Haikyuu Rec List

[lostlenore]

 Hello! It's been roughly a geological era since I posted here, but twitter doesn't allow enough characters for the type of screaming that's about to take place, so. Here we are. Heads up that these are going to be mostly Iwaizui/Oikawa recs, with a scattering of other, smaller pairings. This is by no means a comprehensive list, so if you have favorites you don't see here (even for other pairings!) please feel free to link & discuss in the comments! Also: most of these recs can also be found on my pinboard, along with other pan-fandom recs. Let's get started!

1.  Bloom, by newamsterdam (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 27k. 

• This fic holds a special place in my heart as the first Haikyuu!! fic I ever read. All the other players have literal superpowers (what...would that be like...I wonder...) except for Oikawa, who goes through the events of canon waiting for them to manifest. I loved all the small descriptions of each players powers, and how weird some of them were. The way the author adapts superpowers for sports is a lot of fun, and the emotional through-line gave me Feelings, which, is all you really need I guess. 

2. darlin' your head's not right, by aruariandance (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 14k.

• This fic is just so Soft and lovely, I want to wrap it around me like a blanket! Future!fic, where Oikawa and Iwaizumi go to college together, and end up sharing an apartment. There are some good emotional threads, but overall this fic is so gentle and soothing and domestic. It's one of my fandom comfort reads. 

3. stumble into the sun, by sunsmasher (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 4k. 

• Short, zippy piece about Iwaizumi & Oikawa discovering that Oikawa has a praise kink. I think I laughed out loud reading this more than once, the tone and the humor are spot-on. 

4. to the beat of my heart, by kittebasu (Kuroo/Tsukishima) 68k.

• THIS FIC WRECKED ME I literally could not think of nothing else for the rest of the day after reading this, I was just a useless lump pf emotions. AU where all your faves work in the Japanese entertainment industry, mostly as pop idols. The Tsukishima pov here is so incredible in its nuance and layers that I think it spoiled me for all other Tsukkis. Kuroo is extra swoon-worthy here, and the sex scenes are hot like burning. All in all a must-read, I can't say enough good things about it.  

5. close to the chest, by darkmagicalgirl (Kyoutani/Yahaba, Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 61k.

• A wonderful Yahaba character study with a deliciously slow burn on the romance. I loved the glimpses we get into Kyoutani in this fic, and the parallel track of Iwaoi romance happening in the background. More than anything, though, I loved watching the slow bloom of Oikawa and Yahaba's friendship, as Oikawa comes to rely on him more. 

6. here comes your man, by newamsterdam (Daichi/Sugawara, Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 9k. 

• Suga aggressively tries to befriend the cranky new doctor at the hospital, Iwaizumi. This fic is so great on so many levels: Suga, not-so-subtly planning a takeover of the hospital, everyone on the staff mistaking Oikawa for Iwaizumi's doting wife who sends him cute bento, hapless legal intern Kageyama. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the very real emotional heart of tentatively making new adult friends and trying to surround yourself with a friend group that is also queer. 

7. Build a Temple in Me, by authoress (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 40k.

• A beautiful, folkloric AU featuring demigod!Oikawa, who sometimes turns into a dragon. As you do. Honestly this fic has such a wonderfully Ghibli-movie atmosphere to it that I was hooked before I even clicked into it. More folklore/fairytale AU's please! 

8. the courtship rituals of the hercules beetle, by darkmagicalgirl (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 66k. 

• gOD. GOD. GOD!! I mentioned on twitter that this is basically a Persuasion AU, in all the emotionally devastating ways that matter because, Dear Reader, you should be prepared to cry. A lot. Not because anything particularly tragic happens, but because this story is that particular brand of angst that always seems to hurt the worst, the kind where two people who could very easily be happy together actively destroy their own happiness. This story is also a masterclass in using unreliable narrators to the utmost advantage! God. Please read this and then come cry with me, I'll bring snacks. 

9. just hear me out, by loveclouds (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 8k. 

• Another fic I cried at! Gosh. So I think this summary says it best: To stimulate Japan's low birthrates and take most of the guesswork out of dating, a beeper system was biologically developed in people's wrists, an audible confirmation to show romantic compatibility. Iwaizumi's beeper has been going off for Oikawa since they've been kids. Oikawa's has only ever been silent. Not-quite a soulmate AU, and manages to side-step most of the things I dislike about the soulmates trope with smart twists that give the characters their own free will. Is there anything sexier than characters making the daily, explicit choice to stay together? I say nay. 

10. cross my heart, open wide, by acchikocchi (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 7k. 

• Iwaizumi goes on a date with someone who isn't Oikawa! The horror! (except this OC was incredible and I...lowkey wouldn't have been sad if they'd ended up together...RIP ME) Anyway, this fic was super sweet. There's a lovely, wistful atmosphere to the whole thing that really worked drawing me in. Plus, it has a strong emotional center, a great Iwaizumi character voice, and Oikawa stalks people through shrubbery. An all-around good time for everyone! 

11. Azumane Asahi's Big Gay Romance, by jibraillis (Asahi/Nishinoya) 14k. 

• I probably sound like a broken record at this point but, this fic is so sweet! So cute! Such a gentle balm to my soul! This author has a such a deft touch with characterization and voice in this fic, not to mention giving us the incredible gift of Asahi working in a shojou manga store! I'm literally re-reading it for the third time now and crying tears of joy, GO READ IT.  

12. get your act together (we could be just fine) by nebulia (Asahi/Nishinoya) 3k. 

• I'm BURNING UP this is ~3.5k of absolutely incendiary rule 63 porn (don't look at me) with a pitch-perfect Asahi character voice. I'm just gonna...go light a cigarette...or five...

13. days fall away, by lavendrsblue (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) 

• This fic hits so many good spots re: complicated hometown feelings. I loved Iwaizumi in this, his 'lost language fluency' and his having to re-learn Oikawa and the landscape of their friendship. The whole story has a great gentle, melancholy atmosphere. Watari makes a hilarious drunk phone call. There's even some quality Oikawa & Suga interaction, which I always find super fascinating. A good, solid fic!

14. strawberry home, by cinnamon (Kuroo/Tsukishima) DJ. 

• This author does such great Kuroo/Tsukki doujins, I've literally haunted every bookstore in the city trying to collect them. Quite a few of them are scanned and translated! (This one and Kekkon Shiyo, Yo are my personal faves) Please read them and get sucked into rarepair hell with me! I am starved for more Kuroo/Tsukki content!

15. ghost cleaner love, by gusari (Iwaizumi/Oikawa) DJ.

• PLEASE READ EVERY GUSARI DOUJINSHI AVAILABLE TO YOU, they are a gift and a treasure. Her art is incredible, and I honestly and truly adore the way she writes Iwaizumi. This doujin is probably my favorite (along with NPC-kun!) because it's basically an xxxHolic AU, but everything gusari draws is #quality, so there's really no wrong choice here.