The curtain rose at last on the Kanagawa qualifying match.
With the FC's attack and SC's defense combined,
Enoshima High won their first match.
With Kunimatsu-san and Saeki-kun watching over him,
Kakeru did his best, but he hasn't fixed his habit
of looking at the ball.
But, during his night practices to overcome his weakness,
Kakeru stumbled upon something amazing.
It is far from being complete,
but Kakeru should be able to...
Enoshima
Busho
The Mythical Feint
That was because Kakeru lost the ball!
How many times has Kakeru's dribble been stopped?
Instead of going for a dribble breakthrough,
show us your usual defender avoiding moves.
Kakeru!
Yes!
I won't let you through!
Now! I'll pull off that feint!
Kakeru...
Kakeru, do even know what you did?
Huh?
That ball disappearing feint you just did
is the same feint used by a genius player.
It's a mythical feint.
A... mythical feint?
Do you still remember how it felt?
Yeah, somewhat.
Let's practice doing it
over and over so you don't forget it.
Not again!
What's this guy doing?
Kakeru, what are you... C'mon!
Let's put away another goal and end this game.
Damn! Weren't they supposed to have weak defense?!
Go!
Takase!
So close! Takase's header hits the post,
but, finally, a result from the booby trap defense.
Is this the start of a comeback for Enoshima High?
It's time.
Hino-kun, are you warmed up?
I can go anytime.
Number 20, Aizawa is substituted
for number 9, Hino!
Leave it to me.
Thanks.
A message from the coach.
We'll go with the three forwards...
Kake—
Damn it.
Kakeru-kun,
is being substituted frustrating?
Y-Yes!
But it's necessary if we want to win.
Your feint is being read every time.
I know...
If we win today,
our next match will be
against an even stronger opponent.
Upfield!
Your strength as a forward is your superior intuition as a striker.
This allows you to swoop past the defenders.
Don't you think that gives you plenty of opportunities to shoot?
Do you intend to press your dribble attack despite that?
That would just mean running away.
While I'm running away from the things I'm bad at,
I'll become a forward who can't score any points.
I won't...
I won't be able to play soccer anymore!
I don't want to run away anymore!
That's why...
If you use me in the next match,
I'll probably do the same thing again.
You're quite an egoist, aren't you?
I'm sorry.
All right!
Looks like the substitute, Hino-kun,
has scored a goal.
All right! We're tied up!
Kondo-sensei.
Nakatsuka, you're going in.
What?
Yeah! All right!
Coach Iwaki, please use Kakeru again in the next game.
Today, Kakeru is on the verge of becoming a true striker.
After being substituted...
I've never seen him so frustrated
with all this fighting spirit leftover.
Who said I wasn't going to use him?
Huh?
I plan on having him play
to feel more and more frustrated.
If he can still be selfish,
if he can still be an egoist,
he will surely become a true striker.
Kakeru-kun isn't the only one with weaknesses.
When they're in trouble, they can rely on each other.
That's what nourishes them as they grow as a team.
Which way?
Goal! Enoshima takes the lead, 2 to 1!
Amazing! We made a comeback!
Go, go, Enoshima High!
Fight, fight, Enoshima High!
Go, go, Enoshima High!
Fight, fight, Enoshima High!
Go, go, Enoshima High!
Fight, fight, Enoshima High!
Enoshima Busho
That's the game!
3-1. That's impressive.
When I first heard the lineup, I was a little worried...
It's true that both Keiso and Busho
have quite a few strong players,
but this is the result of holding practice matches.
I bet it all on the team's fighting strength.
It went well this time,
but the truly difficult teams are still ahead.
What should we do?
Perhaps we should stay to watch the next game?
Of course.
The next team playing, Shonan,
is toe-to-toe with Kama High
as the top choice for this year's prefectural championship.
Shonan Honmoku
Coach Iwaki,
what kind of team is Shonan?
In a word, a protective team.
Protective... is it?
Yes. They use a four back system that,
at a glance, may seem plain.
But their defense hasn't let 10 goals through
in the last five years.
Ten matches with less than a goal a game...
Seriously?
Yes, Shonan's famous four back,
since the prefectural tournament five years ago,
has been known as the "four rows"
and they've had their share of shut-outs.
There are three members in this year's four rows
remaining from last year, when they lost by a penalty kick.
On the left side, second year, Daisaku Nishio-kun.
On the right side, third year, Atsushi Hiruma-kun.
And one of the top three defenders in Kanagawa,
Michael Honda-kun.
Also, a first year who played as a regular
in the Holland Junior League,
Koichi Hibino-kun, has been added to their team.
Hibino played in the Netherlands?
Kakeru?
Don't you remember?
Before you moved, we were all on the same team together.
Huh?
Oh, Hibino-kun!
Yes, it's been so long since I've seen him, too.
Kakeru?
It was Hibino.
I broke Hibino's left leg.
Take...
...that!
All right!
What was that free kick?
A first year defender
with a cannon free kick:
Koichi Hibino.
When Shonan was worried about their low goal scoring record,
adding him made them a top contender for the championship.
An iron defensive line.
A single goal is gold to the four rows Shonan.
And, if there's a foul, that free kick is waiting.
Hibino...
Kakeru...
Let's go back to school.
Huh? But we're playing the winner.
Between the All Japan High team, who's in the top 8,
and Tsujido Academy, who never gets past the third match,
who do you think will win?
Iwaki-kun, I'll stay and watch this game.
How about you go back to school?
Okay.
I'll stay, too.
Then, Mishima-san, let me know how the game goes.
I'm on it.
That's fine. I'll leave it to you.
Yes! But we just saw All Japan High in the second round.
That's true...
but there's something that's been bothering me.
Water... no, juice.
Also, a cake.
Really...
Araki-san, I was such a burden on everyone today.
Kakeru, try to get past me.
Here I go.
Araki-san?
As I thought...
Kakeru, what did you just try to do?
I was...
Hey!
Coach Kondo is back.
All Japan High lost!
Audio-Visual Room
Everyone's here.
I'll show the video of All Japan High
and Tsujido Academy's match.
I'll give the results first.
Tsujido won 4-0.
What's Tsujido like?
Seriously?
All Japan was in last year’s top 8, right?
Quiet.
Mishima-kun, play the video.
Yes.
Hey, Nana, over here.
Mama! What are you taping?
You look adorable.
What is this?
What's going on?
D-Don't show this!
Kota, help me out!
Red card!
Come on, stop the film!
Are you all right, Nana-chan?
I'll take over.
Thank you.
Pause it for now.
I'll just move the mouse to the pause button and...
Centering!
No!
Come on, smile!
I said stop it!
You!
Off the field, you're amazing.
Now, now.
This time...
Tsujido has the ball.
They're taking it up the left side.
Tsujido sends a weak kick,
but the ball hits a defender and goes to a throw in.
This is where it begins.
Pay attention.
Huh? What happened?
The Tsujido forwards who haven't tried to move up until now...
Wait, the defenders, too.
They've suddenly started running towards the goal.
What are they planning?
A dribble breakthrough? Pass work?
Or will the fast moving number 10
send a through-pass?
What?
What? No way!
What is that?
Goal? What was that?
I-I can't believe it.
That's a ridiculous play.
It's ridiculous, however, it's reality.
All of Tsujido's goals were like this one.
Wha—
And fearing this attack, All Japan's defense
started to fall apart after this.
Without scoring a single goal, the final score was an embarrassing 4-0.
Tsujido took this trump card attack pattern
and practiced it until they made it their own.
Under Coach Iwaki, you continue to demonstrate your hidden talents.
I'm happy about that as well.
However, there are teams not just like the faultless Kama High,
but like Shonan who use personal strategies,
and even teams like Tsujido who exceed
your imagination in high school soccer,
vying for the Kanagawa qualifying championship.
I want you all to get involved,
and take on every match with everything you've got!
Yes!
Right after you left, I realized why you said
there was something that bothered you about the third match.
You meant him, right?
Yes.
Joshi Uryu.
Along with you,
he once made the first generation Enoshima High FC
the top team in Kanagawa,
and now you have to face him.
This could be difficult, Iwaki-kun.
Yes.
I bought it!
I bought it at the new store in Kamakura.
I waited for three hours!
Here.
Don't want it.
What?
What's wrong, Ryuichi?
Have you gone crazy from dieting too much?
That's not it.
It's just that our next opponent isn't someone
I can easily beat with this body.
I won't let you through!
They're in check!
Iwaki-kun.
Mine-kun?
What are you doing here?
What am I doing?
Enoshima High is my alma mater, too.
I was once the manager of the soccer club, after all.
Yes, but what about work?
This is work, too.
You had a match yesterday, right?
Don't they need to rest?
They just saw an incredible match from Tsujido,
so they probably can't sit still.
Tsujido?
You might play against Uryu-kun, right?
Yeah.
Dr. Mine!
What are you doing here?
You two know each other?
Yes, Dr. Mine is my counselor.
Is that right? But why?
Kakeru-kun,
this kind of thing should be kept confidential.
Oh, right.
Kakeru-kun did lose his brother, so...
Kakeru!
A little help!
I'm coming!
Please excuse me.
It's so nostalgic.
You're right.
You're carrying too many, Seven.
Thanks.
What did Dr. Mine want?
I wonder what it was.
She was talking to Coach Iwaki.
Oh...
Focus more!
More... more... more...
I see this place hasn't changed.
H-Hibino!
It's been a while, Kakeru.
What are you doing here?
What about yourself?
Oh, I practice here almost every night.
By yourself?
No, with Seven.
Seven...
Nana Mishima? She's a girl.
That's true,
but she's undeniably strong.
She was good in the past, but even now,
she's on Nadeshi—
Haven't you just gotten worse?
That's not true.
Kakeru...
Do you have a second?
I'm late again.
I wonder if Kakeru is practicing like he's supposed to...
I heard Suguru-san passed away...
Hibino-kun?
Yeah...
I was in shock.
I wanted to play soccer with him again someday.
I always thought about wearing the national uniform with him.
I saw your match.
It was amazing.
The defense, but also your left free kick.
Your left knee has completely healed.
So you still remember.
Of course! I couldn't forget.
I couldn't forget.
I can do it!
I'll go with my left...
I won't let you!
Well, Kakeru? I cleared it.
Hibino... your knee...
After that,
you were on crutches for a long time.
Then you moved, right?
So I always wondered how you were doing.
You thought I quit soccer?
I heard your ligament was torn...
I'm sure surgery was a lot of trouble.
I can relate, too.
You, too?
Oh, well, I'm glad you've healed.
I haven't healed!
My ligament is still torn!
His ligament is still torn?
What does that mean?
It doesn't mean anything.
I went through numerous surgeries,
but it was just the same thing again and again.
My knee's ligaments are still as you tore them with that kick!
Hibino...
I don't want to be told
that you understand that kind of pain!
Wait a second. That's not what I meant.
Then what did you mean?
I... that's...
All I can do is keep running.
When I stop, is when I'm done.
That's my soccer.
When I play against your team,
I don't plan on letting you get a single goal.
That's not all.
I'll show you...
the lethal weapon that I gained
from the recovery of my knee.
My cannon free kick.
Nadeshiko Japan Chigasaki University
Murasaki!
What are you doing late on the first day?
Sorry, Coach!
Go change and warm up!
You're going in right away.
Yay!
Where's the famous Little Witch?
She left after the first half.
Murasaki, you're in the regular team.
Go in for Mishima's position.
Bummer!
I wanted to see the Little Witch play,
to see which of us is better.
I'm going to change!
Who is that girl?
She doesn't look like someone
who could be at a representative's level.
Just turn a blind eye for a while, Minaba-kun.
There are a lot of circumstances
surrounding that girl, Mayu Murasaki.
She's got problems with her attitude and appearance,
but given the right training, along with Mishima,
she may lead Nadeshiko Japan to the World Cup championship.
I'm sorry for being late, Coach Iwaki!
How's the match?
As you can see.
Go!
Goal!
Enoshima Sagami Kaiyo Academy
That's the game! Enoshima wins 4-1!
So? Can you guys beat them?
Well, they may be the strongest so far, but...
We won't lose.
If you took soccer out of us,
there wouldn't be anything left.
Next Episode: Strong Opponent, Tsujido
The dark horse of the tournament, Tsujido,
trained by Coach Iwaki's comrade in arms, Coach Uryu,
makes use of an original attack called a "laser beam throw"
to break Enoshima High.
Enoshima has given them an early lead, and then a second goal.
Within the congested atmosphere of the team,
Kakeru voluntarily joins in the match,
but something in his body changes!
Next time on Knight in the Area,
episode 15: "Strong Opponent, Tsujido."
Seven! It's really here!