[Just as usual, Onoda's quick to brighten the mood, and he can't help but smile as he listens to him and understands how he feels completely.]

The reason I'm a climber is because I enjoy climbing the most. It's a style that fits me.

[Any regular person can ride a bicycle. Not that being a sprinter or an all-rounder doesn't have any merit or skill to it, but for someone like Makishima who's average at best on flats, exceeding on something that's definitely complicated to other riders gives him a sense of accomplishment that he's never had. No one can compete with him on mountains other than other climbers, and when his team needs him, he can conquer any peak for them.

Climbing is a part of his life. He can't imagine it otherwise. And it's not something he always has to enjoy on his own.

His words are slow as he continues, awkward and hesitant with the sort of weight truths he's never said before tend to have.]

I like climbing. Before you joined, no one else could really compete with me. I didn't mind or anything. Riding on my own is fine. ...then I started racing Toudou.

It was weird. Having someone there with me. Wanting to keep up with me. Wanting to beat me. Calling me their rival. [Having an exact equal who would never leave him. Even without the two of them dating, Makishima appreciates Toudou so much, even though he's never said it out loud.]

Climbing with Toudou, now... I like that a lot too.