"How to Spend a Day Off (Part 1)" (
Summary[]
The chapter opens with Ashito Aoi lying on the floor, reflecting on Coach Nozomi Date's advice to understand why Asari and Kanpei Kuroda were angry with him. As his roommate Keiji Togashi joins, fresh from a shower, he reminds Ashito that it's their practice-free Monday. Togashi and others, including Eisaku Ōtomo and Sōichirō Tachibana, each head off to enjoy their day. Left behind, Ashito contemplates the gap in skills between himself and the Junior Youth Graduates. Just as he resolves to practice alone, Hana Ichijō unexpectedly appears, offering to take him to their new high school. During a bike ride, Hana playfully tickles Ashito, causing him to lose control and nearly crash. Unfazed, she presents him with a new meal plan to help prevent injuries, leaving Ōtomo jealous as he spots them together.
Synopsis[]
Togashi remarks how nice it is to have Mondays off and how Ashito seems to be wasting it on the floor of the room
The Chapter begins with Ashito Aoi laying on the floor in the middle of his room ruminating on Coach Nozomi Date words on trying to find out how why Jun Marchs Asari and Kanpei Kuroda was furious at him. As he lays deep in thought, his roommate Keiji Togashi walks in fresh from his shower. He comments on how nice his shower was and then asks Ashito if he is going to spend the rest of their day off from practice on the floor. He says that its Monday, and Esperion staggers their schedule so the Youth Players get a day off on Monday he is going to make the most of it. Ashito follows Togashi downstairs and runs into Eisaku Ōtomo and Sōichirō Tachibana. Tachibana says that since he lives really close and feels bad about making the cleaning staff of Esperion clean his clothes, he is going to go home and enjoy some home-cooked food and wash his clothes at home. Ōtomo on the other hand decides that he is going to walk around town flexing his Youth Team status to see if he "can pick up some chicks in the neighborhood."
Tachibana also says that since they are at Spring Break, mostly everyone will have gone back home as well and he feels bad that Ashito's home in Ehime is so far away that he can't go back. Ōtomo laughs at Ashito for his inability to go home, but Ashito says that its fine and with Ōtomo and Tachibana being out, he can snoop in their rooms and find all their secrets which causes Ōtomo to panic. As Togashi's biker gang rolls up to the front of the Clubhouse, Togashi joins them telling Ashito, Ōtomo and Tachibana that since there is a family alliance meeting with his old gang, he has to go to the meeting. Before he leaves, he says that Ashito should maybe hang out with Nagisa Akutsu since he also lives too far away from his own home to go back. Ashito shuts this idea down straightaway.
As the other 3 leave, Ashito runs into the Junior Youth Graduates walking out of the clubhouse each making plans on what they want to do at home. Asari and Ashito make eye contact but Asari completely ignores Ashito and the Junior Youth Graduates walk away. Ashito then returns back to his room, where he realizes that even though he learned how to have a good "First Touch" there still is a big gap between him and the Graduates. He then realizes that what the Graduates do that may seem obvious to Ashito. He then realizes that his teammates from Ehime haven't called him either but realizes its for the better since he doesn't have a lot of results to show. As Ashito stands up to go and practice once again to learn the basics even though its a free day, Hana Ichijō is suddenly at his door. Ashito is understandably shocked while Hana offers to take Ashito to their new high school and show him around since she is going to study there as well. Ashito is still dumbfounded until he makes it outside to the bike rack where he tells Hana that she was stupid to walk into a Boys Dormitory. She assuages his fears and then forces Ashito to pedal himself and Hana to the school. As they set off to the High School, Ōtomo realizes he forgot to use his cologne and notices Ashito and Hana going together.
Ōtomo finds Ashito hanging out with such a pretty girl and gets mad at him. He decides that he will now follow Ashito for the rest of the day
During the bike ride, Hana tries to force Ashito to talk but fails to get a response. She then starts to tickle Ashito on his back with her cold hands. Ashito gets surprised by this and loses control of the bike and rolls down the hill. Hana manages to jump off and stick the landing but Ashito falls over with the bike. He jumps up and starts to yell at Hana since he could have gotten injured. Hana gets reminded by his talk of injuries and then hands Ashito a new set of meal plans that will last him till August. She says she made this meal chart specially to prevent Ashito from getting injuries. The chapter ends with Ōtomo following the 2 and him getting pissed off at Ashito for hanging out with such a pretty girl.
Highlights[]
- Ashito struggles with Coach Date’s advice and feels the pressure to close the skill gap with Esperion's Junior Youth Graduates.
- Togashi, Ōtomo, and Tachibana leave for various plans, while Ashito is left behind due to his home's distance.
- Hana surprises Ashito with a school visit plan, leading to a humorous yet chaotic bike ride.
- Hana gives Ashito a personalized meal plan to help him avoid injuries during training.
- Ōtomo sees Ashito with Hana and fumes, jealous of Ashito's company.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Jun Marchs Asari (Background)
- Kanpei Kuroda (Backgroound)
- Nozomi Date (Background)
- Ashito Aoi
- Keiji Togashi
- Tatsuya Fukuda (Background)
- Daigo Benzen (Background)
- Sōichirō Tachibana
- Eisaku Ōtomo
- Nagisa Akutsu (Background)
- Yui Masuko (Background)
- Ayuta Shima (Background)
- Ryūichi Takeshima (Background)
- Roan Mino (Background)
- Hikaru Kogure (Background) (Flashback)
- Hana Ichijō
Chapter Notes[]
Trivia[]
TBA
References[]
[]
| 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 |
| ← Previous Arc • Next Arc → | |||