Whistle!

Kazamatsuri Shou starts at Sakura Josui Junior High School after transferring from soccer powerhouse Musashi no Mori. At his prior school, he was relegated to the third string due to his height, and he hoped that the transfer would increase his odds of actually getting to play. A misunderstanding at the new school led to the team believing he had been a regular at his previous school. Since he had had little opportunity there to practice anything but juggling the ball, these false expectations would lead to the worst possible introduction.

The Sakura Josui soccer team captain, who believes there is little point in striving for victory when the school is in the same division as the famed Musashi no Mori, has set an uninspired pace for the team. Mizuno Tatsuya, who has learned of Kazamatsuri Shou's resolve to succeed at soccer, sees an opportunity to turn things around. Shou's days of tenacious practice on his own may be at an end as Mizuno chooses him as one of his teammates in a challenge for the position of captain.

After an intense week of practice on the part of Mizuno's challengers, it is time for the 5x5 match which will decide the future direction of the Sakara Josui soccer team. A victory will establish Mizuno as captain, but a loss will result in the current captain kicking him off the roster of the regulars.

Not everyone in the club shares Mizuno and Kazamatsuri's desire to work to improve at soccer. With Mizuno becoming captain, regulars quit and pressure other members to resign. Kazamatsuri, who has sacrificed so much to pursue his desire to play the game he loves, can't leave the ones who left alone.

The starting matches for the district preliminaries are chosen and Sakura Josui's first opponent is... Musashi no Mori! Mizuno has two weeks to organize his fledgling team so it can face the premiere soccer team in the district. Responding to Yamaguchi Santa's challenge for the position of forward, Shige sets up a competition that will force any potential forwards to earn the position the hard way.

As the time for the match against Musashi no Mori arrives, the team is surprised to see that Musashi no Mori coach Kirihara has abandoned the practice of fielding their second team for a match like this. Bringing his first string players, he intends to crush Sakura Josui, to show Mizuno that his talent is wasted at that school. In his focus on Mizuno, however, the coach disregards Kazamatsuri, whose experience at Musashi no Mori has given him great insight into how that team works.

The first half of the match ends with Sakura Josui trailing 2 to 0. Even if the Sakura Josui team can get their feet under them again, what can they do to avoid a repetition in the second half? When some strategy help comes from a very unexpected source, it will be up to the team to make that strategy a reality. In the midst of all this, Kazamatsuri is confronted by a student from Musashi no Mori that he parted with on bad terms.

Sakura Josui has scored, thanks to the demanding pace that the players have set for themselves. As they strive to score again, however, this strategy threatens to leave them at the mercy of their opponents...

With the final minutes of the game ticking away, the Sakura Josui players dig deep to summon the determination to keep moving forward.

Kazamatsuri makes a remarkable new acquaintance in a remarkable way. But, to Fuwa Daichi, the biggest mystery is Kazamatsuri's enthusiasm for soccer, and Fuwa is not one to let a mystery remain unsolved. Meanwhile, the team advisor, Katori, realizing her limits as a coach, tracks down Matsushita Soujyou, who had been so much help to the team in the break between the halves of their game with Musashi no Mori. Despite his obvious interest in the team, something drives him to decline the offer to become their coach.