The Parallel Journey of Hinata & Kageyama

Rivalries are an essential part of storytelling. It inspires both the protagonist and the rival to do their best. Haikyu!! is full of rivalries, be it a rivalry between players like Kageyama and Oikawa, or rivalries between teams like Karasuno and Nekoma. But out of all these, Haikyu!!‘s most important rivalry is the one between Hinata and Kageyama.

Usually, the purpose of rivalries is to create competitiveness between the two individuals, which helps create tension, contrast, and growth. But Hinata and Kageyama do not work in contrast. Instead, they work in co-existence. While they’re on the same team, it feels like they’re always competing against one another. It’s a rivalry that doesn’t differentiate them but makes them similar.

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Haikyuu!!: The Evolution of Hinata’s Playstyle, Explained

Hinata’s evolution throughout Haikyuu!! is a journey from a raw, athletically gifted player to a well-rounded, intelligent, and strategic player.

It Started Like a Classic Rivalry

Back in Junior High, when Hinata and Kageyama faced each other for the first time, things started like a classic rivalry. Hinata was an inexperienced player who was driven by his passion and did his best to be a team player. Meanwhile, Kageyama was a gifted player but struggled to work with his team. There was a clear contrast between them. On their first meeting, Kageyama declared that he would go all the way to the nationals and would be “the last man standing”.

During their first match, despite being on the losing end, Hinata was giving his best, but his team was not able to keep up with him. Meanwhile, though Kageyama was winning, he was frustrated with his team for not giving their best. Though they had their differences, it was clear that they shared a similar passion for volleyball. After their match, Kageyama realized Hinata’s potential and bluntly asked him “What have you been doing for the last three years?”. This helped Hinata realize that he had not been doing his best for the past three years, and later he also declared that he’d be the last man standing. In the final scenes of Episode 1, we see Hinata practicing with the girl’s volleyball team, which he previously hesitated to do. This signifies a change in his attitude to do his best to reach Kageyama’s level. The episode also mentions “Kitagawa Dai-Ichi bitterly defeated” which again emphasizes Kageyama’s struggle to become a team player.

Their Co-Existence Was a Necessity

Hinata and Kageyama’s paths crossed again when they both joined Karasuno High. Initially, they were reluctant to play alongside each other. Hinata was passionate but was still unskilled, which gave Kageyama the impression that he was not trying enough. Since Hinata was not living up to Kageyama’s expectations, he’d often criticize him, which also frustrated Hinata because he believed he was trying his best. But once they were forced to work together, it became clear that their co-existence was necessary for their personal growth.

Kageyama was known for his kingly tosses. They were so fast that others could not keep up with them. But he did not want to compromise on his speed and wanted his teammates to do their best to spike those tosses. This was also why he was considered “The King of the Court”. Many labeled him as an inconsiderate teammate who failed to adjust to his team. Hinata’s arrival changed this. Hinata’s unmatched stamina and reflexes allowed him to keep up with Kageyama’s speed. He even asked Kageyama to always toss the ball to him at his full potential because he would make sure to hit them.

This was a turning point for both players because Kageyama finally found a teammate that would do justice to his tosses. While Hinata, through Kageyama, was able to make his speed and agility shine. They managed to create a fast combo attack that allowed them to startle their opponents and win many games.

They Continue to Grow Off Each Other

In their match with Aoba Johsai High, their perfectly crafted quick attack started to fail. Oikawa read through it perfectly and shut it down. Initially, Kageyama and Hinata believed speed was the greatest weapon in volleyball. It was also why they worked so well off of each other. But their loss to Aoba Johsai made them realize that they were wrong. Till this point, Hinata was dependent on Kageyama to make the best of his skills. But now he was required to find ways to excel on his own.

The two started to rebuild themselves in new ways. After realizing his limitations, Hinata rebuilds himself as the decoy for the team. His agility and presence on the court allow him to be a great distraction while Kageyama can toss the ball to someone else. He also improved his other skills, like blocking and receiving. In Season 4, Episode 15, he manages to block Osuma on his own, which shocks everyone and himself.

Also, in the same match against Inarizaki High, Tanaka constantly failed to score a point. But Kageyama confidently keeps tossing at Tanaka. Kageyama, who was once not considered a team player, was now able to confidently trust his teammates. This trust in him was built through Hinata, who, being confident in Kageyama, blindly accepted his tosses. At this point in the anime, they grew from being individual talents to becoming team players.

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Haikyuu!!: The Evolution of Teamwork in Karasuno

Through trust, communication, and perseverance, Karasuno learns that true strength lies not in individual talent but in a collective effort.

While Hinata and Kageyama work alongside, they fight against each other. They race one another to become the best volleyball player there is. In the process, they have not only grown themselves but also helped the other grow immensely.

Haikyu!! is available to watch on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

Haikyuu!!

Release Date

April 5, 2014

• 

  Ayumu Murase

  Shoyo Hinata

• 

  Kaito Ishikawa

  Tobio Kageyama

• 

  Yu Hayashi

  Ryunosuke Tanaka

• 

  Satoshi Hino

  Daichi Sawamura