Shōyō Hinata discovered volleyball through a broadcast of Karasuno High’s "Small Giant," whose prowess ignited his ambition despite their shared short stature. In junior high, he founded Yukigaoka’s volleyball club as its sole member, practicing alone until recruiting friends in his third year for their inaugural tournament. There, they faced Tobio Kageyama’s powerhouse team, Kitagawa Daiichi. Though crushed in defeat, Hinata’s athleticism and resolve captivated Kageyama, sparking a rivalry where Hinata swore to conquer him in high school. He enrolled at Karasuno High only to find Kageyama as a teammate. Their clashing egos got both suspended from club activities until they proved teamwork. Despite minimal training, Hinata compensated for his 162.8 cm frame with extraordinary jumping power, speed, and stamina. Forced to collaborate, they forged the "Freak Quick" attack—Kageyama’s surgical sets meeting Hinata’s explosive jumps. This synergy transformed rivalry into mutual respect, fueling their mission to revive Karasuno’s legacy. Academically, Hinata faltered, routinely scoring under 40 on tests. A critical failure barred him and Kageyama from a Tokyo training camp. The vice principal demanded a 90% make-up exam pass rate. Teammates Yachi Hitoka and Yamaguchi Tadashi drilled them intensively, while Tanaka Ryūnosuke’s sister Saeko provided transport. Their eventual success underscored Hinata’s reliance on collective support to overcome non-athletic hurdles. Hinata radiates relentless enthusiasm, his loud energy disarming introverts like Kozume Kenma or Aone Takanobu. He flinches momentarily against intimidating opponents but rebounds to challenge them fiercely. Off-court, his social perceptiveness surfaces in empathetic encouragement for teammates. During matches, his focus crystallizes into declarations like his iconic line to Ushijima Wakatoshi: "I sprouted from the concrete," embodying defiant resilience. Post-graduation, he honed defensive skills through beach volleyball in Brazil. By 2018, he joined Japan’s V-League Division 1 team MSBY Black Jackals and competed in the 2021 Olympics. As of 2022, he plays professionally for Asas São Paulo in Brazil. Rigorous training stretched his height to 172 cm and sculpted a lean, muscular physique.