#happy birthday oikawa!

[giustoart]

Happy B-Day Oikawa Tooru

[miyasstan]

This Oikawa manga panel has my heart and soul, because his petty pride is truly fantastic, even though we knew him as a monster setter, he never went to nationals so leaving his country as an unknown player to pursue his own path and coming back with a team who realizes his potential, he took everyone by a storm and this is what I live for. ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING ENDINGS IN THE HISTORY, FURUDATE I LOVE YOU FOR GIVING US OIKAWA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREAT KING <3

(I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM 😭)

[marimondart]

Talent is something you make bloom; Instinct is something you polish

At 30, have you finally had your talent bloom, Oikawa Tooru— Great King?

[eurydicees]

do you ever think about how oikawa shares a birthday with alexander the great and iwaizumi’s birthday is the day alexander the great died or are you, like. normal

[courtesanofdeath]

oikawa tōru ♛

[dark-night-hero]

Imagine birthdays being quite an uneventful for you. Sure you love celebrating birthdays when it comes to your dearest friends but it was just that your own birthday was never your thing and probably would never be. It was just the same old day and the more that you get older, the less exciting it has become. It makes you wonder when did you started getting unexcited about it, just treating it like any other day.

Imagine today just happened to be that day, the day that you were born, one you did not ask to- but sure, happy birthday self, you thought as you close the door behind you. Taking a quick shower after work and changing into your comfortable clothes, a piece of tower hanging on your shoulder as you grab a couple cans of beer in the refrigerator before going inside your room.

Imagine, birthdays were troublesome. Specially when you have no plans to joyfully celebrate it but as you walk on the balcony of your room, stepping out only to be greeted by a cold breeze as you step out causing you to rub your arm with your free hand as a small smile creeps into your face. You then gently place the can of beers into the small coffee table on the balcony before sitting down on the chair beside it before looking beyond the horizon. "This is nice."

Imagine looking at the sunset as it disappears from the horizon. Its colors reflecting all over the city and its skyscraper as you stare at it in awe. You have not seen such scene once in a while. Making you wonder when was theblast time you have seen such thing. Makes you wonder when did you ever stop to look at the sky to see such wonderful scene. It happeneds every day yet it feels like you rately have seen it. Growing up means losing time, the more you focus on something else the more you seemed to have forgotten the little things. Maybe it was not so bad to take a break once in a while. Just like today.

Imagine finishing your beers as time by, the sun have already set in the horizon as the sky darkens and the stars start to appear as well as the moon, giving light into the city night. It was almost time for you to get up and take a break when you heard someone humming, taking on your way from the inside as you slightly panicked. Until you heard a familiar voice coming from the inside.

"Happy birthday to you..." your jaw almost dropped as you could not help but to look at him with wide eyes. He was not supposed to be in here. "Happy birthday to you..." Yet there he was cake in hand, candles lit up waiting for you to blow it with a wish- if the breeze would not beat you into doing so. "Happy birthday dear (First name)..." He then looks at you with a cheeky smile on his lips. "Happy birthday to you." He finishes, kneeling in front of you with cake in hand within your reach.

Imagine the way you blink, look down in the cake with a melting candle before you blink again, then you make a wish, blow the candle before poking and scooping a little bit on your finger and tasting it. This time he was the one looking at you with wide eyes. "You're not surprised?" He asked, slightly offended that his plan did not seem to surprised you at all but you do. You did not expect him to barge into your apartment and make such last minute appearance. And then you chuckle which eventually turn into full blown laughter.

"I am." You giggle, brushing off some tears on your eyes before cupping his cheeks. "Thank you very much love." You said affectionately which almost made him drop the cake he was holding nevertheless was about to put it into the coffee table before anything else. "I mean it, really." In the eyes of others it may not be that obvious, but the way his eyes brighten upon hearing your word. Maybe spending your birthday with someone would not be so bad as you thought it would be or maybe because it was him that you would not mind celebrating yor birthday for once in a while.

[ⓒdark-night-hero] 2024°

: happy birthday to my broke-ass self yay! Thank God it's my way off. Anyways, adios.

[iizuumi]

IT'S MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY 💙💙

[kiiyovee]

good thing i finished it just in time for my bday lol :))

was supposed to upload this a week ago, but i had internet issues...

trying a new art style!! also #4— iykyk ;)

[seiwas]

₊˚⊹｡ 20/20 | oikawa tooru

wc: 931 summary: oikawa finally gets around to doing lasik.  contains: mentions of lasik eye procedure, lots of cheesiness, too sweet!! there are ants!!, vague mentions of ldr in case that’s triggering for anyone! could be read as gn! a/n: super belated birthday post for our july 20 birthday boy! i hc that oikawa’s eyesight is bad and gets worse as he gets older -> why he needs to get lasik done!! i love him!! he’s a big baby!! also inspired by one of the prompts from @/nightprompts's list of prompts here.

comments, tags, and reblogs are greatly appreciated ♡

Oikawa finally gets his Lasik procedure done during one of his off seasons. 

Thank god, because you honestly think it’s been a long time coming. His eyesight from high school has only gotten progressively worse since going pro—contacts drying his eyes out the longer and more intensely he plays. 

There’s a sigh, then, “Wooow,” Oikawa squints, scrunching his nose to form (those cute) little creases near the corners of his eyes. You look at him, concerned, worried that the light is too much for him post-op. “I really can’t see, baby.” 

You’re about to reach for the cap tucked in your bag before he stops you by the wrist, continuing, “You’re blinding me with your pretty.” There’s that (damned) smirk on his face when he says it too—like he’s been preparing for this moment since he finally agreed to getting Lasik. 

Honestly, you wouldn’t be surprised if this was the exact reason he finally did decide on pushing through with the procedure.

You remove his fingers from your wrist and hold his hand gently, rolling your eyes as you lead him down the steps of the eye clinic. The corners of your lips curve up, a familiar warmth blooming in your chest. You should be immune to him by now, but your body seems to have a reflex that reacts every time Oikawa tries to make you blush.

He raises a hand to shade his eyes, blinking a few times before fully opening them slowly. And what a sight it is: you, looking up at him from the last step of the stairs, trying hard to hide the smile he knows he’s responsible for. 

“Baby, stop smiling so brightly. I still have light sensitivity.” 

You laugh, the sweetest sound he’s ever heard. He hops down the last step and lands right beside you. 

“How long have you been waiting to use those?” you tug at his hand for him to lean down little, placing the cap you’d fished out from your bag on top of his messy brown hair. 

“As if you don’t like it, meanie.” Oikawa pouts, and his lips jut out ever so slightly to expose light pink. 

You smile even wider, shaking your head as you readjust his cap to settle amidst wavy hair. Your fingers trail down to play with the tips of his ears as they coax him lower for you to land a small peck at the tip of his nose. 

“M’sorry. I like it, Tooru, but I think we should set another doctor’s appointment.” your eyes meet his as you hold back a giggle. He raises his eyebrow, questioning. “I think you might have caught a serious bug–” you pause for emphasis, “–the love bug.” 

There’s a look of disbelief on his face, brown eyes wide and mouth agape. You burst out laughing. 

“You’re even worse than me! And you call me cheesy?!”

You loop your arm around Oikawa’s as you walk to the car, still laughing as he continues to mumble about how you’re seriously starting to take after him. The walk to the car isn’t too far from the clinic entrance, but it takes you a bit longer considering you’re essentially guiding a 6’ 1” pro-athlete densely packed with muscle straight out of his Lasik procedure. 

When you first heard the real reason why Oikawa evaded the procedure for so long, you thought he was joking.

You thought he’d held it off because he was busy, or that he was afraid of the entire thing (if ‘lasik eye surgery procedure video’ in his search history was anything to go by), but nope. Oikawa’s biggest concern was that he wouldn’t be able to clearly see you. For a day, or maybe two—at least until the aftereffects of light sensitivity disappear. He’d shared it to you so shyly, as if he hasn’t already bared to you the contents of his heart (full of volleyball, and friends, but most especially you). 

And it’s cheesy (which isn’t far off from his usual sweet-talking), but it’s true. 

One of the things Oikawa hates the most is missing moments of you—the in-betweens of breakfasts and skincare by the bathroom sink, those long tangents you go on about a dog you’d seen on the street in the middle of recounting your day. Since getting more free time in his career, Oikawa’s always chosen to spend those few extra hours on you. 

It’s hard enough as is, spending half the year communicating through phone screens. To compromise that because he’d be ‘sensitive to light’ or something was enough of a dealbreaker already. 

So here you were, tending to your big baby of a boyfriend who lives half the world away. You really wanted your trip to be a surprise—after all, lining up your holiday with his off season has only happened one other time despite your many years together. 

But if this was the only way to convince your pro-loverboy that he didn’t have to worry about not being able to see you, because you’d be around him anyway, then so be it. Anything for him. 

.

Once Oikawa settles in the car, he’s knocked out, sleeping by the passenger seat as you drive yourselves back to the apartment.

The next few days find you guiding Oikawa around like a baby learning how to walk. He’s constantly stumbling, picking up things he’s not supposed to, and ‘accidentally’ bumping into you any chance he gets. You know he’s exaggerating, but he wouldn’t be your Tooru if he wasn’t, and you love that about him. Fully. Wholly. 

You wouldn’t have him any other way. 

[getosugurusbangs]

beauty queen on a silver screen.

[iwaoiness]

Every 20th of July since he was fifteen, the first candles Oikawa blows out are embedded in fluffy milk bread. Throughout Kitagawa Daiichi and all of Aoba Johsai, Iwaizumi always managed to prepare this little surprise for him, whether during recess, after or before training, in his room, or in Tooru's room. He would approach Oikawa holding a small cardboard tray of milk bread, shielding the candles with his hand to keep the flames from going out prematurely. He would sing happy birthday to him (sometimes accompanied by the off-key voices of Mattsun and Makki, sometimes alone) and remind him to make a wish. And every year, through snot and tears, Oikawa would scoff at how corny this was (and, of course, Hajime wouldn't waste a second kicking him in the ass).

But he would quickly close his eyes, think of a wish, and blow out the candles with blushing cheeks.

Later, when the distance between them was no longer just the Takahashi house but the vast Pacific Ocean, Hajime continued the tradition, even across the screen, honoring his wish. Every 20th of July, before his morning run, he would prepare the milk bread dough and, by the time he returned, he would bake it just in time for their video call. When Oikawa least expected it, Hajime would place the milk bread rolls in front of the camera with the candles lit.

On his 30th birthday, however, with a few hours left in the day, Oikawa still hasn't made his wish. He has been fidgeting all day since Hajime told him that he won't know if he will be able to connect to the video call because one of the best players on the UCI volleyball team has been seriously injured during training.

Tooru knows he shouldn't be upset about it. He understands that there’s nothing much that can be done, that Hajime is a professional who takes his job seriously, and it’s perfectly normal for him to be focused on his players. But he can't shake the frustration that it all happened on his birthday.

He hates that they’ve only exchanged a few messages. He hates that he hasn’t heard Hajime’s voice for almost an entire day. He hates the distance. He hates that he's spent eleven damn birthdays without Hajime. He hates the damn opposite hitter who can’t train without getting injured.

Oikawa taps his mobile screen twice with his thumb, snorting in irritation when he checks the time. To make matters worse, Santiago had suggested dinner at his favorite restaurant to distract him, but the idiot is already ten fucking minutes late and isn't answering his calls.

“Shit!,” he curses in Japanese, begrudgingly sitting back down on the icy wooden bench where they were supposed to meet. He crosses his arms and scowls in frustration.

And, of course, it’s freezing. Because Argentina is on the other side of the hemisphere, and despite having been here for over a decade, it’s still unusual to celebrate his birthday in a scarf and jacket.

He’s about to get up again, planning to head to the restaurant alone and stuff himself with food—charging it, of course, to Santiago’s account—when he hears footsteps approaching.

“About time, pedazo de pelotud—!” The words die on his tongue as he looks up and doesn’t see Santiago.

His eyes widen in shock, his mouth falls open, and his heart seems to stop.

Hajime is here. In person. Just two steps away, not an ocean apart. As handsome as he was two months ago, dressed in a denim jacket and a thick black sweatshirt with the hood up, just as he always does when he's cold. He wears the dark sweatpants he typically dons for travel.

“Yo” Hajime greets, his smile warm and genuine.

“What…?” Oikawa’s voice emerges faint and quivering. He slowly rises, gripping the bench for support as the tingling in his legs threatens to make him topple over.

That’s when he notices what Iwaizumi is holding in his hand: a small cardboard tray with two milk bread rolls, each one adorned with a candle—one shaped like the number 3 and the other like the number 0. Hajime’s free hand shields the flickering flames from the breeze, preventing them from being switched off, just as he has always done for Tooru.

Tooru’s lips quiver and his eyes well up as he looks up again, meeting Hajime’s gaze. Always so intense, so beautiful, so full of tenderness when look at him.

“I’m two years late, but I finally managed to fulfill your wish.”

Oikawa chuckles softly, sniffling as he wipes away tears from his cheek with the back of his hand.

“So, can I still hope that my wish about Ushiwaka and Tobio-chan will come true?”

“As if” Iwaizumi rolls his eyes in amusement, moving a little closer. “Here, tontito, blow them out before they go out. And make a wish.”

Tooru nods, lowering his gaze to the candles as Hajime withdraws his hand.

He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, ignoring the moisture on his lashes. He wishes for gold at this year's Olympic Games. He wishes for his parents, Takeru and his sister to come and visit him again soon. He wishes to celebrate the new year with Mattsun, Makki and Iwa-chan. Wishes for his grandmothers to stay healthy. Wishes for January to come so he can go to Suga-chan and Daichi's wedding. Wishes to play beach volleyball with Shoyo once more. Wishes that all his teammates continue to do well (even MadDog-chan). Wishes to win the VNL. He wants to keep playing for CA Boca until he retires.

But more than anything else, what he wishes for right now is—

"I wish Iwa-chan would let go of the tray so I can hug him and never let go again," he whispers before lifting his eyelids and blowing out the candles.

In less than three seconds, Iwaizumi places the tray on the bench and pulls Oikawa from his waist into a firm, strong, and tender embrace that feels like home. Tooru wraps his long arms around Hajime's broad shoulders, burying his face in his neck. He is overwhelmed by the familiar touch of Hajime's hands on his waist and back, the fresh scent of his favorite cologne, the comforting weight of his body against his own, and the gentle tickle of Hajime's spiky hair on his neck.

"Happy birthday, mi vida. I love you so, so much," he murmurs softly, his voice low and husky. Tooru lets out a sob, tightening his embrace as if trying to lock Hajime away in his soul.

"I love you much, much more," Tooru snuggles up into Hajime's neck. "And I hope that milk bread is homemade, or I won't forgive you for lying to me" Adds, smiling tenderly as the laughter of the love of his life reverberates through his chest as well.

His 31st wish will be the one that has been secretly accompanying the rest of his wishes.

Because there hasn't been a single year that Oikawa Tooru hasn't wished for Iwaizumi Hajime to stay in his life forever.

...

AGAAAIN HAPPY BDAY TO THE BEST MAN IN THIS WORLD, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, THE HEART OF MY HEART, THE SUN OF MY GALAXY, MY PRETTY BOY, MY HUSBAND i love him sm u can even imagine

u can find a little bit more extensive version and find me on my ao3 🍉

[dalbunnydraws]

Today is Oikawa's birthday!! ♡

[zuiz41]

Happy Birthday to Our Dearest Setter! <3

He's 30** this year, can y'all believe that?

[oneforblu]

oikawa tooru: facing a world of geniuses  

i always wanted to write my thoughts about oikawa and i thought it would be perfect to do it in time for his 30th birthday!!!! he's one of my favorite characters ever and is exceptionally well-written. the main idea behind this post is that despite oikawa being skilled, he had to face the realization that there are players who are leagues above him. however, even when oikawa felt lost, he never gave up on his dreams. oikawa tooru was a player in a world full of geniuses and made it to the top of the world despite the challenges.

of course, we have to start with oikawa's ICONIC introduction! "the Great King". before we get into his story, we know he's an incredible player and kageyama's senpai. from the beginning, oikawa is a threat. he is introduced with his fangirls screaming, seeming "superficial," and very confident in himself. compared to the other characters we've seen in haikyuu, at this point, there was no one like him. it was obvious he was a fantastic player. however, we don't see his skills until the game between karasuno and aoba johsai.

it's such a simple phrase, but before every game, without fail, oikawa tells his team that he has faith in them, and in return, his team believes in him. unlike the setters we've met, oikawa is truly one of his own. he is known for his amazing skill and leadership and has been respected and praised; it's apparent that oikawa is leagues above many others. he is also able to bring out the best in his players. with oikawa as your setter, you have someone who will understand your strengths and weaknesses and give you the tosses you need to succeed. however, skill alone isn't enough for oikawa.

"it becomes clear that oikawa, while skilled, is not a natural"

despite being an amazing setter who has the ability to bring out 100% in every teammate, knows the ins and outs of his team, and is incredibly skilled, oikawa is not a genius. compared to ushijima and kageyama, oikawa is not a natural-born prodigy. this is when we are introduced to oikawa's inner conflict. no matter how great he is, the amount of time he spends dedicating himself to his craft, the long nights practicing by himself won't be able to make up for what a "genius" has to offer.

in middle school, oikawa's frustration hit an all-time high. after seeing the difference in skill between himself and ushijima, he is now on the same team as a young kageyama. he sees the difference in skill at every practice, watching kageyama learn a new skill in one day that took oikawa ages. it's clear that oikawa, who was praised for being incredibly skilled, is now face to face with a whole new world far from his reach.

oikawa finally snaps in this scene with young kageyama. all the thoughts and insecurities he has had to deal with, the unbearable fact that there may always be a gap between him and a select few, has been weighing on him for so long.

imagine you are praised for being so skilled, and here comes someone new who is not only catching up to you but has the potential to exceed you?

i think what makes oikawa so interesting is how relatable he can be to many people, including myself. there were times when i was praised for being talented, for getting great grades, and for doing something good, and then someone new came along who did everything I could do but even better. every person faces the frustration of seeing someone grow at a faster rate than you are. it doesn't necessarily come from a malicious place, but the thought of someone taking your spot and performing better than you ever could is painful to accept.

however, iwaizumi reminds oikawa that it isn't just him on the team. there are always six players on that court. oikawa uses this lesson to push forward, deciding that no matter what it takes, he will take his team to the finals.

although oikawa has moments where his insecurities run wild, he is one of the best players in haikyuu. from his killer serves, his incredible fast-paced thinking, his technique, and his ability to bring the best out of every single player. he can do it all.

however, all of this isn't enough against the second game between karasuno.

this conversation oikawa has with his idol, jose blanco, is not only fundamental to oikawa as a character but also a real-life lesson for many of us.

the reason why this conversation is shown at this moment is because kageyama makes a toss that causes karasuno to have their set and game point. while the members of aoba johsai wish they had some of kageyama's skill or some of his "guts," oikawa goes back to what jose blanco tells him.

you can wish you had someone's skill, talent, and smarts, but that idea will only be detrimental to your growth. while oikawa has always made it clear he detests geniuses, not once has he stopped and given up. he continues down this challenging path with his goal in sight with no intentions of ever walking away from volleyball.

accepting that there is more for you to do and that you haven't done everything you can to grow may be difficult for many, but once you make peace with that fact, there is a world of opportunity.

after this flashback, oikawa comes to the conclusion that everyone could have their talent bloom whether it be tomorrow, the day after, or when you're 30, but it won't ever happen if you don't believe in yourself. if you let yourself stay stuck in the idea that "so and so is better than me, i can't do it," you will never fully unlock your potential.

“talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish” 

there are many interpretations of this line, but i believe it means that talent will only show if you're willing to allow yourself to grow. the instincts that make you a better player will only happen through your sheer will and dedication.

oikawa has given so much of his time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears to volleyball in hopes of someday going to nationals. unfortunately, his goal never did come true, but this would only be the start of his amazing journey.

"nothing is over yet. not my volleyball career...or my "petty pride." never forget that."

it's one of the most memorable lines of the manga and one of my favorites. ushijima believes oikawa would have succeeded if he never went to aoba johsai, that because of his pride, oikawa never set foot at nationals.

however, none of that is true. oikawa made all the decisions because he believed they were best. he stayed at aoba johsai because he believed in his team. of course, there were many opportunities someone as skilled as oikawa could have taken, but he didn't, and he's more than okay with that

he isn't going to let anyone tell him that the choices he made were wrong. he won't let the realization of never making it to nationals tear him down. not only is oikawa a remarkable player physically, but his mental strength is something else entirely.

although pride is sometimes seen as something negative, oikawa's pride in himself drives him forward. his belief in his team, his dreams, and his own future or what makes him who he is. he isn't someone who will let others' thoughts and feelings sway him. oikawa will do what he believes is best for himself, and if that path is not the one to nationals, he can accept that.

oikawa will never give up on his dream no matter how many obstacles stand in his way. It doesn't matter if it's a team full of geniuses, a difficult teammate to work with, or his own insecurities; oikawa will never give up until he makes his mark on the world.

oikawa tooru in brazil has to be one of my favorite moments in the entire manga.

after not seeing him for so long, we finally see oikawa thriving in brazil with his teammates. now, he is playing for the argentina league as their setter, and all of his efforts to become a pro proved to be worth it.

seeing oikawa in the timeskip full of confidence and succeeding in his career made me so emotional. I relate to him in many ways, and to see someone succeed in such a remarkable way despite the challenges is extremely motivating.

oikawa moved across the world, leaving his friends and family behind in hopes of making his dreams come true. it was more than difficult, having to power through every obstacle with sheer willpower and skill. even though oikawa went through so many hardships, he loved the sport.

volleyball is something oikawa has loved since he was young. spending hours watching his idols play, learning how to play himself, and falling in love with being a setter. volleyball is everything to oikawa.

i think what makes oikawa's journey so impactful is that we see someone who presents himself to be full of confidence have his own insecurities and struggles, but he never let any of that stop him from giving up on volleyball.

seeing him in brazil, happy and thriving makes me so happy. the flashback to him as a kid, smiling and full of amazement, and then cutting back to him as an adult makes me so emotional.

oikawa's last words to hinata in brazil are a testament to his character.

what i love about this panel is that oikawa is telling us that he will beat everyone. he reminds us that we haven't seen the last of him yet.

oikawa tooru has been working for so long with the desire to beat every and anyone. he could have let himself stay with the same ideology he had in middle school, where he would never be able to be equal to a genius, and let that thought destroy him. but oikawa never gave up. he worked hard every day, honing his skills and growing as an individual to have this moment.

it is unbelievable that Oikawa, who was always full of immense talent and determination, is now at an entirely different level.

oikawa tooru may not be a genius, but he made his way to the olympics despite that.

this is the perfect ending for a character like oikawa. someone who, from the beginning, had a strong desire to defeat everyone and now steps onto the court where the world can see him at his best.

although it's never specifically stated who wins, i will always believe that oikawa tooru, took the world by storm and won the olympic gold. the man who wasn't a genius made it to the top of the game.

it makes me so happy to see him work so hard and have it all payoff. not only is the journey to becoming a professional player difficult, but as someone who had a hard time accepting his limitations, oikawa made his way to the world stage.

UPDATE:

there are colored versions of the manga going around, so I just HAD to add this iconic oikawa scene to this post.

I'm so proud of him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

reading and watching his journey is such a beautiful experience. oikawa is such a fantastic character who's so authentic and entertaining. he'll always be a character i can relate to and see as motivation.

i hope this was a fun/interesting read!! i always wanted to write something about oikawa so this was very fun for me to do. he's a character i will always love, and i hope this post showed how great of a character he is!

[twinstxrs]

thinking about kageyama’s “it’s the setter’s job to break the wall in front of the spiker” in reference to how kenma sponsoring hinata while he’s in brazil and onwards is effectively doing that on a financial level. once a setter always a setter.

[czqy]

“instinct is something you polish.”

happy birthday, oikawa!

stills under the cut