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

Geez, you look more nervous than me.

Hey!
Shinonome, Ishihara, Max!

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

Of course. Good luck today!

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

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.

Still, this is quite an atmosphere...

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

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

Got it.
Wish us luck.

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

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!

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

They're on the court!

This is it...!

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

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

Ready, Max?

Woof!

Alright.

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

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

Max, catch!

Woof!

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

And Max...

Woof...!

He caught it!

Nice catch, Max!

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

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

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

Come here, Max!

Woof!

Good!

Oh wow...!

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

Yes, they seem to be working in perfect sync.

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

You've got this, Max!

Woof!

Oh, that's three in a row!

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

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

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

Woof!

Alright, go get i—

Whoa, the wind...!

Huh...?!

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

?!

Oh no...!

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

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

Don't give up!

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

...!
Woof...!

You can do it, Shinonome!

(They're all...)

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

(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.)

(So...!)

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

Go get it!

Woof...!

Wh-What...?!

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

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

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

Don't worry. I mean...

(I threw it even further that first time!)

Jump, Max!

W-Woof...!

Yes!

He caught it!!!

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

Phew... Talk about a buzzer-beater.

Nice work, Max.

Woof!

Hm?

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

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

Woof!

Congratulations on winning third place, Shinonome, Max!

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

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

Yeah, you guys were so awesome!

Thank you again for doing this, Shinonome...

Hm?

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.

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

Ishihara...!

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

Yeah, and also really moving...!

Yes, I agree...

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

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

Mochizuki...

Woof...!

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

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

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

...!
Woof!

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

(Also...)

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

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

Yeah, he might be right!

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

Woof! Woof!

Whoa!

Oh...

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

Th-That's okay...

*Sigh*

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