When you rewatch season 1 you can see some of their friendship I would say. Like when Hinata gets really nervous Daichi asks Kageyama if Hinata's going to be ok, even though they didn't like each other at the beginning. I think Daichi saw that they are together alot, and you see that in season 1. And I think ppl sometimes ask Hinata about Kageyama (although I forget). In my opinion season 1 is where Hinata and Kageyama's friendship/rivalry/teammate blooms. Its the season where they make that promise. And as the storyline progresses their relationship becomes stronger.

It’s hard to remember since we’ve been invested in their relationship and story for years but in universe Hinata and Kageyama have only really known each other for, at most, 9 months by the time of the national tournament.

I think it is important to keep in mind that they are friends, just not in the typical sense of the word.

They spend most of their time together, staying late to practice, studying, hanging out later to pay their bets, being paired together to do stuff etc, it's hard to do all that without developing a sense of companionship.

They're always super aware of each other's physical and emotional state, being able to tell when and why something is off or when they're in a specific type of mindset, they actually know how to keep the other motivated (even if their approach to it doesn't make sense to literally anyone else), they communicate with honesty (which is one of the reasons they bicker so much), so I think it's fair to say their relationship goes way beyond just mutual respect, they're really meaningful figures in each other's lives, but, and that's one of the reasons Haikyuu is so amazing, the foundation of that relationship will always be their rivalry, because this is what pushes them into enjoying the thing they both love to the most - and that's something they will always be grateful they had the each other for, every small improvement one pushed the other into as rivals, every little conquest they have as teammates, there's a meaning to all of that.

Their relationship might develop and change through the years, but that will always be its basis, the biggest role one will play in the other's life.

So if you're waiting for some big meaningful moment of recognition or a solid demonstration of their bond, you will have to look for it on the court.

Hmmm do you do competitive sports? Rivalry is a relationship that I think is similarly intimate to best friendship, but not really comparable because it’s so different in nature.

Before I was on a swim team in college, I’d stagnated for a year or two, didn’t really feel like I could push much improvement out even when I was throwing up at practice or getting up at 5am to do weight workouts. But when I got to college, there was one dude who for some reason I kept racing against at every practice. Even if I was hitting my goal times and improving my technique, I’d want to get back in the water if I hadn’t beat this guy. To have one person you desperately want to beat, and see them desperately want to get you back when you do is a really, really rare thing to come by, and it’s even harder to sustain. I improved more in one season than I did in half of high school, because I was just so focused one day at a time on beating that rival.

By the end of the year, every practice I’d make sure that guy was there before I’d look for or say hi to any of my close friends. It’s something I probably ended up feeling was as valuable as any of the best friends I had, and it’s something a person can only really have one of.

I personally love the fact that they don't become friends in a typical sense of the word. That would have seemed kinda cliche and forced, and it makes it seem like there's always a duality between being friends or hating each other's guts.

But in real life, there's a huge gray area between those two things, and I'm glad this show leaves Kageyama and Hinata somewhere in the gray. Plus, it goes to show that what's truly vital is developing communication, even if that doesn't necessarily then grow into a friendship.

Hinata and Kageyama’s friendship is one of the most beautiful things about Haikyu!! In my opinion. This story is highly character driven and watching them grow from a dislike of each other based on their competitive nature, to pushing each other to be better, is beautiful.

In short, they needed each other. The story is such that from the start we are presented with a few problems each character has. They are both looking for a person/teammate to fill this need, even if they don’t fully realize it.

Hinata needs a setter. Plain and simple. He needs a real setter on a real team.

Kageyama needs a bit more. He needs someone to be there. He was deeply traumatized by the incidents in middle school and he needs teammates that will be there when he needs them to be.

It’s true that Karasuno as a whole fills these needs too. But at the very start they are met by each other. They’ve been partners from very near the beginning. And they’ve continued to evolve and push each other to be better. It’s a really really beautiful friendship they have and in truth, I don’t need them the talk about it.

I think they both enjoy playing with each other, and on some level I think they both realize that. For me the ultimate ending to this story would be then at whatever higher level, be it University or Pro or whatever, and the final panel isn’t them across the net from each other, but stepping onto the court together.

Do they still need each other to play? Nah. But I think they just have more fun that way. But I don’t know that it really needs to be acknowledged.

Either way, Haikyu really isn’t just a story about volleyball. It’s about the human interactions and connections as much as anything else. It’s about teammates and friendship. It’s beautiful.

I feel like they definitely know it but their competitive nature doesn’t rlly let them flat out say it so easily. They’re best friends. They’ll easily be the most powerful duo in Japan two years from now and they bring out the best in each other time and time again. It’s the fact that they challenge each other so ruthlessly and call each other out on their own shit as well as the fact that they have complete and utter trust in one another after the first tournament and the fight they went through. I’m personally hoping for more personal development and just moments of regular friendship b/w the two cause I love it when we get those little panels but I think overall, it’s something they already are aware of.

Edit: never forget this infamous panel from chapter 207

I think Kageyama realizes it too. During the national training camp he made a toss error while setting and the coach commented that the toss felt like Kageyama wanted someone to be there at exactly that place to hit it. He has been so attuned to Hinata that he knows if he ever tosses any ball, Hinata will be there to pick it up! They both push each other, it was Hinata who brought out Kageyama's true nature and let him have peace with the being ousama :) I love their dynamic and I hope we get a panel when Kags truly appreciates Hinata ;)

"As long as I'm here, you're invincible!" Am I right?

They are best friends, whether they admit it or not. Hinata helped Kageyama break out of his shell and the first one to help Kageyema out of his traumatic experience during middle school. Kageyama is socially inept and downright unapproachable in the beginning, and Hinata's influence changed him to become more likable. Conversely, Kageyama inspired Hinata to become better in volleyball. They are both the catalyst to improve each other's flaws. And they enjoy each other's company, despite their petty fights and arguments. I mean c'mon, they're always together.

And they do bring the best out of each other. Takeda-sensei, and their senpais, even liken their partnership as a chemical reaction. How many times have they executed a play on a whim? They are so attuned and in-sync with each other on court. That first practice match with Nekoma, where Kageyama 'felt' Hinata's presence ("He's calling me", is what he said); another moment during their interhigh against Seijoh where Kageyama's toss was almost 'stolen' by Hinata, just because the latter is 'calling' him again; that straight spike close to the net, they've never done it before, never practiced it, but they executed it perfectly. And as of recent events, that >!open attack against Nekoma!<

The amount of confidence they have for each other is also astounding. Hinata, since the beginning, have always admired Kageyama's skills and completely believes in the latter. Hinata got livid when Kageyama doubted himself when practicing the falling toss; he couldn't believe that Kageyama is capable of doubting himself, with all his talents ("You'll get it eventually, so it'll be fine"). Hinata, being the adorable sunshine boy he is, never holds back a compliment, tho at first begrudgingly. Kageyama, on the other hand, always calls out and criticizes Hinata's lack of technical skill, but the moment Hinata doubts himself, Kageyama is the one who boosts his confidence. And he believes that Hinata had potential. Kageyama admires Hinata's unyielding desire to win and his mental strength, and being a competitive idiot himself, takes this as a motivation to be even better.

The time will surely come that Hinata won't be reliant to Kageyama anymore (and seeing how the Hinata's development in the story is progressing, it's not that far off), and will be able to stand alone with even ground against strong players. But the dynamics these two have will be irreplaceable.

I feel like they know there at there best when playing together. But they have an a competitive spirit that wont let them admit it.

It's the battle of wanting to feel your enough , vs knowing you can't accomplish what you want with out some1 else.

I like your commentary. Do you mind linking the tiktok you mentioned as I haven't seen it?

Yamaguchi also goes to Hinata for advice on what to tell Tsukishima, who isn't taking training camp seriously.

I’ve never really noticed that, but it makes a lot of sense. Yamaguchi is definitely the more approachable than a lot of the others around him (especially when you consider that the other approachable people are mostly older than him) in that kind of situation, and Hinata is a very social person, so it’s not super surprising that he ended up chatting to Yamaguchi a lot.

From a purely pragmatic, meta perspective, it’s probably mostly to do with needing Hinata to interact with someone and Yamaguchi being a very easy person to do that with, as someone without a super strong personality that will overtake those scenes. It’s also not super surprising that this is around when Yamaguchi does start to take a bit more of the spotlight and starts to he developed properly. But it’s nice that it also makes sense in context.

I'm pretty sure before the training camp and ever during at some point, they were working on different things in different places.
During the Training Camp: Kageyama was doing setting training with Ukai and Yachi, while Hinata was doing spiking in the big Gym with Yamaguchi, cause at that time Tsukki was off training with Kuroo in Gym 3. So I guess all that Hinata & Yamaguchi had were each either during that time.

Yes! I noticed that too, super cute. They had a lot more scenes together over the course of the series. I love KenHina but tbh I think YamaHina is a rly cute ship too—either way I just love their friendship!

Yamaguchi and Hinata clearly become very good friends over time without it ever really being a big plot point or having a specific moment. I don't think you can really point out a specific point like that, it's just something that makes sense 'cause Hinata is outgoing and Yamaguchi is a nice guy.

Manga spoilers

>!if you think that they miss eachother after 5 days, you should see them reunited after the 7 year timeskip!<

Maybe I'm weird, but they were apart for five days, not five years. I didn't feel any longing because I don't think there would be any. What I did feel and what the rest of the scene showed was curiosity regarding what both of them did and learned during their time apart, which I think is far more in line with their competitive nature than reading longing into it would be.

But I don't know, maybe people do long for others after less than a week and I don't know how to people.

They will be apart from each other at the end. Ig that's why people didn't give much to that.

It was so sweet, they are best friends and they need each other to function.

I love this. We can certainly read it like that. It’s definitely a small moment as far as the amount of seconds it lasted. My first thought was, despite how valuable it was to Kageyama to be with the best in the country, the guy could feel there was pure competition in the air and some toxicity (the comments about Ushijima, the way that one Miya twin spoke to Tobio, the way Hoshiumi expected to either be recognized or awed). I won’t make excuses for that kind of behavior, you definitely deserve to think of yourself highly if you’ve put in the work, but at this point Kageyama realized he was beyond that (only to have the little slip during the practice game with Date Tech).

Similarly, Hinata crashed the Miyagi camp out of selfishness and insecurity but was ultimately humbled and and put at ease. The kid came out smarter being a ball boy. I loved Takeda’s sensei’s ladder metaphor when scolding Hinata. Hinata started making up for the lost time Kageyama first interrogated Hinata for in middle school and Kageyama was forced to face his past in a sense. When they reunite after the camps they realize what started it all.

That’s just my opinion, I’m probably thinking too much about it. I’ll shut up.

after the 3rd years left, I think it may not be look very good, story wise & you will miss the many characters you loved so far.

- Karasuno -> Daichi, Sugawara, Asahi, Kiyoko
- Seijo -> Oikawa, Iwaizami, Matsumoto
- Shiratorizawa -> Ushijima, Tendo, Semi, Reon
- Nekoma -> Kuroo, Nobuyuki, Yaku
- Fukarodauni -> Bokuto, Tatsuki

and he have to introduce new players as replacements also, like how Koganegawa was added for date tech and focus on their character development as well. Also, we may need followup on the 3rd years, which college they went, their college teams, may be some practice matches with current karasuno team as well?

I think the time skip is the better way, and left all there is to imagination.

I don't personally think so, after 365 chapter it would be easy to introduce new characters and make them as likeable as the third years and eventually the second years.

Haikyuu has one of the best side cast in anime, it would be bad if Furudate was to include some cardboard cutout characters for the rest of the series just to show their second and third years in school.

I really wish we could get special volumes about some left out matches or even hypotethical matches like Inarizaki vs Seijoh. The fact that we didn't get to see any 3rd year Karasuno match is a crime😭

I think it would have been cool but also, I’m glad we got something based on their time after high school instead.

Like if I had to pick between them. I would always pick what we got.

Yeah but like what Kageyama said, "I wished to take this team to the end." Or something along those lines.

Sure seeing them at years 2 and 3 would have been nice, but I'm happy that their years beyond high school got the chapters, you know?

I’m a fairly new fan too. Watched the anime in November last year and started reading the manga in January. Just finished volume 42 last Friday (I’m a slow reader because of work and well, life) while on a flight, and I know how you feel about not having anyone to talk to about your excitement and all your feels ‘cause I was crying my eyes out in the plane when I was at the part about >!Hinata’s brief breakdown in Brazil!< but I had to keep everything to myself!

Always glad to see someone else fall down the Haikyuu rabbit hole rather quickly just like myself haha 🧡

I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! I’ve reread the manga so many times because it means so much to me. Regarding the match against Kamomedai, au remembering first reading and thinking ‘wow I have no idea who will win?!’ And then it’s took an unexpected yet very necessary turn. It sounds weird but I’m glad Hinata went through that because it most definitely cemented how serious he was going to take volleyballl (not that he wasn’t serious before but ykwim) but seeing him grow and become a well rounded person is so rewarding!! I love haikyuu so much and I’d be glad to hear how you find the rest and end of the manga :))

When I finished the manga, I went back to restart it and noticed in Chapter One, before they even play the match, Kageyama tells Hinata, "Guys who don't watch their health shouldn't talk big either!" I knew there were comments where Hinata is told he should be wearing his jacket that are said to show that he didn't take good care of himself, but seeing this, I just thought, wow, Furudate really plays the long game!

Next round

Sry but I can't even imagine a random makeup team of people who weren't even volleyball players beating a powerhouse like kitagawa dai-ichi

It was impossible for them to beat Kitagawa Daichi. They lost to like 25 - 7. Even if they somehow could they would be eliminated instantly next round. There were 3 random 1st year kid (which Hinata probably begged for them to play lol) and only Koji and Izumi were athletic. Hinata wasn't good at volleyball either, he was just stupidly fast and athletic.

They don't consider it a fight. It was a constructive discussion that led to improved play for both of them. The yelling and anger were just necessary to communicate, there was no malice.

Cause it’s not that much of a big deal for them and their brain only knows volleyball.

They're idiots.

Only thing in their brain is volleyball

they got over it because they worked out their problems through volleyball. its like how naruto and sasuke "talk with their fists". these guys communicate with sport