Natsuhiko: Hey everyone!

Hotaru: How’s it going?

Natsuhiko: Before we start with our intro, I need to let you guys know…

Hotaru: *over-dramatic sadness* Etsuko she… she’s… *pretending to sob* She’s sick!

Natsuhiko: There there, Hotaru, it’s okay.

*bading! (phone notification)*

Natsuhiko: I got a message on my phone… It’s from Etsuko! She says, ‘I’m listening to the live podcast as you speak…’ *his voice trails off and he takes a big and loud breath in from his nose. You can tell he’s deeply unnerved*. ahahaha *nervous laugh*, Etsuko… um… g-good to know… umm… uhhhh… *nervous cry* ahhh!

Hotaru: Etsuko, you’re so creepy!

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: She um… says, ‘shut up Hotaru. I know where you live.’

Hotaru: See?! CREEEEPYYY!!!

Natsuhiko: Well um.. I mean that is a little creepy…

*bading!*

Hotaru: Don’t tell me what it says! It’s just gonna be something creeeeeeppyyyyyyy!!

Natsuhiko: *reads it* Don’t worry, it’s not. She says, ‘Just get on with the intro.’

Hotaru: Oh, that’s not so creepy. Alright, let's start the intro!

Natsuhiko: Welcome to another episode of…

Natsuhiko and Hotaru: The After-School Podcast!

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

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

Natsuhiko: Wait, what do we say if Etsuko’s not here?

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: She said, ‘And I’m Etsuko, the secretary of the After-School Podcast!’ Hm, well, that works. Are we just gonna talk like this throughout the podcast?

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: ‘yes.’ *unnerved* Um, alright then…

Hotaru: This is creepy. But I mean, I guess it works. *has a thought* Hey wait a minute! Why doesn’t Etsuko just call you and talk in the podcast without being here?

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: She lost her voice, and it’s really sore.

Hotaru: Okay, then.

Natsuhiko: Y’know, I kinda wonder why we didn’t just cancel this episode. I feel like we kinda need Etsuko for this.

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: ‘ya think?’

Hotaru: Well, no matter what, the show must go on! Right? I mean, we can’t disappoint the people who’ve been waiting a whole week for a new episode!

Natsuhiko: Yeah, that’s true. Okay. We’ll just try our best to manage without Etsuko.

Hotaru: Yeah! We don’t need Etsuko!

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: ‘I can hear everything you say, y’know. If you really insist you don’t need me--’

Hotaru: Yeah, I’m sure we’ll be fine without you.

Natsuhiko: ‘…You’ll see. Just you wait. Buh-bye!’

*silence*

Hotaru: …we’ll be fine.

Natsuhiko: Will we?

Hotaru: Of course we will.

Natsuhiko: *doubting it*

Hotaru: Okay, so what’s first?

Natsuhiko: Okay, this one’s from User9937, and it says, ‘Talk about music, and what everyone’s favorite kind of music is.’

Hotaru: *says loudly and proudly* I like heavy metal!!

Natsuhiko: I kinda like upbeat songs, but I also really like some soft songs too.

Natsuhiko: I think Etsuko once told me she likes those cute romance love songs.

Hotaru: *cheekily* I bet she likes those hot boy bands..

Natsuhiko: *goes quiet* …

Hotaru: *a little concerned* Are you okay? Your face is a little red… Do we need to stop recording? Do you need to go to the nurse?

Natsuhiko: No, it’s okay! I’m fine! *slightly nervous chuckle*

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: Oh! Etsuko said, ‘SHUT UP HOTARU!!’ followed by several fire and angry emojis.

Hotaru: I bet she’s just being tsundere, and she secretly does like them…

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: She says, ‘I swear, when I get my hands on you…’ and has an emoji of a pile of bones.

Hotaru: *gulp* ahahaha… *nervous laugh* She's not serious. She’s just joking.

*short pause*

Hotaru: Right?

Natsuhiko: I’m sure she was, don’t worry Hotaru. She’s that kind of person, y’know? She can sometimes be a little crabby, but she’s really kind and friendly.

Hotaru: A little?

Natsuhiko: Well, I remember there was this one time where Etsuko told me she kind of thinks of you as her ‘high maintenance little brother’. And you know how siblings sometimes bicker and stuff? I kind of think of your guys’ relationship like that.

Hotaru: I guess, kinda… wait. *taken aback* I’m a ‘high maintenance little brother’?!

Natsuhiko: Well, I think she meant it in a good way.

Hotaru: Hm.

Natsuhiko: Alright, should we continue with the podcast?

Hotaru: Honestly, I'm even a little surprised by how smoothly things are going.

Natsuhiko: I still think we need Etsuko…

Hotaru: Don’t worry! Like I said, we’re absolutely fine without her! Hey, maybe we should podcast just you and me more often!

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: *pauses to read it over* Yeah, sorry Etsuko, I don’t think I can say this out loud. Why don’t I just show this silently to Hotaru instead?

*Natsuhiko shows Hotaru*

Hotaru: *talking quickly and fearfully* I was kidding! Don’t worry! I’d never exclude you! We need you!

Natsuhiko: Yeah, we need to all be inclusive.

Hotaru: Alright, so what’s next on the topics?

Natsuhiko: Let me see… *looks through the notebook* there’s um, nothing else…

Hotaru: Wait so… there’s nothing else?

Natsuhiko: Oh no. Okay, time for improv. Okay, so… What are we gonna talk about?

Hotaru: Um… *somewhat panicking*

*uncomfortable silence*

Natsuhiko: *winces* ahhh no.

Hotaru: I know we’re both thinking it. So fine, I’ll say it: we need Etsuko.

Natsuhiko: Yeah, I mean, she’s the best at coming up with topics and stuff like that.

Hotaru: I guess so… yeah…

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: Etsuko says, ‘you see now Hotaru? You need me. Ha! You admitted it!’ 

Hotaru: Yes! *embarrassedly* Fine.. we need you..

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: She says, ‘alright, fine. I’ll help you. Why don’t you talk about how your day has been? The rest, most likely, (unless you’re stupid) will follow.’

Hotaru: Okay, well my day has gone pretty well so far. Sometime throughout the week, my mom is gonna teach me how to make my favorite cupcakes from the bakery.

Natsuhiko: Ooh! That sounds super yummy! What kind of cupcakes are there?

Hotaru: Chocolate cupcakes. They’re super yummy, and sometimes my parents put chocolate chips in them, and they’re just so chocolatey and gooey!

Natsuhiko: You really like chocolate things, don’t you? Chocolate ice cream, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate milk…

Hotaru: Oh yass! Ripping off bites of the chocolate cupcakes and dipping it in chocolate milk is soooo good!!

Natsuhiko: Whoa! I should try that!

Hotaru: Why don’t I bring the ones I made with me to school when I make them, so then you and hopefully Etsuko if she’s feeling better, can try them!

Natsuhiko: *excited* That’d be great! I can’t wait to try them!

Hotaru: I’m excited to get your opinion!

Natsuhiko: What kind of things do your parent’s make in their bakery?

Hotaru: Well, they take orders for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, donuts, all kinds of desserts! They also make all different kinds of breads and pastries and all kinds of stuff. They also serve different kinds of coffees and teas.

Natsuhiko: That’s super cool!

Hotaru: Yeah. Haven’t you looked at the menu when we meet up at the bakery to talk about the podcast?

Natsuhiko: Well, I haven’t really looked that much… since I only ever really order tea and a chocolate-chip cookie.

Hotaru: Chocolate-chip cookies~! Yummyyyy! Hey, later wanna go to my parent’s bakery? *in a cutesy voice* I’m hungyy!

Natsuhiko: Yeah, sure! I’d like to!

Hotaru: Alright then! Do you think we should also check up on Etsuko, too?

Natsuhiko: Yeah, probably. I’m sure she’d appreciate it.

*bading!*

Natsuhiko: Okay, she said, ‘No, it’s fine. You don’t have to.’ Yes we do! We should, at least.

Hotaru: I’m sure she’d really appreciate it! Maybe we should bring something from the bakery too!

Natsuhiko: Yeah, I’m sure she’d love that!

Hotaru: Alright, do you think we should close out now?

Natsuhiko: Alright, let's start our outro!

Hotaru: Wait, what about Etsuko’s part?

Natsuhiko: One of us will say it, okay?

Hotaru: Okay!

*pause*

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!

Hotaru: Wait, do you want me to say Etsuko’s line?

Natsuhiko: Sure, yeah!

Hotaru: Alright, and we hope to see you next Monday!

Natsuhiko: Okay, on the count of three, do you wanna say ‘have a good week’, ‘see you next Monday’, or something like that?

Hotaru: Hm, why not go with ‘have a good week’? Because it’s what Etsuko always says!

Natsuhiko: Nice thinking Hotaru! Okay, on the count of three. 1, 2, 3!

Hotaru and Natsuhiko: *better in sync* Have a good week!

Natsuhiko: *exhausted sigh* We really need Etsuko.

Hotaru: Agreed.