对于被Esperion青年队的表现压制住的应征者们，福田就像是要带给他们更多打击般，说出“某件事情”。苇人也因阿久津的粗野动作而受伤，逐渐丧失斗志――。

苇人在理解母亲的想法后，下定决心造访东京City·Esperion。他再度和入队选拔时共同奋战的伙伴相见，并且和从少年队升上来的成员会合。但有一位录取者过了集合时间仍未出现。

苇人对于“停球后，踢球”这个足球的基本动作总是抓不到要领。和苇人同房的富坚实在不忍看到他钻牛角尖地去做个人练习，便说要告诉他这动作背后的真正意义。

东京都联赛开幕。一行人迎来首场和成京高中对战的正式比赛，但是苇人等1年级生自开学典礼发生的那件事，他们之间的氛围始终不融洽。平忍受不了被实力较弱的对手逼入苦战的赛况，而提出要替换1年级生成员的要求。

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 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 match between Esperion and Musashino will determine who will dominate the Tokyo Metropolis League. Musashino's ace, Kaneda, takes advantage of the weak coordination between Togashi and Takeshima, giving Musashino a go-ahead score. Right before the end of first half, Kuroda injures himself due to his desperate defense play. During the halftime, Asari blames the center-backs, but Date disagrees with him. Togashi has resented Takeshima for a long time, but now…

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...?