Shonen Jump’s New Sports Series Is the Ultimate Replacement for Haikyuu and Blue Box

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Even with several series ending recently, Shonen Jump is still launching new manga. Their latest title could be a great successor to popular sports series like Haikyuu!! and Blue Box. Haikyuu!! was a huge hit in the magazine, running for over 400 chapters, thanks to its exciting portrayal of volleyball and the compelling relationship between characters Tobio Kageyama and Hinata Shoyo. They pushed each other to improve and become better players.

While Blue Box focuses on sports and the joy of competition, its central theme is romance, which really makes it stand out. The story follows several characters working to get better at their sports, driven by their feelings and commitments to others. Like other series, these stories find inspiration in different places. Drawn to the Fire takes the compelling dynamic between Hinata and Kageyama from Haikyuu!! – where their contrasting skills help them both improve – and combines it with Taiki’s romantic feelings for Chinatsu. This combination makes for a very promising start, and the first chapter of the new manga effectively showcases both of these key elements.

Drawn to the Fire Can Perfectly Replace Both Haikyuu!! & Blue Box

Masayoshi Satosho’s manga, Drawn to the Fire, debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump’s 20th issue on April 12th. The story centers on Keiki Mizuhara, who stops playing basketball when he starts high school, feeling he’ll never reach the same level as his talented friend, Hanabi Tachibana. He feels like he’s simply drawn to her brilliance, but their separation when Hanabi transfers schools leaves him feeling hopeless. Though they vow to reunite at the national tournament, Keiki convinces himself he’ll never be good enough and quits basketball altogether.

A new basketball player, Akane Natsu, arrives at Keiki’s school and immediately tries to convince him to join the team. Natsu surprisingly admits he chose this school specifically because of Keiki, believing Keiki has a rare natural talent that could rival even the most gifted players. This creates a strong connection between them, like two people drawn to each other’s strengths, which is clear even in their first game. The relationship echoes the dynamic between Kageyama and Hinata in Haikyuu!!, where Hinata was uniquely able to keep up with Kageyama’s incredible skill.

Keiki’s continued feelings for Hanabi drive him to become a better basketball player, mirroring the relationship between Taiki and Chinatsu. Though it shares a focus on basketball with Blue Box, Drawn to the Fire gives the sport more prominence. This makes it a great choice for fans who enjoyed Haikyuu!! and a good follow-up for those currently watching Blue Box as it nears its end.

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2026-04-19 15:12