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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( 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. )

[ There's that little twist of the lips again, the same when Amami first called them by that nickname, like they've been waiting all their life to hear that somebody is proud of them that when it finally happens, it's bittersweet.

...

The smile is back of their face when they lean back on their heels. ]

Hehe... That's right. Don't care about what anybody else thinks; just look at me! Watch me! I'll keep making you proud!

( there's a pang that goes through amami's chest as he notices the way their expression flickers, but his own smile stays steady until kamo-kun's returns.

because of course, even he can recognize that he's not the person they really want to hear this from.

they let him though, and there's meaning enough in that, amami continuing to agree without a second thought. they should hear it from somebody — that they're believed in, treasured — even if he's not the person they might have hoped for. )

I know, and I will. Promise. So make sure you make those dreams of yours come true, 'kay? I want to see it when it happens.

[ Sometimes your big brother doesn't even remember your name or your face, it's fine.

... ]

Can you say that, not knowing what my dream is?

[ "I believe in you, no matter what" "I love you, no matter what" "I'll always be there for you, no matter what"

There's a glance down at their wrist, up at Amami, and then away. It's hard to have faith in promises like that. ]

Yeah, I can.

( again, without hesitation. it's true that he might not know what it is, exactly, but... they're a good kid. maybe his weak points are being cashed in on here, and maybe he's being taken for a sucker — but he doesn't think that he is. and more important than the dream itself is the meaning it would have for them anyway. but words are cheap, and amami already knows better than anyone that he probably doesn't deserve to be believed in to that degree.

still, his eyes follow theirs to glance down, gaze flickering back just as they avert their own again, and... there's a moment's pause.

only a moment's, though, before he starts to pull absently at the bracelet that's currently wrapped around his own left wrist, obscuring the view. )

If you don't believe in me, that's fair. ( a guy like him has earned that much. ) I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it though.

( and with that, amami's able to raise his hand to show off the single tally mark carved into his skin. he tilts his head with a sympathetic smile as he does. )

Is it these you're worried about?

[ npc-kun bites at their bottom lip when Amami shows them his tally, unable to keep from glancing down at their own wrist again but they tear their eyes away, tugging baggy sleeves a little further down their hand.

... ]

No. [ They're not worried, so much as...

... ]

I believe you say what you mean. I just... don't want to disappoint you.

( he'll lower his hand when they've had the opportunity to look, fiddling absently with the loops of the bracelet he's taken off without bothering to slide it back on. honestly, it's probably good for his wrist to get some fresh air for once — god knows amami doesn't exactly show it off to anybody, but he will give a bit of a sigh. )

You... don't have to worry about that. No matter what.

( kamo-kun's a good kid. it'd be hard to convince him of anything else, by now. )

If anything, I'm the disappointing one.

[ Does Amami have a bracelet tan line ]

Huh...? For what? You're not disappointing.

[ He hasn't disappointed npc-kun, and therefore he isn't disappointing. H(is money)e has more than exceeded expectation, actually. ]

( i kinda hope so. he deserves that much of a tan. )

...Thanks, Kamo-kun. It makes me feel better to hear that from you, but... I probably don't deserve it.

( there's a long pause as his gaze falls to rest on the tree but, as it passes, he plasters a much brighter smile over his lips and he turns back to face them. )

Ha, look at me, getting all gloomy. ( embarrassing when he's supposed to be the reliable older brother. )

Look, you don't have to worry about what I think. Call it a gut feeling, but I don't think you could disappoint me if you tried, and as long as your goal is something that will make you happy, I want to do what I can to support you.

[ There's something to be said about people not having to deserve being believed in, but they actually sort of do, in npc-kun's opinion, when it's safer to offer trust once deserved than it is to take that trust away when it's broken. ]

...Yeah, it'll make me happy. It's something I've wanted for a very long time, ever since I can remember.

( fair. amami means what he says and says what he means though — at least, right now he does. he drops off the counter, straightening up again and offering a smile. )

Then that's enough for me. We'll make it happen for sure.

( or, well, kamo-kun will. amami just wants to help. )

[ He can help... with his $$$ ]

Do you have one? A goal you've been wanting to reach for a very long time?

( when amami just hands over the whole suitcase post-mission and i have go to regain for him again. )

Yeah. I'm still working on it, but I'm going to make sure I see it through.

( you ever just in complete denial about the reality of your situation back home? yeah. )

[ Amami maxing out item from home regains each month to support his super high maintenance sibling ]

Hm...

[ There's a little purse of the lips, like they want to ask what it is, or how they can help, to return the favor Amami had offered them but also... understanding it could be private, the way theirs is, a goal kept close to the heart and tucked away as if exposing it to the world would only get it torn apart. ]

...yeah. Don't ever give up on it. No matter what anybody thinks or says.

( you're joking but just wait for it. only 1/4 of anything i regain is ever actually meant for him. )

You don't need to tell me that.

( some things are more important than anything that anybody has to say, and amami smiles wide at the encouragement. kamo-kun gets it. )

[ ...

They place that smile back on their face. ]

Yeah! And, hey— I know you said you don't have any more money right now, but if there's anything you need in the meantime, do me a favor and it's yours!

[ This is not generosity, don't be fooled ]

( oh wait, hold up. he was about to gather his things, but glances back to them when they say that, curiosity piqued. )

What's the favour?

( he's absolutely fooled. he doesn't need more rocks, he'll do it for free. )

[ ngl after about 20 comments in any thread I lose track of where people are and what's going on ]

Advertisement! I'm going to need lots and lots of posters, and you can help me draw!

( that catches him, and after a moment's surprise, he laughs. )

I guess I can't say no to you. What did you want on them?

( imagine coming back to your school in september and those hideous blobfish are hung up everywhere i'd cry. )

[ forget Rokkun, Maya's the one going on a murder spree after break ]

Hm... Zebras and raccoons and manta rays.

( being ugly isn't a crime, maya... )

Zebras, raccoons, and manta rays — got it. Next time I come by, we can put together some posters then.

Please let August be better than July I'm begging

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