Soccer.
The sport loved by people around the world.
Those with footwork as sharp as a sword
and those who pass the ball like magic
shake the stadium with the enthusiasm they evoke from their fans.
Yet, not matter how long you control the game for,
without scoring a goal you can never win.
Therefore, Japan was searching for a knight
in the penalty area with the absolute power to decide the game.
The fifteen-and-under U-15 Japan/South America Cup,
Japan versus Brazil!
We're nearing two minutes of loss time here in the second half.
The score is 1-2, Brazil's lead.
Japan is feeling the pressure.
They've got to find some way of tying up the game.
However, Brazil isn't letting up on the attack.
They're pushing. Pushing.
I
I l
I li
I lik
I like
I like s
I like so
I like soc
I like socc
I like socce
I like soccer
I like soccer.
It's Aizawa!
Japan's number 10, the king of the field, Suguru Aizawa!
He took advantage of that momentary opportunity and stole possession!
I
I re
I real
I reall
I really
I really li
I really like
I really like soccer.
I really like s
I really like soc
I really like socc
I really like socce
I really like soccer
He's broken into a dribble.
The speed to suddenly switch the defense into offense.
He's broken past the first defender!
The second!
The magnificent footwork of a breakthrough.
Closing tens of meters into
nothing in an instant with a magical through pass.
And a shot like a flash.
GOAL!
Japan manages to tie up the score before the end of the half!
And the one who made the shot was, of course,
none other than the unstoppable ace, Suguru Aizawa.
My name is Kakeru Aizawa.
I'm Suguru Aizawa's younger brother.
I Like Soccer
Kamakura Middle School
Here comes Suguru.
He takes advantage of that momentary opportunity and steals possession.
Those who couldn't make it to the game: pay attention.
Brazil's defense is closing in, but he slips past one
and then the other with his magnificent footwork.
Whoa!
Finally, as if the ball was pulled in by a string, a gorgeous through pass!
Are you okay, Kakeru?
Hey!
Practice has already started.
Kakeru! If you're playing around because you're the manager,
just quit the club.
My bad, brother. I mean, I'm sorry, Captain.
My brother is amazing.
He's known as Japan's prize.
Suguru-senpai!
Wow! He looked over here!
Comparing my brother to me,
would be like comparing the moon to a turtle.
Damn it!
Here's your jersey.
Thanks.
Here's a towel.
Thanks.
Hey, Manager!
Yes!
Kakeru-kun!
Um!
Could you...?
To my brother, right?
I'll pass it on.
Switch it up!
Kakeru.
What are you doing? Leave that for the first years.
It's fine. It's fine.
At least let me help you out.
I'm really okay.
Hey! Aizawa!
Which Aizawa?
The lower quality one, obviously!
He didn't just say...
What is it?
Kakeru!
Can you get me my shin guards?
On it!
Kota, can you take care of this?
What?
Whoa! Hey!
Hey, Kakeru.
When you saw your brother's amazing play in the Brazil game,
didn't it remind you of anything?
Up until last year you played as a forward, right?
Quit being a manager and be a player again!
Exactly.
If you could use your left a little more,
you'd be able to match up against me.
Even if I turned my world upside down,
I wouldn't be able to play like my brother.
If my brother continues as a player, I'll continue as a manager.
Someday, I'll start studying to be a trainer.
When the genius, Suguru Aizawa,
stands on the World Cup soccer field,
my dream is to stand there, too.
I'll be my brother's manager and his trainer.
Whether that's manly or not...
Yuusuke, sub in. Get in there.
Okay!
Go get 'em!
Well, I guess that's one way to live.
C'mon! It's Yuusuke every single time!
It can't be helped.
Of all the second years, he's definitely the best.
Man! It must be nice to be the manager.
Meanwhile, I'm all nervous for tomorrow's red and white match.
It is the regular selection match, after all.
Dear God and Buddha!
Please let someone have a stomachache so I can play!
"To curse someone is to dig two holes," right?
How strange.
Hey, hey, hey!
I haven't seen your uniform around here before.
This is a no trespassing zone!
Do you want to be legally sexually harassed, huh?
Kakeru.
Kakeru, long time no see.
Why... do you know my name?
How cute!
I transferred to this school.
I've come back to Kamakura.
Um...
I guess you don't recognize me.
Um, I'm sorry. I, uh...
I'm Seven.
Seven? Uh, huh? Seven...
S-Seven?!
Hey! Quit slacking off!
Kakeru, nice header.
Suguru-san's the same as always.
Reminds me of our elementary school team.
Suguru-san was the leader,
and you and I were the top two.
Kakeru, you don't play soccer anymore?
What a waste. You should play.
I'd love to see the Suguru-Kakeru combination again.
Or don't you like soccer anymore?
I love soccer, of course,
but...
Oh! I have to go to the staff room.
See you later, Kakeru.
Yeah.
I'm going to be the soccer club's manager as well.
So as manager to manager, I look forward to working with you.
See you!
Manager to manager?
I'd like to introduce our transfer student.
Nana Mishima
Nana Mishima-kun.
I'm Mishima from Los Angeles. Nice to meet you.
The first real hot girl this class has ever had!
She's an angel! An angel has descended!
What a relaxing aura! I can feel the negative ions!
Wait a minute, boys!
What exactly does that mean?
Your seat is next to Aizawa.
What do you think, Kakeru?
Does it suit me?
No honorifics?
You know her?
Uh...
We're childhood friends.
Nana Mishima.
When we were in elementary school, she was a forward
on the same soccer team that my brother and I were on.
We called her "Seven" as a translation of "Nana."
Kakeru!
Back then she was tall and looked like a boy.
But...
In the summer of fifth grade, her parents had to move to America
and she came to say goodbye to the team.
At that moment,
as I was looking at her, I realized that I had come to like her.
But Seven...
Suguru-san!
Suguru-senpai!
Suguru-san!
Hey.
Soccer Club Entry Form
Whoa!
Kakeru, where are you going?
To the convenience store.
At this time of night?
I have to buy powdered sports drink.
Are you enjoying being a manager that much, Kakeru?
What? Where's this coming from?
Um, well, I'm off.
You really irritate me.
Always running away.
What's wrong?
You've been acting weird recently, brother.
Something bothering you?
No way, right?
There's no way something could
be bothering the great Suguru Aizawaâ€”
What do you know about me?
What does someone who just runs away know about me?
Hey, Sugu-nii, what are you doing?
Stop messing around.
When did you turn into that kind of person?
You idiot.
I wonder how many months it's been...
Since I stopped kicking a ball in front of anyone else.
Here I go!
Nice return.
Since I started kicking around a ball in this park at night by myself.
The last pass from the slide goes to Kakeru Aizawa's direct left!
He traps it and shoots with his right!
All right! Goal!
An alien?
Grey?
Who is this really suspicious character?
U-um, that ball...
Hey! Wait!
A-amazing! Footwork like a whirlwind.
Along with that trap earlier,
this grey-masked character is good.
He wants me to come get it?
And he's being really persistent about it.
All right.
I'll do it!
My left!
Shoot!
I won't let you get away!
My left again.
This guy knows I can't use my left.
Okay, this time...
He's good. This alien is no amateur.
But who could it be?
Kota?
No, Yuusuke?
Could it be my brother?
No, I don't care who it is.
I always have the most fun when I play soccer, after all!
I don't know... who you are...
but come again!
Let's play soccer again.
Oh! It's almost time for the regular selection match!
I don't care if I'm on the bench, just let me on the team!
Hey, Yuusuke, what were you up to last night?
Playing a soccer video game at home. Why?
What do you think of when I say "a park at night"?
What?
If you're asking about a peeping tom, try Kota.
Hey. I wasn't peeping.
But if you went peeping, why didn't you invite me?!
Kakeru!
Did you see these?
Or was it this?
Or maybe both?!
You guys really have no sense of anxiety, do you?
Hey, Nakatsuka,
keep to the edge of the field so you don't get in my way.
Well, that's if you even get on the field.
Nishijima! I'll kill you!
Everyone assemble.
The regular selection match will now begin.
As you know, because of Ishikawa's unfortunate injury,
three second years will be joining the bench this year.
Kunimatsu.
When I call your name, respond loudly.
First on defense, Kota Nakatsuka.
Yes! Yes, yes, yes!
Kota!
For midfield, Manabu Endou.
Yes!
Finally... hmm?
Playing forward,
Kakeru Aizawa.
Really?
What?!
Huh?
Kakeru Aizawa, where's your response?
Oh, yes, here!
Kakeru!
Why was I...
You three, head to the UP.
W-wait a minute. I'm the manaâ€”
I decided it.
Hurry up and change.
You're wearing red for the sub team.
This is absurd!
Why?
Are you afraid you'll embarrass yourself?
Are you a manager because you don't want to be embarrassed?
No! I want pursue a manager'sâ€”
More excuses, Kakeru?
You're just scared of showing your true self in front of other people.
You don't even have the balls to quit soccer completely.
That's why you ran away to the manager's position.
Am I wrong, Kakeru?
Kakeru's... true self?
If you can't listen to the captain's orders, quit the soccer club.
That's all.
The selection match is in ten minutes.
Stay hydrated.
Okay!
I didn't run away.
What does someone who just runs away know about me?
I didn't run.
I...
Seriously! Why was the manager chosen to play?!
What's going on?
Who knows?
It doesn't feel right.
Man...
Kakeru...
I'll play.
I'll freaking play, damn it!
Yuusuke, come with me to the UP.
Okay.
Hurry up.
To be honest, I was frustrated.
I was seriously pissed off.
But at the same time,
my heart was fluttering.
It may have been just for a moment,
but to be able to run around this field again
with my brother...
That hope...
Here, Kakeru.
Thank you.
Hey, Kakeru, look.
Suguru-san's wearing a red jersey, too.
You're both on the sub team.
Bow!
Thank you for the game!
But I didn't know
that to play on the same team as my brother...
to run on the field with him...
that this day...
would be the last time.
Kick off!
Next time: The Knight in the Area
Kakeru, who never could use his left leg...
Just one more.
That unattainable one more.
Even so, his brother still sends every pass seriously.
The pass of his soul.
Next time on The Knight in the Area:
the second episode, "The Knight in the Area."
Suguru-san,
what do you hope for in Kakeru?