Aoi Ashito es un as de un equipo de fútbol débil en una escuela secundaria en Ehime. Su juego casi lleva al equipo a la semifinal en su último torneo en secundaria, pero provocado por el portero del oponente, Ashito recibe una tarjeta roja y es eliminado del juego. Mientras Ashito corre por la playa para olvidar la frustración, el misterioso Fukuda Tatsuya, que se hace llamar director del equipo juvenil Esperion de la ciudad de Tokio, se acerca a Ashito.

En el inusual minijuego de 11 contra 21, Ashito pierde por completo la confianza de Kuroda y Asari por falta de cooperación. Date le da a Ashito la tarea de averiguar por qué se enojaron con él. Mientras los demás disfrutan del único día libre de la semana, Ashito se dispone a practicar solo, sin poder encontrar la respuesta. Entonces, aparece un visitante repentino.

Se inauguró la Liga Metrópolis de Tokio. Ashito y otros tienen su primer combate oficial contra Seikyo High, pero el estado de ánimo del equipo ha sido terrible desde la pelea del día de la ceremonia de entrada. El equipo Esperion Juvenil B lucha por coordinarse, a pesar de ser elegido como titular, Ashito no ha encontrado la respuesta a la asignación de Date. Frustrado, Taira sugiere que los jugadores de primer año se cambien.

While still feeling unconvinced, Ashito makes up his mind that he must try and learn to be a full-back. He goes to practice, wanting to figure out Fukuda's intention. However, being unfamiliar to the position and disliking defending, Ashito doesn't quite get the meaning of "shuffle" and feels out of place.

Esperion B team has a match against Tama Sports University. Thanks to Yoshitsune, they finish the first half with one goal lead. However, Togashi and Takeshima mess up their play at the beginning of the second half and allow the opponent a goal. With Isshiki out of the game due to his injury, the B team changes the formation, and Togashi and Ashito are instructed to move upfield. Date tells Ashito to take what he learned defending and apply it to attacking.

Esperion B team starts to show some signs of improvement as they face undefeated Musashino in the next match. When the team needs to be united more than ever, Takeshima and Togashi, who are the key defenders of the team, have a huge fight. Tachibana, with a strong resolution that he will do anything he can to win the next match, goes to Yuma to ask him what happened between Togashi and the promoted players in the past.

The game against Tokyo Musashino is the climax of the Tokyo Metropolis League for Esperion B team. Although the team has worked on countermeasures against Musashino, the air is still tense within the team and there's a clear sign of anxiety on the faces of many of them during the warmup. But right before the game starts, Takeshima disappears from the locker room with his girlfriend, Tae.

Esperion B team bitterly allows the first goal to Muto, the playmaker of Musashino. With Musashino one step ahead, second-year Sugawara suggests that they go back to their original play style that relies on short passes. But Tachibana, Togashi, and Takeshima insist on continuing with the direct approach they've been practicing. To the disconcerted players, Date starts giving concrete instructions for a change.

Thanks to Ashito's great bird's-eye view, Esperion B team succeeds in bringing down the defense of Musashino and scores a tie-goal. Esperion gains the momentum, while Musashino is confused by Ashito's flexible play. Kaneda can't hide his frustration at seeing just how much Ashito has improved. The desperate battle between the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan League, Musashino, and the challenger, Esperion: Who will win in the end...?