Suguru Aizawa and Kakeru Aizawa.
The dream of these soccer-loving brothers
was to play in the World Cup together and win.
The older brother continued to improve
and took on the world wearing the blue 10 jersey.
He came to be known as the treasure of Japanese soccer.
His brother, who frantically tried to catch up,
had almost realized their dreams.
Or so it should have been.
By an unfortunate accident,
the Aizawa brothers arrived at death's door.
Despite desperate treatment,
the older brother would not return.
The younger, Kakeru,
having sustained great injury to his heart,
straddled the boundary between life and death.
There was only one path to survival: a heart transplant.
I kept believing it. My dream. Our dream!
Kakeru received his brother's heart
and his proud will.
To realize their dream, Kakeru ran forward once again.
His life as a soccer player was only just beginning.
With the national soccer tournament coming up,
we, the Enoshima 11, began Coach Iwaki's
rigorous new physical training menu, and everyone's really getting into it.
And Mai-chan, who was struggling
to fit in with Nadeshiko Japan,
came out of the blue to use Enoshima's showers.
Being toyed with like that
again and again, my heart won't stop pounding.
But Seven's feelings must have gotten through to her,
since things started looking up for Mai-chan.
That evening, I received an invitation
to the U-16 representative training camp.
U-16 Representative Training Camp
I'm home!
Welcome home.
Delicious.
Ow!
You should know better, Ryuichi.
Mom!
I did my best because you said you would.
Why can't you stick with it?
I'll start tomorrow.
The crucial part of a diet starts after you lose the weight!
Don't be so high and mighty.
Hey.
One second.
Hello. This is the Araki residence.
Yes.
Yes. One moment please.
It's Ichikawa-san from the Soccer Association.
Hurry up.
Hello?
Is that right?
Okay.
Okay. Thanks.
What was that about?
He said to come to the U-16 training camp this year, too.
Really?
You did it, Ryuichi!
Cut it out.
It happens every year, so stop getting so excited every time.
We're having dinner when your father gets home, okay?
Okay.
All right, all right!
Honestly, it was pure coincidence that we
found out about you at district middle school competition.
You really made an impression.
We'd like you to come to
the U-15 representative training camp.
Fine by me.
I'll do what I want, of course.
Hey, Araki!
Suguru Aizawa!
The steadfast U-15 number ten 14-year-old.
He's the genius midfielder
already being considered for a position as a U-17 representative.
He's looking at me.
All right.
I have to smile meaningfully to appeal to him...
Like this?
Crap. This is so uncool.
I'll have to turn it into a gag routine.
Are you okay, Araki?
I'm completely fine!
What are you talking about?
You're bleeding all over.
I'm fine. It was a gag.
Damn, that hurt. This is your fault, Suguru.
Don't laugh at me!
Hey.
What do you think you're doing with my ball?
Takajo-san, you're already here?
Yeah.
Hey, you with the long hair,
that's the ball I left here, isn't it?
That's right.
Who are you?
I haven't seen your face before.
Ryuichi Araki.
Japan's ace player in five years. Nice to meet you.
Whatever. Just give me back the ball.
It's mine.
Is that right? My bad.
You know, we're still juniors.
If you want to play with the ball outside of scheduled practice times...
Hard-ass.
Bring your own ball.
Thanks for the ball.
Hey.
You got a problem?
Stop messing around like some hot shot.
I gave your ball back, didn't I?
Takajo-san, we're about to start training camp.
If you get off on the wrong foot...
Hey, what are you doing?
I'll let you off easy for Suguru's sake.
Keep your attitude in check from now on.
What's going on, Takajo?
It looked like you were arguing.
Nothing at all.
Hey, Takajo-san, long time no see.
You're here early, Akira.
Looks like you're raring to go.
You're just late!
What's his problem?
You're at fault here, Araki.
Huh? We're on casual terms now?
It may only be a U-15,
but it's still a Japanese representative training camp.
If you're here to play around, pack your things and go home.
You won't last.
That guy...
Hey, Suguru. Pass me a ball.
Okay.
Thanks.
There's close to 30 meters between them,
but they handled the ball like they're playing catch.
But, well,
if you have the determination,
there's nothing wrong with having fun.
Hey, Suguru.
We're going to play volleyball. Foot volleyball!
I'm coming.
Wh-What's up with him?
His eyes look frigid, but when he smiles, he's like a kid.
What am I thinking?
He's a below top.
He's my rival for that position.
In other words, my enemy.
Hey...
Hold on, where did everyone go?
Damn it. I suck at physical training.
All right.
We're going straight into a four goal game. No break.
Check it out, Kobayakawa.
We're up against Suguru, right off the bat.
Right, Sugishita?
And all we've got
is the newbie who's already wiped out after a few sprints.
We're talking about you.
Don't hold us back, newbie.
That's my line.
Suguru!
Goal!
We're getting our rears handed to us.
Damn it. Newbie!
You're mine!
Hey!
Who are you passing to?
Don't get all cocky and try to send a one touch pass.
Trap it first.
You're the ones who suck.
What'd you say?
Say that again.
What's your problem?
Cut it out.
Sugishita-san, please.
I know. My bad again.
No, this time you're right.
That guy...
Kashima Youth
Stop getting pissed off just because you're sitting next to me.
Goal. Kashima Youth's second point.
Idiots!
Suguru's all alone out there.
Somebody draw out the defender and make some space.
Coach, put me out there.
It doesn't matter how much better they are than us.
If we let the game end like this,
the representative team will lose face.
Can't, Takajo. You're playing tomorrow.
But!
The important thing in this match isn't who wins or loses.
It's a test match to see how the new players play.
Live with it.
Araki, warm up.
You're in at the next chance.
Yes!
Suguru recommended you.
Show me some results.
He did?
I'm finally here in a representative match.
Man, I'm so excited.
Araki!
All right.
Okay!
Dribbling? Planning on taking it in by yourself?
You must be new to this.
Aizawa!
Crap!
Mark Aizawa!
Don't let him pass.
Is he a monster?
Is he really a middle schooler?
What's that presence he has?
Here it comes.
Go!
Impossible. He can't get that.
I can reach it.
He recognized my pass that time.
A point scoring, barely reachable pass.
Any pass from him...
I can definitely reach!
Definitely!
All right.
Interesting kid, isn't he?
That's for sure.
Way to go, Araki.
Now we're getting started.
You saw the goal keeper's movement
and went for a direct to the left corner?
Well, yeah.
You're pretty good at soccer.
You, too.
Wakamiya
Starting today, for a week,
I'm going to be training here with other representatives.
I've been called here before, but why you, too?
I know, right?
Kakeru Aizawa?
Yes.
You're...
Who again?
Araki! Ryuichi Araki.
Huh? What's with that gut?
I might have put on a little weight.
Fine.
Hurry up and get changed and head out to the field.
Yes.
Damn.
If I'd known I was going to be picked,
I wouldn't have put on so much.
They're already at it.
Kakeru.
Yusuke!
We can finally play together.
Hello, Araki-san.
I'm Saeki from Kamakura.
Hey.
He's fat again.
Are you the only one from Kamakura?
No, there's one other. Sera is also here.
Onimaru-san from Yoin, and Hibino, too!
Kakeru! You, too?
Yeah.
Listen up!
That's Coach Sakurai.
He's the guy from before. So he's a coach.
Good morning.
I'm one of the coaching staff, Ichikawa.
To start off, Coach Issei Sakurai will open with a simple explanation.
I'm Sakurai.
There's quite a large number of you here,
and I'm sure some of you are feeling bewildered.
Starting today, at the training camp
there is only enough lodging for 30 people.
The 110 of you here will break into 10 teams
and play 15-minute mini games.
15 minutes?
He's not saying that they're going to decide
who's going to stay in that short a period of time, right?
Wake up, kids!
Imagine it.
These 15 minutes are
the second half of the U-17
World Cup semifinals 2 months from now.
If you win, you're in the finals!
With 15 minutes left in the second half, the score is 0-0.
You're put in with the team's hopes on your shoulders.
Get it?
I won't listen to anyone who says there isn't enough time.
Make this your stage.
Show me results.
Crush their chances. Don't let them score.
That's all.
FW Takashi Maeda FW Yusuke Ono FW Soichiro Miyata MF Kakeru Aizawa MF Ryuichi Araki MF Hideo Suzuki DF Shota Ishizawa
I'm a midfielder?
The coach saw the Yoin match
and probably assumed you have the same playing style as Suguru.
No matter what anyone says, you're not Suguru.
Position doesn't matter.
Make your own plays, okay?
Okay.
What an incredible feeling of nervousness.
You have to demonstrate results in only 15 minutes.
Yusuke!
All right.
He did it.
All right, next.
Team I and Team J, get on the field.
Yes.
It's our turn, Kakeru. Let's go.
Yes.
Do your best. Let's play together.
Right.
I can get past this fatso with a feint.
That number 17
was just cut because of that one play.
Mistakes aren't forgiven,
but not doing anything at all is the worst.
Kakeru.
This isn't good.
He isn't used to being a midfielder
so his positioning is average.
You won't get the ball like that.
If I can stop him, then I'll get to stay.
I won't let you.
I'll take that.
The forward was taken aback by Hibino's mark and missed,
but Araki-san's pass was perfect.
It's basically an assist in a real game.
What are you doing, Kakeru?
You can step back, but get into the game.
If you don't, 15 minutes will be over before you know it.
All right.
He was fat when he showed up,
so I was wondering what he would do.
Kakeru...
There's only 3 minutes left,
but Kakeru hasn't touched the ball once.
It's almost time.
Damn. Is this it?
It's going back to Araki.
This time I'll crush you.
That was too far.
We'll end it once it goes over the goal line.
Wait, Ichikawa.
Huh?
Right on!
What?
I did it!
Yes!
When did he...
It was a miscalculation,
but not like you thought. Interesting.
That younger brother.
Thank you very much!
28 members were chosen in the end.
All 6 recruits from Kanagawa stayed.
This time was rough, right from the first day.
You have a surprising amount of stamina.
Oh, no. I was incredibly tired.
No, you didn't look it.
You must have a powerful cardio-pulmonary function.
I haven't introduced myself yet.
I'm the goal keeper from Yokkaichi Vocational School, Mikiya Toono.
Call him Giant Mickey.
Shut up.
I won't let you borrow this.
Erotic
What do you think? Great, right?
It's Mickey's prize collection.
I'm Ryosuke Shima,
a second year from Yachigusa High in Chiba.
I play as a defender.
Nice to meet you. I'm...
Aizawa, right?
Suguru Aizawa's little brother.
Everyone's been talking about you.
That the legendary below top's brother is here.
Oh, I'm not at all like my brother.
I didn't think you were the same at all.
Someone like that doesn't come along
every day, even if he has a brother.
Yeah.
You're not a midfielder, are you?
Huh?
You were a midfielder in the selection match,
but you moved like a forward no matter how I looked at it.
Specifically, a striker who acts in the penalty area.
Amazing.
He only saw me play for 15 minutes
and he already figured out that much.
Kakeru-chan, is this your first time at something like this?
Oh, uh... yes.
So you don't know about the fun under-training
that they do here before dinner?
By fun, you didn't mean...
P-Peeping?!
Nadeshiko Japan's training camp is right next door.
They're practically begging to be peeped at.
W-Wait a second.
If we do that, it'll be a huge problem.
That's right. Let's not.
Nadeshiko Japan's beauty,
the ace striker, Taeko Ishiki, 25 years old.
169 centimeters of nice body.
Experienced in modeling for fashion magazines,
long time representative defender,
Mina Nakae, 22 years old.
What's more, among this year's representatives
are two unmatched idols.
Do you really want to miss seeing that?
Nana-chan, your breasts are pretty big.
Yours, too, Mina-san.
No way! That makes it even worse!
I'm going.
H-Hibino!
Wait, you can't. You can't!
All right, you two.
Go for it!
You've got it all wrong! I'm so sorry!
What are you two doing?
I heard they got you.
Hazing.
Did they do it to you, too, when you started, Yusuke?
Yeah. I was mad at the time.
But thanks to it, my nervousness vanished,
I was able to say what I wanted to say the next day,
and I could play without hesitation.
My brother was here, too.
Always here, in the middle of it all.
Listen up, kids.
Tomorrow morning is warm ups only
and most of the afternoon will be a practice match.
Really? Not red and white watches?
All right.
Coach Sakurai, who will we be playing against?
America.
Yeah!
Piece of cake.
Fool!
Don't underestimate them.
America has joined the pro league
and soccer is gaining popularity there.
They're physically strong, run fast, and score goals.
Honestly, they're a level above Japan, right now.
We'll look at this match
as the first phase in narrowing down the team.
That's all.
Now, I'll announce the 20 bench members
for the practice match against America.
Ryosuke Shima, number 5.
Yes.
Mikiya Toono, number 1.
Yes.
Next, Haruki Onimaru, jersey number 9.
Yes.
Yusuke Saeki, jersey 12.
Yes.
Ryuichi Araki, number 11.
Huh?
Something wrong?
No, nothing.
Why am I not number 10?
Ukyo Sera, number 10.
Yes.
That guy, huh?
Two left.
Koichi Hibino, number 19.
Yes!
One more.
Number 20,
Kakeru Aizawa.
Y-Yes!
Here's your uniform.
Th-Thanks!
That was a close call.
Number 20, huh?
I was number 20 in the summer of high school,
so I feel good about this.
I'm really happy.
You sure are upbeat.
That's the kind of guy he is.
Let's do it tomorrow.
Yeah.
Let's go for it, Kakeru!
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Seven.
How's the U-16 training camp?
Really harsh. What about you?
The same.
They don't go easy on full time representatives,
but it's really fun.
It's so fun and productive, I can't believe I ever worried about it.
Let's practice.
Yeah.
Next Episode World Match Debut
Kakeru, who finally became a U-16
Japanese representative to play against the world,
joins the field where his brother once ran.
The new generation of young talent shines
as they face the tough American team.
Will Kakeru's soccer, which bears the heart
of his brother Suguru, who stood at the center of this field,
be able to open the door to the world?
Next time on Knight in the Area,
episode 31: "World Match Debut."
We're counting on you, striker.