Tetsurō Kuroo captains Nekoma High's volleyball team as a middle blocker. He possesses a tall, lean frame with defined musculature, standing at 187.7 cm (6'1.9") and weighing 75.3 kg. His signature feature is perpetually tousled black hair, spiked upward from chronic bedhead caused by stomach-sleeping with pillows against his ears; a fringe often obscures his right eye, inspiring nicknames like "Rooster Head." Narrow hazel eyes enhance his cat-like, sly aura. During high school, he favors Nekoma's red volleyball uniform (#1), casual black shirts with red sweatpants, or the team jacket. Post-timeskip, his hair shortens slightly, and he adopts professional suits. Kuroo merges laid-back charm with tactical provocations, dubbed the "Scheming Captain" for riling opponents—like pressuring Tsukishima to commit to volleyball. He balances mischief with sportsmanship, apologizing to Daichi after crossing lines. Confident yet approachable, he unites teammates through quirky speeches, notably his "blood in our veins" analogy. Beneath his cunning exterior lies sharp observation and compassion: He supports Kenma through self-doubt, adapting to his introversion. With close friends like Bokuto, he reveals a playful, dorky side—laughing loudly and bantering. He occasionally adopts a mock-avuncular tone, sighing "Ah, youth" at younger players. Raised in Tokyo, he met Kenma Kozume at age eight when moving next door. Initially shy, Kuroo bonded with him over video games before introducing volleyball. Their friendship solidified through spike practice and analyzing pro matches, with Kuroo mimicking techniques. He persuaded Kenma to join their junior high team, continuing into high school. First-year clashes with Yaku after a tournament loss resolved through shared national ambitions. As captain, he intervened when Kenma considered quitting over upperclassmen conflicts, convincing him to stay by highlighting his value and Coach Nekomata’s return. On court, Kuroo shines as an all-rounder with elite blocking. His read-blocking uses precise posture and timing to stifle spikers like Bokuto. In middle school, he developed the "Personal Time Difference Attack," delaying spikes to deceive blockers—later taught to Tsukishima. He executes reliable jump serves and versatile receives, covering back-row duties. Though manga panels showed him spiking with both hands, this was clarified as artistic inconsistency, not ambidexterity. His jumping reach peaks at 330 cm. Key relationships include his foundational bond with Kenma, marked by loyalty and light teasing; he monitors Kenma’s well-being and tutors him academically. He mentors Tsukishima during training camps, provoking then guiding his blocking growth partly to strengthen Karasuno. With Bokuto, he shares boisterous camaraderie and practice sessions. He maintains a barb-trading rivalry with Suguru Daishō, respecting his skills. Post-graduation, Kuroo works in the Japan Volleyball Association’s sports promotion division (as of November 2018), organizing events like All-Stars matches and recruiting players such as Oikawa. Trivia: Born November 17 (Scorpio), he prefers grilled salted mackerel pike, long-haired girls, Mikasa volleyballs, and dogs. He knows "docosahexaenoic acid" (DHA), attends college-prep Class 5, and ranked 6th and 8th in Haikyū!!’s first two popularity polls. His name means "Black Tail" (Kuroo) and "Iron Cheerfulness" (Tetsurō).