Haikyu!!, Vol. 16: Ex-Quitter's Battle

ハイキュー!! [Haikyū!!] #16

by Haruichi Furudate

It’s Karasuno vs. Aoba Johsai for the Spring Tournament qualifier semifinals, and Aoba Johsai has the momentum at the end of the second set. Yamaguchi is sent out as a pinch server to turn the game around. Can he overcome the painful memories of his past failures and close out the set for Karasuno?!

Genres: Manga, Sports, Shonen, Comics, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Haruichi Furudate ( 古舘春一) is a Japanese author of manga. He is best known for creating the series Haikyū!!.

Reviews

[literarylesbian · Rating 5 out of 5]

this makes me miss playing competitive sports 🥲

[siera 🪷! (mitsuki’s vers.)]

I LOVE WHEN THE ‘forgotten’ CHARACTERS GET THE SPOTLIGHT!!! TADASHI MY MAN GET IT WE LOVE YOU. 💚💚💚💚

[MaguiWorld · Rating 5 out of 5]

No sé cómo es que logra el mangaka semejante tensión. Me encantaría seguir leyendo pero tengo cosas que hacer y sufro 😭😭 realmente es una historia muy bien hecha y no solo habla sobre voley. Es muy completo.

Vamos Hinata!! Vamos Yamaguchi 💖 (en realidad, vamos todos jajaja)

[Martu (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Dear Lord, I'm dying.
Send help.

I want my tombstone to say "She died while reading manga".

[hannah⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

stressing even tho I already know what happens

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/yfu9m4KfAZg

There is something so completely satisfying reading a manga of an anime you loved and being so caught up in it, even though you've seen what happens next…

This volume was everything! I wouldn't say it's "my favorite," but it had my heart pumping this whole way through. In fact, I had to put it down because I just needed to catch my breath. Yet, I didn't want to stop reading because my heart was pumping! I have not experienced this on this kind of level before!

Truly, this volume has been incredible! I LOVEEEEEED seeing Yamguchi shine and seeing how far this young man has come! As The Great King said, he truly is not the scaredy cat he was at Inter High.

I LOVED how Hinata was able to tell Kageyama that "As long as you've got me, you're the greatest!" Doesn't that sound like what a certain someone told Hinata way back in earlier volumes? ;) Love it!

Seeing Tanaka be Tanaka made me happy! And made me laugh! LOL!

Also, I know I've said it before, but I'm saying it again. Furudate is amazing in writing character growth! I didn't super like Mad Dog in the previous volume and wouldn't say he's a favorite character by any means, but his growth was awesome. The storytelling Furudate shows is absolutely amazing!

I THINK I'm ready for the next volume! So much is on edge here...

[Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

روابط اویکاوا با بقیه‌ی اعضای تیمش. مخصوصاً ایوایزومی
سرویس‌هایی که می‌زنه
جوری که همه‌ی تلاششو می‌کنه
T__T

این تیکه‌ی بعدی مال والیوم بعدیه، ولی مال اولشه و ممکنه یادم بره بنویسمش.
اون پاسی که اویکاوا از اون سر زمین میده، اون انشگت اشاره‌ای که به سمت ایوا-چان می‌گیره. آخ. اویکاوا قلبمو به درد میاره. ):

[Althea ☾]

This counts as my review for the whole Haikyuu!! manga

”You don’t win alone.
That’s just how it is.”

READ FOR: best character developments and themes that I have ever encountered
READING LEVEL: Level 1-3 out of 5

*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless stated otherwise*

I don’t think I’ll ever have enough words to express how much I love this manga and anime series but I’ll try anyway. But I just need to make it known that this has changed my view in anime and manga forever. I caught up with this manga in the last 30 or so chapters but I won’t say much to avoid spoilers... but it was crazy.

It made me laugh, cry, fall in love, think, and honestly... what else do you need in a series? I can keep going on and on about this series but honestly I think you should just read it for yourself. I really don't think you'll regret it.

When someone asks me what the plot is, honestly, all I can say is “they play volleyball” HAHAHA… but it’s so much more than that.



PLOT: ★★★★★
The plot was so well thought of from the very beginning and when I re-read the manga I can’t believe the amount of foreshadowing Furudate actually placed. My mind was so blown… I just. No words. I am seriously in love.

ART STYLE: ★★★★★
The art style… *chef’s kiss* especially in the later arcs. There were so many matches but even then Furudate never failed to leave me breathless at each one.



CHARACTERS: ★★★★★
The character development here is THE BEST. HANDS DOWN. that I have ever come across. I fell in love with the so many characters in this series that I did not even think that was possible.

The character relationships... the character dynamics... their mindsets... they are all so perfectly well done and realistic GAHHHH I've said this so many time throughout this review BUT THEY JUST MADE ME FALL IN LOVE SO EASILY. I can't pick my favourite one but hinata and kageyama just hold a special place in my heart.

This connects to the themes but my favourite thing that was done with the characters here was that each one of them embodied a theme or a message that the author wanted to get across. Those are spoilers so I won’t really talk about it but just know that it was one of the main reasons that made me go so crazy about this series.

*cough* hinata kageyama atsumu sakusa bokuto kita noya ushijima tendou tsukki suga kenma kuroo *cough* +++

Note: if you think this series is focused on only 1 team... you're in it for A RIDEEEEEE


I'm getting chills just looking at and remembering these panels ^^

THEMES: ★★★★★
Honestly I basically thought the themes were just gonna be “teamwork” and “friendship”… while it is all that, Furudate sensei was able to make it even deeper.

I think the one that was focused on the most was “It’s not always about winning, it’s about growth”. But there were also so many smaller things that lead up to that bigger point: (1) we get our strength from others, (2) but you also need to make yourself dependable, (3) there is always room for improvement, (4) working hard is good but overworking yourself isn’t, (5) you are built on the small things you do everyday, (6) an ace's back should be an inspiration to your teammates (hi bokuto), (7)+++

The way I wrote it was very straight to the point but I was amazed at how Furudate tackled the so many messages that I received from this series.



PACING: ★★★★★
THE TIMING. OF EVERYTHING. JUST MAKES SENSE.

It’s so realistic that I want to cry. (I actually already did… a lot of times.)



PAGE TURNER: ★★★★★

You should understand that I made this review weeks after I finally calmed down about this series cuz I was really going crazy about it HAHAHA if you have finished this series too or met me while I was reading this, you know what I’m talking about ;)

I'll keep this series close to my heart until the grave. You cannot convince me otherwise.

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yamaguchi finally faces his fears and gets his turn shine when he's subbed in as a pinch server late in the set against Aoba Johsai. Previously, Yamaguchi had played it safe, making sure his serves didn't fly out but now he gives it his all! But will it be enough against the monster serves of Oikawa?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Aoba Johsai and Karasuno match is well under way. The end of an intense 2nd set forces Ukai to put his faith in Yamaguchi and his jump float serve (which, if you remember, didn’t go so well for him last time that happened).

Yamaguchi gets a really great little redemption arc in this volume which was great. As much as I love Karasuno, Furudate makes me not hate Aoba either - I don’t WANT them to win, but I also don’t want them to lose!? Ugh, I love these characters.

Also, Iwazumi and Oikawa are easily one of my favourite duos in this series.

[Alessio · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐

Un volume dove si assiste ad una partita spettacolare con molti colpi di scena ed azioni fantastiche. Voglio leggere subito il seguito per scoprire come si conclude la partita. DEVO LEGGERLO ORA!!!

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐

Great job ✨✨

[jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

lol i skipped some but imma give it 4 stars just for that bonus story

-babie yams on the coverrrr
-aaaaaaaaaaa ennoshita and suga holding noya and hinata back hahaha
-yachi and saeko in the stands uwu
-NOT OIKAWA'S FANGIRLS CHEERING FOR YAMS
-YAMS SMILED PLIS HAIKYUU SMILES ARE THE BEST

-bokuto: my serve is the greatest!
akaashi: if its in

-CH 140 THE END GOT ME I AM DRAWING THAT RN BRB
okay did that i am back hehe

-hinata: AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT ME, YOU'RE THE GREATEST!
everyone:...
iwa: okay now THAT was a cool one liner.
oikawa: you got that right
kags: what was that, sir gets-bumped-a-lot?
hinata: HEY!
tanaka: gotta love that totally baseless confidence!
...iwa chan: i wanna use that line someday.
oiks: just when would you use that?

PLEASE THAT BONUS STORY IS GETTING ME
matsunn: yo, hanger head! server up!
some random girls(1): hey, like, did uk the captain of the volleyball team is actually named hanger san?
2: wow, is he like half-foreign or smth? thats so cool! [YO MIYA TWINS WHO]
3: ooh, i totes know him! you are talking about Toruu hanger senapi!
oikawa, in the bg: o o
oikawa: wow, i can pass for half foreign? thats amazing!
makki WHO LOOKS LIKE A RAT LOL: tooru hanger pppppppppppppppffffffffffft
iwa: whats amazing is your level of positive thinking
[plis i've been laughing at this for the past 5 mins help]

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine addition to the series, even if the focus is first on a player on the opposing team and then on a substitute server on our hero's team. Just don't expect the semifinal round to be finished by the end of the book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm STRESSED

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol. 11 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 12 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 13 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 14 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 15 ★★★☆☆

Again, not a big fan of this Aoba Johsai match. I tend to be more receptive of a character after learning more about them, but Kyotani's arc does feel like rehash of Kageyama's, in which he learns the importance of teamwork. However, I am proud of Yamaguchi for redeeming himself.

[M Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHH YESSS MY BABY YAMAGUCHI 🤩🤩🤩

AND YAHABA BEING ALL STUPENDOUS AND NO-NONSENSE AND GIVING KYŌTANI WHAT FOR

And aaaahhh it's almost the end of this game and I don't have the next volumes on hand 😢

P.S. Kindaichi Yutarō = Most Adorable Yet Underrated Character in Haikyuu

[Chloe ⋆·˚ ༘ * · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As long as you’ve got me, you’re the greatest!”

4.5 stars - Yamaguchi’s development was excellent! And obviously the repeated Kagehina line, this time with Hinata saying it to Kageyama. Karasuno’s second game with Aoba Johsai is definitely one of my favourites

[monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY STRESS LEVELS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 cevrildikten bir ay sonra 16 çevrilip Kitapyurdu'na gelir, sipariş veririm, bir buçuk hafta sonra nihayet kapıma ulaşır, kitabı elime alır ve kırk dakikada bitirdikten sonra "Mangasını internetten değil de elime alıp okuyunca farklı oluyor bee" şeklinde nostalji yaşarım. Kitap biter bitmez "Yenisi ne zaman gelecek?" havalarına girerim falan. Gerekli Seyler'den nefret ediyorum. GEREKİRSE WEB SİTELERİNDEN FALAN ÇALIN ÇEVİRİYİ AMA BASIN O KİTABI!

[bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

yamaguchi’s character development during this match>>>>>

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can't explain how much i cried reading this. yamaguchi absolutely nailed it! his progress is incredible. so happy to see characters growing so much!

[Kulwinder Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚! 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙗 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙜𝙤, 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙝!"

Despite Tadashi Yamaguchi's fired up performance, Bluecastle still managed to snatch the second set. He certainly has come a long way since Inter-High. We're in the end game now and the pressure is off-the-charts!

[t.h. · Rating 5 out of 5]

okokokok

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

te amo Yamaguchi

[tosiap · Rating 4 out of 5]

„AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT ME, YOU'RE THE GREATEST!” 🥹❤️‍🩹😭❤️‍🩹

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Val_99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As long as I’m here, you’ll be the strongest!”
Perdonadme mientras lloro

Y también: ¡¡¡¡SEIJOH!!!!! OIKAWA <333

[tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO NERVOUS BC I KNOW WHO WINS... THIS IS A BIT MADDENING

[Ivona · Rating 5 out of 5]

How come I’ve never heard about the hanger bonus story? Incredible. xD