Days (TV)

I've probably been lying to myself.

To ensure that Seiseki keeps its reputation,

rivalries between individual players are a necessity.

I can't do that, though.

I can't fight with my friends.

I mean... I've been living in a world where that was never a thing!

And if I can't do it... am I even allowed to stay here?

I see.

It's hard for you to go up against your friends.

I can't even get my head around how that could bother someone.

I'm sorry.

The one thing I can say, though,

is that I'm glad we met,

and I hope we continue to play soccer together at Seiseki.

Tsukamoto, consider this your last chance.

Yes, sir! I'll do my best!

So you have an answer now?

I thought I'd keep mulling it over for a long time...

But I'm ready, and I know what I have to do.

The Endless Waves that Keep Crashing In

The match between Seiseki and Ryuushin will now begin.

This is your last chance, Tsukamoto.

Thank you.

I'll do the best I can.

Hey, Tsukamoto!

Time for the huddle!

What the heck are you looking at?

Seiseki, fight!

Yeah!

Here we go!

Yeah!

It's coming to Mizuki! Block his path!

Good job, Kinugawa!

Where's the ball?

Kazama?

Kinugawa saved it again!

Ryuushin's having to defend for their lives.

What's going on here?

Ryuushin Seiseki

We're 20 minutes into the first half and we're 2-0 up?

I thought Ryuushin was supposed to be formidable.

But we've kept them on the back foot.

Hey, Beardy, your briefing was all wrong.

You said their first-year goalie was so good,

this would be a one-goal game.

You said getting one goal would be more than enough, and to be patient.

Wait... Could our team really be that good?

Don't allow him to turn!

It's Mizuki and Kazama!

Those two are seriously dangerous!

How many shots has Seiseki had so far?

Th-That was their 15th!

Why? What's going on?

I don't care that they're attacking...

We knew we'd meet strong teams that can compete at national level.

That's why we constructed an iron curtain defense.

The team's morale hasn't dipped one bit.

Nobody's slacking off, and everyone's been playing their best soccer this whole time.

But they just can't halt Seiseki's onslaught.

Even if there's a short pause, they rush in again.

Like endless waves that keep crashing in!

Stop them!

Get the ball out and break their rhythm!

I want to put an end to this, but the waves keep coming.

You can stop Kazama... You can block Mizuki's shots...

but the ball goes straight back to Seiseki.

I see why now. We're just not getting to those second balls.

The same guy keeps getting to them first.

Him.

Number 17!

He's the one enabling Seiseki's waves!

Idiot!

Seiseki's got the ball again!

Why?

Why do loose balls always go to him?!

The reason Tsukamoto can get to those second balls...

is because he's given up on attacking.

But he's a forward, right?

Isn't he supposed to attack?

Normally, yes.

But Tsukamoto's attacking with the intention of defending.

Right now, he's Seiseki's first line of defense.

That's how he's playing.

If he sees someone's about to lose the ball,

he preempts where the ball will go and gets it back for the team.

I get it now.

Stealing the ball so high up creates an opening,

and our opponents don't expect a forward to play defensively.

That's why even he's getting an easy ride.

It's not that simple.

Forwards are usually egotistical.

They reckon they're only worth anything if they score goals.

I'm like that. So are you.

Isn't that right, Bousou's Kondou-san?

No burning need for goals...

No attention-craving...

That's how Seiseki's Number 17's playing right now.

The ultimate form of self-sacrifice...

That has to be it, or he couldn't play like that.

It's Seikan!

Seikan's Taira! Himura's there, too!

You mean he's playing that way on purpose?

Which way Kazama is going to dribble,

when Mizuki will take a shot,

and who Kimishita will pass the ball to...

Predicting everything is impossible.

That's what makes Number 17 scary.

What he's doing isn't something fancy like prediction.

He must be hyper-aware of his surroundings at all times.

He's got an extremely good grasp of his teammates' habits and preferences.

Is it a natural tendency of his?

Or is it his environment?

Either way, I've never seen a player like that before.

I've... I've spent most of my life with my mom.

That's how I learned to pay attention to tiny details.

There's a lot of dangerous stuff out there for her.

Sometimes, the world isn't very kind to those who are less able.

Man, get out of my way.

Look here...

Please excuse us!

We'll move right away.

Why?

Why don't you get mad at jerks like that?

Tsukushi.

You didn't even do anything wrong!

Tsukushi, that man might have been in an almighty rush.

Huh?

Maybe he had a stomachache.

Or maybe his child had a cold.

But... it's not fair!

I mean, you... you...

Tsukushi, always keep other people's circumstances in mind.

The most important thing in life...

is to always act based on empathy and consideration for others.

Tsukushi, you have the strength to do that.

As your mother, I know this.

I'm not strong, though.

I'm a big crybaby! There's nothing strong about me!

Never forget, Tsukushi:

Being kind is being strong.

Thank you, Mom.

I can't fight and compete bravely like the others can.

That's why I'm going to run more than anyone else!

Not for myself, but for everyone else!

Because I still want...

to keep playing soccer with these guys!

That's Mizuki's third goal!

A hat-trick!

Tsukamoto, I always considered your kindness to be your weakness.

It looks like I was the one who was wrong.

By giving up on competing, you actually gained something.

You kill yourself to let the team live. The ultimate dedication.

So that's your answer, is it, Tsukamoto?

Height: 156 cm Weight: 49 kg Birthday: December 28th Blood type: A Specialty:Perfectly removing pudding from its packaging Birth place: Tokyo Likes: Milk Dislikes: Crowds Favorite word: Orderliness Girlfriend: I'd be happy just making someone else happy in the future

Height: 151 cm Weight: 39 kg Birthday: November 3rd Blood type: A Birth place: Tokyo Specialty: Origami Likes: Caramel sauce, children Dislikes: Tunnels Favorite saying: Never give up

4-1, huh?

Four goals against Ryuushin, whose forte is their compact defense.

Seiseki really is a formidable side.

They've won every match they've played in the camp so far.

T-Tsukamoto...

...got two miraculous assists.

You did it, Tsukamoto!

Seiseki's strong.

There's no reason to doubt it any longer.

You did it!

That was amazing! You were on fire for the whole game!

I'm still putting my money on Seikan, though.

They'll be facing each other tomorrow.

We'll see who comes out on top in this camp.

It looks like this'll be more fun than I expected.

Hey!

Did you see that arrogant flare of the nostrils?

What?!

I-I'm not doing anything like that!

Liar! Show us!

We're in a meeting.

S-Sorry!

Let's continue.

Tomorrow, we're up against Seikan.

They're every bit as strong as the data suggests.

They haven't recorded a single loss at this camp.

On average, they've scored 3.3 goals and let 0.2 in.

They tend to score at the beginning of the match,

the end of the first half, and the beginning of the second half.

So they're a team that knows when to go all in.

Seikan's strong.

Their main pillar is Taira, who plays in the hole.

In terms of individual skill, he's on a par with Saku High's Indou.

Indou...

Th-That Indou-san?

But that means we're going to get hammered again...

D-Don't!

That topic's taboo!

Fwuh? Fwhy?