Yesteryear Read-Aloud

A few minutes later

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Honami

Listen

Thank you all for sitting down.
Now, let's get into the story.
2

Nene

Listen

It's titled “The Star-Chasing Dog”.
And it's about...
3

Children

Listen

Hey, let's play a word game.
4

Children

Listen

No, we should thumb wrestle!
5

Honami

Listen

Oh...

Sound Effect: Play

6

Nene

Listen

They really can't stay still...
7

Honami

Listen

*Nod*
I wish there were some way for us to get them to focus on the stage...
8

Honami

Listen

Oh, Kusanagi, what if we...?!
9

Nene

Listen

Yeah, okay.
Let's give it a try.

Sound Effect: Play

10

Association Executive B

Listen

Settle down, children! What happened to the zippers on our mouths?
11

Children

Listen

Hey, did you watch that anime?
12

Children

Listen

Yeah, it was awesome!!
13

Honami

Listen

Wait, did you hear something just now?
14

Children

Listen

Huh?
15

Nene

Listen

Yeah, I heard it!
16

Nene

Listen

What was that? It sounded like a dog...
Can you guys hear it?
17

Children

Listen

A doggy?
18

Children

Listen

I'm not hearing anything...
19

Honami

Listen

That's strange. I could've sworn I heard one just now...
20

Children

Listen

What would something like that be doing here?!
21

Nene

Listen

I don't know, but... Oh, there it is again!
22

Nene

Listen

Listen closely, everyone.
23

Children

Listen

Hm?
24

Honami

Listen

(Okay, they're all looking at Kusanagi now.)
25

Honami

Listen

(Now I just need to hit the remote...!)

Sound Effect: Play

26

Dog's Voice

<Woof! Woof!>

Sound Effect: Play

27

Children

Listen

Oh, there it is!
28

Children

Listen

Where's the doggy?!
29

Dog's Voice

<Woof!>
30

Children

Listen

Huh? Now it's coming from over there!
31

Honami

Listen

Can you all see where the doggy is?
32

Children

Listen

No.
I can hear it, but I can't see it...
33

Dog's Voice

*Howl*

Sound Effect: Play

34

Nene

Listen

Oh, there it is again.
But where could it be...?

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

35

Children

Listen

Hey! Look at the screen...!
36

Nene

Listen

Huh? Where? Hmm... I'm still not seeing it...
37

Children

Listen

Look behind you!
38

Children

Listen

Behind you!
39

Nene

Listen

Behind me?
40

Children

Listen

There!
41

Honami

Listen

Oh, the doggy's tail is making a shadow on the screen!
42

Nene

Listen

Hey, you're right!
What's it doing here?
43

Honami

Listen

What if...?
Was he so excited that he decided to jump out of the book?
44

Nene

Listen

Maybe.
45

Nene

Listen

We're really sorry!
It'll be your turn soon, so just bear with us for a bit longer, okay?
46

Dog's Voice

<Woof!>

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

47

Children

Listen

No, the doggy went away...
48

Honami

Listen

Don't worry.
He's waiting very patiently for us in this book.
49

Children

Listen

In that book?
50

Honami

Listen

Yes. It's a story about a very kind dog with a very fluffy tail.
51

Honami

Listen

Don't you all want to see him again?
52

Children

Listen

Yeah!
53

Nene

Listen

Great.
Then, can you all listen quietly while we read this story to you?
54

Children

Listen

Okay!
55

Nene

Listen

We've somehow managed...
56

Honami

Listen

Yes. Your acting was so convincing, Kusanagi.
57

Nene

Listen

I wouldn't call what I did just now acting...
If anything, your quick thinking is what saved us.
58

Nene

Listen

I never would've thought to use the sound recordings and the shadow trick we prepared to get the kids' attention.

Sound Effect: Play

59

MEIKO

Listen

<As with any live performance, it's normal to have a lot of things go through your mind...>
60

MEIKO

Listen

<Chiefly, whether or not all the hard work you put in is going to pay off.>
61

MEIKO

Listen

<But I'm sure you two will do just fine.
So, go out there and have as much fun as the children are about to.>
62

Honami

Listen

Somebody told me she was sure we'd do a good job...
I think we have her to thank.
Next Chapter: A Truly Happy Ending