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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

Is that so? I was aware, something simple as that wouldn't be confusing to you.

( yes, he has absolute faith in npc-kun to know something that simple. giving them the answer would do nothing, so he is interested in what they perceive it to be. which, he stands up properly, holding the corn to him as he walks towards the door of the student shop. )

Do you really want me to drink it, it may be non-alcoholic, but people can still get drunk off of it.

( ... )

Yes.

[ npc-kun takes the corn and yeah they'll pour more of the kernels into their mouth while they think about when they'll have time to make a trip to the library so they can find a dictionary and look up this mystery word. The closest word they're going to be able to find would be "setulose" which means covered by setulae, which is short seta, which is hair. Essentially, any fuzzy animal will work. See, they were right.

...

They look up at Komaeda. The moment he reaches the threshold to the door, the pinky of his right hand starts to hurt, that, if he steps out the door, will result in the sharp stabbing pain of a hairline fracture on his pinky finger bone. ]

( the immediate pain was a start, but he didn't let it bother him much, figuring that he probably hit it against something along the way. passing through the door makes this pain even worse, causing him to make an audible "ah!" one that's admits something is wrong. he looks down at his hand, his robotic one raising to press against the area, and he flinches from the feeling — part of him does think about using his newly acquired pocket knife to cut off his pinky, down to the bone.

it's a visual as he stares at his hand, gauges where the pain starts, and if he could just force that off himself... he wouldn't have to feel it anymore. he takes a deep breath, trying to ball his hand into a fist. doesn't work that way, doing anything to that side of the his hand poses a problem, and instead he opts out on shaking his organic hand like it's been covered in water, and he's trying to get it off. with a soft smile, he watches as he does this, and that throbbing sensation gets worse every time. )

How unlucky... ( he comments, which makes him gasp almost immediately, because that can only mean one thing for them, or well, him. ) Are you coming, something interesting might happen if we hurry.

( his pinky finger is probably red around the area, but that doesn't stop him from holding out the same hands towards them to take. )

[ There's a little wince from npc-kun at that "ah!" they'd been expecting but also didn't want to expect, and they're quick to be at his side, reaching for Komaeda's hand when it's offered and then ignoring it and reaching past it to wrap their arms around Komaeda's torso, like how Rokkun does with his kohai to physically move them somewhere except npc-kun isn't nearly as tall or strong enough to pull it off. All they can do is dig their heels in and keep Komaeda there. ]

You'll break another bone for every step. I told you it'll still be considered stealing.

( i literally gasped when i read this, what the fuck.

learn something new every day, all because of a pocket knife that he took... bound by such mysterious laws that komaeda looks down at npc-kun. it sounds exciting actually, just a small item being enough to break his bones, break him to pieces, and the truth behind the matter probably isn't good for him. he follows the others wants by taking a step to the side so that he's no longer in harm's way — )

Are those rules because of you...

( like he's thinking about it... inflicting pain on himself isn't out of the ordinary, gives him a chance to feel something. )

Even though you're with me... I'm still a thief in your eyes?

[ Their lips are pursed until Komaeda takes that step to the side, and while npc-kun would prefer a step back inside, it's at least ample room for them to swing around and place themselves on the other side of the door as if their body alone is enough to keep Komaeda from progressing any further. ]

I'm not the one who made the rules. What I believe doesn't matter.

[ ... ]

But it is because of me. If people stole from my shop, I'd be ruined. That's not allowed to happen.

[ And they know that they wouldn't stand a chance otherwise, when everybody else is so much bigger and stronger and faster and everything than them, they would be helpless if somebody were to grab their rocks and run. This way, nobody would be able to take more than 206 steps. ]

Are you locked into a specific role...

( like how monokuma took the role as a teacher, so he was limited like monomi, and there were certain things he could do, and couldn't do. rules already drawn out for him that he couldn't make any changes to no matter how hard he tried, and could only add to feel safe and have control over all the students. last time komaeda spoke to someone about the rules of this place.. )

Was this also set up by the school's principal?

( the thought appeals to him, leaving this place with the pocket knife... the pain that courses through his finger is just the start, and he looks at where npc-kun stands. moving them out the way would be easy, he wouldn't need to do much, and even his heart races at the thought. he lifts his hand, his mechanical hand raising up to his already hurting finger.

he wraps his fingers around another. ) Wouldn't the loophole to this be... to break my own fingers?

Are you stupid?

[ Literally what does that solve besides shortening the number of steps he's allowed to take to 205? The answer to that is nothing and the answer to npc-kun's question is yes, so they preemptively reach up to wrap both their hands over Komaeda's hand that's wrapped around his finger, like he can't break it if there's too many hands in the way. ]

Is that a compliment?

( answer his other questions, npc-kun, because everyone thinks komaeda is smart, or plays dumb on purpose — the latter helps him from being committed to much, you know? he's serious though, he doesn't mind breaking his own fingers to stop his bones from being broken by a force he doesn't understand.

with them in the way, however. )

You're aware of what happens... ( he looks at their hands, as if he's been stopped. ) if I do it myself, it won't hang on your consciousness.

[ "mysterious forces can't break all the bones in my body if I break them first!" are these the thoughts of a rational man ]

No! I'll still be sad about it! Standing there useless as somebody dies in front of you is even worse than killing them yourself!

( sticks and mysterious forces may break my bones, but words will never hurt him!! )

Something like that is easy to grow from... especially if you're surrounded by death a great amount.

( me wondering when komaeda will stop jinxing hismelf, the future is not too kind king. )

Don't be sad, especially for trash like me.

( this is a learning experience! )

[ He says that but it's more like you're forced to grow from it after sobbing over your dead brother for 10 years before deciding this can't go on. ]

You're not trash.

[ ... ]

You have money, which means you have worth, which means I'm allowed to be sad.

Hm? I am, it might be hard for you to accept, but... you'd do better accepting what you know.

( that said, they're supposed to be leaving because komaeda accepted their little deal about the other making the beverage they discussed. they can't go with the other in the way all because komaeda's insane enough to break his bones, or force them to. )

I know I hold no importance to you outside of that, so it'd be fine for my bones to break... unless you're worrying about me more than my money.

[ npc-kun's shitty drinks aren't worth broken bones over, and admitting they're worried isn't worth setting aside their pride. ]

Nuh-uh. It's like when a bee stings something and loses its stinger and dies, it's pitiful. This is pity.

Is this what pity is like... I guess so, I shouldn't have thought anything past that...

( he wants to look at his finger, and it's a little swollen now thanks to trying to leave out the door. with his other hand, he'll pull out the pocket knife the other had given him to open the cans. )

Who established these rules?

( like he'll give it back if he's answered... )

[ ... ]

I made a deal with the school, on the condition that I'm protected.

[ It's an answer so... they're going to go try to snatch the knife out of Komaeda's hand in hopes that they can grab it before he can react. ]

The school or someone at this school...?

( he allows npc-kun to take it, regaining his knife, and it's back into the hands of where it should be. that's a little upsetting that komaeda has had another sharp object taken from him, but it is what it is, he'll find another one soon. )

What if I want to make the same deal?

[ There's a little breath of relief and their shoulders relax when the knife is back in their hands, and then in their pocket. ]

You can't. There's only room for one store and if you threaten my monopoly I'm going to be mad at you forever.

I'm no good at being a rival.

( so npc-kun has nothing to worry about in that department, but that doesn't mean komaeda's not about the loss of his weapon... )

What if I want someone protected, I want to make an exchange with the school as well... so not for me.

I'll protect them! You can buy my services: I'm very good at protecting people and if they buy all my protective charms, nothing bad will ever happen to them!

[ Who does Komaeda want to protect, give them a name, give them a dozen names ]

I want to see it work before I do that, but if talking to someone here can make it happen, shouldn't I speak with them?

( the way i started writing down names then realized. )

[ PLEASE they'll wrangle a name out of him if it's the last thing they do ]

No, you talk to me! And you already know what can happen.

[ They reach for Komaeda's hand to hold his finger up to his face, but their hand draws back at the last second, because what if they hurt him, what if they touch his hand and his entire finger falls off, what if

... ]

My contracts are fair. So make them with me.

( *writes the names down so i can paste them when it's time* )

How will you protect them?

( he speaks like he's interested, and he watches the way the other draws away from him. it's not the first time that's happened with a person, and he stares for a moment before nodding to himself.

he knows he's disgusting, that must be why... )

And I'll purchase whatever it is.

With the keychains, and the rocks...

[ And the struggle between wanting Komaeda buy everything and get that huge weight off their chest that is dead brother rocks, and not wanting everything to go to one person. He has the money, though. Ugh... ]

...I'll talk to the person who gave you your protection.

( not that the keychains and rocks aren't enough, they probably do their job, but komaeda hasn't seen it work. the person he wants to protect, the hope he wants to ensure will survive...

he smiles softly, changing the subject. ) You wanted to make a drink, didn't you?

( ...the way he would buy all of their dead brother's rocks. )

Please let August be better than July I'm begging

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