Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1: Kuribayashi returns as Ashito enters a new challenge

After making fans wait for nearly four years, we finally have Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1. In this season premiere, we saw how the story brought back Ashito Aoi and the rest of the Esperions to the pitch. After making fans wait for so long, this premiere feels like a really important moment. Interestingly, even the episode itself was well made in a way that reminded viewers why this sports anime stands out.

In this episode, the gameplay did not have any major exaggerated abilities; rather, Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1 was focused on showing us the importance of tactical awareness, positioning, passing, and the differences between players at the youth levels. While Ashito himself might have earned his promotion and gotten into Team A, we immediately see that his making it to this level is just the start.

One of the biggest surprises we also got in this installment was Kuribayashi making a return to the youth setup. He had made some appearances for Tokyo City Esperion's senior team and is also playing in the AFC Champions League. Overall, this character can only be described as a 16-year-old prodigy, and he is told that he will no longer remain with the first team.

It might look like a bizarre decision because he definitely does not have major issues with his performance, and fans might also wonder why he is being sent back. That is when, in Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1, Fukuda gives us an explanation that Kuribayashi has started to push himself too hard because he feels the need to prove himself.

There was once when he could have been playing naturally, but now he is increasingly becoming conscious of his surroundings. Basically, Fukuda wants to protect him from having a burnout and avoid any injuries. At the same time, this might also give him a chance to compete in the Under-18 section. It is undoubtedly one of the most mature decisions, and it gives us an important lesson about football: This game is about development, not simply rewarding whoever looks strongest at the moment.

Ashito discovers how difficult Team A really is in Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1

For Ashito, the real challenge begins when he joins Team A training. He enters the session full of confidence, but that confidence is quickly tested. The training drill is particularly effective. Ashito initially struggles but soon manages to adapt faster than many of the other newcomers.

He begins identifying passing lanes and reading the movement around him, showing that his promotion was not accidental. However, when Ashito and Kuroda in Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1 are eventually placed alongside the stronger Team A players, the difference in speed and technical ability becomes obvious. Even Ashito struggles to keep up.

Trending

Through this episode, we get a better message that just because Ashito is the main character, he does not magically become the best player just because he is now part of Team A. He is shown to get exhausted, make mistakes, and learn from them. At the same time, there is a minor criticism that Ao Ashi Season 2 Episode 1 did not give much acknowledgment to the newcomers.

In the end, our main character was not discouraged; rather, Ashito looks at this as a new experience where he has been given the opportunity to learn. He wanted to know what the next level looked like, and now he has seen it firsthand. That mindset could become crucial throughout the season.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback