Entry tags:

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

[ crying as npc-kun is unwittingly made into a murderer

There's that evil cackle that Komaeda had wanted them to try, and he's right about it being scary. It's the hall going black again that makes npc-kun freeze up again, gripping Komaeda's arm tight, like they're trying hard not to think about the fact that it's an arm.

... ]

You'd better have learned your lesson! Don't mess with me!

[ They're sparing you, ghost, out of the vast generosity of their heart. aka they're going to run back to their little store and take a moment to breathe before setting the arm under the counter and moving their chair over to the corner so they can take one of the suncatchers off its hook.

It's not as bright as they'd like, but it'll have to do as they poke their head out into the hallway and tentatively go down it again, suncatcher held up like a silver cross, better not be here, ghost, when they get back to Komaeda. ]

( at least he was beat by hope so he's not going to complain, but he hasn't got up off the floor either as the beating stops, or even says anything. he can hear how "brave" npc-kun is handling the situation, and then it's the sound of their feet running off in one direction that komaeda can gauge where they're going. the shop is their safe place, so he'll make sure to stop by after the pain in his body calms down.

he's literally laying on the floor, the coolness of it does nothing for his bones, and then he rolls onto his back as he looks up at the ceiling. yep, he's not going to move from that spot.

the ghost — komaeda — is still there, don't worry, with his other hand placed on his chest, some blood on his shirt, and just in the middle of the hall with his eyes closed. he's taking in the beating that he took... for hope, for hope he keeps thinking about!!

especially with how npc-kun protectedd themselves... it really seemed like they lacked fear, and komaeda's proud of that. for their aniki, which must be about rokkun, that's how he puts two and two together... but did a ghost take him? the discrepancies never make sense.

please don't trip over him, i'll cry. )

[ I wish they'd trip over him but unfortunately npc-kun is going to take the return journey slowly, suncatcher held up like a lantern that they swing left and right to illuminate all the corners, and they're thinking to themselves that maybe they shouldn't have left Komaeda's arm behind. A blunt object for protection would have been nice, but... if Komaeda disappeared completely, without a trace, like Rokkun did... they selfishly want to keep something of his, just to have.

It feels like their heart stops in their chest when they finally do come across Komaeda, seeing him lying on the ground covered in blood and bruises, his eyes closed, oh noooo...

...

What did they even come back for? They knew Komaeda was beyond saving. Tears in their eyes, a lump in their throat, they kneel down next to Komaeda's body and starts looting his pockets. ]

( he doesn't worry about the sound of someone walking close, and he keeps his eyes shut thinking they'll pass by. he sees a small light behind his closed lids, so he wonders if it's... a firefly or something. he finds out soon enough that fireflies wouldn't be digging into his pockets, and he opens one eye first like he's peeking to see who it is.

he doesn't pay attention to the light, but do they still have the mask on... can't even see the tears if so. he remains quiet even though he's being looted... he'll take this as character development since they seemed against it at first. they can grab a few bucks out of his pocket, and maybe the skull chain that's hooked to the loop of his pants, cat treats, hope fragments and — )

Aah! How wonderful, have you changed your mind?

( about looting? )

[ Yesssss their money now, they're going to take that because it's cash, the skull chain because it's shiny, they leave the cat treats, and take the hope fragments because they're shiny—-

They have their fist clutched around a hope fragment when Komaeda speaks up, and they yelp, skittering back and flinging the fragment as hard as they can at Komaeda's face, like there was some involuntary thought process that went "I thought you were dead" --> "I am never wrong" --> "stay dead" ]

( at least it's the hope fragments so he got hit by hope, and there's another audible "ah" that leaves past his lips. he blinks, reaching out for it so that he can hold it up like a shooting star above his head. )

Sorry, sorry... I understand I'd be better off dead.

( it's like he knows, but he turns his head towards where npc-kun skittered off to. )

Should I kill myself, is that what you want?

( and he asks that so easily, like he doesn't mind it. )

[ Oh. He's alive. Oh. Okay.

It's hard to tell because they've dropped the suncatcher, only able to see the side of Komaeda's shoulder and existing arm, but the fact that it moves is enough to relieve them of the thought of disembodied voices aka Komaeda's ghost.

So they pick themselves up and trot back to Komaeda, going ahead and sitting on his stomach and leaning towards his face because it's so hard to see through the mask that they do still have on and can't figure out how to take it off but that's okay, they're not crying if nobody can see their tears. ]

No... don't do that. I thought a ghost ate you.

( are they sitting on his stomach? literally insane, komaeda exhales a puff of air, and he's going to try and survive this. his breathing is slow and deliberate. that way, he doesn't die from something semi-heavy on him, and he looks up to seeing the glare of the gas mask's eyes looking down at him. isn't it going to get hot and foggy in there? not the team on the goggle part of it. )

I wouldn't be a ghost's favorite meal.

( he dangles the hope fragment still, and then brings it down to his chest as he looks up at them again. it's glowing a little, because that's what they are... fragments that glow and sparkle like the sun shining down against the surface of the sea. it's a comforting item, so at least npc-kun can use that as a small light source. )

I believe they're more interested in youths your age, actually...

[ Yeah, being in a gas mask for so long, especially having run up and down the hall, is kind of miserable. But they can't take the mask off so both of them will have to deal with the plastic between them. ]

No way. I'm... [ not allowed to announce their age on the account of Japan's national labor laws ]

It's okay! I scared it away, so it'll go haunt somebody else! You should have seen me! I was very cool.

[ Didn't scream or cry at all. ]

( when they say their age and it's like static on the tv, so komaeda just thinks his head is glitching or something. )

...Is that so. You did put your all into getting rid of that ghost, huh?

( his head still hurts, and his arm, and his nub... maybe he will be looking into that totem that makes the body numb. )

All that screaming that you did really showed them!

[ maybe it is ]

-—I wasn't screaming! I was yelling! Those are two different things!

[ Yelling was... a calculated action done to scare the ghost away, yes. ]

I did my best, so you need to praise me now.

What's the difference when fear was evident.

( he's not making this any better, but of course, he'll lift his nub arm up — realize that his mechanical arm is gone, and he raises the other instead to pat their head. )

Like this?

[ Thank god for the darkness and the mask so npc-kun doesn't have to see Komaeda wave his nub in the air, and it doesn't stop them from starting either when they first feel that touch on their head.

... ]

Maybe... you can use your words?

( saying something nice... why, this is a little difficult because what did npc-kun do aside from hit komaeda with his arm, and then run off yelling? )

...Try out for baseball, you have pretty great swings!

( does that pass? he's silent, trying to listen for if there's a grunt of disapproval. )

[ ...

It does get a pass, in the form of a huff, then a laugh, and npc-kun leans back again without getting off of Komaeda. ]

Yeah, they're great, huh? I bet I can hit so many home runs, I don't have to worry about anybody tackling me at the bases!

You actually liked that? ...Then you should look into it, I feel like I don't want to get up after you almost brutally murdered me with my own arm!

( he'll praise them for that, they did such a good job with every swing, and maybe komaeda could have lost a tooth if he didn't hold up his other hand to deflect it from coming close to his face. )

Keep up the good work!

Wha- no I didn't! I saved you from being brutally murdered!

[ They're a hero!! Don't do this to them. ]

It was dark and you couldn't see and I was wearing the mask, so I forgive you for being wrong. Here, help me get it off.

[ By "help" they mean they sit there expectantly and wait for Komaeda to take it off. ]

( truth is kryptonite!!

komaeda has to try and muffle his laughter, which he does by raising one hand over his lips, and give him a moment. )

I couldn't see... but you did see me, as long as you know where the threat is... you felt safe, didn't you? To think you were close to ending my life with such strong swings! Don't feel bad, there was hope behind the amount of strength you put in every aim...

( besides, that arm was created by two hopeful individuals. )

...Why?

[ He's wrong but... it's okay. Maybe the ghost hit him in the head and got him all confused. ]

Why... what?

[ Why did they fight off the ghost? Why did they come back? Why literally anything feels safer than pitch black darkness? Good questions. ]

( aratas sure do love saying people are wrong. )

You know... ( like he's waiting for them to answer it.

and komaeda only has one arm which he's shifting from npc-kun's head to messing with one of the straps, it'd be easier if he had two. they're in the dark so that no one can see him, but his voice is low anyway so no one knows that the other asked for help. )

If you tilt your head to the side, it'll be easier.

[ Gotta call people out when they're wrong.

But, oh. Maybe they'll be able to think better without the oxygen deprivation this masks threatens, so they tilt their head... thinking... not sure whether it would be easier for Komaeda if they were facing him or away from him, so they compromise by flopping down again on Komaeda's stomach and hugging him around the middle so that their head is just

there. tilted to the side.

... ]

Can I ask you why?

You may...

( close enough, he uses his right arm to pick at the straps, trying to undo them, which is tedious without a second arm. the worst part is that he can't even get his mechanical hand on without help, so he'll have to make do. he can feel how soft npc-kun's hair is, making sure that he doesn't pull as he slips the belt of the gas mask under the buckle, but they can feel the mask becoming loose around their face. )

It was meant to provide paranoia and mental deterioration, that's why.

That's not what I'm asking...

[ And they don't really understand what he's talking about anyways, because they weren't paranoid or losing their mind. The past is behind them and right now, lying against somebody, fingers combing through their hair, they feel safe, even when the mask falls away and they can see better how badly the ghost had beaten Komaeda up and they hug him all the harder for it. ]

Why weren't you scared?

What was there to be scared of? Dying? Being beat to death?

( he remembers that npc-kun wanted to know what komaeda was scared of, and his response was ugly people. as to why he's not afraid of what he went through, he stares at the other, feeling them hold him tighter. as the mask falls onto his chest, komaeda removes his hand from their hair, pushing the item off so that it clatters onto the floor next to them. )

This is my life...

( which isn't a good thing, but whirlwind instances that go both up and down, not knowing what the end result it is... komaeda always has hope waiting at the end, so he's able to stay positive, happy, and laidback no matter the circumstances. )

[ It really isn't a good thing, and being beaten to death shouldn't be anything anybody is used to. That in particular, and also...

...

npc-kun huffs a sigh, settling once more against Komaeda with their head turned so that their ear is pressed against his chest but they can barely hear anything. No tell tale drumming like their own heart is still doing, how slow it always takes to calm down. ]

Tell me about your life.

Please let August be better than July I'm begging

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