cowardice is a theme I particularly like about inamorike, very prominent in shinjou, arguably also very much present in yuriko, yet asuto was anything but... right away in ep 1 when everyone wavered, kozoumaru called inakuni kids cowards and asuto automatically singled himself out by declaring he'd leave alone if it came to it. other inakuni players were hesitant in facing the prospect of leaving the island and not losing a match against a top team, but asuto just faced the open sea and declared a promise to go and bring soccer back to the only place that ever made Yuriko feel at home. i don't know if I can say he's brave (it's always easier to say he's desperate than brave to me), but he is strong. this strength is something shinjou and yuriko lacked and, most fittingly, it was first displayed in asuto's decision to leave home.
