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Please let August be better than July I'm begging

✽ Due to 10+ classes raising their ranks last month, ALL characters have access to the courtyard via the door in the locker area and the windows facing the courtyard.
✽ Characters with 1-10 tallies are not able to get any further past the end of the courtyard before they fall unconscious; characters with 10-20 can get halfway to the pool building before the same happens to them; characters with 20+ tallies can reach the pool building but unfortunately, the door is on the other side. There are no windows on the walls, but from the clocktower, characters can see that it has a glass ceiling, though they are unable to see inside.
✽ Outside, there is no breeze, and it occasionally rains ash.
✽ Characters going up to the 4th floor will feel that the door is warm to the touch, and will occasionally open (see: missions)
✽ The student store opens, with the door propped open with a doorstopper. The npc running the store ~~is currently not interested in conversation, but may be available for threading in the future~~ and is available for threading in the toplevel below. Please see the updated bonus activity page for more information.
✽ Posted on the bulletin board and also handed to each club president before break is the notice that proof of club activity is due at the end of break. Please submit these proofs in the toplevel below.
✽ There is another ad on the bulletin board advertising an exchange student program for the month of October. Applications will be taken until the end of August, and there is a 300 merit point fee. Sister cities include Death City, Devildom, Ishigami Village, Lanling, LazyTown, and Maiami City.

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( it's not something that amami misses, but he's sympathetic to the feeling. something complicated twists in his chest too as he exhales, thinking the question over — whether it would be selfish, to return the same, whether it would presumptuous, or...

he returns the smile. )

If you want to. Amami would also be fine, since I don't get nicknames often, and my little sister would call me Tarou-nii...

( if it was just his name, they already have that, so... he gives it up as an offering, put on the table to match with theirs. if it's a hard pass, they'll have an easy out. )

Tarou-nii... [ murmured, just to try it out ]

Would that make you happy?

[ Would it be okay? being called that by somebody Amami's got to miss dearly, if he's away from home all the time. It won't be altogether a happy feeling, they know. ]

( hearing it said aloud is a lot, yeah. and coming from somewhere else, it probably could have been uncomfortable — frustrating, even. but amami's not the only one who's offering up something with weight behind it here, even if they may not understand one another's circumstances so clearly. he's being trusted with something important. whether it's the name kamo-kun has given him, or the one that he's returned, there's trust in those, he feels. for that, the fact that they've been put on the table now makes the thought of how he could lose them before long a scarier alternative to anything else.

something tightens in his chest, and the guilt and anxiety make his stomach turn. underneath that, though, there's a flicker. a faint remnant of hope that's been determinedly protected, coming to the surface through the simple interaction. it may be true that it's fragile, but... even if it's something vulnerable, it's just too difficult for him to deny a situation like this, so he gives his answer simply. )

...Yeah, I think so.

[ The hesitation washes away when they hear that affirmation, because if it makes Amami happy, then that choice is easy. ]

Tarou-nii... hehe... I'll make sure to call you that lots so it doesn't feel weird!

( the more confidence they say it with, the more confidence is visible in amami's grin. the laugh that he gives sounds a bit sheepish, but lifting the pot for the tree so he can hold it to his chest for a moment, he'll reach out with his freed up hand to ruffle their hair. )

I'll look forward to hearing it, Kamo-kun.

( he can only hope they'll smile like that every time. for now? every dollar amami gets from this day on can officially be considered as theirs. )

[ There's a little flinch when Amami first reaches for their head, and they're still until he lifts his hand off their head, but that smile is still on their face. ]

Oh! When we get to the shop, I need to give you your friends' gifts!

[ how is August almost over, how is it almost Liz's birthday already ]

( not the flinch. his brows furrow a little, but he's pointedly gentle and brief about it, and he'll let kamo-kun slide for now. the information is shelved away for the time being, amami offering a nod. )

Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing what you came up with.

( at this point it doesn't matter what it is anymore — he's biased in favour. have they been walking or chilling... shop time. )

[ They have been walking and npc-kun breaks into a trot once they're close enough to open the door and prop it open and let Amami take his time following while they slip into their private secret menu back room to retrieve their things. When they return, it's without the Yacchi lump under their shirt, which was presumably left in the back room to guard their wares, but they do return with a stack that they proudly hold out to Amami.

On top are two little dogs made of wire: one looks something like this except just plain wire and its chest encases a bright blue gemstone (like this but imagine it's a dog instead of a fish), and the other is something like this but with simpler art, colored pencil on one of those shrink plastics that you draw on and stick in the oven and it comes out a third of its size and you can make charms out of it. A small hole has been punched out where its mouth is and a small gemstone hangs there on a ring, like so.

Under that are three sheets of sticker paper, the sort where you draw directly on the paper on top and then carefully cut out the sticker after. The art is pretty simple, mostly in this style but there's a variety across the three sheets. Some of them are colored in solid pink, others have brown or black or grey parts but anything white has be shaded in with light pink. The top layer of each sticker sheet has been cut around each rat with an exacto knife, but the cuts are kind of shaky and sometimes the layer below got accidentally cut too, but Rika can trim these nicer on her own if she wants to when she uses them.

At the very bottom is a 1852 edition of Roget's Thesaurus, its pages worn and yellowed and smelling faintly of vanilla.

npc-kun looks off to the side, awaiting judgement. ]

( oh, cute. yacchi stays with the valuables. yacchi is a valuable. when they wander back in, amami will either be sitting on something incorrectly, or that isn't supposed to be sat on really — like the counter. yes, it has to be this way. it's fine. the tree is also sitting on one end of the counter; they're hanging out. his expression brightens even just looking at the pile though. he sets the papers and the book aside for a moment first, checking out the little dogs one by one with a thoroughly impressed look. )

Did you make them yourself?

( they're way too on-the-nose to be from anywhere else, right? he sets them back down, inspecting the little pink rat stickers as that fascination across his features slowly begins to shift into a bright grin. )

If not, you really know where to find these things. They're perfect.

( talk about getting his money's worth. he looks back to kamo-kun expectantly, eyes absolutely sparkling with pride. listen. this is his little sibling now, he's allowed to feel proud about this, and even the thesaurus is above and beyond. that alone hits at least three different likes or requests she made, if he remembers right? )

[ They fidget nervously, lips pressed tight and not looking at Amami when he finally speaks up, and they don't say anything until they get verbal confirmation that everything is acceptable. ]

...really?

[ Their shoulders drop, breath let out in a whoosh. Whew! What were they so worried about? Of course the gifts are perfect. They're awesome. There's no way people wouldn't like it.

... ]

Hehe... I gave it my all! Do you think these will bring them happiness?

I almost don't want to hand them over.

( let him keep them for himself! but look, kamo-kun is so talented, and their stickers and trinkets are so... endearing? nice? cool? words are hard. the point is that even if he has full intentions of sharing these presents, amami sees the way kamo-kun holds their breath for his verdict, and he wants to hype them up a little here. with a broad grin as he sets everything down, he'll offer up a bit of a laugh. )

They'll love them — I'm sure of it. Where'd you learn to get so good at this stuff?

[ Amami can keep them... and commission npc-kun again for that same exorbitant price... but it'd be nicer if they could make something Amami likes.

... ]

I spent a lot of time at home. Both my siblings liked art, so I played with what they left behind.

( his birthday is coming up too :) )

Oh, so it runs in the family.

( that checks out, actually, and the way it's said doesn't escape his notice. he'll tilt his head to the side slightly. )

It seems like you really take after them, but they didn't teach you?

[ NO WHEN IS HIS BDAY how can npc-kun learn this ]

Huh? Art isn't something you learn from somebody... you just sort of do it. Everybody can make art.

[ Art is inherent in humanity, or something. You take any 3 year old and ask them to draw and they will scribble on a piece of paper and declare it a masterpiece ]

( october 3! other survival club members would maybe know it :thinking: rina mentioned club sign-up forms having them. )

You think so? I'm not too great at it though — I can hardly draw a stick figure.

( yeah, he... really said the line. his spatial translations to paper might not be so bad, but something like the kind of amateur cartography amami may actually be passable at can't really be called art, and there's not much going for him past it. )

But I guess if you're self-taught, that's even more impressive.

[ thank you survival club for documenting the important information. ]

Only if you compare yourself to others. I didn't understand any of my big sister's art, but she was very proud of it! She bragged about it all the time.

[ Amami's stick figures can't be... terrible...

...

makes them want to see how bad it really is ]

If you draw me something, I'll give you a discount! 0.1% off this commision!

( the chiaki kudo energy in neesan! we love to see it. )

Hmm... I guess when you put it that way, there are some forms of art that are more about the meaning than the presentation.

( the take a candy interactive piece always fucks me up, but that's beside the point. with a sheepish laugh, he'll hold out his hands as if for some paper and a pen. )

I can't pass up an offer like that though. What do you want me to draw?

( try* to draw. )

[ pours one out for my folder of Chiaki art that I suffered through gathering and never got to show ]

Hmm... [ what do they want drawn badly...

...

They pull a pen out of their pocket and then holds their hand out, palm face down, so Amami can use the back of their hand as his canvas. ]

Anglerfish.

Anglerfish...? ( well he didn't expect that one, but okay. ) Those are the ones with the light, right?

( he even like points in front of his forehead with one hand as if he was the anglerfish for a moment, before accepting the pen and kamo-kun's hand. propping one of his shoes up against the base of the counter so his knee is raised, he'll set kamo-kun's hand down there so he's got a steady surface to draw on. he looks really focused, but it isn't long before he takes his pen away. )

There...

[ ...

npc-kun bursts out laughing before Amami can finish and maybe that's why the teeth are all wonky ]

Wow!

[ Haha! Wow. ]

See? You can draw!

[ badly but drawing is drawing and they're going to show this off to all their customers until the ink gets worn away and say Amami drew it ]

( you know what? that's fine. encouraging. he must be doing a great job for this kind of reaction!! and he can't help the wide grin that begins to spread across his own expression as well. )

Well, at least you like it.

( that's what matters out here anyway. and seeing their face light up like that, maybe it's time to join the art club? )

Yeah!

[ And, while the ink is still wet, they reach over and takes Amami's hand, turning it over so they can press the back of their hand firmly against his, stamping the anglerfish onto his skin. ]

Now we match.

[ Never mind the fact that their is slightly smudged now and Amami's can barely be seen. They're sharing. ]

( he begins to reach out like he's gonna ruffle their hair again, but stops midway, pulling his hand back for a moment. )

Oh. You don't like having your head touched, right?

( he looks a bit sheepish, not entirely certain, but continues reaching so he can pinch their cheek instead. )

But I'll make sure to show it off lots then.

( even if it's his embarrassingly ugly anglerfish drawing. gotta make sure everyone knows he has the cutest younger sibling regardless? and now that he knows they like matchies, damn what are some bigger scale matchies he can give them... )

Huh? Oh...

[ They reach up and place their hands on their own head, smoothing down the locks and thinking like they never considered it, not giving much thought to flinching when a hand comes towards them when they can stay still and take it until it stops.

Getting their mochi cheeks pinched, though, makes them scrunch up their nose and try to pull away, though not so much that they contribute to their own cheek pulling.

... ]

Yeah, that's right. Be proud of your work and don't be embarrassed about stuff, 'cause if you go at it with full confidence, people will buy into it.

[ If the can sell normal boring rocks, Amami can tote himself as a good artist. ]

( oh, they don't notice? noted. it doesn't change the reply amami's able to give without even having to think about it. )

It's you I'm proud of.

( fool! but it isn't bad advice, and it's something amami will take to heart even as he lets go of their cheek, open palm held up playfully as if to say he's innocent. )

You're right though. If Kamo-kun believes in me, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks anyway.

( said with all the confidence they want him to have in his ugly fish. )

Please let August be better than July I'm begging

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