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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the chapter.

The Formidable Ally (Japanese: 最強 (さいきょう) 味方 (みかた) Saikyō no Mikata) is the third episode of the Haikyū!! series, written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate and published in the manga magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump. The episode premiered on April 20, 2014.

The opening theme of this episode is Imagination by SPYAIR and the ending theme is Tenchi Gaeshi by NICO Touches the Walls.

Overview[]

Sugawara starts helping Hinata and Kageyama practice in the morning. After hearing Hinata's jaded opinions of Kageyama, Sugawara encourages him to work with the first-year setter because he could become Hinata's most formidable ally. As the days pass, Hinata slowly improves, but his relationship with Kageyama isn't going anywhere until they encounter Tsukishima and Yamaguchi, the other first-years applying for the club. Tsukishima's insults about Hinata's height and Kageyama's past motivate the two to team up to win on Saturday.

Plot[]

Kageyama and Hinata are practicing in the gym, but Hinata can't receive Kageyama's spikes. As they're arguing about it, Sugawara enters the gym, revealing that he already knew Tanaka was secretly helping the duo due to the second-year's weird behavior the night before.

However, he decides to keep the training from Daichi and even helps Hinata with his receives. Hinata isn't satisfied with Sugawara though and persistently asks Kageyama to toss to him. Kageyama coldly replies that he will only toss to whoever he thinks is essential to winning, but he doesn't think Hinata's that person.

SugawaraHinata S1E3

Hinata practices his receives with Sugawara.

Later on during the day, Hinata and Sugawara are practicing outside when Sugawara reveals that he's the official setter of Karasuno. He tells Hinata he could set to him from now on and Hinata gets excited because he'd been yearning for an official setter for a long time. However, he can't accept Sugawara's offer because it would feel like he lost to Kageyama. Sugawara asks Hinata why he's so competitive with Kageyama and Hinata tells the third-year about the tournament last year, when Kageyama's team destroyed his.

Just as Hinata's explaining his past to Sugawara, Kageyama comes by to buy a drink from the vending machine and eavesdrops on the two. He overhears Hinata saying that he wants to become strong enough to defeat Kageyama because if he can do that, it would put him on even grounds with other strong opponents. He doesn't want to lose anymore. Sugawara notes that, to Hinata, Kageyama's the strongest opponent in his grade level, but now he can become Hinata's most formidable ally.

After school ends, Hinata goes to the gym where he bumps into Kageyama. The setter takes him to another place to practice since they can't enter the gym. Just as the duo leave, Tsukishima and Yamaguchi enter the gym and greet the third-years. The other upperclassmen are shocked at the first-years' height.

KageyamaHinata S1E3

Hinata climbs a tree to retrieve the ball Kageyama hit.

At the corner of the track field, Hinata and Kageyama practice into the evening until Kageyama hits a ball into a tree. He forces Hinata to get it and as the latter's getting the ball, he calls Kageyama "King", angering the setter. Hinata's confused because it's a cool nickname.

Back in the gym, as the members are cleaning up, Tanaka remarks to Sugawara that he doesn't like Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. Sugawara replies that the first-years seem really strong and worries that Hinata and Kageyama may have some trouble. He also mentions that Kageyama seems to have mellowed out since junior high. Tanaka disagrees though, insisting that Kageyama hasn't changed one bit.

TsukishimaHinataKageyama S1E3

Tsukishima talks about Kageyama's past.

Outside, Hinata and Kageyama's practice gets interrupted by Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. Tsukishima catches Kageyama's toss to Hinata and teases Hinata about his height. Hinata exclaims that he and Kageyama will win on Saturday and Tsukishima replies calmly that since it's an important match for the duo, he could just go easy on them.

Angrily, Kageyama replies that he would win even if Tsukishima tried his best and Tsukishima reminds him of his "King" nickname. Bringing up Kageyama's behavior during junior high, Tsukishima reveals that Kageyama's teammates did something to him during his last game. Unnerved, Kageyama grabs Tsukishima's collar but ultimately decides not to do anything.

He then starts walking away and Tsukishima teases him even more. Having enough, Hinata jumps over Tsukishima's head, grabbing the ball out of his hand. As he lands, he announces that he'll spike the ball over Tsukishima's head during the match. Smiling secretively, Tsukishima tells him to not take everything so seriously and to just have fun. Confused, Hinata demands an explanation, but Tsukishima and Yamaguchi ignore him. Once they leave, Hinata demands Kageyama to continue practicing and the setter agrees.

A few days later, as they're practicing in the gym, Kageyama's surprised by Hinata's improved receives. Despite reaching his limits, Hinata demands more from Kageyama. Annoyed, Kageyama spikes the ball with full power, sending it to the back of the gym. Refusing to give up, Hinata chases after it, impressing Kageyama who finally decides to trust Hinata.

Kageyama thinks over Hinata's determination to win and tosses to the latter who, with the last of his strength, gets back up and spikes. Sugawara notes to Tanaka that that toss was special to Hinata, who had never had a proper setter before. Just as Hinata's recovering, Kageyama comes over and announces that they're going to win on Saturday.

Debut[]

Characters[]

Appearances[]

Characters[]

Locations[]

Episode Notes[]

Character Revelations[]

  • Tanaka is usually late for morning practice.
  • Sugawara is the official setter of Karasuno High.
  • Daichi is terrifying when he's angry.
  • During junior high, after regular volleyball practice, Hinata would practice with all sorts of people, ranging from the neighborhood mothers to the setters from the girls' volleyball team.
  • Sugawara tends to avoid confronting/fighting with guys that are stronger than him.
  • Tsukishima is almost 190 cm tall.
  • Kageyama despises his "King" nickname.
  • Tsukishima can't stand guys that are so intense and passionate about things for no reason.

Differences Between Anime and Manga[]

  • Manga: Hinata and Kageyama are shown practicing for several days before Kageyama finally starts to trust Hinata. One morning, Kageyama tosses to Hinata who spikes happily. After landing, Kageyama announces to him that they're going to win on Saturday. A while later, they're practicing outside when Kageyama has a flashback of his last game in Kitagawa Daiichi. Afterward, he hits the ball into a tree.
    Anime: The order of these events is switched: Hinata and Kageyama only practice in the field one time, and Kageyama still doesn't trust Hinata yet. During that practice, Kageyama spikes the ball into the tree. A few days later, after encountering Tsukishima and Yamaguchi, the two are practicing in the gym when Kageyama finally tosses to Hinata.
  • Manga: When Tsukishima interrupts the duo's practice outside, he says: "Are you guys the first-years that caused problems on the first day?"
    Anime: When Tsukishima interrupts them, he says: "Oh? They're really practicing outside."
  • Anime: After Yamaguchi and Tsukishima leave, Sugawara and Tanaka stop by to watch Hinata and Kageyama practice.
    Manga: This isn't included.

OSTs Used[]

  • 00:52 - 01:12 - Se-n-pa-i (Japanese: セ-ン-パ-イ Se n pa i)
  • OP
  • 03:17 - 03:53 - Kageyama Tobio (Japanese: 影山飛雄 Kageyama Tobio)
  • 04:08 - 05:33 - Teammate (Japanese: チームメイト Chīmumeito)
  • 06:01 - 07:18 - Looking Forward (Japanese: 期待 Kitai)
  • 07:41 - 08:14 - Hinata and Kageyama (Japanese: 日向と影山 Hinata to Kageyama)
  • – eyecatch –
  • 09:48 - 10:37 - Se-n-pa-i (Japanese: セ-ン-パ-イ Se n pa i)
  • 10:51 - 11:46 - Beginning of a Duo (Japanese: コンビ誕生 Konbi Tanjō)
  • 11:51 - 12:43 - Kageyama vs Tsukishima (Japanese: 影山対月島 Kageyama tai Tsukishima)
  • 13:34 - 14:28 - The King of the Court (Japanese: コート上の王様 Kōto jō no Ōsama)
  • 14:47 - 15:49 - A Bad Feeling (Japanese: カンジワルイ Kanjiwarui)
  • 16:37 - 18:11 - Chemical Reaction (Japanese: 化学変化 Kagaku Henka)
  • 18:38 - 19:40 - Frustration (Japanese: 悔しさ Kuyashi sa)
  • 19:51 - 21:27 - What It Means to "Connect" (Japanese: 繋ぐということ Tsunagu to iu Koto)
  • 21:37 - 22:40 - An Interesting Team (Japanese: 面白いチーム Omoshiroi Chīmu)
  • ED
  • Preview - The Freak Quick (Japanese: 変人速攻 Henjin Sokkō)

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