Rise as One! - 3: Behind His Refusal

Nonogi Park

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Honami

Listen

You injured it while practicing...?

Ishihara

Haha. Pretty stupid of me, right...?
But I can still throw since it's just a light sprain.

Akito

Listen

Still, you've gotta be careful. It's going to take a lot longer to heal if you don't rest properly...

Ishihara

Thanks, I know.
But I'm okay, honest! Just watch! Catch...!

Ishihara

*Wince*

Akito

Listen

(He says he's fine, but he's not moving like he's fine...)

Akito

Listen

(I've gotta think he's in pain...)

Ishihara

Ready, Max? Go...!

Max

...

Ishihara

Huh? Why aren't you running? I said, “Go!”

Max

*Whimper*

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

Oh, Max decided to sit down...

Ishihara

What's wrong, Max?
The competition's tomorrow, remember...?

Honami

Listen

Oh, what if...?

Honami

Listen

What if Max knows that you're hurt...?

Ishihara

What?

Honami

Listen

I think he's staying put because he doesn't want you to keep throwing that disc...

Minori

Listen

Oh, so...
He doesn't want to fetch the disc because he doesn't want to force his partner to keep throwing it?

Akito

Listen

(Which means Max is going out of his way to disobey Ishihara because he's worried about his partner's ankle...)

Akito

Listen

(On the other hand, are dogs even capable of that sort of thought...?)

Ishihara

Is that true, Max...?

Max

*Whimper*

Minori

Listen

Oh, he's rubbing his head against your ankle...!

Honami

Listen

He must be so worried.

Akito

Listen

(Wow, that's pretty incredible...)

Ishihara

Max...

Honami

Listen

Um, Ishihara...?

Honami

Listen

I know this isn't really any of my business, but I don't think you should push yourself any further...

Honami

Listen

I feel that Max would be so sad if anything were to happen to you...

Ishihara

...
You're right...

Ishihara

Thanks for showing so much concern for me, Max. I'll take it easy tomorrow to let my ankle heal instead of participating in the competition...

Ishihara

Still, this is really frustrating...

Ishihara

We've been practicing so hard for tomorrow, but can't participate now because of a mistake I made...

Honami

Listen

Ishihara...

Akito

Listen

...

Akito

Listen

(I get how he feels...
I'd be frustrated too after practicing every day like they have.)

Akito

Listen

(Even more so if it also makes your partner's efforts go to waste...)

Ishihara

I'm sorry, Max...

Max

*Whimper*

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

Ishihara... Max...

Minori

Listen

Wait, would it be possible for Max and I to enter into that competition...?!

Ishihara

Huh...?

Ishihara

Well, you can technically register the day of, so I don't see why not...

Minori

Listen

Then, if it's okay with you, Ishihara, I'll compete in your place!

Ishihara

Wh-What...?!

Ishihara

Yes, Max would still get to compete...
But are you sure?

Minori

Listen

Yes! Please let me do this!

Minori

Listen

I want to show my support for Max since he's been working so hard towards your guys' dream!

Akito

Listen

Hanasato...

Ishihara

Thank you for your kind offer, Hanasato...

Ishihara

Max and I need to build up a good record together in order to compete on the national stage...

Ishihara

But I don't want his efforts to go to waste.
I want him to compete and do his best.

Ishihara

So, if you don't mind...

Minori

Listen

Of course! You can count on me...!

Minori

Listen

Alright, lemme give this a try!
Ready, Max?

Minori

Listen

Goooo get it!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Whoa, that's got some pepper to it.

Akito

Listen

But...

Honami

Listen

Oh...

Minori

Listen

Nooo!
Why'd it go that way?!

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Ishihara

Uhh... It sliced a little, but you definitely get full marks for power!

Akito

Listen

A little? It flew completely sideways.

Minori

Listen

*Sob*
Lemme try that again! Catch!

Sound Effect: Play

Honami

Listen

Oh, now it went backwards...

Minori

Listen

Wh-Why?!

Max

W-Woof...?

Minori

Listen

Oh, is Max looking for the disc?
It went that way! Over there!

Samo

Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

No, Samo, not you too!

Minori

Listen

*Sob*
I'm sorry. I didn't think it'd be this hard.

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Ishihara

Th-That's okay!
It also took me a long time to get the hang of throwing one of these!

Ishihara

Plus, you have to practice a lot to get it to fly where you want. Now I feel like I'm asking too much of you.

Minori

Listen

Oh... But if I keep practicing more and more...

Ishihara

No. I really appreciate the thought, but I can't force you to do all that just for us...

Ishihara

As terrible as I feel about Max, we're just going to have to give up on tomorrow's competition.

Akito

Listen

Ishihara...

Max

...

Max

Woof...!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Huh? Wh-What is it?

Honami

Listen

Wait, Shinonome...
Doesn't this mean Max wants you to take the disc...?

Akito

Listen

What?

Minori

Listen

Yeah, look!
He's pawing at it like he wants you to throw it!

Akito

Listen

W-Wait, why me?

Minori

Listen

Hang on...
Does this mean he wants to enter into that competition with you?!

Akito & Ishihara

Listen

Huh?!
What?!

Max

Woof! Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

See? Max agrees!

Akito

Listen

Hey, don't put words in his mouth. I mean, you don't seriously believe...?

Honami

Listen

...

Honami

Listen

Actually, I think she may be right...

Akito

Listen

Huh?

Honami

Listen

Um, it's just...
Max has such a serious expression on his face right now...

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Honami

Listen

He may've noticed how frustrated Ishihara is over not being able to participate in that competition, and decided that he wants to enter...

Akito

Listen

(Is that true...?)

Max

...

Akito

Listen

(Yeah, it does look like he's trying to tell us something...)

Akito

Listen

Still, why me...?

Ishihara

Oh, I think I know why...

Ishihara

He must've remembered how well you threw his disc the other day.

100

Akito

Listen

Huh?
Oh...

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101

Akito

Listen

(Wait, the disc...!
If I throw it somewhere far in that direction...!)

102

Akito

Listen

Go! That way...!

Sound Effect: Play

103

Max

...!
Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

104

Akito

Listen

You mean that time...?

105

Max

Woof...!

Sound Effect: Play

106

Akito

Listen

...

107

Akito

Listen

(For Ishihara's partner's sake, huh...?)

108

Akito

Listen

*Sigh*

109

Akito

Listen

Fine, I'll throw for you.

110

Max

111

Honami

Listen

What...?!

112

Akito

Listen

I'll enter into that competition with Max...
Based on what I did last time, I think I have a good idea of how to throw one of these.

113

Ishihara

But... Shinonome, I thought you didn't like...

114

Akito

Listen

Yeah, I don't know how things are going to turn out...

115

Akito

Listen

But...

116

Akito

Listen

Let's just say I understand how you feel when it comes to not wanting to let your partner down.

117

Ishihara

Shinonome... Thanks so much...!

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118

Ishihara

Then, if you're really sure...!
I promise to give you guys all the support I can.

119

Akito

Listen

Alright, thanks.

120

Akito

Listen

You too, pal...

121

Max

Woof!

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122

Akito

Listen

L-Let's do our best.

123

Honami

Listen

Oh...

124

Honami

Listen

(His hands are shaking...)

125

Honami

Listen

In that case, may I help out as well...?

126

Akito

Listen

Huh?

127

Honami

Listen

I may be able to give you some assistance since I'm used to taking care of dogs.

128

Minori

Listen

Ooh! I wanna help too!

129

Shibao

Woof!

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130

Samo

Woof! Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

131

Minori

Listen

Oh, Shibao and Samo said they also want to help!

132

Akito

Listen

Seriously...?

133

Ishihara

That'd be great...!
I can't help retrieve the disc and stuff because of my ankle...

134

Akito

Listen

Yeah, it would be nice to have a few extra hands available...

135

Akito

Listen

So, let's all do our best.

136

Minori

Listen

Yeah!

Next Chapter: Instinctive Fear