My name is Kakeru Aizawa.
I'm a second year middle schooler.
My brother is a genius player in the
youth league, Suguru Aizawa.
I, the manager, was suddenly put into the selection match
and my brother kept sending me serious passes,
but, in the end, I couldn't score a single point.
My brother and Grey pointed out the weakness in my heart.
The next morning,
when I told him that I was quitting the club,
my brother talked to me about the "knight in the area"
that Japanese soccer is missing,
and the dream he had that day.
In that moment, I understood how my brother felt.
But in that instant...
A Brother's Pulse
Brother?
Brother? Where are you going?
Hey, Brother...
A 14 year old student, male.
A metal pipe puncturing his chest.
Respiration 24, heart rate 120.
The blood from his head won't stop.
Seal it quickly.
One, two, three!
Surgery in Progress
Hey, wake up, Kakeru.
Oh, sorry, Brother.
Aren't you going to become a regular?
C'mon!
Okay!
Doctor!
How are they?
My children are okay, right?
The younger brother's life is
currently being maintained mechanically.
The older brother's head injury was also quite serious.
All right, next!
Kakeru!
I did it!
Brother! I made it!
Hey! Everyone assemble for a second.
Starting today we have a new member.
A girl. Aren't you guys glad?
Um... hello. My name is Nana Mishima.
Nice to meet you.
You guys get along now.
Okay!
Coach!
What's up, Suguru?
Her name... might be a problem.
Hmm?
What?
We already have a Mishima on our team,
and a Nanase.
If someone said, "pass to Mishima,"
you wouldn't know which.
Nana and Nanase are hard to tell apart, too.
Hmm, that's true.
What should we do?
Do you have a nickname?
No.
Like, Mishi-man.
That's exactly the same!
What about Nanana Nana Nana?
That's too long, idiot.
Seven...
What about Seven?
Seven?
"Seven" as a translation of "Nana." I get it.
How about it?
Oh, okay.
Seven...
Please be calm and listen.
Sir, Ma'am,
we did everything we could,
but, regrettably, the older brother, Suguru-kun
was just determined to be brain dead.
I'm terribly sorry.
Brain dead? He's brain dead?
Unfortunately...
No!
Suguru...
Sir, Suguru-kun is an organ donor, correct?
Suguru Aizawa Kakeru Aizawa Nana Mishima
All right!
Th-There it is! There's my name!
We're both regulars now!
I'm getting anxious...
I wonder if I'll be able to receive my brother's killer pass.
You'll be fine.
"My brother wouldn't send a pass that I couldn't get!" Right?
Right.
Time for practice.
Wait up, Seven!
I'm coming, too.
Seven!
I'll crush you!
Seven!
Go!
All right!
Nice goal, Kakeru.
Nice, both of you.
Surgery in Progress
Hey, Kakeru.
About today's second point...
Couldn't Seven have put that one in?
Yeah... But I hadn't scored since the last game,
so I was really happy.
What are you saying?
We were leading.
At times like that, the forward has to put it in.
Right, Seven?
Seven?
Oh, right. Yeah.
What's wrong?
You've been down since before the match.
I'm completely fine.
Do you have a summer cold?
The day after tomorrow is the semi-finals.
I can't do a one top formation.
I'll be fine.
If it comes down to it, you can do it by yourself, Kakeru.
What? Don't put this pressure on me.
Sorry.
Keep it down back there!
Oops!
I'm home!
Welcome back.
The bath is ready.
How was the match?
We won!
Brother scored the first point and assisted one.
I scored the second point
and Seven assisted one.
If Seven assisted,
then Kake-nii, you had an easy point, right?
Well spotted...
But my point was...
Mom, Seven's mother came over last week, right?
Oh, yes.
What did she want?
Nothing in particular.
Are you hiding something?
You really are a sharp child, unlike Kakeru.
Don't tell Kakeru.
What?
That's not true, is it, Seven?
Sorry. It happened all of a sudden.
I'm leaving Japan tomorrow.
That's so...
What are you looking like that for, Kakeru?
You're the ace striker.
From tomorrow onward, if you don't score, we'll lose!
Right?
Tomorrow is a hat trick.
It's a promise, Kakeru.
Right.
Suguru-san, here.
A good luck bracelet I made.
There's two inside.
Two?
One for you and one for Kakeru.
They say that wishes come true when they break, right?
I hope the three of us can play soccer again, someday...
Oh, man.
I told myself I definitely wouldn't cry today.
Seven...
"The three of us will wear the Japanese uniform."
I'll never forget that promise.
I made these bracelets while wishing
that someday our dream would come true.
Seven...
I wonder if she's on a plane right now.
Kakeru...
What is it, Brother?
Put this on.
What's this?
Just put it on.
Okay.
Let's play so hard that these bracelets break in one match.
All right?
Right!
Don't forget our promise to Seven.
Let's take this hat trick!
Right!
Kakeru!
Auntie, Kakeru's...
Where am I?
Kakeru... thank goodness.
Seven...
Kakeru...
Kakeru Aizawa
You're the girl who always comes and visits, right?
Ah, yes.
I'm a childhoodâ€”
I mean, I'm the soccer manager, Nana Mishima.
Just now, when he heard your voice,
his heart beat stronger in response.
Hey...
Huh?
Which do you think it was
who responded to your voice?
Sorry...
I've asked you something strange.
Please come visit again, Mishima-san.
Yeah, he's much better now.
The doctor was surprised he was recovering so quickly.
But he still doesn't know about Suguru-san, right?
I have no idea what to say.
It won't do any good to worry about it.
Let's just focus on getting him better.
Come in.
Kakeru! We've come toâ€”
I was so worried, Kakeru!
Ow...
You little...
We heard it was serious heart surgery, so we were worried.
You seem healthy.
Yeah, I don't have any other serious injuries,
so I should be released soon.
Get better and come back to the club.
That's right.
Didn't you hear?
I'm quitting the soccer club.
What?
Hold on a second, Kakeru.
What are you saying, all of a sudden?
If you say something like that, Suguru-san will...
I've already talked to my brother about it.
I assumed you all already knew.
You know, I'd like to talk it over with my brother one more time.
It's a pretty big decision
and I'm worried I didn't explain myself well.
I want to see my brother soon.
Kakeru...
What's wrong, Seven?
You're acting weird.
I'll talk to him
about his brother.
You're...
Nice to meet you, Kakeru Aizawa-kun.
I'm the clinical psychiatrist, Ayaka Mine.
Nice... to meet you.
I was Suguru-san's counselor at this hospital.
Kakeru-kun,
can you remain calm and listen?
Yeah...
Doctor!
Kakeru-kun,
Your brother, Suguru-san...
...died in that accident.
You're joking, right?
Unfortunately, it's the truth.
Seven, what is she talking about?
I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Kakeru.
Wait a second...
What's wrong with all of you?
My brother...
Where is he?
Hey, Kakeru.
Brother!
Are you planning on wasting the life
that your brother gave you?
Doctor,
should we tell Kakeru about the transplant?
From my point of view, I cannot recommend it.
We cannot predict how Kakeru will react to the news.
We should prepare for the worst case.
That's true...
Kakeru is alive because of the heart
transplanted from his beloved brother.
Suguru-san's heart...
was transplanted into Kakeru?!
Two Months Later
Tour de France!
You seem energetic.
Oh, Dr. Mine.
I feel better than before the accident.
You're being discharged tomorrow,
so don't overwork yourself.
I'm fine!
I feel restless, if I don't move around.
How is Kakeru Aizawa-kun?
He is mentally stable
and his physical recovery is progressing smoothly.
Stress injury is no longer a concern.
I see...
Even with the donor and recipient being brothers,
this degree of adaptation to a foreign organ is surprising.
At this rate, further complications are unlikely.
Yes.
Be careful of cars!
Okay.
Don't push yourself too hard.
If you're tired, rest right away.
I know.
Don't get lost.
Okay.
I'm fine without everyone sending me off.
I'm heading out.
Everyone,
I'm sorry I made you all worry,
but, as you can see, I've fully recovered.
Hurray!
Congratulations on your recovery!
Hurray! Hurray!
I'm so glad, Aizawa-kun!
Are you sure,
Club Resignation
Kakeru?
I apologize, Kunimatsu-senpai.
I was seriously injured
and I'm not sure I really want to continue as manager.
I understand.
I'll hold onto this.
Your brother...
was going to become a world soccer player for Japan.
It's such a shame.
Yes.
Kakeru,
come back to the soccer club whenever you feel like it.
But not as a manager.
Come as a player...
as a striker.
Thanks for everything.
Okay, pass.
One more.
Kakeru...
I heard from Mishima-san,
you're physically recovered, right?
You can even handle strenuous exercise.
Even if it isn't possible now,
at least by summerâ€”
Yuusuke, give me a break.
I've quit soccer.
Are you running away?
Always running away...
That's why you ran away to the manager's position.
Am I wrong, Kakeru?
What does someone who just runs away know about me?
Forget it. Pass the ball.
That's not it.
I'm not running away.
Yuusuke-kun,
Is Kakeru really quitting?
I couldn't move.
Like when I was matched up with Suguru-san,
I felt like if I tried to approach him,
something might happen.
What about practice?
I'm taking today off.
Where are you headed?
The hospital.
Then maybe I'll tag along.
The soccer club is having a hard time.
Without Suguru-san...
Is that so?
Everyone's head is somewhere else.
No one can concentrate on practice,
and most of the female managers who had their eyes on Suguru-san quit.
What about you?
What?
Will you quit the team because my brother is gone, too?
No, I won't quit.
It sure was fun...
Suguru-san was the conductor
and Seven and I were on the two forwards.
Say, after I left for America,
how did the tournament go?
We took the championship.
Really?
And the hat trick as well.
You kept your promise to me.
Yeah.
Wait up!
I had a hard time understanding my brother recently.
Kakeru...
He must have been tired
of having such a useless brother.
I think he couldn't forgive me for holding on
halfheartedly to soccer.
That's not true!
Suguru-san's definitely not like that.
Hey, Kakeru!
You don't really thinkâ€”
Mister! Can you get our ball?
Mister!
What theâ€”
Suguru-san?
Next time: Last Pass
Alive because of a heart transplant from his brother,
Kakeru, unable to accept reality, stops moving forward.
The family, who can do nothing but watch,
and his rivals.
The emotions that he finds in his brother's diary
and the answer he gives to Nana...
Next time on The Knight in the Area:
the fourth episode, "Last Pass."
Accept it, Kakeru!