by Bokuto or in worst case Itachiyama.

• Bokuto’s goal is to “play them all, beat them all.” But Itachiyama feels like a champion.

First, Bokuto Koutarou is an Ace Hinata looks up to. Very much. The cover of chapter 327 Volleyball Bugs features Hinata and Bokuto in identical poses with tiny Hinata almost copying Bokuto’s stance. The way Bokuto is presented in chapter 331 The Ace’s Awakening, the one match where Akaashi loses his trademark cool and is benched. The way Bokuto steps up to the situation of facing an ace ranked higher than himself. Everything about the Muzinazaka match arc is inspiring and touching. Akaashi- Bokuto backstory and their struggles. Their hard work and dedication are portrayed in a manner that makes you root for them to be champions and make true Bokuto’s declaration of “save ‘em all, score ‘em all and win it all!”

 In the manga, Bokuto and Hinata have a Master-Disciple relationship. You know what they say…. a master has failed more times than the novice has tried. I mean considering Hinata we all know he’s skilled and talented and athletic. He’s set to be the point scorer in the team but when it comes to experience, he loses to Bokuto.

Bokuto has been to nationals and has beaten powerful teams before. He is among the nation’s top five aces and it shows. He just beat Kiryuu of Muzinazaka the number three ace solidifying his own stand among the national champions. The only one left is Itachiyama. As of now Itachiyama’s Sakusa remains nation’s top ace and his team unbeaten champions.

We know nothing much about the team. I would wager that Bokuto might beat Itachiyama. But honestly? Itachiyama gives me the feel of the Final Boss. So, my guess would be it would be a show down between Bokuto and Sakusa but with Sakusa coming out on top. And Fukurodani being second. And the next year at nationals Hinata would go and soundly beat Itachiyama in his master’s stead. (I will cry.)

There’s a small possibility that Bokuto might “win it all” but the feel Itachiyama has given everyone in the manga is that they are an unknown factor at the very top of the chain. They are the favorites to win the championship.  If our luck runs out Karasuno may face Itachiyama in the semi-finals and get beaten but I’d rather they lose to Bokuto.

(I don’t own any of the images or theories. This article is purely personal opinion)