His "salty" personality is established as he mocks the concept of "effort" in sports, serving as a foil to Hinata's pure enthusiasm.
The duo’s practice is interrupted by the other two new first-year applicants: the tall and cynical Kei Tsukishima and his friend Tadashi Yamaguchi . Tsukishima immediately antagonizes Kageyama by bringing up his "King of the Court" nickname and the teammates who abandoned him in middle school.
Enraged by Tsukishima's insults, Hinata jumps over the tall blocker to snatch a ball from his hand, declaring he will spike over him during their Saturday match. This display of raw athleticism and determination finally prompts Kageyama to give Hinata his first proper toss. Key Character Moments
Kageyama remains cold, telling Hinata he will only toss to players he deems "essential to winning"—a status he believes Hinata has not yet earned.
In the manga , the duo is shown practicing for several days before Kageyama trusts Hinata. The anime streamlines this, having the breakthrough occur shortly after the confrontation with Tsukishima. Haikyuu!! Episode 3 - Meeping Anime
He reveals he is the official setter but encourages Hinata to view Kageyama as a "formidable ally" rather than just a rival.
The episode hints at his deep-seated trauma regarding the "King" nickname, which refers to his dictatorial playstyle in junior high that led his teammates to stop jumping for his tosses. Comparison: Anime vs. Manga