Synopsis

He wrestled with a familiar disappointment, realizing he wasn’t the ace he’d envisioned. He sat by the riverbank, lost in sullen thought, until Sena and the others coaxed a smile from him. Returning to the team, he sought out Sakuraba, who offered quiet encouragement. "You won't be the ace until you surpass Shinji," Sakuraba said, "and that’s why you train so relentlessly." The boy then extended a wristband, asking Sakuraba to wear it during the upcoming match against Deimon.