Original subtitles

Iza tsukame! wonderful world

Now grab hold of that wonderful world!

Atarashii hajimari wo

That new beginning

Ki wo nukeba isshun de

If I lose focus

koroge ochiteku no

I'll fall down in an instant, no

Girigiri no saizensen

When you're at the very front lines,

hikikaese yashinai

there's no turning back!

Kakugo wo kimetara go my way go my way

Once I make up my mind, go my way, go my way

Nanimo shitogetenai

I haven't accomplished anything yet

Sore demo never give up mada never give up

But still I'll never give up, still, I'll never give up

Susumu michi wa kono te de hirake

I'll open the path forward with my own hands

Zasetsu mo

Your frustration

Shinpai mo

Your worries

and your pride

Puraido mo

sutesatte

throw them all away

Tada munehatte

just stand tall

hashire

and then run for it!

Iza tsukame! wonderful world

Now grab hold of that wonderful world!

Atarashii hajimari wo

That new beginning

Hirogatteku beautiful light

The beautiful light is spreading

Nandomo tachiagare

Just keep getting back up

Ato ippo go my way mou ippo go my way

I'm almost there, go my way, just one more step, go my way

Tachidomatteru dake ja

If you just come to stop

Tsukamenai wonderful world

You'll never grab hold of that wonderful world

Darenimo tomerarenai mirai e

Nobody can stop me from getting to that future

Episode 17: Asai Haru's History

Okay, great!

Okay, Asai-kun. Look at this camera!

Asai Haru-kun, what do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up I want to represent Japan, win the World Cup, and become a superstar known around the world!

I was pretty famous in my hometown

Child prodigy, Asai Haru, wants to be a superstar

and in my junior soccer club, I was already an ace striker.

Nobody could stop me.

I was the child prodigy, Asai Haru!

Haru, I think those girls are waiting for you?

Why don't you go sign something for them?

Huh?

Why?

Well... they've been looking this way for a while now.

Today Spain vs England is playing so I have to go home to watch!

Oh...

See ya!

I was only interested in soccer...

Pass! Pass!

Ah! Yes!

and I was sure that I would become a superstar someday too.

Goal!

Every single hour of the day I was constantly thinking about soccer.

I could only think about soccer.

Really? You got 10 on all of them? That's amazing.

It is amazing.

The number 10 really does follow me everywhere!

Huh?

Since I'm destined to wear the number 10 on my back, it's like it's telling me I'm destined to become a star forward!

Do you get it?

Not at all.

I spent all my days after that absorbed in soccer

and I was chosen to represent Japan in the under 17 cup.

Then in the national inter-high school tournament,

I performed well as an ace striker.

I was scouted and entered the J-League!

My girlfriend who I had been dating since our second year of high school got pregnant and so we got married

and had a son.

Oh, man.

This is bad.

What do I do?

He's too cute!

When I tried to name him something related to soccer my wife refused so his name is Kaoru.

I never knew there was something in this world that I could be as obsessed with as soccer!

But...

Divorce papers

my marriage was over in an instant.

Even still,

while I might have been living apart from my son, I kept giving it my all so my son could see how cool his dad was.

Woo!

Here they come!

Ah, there he is! It's Asai!

That's "Asai-san"!

Please sign my ball!

Okay!

-Yes! -Sign mine too!

No pushing! I'll get to you all!

Everything was going great!

I went pro and my first World Cup arrived.

I was told I was supposed to be announced as a surprise but...

Maki.

And the last player is...

Tanaka.

It didn't happen.

4 YEARS LATER...

Then for the World Cup 4 years later, I was told I would be announced as a member

so I was really confident.

Let me hear those vuvuzelas! Special interview with Asai Haru

But...

It didn't happen.

4 YEARS LATER...

Four years later, I gained experience playing abroad,

and worked hard to produce results for my team.

National team candidate! Is Asai Haru ready to dance the samba!?

Due to my age, this would be my last chance.

And it finally happened!

Huh?

Offside.

Ah... so close!

Huh?

It didn't.

Papa, do your best!!

I kept running.

I was always running with all my might,

without stopping!

and my knee exploded.

I tore my ACL.

I had surgery, went to rehab, and tried to come back as soon as possible...

but they never put me in the games...

Hey, you want autographs?

It's Tokugawa!

Please sign my ball!

Younger players easily took my place.

The team ended up not renewing my contract,

so I ended up being able to play with a few teams in the J2 and J3 leagues.

Even if my annual salary was a third of what it used to be!

I could still run!

Asai Haru-kun, what do you want to be when you grow up?

I could still...

When I grow up I want to represent Japan, win the World Cup, and become a superstar known around the world!

...keep running!

I could...

Cancellation of contract

When I turned 34, I wasn't included in any team.

In other words, I was fired.

And then...

since all I had ever done was soccer,

I started doing all sorts of things I'd never been able to do before.

Eating late night ramen after drinking.

No muscle training.

Yes! Sugar!

Partying from midnight to the early morning.

You're saying you don't understand? I didn't either.

All I knew was...

no matter what I did, it was all boring.

Demon Ex-Wife

Yeah, I know!

I said I'm going to pay child support!

I'll figure something out!

Huh? Manpuku Talent Production?

What's that?

And so...

she just applied for me because she was worried about her child support.

I have no interest in being an idol!

Huh?

What's with this old lady?

Her stare is intense.

It makes me feel like I can't back down!

I learned later that old lady was the CEO.

What? I passed?

There are quite a few ex-players who became commentators or actors as a second career...

but has anybody become an idol?

Am I going to be an idol?

Me?

Ahh...

I thought about it a lot...

but I still ended up coming here not really knowing what I want to do.

Huh? Isn't that "Asai" the one who used to be a soccer player?

Is he joining Manpuku to get into entertainment?

Huh? It's probably someone else.

I'm having lunch with mom, meow! I'm excited!

This is wrong!

Middle aged idols are definitely lame!

How would I explain it to Kaoru?

Shit!

Excuse me, I'm here for the orientation...

Huh?

Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.

I'm going home!

Hey, you!

Huh?

Are you a member of the new idol group?

No, I'm giving up on it.

Hm?

Papa, are you becoming an idol? Wow! That's so cool!

Huh?

It's cool?

It's super cool!

Really?

So you're quitting?

What a shame.

I'm sure you could have become a superstar.

Me?

From your appearance, I can tell that you're no ordinary middle aged man.

I think you have the makings of a superstar.

Me, a superstar? You say funny things!

Child prodigy, Asai Haru, wants to be a superstar

Asai Haru, the child prodigy...

Former J Leaguer, Asai Haru debuting in Eternal Boys

became Asai Haru from Eternal Boys!

Will this really be okay?

Can we really perform at Budokan?

It's already decided. So we just have to do it!

My heart won't stop beatn'.

M-Me too... I think my heart is going to explode!

Yamanaka-san is right.

Since it's already decided, we just have to establish a plan and make it happen.

Well, I'm sure it'll work out! We've made it this far!

The lessons are going to be even harder than they have been, aren't they?

That's right. Let's give it our all!

Yeah!

Isn't this team quite good?

Tsuki ga yasashiku terashita yoru

On a night when the moon was shining softly

Koko ni wa inai kimi wo omotteta

I was thinking of you even though weren't here

Kaze ni fukare me wo tojita mama

While standing in the wind with my eyes closed

Kuchzuasamu no ha ano merodi

I was humming that melody

imamo mada boku no naka ni aru

It's still here inside me

Atatakai mama yasashisa no subete ga

all the warm affection I have

Shiawase wo shiawase na toki ni

It's hard to feel happy

Kanjiru no ha muzukashii dane

during the happy times, isn't it?

Night is dark nemuranakute ii

Night is dark, but I don't need to sleep

Yasashii egao ga ukabu yoru nara

if it's a night when I'm picturing that kind smile

All through the night kimi ni tsutaetai koto wo kakoeteta

All through the night I was counting all the things I wanted to tell you

Wherever you are right now

Mataitsuka aeru made

Until the day we meet again

walkin' on walkin' on walkin' on susumeyou

walkin' on walkin' on walkin' on let's keep moving towards it

Kimi no iru story of my love

You're here in my story of my love

Story of Love

We'll live it as one

The story of love!

Translated by KudouUsagi