在爱媛生活的青井苇人是弱小足球社的精英球员。他在参加初中时期最后一场县大赛后历经巨大挫折，此时有一名男子出现在他眼前，对方自称是东京City·Esperion FC青年队的主教练福田达也。

福田邀苇人参加Esperion FC的入队选拔，苇人受到哥哥瞬的鼓励，只身来到东京。纵使手紧张到双手发抖，他仍情绪高昂，准备挑战入队选拔。

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――。

在故乡爱媛等待入队选拔结果的苇人收到青年队的录取通知。看着苇人与朋友们欣喜若狂的苇人妈妈纪子, 脸上似乎透露着寂寞。

母子两人不知道彼此真正想法的情况就这么持续着。

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。

东京City·Esperion FC青年队入队典礼的当天，因为福田的提议，让苇人他们突然面临分组对抗赛局面。而且据说表现出色的选手马上就能升到青年队A队。

在这场争夺升上A队资格的红白分组对抗赛中，苇人因为无法与队友好好沟通，使得队友们都不将球传给他。导致苇人完全无法融入比赛之中，只能呆站在场上。

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。

在11人对21人的特殊小型比赛中，苇人因为无法和黑田、朝利相互配合，让两人完全失去对他的信赖。伊达给苇人一个课题，内容为“思考为何只有黑田与朝利发火”。

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。

在东京都甲级联赛的首场比赛，一行人与成京高中的对决进入下半场。苇人透过与黑田及朝利的配合，了解到由3人运球前进的重要性。Esperion的B队总算从劣势缩小了分数上的差距，但比赛时间却已所剩无几。

在历经成京高中战后的庆功宴，烤肉店的电视播放着青年队的栗林在J1踢球的模样。在比赛中表现精彩的栗林结束赛后访问时，壬生的手机接到伊达打来的电话。

Fukuda tells Ashito to change position to defender, which was not something Ashito could stomach. His teammates, wondering why Ashito didn't show up to the announcement of the A team promotion, learn the truth and feel shocked. Tachibana, Ohtomo, Togashi, Kuroda, and Asari go and look for Ashito, but he's nowhere to be found. It is Hana, who walks up to Ashito, sitting at a bus stop all by himself.

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.

Advised by Takeshima and Anri that he should study Kuribayashi's movements, Ashito pours over the broadcast of the J1 match to see Kuribayashi's play. Combing over the past footage of Kuribayashi's play, Ashito realizes that what set Kuribayashi apart is how he turns his head. Ashito tries to incorporate it in his practice right away, but it only confuses him. In his teammates eyes, that confusion looks like being unmotivated for having to play a full-back.

Ashito and others have an unexpected reunion with Nakano and Kaneda, who played alongside him at the tryouts. After failing the tryouts for Esperion, Nakano and Kaneda joined the current top team in the league, Tokyo Musashino Soccer Club Youth, where Tachibana used to play. While Nakano is happy to see Ashito and others, Kaneda blames Ashito for his failing the tryouts.

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.

The B team ends the match with Tama Sports U. Next match is against Musashino, currently the first place of the League and also Tachibana's old team. However, Tachibana doesn't feel confident enough to play since he hasn't had notable achievements in the League so far, and asks Date not to play him in the match against Musashino. Ashito and others bring Tachibana along to observe Musashino's game. Team Musashino, which includes Kaneda and Nakano, who played alongside Ashito at the tryouts, displays an incredible play.

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.

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...?