fix: split the np2 V98 font from font.bmp

NP2kai and meowPC98 read font.bmp (PC-98 bitmap) and FONT.ROM (V98) as
separate files, each through its own reader (NP2kai font/font.c:192-195,
meowPC98 font/font.c:180-181). The V98 names hung on font.bmp as aliases
let a collection without font.bmp serve the PC-88 2 KB font.rom there.
FONT.ROM is now its own entry, at least 0x46800 bytes (fontv98.c:8, 51).

Manifests: np2/FONT.ROM and np2kai/FONT.ROM are added where the platform
did not declare them, served by the V98 font bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom.

database.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schema_version": 1,
-  "generated_at": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated_at": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "total_files": 19944,
   "total_size": 16892646538,
   "bios_dir": "bios",
@@ -281984,12 +281984,12 @@
       "Parallel.rom": [
         "c75c751589cbcc1ad4ab4f63676af7abadd86f5b"
       ],
-      "POCKSTAT.ROM": [
-        "6ae880493ddde880827d1e9f08e9cb2c38f9f2ec"
-      ],
       "FONT.BMP": [
         "b4f14e58030ed40fff2dc312b58ea4440bdf8cc5"
       ],
+      "POCKSTAT.ROM": [
+        "6ae880493ddde880827d1e9f08e9cb2c38f9f2ec"
+      ],
       "bank3.bin": [
         "0877ffb4b4d1c18283468be3579b72ed8c22e3ac"
       ],

emulators/nekop2.yml

@@ -77,12 +77,22 @@ files:
     path: "np2/font.bmp"
     required: false
     hle_fallback: true
-    aliases: ["FONT.ROM"]
+    aliases: ["FONT.BMP"]
     note: >
-      PC-98 font bitmap (288 KB). Required for correct Japanese kanji display.
+      PC-98 font bitmap. Required for correct Japanese kanji display.
       Without this, only basic ASCII renders using built-in 8x8 data.
-      FONT.ROM (V98 format) is also accepted.
+    source_ref: "libretro/libretro.c:872, font/font.c:74-104, 180, font/fontdata.c:11"
-    source_ref: "libretro/libretro.c:872, font/font.c:113, font/fontdata.c:12"
+
+  - name: "FONT.ROM"
+    path: "np2/FONT.ROM"
+    required: false
+    hle_fallback: true
+    min_size: 288768
+    validation: [size]
+    note: >
+      V98 font, read after font.bmp and filling only the glyphs it left
+      out. fontv98_read refuses a file shorter than 0x46800 bytes.
+    source_ref: "libretro/libretro.c:196, 868, font/font.c:181, font/fontdata.c:12, font/fontv98.c:8, 45-51"
 
   # -- Sound BIOS ROM --
   # Loaded by soundrom_load() via loadsoundrom() in sound/soundrom.c:21-55.

emulators/np2kai.yml

@@ -66,12 +66,23 @@ files:
     path: "np2kai/font.bmp"
     required: false
     hle_fallback: true
-    aliases: ["FONT.ROM", "font.rom", "FONT.BMP"]
+    aliases: ["FONT.BMP"]
     note: >
       PC-98 font bitmap. Required for correct Japanese kanji display.
       Without this, only basic ASCII renders using built-in 8x8 data.
-      FONT.ROM (V98 format) is also accepted.
+    source_ref: "source sdl/libretro/libretro.c:1830, source font/font.c:77-116, 192-193, source font/fontdata.c:11-12"
-    source_ref: "source sdl/libretro/libretro.c:1830, source font/font.c:86-125, upstream font/fontdata.c:11"
+
+  - name: "FONT.ROM"
+    path: "np2kai/FONT.ROM"
+    required: false
+    hle_fallback: true
+    min_size: 288768
+    validation: [size]
+    aliases: ["font.rom"]
+    note: >
+      V98 font, read after font.bmp and filling only the glyphs it left
+      out. fontv98_read refuses a file shorter than 0x46800 bytes.
+    source_ref: "source sdl/libretro/libretro.c:1830-1831, source font/font.c:194-195, source font/fontdata.c:13-14, source font/fontv98.c:8, 45-51"
 
   # -- Sound BIOS ROM --
   # Loaded by soundrom_load() in soundrom.c:93-106 via loadsoundrom().

install/amberelec.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "amberelec",
   "display_name": "AmberELEC",
   "version": "prerelease-20261019_1835",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "standalone_copies": [],
-  "total_files": 4956,
+  "total_files": 4958,
-  "total_size": 5347524625,
+  "total_size": 5348102161,
-  "pack_files": 5150,
+  "pack_files": 5152,
-  "pack_size": 5347624969,
+  "pack_size": 5348202505,
   "total_omitted": 285,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -63632,6 +63632,16 @@
         "nekop2"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "bios/np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "bios/np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",
@@ -63869,6 +63879,16 @@
         "np2kai"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "bios/np2kai/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "np2kai"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "bios/np2kai/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/batocera.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "batocera",
   "display_name": "Batocera",
   "version": "43.1",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "bios",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -10343,6 +10343,17 @@
       "cores": null,
       "systems": [
         "nec-pc-98"
+      ],
+      "alternatives": [
+        {
+          "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+          "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+          "size": 288768,
+          "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+          "cores": [
+            "np2kai"
+          ]
+        }
       ]
     },
     {

install/emudeck.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "emudeck",
   "display_name": "EmuDeck",
   "version": "2.7EA",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "bios",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -305,10 +305,10 @@
       }
     }
   ],
-  "total_files": 8430,
+  "total_files": 8432,
-  "total_size": 7887249450,
+  "total_size": 7887826986,
-  "pack_files": 8432,
+  "pack_files": 8434,
-  "pack_size": 7887249450,
+  "pack_size": 7887826986,
   "total_omitted": 37,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -89584,6 +89584,16 @@
         "nekop2"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",
@@ -89863,6 +89873,16 @@
         "np2kai"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2kai/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "np2kai"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2kai/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/emuelec.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "emuelec",
   "display_name": "EmuELEC",
   "version": "4.8",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "standalone_copies": [],
-  "total_files": 5295,
+  "total_files": 5297,
-  "total_size": 4142496885,
+  "total_size": 4143074421,
-  "pack_files": 5489,
+  "pack_files": 5491,
-  "pack_size": 4142597229,
+  "pack_size": 4143174765,
   "total_omitted": 389,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -67528,6 +67528,16 @@
         "nekop2"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "bios/np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "bios/np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",
@@ -67765,6 +67775,16 @@
         "np2kai"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "bios/np2kai/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "np2kai"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "bios/np2kai/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/knulli.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "knulli",
   "display_name": "KNULLI",
   "version": "20260511",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T12:13:24Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "bios",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -9186,6 +9186,17 @@
       "cores": null,
       "systems": [
         "nec-pc-98"
+      ],
+      "alternatives": [
+        {
+          "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+          "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+          "size": 288768,
+          "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+          "cores": [
+            "np2kai"
+          ]
+        }
       ]
     },
     {

install/lakka.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "lakka",
   "display_name": "Lakka",
   "version": "v6.1",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "system",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "standalone_copies": [],
-  "total_files": 8342,
+  "total_files": 8343,
-  "total_size": 7039319693,
+  "total_size": 7039608461,
-  "pack_files": 8652,
+  "pack_files": 8653,
-  "pack_size": 7061212577,
+  "pack_size": 7061501345,
   "total_omitted": 37,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -5747,6 +5747,17 @@
       "cores": null,
       "systems": [
         "nec-pc-98"
+      ],
+      "alternatives": [
+        {
+          "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+          "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+          "size": 288768,
+          "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+          "cores": [
+            "np2kai"
+          ]
+        }
       ]
     },
     {
@@ -113637,6 +113648,19 @@
         "nec-pc-98"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ],
+      "systems": [
+        "nec-pc-98"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/retroarch.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "retroarch",
   "display_name": "RetroArch",
   "version": "v1.22.2",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "system",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -631,10 +631,10 @@
       }
     }
   ],
-  "total_files": 8350,
+  "total_files": 8351,
-  "total_size": 7132502545,
+  "total_size": 7132791313,
-  "pack_files": 10993,
+  "pack_files": 10994,
-  "pack_size": 7174694399,
+  "pack_size": 7174983167,
   "total_omitted": 37,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -6312,6 +6312,17 @@
       "cores": null,
       "systems": [
         "nec-pc-98"
+      ],
+      "alternatives": [
+        {
+          "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+          "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+          "size": 288768,
+          "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+          "cores": [
+            "np2kai"
+          ]
+        }
       ]
     },
     {
@@ -114694,6 +114705,19 @@
         "nec-pc-98"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ],
+      "systems": [
+        "nec-pc-98"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/retrobat.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "retrobat",
   "display_name": "RetroBat",
   "version": "8.3.1",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "bios",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -284,10 +284,10 @@
       }
     }
   ],
-  "total_files": 5561,
+  "total_files": 5562,
-  "total_size": 8544495803,
+  "total_size": 8544784571,
-  "pack_files": 5563,
+  "pack_files": 5564,
-  "pack_size": 8544495803,
+  "pack_size": 8544784571,
   "total_omitted": 203,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -8239,6 +8239,17 @@
       "cores": null,
       "systems": [
         "nec-pc-98"
+      ],
+      "alternatives": [
+        {
+          "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+          "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+          "size": 288768,
+          "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+          "cores": [
+            "np2kai"
+          ]
+        }
       ]
     },
     {
@@ -73066,6 +73077,19 @@
         "nec-pc-98"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ],
+      "systems": [
+        "nec-pc-98"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "ps2-0230a-20080220.bin",
       "sha1": "f9229fe159d0353b9f0632f3fdc66819c9030458",

install/retrodeck.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "retrodeck",
   "display_name": "RetroDECK",
   "version": "0.10.10b",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -292,10 +292,10 @@
       "source": "bios/dc/dc_nvmem.bin"
     }
   ],
-  "total_files": 8904,
+  "total_files": 8906,
-  "total_size": 9019527558,
+  "total_size": 9020105094,
-  "pack_files": 8906,
+  "pack_files": 8908,
-  "pack_size": 9019527558,
+  "pack_size": 9020105094,
   "total_omitted": 66,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -133242,6 +133242,19 @@
         "nec-pc-98"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "bios/np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ],
+      "systems": [
+        "nec-pc-98"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "bios/np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",
@@ -133411,6 +133424,19 @@
         "nec-pc-98"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "bios/np2kai/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "np2kai"
+      ],
+      "systems": [
+        "nec-pc-98"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "bios/np2kai/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/retropie.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "retropie",
   "display_name": "RetroPie",
   "version": "4.8.12",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "BIOS",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "standalone_copies": [],
-  "total_files": 8725,
+  "total_files": 8726,
-  "total_size": 8826568678,
+  "total_size": 8826857446,
-  "pack_files": 11281,
+  "pack_files": 11282,
-  "pack_size": 8859935748,
+  "pack_size": 8860224516,
   "total_omitted": 347,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -9247,6 +9247,17 @@
       "cores": null,
       "systems": [
         "nec-pc-98"
+      ],
+      "alternatives": [
+        {
+          "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+          "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+          "size": 288768,
+          "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+          "cores": [
+            "np2kai"
+          ]
+        }
       ]
     },
     {
@@ -119963,6 +119974,19 @@
         "nec-pc-98"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ],
+      "systems": [
+        "nec-pc-98"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/rocknix.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "rocknix",
   "display_name": "ROCKNIX",
   "version": "20261001",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "bios",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "standalone_copies": [],
-  "total_files": 7355,
+  "total_files": 7357,
-  "total_size": 8271344313,
+  "total_size": 8271921849,
-  "pack_files": 7357,
+  "pack_files": 7359,
-  "pack_size": 8271344313,
+  "pack_size": 8271921849,
   "total_omitted": 115,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
@@ -76166,6 +76166,16 @@
         "nekop2"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",
@@ -76409,6 +76419,16 @@
         "np2kai"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2kai/FONT.ROM",
+      "sha1": "78ba9960f135372825ab7244b5e4e73a810002ff",
+      "sha256": "8db165d567e13bce3f50ee495975671faa5a0ff332dcb08e187aa91125c81ec6",
+      "size": 288768,
+      "repo_path": "bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom",
+      "cores": [
+        "np2kai"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2kai/sound.rom",
       "sha1": "d5dbc4fea3b8367024d363f5351baecd6adcd8ef",

install/romm.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "platform": "romm",
   "display_name": "RomM",
   "version": "5.4.0",
-  "generated": "2026-11-05T14:56:18Z",
+  "generated": "2026-11-05T18:31:29Z",
   "base_destination": "bios",
   "detect": [
     {
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
   "total_size": 872654387,
   "pack_files": 467,
   "pack_size": 872654387,
-  "total_omitted": 775,
+  "total_omitted": 777,
   "omitted_files": [
     {
       "dest": "32X_G_BIOS.BIN",
@@ -4072,6 +4072,16 @@
         "fbneo"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2/FONT.ROM",
+      "name": "FONT.ROM",
+      "system": "",
+      "required": false,
+      "reason": "below_platform_folder",
+      "cores": [
+        "nekop2"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2/bios9821.rom",
       "name": "bios9821.rom",
@@ -4162,6 +4172,16 @@
         "np2kai"
       ]
     },
+    {
+      "dest": "np2kai/FONT.ROM",
+      "name": "FONT.ROM",
+      "system": "",
+      "required": false,
+      "reason": "below_platform_folder",
+      "cores": [
+        "np2kai"
+      ]
+    },
     {
       "dest": "np2kai/ide.rom",
       "name": "ide.rom",

tests/test_np2_fonts.py

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+"""NP2kai and meowPC98 read font.bmp and FONT.ROM as two files.
+
+font_load reads the PC-98 bitmap (font.bmp, FONT.BMP) and then the V98 ROM
+(FONT.ROM, font.rom), each through its own reader (NP2kai font/font.c:192-195,
+meowPC98 font/font.c:180-181). Hung on font.bmp as aliases, the V98 names let
+a collection without font.bmp serve the PC-88's 2 KB font.rom as np2kai/font.bmp,
+which fontpc98_read cannot parse, and FONT.ROM was never placed under its name.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import hashlib
+import os
+import shutil
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import yaml
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+sys.path.insert(0, str(REPO_ROOT / "scripts"))
+
+from common import resolve_local_file  # noqa: E402
+
+V98_SIZE = 0x46800
+
+
+def _entry(profile: str, name: str) -> dict:
+    with open(REPO_ROOT / "emulators" / f"{profile}.yml") as handle:
+        files = yaml.safe_load(handle)["files"]
+    entry = next(f for f in files if f.get("name") == name)
+    return {**entry, "source_profile": profile}
+
+
+class FontFormatsAreSeparateFiles(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        (REPO_ROOT / "tmp").mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+        self.root = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp"))
+        self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, self.root, True)
+        self.addCleanup(os.chdir, os.getcwd())
+        os.chdir(self.root)
+        self.db = {"files": {}, "indexes": {
+            "by_md5": {}, "by_name": {}, "by_crc32": {}, "by_path_suffix": {},
+        }}
+        self.pc88 = self._hold("bios/NEC/PC-88/font.rom", b"8" * 2048)
+        self.v98 = self._hold("bios/NEC/PC-98/font.rom", b"V" * V98_SIZE)
+
+    def _hold(self, rel: str, data: bytes) -> str:
+        target = self.root / rel
+        target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        target.write_bytes(data)
+        sha1 = hashlib.sha1(data).hexdigest()
+        name = rel.rsplit("/", 1)[-1]
+        self.db["files"][sha1] = {
+            "path": rel, "name": name, "size": len(data),
+            "md5": hashlib.md5(data).hexdigest(), "crc32": "",
+        }
+        self.db["indexes"]["by_name"].setdefault(name, []).append(sha1)
+        return rel
+
+    def test_no_v98_name_answers_for_the_bitmap(self):
+        for profile in ("np2kai", "nekop2"):
+            with self.subTest(profile=profile):
+                entry = _entry(profile, "font.bmp")
+                self.assertEqual(resolve_local_file(entry, self.db), (None, "not_found"))
+
+    def test_the_v98_font_is_its_own_entry_and_skips_the_pc88_font(self):
+        for profile in ("np2kai", "nekop2"):
+            with self.subTest(profile=profile):
+                entry = _entry(profile, "FONT.ROM")
+                self.db["indexes"]["by_name"]["FONT.ROM"] = (
+                    self.db["indexes"]["by_name"]["font.rom"]
+                )
+                path, _status = resolve_local_file(entry, self.db)
+                self.assertEqual(path, self.v98)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()