(spray sfx)
Barnaby: Is this enough water? (spray) Today is the day we finally get to eat together so I’m excited. (spray) Because everyone was too tired, our last meal together ended only after talking about criminals and past incidents, and the time after that when we gathered for Origami-senpai’s birthday, we all agreed that we wanted to hang out for longer when saying goodbye. (spray) They really are an energetic group of people.
(ding dong)
Barnaby: Speak of the devil. (spray) Coming!
–
Kotetsu: TIGER & BUNNY 2, special audio drama. Today’s story takes place after the Gregory incident, where we all had dinner and drinks together. And so! Maybe I’ll let Bunny be the one who reveals the title for today’s story~?
Barnaby: Alright. The title is, The Energetic Folks of Sternbild. Please take care of us.
–
Antonio: And one more time. Cheers!!
Everyone: Cheers!!
(drinking sfx)
Ivan: You drink like an actor in an alcohol commercial, Bison-san.
Antonio: It’s because it’s delicious!! Another one!!
Kotetsu: I don’t care how much you drink but take it easy, pace yourself.
Antonio: Loosen up a little, Kotetsu! We’re putting aside our ranks and formalities just for tonight! Hahahaha!
Kotetsu: You… Didn’t you get in trouble once cause of “loosening up a little”?
Antonio: OH!! My dearest friend!! Hahaha!!
Kotetsu: Listen to yourself! That’s what I mean!!
Antonio: Hahaha!! It’s a joke~ A joke!
Ryan: You’re in a good mood Rocky.
Antonio: It’s been a while since we last drank at Barnaby’s place! Of course I’m in a good mood!!
Subaru: Oh, this isn't Bison's first time in Barnaby’s place?
Ivan: We were once all invited here a long time ago.
Subaru: Hu-h.
Pao Lin: Why did we even gather at Barnaby's place back then?
Karina: Weren’t we invited to also have a dinner party like tonight?
Antonio: Yup yup. And we also snuck into Barnaby’s bedroom that night and found out that he owns multiples of the same glasses.
Kotetsu: And when we tried them on and fooled around, Bunny got mad~.
Barnaby: I do remember a time like that.
Pao Lin: But I don’t remember Barnaby’s place being this…green.
Karina: I was thinking the same thing! It used to be really dreary.
Lara: Now it’s like a botanical garden~.
Ryan: Hey Junior-kun! What’s your aim?
Barnaby: What do you mean, “what’s your aim’?
Ryan: I heard those who are into gardening are pretty popular.
Barnaby: What?
Ivan: Are you…possibly growing plants…to become more popular?
Barnaby: Of course not senpai!
Ryan: Then why!!
Barnaby: I just happened to buy an indoor plant one day. But a few days later, I felt like it might be lonely on it’s own so I bought another and… Before I knew it, my apartment looked like this.
Ryan: Hm. Boooooriiiiing. That’s a lame story.
Barnaby: You’re the one who asked!
(footsteps)
Nathan: Sorry to make you wait~. Dinner is now served!
Subaru: Uwaaaaa!! This looks amazing!!
Keith: Fire Emblem-kun and I made everything here. From right to left, these are shredded carrot salad, chirashi-zushi, and acqua pazza!
Nathan: There is also pintxos~
Everyone: Wooow!!
Karina: Taking a cooking class sure makes a world of a difference in delivery!!
Kotetsu: This is way past the level of a simple dinner!
Nathan: And lastly, tonight’s most special dish is…
Keith: A request from Mister-kun! Lasagna!! And again, it’s lasagna!!
Pao Lin: So this is what smells so good!!
Barnaby: But why lasagna?
Subaru: Actually, lasagna is Thomas’ fav dish! So figured I might as well request it!
Thomas: (sighs) Such a hassle.
Subaru: Come on~. You couldn’t shut up about how good the lasagna was when we made it at your place.
Thomas: That doesn’t mean I plan to eat high calorie foods frequently.
Subaru: Then don’t eat it. Just don’t get mad you didn’t get a slice of this delicious smelling lasagna later~.(inhales) AAAAH IT SMELLS SO FREAKING GOOD!!
Thomas: You-! Gnn! Hm…hah…
Karina: Hey, I think this is the first time I’ve seen Black corner Thomas!
Everyone: Yeah!
Thomas: Fine. Lasagna, please.
Subaru: Hell yeah!!
Nathan: I’m glad to hear. It’s obviously important to look after your physical health, but it’s just as important to take care of your mental health.
Keith: Please eat to your heart content!!
Thomas: Thank you.
Subaru: See? You should have just listened to your partner from the get go.
Thomas: I have not acknowledged you yet.
Subaru: Stop playing hard to get~. Because no matter how much you try to deny it…we’re BUDDIES after all.
Thomas: Please stop with that label.
Pao Lin: Hey you two! Stop fighting so we can start eating!!
Lara: Yeah! I’m starving!
Subaru: My bad, my bad!
Kotetsu: Then, shall we start eating?
Antonio: Ush!! Thank you for the meal!!
Everyone: Thank you for the meal!!
(eating and chattering sfx)
Pao Lin: Hey La-chan! Try this!
Lara: Aaaoumph…(eating sfx) Wow!! It’s delicious! Here, I’ll give this to Pao Pao.
Pao Lin: Mmmm!! It’s melting in my mouth~.
Barnaby: Haha. As always, you eat your food with so much happiness.
Kotetsu: Reminds me of how they were chowing down fried rice when we stayed here overnight.
Barnaby: Yes.
Karina: Hey, don’t you guys think Kid and Cat are becoming more and more similar?
Lara and Pao Lin: Really?
Karina: See!! They’re in sync!! It must be because…
Lara and Pao Lin: We live together?
Karina: See see!?
Antonio: They’re like siblings!
Pao Lin: That reminds me, when I went to dinner with La-chan and her mother, our waiter also said we were like siblings!
Lara: Yeah! But then mama started going off and…
Thomas: Going off?
Lara: She was saying how she’s come to see Pao Pao as her own daughter and even started calculating Pao Pao’s calorie intake during our meal.
Karina: Ahhh I can see your mother doing that…
Pao Lin: But I’m grateful for that! It’s nice being seen as a family member.
Lara: Really!?
Pao Lin: Yeah! So invite me for dinner anytime! I promise to invite you for dinner with my parents too!
Lara: Of course!!
Na: Heroes becoming family friends with one another is certainly new~.
Keith: Yes. It’s wonderful.
Ivan: (sighs) If only Bison-san was able to become that close with that person too…
Everyone: Huh?
Antonio: O-Origami!?
Ivan: Ah! I’m sorry!
Ryan: W-w-w-w-w-w-wow wait. What do you mean by that? About becoming close with someone? Are you saying… Rocky!
Karina: You like someone!!
Ryan: Mhm!? Mmmm well, yeah.
Subaru: Whaaaaat!?
Nathan: Oh my god, is that person by chance, me—
Antonio: Nope.
Nathan: Let me finish my sentence at least!!
Antonio: Well, there’s no point hiding it from you guys. I like Agnes-san!
Everyone: Wow!!
Ryan: Nice job cleanly coming out!!
Karina: As I expected, Rock Bison’s crush was Agnes-san!
Pao Lin: Right!?
Ivan: Did everyone already know about Bison-san’s crush?
Nathan: It’s because Rock Bison is terrible at hiding his crush towards Agnes-san.
Keith: Even I knew as soon as I saw it!!
Antonio: Are you serious?
Subaru: But I didn’t know!!
Kotetsu: So? Have you talked to her yet?
Karina: Have you!?
Antonio: I did buy a present for her recently…
Ryan: (whistles) Look at you Rocky~. So then? What’d she say?
Everyone: What did she say?
Antonio: I…I still haven’t given it to her.
Everyone: What!?
Antonio: Don’t look at me like that! I don’t really know what to say to her…
Kotetsu: Gotcha… Then, (stands up) let me give you some ad—
Karina: Tiger!! Shhh!!
Kotetsu: Okay. (sits down)
Keith: Then maybe I—
Nathan: You zip your lips too Sky High!!
Keith: Okay!!
Barnaby: What do you like about Agnes-san?
Ryan: Oh! Junior-kun! You sure know how to ask the right questions!
Barnaby: I’m sure everyone else is just as curious.
(everyone mumbles how they are curious to know)
Antonio: Fine but… I’ve never really thought this hard about that… But whenever I see her, I feel braver. She has so much confidence in the way she handles things that I can’t help but think that she’s so cool… So if I’m asked what I like about her, I guess I just like everything about her! Yeah…
Nathan: Thank you for the meal.
Keith: You should give her your present as soon as possible then, Bison-kun!
Antonio: I know that! But I can’t find the right timing…
Karina: Timing? Just make an opportunity for yourself. After all, you two work together.
Ryan: Princess is right. If you keep self doubting yourself, then someone else might get to Agnes before you.
Antonio: What!! Someone else!? Stop, I don’t even want to think about that!!
Barnaby: Then what are you going to do?
Antonio: I’ve decided. I will definitely give her her present tomorrow! Definitely!!
Everyone: Wow!!
Ivan: But…you said the same thing last night after having some drinks, Bison-san.
Antonio: Argh!?
Pao Lin: Wait, really?
Ivan: Yes. Said the exact same thing, word to word.
Antonio: If you say that then nobody will believe that I’ll do it!
Ivan: But if I didn’t mention that, I felt like you’d try avoiding it again… But I am cheering you on!
Antonio: Well, I’m, uh, glad to hear that but…
Ryan: (yawns) You sure don’t pull through despite talking so big, Rocky.
Antonio: Shut up!! Worry about yourself first before sticking your neck into my business, Ryan!
Ryan: What? Me?
Karina: What’s going on? Wait! Does Ryan also have a crush!?
Everyone: What!?
Nathan: Oh my god, is that person by chance—
Ryan: Nooooope.
Ivan: Then is it—
Antonio: Stop!
Kotetsu: Then does that mean—
Ryan: Shut it Old Man!!
Nathan: At least let us finish talking!!
Ryan: More than that!! I’m not currently seeking a relationship, ya know?
Antonio: I’m more worried about your title than your love life.
Ryan: What?
Barnaby: …What do you mean…title?
Antonio: “The Wandering Prince of Gravity!” is what plays when Ryan appears on Hero TV, right? But he’s settled down in Sternbild since then so he needs a new title.
Karina: Now that you mention it!!
Keith: I see! And I understand!! (clap)
Ryan: Mmm but do we really need to talk about this now—
Antonio: It’ll be easier to gather ideas since everyone is here right now, so let’s get it over with!
Lara: I agree!
Ryan: (sighs) I guess we’ll do it…
Subaru: (raises hand) I’ve got one!!
Antonio: Alright, Black!!
Subaru: What do you think of “Sparkly Gold Gravity Prince”?
Ryan: Too lame. Rejected.
Subaru: I figured.
Kotetsu: Oh, then me!!
Antonio: Kotetsu!
Kotetsu: What about “The Golden Masked Man”?
Ryan: Rejected. Why are you giving me a new hero name on top of making it lame?
Kotetsu: Dah…
Pao Lin: Me!
Antonio: Kid!
Pao Lin: How do you feel about “The Do-doon Man”?
Ryan: Reeejected! It sounds like a name an amateur hero would give themselves…
Pao Lin: Yeah, I thought so too.
Ryan: Then don’t suggest it to begin with!!
Karina: I’ve got one.
Antonio: Oooooh! Blue Rose, the hero who is the most well known for her slogan, has a suggestion!
Karina: What do you think about, “The Sound Asleep, Always Late Hero”?
Ryan: …What?
Karina: It’s just that, recently you’ve been arriving late to events cause you keep sleeping in.
Keith: Is that true, Ryan?
Ryan: Ah, i-it’s…yeah…
Barnaby: That’s not like you.
Ryan: I just!! Recently I have been sleeping really really soundly!! And I turn on my alarm but I seem to sleep through it—
Karina: And it disrupts my schedule.
Ryan: But do we need to announce that to the fans!? Don’t you dare slander me with such a title, Princess!!
Karina: Haha I got it. Don’t worry, I’ll think of a proper title for you.
Lara: I got an idea! Can I go—
Nathan: Hold on a moment. Next is me!
Ivan: And before you is me!!
Keith: But I have a suggestion too.
Subaru: Before you guys, can I go again?
( [in the background]
Ryan: I know you can’t help it but I think you guys are having too much fun with this.
Antonio: We’ll listen to everyone so let's keep things in order.
Subaru: Okay so I was thinking—
[Everyone becomes rowdy]
Subaru: Something like “The Sparkly Gold Country’s Do-doon”! How does that sound?)
Barnaby: (sigh) I don’t think we’ll be able to decide on a good title at this rate.
Kotetsu: Hm? What’s up Bunny?
Barnaby: I was thinking of getting some clean plates.
Kotetsu: Oh, let me help.
(walks away together. Voices become distant)
Kotetsu: Jeeeez, they sure are an energetic bunch~.
Barnaby: Haha, yes they are.
(opens cabinet)
Barnaby: But I think the number of times where we can meet up together like this will decrease from here on.
Kotetsu: Huh?
Barnaby: It’s not guaranteed that we’ll be able to face future incident with this specific group of people and when that time comes—
Kotetsu: We don’t know about that~. Nothing’s set in stone yet.
Barnaby: Hah, you’re right. (inhales) Despite us only being together for a few years, we sure have gone through a lot.
Kotetsu: Right.
Barnaby: Hnn.
Kotetsu: Hmm.
(neither speak for a prolonged period as the other heroes continue to discuss Ryan’s new title)
Kotetsu: Hey.
Barnaby: Yes?
Kotetsu: Um, this is a bit hard to say but, uh…
Barnaby: Well, what is it? If you’re going to say thank you to me then—
Kotetsu: Nah, it’s not really something like that but more…mmm… I’m curious about that.
Barnaby: W-what do you mean by, that?
Kotetsu: Mmmmmmmhmmnmmmnhnnmm… (pushes around a plate) …Fried rice?
Barnaby: …Excuse me?
Kotetsu: I just happened to remember that you said you were practicing how to make fried rice for me to try.
Barnaby: Oh.
Kotetsu: And I was thinking, maybe it’s about time I finally get to try it~.
Barnaby: (sighs) I think it is still too early for you to make such a request.
Kotetsu: Still? Wait wait wait! But it’s been two years since you said that to me!?
Barnaby: I haven’t been able to achieve the proper consistency with the rice and it’s a bit…
Kotetsu: So you’re saying you don’t have confidence in your fried rice?
Barnaby: I do have confidence! I’m just lacking in practice.
Kotetsu: Then I’ll teach you right now!
Barnaby: Don’t you dare. I’m not going to let you gloat about knowing how to make fried rice. You are the last person I ever want to be taught from.
Kotetsu: You!! Aren’t you trying to replicate my fried rice after eating some of it?
Barnaby: No I am not. I just happened to think that I could probably make a better tasting fried rice after having some of yours, Kotetsu-san.
Kotetsu: Haaah!? Then make some right now and prove that to me!!
(Barnaby: How many times are you going to make me tell you that I haven’t practiced enough!)
Ryan: They’re going at it again. Those two.
Ivan: Not to call them childish but…
Antonio: But they’re a bit…
Lara: Should we stop them?
Pao Lin: Don’t worry about it~. Just think of this as an outburst that happens every now and then.
Subaru: I don’t know whether they’re on good or bad terms with each other.
Thomas: Agreed.
Nathan: Those two… I’m sure they’ll keep arguing and arguing even after they become old men.
Keith: I think so too.
Karina: They really are energetic.
Everyone: Agreed!
Kotetsu: DAH!! Uh, ahhh… How does a conversation about plain and simple, fried rice even lead to an argument?
Barnaby: Plain? And simple? You… You’re calling my fried rice simple. Mark my words, I’ll never forget that you said this, just like those 3 minutes.
Kotetsu: You just love bringing up those 3 minutes whenever we get into an argument, huh.
Barnaby: It’s because a certain old man keeps nitpicking about certain things.
Kotetsu: Isn’t it Bunny-chan who nitpicks!?
Barnaby: Oh, there you go again. Calling me, Bunny-chan.
Kotetsu: What!?
Barnaby: What is it!?
Kotetsu: Gnn!!
Barnaby: Ghmmn!!
Kotetsu: Gmmnhm!!
Barnaby: Grmnnhmgrn!!
Kotetsu: Then why don’t we have a fried rice-off!!
Barnaby: I will gladly take up on such offer. Let’s do it like this: the one who loses, has to pay for the entire bill when we go out for scheduled drinks next weekend.
Kotetsu: Uwoooow that doesn’t sound too bad~.
Barnaby: Then, let’s shake on it.
Kotetsu: Alright!! Let’s settle this on fried rice! And with that, let’s let out a wild roar!!
The Heroes' background conversations are continued in Audio Drama 8.5: Background Talk