Background

Even shortly after he was born, Kageyama was shown to already have a great love for volleyball when he held on dearly to his older sister's volleyball and refused to let his grandfather take it away from him. When he was around four years old, Kageyama started playing volleyball with his grandfather, Kazuyo, and his older sister, Miwa, and soon found a passion for the sport, and became a setter due to it being the position that got to touch the ball the most. During his time at Akiyama Elementary, Kageyama is soon recognized as a prodigy. 

Plot

Kageyama makes his debut appearance during the middle school volleyball tournament when he arrives at the gym with his team, Kitagawa Daiichi Junior High. Its first match was against Hinata's team, Yukigaoka Junior High School. Before the game began, Kageyama went to the bathroom, where he encountered Hinata being bullied by members from Kitagawa Daiichi. Kageyama coldly criticized them before turning his attention to Hinata. Despite Kageyama's mocking of Hinata's lack of height and overly idealistic ambition, Hinata wasn't fazed and challenged Kageyama instead, surprising and irritating the latter. Kageyama accepted angrily before leaving.