Which 'Haikyuu!!' Ship Rules The Fandom? Fans Ranked The Top 20 Pairs

Akaashi and Bokuto's relationship is one of the most popular ships in the fandom, and for good reason. Akaashi understands Bokuto better than anyone else does. Bokuto is easily dejected when things don't go as he expects them to. The rest of his team tends to ignore him or get irritated when Bokuto gets moody. Akaashi actually tries to figure out what might lift his spirits. Not only does he care, he's also incredibly perceptive and is often able to figure it out. But the relationship isn't one-sided. While Bokuto might not be as intuitive about Akaashi, his genuine enthusiasm and excitement for volleyball and other aspects of life is something that Akaashi finds truly valuable.

Can love bloom between two people who are constantly calling each other nasty names? Of course it can. Iwaizumi and Oikawa might bicker a lot, but they've been close friends since they were kids. They're consistent sources of support for each other. When Oikawa needs to rely on his team more, it's Iwaizumi who pushes him to do it. The two have great respect for one another as teammates, even when they pretend to hate each other. It's not hard to imagine those deep feelings evolving into love.

Whether you ship them or not, it's hard to deny that Kageyama and Hinata's relationship is at the core of Haikyuu!!. The two of them began their relationship as rivals. Once they got onto the same team, they constantly strove to surpass each other. Sometimes, this got in the way of working together - they were prone to shouting matches and even physical fights. But ultimately, the combinations they came up with together proved integral to their team's strategy, and to their individual growth. They saw each other as both friends and indispensable partners - with a lot of ups and downs in the process. The development of their relationship over time is part of what makes it so great.

If you love the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, you might like Kuroo x Kenma. While these two were growing up together, Kuroo taught Kenma how to play volleyball. At first, this was kind of a drag for Kenma, since he disliked having to work so hard for something he was only half-heartedly interested in. But as he began to experience the joys volleyball had to offer, he was genuinely grateful to Kuroo. Another important element of their relationship is Kuroo's protectiveness - he knows Kenma has issues with both anxiety and stamina, so he's always looking out to make sure that he's doing okay.

While the fandom does ship Tsukishima and Yamaguchi with other people, their relationship is the most popular one for either character by far. They first meet as children, when Tsukishima stands up for Yamaguchi when he's being bullied. When they meet again in high school, Yamaguchi follows Tsukishima around like a puppy and defers to him constantly - but as their relationship evolves, that changes. When Tsukishima gets so pessimistic that he refuses to try hard at volleyball, Yamaguchi is the one who persuades him to put in effort. Yamaguchi might love Tsukki to the point of practically worshipping him, but he also holds him to high standards. Meanwhile, Tsukishima makes it clear that Yamaguchi is much more talented than he thinks he is, and should be proud of himself. That's why it's a healthy relationship - it's not one where one person dominates another, it's one where they both help each other be better.

Regarded as the "parents" of Karasuno, Daichi and Sugawara are shipped by a large portion of the fandom. Both of them are third years who have been through a lot of ups and downs with their team. Despite that, they've been able to stay relaxed and cheerful, and be supportive to their teammates. The two haven't had any dramatic or life-changing moments together, but it's their stability and reliability that makes them stand out.

Ushijima and Tendo aren't the most popular characters in the series, but they have solid ship potential. Most people who Ushijima encounters are intimidated by him because of his imposing stature, resting angry face, and nearly untouchable volleyball skills. While he doesn't express having much of a problem with this in canon, wanting to connect with people who aren't afraid of you is a normal human desire. Tendo isn't intimidated by Ushijima. Instead, he happily chats with him about whatever comes to mind. Tendo has been rejected by his peers for most of his life because of his odd behavior, so it's possible that he feels drawn to Ushijima because he can relate to him.

Lev and Yaku are both members of Nekoma. Since they're side characters, they don't get a ton of development, but that doesn't mean that people don't ship them. Although Yaku is Lev's upperclassman, he's a lot shorter than him. Yaku has a complex about his height, which is understandable since height is a big deal in volleyball. This makes him even more desperate for Lev to listen to him. Lev sometimes does heed his advice, but sometimes he gets a little annoyed with Yaku's pushiness. Their dynamic might not be quite as wholesome as some of the others on the list, but that's okay. Sometimes pairings are more fun with a little spice, and besides, two of them do really respect each other at their core.

Spoiler alert: this one is actually canon. Tanaka spends the entire series pining after Kiyoko. While he makes it super clear that he's into her, she doesn't reciprocate his feelings throughout most of the series. In fact, she turns him down repeatedly. But she's always been aware of his strength and his other positive traits. Sometime after high school, the two get married. It's not clear exactly what changes Kiyoko's mind, but they seem happy and in love when they attend the Schweiden Adlers vs. Black Jackals game together.

Though Asahi and Nishinoya have contrasting personalities, they do share one common trait - a tendency to blame themselves for everything that goes wrong during games. But while Nishinoya uses this as a springboard to work harder, Asahi tends to get depressed and withdrawn. Nishinoya can be a bit too aggressive about it at times, but he does a great job at helping Asahi see himself and his abilities in a positive ligtht. Meanwhile, when Nishinoya needs to calm down, Asahi is a grounding force.

Atsumu Miya and Kiyoomi Sakusa get to know each other when they become teammates in the MSBY Black Jackals. The two are constantly teasing each other, although Sakusa seems to be a lot better at dishing it out than taking it. He gave Atsumu a nickname - Omi-kun or Omi-Omi. Most of their relationship is fanon rather than canon. Fanfics tend to revolve around Atsumu helping Sakusa deal with his germaphobia or Atsumu being the exception to Sakusa's general unwillingness to touch people.

While neither Hanamaki nor Matsukawa are major characters, they have over 3,000 fics on Archive of our Own, making them the 10th most popular Haikyuu!! ship on the site. The two Aoba Johsai players are nearly always seen together, and they seem to get along great - in the manga they even wear each other's uniforms from time to time. While not much is known about their specific relationship, that may be part of the appeal - it's a blank slate for fans to get creative with.

Are you an adult who would rather focus on romance between two people closer to your own age? Or are you someone of any age who likes the idea of a relationship between an earnest nerd and a laid-back jock? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then the relationship between Ukai and Takeda, the two coaches of Karasuno, might be the ship for you. Their personalities couldn't be more different, but they're both kind and hardworking people who share a singular goal - taking their team to victory.

One thing is clear - Yachi and Kiyoko like each other a lot. Yachi is blown away by Kiyoko's beauty, and impressed by her cool, put-together personality. Meanwhile, Kiyoko finds Yachi to be charming and genuine. They spend a lot of time together, and get along great. But they also push each other to be better - Yachi's presence inspires Kiyoko to work harder so that she can comfortably pass on the manager role when she graduates, and Kiyoko pushes Yachi to take risks she wouldn't take otherwise.

Kenma and Hinata's initial friendship is a healthy rivalry. At first, Hinata wants to get Kenma to genuinely enjoy playing volleyball, and he also wants to beat him at it. Later, their rivalry evens out, with the two of them equally eager to beat each other. When their teams aren't in conflict, they're friendly with one another, frequently texting and hanging out between games. Overall, they have a soft and loving friendship that lends itself well to romance.

For some fans, it's hard to imagine Yamaguchi in a relationship with anyone besides Tsukishima. But what if you want to see Yamaguchi in a relationship that doesn't involve him getting snapped at by a grumpy partner? Another option is Yamaguchi x Yachi. Both of them exist on the margins of the Karasuno team - Yachi starts off as a manager-in-training while Yamaguchi starts off as a pinch server. Despite rarely getting to be the stars of the show, they're still invested in their team's success. Both of them have issues with anxiety and low self-esteem, but they use those feelings to empathize with others. With so much in common, a romantic spark seems totally possible - and totally adorable.

Hinata and Yachi's relationship is characterized by mutual support. At the start of the series, Hinata encouraged Yachi to overcome her fears and apply to be a manager. He also helps her figure out how to talk to her mother after a conflict. Meanwhile, Yachi has helped Hinata work through issues with Kageyama on more than one occasion. While their relationship has remained platonic in canon, it's easy to see how they could have a happy, healthy relationship.

Kuroo and Tsukishima are both middle blockers, which means that when their teams face up against each other, they're automatically rivals. That alone is enough of a reason for some people to ship them - rivalshipping is a powerful force in fandoms. But their connection is more than just rivalry. Kuroo is a powerful force in helping Tsukishima see how someone can get motivated to put all their effort into volleyball, even when they're not sure it'll pay off in the end. He's also one of the only people who knows the details of Tsukishima's personal insecurities.

At the end of To The Top, Atsumu predicts that one day, he's going to set for Hinata. Hinata finds this confusing at the time but Atsumu's prediction comes true. The two don't really get the chance to get to know each other until they join the MSBY Black Jackals after high school, which is why this ship is much more popular among manga readers than anime-onlies. As teammates, they get along well, and support each other through tough competitions. Their personalities are pretty different, but Hinata is already used to that through his friendship with Kageyama.

When Kageyama and Tsukishima first meet, they can't stand each other. For some fans, that's exactly why they make a great couple. Both of them are extremely irritable people who have no qualms about mocking and insulting those who rub them the wrong way. At the same time, neither of them are particularly good at expressing their actual emotions, and tend to hide behind their barbed words. As the series progresses, they begin to show more respect for each other, and support each other more during matches. It's interesting to think about how their relationship could continue to evolve.