ao ashi 273 "if it is an answer you find on your own, you won't forget it for the rest of your life" amazing callback to this line at such a critical moment for ashito's growth. while he lacks in technique, he makes up in strategy as he find ways to connect his teammates

i've always been intrigued by the idea of ashito being a midfielder since the beginning so i was really shocked that he was put in defense. looks like we might get that answer soon

"football is played by people. everyone here, who i thought of as football cyborgs as they brought me to despair during the tryouts, were regular people after all."

first, arata. it's really quite interesting how he frames himself as a coward who finds no path to victory even with his grandfather's strong karuta. but i love how this dilemma resolves-

"if there's a strength that makes you want to quit karuta, there must be one that makes you want to keep playing." suo's strength is undeniable but it is by 'borrowing' chihaya's strength (through the tasuki) that arata stops being scared and become composed for the final match.