Original subtitles

You can do it, Kuribayashi!

Show 'em all what we're made of!

If it were me... out on that field...

I'd probably look a bit happier.

I'm totally dying of jealousy.

Kuribayashi!

Take it away!

Fast pressing by Tosu.

Watch out! He's gonna tackle you!

He got past him!

In that moment when you thought he was in danger,

Kuribayashi looked to take advantage of the momentum of the other player,

and scythed past him.

You were one step behind.

Y-You don't feel the tension watching it on TV like you do on the field!

I'll focus more and try to imagine it for real! Just watch!

He's fast.

He's got the speed. I'd dribble past another if I were him.

So fast!

There's a triangle!

Two teammates came over to cover. I'd work with them to shake off the man marking me!

And Kuribayashi chooses to pass.

See?! Called it!

They've got too many over on the right, so that's a no-go.

Now! I'd pass it to him, then run in on goal from the left!

It's out to the right!

A big chance for Deguchi, who is clear!

Oh, nice save!

But wow, what a killer pass from Kuribayashi!

His technique is amazing. But even more amazing is how fearlessly he tries things.

If that killer pass had been off by an inch, the other team would have countered.

But he didn't hesitate.

H-How is this guy even real?

Kuribayashi Haruhisa's only been on the field for five minutes,

but he used his first touch on the ball to turn the flow of the game in Esperion's favor!

I'm sorry, but...

Today, I'm bringing out the flashy individual plays whenever I get the chance.

I will contribute to the team, of course. But I need people to remember me.

Now that I'm finally out on the field,

I'm going to get every spectator here on my side, so I never have to go back on the bench.

Ah, that was close!

How do I become more like him?

This guy's just way too good.

I really wanted to know what you thoughtof Kuribayashi after watching him play.

For my own future reference.

Kuribayashi once said in an interview:

"Whatever the situation, I instantly come up with four viable options, then choose one."

Four?!

I don't have "options."

I only ever have one course of action available to me at any given moment.

You must expand your options.

There's something you can take from Kuribayashi's game

and incorporate into your own.

You should definitely do so.

Please think on it.

Here are the stars of today's match.

Deguchi, who scored twice, and the player who got the assist for the winning goal...

Kuribayashi Haruhisa.

Th-This Kuribayashi guy... is a total monster...

Don't expect them to be as surprised as you are.

We've been watching Kuribayashi since we were juniors.

For players like us, who join the academy in grade school,

we're usually fairly good before we even get here.

Naturally, we all think we're gonna be the top players in junior youth.

But...

When I saw Kuribayashi on the first day, I immediately thought:

"Oh. I'll have to aim to be second best instead."

"The second-best player on this team."

Next, we have Kuribayashi.

It never really crossed our minds that you're still in high school.

What a fantastic game you had.

I've been practicing with the first team,

and, honestly, there was never a moment where I felt I couldn't keep up.

Right. You were absolutely on par with them, for sure.

If you continue your physical training, your core will get stronger, you'll bulk up,

and you won't be so thin...

He is the bane of interviewers.

When they ask something worthless, he looks at them as if he knows what they're after.

He is known to be a tough interviewee.

Worthless? That question was worthless?

In my view...

"Physical" is a word that those who lack technique hide behind.

I know what I need most better than anyone.

The only other person who might is Manager Fukuda of the youth team.

Th-Thank you very much.

That's it for the interview with today's star players.

Yoshitsune, you'll be on a different training regimen starting tomorrow, okay?

Right.

Okay! Except for those in the dorm, you're dismissed.

"Physical" is a word that those who lack technique hide behind.

He wasn't saying that to look down on being physical.

He said it because he honestly believes technique is that important.

Backed up by an unwavering confidence in his own technique.

Amazing. Kuribayashi Haruhisa... Everything about him is amazing!

I want to meet him. No, I don't want to just meet him...

If you want to play with him, you have to move up to the A team as soon as possible.

Kuribayashi will undoubtedlyreturn to the A team at some point.

If you can become an integral part of the A team by then,

you will be able to talk to him as his equal.

To do that, remember what I said earlier...

Oh! What I can add to my own game from Kuribayashi's play today, right?

I know what it is!

You... do?

Where's Hana?

What?

Everyone, listen up!

Yoshitsune got injured in the match in Aomori.

So we'll be moving some front line players from the B team to the A team.

Fukuda will be at our game this weekend and will determine who moves up.

It's a huge chance for you guys!

I don't know much about soccer.

Man...

I spent time on revising these.

He said he wanted to eat what he wants, so I tried to make them more palatable.

But I couldn't give them to him.

What am I saying? I could've just given them to him.

Oh, whatever! I'm going home!

You can do it, Ashito.

After that goal, moving up to the A team is now in your sights.

I'll watch from afar so that I won't be in your way.

Fukuda, I'd like to repeat what I said about Aoi. He's...

The sooner, the better.

For him, the sooner, the better.

If Ashito can seal the deal in the next game,that's faster than I could've ever imagined.

You've guided him well.

Thank you, Nozomi.

Aw, yeah!

I'm so lucky to be playing a match every week!

Why are you so full of energy?

But seriously, Ashito, aren't you tired?

Look at your face.

You've been working really hard on your night training over the past week, huh?

Still doing "kill it, then kick it"?

Well, yeah. That, too. But...

Just you wait and see! I learned something from watching Kuribayashi play!

Aoi-kun.

Let's do our best today.

Right!

Just you watch. I'm moving up to the A team after this game.

When you're on the bench, everyone's more motivated.

You think so?

Ohtomo!

The other side!

Their coordination has gottenmuch better in just one week.

In the middle.

There's a space in the middle! Why are you all getting drawn out?!

There's something you can take from Kuribayashi's game

and incorporate into your own.

You should definitely do so.

A killer pass!

What the heck?

Move up! Let's go!

There!

Kuroda's breaking free for a pass. So I should aim for there, so he gets it in midair.

An eye-opening, lightning killer pass coming up!

Wait, huh?

The hell was that?

Don't you know which goal you're aiming for?

It's... It's not going where I want it to!

Hey, Anri, I hear ya gave him some advice at the BBQ place.

However much he tries it, that ain't workin'.

His intentions were definitely interestin', though.

Both times, he passed to players hidden behind opponents without any hesitation.

Excuse me.

Huh?

Could you please not speak to me so much?

Suit yerself.

I'm leaving the actual coaching to Nozomi.

So I'll just say one thing in this half-time team talk.

Why do you all keep looking over at the bench during the game?

Are you playing this match against your manager?

Your opponents are in front of you.

Don't forget, the positions you are given are yours and yours alone.

Somehow, everyone's calmer now.

Though I never looked over at the bench...

But I want you to watch me, old man!

Aoi.

Huh?! Y-Yes?

If you want to imitate Kuribayashi, pay attention to each of his movements and think.

A pass is a pass, whether it's a so-called "killer pass" or a short pass.

It's just a means of getting to the goal.

They were meant to be passes?

Huh? They were passes?!

I didn't realize...

A pass is a pass. Just a means of getting to the goal.

I see.

I understand now!

Which means it should go there.

If this pass goes through...

Go!

He broke through on the right!

Calm down! Just block the shooting angle!

I was heading for the middle, but...

From here, I'll just—

Eat that!

All right!

Bro! You totally buried it!

How d'ya like that?!

That Ashito. I didn't know he could score a goal like that.

A pass is just a means of getting to the goal, huh?

Good choice of words, Nozomi.

What type of goal do you envision when you pass the ball?

Only when you can answer that can you call a pass a "killer pass."

What's impressive was that he envisioned himself scoring the goal.

I'm the reincarnation of Gabriel Batistuta! That's me!

Though Batistuta is still alive!

Improving the precision of my passing is a given!

But on top of that, my mission is to score!

That's my pride as a forward. That's my answer!

Nozomi, can you call him up to the clubhouse later?

I'll tell him myself.

Understood.

I'm coming in!

A convincing 3-0 victory.

Ashito, it's all thanks to you.

It's all thanks to you, old man.

Huh?

I'm enjoying soccer more and more.

Now I can do so many things I couldn't do before,

but there's still so much I can learn.

You brought me to the best place I could hope for.

And it's all because I met you.

Thank you.

Please move me up to the A team.

I'm not saying I think I'd be able toreplace Yoshitsune-san right away.

I still have such a long way to go. But...

I swear I'll get better. That's a promise.

Now that I think about it, this is my first time speaking to you alone since the beach.

I'm sorry, Ashito.

I can't promote you just yet.

B-But why?

Ashito.

Turn yourself into a defender.

To be more precise, become a full-back.

You will play on the world stage as a full-back specialist.

Turn into... a defender?

I don't know what you're trying to...

Your skills suit that position.

You will never again play as a forward.

A complete transition.

But... my play... as a forward...

Are you saying my play as a forward is no good?

As a forward...

I did so well just now!

In... In both of the last two games!

You did well largely because of your natural gift.

And this gift cannot be put to best use if you're on the front line.

By grasping the situation from the back—

I don't get what you're saying!

No! I don't want to!

I came here because I want to be the best forward in the world!

I'll tell you why you'll never make it as a forward.

First, the ball doesn't stay down at your feet.

That won't cut it on the A team.

I'll practice more! In fact, I'm already...

You have no agility.

Plus, in short sprints, you have no explosive power over the first ten meters.

That's fatal as a forward.

You do have a keen eye for scoring. But you don't have the ability to back it up.

This isn't about the environment you're in. It's not because you joined the youth team too late.

It's innate.

The moment you were born,

it had already been decided for youthat you wouldn't be a forward.

This was my plan from the start. When I first met you in Futami,

you filled the vacant hole I had at full-back in my vision like a puzzle piece—

What the hell, man?!

Then, why didn't you tell me?!

Why now?!

You wouldn't have come if I had.

This was the best time to do it.

No... I don't want to be a defender.

Please, old man...

If you don't want to, then leave.

The youth team isn't a soccer school.

We can't keep players we know will never be good enough for us.

Aoi.

The next episode of Aoashi is: "It's Just Soccer."