Kyosuke Kano is the protagonist of the story, a high school student who possesses natural talent as a striker but carries deep emotional wounds related to the sport. His older brother, Seisuke Kano, is a world-class genius midfielder who plays for the prestigious Italian club A.C. Milan. Growing up in the shadow of such a brilliant brother caused Kyosuke immense stress, as people constantly compared them and saw him only as Seisuke’s younger brother rather than as an individual in his own right. This constant pressure to live up to his brother’s legacy and the criticism he received for his different playing style eventually made his love for soccer evaporate, leading him to quit the sport after a fight during a middle school match.

After abandoning soccer, Kyosuke adopts a rebellious and impulsive lifestyle, dyeing his hair a flashy orange color and frequently getting into fights as a delinquent student. This fiery and somewhat short-tempered personality is reflected in his appearance, earning him the nickname Orange Head. Despite his efforts to leave soccer behind, his deep-seated passion for the game never completely vanishes. This dormant love is rekindled when he transfers to Akanegaoka High School and meets Miki Tsujiwaki, a passionate and determined member of the women’s soccer team who recognizes his raw talent. Through a series of circumstances, Kyosuke is blackmailed into becoming the temporary coach for the struggling women’s team, a role that forces him to confront his feelings about the sport. Initially reluctant and apathetic, he finds his own passion reignited by Miki’s unwavering determination and the support of Kazuto Mori, the persistent manager of the men’s soccer team.

Kyosuke’s primary motivation becomes a desire to forge his own identity on the field, separate from his brother’s immense legacy. He accepts Mori’s plea to join the men’s team and resolves to play using his own unique style, rather than trying to imitate Seisuke. Throughout the series, his role is that of the team’s ace striker, whose powerful shots and natural scoring instinct are central to Jojo Orange Hill’s offensive power. He forms a close bond, and a sometimes conflicting friendship, with other talented first-year players, including the Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo and the goalkeeper Sakai Jefferson. Together, the three develop a special combination play known as the Triple Namaiki Special, or TNS, showcasing their instinctual synergy on the field.

Key relationships profoundly shape Kyosuke’s development. His dynamic with Miki Tsujiwaki is central, as she is the one who saves him from his aimless path and helps him rediscover his love for soccer, leading to an initially awkward but deepening romantic connection between them. His relationship with his brother Seisuke is complex; while he resents being compared to him, Seisuke’s guidance and support eventually help Kyosuke find a new identity as a striker. A significant turning point in his personal growth comes with the revelation that the parents who raised him are actually his adoptive parents, and that Seisuke is not his biological brother. His biological father was a legendary Japanese striker named Narumi, who died in an accident. Upon learning this, Kyosuke reaffirms that he still considers Seisuke and his adoptive parents as his true family, demonstrating his emotional maturity.

As a player, Kyosuke’s notable abilities lie in his powerful shooting and his natural instincts as a forward. Despite not being as technically refined as his brother, he possesses exceptional scoring prowess, which he demonstrates by breaking a long-standing record for most goals in a season. His journey is one of remarkable growth, both as a player and as a person. He overcomes his crippling inferiority complex, emerges from his brother’s shadow, and matures from a rebellious delinquent into a dedicated athlete who finds his own purpose and joy in soccer, with the ultimate goal of leading his team to victory against formidable rivals like the powerhouse Tenryu High School.