Morning...
You're up early.
Were you in a game, then?
Just helping.
Did you enjoy playing soccer?
Here you go.
cIt's late, but here's your birthday present.
From Minato.
From Dad?
He wants you to use them, he said.
You're playing soccer again, right?
The way you're so indecisive is just like Minato.
Take all the time you need.
Just because you made one decision doesn't mean you're stuck with it forever.
Namioka.
Tsuji!
You came!
Yes.
Thanks for your help yesterday.
Don't worry.
I'm just happy you played in our game.
Oh, Coach Kamiya. Good morning.
Morning.
Good morning!
I'll begin by announcing our starters.
Right now?
I know this isn't the usual timing.
Why, then?
This is based off yesterday's game.
When I call your name, step forward.
Our goalie is Amagai.
Okay!
Center-backs are Goto and Yamaguchi.
Yes, sir.
Full-backs, Nakano and Tatsunami.
Yes, sir!
Attacking midfielder, Kurokawa.
Defensive midfielders, Matsuhashi and Sonoda.
Yes, sir.
Wing-backs, Kazama and Hayashi.
Yes, sir!
Center forward...
Tsuji.
Wait!
Is Tsuji...
Joining the team?
Coach, wait!
What about Sahara?
So you chose Tsuji over me?
I didn't say a word about joining the team...
That's fine.
But I'm not filling the position with anyone else.
So you want us to play with ten players, then?
Correct.
That's insane!
As team captain, I can't allow this!
You have one month!
If you can't win a game in one month, I'm closing down the Kakegawa soccer team!
These aren't necessarily the final positions.
I won't pick alternates, but I may swap.
Why is he a starter?
He's not even on the team!
Yeah...
He didn't even score a single point.
Wouldn't Sahara be a better choice, then?
But the coach says he won't use anybody else...
So we're stuck with him, then.
If you don't join, they'll be playing with ten players.
What will you do?
Okay.
I'll say this before we get started!
Greetings! Cleaning! Gear maintenance!
We will be strict about these things!
We have a practice match in two weeks.
Until then, you're not allowed to kick a ball!
He's crazy, right? We're not allowed to kick a ball for two weeks?
Will we get better like this?
I ran more than he did!
I gave more commands!
Don't worry.
With your skills, you'll be back to starting in no time.
You've got a much better chance than him.
Pathetic. You really are a loser.
I refuse to accept you.
In my eyes, you're no starter.
You were holding back in the game yesterday because that kid is an old friend.
Right?
You bastard!
Calm down!
Get away from each other.
Was Tsuji last?
Come to the home ec room during lunch.
Faster. Backs straight.
What are you doing here?
Jo said he was coming, so...
I can't let you get special training on your own.
I won't let you beat me!
Why are we doing this?
There must be some reason, right?
It's pretty tough, right?
Keeping your balance.
This must be some kind of training.
Now that I'm back here in Kakegawa, I'd like some good tea.
Tea! Yes, sir!
I don't mean in a plastic bottle, though.
From real tea leaves.
Thank you so much...
My back and shoulders hurt so much these days...
So you're on the baseball team?
The soccer team!
First sprints and now this?
I think we ran 10 kilometers.
Is this going to help us, though?
Maybe we'll just be shut down after this.
No way. I don't want that.
It's possible, right?
I mean, there's only ten of us.
Amagai, you're a lucky dude.
You're our only goalie.
You'll probably stay a starter.
Tch! I can't believe Sahara's not a starter.
I can't see Tsuji doing a better job.
He was bossing us around during the game.
Yeah. And ignoring Sonoda.
That kid was ruining our teamwork.
And he didn't get a single shot in.
Think Tsuji will quit if he's not a starter?
I doubt anybody would stop him.
So, like, maybe Tsuji vanishes, and then it's me!
What? Well, maybe there's a chance for you, Chiba.
Right?
Be here at 5:30 tomorrow.
Thank you!
Glad we've got this curry!
I was on the verge of collapse!
Hey, let's go home.
W-Wait!
You guys clean up.
Damn it!
How can they be laughing the day after losing like that?
It's nothing new.
And that's the problem!
We've got Coach Kamiya helping us and we're wasting our chance!
Calm down...
Why are you trying to hide what you're doing?
Just do it in front of the others.
I'm not...
You don't want to look like you're scoring points with Coach?
We won't think that way.
Coach told us to clean, so it's good.
Subaru! We're doing a big cleaning of this whole room, top to bottom!
We can't leave it to him!
Starting now?
That's right!
When you get an idea, you do it immediately!
And more than anything, I refuse to let you score all the points!
What?
Tsuji!
What you're doing is just cleaning!
But I'm doing a big cleaning!
Join me.
Jo, what are you doing?
What is this?
Is this the history of Kakegawa, the famous soccer school?
Listen, Kakegawa has a new coach, so...
Tsuji, get rid of that thing!
Please!
Why me?
Fine.
Tsuji...
One more thing.
When we're done, you're coming with me!
Stupid piece of...
T-Thanks.
I forced you to help, after all.
It's fine.
I was the one who—
I forced you to help, after all!
T-That's true.
Jo never gives people popsicles.
He'll usually just eat the whole box himself.
Don't tell him that!
Jo, you want to be friends now?
No.
If you weren't going easy on him, then what was that?
"That"?
Don't play dumb.
Your shots.
Why did you miss all of them?
I don't think it's your fault.
Penalty kicks and games are different things.
And we were up against Nomada, one of the best teams there is.
Even if the situation's bad, we need to do our best!
We need to win!
Or what?
Do you think the world's better off without a wimpy-ass soccer team like ours?
That's not it...
Then what is it?
They won't go in!
No matter how many times I try!
You can come up with a better lie than that!
Jo!
Just drive me off the team, then!
If you don't want me here, drive me off!
So if we tell you to leave, you will?
Wait! Calm down, guys!
I was wrong to have any hopes for this shithead.
So you did have hopes for him, Jo.
Why won't you come after me, Shoot?
Okay. Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Kamiya! I finally found you!
So you're up here today?
Why are you always watching from a distance?
It's been two weeks...
What are you doing with the starters?
I've already made my decision.
As I told you before, we're starting practice games this week.
Try to win one game in the next two weeks.
Yes, sir!
You're now allowed to kick the ball!
Dismissed!
Coach!
What about the starters?
You said they weren't final, right?
No changes.
What? I can't accept that!
Sahara... No, all of us have worked hard for three years!
And what good have your efforts done for Kakegawa?
Playing with your friends won't make the team better.
Then why Tsuji?
How much use is he going to be?
Come on, Tsuji.
Let me play soccer.
You said you weren't interested, right?
C-Calm down.
The coach picks the starters. Not Tsuji.
Then make him useful in a game.
We'll have an intrasquad scrimmage!
If you win, I'll accept you.
But if you lose, Tsuji...!
If you want.
Here you go, Tsuji.
Namioka, maybe I should...
I understand.
You looked like you were having fun in the PK match.
You want to play soccer, don't you?
Good luck.
Sonoda is physically strong and Sahara is fast.
And they're sharper than usual.
What?
Tsuji!
Close...
It's the same as before.
Was I wrong to want to play soccer?
I'm sick of hearing everybody say all those things about me!
I'll stop you here!
Tsuji! Go!
Okay, time to finish this!
Yes!
Yay!
So, in the end, I don't belong here, either.
I don't like soccer.
You gonna go easy on them again?
If you really don't want to play soccer, then just stand there forever!
Right there! If that's really what you want!
Jo!
He pisses me off!
If that's really what I want...
If that's what I want...
Shoot!
If that's really what I want...
Shoot!
Goodbye...
Goodbye!
Kohei kept leaving me further and further behind...
You want to play soccer, don't you?
Just stand there forever!
If I do, I'll be left behind again...
Nice!
Left behind again!
Every time! Every time!
Tsuji? What?
Sahara, here!
Tsuji!
Damn it!
Tsuji!
Don't move him!
Somebody get a stretcher! Hurry!
C-Coach...
I'm fine. It's nothing.
No, you need to go to the nurse's office.
I'm fine.
Let me play.
Let me play...
But...
I told you to stand there.
I can't win like that!
I can't catch up to him!
You...
I'll catch up!
Damn it, this is tough!
Sonoda!
Get off me!
I can't stay here...
Yes!
Kazama!
Damn it!
Yes!
Tsuji...
Pay attention, Amagai!
We're going on the offensive!
The flow of the game has changed...
Just stand there forever!
Shoot!
Okay, push it back!
Amagai! Amagai!
Amagai!
I can't... I can't do it!
I can't stop him!
What are you talking about?
Could you?
He's pushing himself so hard to get to the goal...
But you act like you're better than him when you don't even show up for practice!
I think Tsuji should be a starter!
I'm sorry...
Damn it! This is a joke!
I'm outta here!
Forget this!
W-Wait!
Guys!
You're kidding, right?
You're kidding—
Kazama, don't let the soccer team get shut down.
W-Wait, guys!
Are you serious?
Why?
Why did this happen?
Kazama.
I'm sorry.
I'll never forgive them!
How could I?
We're in danger of being shut down!
But we don't even have 11 players!
Sorry.
I'm sorry.
You weren't going easy on anybody.
You were just playing soccer your own way.
Now we're even.
But I'll say this:
don't look so bored when you're playing soccer!
I don't look bored.
You sure as hell did!
I did not.
You did!
Damn it!
I hate you after all!
But...
Losing is frustrating, right?
I know we both feel that way.
There's something we can only do here!
That's the same for both of us, right?
We have to win, right?
Yeah.
We have to win!
Yeah. That's the one thing I won't lose to anyone at!