Eitaro tries to persuade Minato to rejoin the water polo club. Wanting no part of it, Minato is frustrated at being compared to his past self and his failure to become Shogakukan's ace.

With one month left till the prefectural tournament, Minato directs the others on how they should train while starting a regimen of his own to work on getting his groove back. He and the team have a lot on their minds as the days dwindle down.