"A (Part 1)" (A(1) TBA) is Chapter 40 of the Ao Ashi series, written and illustrated by Yūgo Kobayashi and based on a concept by Naohiko Ueno. This chapter was published in the 2nd issue of Big Comic Spirits' 2016 series.
Summary[]
Esperion's A Team defeats Tokyo Shūrin High School with a resounding 9-0 victory, marking the end of their training camp. While most of Esperion's players handle the match easily, Coach Shimomura of Tokyo Shūrin High notices three fatigued players and recognizes them as recent additions to the A Team, showing the immense gap between A and B Teams. As Team A players discuss the scrimmage, Nagisa Akutsu scolds Yūma Motoki, urging him to adapt to the higher standards of the A Team. Meanwhile, back at the Esperion Club House, Ashito, in the B Team, enjoys a hearty meal with teammates, impressing them with his sharp "First Touch" improvements. Jun Marchs Asari observes Ashito's rapid development with interest, giving him a forewarning about the upcoming joint practice with the A Team.
Synopsis[]
Coach Shimomura realizes that 3 members of the A Team are really exhausted and realizes how big the gap is between the A and B teams are in Esperion
The chapter begins with A team of Youth A team playing a match against Tokyo Shūrin High, As the final whistle blows, the score is 9-0 in favor of Esperion. Coach Tatsuya Fukuda walks over to the Tokyo Shūrin High Coach Shimomura and thanks him for having the Shūrin team help end the A Team's training camp. As they shake hands, the players of of Tokyo Shūrin are all in varying states of extreme fatigue. As Coach Shimomura graciously accepts Coach Fukuda's compliments, he realizes that the Esperion level of soccer is greatly beyond the level of normal high-school football. While most of the A team is relatively fine after the match, Coach Shimomura notices 3 members that are very tired. He notes that the 3 people must be new to the A Team and is shocked to see the level between the B Team and the A Team.
Nagisa Akutsu walks up to one of the extremely tired members Yūma Motoki. As Yūma is panting wildly on the ground, Akutsu calls him pathetic for laying on the ground like that and tells him to get used to the level of Team A or just leave. As he walks away, the rest of the members comment on how the scrimmage went. One person mentions that if Haruhisa Kuribayashi was with them, they would be able to score 4 more goals. As the rest of the team start arguing by asking what that person meant. Suddenly, Eita Takasugi interjects by saying that the level of Football they just played was far from Coach Fukuda's most optimal football. Akutsu yells at the rest of them to shut up and tells the A Team if they want to argue, to go to the locker room. He goes on to say that everyone from Esperion there today is on the A Team. Yūma is shocked to see how the A Team wanted to score 4 more goals even though they already won 9-0. As he notices Anri Kaidō in the stands he instantly gets perked up and helps his teammates back on their feet. As he slowly walks back to the locker room, he realizes that he has to level up in his skill to keep up with Team A.
Tachibana and Ōtomo realize that the distance from where Ashito noticed their meals and brought their condiments is a bit too far to be a normal distance. Nonplussed, Ashito continues to enjoy his meal.
Back at the Esperion Club House, Ashito Aoi and the rest of the B Team enjoy a fresh meal in the cafeteria in the club house. Once again, Ashito takes his sweet time describing how he eats his food, how good the flavor is, and how specific parts of the meal each add up on one another to make a heavenly taste. Eisaku Ōtomo gets mad at Ashito for going on and on and yells at him to shut up. Ōtomo compliments Ashito on his "First Touch" and receiving the ball well during the practice earlier in the day but still says he is rough around the edges. Ashito responds by saying that he will keep practicing at night and he doesn't want to slack off. Ōtomo and Sōichirō Tachibana suddenly realize that the table around them has their favorite condiments to go with their respective meals. As the two say that it must be their lucky day, Ashito says that he was the one who brought the condiments to the table. The two are confused as they were quite a distance away from Ashito but the only thing Ashito says is that he saw what the two picked up form the corner of his eye. As the two realize that it is still quite a distance away, Ashito continues to enjoy his meal.
At the table behind Ashito, Jun Marchs Asari is staring constantly at Ashito realizing that what Keiji Togashi said to him was correct. Ashito is indeed very strange and Asari wants to find out what Ashito has that allows him to improve at such a rapid rate. As Ashito notices Asari staring, Asari ominously gives Ashito a warning. He says that tomorrow, the A Team will be back and Ashito should see tomorrow as the First Real Practice with every Youth Player of Esperion. Asari says that everyone will follow the A Team's training plan and that all newcomers to the practice rarely keep up on their first day.
Highlights[]
- Esperion’s A Team wins 9-0 against Tokyo Shūrin High, showcasing their elite level.
- Nagisa Akutsu criticizes Yūma Motoki for struggling to keep up with A Team standards.
- Ashito's heightened awareness and attention to detail impress teammates during a meal.
- Asari hints at the intensity of the upcoming practice, with all Esperion Youth players in attendance.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Tatsuya Fukuda
- Daigo Benzen (Background)
- Coach Shimomura (Debut) (Last Name Reveal)
- Kenta Yoshitsune (Debut) (Background)
- Masanori Baba (Debut) (Background)
- Tōji Kobayakawa (Debut) (Background)
- Nagisa Akutsu
- Yōichi Kiriki (Background)
- Kyō Shimura (Debut) (Background)
- Enshin Akiyama (Background)
- Eita Takasugi (Background)
- Yūma Motoki
- Anri Kaidō (Background)
- Itsuki Nagano (Background)
- Ashito Aoi
- Jun Marchs Asari
- Takumu Numatsu (Background)
- Kanpei Kuroda (Background)
- Eisaku Ōtomo
- Sōichirō Tachibana (Background)
- Keiji Togashi (Background) (Flashback)
Chapter Notes[]
Trivia[]
- Coach Shimomura was mistakenly translated as Coach Shinomura in the fan translation upon debut.
References[]
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| Chapters | 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 | Volumes | 3 • 4 • 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episodes | 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 | Seasons | 1 |
| Chapters | 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 | Volumes | 2 |
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