I'm Nana Mishima.
Enoshima Soccer Club has finally started to move
into the Inter-High competitions.
The training camp...
Well, all kinds of things happened...
But in any case, everyone got through it and is ready to go.
All that's left is to keep practicing everyday
and wait for the first tournament match.
As for myself, I had my debut as a player for Nadeshiko Japan.
I worried about various things,
but I was finally able to take my first steps,
and, while playing, I realized that I really do like soccer.
However, I couldn't tell Kakeru and the others,
so I still continue my busy schedule
as both a player and a manager for the soccer club.
Little Witch
All right. We'll be playing football today.
Break up into male and female teams of 5!
Okay!
Um...
We need another player.
We have an extra player.
Sorry, girls,
but would one of you go over to the boys' team?
A girl?!
What're we going to do?
We don't have enough people.
I guess we don't have a choice.
Ew! Gross!
I'll just watch.
No way.
Hey, Nana.
Huh?
Yes. I'll play for the boys' team.
What?
But... Nana!
Let's go, Kakeru.
Y-Yeah...
She's my type, my type, my type!
I want to study her!
I'm going to eat you... alive?
Thanks for the... meal?
Wh-What?
Even I can't beat her.
There's no way you could stop her.
Killer...
Sexual harassment attack!
What do we do?
I won't let your death have been in vain!
No way! Nana! What?
Breaking news!
Seven, you've gotten better again!
Go! Enoshima Tower!
T-Tower.
Kakeru.
As if I'd let you!
Th-Through my legs?
For gym!
Nana!
You're too amazing!
Your teacher is impressed.
Nana-chan!
All right!
Nice shot.
Nana!
Yeah!
Not bad, Nana-chan.
You, on the other hand.
To be looking elsewhere during my class...
Oh, man.
Fool.
Pay attention!
Kakeru!
I'm sorry I'm late.
It's totally fine.
Do you want to rest for a second, Seven?
I'm fine.
Let's go!
Okay.
You were amazing in gym today.
Thanks.
Practicing in the park can only do so much, right?
You've got to play on the field.
Th-That's true.
You've figured out your weakness,
but you still keep losing the ball.
It's not so easy.
Keep making excuses like that
and you'll never take on the world.
It's too soon to take on the world.
It isn't!
Suguru-san was taking it on when he was 10 years old.
Someday, even I...
will do the same!
Ow.
S-Sorry.
S-Seven?
Do you remember our promise with Suguru-san?
Someday we'll wear Japan's uniform.
Sorry, I've got to get up early tomorrow.
See you.
What?!
Th-This is...
Nadeshiko Japan's savior,
The Little Witch, is a high school idol?
What a surprise, right?
This, too.
Nana Mishima, The Little Witch.
It's the title of a newspaper article about Mishima-san's success.
I knew she wasn't just anybody, but still...
I couldn't believe it at first.
But why didn't she tell us?
Kakeru, you knew, didn't you?
You should've told us.
This afternoon is the practice match against SF Frankfurt.
Let's go watch it!
Good morning.
Coach, Aizawa and the others haven't arrived.
I thought I just saw them...
Seriously? Skipping practice?
Those guys...
No, no. I've assigned them a separate menu for today.
Separate menu?
Seven, why didn't you tell me?
Do you remember our promise with Suguru-san?
I have to say, I'm frustrated... and angry.
But even more than that,
I feel an indescribable sadness welling up inside me.
The kickoff is only moments away.
This is the practice match between Nadeshiko Japan
and the German women's Bundesliga team,
last year's champions, SF Frankfurt!
You'll want to keep an eye out for the player who,
in the Miami Hurricane match,
suddenly debuted with 2 goals and 1 assist:
Nana Mishima!
This morning's sports page picture of her was just beautiful.
She's apparently got looks, too,
but what we really care about is her ability as a player.
It's fine! She's beautiful!
However...
looking at her history,
Mishima hasn't played for any team for over a year.
She can do it!
No matter what you say, she's beautiful!
I'm starting to get nervous.
To think that Nana-chan was the "little bitch"...
It's "little witch"!
Could she be better at soccer than me?
That was never even a question.
Hey, you know...
Seven...
Wh-What?
What an amazing response for SF Frankfurt.
Mina!
Mina-chan!
She's so cool!
Mina-chan! You're beautiful!
Who's Mina?
Mina Meier. Germany's ace.
Apparently, she's a celebrity in Europe.
You seem to know a lot.
Yeah, I did some research.
She's done some modeling, too.
I just remembered!
I have her photo book!
What?
You know her?
So she plays soccer...
Did she say something?
She seems to know who I am.
What'd she say?
Said she can see where the "little" in "little witch" comes from.
She sure said it.
It's fine, Ishiki-san.
Next, I'll show her what the "witch" means, too.
Let's go.
Yes.
Now, this noteworthy match is kicking off!
This is the practice match between Nadeshiko Japan and SF Frankfurt.
The ball goes to Nana Mishima.
Mishima takes the ball in with a dribble.
But Mina Meier has marked her.
Check out the height difference.
There must be 20 centimeters between them.
If it's Mishima-san...
Mina isn't just a big player.
Her quick plays, where the balls seems to fly,
got her the nickname
The Dancing Dove of the Field.
Shoot!
Oh! Mishima loses the ball!
Seven...
She's fast!
Mina's amazing!
Mina! Mina! Mina!
Mina Meier, with her long strides, takes off with a dribble
and cuts through Japan's defense!
A middle shot!
Goal!
Mina Meier's middle takes a goal from Japan.
Amazing...
The first goal in no time.
There was nothing Nadeshiko Japan could've done.
Could representing Japan
be too much pressure for Mishima-san?
Seven!
Now, Nadeshiko Japan is trying to regain control of the game.
Full of holes.
She's fast! She's fast!
Mina Meier cuts into the area once again
and here's another middle shot.
The keeper blocks it!
It's out...
but the loose ball goes to Mina again!
Watch out!
As if being sucked in, the ball gravitates towards the goal...
Clear!
It's clear!
Ishiki gets to the ball just in time.
Just what you'd expect from Japan's ace, Ishiki.
That was a remarkable judgment.
Tae-san.
That was close...
It's starting to look like a one-sided match, but...
This is where it starts.
Mishima won't let it end like this.
Because no matter what you say,
she's beautiful!
Tae-san!
All right.
Turn this atmosphere around.
Nana! Nana! Nana!
You wanna be my prey again, Miss Little?
Thank you, Mina.
You reminded me of something.
H-Here it comes!
Roulette?
Too easy!
What?
There it is!
Goal!
Tie game!
Takeda-san, that play just now...
That is her signature play, the super feint: Witchy Turn.
Kakeru-kun, that just now...
What was that?
Yeah,
it looks like a regular roulette, but as you're waiting for the turn,
it comes back around the other way.
A feint that's only possible with a girl's lighter build.
I see...
No wonder you're the Little Witch.
It's gonna be fun.
It was a spectacular match.
Both teams never gave up an inch.
They pushed forward and then defended.
Each white hot development in the game
had every person in the audience electrified
and the excitement just kept growing.
The final score was 5-5, a draw.
An outstanding game beyond what you'd expect
from an exhibition match.
What's more,
in this match, Seven became
Japan's top female player.
Still a far cry from major league soccer, but quite a few amazing
female soccer players like Mishima and Mina have been appearing recently.
Yes, the era of women's soccer is soon upon us.
I guarantee it.
With this much talent on the table,
cultivating and growing,
it could even be called the golden age.
S-Sure...
Could you look this way, please?
Please!
The next time might be World Cup.
Just one thing...
What?
The blue shirt
suits you very well.
Thanks, Mina.
See you.
Not feeling lost anymore?
I look forward to playing with you again.
Same to you.
What am I doing?
Mishima-san, maybe you should wear a jersey.
She looked this way!
Photo op!
Nana-sama!
Nana-chan!
That's good, too!
Hey!
Some scary guy showed up!
Let's get out of here.
Seriously...
Seven...
Why did you keep it a secret?
I was surprised. Really.
I'm sorry.
I wanted to tell you properly, after things settled down.
In America, women's soccer is popular.
There's college soccer, and a pro league.
I was supported by so many teammates
and I played my best.
Eventually I earned recognition,
but this time the expectation became stressful.
On top of that, adults started getting all excited on their own.
Life off the field became so hectic,
I couldn't concentrate on my game.
Soccer stopped being fun.
Right about then,
my parents were transferred back to Japan for work,
and I ran away from my team and came, too.
I know how you feel.
When I was approached by Nadeshiko Japan,
I was lost.
I wanted to play soccer.
But I was worried that it would turn out like it did in America.
So, I...
That's enough.
It's okay.
It's really okay.
Hey, Kakeru,
I'm going to continue as the manager for the club.
And our night practices, too.
That's okay, right?
Of course.
I might not have the kind of genius
that my brother or you have,
but there's no use in rushing things.
In my own way, one step at a time,
I'll keep climbing that staircase.
It might take time,
but someday, without a doubt...
Next Episode: The Division of the Soccer Club
The FC, who always put the fun in soccer first,
and SC, who always fought against the challenges in soccer...
The rift between the two teams ran deep,
and it has begun to influence the first year players.
Can Kakeru's frantic preservation efforts
save the soccer club from another split?
Next time on Knight in the Area,
episode 11: "The Division of the Soccer Club."
What should we do, Seven?!