It’s a pretty big moment for Ashito as he has the chance to make an impact and practice with the senior team. Ashito’s motivation has always been to be able to give back to his mom in so many ways. So it isn’t a surprise that he chose the option of practicing with the senior team. No surprise at Ashito’s excitement when he tells Hana his reasons for not telling his mom make sense. You can tell Hana is an important person for him.
Interesting to see Yuuma also joining the practice with the senior team as well. Kind of interesting to see them together because Yuuma got elevated to the A team when Ashito still arrived. No surprise Ashito has goosebumps when he meets the players because these guys are pros. It’s almost like meeting your idols.
The interesting part in this volume was where this just added extra weight for Ashito because it just added to his nervousness. Of course giving such an important opportunity is one to get really excited. At the same time because of how well regarded these guys are for Ashito that just added more and he kept creating a wall between him and his teammates. It just added the disconnect and considering the level between youth and senior it is bound to make his struggles more apparent.
It has always been commented on about the weakness in Ashito’s technical skills. Well this is the first thing that is apparent because the communication he was used to at the youth level is different at the pro level. As stuff like eye contact to communicate almost feels not even needed. You can understand your teammates intentions without even looking at them. No surprise all of this makes Ashito’s strengthed hightened.
What really sets the difference between the youth and senior levels is the practice time. As the seniors play in such high-level pro matches it taxes their bodies. It’s interesting how efficient their practice sessions are. 40 minutes where only 25 are seen as actual practice and 15 are for review. Clearly at this level it’s a huge mental adjustment first. As these guys get older that’s where the adjustment comes and their body gets taxed. It makes sense why this is a desirable amount to practice because it’s intense but also efficient on the senior team’s bodies.
It’s interesting how demanding Akitaka Shiba is Ashito, but that is the same case with pros and even super talented players like Fukuda and Kuribayashi. The adjustment is really rough, but it is bound to be. I like his mention of the 2nd day of practice being the key because that’s when the really great players with potential can start figuring it out. Of course it is amusing that Ashito came to ask questions on the 1st day instead of the 2nd day.
It is rather interesting that Shiba unlike Fukuda and what Kuribayashi plans to is that he never went to play internationally. For the sake of his club and probably also because of his family. It seems clear that in Esperion he is the one who will acknowledge you if you will fit in. It is curious what he could have done if he had played internationally. Once again Kuribayashi asks the important question about his desire to play pro and he is limiting what his goal is. Curious how this changes going forward for Ashito.
