Haikyu!! is a volleyball-themed manga currently being serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump and is receiving rave reviews. Its moving and passionate storyline, featuring refreshing high school boys, and comedic elements has made it hugely popular, especially among young women. The main characters of Haikyu!! are the duo Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio, but there are many other "duos" besides these two who support and compete with each other. In this article, we'll introduce five lovable duos that appear in Haikyu!!, complete with stories and anecdotes. Do you have a favorite duo?
Let's start with the classics! Hinata Shoyo & Kageyama Tobio
When it comes to duos in "Haikyu!!," the first to come to mind are the protagonists, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio. Compared to the other duos mentioned above, they don't get along as well, but their sense of teamwork during matches is unmatched. Only Hinata can hit Kageyama's lightning-fast tosses. And even as the story progresses, they're still clearly aware of each other as "rivals." Will Hinata ever defeat Kageyama?
Hinata and Kageyama's first meeting was the worst!
Hinata's first and last match in middle school was against Kitagawa Daiichi, led by Kageyama. Hinata played with a ragtag team of non-volleyball club members, and was completely defeated by Kageyama. Furthermore, at the end of the match, Kageyama asked Hinata, "What have you been doing for the past three years?!" This prompted Hinata to resolve to defeat Kageyama at all costs.
However, when Hinata entered high school, Kageyama was already there... They immediately got into a fight, and to make matters worse, Kageyama refused to even toss the ball to Hinata, saying, "I only give the toss to those who are important to the win." From there, he recognized Hinata's athletic abilities and fought countless times until they perfected their "weird quick attack." They gradually became "partners."
Another Karasuno freshman duo! Tsukishima Kei & Yamaguchi Tadashi
Another Karasuno freshman duo is Tsukishima and Yamaguchi! Tsukishima doesn't hang out much, but Yamaguchi loves Tsukki, so the two of them are always together. In fact, Yamaguchi was bullied in elementary school, and Tsukishima helped him, which led him to admire him. Even after saving him, Tsukishima doesn't remember Yamaguchi, and it's likely he didn't even think of it as helping him, but Yamaguchi still fell in love with Tsukishima. It's heartwarming to see the relationship between Yamaguchi, who is always clingy to Tsukishima, and Tsukishima, who always complains about how annoying Yamaguchi is, but still understands him very well.
Did Yamaguchi lose his temper at Tsukishima?! The words that changed Tsukishima.
During summer vacation training camp, Yamaguchi tells Tsukishima, "Tsukki's not cool these days!" The reason was that Tsukishima, despite being tall, smart, and talented, never took volleyball seriously. When Tsukishima couldn't understand how someone could be so serious about just a club activity, Yamaguchi responded forcefully, "What else could you have other than pride?" At that moment, Tsukishima understood what Yamaguchi was trying to say, but he couldn't accept it.
However, Tsukishima went straight to Fukurodani's Bokuto to talk to him, who taught him about the fun of volleyball. This experience began to change Tsukishima's perspective on volleyball.
Fukurodani's great duo! Bokuto Kotaro & Akaashi Kyoji
Fukurodani's captain, Bokuto, and vice-captain, Akaashi, are a hugely popular duo, highly supported by fans. The secret to their popularity is likely the likable dialogue between the self-conscious and eccentric Bokuto and Akaashi, the junior who understands and handles him well!
Bokuto's mental health is extremely important for Fukurodani, as his energy and whether he's "on the ball" directly affect his play. While the other team members understand Bokuto's annoying personality, Akaashi's cool demeanor and knowledge of how to handle him make him an important presence.
Akaashi, a junior who truly respects star player Bokuto!
In one game, Bokuto's signature cross balls were completely blocked, resulting in a loss. Feeling frustrated, Bokuto decided to practice his straight ball. While the other team members struggled to keep up with the amount of practice, Akaashi persevered. Later, Bokuto used his straight ball to win against the same team! He shared his joy with Akaashi. Bokuto says that this moment made him fall in love with volleyball, so Akaashi must have become a special person to him.
Akaashi respects Bokuto as a star player, but he never says anything he doesn't believe. As a result, Bokuto often chides Akaashi for his overly honest words. Despite their senior-junior relationship, their back-and-forth banter is like a comedy duo, making for a hilarious pairing.
Nekoma's childhood friends! Kuroo Tetsuro & Kozume Kenma
Nekoma is known for its childhood friends, Kuroo and Kenma. The two have been together since Kuroo moved in next door to Kenma's house in the early years of elementary school. Now, Kuroo gets along with everyone, but it's surprising to learn that back then, he was even more shy than Kenma!
The two would usually play games that Kenma liked, but one day, Kuroo invited him to join, and Kenma started playing volleyball too. The two, both shy people, decided to join the local volleyball team together. There, Kuroo had a fateful encounter with Coach Nekomata, and he became obsessed with volleyball.
It was Kuroo who discovered Kenma's talent as a setter!
It was Kuroo who noticed Kenma's keen observation skills and intelligence, and suggested he would be suited to be a setter. Kenma doesn't like getting tired or sweating, but Kuroo encouraged him to continue playing volleyball. He always told Kenma not to quit. Now, Kenma has become the "brain" of Nekoma, and together with Kuroo, an all-around player who excels at blocking, they have finally qualified for the national tournament!
Kuroo is one year older than Kenma, but he trusts him wholeheartedly. Compared to the other duos, these two have a more mature, mature married life, but it's heartwarming to see Kuroo's reactions of joy and surprise when Kenma is around.
Even their sharp tongues towards Oikawa are charming! Oikawa Tooru & Iwaizumi Hajime
Oikawa and Iwaizumi are the captain and ace duo of Aoba Johsai High School. They've been playing volleyball together since elementary school, and Kageyama calls their tossing and spiking "unspoken." Oikawa trusts Iwaizumi so much that he even tosses the ball to him when he's cornered. The two, who are the same generation as ace player Ushijima Wakatoshi, have often shed tears together in frustration over their inability to beat him. Having overcome hardships together, this duo's bond is strong!
Iwa-chan is the only one who can hit Oikawa or say harsh things to him!
Oikawa is a handsome player who has been featured in magazines and on TV. However, when Oikawa is surrounded by female fans, only Iwaizumi can throw a ball at his head or call him a "bastard of shit." In response to Oikawa, who actually has a bad personality, Iwaizumi coldly retorts, "You're more annoying than Kageyama." The reason he can say something like that is because they're such good friends!
A Compilation of Lovable Duos!
So, what did you think of the duos that appear in "Haikyu!"? In addition to the ones introduced here, there are many other duos. For example, there are variations like Hinata & Kenma and Tsukishima & Kuroo, so it's fun to cheer on your favorite duo!
