Family[]
Noriko Aoi[]
Noriko is Ashito's mother, who has been raising him and his brother on her own. She used to take them to the workplace she owns, where the two siblings would pass the ball around without disturbing the customers. Ashito is well aware of how hard she works to keep both him and his brother fed, so he never dares to complain.
Because she’s a busy woman, Noriko rarely has the chance to attend her sons’ matches. However, during the one game she does attend, an opponent crosses the line and deliberately insults her. Ashito, unable to stay calm, lashes out—headbutting the player and earning himself a red card. He does this fully aware of how his mother might react, but he makes it clear that bringing her into a situation that has nothing to do with her is unacceptable and will have consequences. After a coincidental meeting with Tatsuya Fukuda, the manager of Esperion, Ashito is handed an invitation to try out for the club. Despite knowing how tight their financial situation is, Ashito boldly declares his desire to go to Tokyo alone and take the opportunity. He knows for a fact how his desire is selfish but can't help himself.
In addition, once Ashito receives his acceptance letter from Esperion, his perspective on his mother begins to change. For the first time, she reveals a vulnerable and emotional side regarding football, leaving Ashito visibly shocked and speechless. "Well, it looks like football has snatched you for good..."[1]
He feels the weight of his own expectations and a deep sense of shame as he speaks to Hana on the phone, opening up about his plans to become a professional football player—not just for himself, but to support her and give her peace of mind. As Ashito begins to put himself down, struggling under the pressure he's placed on his own shoulders, the silence is suddenly broken. Noriko loudly slides the door open, complaining about how much electricity her sons are wasting. She also asks Hana how much money it would take to cover Ashito’s expenses. In that moment, she does more than just offer help— she apologizes, indirectly but sincerely, and addresses the emotional distance from their recent conversation.
As if that moment hadn’t already shaken him, Noriko begins to act against one of her core principles—that important things should always be said in person. Over the course of the year, she quietly distances herself from Ashito: avoiding deep conversations, rarely mentioning his future, and keeping her emotions close to the chest. When the day finally comes for Ashito to leave for the high school affiliated with Esperion Youth, Noriko isn’t there to see him off. Yet, she still leaves behind a parting gift— a pair of beautiful orange and black football boots, with a heartfelt letter attached. In the letter, she acknowledges that she knew Ashito wanted to talk, but admits she’s never been good at difficult conversations. She apologizes— first, for not being able to say things to his face, and second, for never having been able to buy him proper boots before. She confesses that she worries about him, especially his short temper, but also writes about the determination she sees in him. Line by line, she pours out everything a kid heading alone into a big city might need to hear. Through words she couldn’t bring herself to speak aloud, she soothes him. She reassures him that no matter how far he goes, she is still his mother—and she will always support him, not as a duty, but because loving him has never been a burden. Overwhelmed by emotion, Ashito finds himself crying from gratitude. But in that moment, his resolve only strengthens— fueled now not just by ambition and determination but by love as well.[2]
After joining Tokyo Esperion, Ashito began refusing to speak with Noriko. He insisted that he didn’t want to be a burden, determined to quickly lift the financial weight off his mother’s shoulders. He swore to repay every yen she had spent on him and Esperion, and poured all his energy into training with the goal of turning pro as soon as possible.
That mindset, however, carried over even when Noriko left Ehime to visit him in Tokyo. Too immersed in football and focused on maintaining his momentum ahead of the match against Funabashi, Ashito declined to meet with her, saying he couldn’t afford any distractions. Hana Ichijō called him out for his thoughtless behavior, reminding him how much effort it took for his mother to come all the way from Ehime just to see him. Confronted with the truth, Ashito apologized and agreed to speak with Noriko once the match would be over. However, during the match, Noriko once again witnessed Ashito receive a red card.[3] The next day, after Ashito came to terms with his unhealthy behavior she texts him before leaving Tokyo, telling him to do his best and that no matter what happens, she will always be with him.
In the manga, their interactions after the match are few and far between, although Ashito's respect and love for his mother become ever more clearer.
Shun Aoi[]
TBA
Selection Tryouts[]
Eisaku Ōtomo[]
Ashito first met Ōtomo just before the beginning of Esperion Try-outs and two boys quickly became familiar with each other's playstyle as well as habits. He acknowledges early on, Ōtomo's tendancy to fall pray to his nerves before he enter a match and then act composed as one can be once on field.
While initially Ashito didn't share his phone number with him, it's still safe to say that the very first friend Ashito made in Esperion was Ōtomo. Even when he was having a harder time at the club in the beginning, he appreciated the support and help he got from Ōtomo and Tachibana.[4] His respect for the midfielder only grows as he continues to spend more time with him. All the matches they've played together only cement the idea of Ōtomo being a true genius on and off the field—his calm attitude on the pitch, the techniques and plays he pulls off, all in service of lightening the tension during matches. Ōtomo acts as a support for the team, and especially for Ashito, since he knows how much effort Ashito has been putting in after his position change. This supportive attitude continues throughout the entire manga.
Ōtomo is always quick to taunt Ashito whenever he gets into a misunderstanding with Hana, however Ashito never truly minds his friend's words, since he's aware that they're not coming from the heart. In conclusion, Ashito considers Ōtomo one of his closest friends— a teammate who stood by him during his toughest moments, pushed him to improve, and shared in both his struggles and growth. Their friendship is built not just on football, but on genuine trust and camaraderie.
Sōichirō Tachibana[]
TBA
Akinori Kaneda[]
TBA
Junnosuke Nakano[]
TBA
Tokyo City Esperion FC[]
Staff and Supporters[]
Tatsuya Fukuda[]
TBA
Nozomi Date[]
TBA
Hernán Garulla[]
Following Esperion's victory, Ashito gets called to a meeting with Tokyo City Esperion FC's Senior Football Team's Senior Football Team's manager Garulla, Fukuda, Jun Kase, and the interpreter. During the meeting, Garulla praises Ashito, saying that the team won thanks to him. In addition, he wants the boy to join the senior team's practice for three days, and Ashito realizes that this is a dream come true for him. Even when Fukuda clarifies that if he were to take up the offer, he would be missing the match in the Prince Takamado Championship, Ashito agrees. However, in that moment, Ashito asks if he'll be able to go pro right away. Garulla answers that even though the window is already closed for this year, they'll be able to register him for both the youth and senior teams in January—that is, of course, if his performance exceeds their expectations.[5] Ashito bites back harshly, saying that he should've mentioned those things first. Over the next three days, Garulla observes Ashito’s progress from the sidelines, his cold gaze acting as motivation for Ashito to keep learning and pushing himself—making it an intense and transformative period of training.
When practice ends, Ashito and Yūma confront Garulla, demanding to know when they’ll be called up again. Initially, Garulla is reluctant, wanting the two to spend the next season with the Youth Team. However, he changes his stance and strikes a deal: if they can defeat Barcelona's Youth Team in an upcoming international tournament, he promises to call up not only them but also any Youth Team players who show what he calls— the “It” factor.[6]
Their relationship is disciplined, professional, and rooted in mutual respect—shaped by ambition, challenge, and the pursuit of excellence, while remaining within the boundaries of reason.
Hana Ichijō[]
Hana and Ashito initially met at the youth try outs when he accidentally bumped into her. She had heard a lot about the 'kid from Ehime' from her step brother, Fukuda and so her expectations were high. At first, she seemed skeptical about Ashito and perhaps found him annoying, not worth her time or up to Esperion's skills, but when she witnessed his assist in the first tryout match, an assist very similar to one Fukuda had pulled off when he was younger, she became more intrigued and accepting of him. However when she confronted how Ashito had managed to pull it off, she was relieved to hear he had done it on instinct rather than intuition.
Hana is also rather strict with Ashito and constantly tries to encourage him to eat well and do his best. Throughout the progression of the story it is indicated that Hana has developed romantic feelings for Ashito, which is later confirmed when she confesses she loves him to Noriko, whom she has a good relationship with. Both Hana and Ashito have shown that they have great respect for one another and often times Hana is the only one that can get through to Ashito when he is being erratic or careless. She has defended him when he was being chastised by his coach, claiming to be Ashito's 'first fan' and to not undermine his abilities. It is also shown how Hana is understanding of Ashito, being able to tell when he is engulfed in anxiety.
Ashito also seems to hold feelings for Hana as whenever she comes to watch his matches, he becomes more energized and determined. He has told her that she is cute and that he loves spending time with her and having her around. Despite that, he still calls her his 'best friend', seemingly oblivious to their feelings for each other.
Hana confesses her feelings to Ashito in Chapter 336[7], before the Barcelona FC match begins. Later in Chapter 409[8], it is revealed that Ashito has liked her since they first met. He accepts her confession, and they begin dating.
Anri Kaidō[]
TBA
Youth Team[]
Jun Marchs Asari[]
TBA
Kanpei Kuroda[]
TBA
Keiji Togashi[]
TBA
Yūma Motoki[]
TBA
Nagisa Akutsu[]
TBA
Taira Nakamura[]
TBA
Senior Team[]
Akitaka Shiba[]
Ashito was aware of Shiba even before he was called up to practice with the Senior Team.[9] Their interactions are limited on the first day—Shiba consistently gives vague instructions, or none at all. His lackluster performance weighs heavily on Ashito’s shoulders. Ashito knows better than anyone how much he still lacks, but he’s not the type to crumble under pressure. He doesn’t have time to wait around. Once the initial shock of the Senior Team’s high-level training wears off, he takes the initiative and seeks help from Shiba—a quiet, stoic senior who wasn’t expecting Ashito to ask for help on the very first day. Shiba tells him, "Run before you think," a phrase Ashito doesn’t understand at first.[10]
Ashito leaves a terrible impression on the second day by falling asleep on the bench before practice begins— clear evidence of an all-nighter. But that behavior disappears the moment he steps onto the field. This time, he shows immense improvement, even though there are still noticeable gaps in his understanding of the play. On the third day, he gets the concept of Shiba and his plays beautifully sync up. Ashito once again defies expectations. He and Yūma manage to score against Kuribayashi’s team, showcasing their rapid growth. Ashito’s performance subconsciously reignites something in Shiba. Moved by the young player’s potential, Shiba quietly decides to renew his contract for one more year— just when everyone thought he was truly retiring. In the end, it’s not just about continuing his own career. Shiba chooses to stay, if only a little longer, to teach Ashito the things he couldn’t convey in just three days. Ashito respects Shiba— not just as a player, but as a teacher who’s still in his prime, regardless of his age.
Haruhisa Kuribayashi[]
Ashito and Kuribayashi first properly meet at Hinomaru Eatery[11], although Kuribayashi was already aware of Ashito and had observed his training with Esperion Youth.[12]
Funabashi Academy High[]
Trepone Rufin[]
TBA
Aomori Seiran High[]
Ren Kitano[]
TBA
Futami Middle School[]
Hikaru Kogure[]
Hikaru is Ashito's classmate and teammate. He is seen comforting Ashito after he misses out on Dogo High's recommendation letter, trying to lift his mood by mentioning that they would probably stay together for the next three years, enjoying the sport at Futami High—just as any good friend would.[13] Furthermore, he is there when Ashito receives his acceptance letter, supporting him from the sidelines. Later, he even says goodbye along with all of their classmates. Hikaru reappears later in the manga, watching Ashito play in Esperion's match in the Alkass Cup late at night, together with their shared friends— supporting Ashito, from Ehime to the world stage.[14]
Nanami Shiina[]
Nanami and Ashito grew up in the same town and therefore shared the same friend group consisting of their classmates, though how close they truly were isn’t clearly shown. However, Nanami, along with Sawa, supported Ashito during his match against Baishinji Middle School. Even though she doesn’t appear often in the manga, it’s reasonable to conclude that she had some romantic feelings for him—feelings that completely went over Ashito’s head. While he does jokingly ask her to marry him, it’s clear it's not supposed to be serious.[13] Nanami is also seen taking a picture with him at Shimonada Train Station, just before he leaves, waving goodbye with teary eyes.
References[]
- ↑ Volume 4 Chapter 29
- ↑ Volume 3 Chapter 20
- ↑ Volume 20 Chapter 202
- ↑ Volume 4 Chapter 36
- ↑ Volume 28 Chapter 282
- ↑ Volume 30 Chapter 308
- ↑ Volume 33 Chapter 336
- ↑ Chapter doesn't exist
- ↑ Volume 28 Chapter 285
- ↑ Volume 29 Chapter 292
- ↑ Volume 12 Chapter 122
- ↑ Volume 12 Chapter 120
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Volume 1 Chapter 2
- ↑ Chapter doesn't exist