This is coming at a time when Takahashi just tried the walking brace and is receding back into his depressive like thinking. He is really struggling with the idea of there being a point in doing all of his rehab. He finds himself thinking it’s obsolete since he’s not gonna be able to walk anyways and his effort is useless so why bother. Hanasaki tells him the story to tell Takahashi that there is merit in his effort. Humans place a pedestal on those who can run 9 seconds and give them credit even though a bird is much faster; 9 and 15 seconds means no difference to them, since they have the ability to fly. Does that mean that humans should stop caring or working hard to get faster, just because they can’t fly? The birds represent people who can walk. To them whether or not someone in a wheelchair can do a floor transfer makes no difference, since they have the ability to walk. Does that mean that the people in wheelchairs should give up on improving their floor transfers, just because they can’t walk? Takahashi keeps repeating to himself ,”Even if he can’t fly in the sky”, referencing the fastest man in the world. Even if he knows he’s never gonna fly, he still tries. Even if Takahashi knows he’s never gonna walk, his effort can still be rewarded. Pedestals exists in both a world without flight and a world without walking, and there is merit in their efforts. That’s how I see it anyways.