Aoashi

Aoi Ashito is an ace of a weak soccer team. His play almost gets the team to the semi-final in his last tournament in junior high, but provoked by the opponent’s goalie, Ashito receives a red card and is removed from the game.

At Fukuda’s invitation and with the support of Shun, Ashito goes to Tokyo alone for the tryouts of Tokyo City Esperion Youth team. Thoroughly impressed with Esperion’s facility, Ashito is escorted to the tryouts by Hana Ichijo, Fukuda’s sister-in-law.

The final test turns out to be a game with the Esperion Youth team. While other candidates feel overwhelmed, Ashito is eager to beat the team so everyone can pass the test.

While the candidates are overwhelmed by the youth team, Fukuda rubs salt into the wound by telling them a piece of information. Unable to recover from the shock, the candidate team allows more goals to the youth team, making it a one-sided match.

The letter of acceptance arrives to Ashito in Ehime. Ashito and his friends are overjoyed at the news, but Noriko, Ashito’s mom, looks at the celebration with mixed feelings.

Heartened by Noriko's support, Ashito sets foot in Tokyo City Esperion once again. A couple of Esperion fans speak to him before he is reunited with Ohtomo and Tachibana.

Fukuda suggests that Ashito and other new Esperion Youth players play an intrasquad game. Anyone who proves their worth in the game will be promoted to the A team. All new players are excited at this prospect.

The intrasquad game will determine who gets promoted. However, no one is passing to Ashito. He stands in the middle of the field, unable to do anything. Akutsu, a senior player who attacked Ashito at tryouts, appears in front of him after the game.

Ashito is having a hard time mastering the basic “kill it, then kick it” technique. Seeing the look of desperation on Ashito’s face as he heads out to a solo nighttime training, Togashi agrees to teach him the true meaning of the technique.

In the unusual mini game of 11-on-21, Ashito completely loses the trust of Kuroda and Asari. Date tells Ashito to figure out why they got mad at him. While the others enjoy the only day off of the week, Ashito sets out to practice alone.

The match between Esperion and Musashino will determine who will dominate the Tokyo Metropolis League. Musashino's ace, Kaneda, takes advantage of the weak coordination between Togashi and Takeshima, giving Musashino a go-ahead score.

In the second half of Tokyo Metropolis League Match 1 against Seikyo High School, Ashito coordinates with Kuroda and Asari, and learns the importance of carrying the ball with three players.