Read The After-School Podcast :: Episode 2! - Uh… What Are We Talking About?

Etsuko: Alright it’s recording now-- Hey everyone!

Hotaru: What’s up?

Natsuhiko: Welcome to another episode of…

All three: The After-School Podcast!

Natsuhiko: I’m Natsuhiko, the president of the After-School Podcast!

Hotaru: I’m Hotaru, the founder and vice president!

Etsuko: And I’m Etsuko, the secretary of the After-School Podcast!

Hotaru: Hey, how come we’re super in sync in the intro and then during the outro we’re completely out of sync?

Natsuhiko: Maybe because we’ve practiced the intro more than the outro?

Etsuko: Wait, we never practice at all.

Hotaru: Well, maybe it’s because the intro’s more fun!

Natsuhiko: Well, anyway, first on the agenda.. *flipping through a notebook*

Etsuko: Because this time, don’t worry, we actually wrote stuff down this time!

Natsuhiko: So everyone, while I’m trying to find our page, because for some strange reason, we like to just choose a random page in a notebook, and write on it.. How was everyone’s day?

Etsuko: The day! Oh yeah! You just reminded me, Natsuhiko. Don’t I say the day?

Natsuhiko: Oh yeah, you do!

Etsuko: Well, it’s 4:10 PM, on Monday, April 20th!

Hotaru: Why don’t we have a specific time we start recording?

Etsuko: uh…. *pause, then quickly changes the subject* My day’s been good, how about yours, Natsuhiko?

Natsuhiko: *still flipping through the pages* It’s been good! How was yours, Hotaru?

Hotaru: It’s been good. So what’s on today’s schedule--

Etsuko: *suddenly exclaims* HEY WAIT A MINUTE!!

Natsuhiko: *surprised* Ah, you scared me, Etsuko!

Hotaru: What is it?

Etsuko: I’m the secretary, aren’t I?

Natsuhiko: Yeah…. What are you getting at?

Etsuko: What am I even supposed to do?

Hotaru: What do you mean?

Etsuko: I mean, I’m the one who doesn’t do much for the After-School Podcast! I mean, Natsuhiko’s the president, you founded it Hotaru, and you’re also the VP!

Hotaru: You’re the one who takes the notes during our weekend meetings!

Etsuko: We all kinda do that, don’t we?

Natsuhiko: Hey, I know!

Etsuko: What?

Natsuhiko: Why don’t you convert our podcasts into transcripts?

Hotaru: Why would we need transcripts of our podcasts? We could just relisten to them after we post them.

Natsuhiko: Well, what if people are deaf or prefer to read things rather than listen to them?

Etsuko: Yeah, you’re right! Alright then! I’ll start once we’re done with this podcast!

Hotaru: Okay then. Hey, does anyone want a snack? I’m hungry.

Natsuhiko: I don’t think we should eat while recording live.

Etsuko: Yeah, that’d be a bad idea.

Hotaru: But I’m huungrryyyyy!

Natsuhiko: Hey, why don’t we all go to Hotaru’s parents’ bakery after we’re done recording?

Hotaru: Oh yeah!!

Etsuko: Why don’t we discuss this after the podcast?

Natsuhiko: Oh yeah, good point. Anyway, back to business..

Hotaru: I have a story I gotta share with all of you.

Etsuko: Okay, what kind of story?

Hotaru: It’s my soup story. I’ve told it to you before.

Etsuko: *exasperated* Oh boy… here we go…

Natsuhiko: I haven’t heard your soup story! Why don’t we share it with everyone?

Hotaru: Alright! Ahem *clears throat*...

Hotaru: *in a very ominous voice* It was three days ago, and everything was normal. *normal voice* Okay? Everyone following?

Natsuhiko: Yeah, what happened?

Etsuko: I’m not even gonna comment on how ridiculous this story is…

Hotaru: You just did.

*no response*

Natsuhiko: What happened next?

Hotaru: *back to the ominous voice* So, I was getting some canned soup, because I was hungry, okay?

Natsuhiko: Okay! And?

Hotaru: Well, the next thing that happened was when I went to get the canned soup from the cupboard, It wasn’t there.

Natsuhiko: *confused* It wasn’t?

Hotaru: Nope! It wasn’t!

Natsuhiko: Where’d it go?

Hotaru: You’ll never guess! It was… *que the ominous voice* in my belly! Dun Dun Duuuun!!

Etsuko: *facepalm*

Natsuhiko: Wait, what?

Hotaru: I remembered I already ate our last can of soup. So then I had some rice instead of soup.

Natsuhiko: Rice, yummy…

Etsuko: *in a singsong tone* Told you it was dumb..

Hotaru: Shut up, Etsuko!

Natsuhiko: Hey now… let’s all be nice, okay?

Etsuko: Okay…

Hotaru: Only if she does first!

Etsuko: Excuse me?

Hotaru: You heard me!

Etsuko: *groans in annoyance* You know what? You are just so childish sometimes, I swear--

Hotaru: I may be childish, but at least I’m not stuck-up like you!

Etsuko: Me? Stuck-up? Well, at least I come prepared!

Hotaru: *slams his hands on the table* You think you’re just so much better than us, don’t you?

Natsuhiko: *chair scraping against the floor as he stands up* Guys! Lets not fight like this!

Etsuko: *regaining her composure* You’re right. I’ve had enough of this..

Hotaru: You’re just saying that because you were losing!

Etsuko: *snaps back* Excuse me?!

Natsuhiko: GUYS! Stop it with the bickering! I don’t like it, and neither do the people listening to this podcast I’ll bet!

Hotaru: Fine.

Natsuhiko: Okay, so what should we talk about now?

Etsuko: Hey Natsuhiko, remember that one time last year?

Natsuhiko: Could you be more specific?

Etsuko: It was this winter and we were two crazy people who were eating ice cream and playing in the snow as they walked home.

Natsuhiko: Oh yeah! I remember now! We were throwing snowballs at each other, kicking it around, planting footprints in them, all while holding ice cream cones!

Etsuko: *laughing* Why were we even eating ice cream? It was the middle of winter!

Natsuhiko: *also laughing*

Hotaru: Hey! C’mon guys! I wasn’t there! I was still in middle school!

Etsuko: Y’know, I actually forgot you’re in the grade below us.

Natsuhiko: Yeah, me too!

Etsuko: Heh, little small fry.

Hotaru: Don’t call me that!

Hotaru: It’s not fair! You guys are in the same grade! I don’t know what memories you guys are talking about!

Etsuko: Okay, then what are some memories from this year?

Hotaru: Hey! Remember the beginning of the year, when Natsuhiko had a secret admirer?

Natsuhiko: Oh no, don’t remind me about that… I still feel bad about that.

Etsuko: Oh yeah, wasn’t she like that one girl who sits right behind me?

Natsuhiko: Yeah.. she told me she’s liked me since our first year, and I just felt really bad but the thing is I just don’t like g-- nevermind.

Etsuko: Huh?

Natsuhiko: *quickly and nervously* Nevermind!

Hotaru: Are you okay?

Natsuhiko: Yeah, I’m alright. I just didn’t feel the same, so I told her that, and then she looked like she was ready to cry. She said it’s okay, but her voice was shaky, and I just felt really bad and wanted to cry myself…

Etsuko: Hey, it’s alright. Don’t cry, Natsuhiko, it’s fine. *pats his back*

Etsuko: Honestly, if I was confessing to someone, I would rather have their brutally stinging honesty, than be led on by them and have them lie to me.

Hotaru: Yeah, same here.

Natsuhiko: Yeah, I would too, but I still just feel really bad…

Etsuko: Natsuhiko, you’ve got a big heart. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Natsuhiko: Thanks Etsuko, you’re right.

Hotaru: *leaps out of his chair to give Natsuhiko a hug* We all love you Natsuhiko!

Natsuhiko: Th-thanks Hotaru! I love you guys too!

Hotaru: Hey guys, what are your opinions on cats?

Etsuko: I’m allergic, but I love them so, so much!

Natsuhiko: They’re fluffy and lazy, kinda like me..

Etsuko: You’re not that lazy! You’re the president of the After-School Podcast for crying out loud!

Hotaru: I really, really, really like cats. I love them! *rather shyly* They’re um… my favorite animal…

Etsuko: Yeah, they’re really cute, aren’t they?

Natsuhiko: Definitely!

*they’re all chuckling together*

Natsuhiko: Y’know Etsuko, Hotaru, you both are my best friends ever.

Hotaru: Yeah! In my own grade, no one really wants to be my friend. But you guys are really friendly and accepting of me!

Etsuko: Even though we bicker, I’ll admit it, you’re not half-bad, Hotaru.

Hotaru: Aww, Etsuko…

Etsuko: Shut up. Don’t get the wrong idea.

Hotaru: *questionable* hmm… tsundere Etsuko?

Etsuko: I am not a tsundere.

Hotaru: Alright, alright. Etsuko, I’ll say the same for you. You’re not quite that bad either. I can tolerate you, at least.

Etsuko: Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?

Natsuhiko: *quickly* Anyway, before this turns into a fight, I just wanna ask one thing.

Hotaru: What?

Natsuhiko: Hotaru, how are your drawing skills?

Hotaru: I like to believe I’m rather good at drawing.

Etsuko: Yeah, I’ve seen your drawings, and they are pretty good.

Hotaru: *touched* Wow! Thanks Etsuko!

Etsuko: How do I put it… it’s really cute, like an anime chibi kind of style…

Hotaru: *shuffles around in his chair* I guess, yeah…

Natsuhiko: Wow! I’m sure you’re super good!

Hotaru: Why do you ask about my drawing skills?

Natsuhiko: Just wondering…

Etsuko: Hey, I got an idea! Maybe Hotaru should draw us!

Natsuhiko: *in awe* Oh, that’d be amazing! Would you?

Hotaru: *flustered, as he’s never had someone ask for him to draw them* Well, I um…

Etsuko: Yeah, you’re great at drawing!

Hotaru: Alright! I’ll give it everything I’ve got! We can talk about it with the people listening to the podcast next Monday!

Natsuhiko: Looks like we’ve got ourselves a plan for next time!

Hotaru: Not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous about drawing all of you…

Etsuko: *really encouraging* Don’t worry, you’ll do great! I’m sure!

Hotaru: *semi-creeped out* Who are you and what’ve you done with Etsuko?

Etsuko: What are you talking about?

Hotaru: You sound really overly-nice, and that bright smile of yours is a little creepy…

Natsuhiko: I think Etsuko’s smile is really nice and friendly! She has a great smile.

Etsuko: Thanks, Natsuhiko!

Hotaru: Do you think we should close out? I mean, is there anything else we’d like to discuss?

Natsuhiko: Uhm… nope! I think we’re good.

Hotaru: Hey wait one second! I just thought of something!

Etsuko: What is it?

Hotaru: Y’know how we’re really bad at coming up with topics and stuff to talk about?

Natsuhiko: Yeah… what about it?

Hotaru: What if… we ask the people listening to this podcast to write comments and suggestions about what we should talk about? Then during our weekend meet-up, we can look through the comments and write down the stuff we think would be a good idea?

Natsuhiko: Yeah, that sounds like a good idea!

Etsuko: Alright! So we’re all set, right? To the people listening to us, if you would, please write down some suggestions on what we should talk about! It’d really help us out!

Natsuhiko: Alright, should we do our outro?

Etsuko: Yep! Let’s go!

Hotaru: So, on three? 1, 2, 3!

Hotaru: Well, That’s it for today’s episode of the After-School Podcast!

Natsuhiko: Thanks for tuning in! I really hope you enjoyed your time here!

Etsuko: And we hope to see you next Monday!

Natsuhiko: Okay, let’s all say the same thing on three, okay? 1, 2--

Etsuko: Wait, you didn’t tell us what we were saying!

Natsuhiko: Oh yeah! I’m so sorry. Um, let's say… *thinks*

Hotaru: How about ‘have a good week’? Since it’s Monday and all.

Etsuko: Yeah, that works! Okay, so, on the count of three, we’ll say ‘have a good week’. Ready? 1, 2, 3!

All three: *better in sync* Have a good week!