Etsuko: Hey everyone!

Hotaru: How’s it going?

Natsuhiko: Welcome to…

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! Currently, it’s 4:06 pm on Monday, June 4th.

Hotaru: Wait, June 4th!?

Etsuko: Um, yeah… why?

Hotaru: Well let’s just say, today is a very special day!

Etsuko: *bluntly* Hm? I don’t see anything special about it.

Hotaru: *over-dramatically* OH ETSUKO HOW HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN!!! Oh, I’m dying!! All that will save me from my inevitable fate… is to remember what today is… *makes dying sounds*

Etsuko: Oh yeah! In America, it’s National Hug Your Cat day!

Natsuhiko: America sure has weird holidays.

Etsuko: Tell me about it.

Hotaru: *angy high-pitched screaming*

Natsuhiko: Hm, well um, it-it’s monday, so today’s the After-School Podcast day!

Hotaru: *more angy high-pitched screaming*

Natsuhiko: *about to cave in* U-uhm..

*Etsuko whispers in Natsuhiko’s ear*

Natsuhiko: I’m so sorry Hotaru, I um…

Etsuko: Oh, Natsuhiko, you have the world’s worst poker face.

Hotaru: Your face looks scrunched up and weird, like you're constipated.

Etsuko: Hotaru!

Natsuhiko: I um… I’m sorry Hotaru! I um, I really don’t know what kind of special day this day c-could be-- I’m so sorry Hotaru that’s a lie!

Hotaru: *excited and hopeful* Wait, so you know what day it is!

Etsuko: Natsuhiko, keep it together! You can do it!

Natsuhiko: I um… I’m sorry Etsuko, I can’t take it any longer! Happy birthday Hotaru!

Hotaru: *euphoria* You guys knew all along! I knew all along you guys were just messing with me! Good friends never forget each other’s birthdays!

Etsuko: Then what’s my birthday Hotaru?

Hotaru: Erk! *silent*

Etsuko: *facepalm* It’s August 1st!

Hotaru: I knew that all along.

Etsuko: Mmmhmm sureeee.

Natsuhiko: Uhm, Hotaru? I uh, I got you something…

*Natsuhiko hands Hotaru his gift, and Hotaru unwraps it*

Hotaru: *too happy to even speak*

Etsuko: You got him chocolate things.

Natsuhiko: Well, he loves chocolate, doesn’t he? I got him all kinds of chocolatey candies and snacks. Like pocky, chocolate cookies, etc. 

Hotaru: *hyper excited high-pitched screaming as Etsuko and Natsuhiko talking* Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Etsuko: He sure does seem really happy about it.

Natsuhiko: I’m really glad he enjoyed his chocolate.

Etsuko: Hey Natsuhiko, your birthday is… April 11th, right?

Natsuhiko: Yay! You got it! Ding ding ding!

Etsuko: Yay! I’m glad I’m a good friend.

Natsuhiko: You’re already a good friend. You always will be Etsuko!

*Hotaru has settled down and is now eating the chocolate snacks at his desk*

Etsuko: Don’t eat all of them at once. You’ll get a tummy ache!

Hotaru: Mph. Impossible.

Etsuko: You’re impossible.

Hotaru: No you.

Etsuko: Whatever. Y’know I got you something too.

Hotaru: *jumping out of his seat with excitement* More chocolate?!

Natsuhiko: *chuckling* If you were a dog, your tail would be swishing back and forth really fast!

Etsuko: Well, I made us bracelets. One of my hobbies is making jewelry. It’s to show we’re members of the After-School Podcast. I’m really lucky to be in this podcast.

Natsuhiko: Me too!

*Etsuko hands the bracelets to Hotaru and Natsuhiko*

Hotaru: Not as good as chocolate, but I’ll take it.

Etsuko: Don’t be ungrateful.

Natsuhiko: You made this Etsuko? It’s so pretty, I’m impressed!

Hotaru: You’re so easily impressed, Natsuhiko!

Natsuhiko: I guess I really am, aren’t I?

Etsuko: Don’t worry, I am too. And so is Hotaru. He’s the most easily impressed out of the three of us!

Hotaru: *for some reason taking offense to that* Am not!

Etsuko: You are too!

Natsuhiko: Being easily impressed isn’t a bad thing, Hotaru!

Hotaru: Hmph.

Etsuko: Do you think we should get to our topics for the day?

Natsuhiko: Sure!

Hotaru: I’ll read it off! *takes the notebook and flips through the pages* Okay, so, this topic for today was suggested by User2562, and it says, ‘Bread.’

Etsuko: Dummy! Read the rest of it!

Hotaru: That is the rest of it!!!

Natsuhiko: Well, what kind of bread?

Etsuko: I like apple cinnamon rolls.

Natsuhiko: Oh yes, me too! Wait, but would that count as more of a pastry?

Hotaru: Whatever! I guess let's just go with ‘if my parents sell it at their bakery, then yes, it's bread.’

Etsuko: That's-- nevermind.

Hotaru: I like chocolate cakes, cupcakes, cookies--

Etsuko: Basically anything chocolate flavored?

Hotaru: Yep!

Natsuhiko: That’s our Hotaru.

Etsuko: Yep.

Natsuhiko: Should we do another topic?

Hotaru: Hey wait, we didn't discuss this enough!

Etsuko: Well, the conversation is kinda dead, don’tcha think? Besides, there’s this one topic I kinda wanna talk about…

Natsuhiko: Alright, well, why don’t you read it off?

Etsuko: *with a tone of voice that feels as if she's softly smiling as she reads it off* It's by User2991, and it says, ‘talk about the development of the podcast, and even its members.’

Natsuhiko: I don’t think I really changed much, to be honest.

Hotaru: That’s not true! You’ve changed a lot! You used to be super duper quiet and would barely talk in the podcast, but you’re speaking a lot more now!

Etsuko: You haven’t really changed a bit, Hotaru.

Hotaru: I’ve changed a ton!!

Natsuhiko: I agree with Hotaru. I mean, he’s still that same chocolate-loving, slightly childish, lovable character who’s not afraid to speak out, loudly and proudly!

Hotaru: *sheepish* Yeah, that’s me!

Etsuko: Honestly, I’ve almost forgotten how this podcast was a complete disaster to begin with.

Natsuhiko: I’d say it was less of a disaster, and more of a learning experience.

Etsuko: Well, yeah. I guess so.

Hotaru: How come we’ve all moved on from the fact that it's my birthday!?

Etsuko: Oh it was your birthday?

Hotaru: WHAT?! WE LITERALLY JUST CELEBRATED IT!!

Natsuhiko: We thought we’d let you eat your chocolates for a bit. Enjoy it, y’know? 

Etsuko: And besides, we are still podcasting.

Hotaru: … I already ate them.

Etsuko: You WHAT?!

Natsuhiko: Whoa that was quick! Shouldn’t you have savored them?

Etsuko: Yeah!!

Hotaru: IT WAS CHOCOLATE!! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ME TO DO WITH IT!!??!

Etsuko: *facepalm*

Natsuhiko: Hey, after the podcast, we should go to your parents’ bakery to celebrate your birthday, Hotaru!

Etsuko: Oh yeah! Speaking of Hotaru’s family bakery… Hotaru, can you get me some vanilla cupcakes?

Hotaru: VANILLA!?! HOW DARE YE!! Why not get chocolate, the most superior of them all!?

Etsuko: Well, I just like vanilla better than chocolate. Is that a crime?

Hotaru: Yes.

Etsuko: *frustrated groan* That was a rhetorical question, dummy!

Hotaru: No, you’re a rhetorical question!!

Etsuko: *inhales deeply in frustration, trying to keep calm* Can’t I please have vanilla cupcakes?

Hotaru: No. I’m getting you chocolate instead.

Etsuko: But I don’t like chocolate!!

*Etsuko has spoken the forbidden words*

Hotaru: *too offended and stunned to even speak*

Natsuhiko: Hey, it’s alright. Etsuko can have her own opinions.

Hotaru: Natsuhiko, tell Etsuko I never wanna speak to her again.

Natsuhiko: *sighs* Etsuko, Hotaru said--

Etsuko: *irritated* I HEARD HIM!

Natsuhiko: I-I’m sorry….

Etsuko: I’m sorry Natsuhiko, I didn’t mean to yell at you!

Natsuhiko: I-I’ll get you some vanilla cupcakes for you, Etsuko.

Etsuko: No, it’s okay! *says rather bluntly* I’d rather abuse my friendship with Hotaru to get me free cupcakes.

Hotaru: EXCUSE ME!?!? THAT'S IT, WE’RE NOT FRIENDS ANYMORE!!

Natsuhiko: *nervous* Hey, lets just be friends

Etsuko: *casually* Don’t worry Natsuhiko. Remember last time he said that? Then he started talking to me the very next day, forgetting he even said that. I’m sure this time won’t be any different.

Natsuhiko: Hey, do you think we should end the podcast right now? I think we should probably sort this out…

Etsuko: Yeah, I agree.

Hotaru: Wait, I actually forgot we were recording live…

Etsuko: Oh yay have you calmed down yet?

Hotaru: *snub* hmph!

Etsuko: You are so annoying.

Hotaru: NO YOU!!

Etsuko: Heh, I thought you were snubbing me.

Hotaru: *ignores* Let’s just get on with the outro!

Natsuhiko: We’re gonna say ‘have a good week’ this time, right? I think that’s what we discussed last time.

Etsuko: Yeah, that’s what I remember.

Hotaru: Okay, let's go!

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

Natsuhiko: I really hope you enjoyed your time here!

Etsuko: And we hope to see you next Monday!

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