Rise as One! - 8: A Howl Mary Play

The day of the competition

Competition Venue

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Ishihara

*Sigh*
You and Max are up soon, Shinonome.
I'm getting so nervous...

Akito

Listen

Geez, you look more nervous than me.

Minori

Listen

Hey!
Shinonome, Ishihara, Max!

Ishihara

Hey, you guys...!
Thanks for coming to cheer us on!

Honami

Listen

Of course. Good luck today!

Akito

Listen

Yeah, thanks for coming.
Also, I didn't expect to see you here...

Rui

Listen

Hehe. I've been wondering how today was going to go. Also, it's a great chance to gather more data on dogs. I'm looking forward to seeing how you do, Shinonome.

Honami

Listen

Still, this is quite an atmosphere...

Minori

Listen

Yeah!
All the dogs and their owners look really excited...!

Ishihara

Oh, Shinonome, you guys should start heading over towards the court...!

Akito

Listen

Got it.
Wish us luck.

A few minutes later

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Rui

Listen

So, those with the highest cumulative scores after the first two rounds advance to the finals?

Ishihara

That's right. Which is why it's important to get off to a good start by scoring a lot of points during the first... Oh, hey!

Announcer

<Next, we have Mr. Shinonome and Max!>

Minori

Listen

They're on the court!

Honami

Listen

This is it...!

Ishihara

They practiced making five mid-range catches during the allotted time...

Ishihara

And they should be able to advance to the finals if they get all five...!

Akito

Listen

Ready, Max?

Max

Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Alright.

Akito

Listen

Your partner's watching, so let's go out there and win!

Announcer

<Alright, let's begin.
Ready... Go!>

Akito

Listen

Max, catch!

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Max

Woof!

Ishihara

Nice throw, Shinonome!
That's right at the height and distance Max likes.

Honami

Listen

And Max...

Max

Woof...!

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Minori & Honami

Listen

He caught it!

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Ishihara

Nice catch, Max!

Honami

Listen

(Next, he needs to get the disc back from Max.)

Honami

Listen

(He did well during practice, but...)

Max

Pant...! Pant...! Pant...!

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Akito

Listen

Come here, Max!

Max

Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Good!

Minori & Honami

Listen

Oh wow...!

Minori

Listen

He did it! He got the disc back from Max!

Rui

Listen

Yes, they seem to be working in perfect sync.

Ishihara

There's his second throw...!
Yes, nice catch!

Akito

Listen

You've got this, Max!

Max

Woof!

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

Oh, that's three in a row!

Honami

Listen

Wow, they're perfect so far...!

Ishihara

*Nod*
If they can keep this up...!

Akito

Listen

Let's make it four in a row, Max!

Max

Woof!

Akito

Listen

Alright, go get i—

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Minori

Listen

Whoa, the wind...!

Akito

Listen

Huh...?!

Akito

Listen

(No, the disc's being blown off course...!)

Max

Minori & Honami

Listen

Oh no...!

Akito

Listen

(It fell to the ground...
If only I'd sensed that gust sooner...)

Akito

Listen

(We need to make all five catches. Now there's no chance of us making the finals...)

Ishihara

Don't give up!

Ishihara

It's not over until it's over, Max!

Max

...!
Woof...!

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

You can do it, Shinonome!

Akito

Listen

(They're all...)

Akito

Listen

(Right. It's too soon to give up...!)

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Akito

Listen

(As much as I want to make up for our fourth throw, we don't have time to do six. That means our next one is gonna be our last.)

Akito

Listen

(So...!)

Akito

Listen

We're going deep for our last throw, Max!

Akito

Listen

Go get it!

Sound Effect: Play

Max

Woof...!

Sound Effect: Play

Minori

Listen

Wh-What...?!

Minori

Listen

That's so far!
Is Max gonna be able to catch it...?!

Rui

Listen

I'm not sure, but I think he's trying to maximize the number of points they can score.

Minori

Listen

B-But they won't get any if Max doesn't catch it...

Ishihara

Don't worry. I mean...

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Akito

Listen

Go! That way...!

Akito

Listen

(I threw it even further that first time!)

Akito

Listen

Jump, Max!

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Max

W-Woof...!

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Akito

Listen

Yes!

Minori, Honami & Ishihara

Listen

He caught it!!!

Staff Member

Three, two, one... Time's up!

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Akito

Listen

Phew... Talk about a buzzer-beater.

Akito

Listen

Nice work, Max.

Max

Woof!

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Akito

Listen

Hm?

Akito

Listen

Oh, does this mean you want me to...?

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Ishihara

Yes. After he's pulled off a nice play, he always sits like this and asks for pets.

Akito

Listen

You did great, Max...
Here...

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Max

Woof!

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A few hours later

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Honami

Listen

Congratulations on winning third place, Shinonome, Max!

Akito

Listen

Thanks... But I feel kinda bad about not winning.

Ishihara

What are you talking about?!
You advanced to the finals on your first try. That by itself is a huge accomplishment.

Minori

Listen

Yeah, you guys were so awesome!

Ishihara

Thank you again for doing this, Shinonome...

Akito

Listen

Hm?

Ishihara

You made sure Max's efforts didn't go to waste... As a result, this ended up being a great experience for both me and him.

Ishihara

So, thank you!
And thank you all for practicing with us and cheering them on... I really appreciate what you did!

Minori

Listen

Ishihara...!

Rui

Listen

Thank you as well. This ended up being quite a valuable experience.

Minori

Listen

Yeah, and also really moving...!

Honami

Listen

Yes, I agree...

Honami

Listen

I'm so happy that you were able to find a way to believe in Max.

100

Honami

Listen

And I'm so glad you got a chance to see him compete, Ishihara...!

101

Ishihara

Mochizuki...

102

Max

Woof...!

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103

Ishihara

Huh...?! Haha. I'm grateful for you too, pal. Thanks for running like I was out there with you.

104

Ishihara

What you did was so cool!
I'm proud to have a partner like you!

105

Ishihara

So, next time, we're gonna win! Together!

106

Max

...!
Woof!

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107

Akito

Listen

(We didn't win today...
But I feel like I was able to help them.)

108

Akito

Listen

(Also...)

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109

Akito

Listen

We're going deep for our last throw, Max!

110

Akito

Listen

Go get it!

111

Akito

Listen

I still can't believe we became friends...

112

Rui

Listen

By the looks of it, I have a feeling that you'll do just fine with other dogs now.

113

Minori

Listen

Yeah, he might be right!

114

Akito

Listen

Hm? Well, I mean...
I feel more comfortable around them now compared to bef—

115

Dog

Woof! Woof!

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116

Akito

Listen

Whoa!

117

Honami

Listen

Oh...

118

Owner

I'm so sorry! I hope my dog didn't startle you...!

119

Akito

Listen

Th-That's okay...

120

Akito

Listen

*Sigh*

121

Akito

Listen

(Nope. This is still gonna take a while.)