"Chie? Honey? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mom!" Chie shouted from her bedroom. She was laying on top of her bed, her skin still warm from the bath she rushed into when she got back home. She had thought that relaxing in the warm water would take her mind off things, but it didn't help. She still had these weird feeling bouncing around inside her head, and staying in the tub just made them linger.

So here she was, once again, just laying on her bed with a towel pooled behind her head. Just laying there, staring at a ceiling, and thinking about a certain boy once again.

She groaned and slammed her fists feebly against the mattress.

"This sucks!"

To think this was actually happening. Chie's first crush since Takeshi was Johnny Joestar, a boy she had only known for a couple of months and had thought of as one of her close friends until just a few hours ago.

She'd heard about friends actually becoming couples before, but she thought that was just something cheesy romance movies or manga pumped out to get money from suckers. Such a thing couldn't really happen, right? It would be too awkward!

And yet it was happening to her!

"What the hell do I even do…" She groaned and turned, laying on her side as she now stared at her wall. "God, why did this happen to me?!"

Chie hadn't put much thought into a potential love life. But she would be a dirty liar if the thought of an ideal boyfriend hadn't crossed her mind. Tall, well-muscled, rich black hair… or red. Or grey. It would've been one of those three.

Her ideal boyfriend would've been dashing and gentlemanly like something out of a shoujo manga, but still chill enough to just hang out with her and watch a kung-fu movie or two. A guy who looked up to her and respected her awesome skills and strength, but could hold their own during practice. No way would her ideal boyfriend be a wall of meat and not put up a fight!

But despite her occasional fantasies during the day and night, Chie knew full well that she'd have to settle. Probably with some guy she got along with in Inaba or the next town over. She didn't have any aspirations to head to the big city, because while cities were nice she knew that a part of her would die a little if she lived in one.

"And yet the one I actually got feelings for is freakin' Johnny!"

This whole situation and all the feelings it brought was something Chie was unprepared for. How the hell did she even approach this? What was the strategy guide for when someone got romantic feelings for one of their best friends?!

And that was the hell of it. She and Johnny were friends, and this whole… situation would probably change things between them. Even she, who had zero experience in the love department, could tell that.

"Who the hell do I even talk to?"

The thought of asking her mom for advice crossed her mind before being punted out. No freakin' way she was doing that. She would die of embarrassment!

"Hey Mom! Guess what? I think I might really like that American boy that came into town! Got any pointers?"

Dad was also out merely for being Dad. So who the hell could she…?

She heard a whine and the sound of nails scratching against the door. With a sigh, Chie got up and walked over to the door. "Aw, what's the matter, Dee Dee?" She gave a small grin to her dog and braced herself. The huge dog got on his hind legs and placed his front paws on her abdomen. She huffed and used both of her hands to scratch his ears. "Dad not giving you enough attention?"

Dee Dee stayed there for a couple of seconds, basking in Chie's scratches and pets before she stopped and he got off. She walked back to her bed and sat down, with the dog following her and sitting right in front of her expectantly. She gave the dog a grin and asked, "Don't suppose you have any advice on love, would you?"

Her dog cocked his head and she sighed.

"Yeah, I guess that was a long shot…"

Then, an idea hit her. Crawling on her bed she reached over her pillow to grab her still charging phone. Turning it on, she began texting Yukiko.

Hey, you feel like having a sleepover tonight?

As soon as she hit the send button, Chie let out a gasp as she felt two big and heavy paws hit her right on her back. "Dee Dee!" She turned her head and glared at her dog, who was climbing on her bed and going to Chie's right. "Don't climb on me! Man, I thought we trained you better than that!"

Her dog merely let out a bark before laying down next to her, his tail wagging.

With a sigh, she reached for his head and began to scratch it. "You'd probably crush Johnny trying to play with him…"

She heard the familiar beep come from her phone and glanced at the screen.

Sure! Mom said I could take the night off. My place or yours? - Yukiko

Her answer was instantaneous.

Yours.

There was no way in hell Chie was going to talk about her potential love life with her mom around.

"I'm back!"

Johnny rolled his wheelchair past the door and began to take off his shoes. The Dojima household was actually a lot quieter than he expected. At first, he thought that he was alone with Dojima out for work and Nanako out with her friends at a sleepover. But the shuffling of papers disabused him of that notion.

"Working from home? That's new."

Sure enough, once he managed to get his chair up the single step and move through the house, he saw Dojima at the table glaring at a pile of folders and papers strewn across its surface. "I know it was here before… Damn kids." He began rummaging through a few more papers. "Don't they teach 'em how to file data anymore?"

Despite himself, Johnny couldn't help but feel annoyed. His uncle was gone most of the time at work, his hours at the house and actually spending time with Nanako inconsistent at best and nearly nonexistent at worst. And yet here he was, taking his work to his home?

"Calm down. Just calm down…" He clenched his hands and took a deep breath. "Don't say anything that you'll regret. You're better than that. You have to be. Remember… remember what happened in that place!"

His memories were like a splash of cold water. Instantly, his hot anger was extinguished and let out a deep sigh.

Good. Now he could deal with this crap.

"You know, if you're going to work you do have an office right?" Johnny asked with a raised eyebrow.

His uncle looked up, his glare softening as soon as his eyes laid on the blond. "…Sorry, Johnny." He scratched the back of his head. "I wasn't talking about you."

"I knew that." He rolled closer to Dojima. "Why are you looking at a bunch of paper files? Maybe the reason why it's all disorganized is because those kids you mentioned put copies into the system."

His uncle rolled his eyes, but smiled wryly. "Please, I wish that's what happened. The department's really damn old school and penny pinching. It took us years to convince them to just give us new computers and equipment." He shook his head. "No, it's just a bunch of rookies who didn't know what they were doing, messing with files they had no business touching. Damn it, they probably threw it out because it was a printed copy!"

"Threw what out?"

The frown on Dojima's face grew. "An old newspaper article. It had been falling apart because of age and how often I messed with it, so I made a copy for reference. But now the copy is gone."

"So why not just deal with this crap when you go back to the office tomorrow? Why bring this home?" Johnny put a bit more edge to his words. Even if he was going easy on Dojima, it didn't mean he wasn't still pissed off. The man was finally getting home early and he still focused on work? "Don't you want to spend time with Nanako?"

Something angry and hurt flashed across Dojima's face. For a second, he thought that the man was about to shout at him. However, it quickly subsided and he just looked down. "…This is for Nanako."

"What?"

Seeing the confusion on his face, Dojima continued. "There is a certain case, the trail of which is going cold. My department's lost interest in it because newer cases were piling up with more concrete leads, and then there were the murders…" He shook his head. "I focused all my time on it, neglecting this case. Now that is…" His face twisted and he practically spat out the word. "…solved…" His face smoothed out and returned to its forlorn look. "…I can focus on it again. I need to solve it. I… I just can't give up on it." He glared at the strewn papers, as if daring them to contradict him. "Ever."

Johnny wasn't an idiot. He could tell just by Dojima saying this was for Nanako that the case was the hit-and-run of Nanako's mother. "The aunt I never knew."

He distantly remembered his mom telling him the news years ago that Chisato Dojima had died, but he hadn't been sad. He'd never met the woman and it was like being told the death of a stranger. She'd flown away to check on Dojima and attend the funeral with him, but hadn't brought Johnny along.

Maybe it was to spare him from going to another family member's funeral.

But now, getting to know Nanako and even Dojima, Johnny couldn't help but feel sad for the both of them.

"Still, why the hell is he focusing on this case that obviously doesn't have any leads? Nanako's right here with him!"

Before Johnny could open his mouth and say just that, he heard someone walk behind him. Turning his head, he saw Nanako walking forward but with her face scrunched up in pain and her arms crossed around her midsection. "Nanako? What's wrong?"

"B-Big Bro… Dad…"

Dojima seemed to finally notice his daughter. He got up and asked, "Nanako? Are you okay?!" He ran over to her and kneeled down. "Did you hurt yourself?"

She shook her head. "M-My stomach…! It hurts!"

Johnny and Dojima exchanged panicked glances at that declaration. Stomach pain? While the thought that she got food poisoning crossed Johnny's mind, he dismissed it. They had all eaten the same thing for breakfast and dinner, so unless Nanako ate something truly funky for lunch it couldn't be that.

"Nanako, come on." Taking her hand, Johnny guided her to the couch and had her lay down. He was worried, but he needed to put up a brave front for her. "Where does it hurt?"

"My lower stomach…" Nanako whined as she rubbed the aforementioned area. "It's like a sharp pain…!"

"I'll call Gyro." Johnny took out his phone and began flipping through his contacts. "He can run over and give a diagnosis."

"No, don't do that." Dojima ran his fingers through his hair as he got up. "This has happened before. We have medicine for this and it will…" Suddenly, the loud ringing of a cell phone echoed through the air. "Damn it! Who the hell is calling me at a time like this?!" To the blonde's astonishment, his uncle actually took out his cellphone and answered it. "Dojima here!"

"Are you serious?!" Johnny screamed as he motioned to Nanako. "Dojima, where's the medicine?!"

Dojima held up his hand for silence. "What? A sealed letter letter for me? From Ichihara-san?! When was it… YOU FORGOT?! For the love of… I'm on my way!"

"You're on your way?! Dojima!" Johnny rolled after his uncle as he began to rush to the door. "Nanako is in pain, damn it!"

"Johnny, it is not life threatening! It has happened before!" He pointed to the kitchen cabinet. "The medicine is in the first aid kit. She's in your hands!" With that, Dojima ran off. Far too quickly, as he was able to get out of Johnny's range when he tried to grab at his shirt.

"Don't you just…!" But it was too late. Dojima was out the door and slammed it shut behind him. "Bastard!"

Damn it! What the hell was he supposed to do?! "Calm down! Just calm down! Get the medicine in the first aid kit!" Gritting his teeth, Johnny rolled over to the kitchen and began opening cabinets. "Silverware… utensils… matches and take out menus… Shit! Where the hell is the kit?!"

It was probably in the top cabinets. Somewhere that Dojima or someone with working legs could easily reach without it being a process.

He put his hands on the counter and lifted himself up. Soon, after two unsuccessful searches through the spices and baking cabinets, he found the kit. But Nanako's moan of pain made him freeze.

Johnny hadn't really been up close to Nicholas when he died. He was frozen in shock from a good distance away. But he did remember the low moans of pain that seemed to carry with the wind. The twitching of his dying body which Johnny could see through the moving crowd …

Cold sweat began to form on Johnny's skin. To his shock, he was practically panting as he held onto the kit.

"Damn it! Snap out of it!" He shut his eyes and bit his lower lip until he could taste the blood. "This isn't like that! She isn't dying! You've faced scarier shit than this! Wake the hell up and give her the medicine!"

With shaking arms, Johnny lowered himself back onto the chair. As he rolled over to Nanako, he took out his phone and dialed Gyro's number. "Pick up… pick up…!"

Finally, Gyro's voice came through the line. "Hello?"

"Gyro!" Johnny screamed as he came to a stop in front of Nanako. He put the phone on speaker and began rummaging through the kit. "Nanako's in a lot of pain right now and… and it's in the lower stomach and Dojima left! He just left and I have medicine but…!"

"Johnny. Calm down." Gyro's voice lost its joviality and turned completely serious. However, there was a calm edge to it, and it helped to quell some of the anxiety Johnny was feeling. "Is Nanako able to talk?"

"Zeppeli-san…?" Nanako muttered, turning her head to the phone. "I'm here! It really hurts, but I think I've felt it before!"

"Alright, Nanako. Please tell me what the pain is like. Johnny, get the medicine ready and give it to her when she's done."

Gyro's calm voice actually helped to take Johnny's mind off of how Nanako described her pain. The medicine was a liquid that smelled terrible, but all medicines did. He followed the directions for kids and poured it into the cap until it reached the prescribed amount. Once Nanako finished speaking, Johnny handed her the medicine.

"Okay. Now Johnny, tell me what kind of medicine she's using." Gyro said while Nanako made a disgusted face from the taste. When Johnny was done rattling the ingredients his friend sighed. "Sounds like a cocktail, but the primary ingredient is acetaminophen so what she's feeling isn't life threatening. Still… this has happened before?"

"According to Dojima and Nanako." Johnny took off his hat and needed it in his free hand. "But I was still scared. What if… what if it was something serious?! I was alone with her and…"

"I know. But panicking wouldn't have helped you or her. I'll swing by tomorrow morning and take a closer look at that crap Dojima's been giving her. Until then, just keep an eye on her and call me if she doesn't seem to be improving." Gyro sighed. "I know this and what Dojima did sucks. But you can't lose your head."

"I know! I know but…" Shit, now he felt like an ass. He was potentially getting worked up over nothing! Nothing! Nanako wasn't dying! She wasn't Nicholas, damn it!

"…It's good, though. That you care so much about her." A light tone returned to Gyro's voice. "You're actually acting like a Big Bro now!"

Despite his conflicting emotions, Johnny let out a sharp laugh. "Shut up! I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Be seein' you."

Johnny turned off his phone and moved himself closer to Nanako. "Hey, sorry about that." He put his left hand on his cousin's. "I shouldn't have freaked out."

"N-No… I'm sorry for worrying you and Dad."

"You have nothing to apologize for!" He said as he squeezed his hand. "And he shouldn't have left! He should've stayed behind and…!"

"Big Bro!" Nanako's cry paused Johnny's rant, and she turned her head to see her pleading eyes. "Please… please don't fight with Dad. It's not his fault, okay? He just has something really important to do, that's all."

Johnny wanted to object. To scream that it didn't matter and she should be Dojima's priority. But those words simply died in his mouth as he stared into Nanako's eyes. Instead, he nodded. "Alright."

"…Do you mind staying until my tummy gets better?"

"Sure."

"Honestly, I'm kind of glad that the inn is a bit less busy." Yukiko said as she walked into her room with a bowl of popcorn in her arms. "I know that summer and winter are the most profitable seasons, but the guests tend to run me, my parents, and the rest of the staff ragged."

Chie groaned. "Yeah, I can see that. You did look pretty out of it during those times. Don't you guys have enough people for shifts?"

Yukiko shook her head as she sat the bowl down on the floor. "There's not enough money, Chie. We may be doing better than a lot of the stores in the Shopping District, but we're not exactly the richest business in Inaba." She sighed. "Well, the paparazzi that came for both Gyro and Rise helped a bit but still…"

"Right, right I get ya. Y'know, if you're really hurting for some extra help then maybe I…"

Her friend simply smiled. "Thank you. But I don't think it would be a good idea. You would need training and in this season…"

"Right. I would just get in the way." Chie certainly didn't want that. She could already imagine screwing up a ton of times greeting customers, writing the orders for food, and cleaning up. "Just give me a call if you need any hands on deck, okay?"

Ever since she encountered her Shadow, Yukiko had been a bit more open about her and the inn's problems to Chie. Some of it was a bunch of stuff Chie had long since suspected, like the inn no longer raking in the big bucks. After all, while kids working in the family owned businesses wasn't unexpected in Inaba her friend was working for free. Yukiko wasn't even getting money under the table, and that was unusual.

Other stuff was things that Yukiko hadn't shared to anyone outside the staff, probably because she didn't want to worry Chie or her classmates.

"Because she had to put up the front of being the dignified inn heiress…"

"I will." Yukiko glared at nothing in particular as she muttered, "I think that Weird Japan crew could use a Galactic Punt or two from you."

"Huh?"

"Oh, it's this tabloid crew that will not stop coming at us with offers." Yukiko was now leaning on her knees and shuffling through the DVDs. "We've told them no multiple times, but they're persistent. I think they're getting desperate now. Because of their time slot they don't have many viewers and because the case is solved the public's interest in Inaba will be dying down. So a special in the inn is their last shot. Johnny actually met them once when he was hanging out with me and told them off."

"They sound like assholes."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it. The host is a real jerk."

Chie cracked a smile. She could certainly see Johnny being bitingly sarcastic and insulting a bunch of paparazzi guys harassing Yukiko. While her best friend wasn't a complete wallflower, especially nowadays after facing her Shadow, it would take a bit to get her really pissed off enough to be intentionally rude.

Not Johnny though.

When his friends were insulted, he'd more than willingly stand up for them.

"Guess this is as good of a time to bring it up as any."

"Okay, so for tonight…" Yukiko brought out two DVD cases. "We can either watch Kung Fu Hustle or Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Personally I want to watch the one about clowns but…"

"Hey, Yukiko… I think I might like Johnny."

Chie felt her cheeks flush as her friend blinked in surprise. If this were anyone else she would die of embarrassment. But this was Yukiko, who she shared a bunch of embarrassing and personal crap with before. This was no different, right?

Yukiko slowly put down the movies and got up. She sat next to Chie on the bed and asked, "Do you mean… you like him as a friend or in that way?"

She groaned. "That way. I… I kind of realized it earlier today." She fidgeted and drummed her fingers on her knees. "I mean, I think I was feeling it before? I just sorta began staring at him and thinking about what he meant to me and stuff. I didn't really think about it. I thought it was weird and…" She shook her head and gave a nervous laugh. "God, I'm really rambling aren't I?"

"No, I think you're fine." The black-haired girl smiled at her and said, "This is great, Chie! You finally found someone you're interested in!"

"I don't think it's great." She let out a moan and flopped down on her back. "I never felt like this before, Yukiko! I mean, I've had crushes before but it was for stupid crap like someone being cool or whatever! I know Johnny! We've been friends for months! This is, like, totally different!"

"But shouldn't you know someone before you begin to seriously date someone?"

"Yeah! But… but… GAH!" She put her hands on her forehead. "This is so screwed up!"

"Chie, I don't think it's as complicated as you're making it out to be." Yukiko's calm voice made Chie drag her hands down and look at her friend. "You like him, don't you? So you just need to make the choice as to whether or not you want to take the next step."

"What, like confess?"

"That is usually the next step, yes."

"But Yukiko!" Chie whined. "How the hell do you tell one of your best friends that you like like them…" Her voice trailed off and she stared at Yukiko with wide eyes.

A memory from months ago wormed its way to the forefront of her mind.

"Oh Chie… my brave friend." The Shadow sighed dramatically with a hint of longing, its eyebrows fluttering in desire. "You are such a prime candidate to be my Prince Charming. You're beautiful, you're confident, you always lead the way… you've even willingly gotten yourself harmed just for my sake! It's no wonder why I chose you to come to me first!"

Oh no.

"You want to know the real reason you're not my ideal prince, Chie?" The Shadow Yukiko asked quietly, its voice filled with bitterness. "Because you were supposed to be my friend, and you didn't notice a damn thing! You were by my side, and you didn't lift a finger to help me leave this place! You weren't the prince I dreamed of! I waited..! I waited so very, VERY… LONG!"

Oh God, she was a dumbass.

"Yukiko…" Chie said quietly, the words practically afraid to leave her throat. But she needed to ask this. Needed to give herself, and maybe Yukiko, some peace of mind. "Did you… did you like me that way?"

Yukiko was silent for a few seconds. To Chie's surprise, she didn't look shocked or scared. Rather, her face was smooth and calm as if she were the dignified heiress she pretended to be most of the time.

But that just made Chie feel even worse.

"This was a mistake." Chie got up and began walking to the door. "I shouldn't have brought this crap to you. It was selfish and stupid. I'm sorry Yuki-."

"Chie, don't go."

Her friend's silent command made her pause. She turned her head and saw Yukiko was standing up and walking to her. She flinched when her best friend got in ten feet, already reaching for the doorknob.

"I did." The black haired girl said in a quiet voice. "I loved you as more than a friend… once."

Hearing those words come from Yukiko's mouth practically floored Chie. She had never expected Yukiko of all people, heartthrob of Inaba and the dream girlfriend of the practically the entire male population of Yasogami High, to come out to her. But it was actually happening. Here. Right now. "This is actually happening. This is reality. Yukiko likes me!"

No. Liked.

"Once?"

Yukiko motioned to the bed and, hesitantly, Chie followed her to it. They both sat down, and her friend put her right hand over Chie's left.

"I think I realized it two years ago." Yukiko smiled wistfully. "It just… happened while we were laughing and eating lunch on the roof. We were talking about one of the boys who was really persistent with dating me. The funky one. We were laughing about his riddle and I looked at your flushed face. I thought to myself 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Somewhere far away, miles away from here'."

"Yukiko. I…"

Yukiko squeezed her hand. "But… But I saw that you wouldn't have wanted that. You love this town, Chie. You wouldn't have wanted to move away from here. And… and you thought I was happy working at the Inn. I didn't want to tell you the truth. I was too weak. And… I had to make a decision."

Chie looked down. Now the Shadow's rankings made a lot more sense and her heart broke remembering them. It wasn't just Yukiko crying inside about the friend who failed her.

Yukiko's Shadow had been crying about the girl she loved who broke her heart.

"Did… did it hurt?"

"For a bit." Yukiko admitted. "I cried a lot at night. But, eventually, I was able to move on. It didn't change how you were my best friend. I just couldn't be with you like that."

Chie took in a shaking breath and looked Yukiko in the eyes. She knew this would hurt, both for her and for Yukiko, but it needed to be said. "Yukiko. I love you but… but I couldn't see you that way. I'm sorry."

To her surprise, the heiress of the Amagi Inn just smiled. "I know, Chie. That is also another reason why I didn't confess." Then, Yukiko surprised Chie again by suddenly pulling her into a deep hug. "You have nothing to feel guilty about, Chie. I made my decision and I'm fine with it. You though… you have someone you love now. I think you should confess if you feel that strongly about him, but it's your decision. Just know that no matter what happens… if he accepts your love or rejects it… I will always be here for you. You are my best friend, Chie." She squeezed harder. "I will always be by your side."

She felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She could feel it. The warmth and love coming from Yukiko, one that was even brighter than before. God, she didn't deserve her. "But she is my best friend all the same."

They just stayed in that warm embrace for what felt like hours. Eventually, though, they disentangled and smiled at each other.

"God." Chie wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now I just feel like a dumbass talking about boys and bringing those magazines to you."

Yukiko's cheeks flushed, but the smile didn't disappear from her lips. "Don't be. I actually liked a few of those! Especially the one from January… specifically about those two boys on page twelve…"

"Yukiko! You dirty girl!"

They laughed together. All the tenseness and awkwardness from just a few moments ago seemed to disappear entirely.

"Because we're best friends. And nothing will change that."

"Now then…" Yukiko walked over to the DVDs. "Let's get this sleepover really started! Those Killer Klowns will…"

"Hell no!" Chie crossed her arms and hissed. "We're watching Kung Fu Hustle! I live through enough scary crap in the TV World! I don't need to watch freakin' horror movies!"

They debated which movie to watch for a good ten minutes before both gave up and decided to watch them back to back.

It was comforting for Chie.

She can begin figuring out whether or not she would confess to Johnny tomorrow.

Right now… she was going to be here with her best friend.

Johnny glared at his uncle when he entered the house. "Well look who came back."

It had taken an hour, but the medicine finally seemed to work on Nanako. She hadn't complained about her stomach and was back on her feet as if nothing was wrong. Unfortunately, it appeared that as a side effect the medicine made her drowsy so she went off to bed. "Probably sleeping like the dead if that cold medicine I take is anything to compare it with."

Johnny, however, didn't go to sleep when his cousin finally began to snore.

Oh no, he had been far too pissed to let that happen.

It fueled him as the hours ticked by. He couldn't watch anything on the television because his anger made him not pay attention. He couldn't even read because his mind kept flashing back to Dojima. His uncle. Who just left them when Nanako was in pain!

Dojima, for his part, looked dejected and annoyed for the few seconds before Johnny's voice seemed to register to his ears. He looked up, surprised, and asked, "Johnny? You're still up?"

"Yeah, no thanks to you!" Johnny glared at the man and pointed at him. "What the hell did you go off for?!"

His uncle scowled at him. "Don't raise your voice at m-!"

"Nanako was in pain! She was in pain and you left her!" He spat out, anger and venom he had been keeping to himself for hours in every word. "What the hell kind of father does that?!"

The man's face twisted in anger at that last sentence. "Shut up!" Dojima shouted back, stomping his foot down. "You don't know anything! I knew she was fine, damn it! She had the medicine in…!"

"In the top cabinet! I had searched through practically every one at the bottom and had to climb up the counter to find it there!"

"But you found it, didn't you?!" God damn it, did Dojima not get it?! The man seemed to be growing more furious by the second as he pressed his point. "And when she got her medicine she was fine! So don't accuse me of being a bad fa-!"

"I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO DIE, DOJIMA!"

That shout seemed to knock the wind out of Dojima's sails. He stared at Johnny, his eyes confused before widening in horror.

"W-What?"

Johnny, for his part, felt like shit. His heart was beating like crazy and a cold feeling seemed to wash over him. Was he scared of admitting that? No, no he wasn't, damn it! He was still pissed!

"I thought she was going to fucking die!" He screamed, slamming his fists on his chair's armrests. "She was whimpering in pain and… and I didn't know where the medicine was! I couldn't find it! I had to listen to her and got scared because I couldn't find the thing that was supposed to make her better and… and it reminded me about Nicholas, damn it!" Shit, was he beginning to cry? No, no not in front of him! "Even when I found it and gave her the medicine I was still scared! What if you were wrong?! What if the medicine didn't work?! I-I…!"

Johnny wiped at his eyes, gritting his teeth.

"God damn you, Dojima! You're no better than my piece of shit father!"

There, he finally said it. The thing that had been bouncing around his head for months, on and off. Here it was all on the table.

At least with his father, Johnny knew where he stood. The man didn't give a shit about him unless he screwed up, reminding him about how Nicholas had been so much better. But he had held out some hope that George Joestar loved him. That he was just still grieving and that eventually he would show his love.

But no.

The man just said one fateful day that he wished Johnny died instead of Nicholas.

"At least the fucker had the decency to never talk to me again!"

But Dojima… Dojima had to be worse, right?! He pretended he cared about Nanako, but in the end he just went off and did his own thing, not giving a damn what his daughter thought! He didn't seem to give a shit about what she was feeling, and in case didn't care that she was in pain!

"If you told her that you didn't love her, at least she would know the truth!"

"Johnny… I'm sorry."

Johnny looked up and was ready to scream at him again. But he stopped when he saw the man's face.

It had fallen. The anguish and remorse radiating from the contours of his face to his eyes. His shoulders were slumped in defeat, whatever feelings of barely restrained fury were now completely gone from his body. This wasn't a man who looked ready to argue or even defend his own honor.

This was a man who looked defeated.

It was enough to make whatever insults he had for his uncle die in the throat.

"I-I thought it wasn't a big deal." He admitted in a tired voice. "I thought… no, I wasn't thinking about anything. I just wanted to get that letter my old mentor sent me. I can't even imagine what you were going through when I left…" He put his right hand over his forehead and dragged it down. "I shouldn't have put you in that situation. I am so sorry…"

"Sorry… you think sorry will fix all this?!" No, no it wouldn't. But at the same time… this didn't sound like Dojima was trying to cover his ass. He did honestly look like he realized what had happened and was feeling stupid about it. "Damn it…!"

He wanted to hate Dojima. His mind kept flashing back to his father and kept comparing him to Dojima. His dad never took Johnny out anywhere, but when Dojima made promises to his daughter he'd bail at the last minute and apologize. Dojima got home late or not at all, but those times he was there he'd at least talk to Nanako. George never talked to Johnny even before their fight. George never apologized for what he said, and he knew Mom was lying whenever she told him his dad was remorseful.

Dojima actually apologized. And seemed to mean it!

Why did this man have to be such a bad father, yet not be a complete piece of shit?!

"It would make things so much easier!"

Dojima's arm fell limply to the side and he looked away in shame. "I… I know there's nothing I can do to make up for it. But I want you to know that I never intended to…"

"…It's not me you should apologize to." Johnny said plainly, wiping away the last of his tears and glaring at the man.

"…You're right." He looked up and frowned. "Is she…?"

"Yes, she's asleep."

"Good. Good…" His uncle shook his head. "I have been screwing this up, haven't I?"

Johnny said nothing. Nothing needed to be said for that little question.

"…You have been a great help, Johnny. You've done more for Nanako in these last few months than I could've. She's happier when you're here. And… she needs it." He gave the American a rueful smile. "I… think we need to be more honest with each other from now on."

That came as a surprise. Dojima… wanted to open up? Was he for real?

"I'll believe it when I see it."

But… damn it, why did he feel the honesty behind those words?

*SMASH*

Hierophant Social Link: RANK FIVE

Great, now this stupid Social Link system was conspiring against him!

"But for now… we need some sleep." His uncle pointed upstairs. "I'll check on Nanako then go to bed. Good night."

Johnny just clicked his tongue and watched his uncle trudge up the stairs.

"Damn it, Dojima… just what the hell is your deal?"

August 2nd, 2011:

Gyro hummed as he pressed the stethoscope to Nanako's stomach, the girl holding up her pink t-shirt to just below her chest as the older teenage boy used the device to listen in. "Oh my God…"

Fear crept into Johnny's heart and he shouted, "What? What is it?"

The Italian turned his head slowly, his face grave and stony. The tension ramped up as he pursed his lips, seemed to hesitate, and then said slowly…

"I-I think something's beating in her!"

Johnny's jaw dropped. His cousin, however, burst into a fit of giggles at the news.

"G-Gyro-san! That was mean!" She took a step back and brought down her shirt, grinning at him. Gyro grinned back at her, flashing his grills at the young girl.

"She's actually calling him Gyro-san now…"

"Well, it's true! There's nothing more terrifying than a healthy ticker!" He looked up in thought and then said, "Well, we would have to call a real doctor if it was going 'cuckoo'!"

"Uh…!"

"It's an original gag of mine! Y'see, a ticker is basically a clock so…"

"You ass!" Johnny reached down for a pillow from the couch and threw it at his friend's head. His shout of surprise was muffled when the pillow made direct contact with the Italian's face. "I thought she was actually in trouble!"

"No, no." He waved it off when the pillow slid down. "She's fine! It looks like the medicine did the trick last night, so it shouldn't be a problem." He turned back to Nanako and smiled. "You can go off to play, okay?"

She looked over to Johnny, as if asking for his permission. When he nodded she beamed and said, "Okay! See you later, Big Bro! Gyro-san!" And with that, she scampered off and shut the door behind him.

When he was sure she was gone Johnny fixed Gyro a look. "Okay, so what's really wrong?"

The brunette shrugged. "Some weird bowel activity. Can't really tell without any equipment, but if I had to guess it's a genetic condition. Probably got it from her mom's side of the family." He walked over to the other couch and sat down. "Has Dojima mentioned anything about his wife needing to be hospitalized in the past?"

"No." He scowled. "Not like he'd tell me in any case."

He was still pissed at Dojima, even if he wasn't as outright furious as he would've been if this shit had happened last month. But the earnest apology he gave… the look of regret he had on his face…

"When the hell did that bastard ever apologize for what he did?"

Still, Dojima hadn't explained shit to him. No news about what exactly was so important he had to ditch his own daughter when she was in pain. To leave him alone with her and just blow off his protests.

"What the hell are you keeping locked up?"

Gyro scratched his cheek. "I think he probably would've mentioned it if you laid into him last night."

"Which I did."

"Oh, I don't doubt that. But in any case while this may be a genetic condition, its not a fatal one. It's likely that it'll just be something Nanako will have to deal with for the rest of her life. There are some people who get a family history of exploding appendixes and just have to live with the knowledge of the possibility. Her guts may hurt from time to time, but it won't be fatal in all likelihood."

Johnny breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't… good news. But it wasn't exactly bad news either. "Thanks, Gyro. You're a lifesaver."

The Italian went quiet for a few seconds, staring down at the ground with pursed lips. Then, he said in a quiet voice, "I don't really feel like one."

Okay, that was surprising.

"I failed once with that child back in my home country. The place I ran away from because… because I was afraid." Gyro twiddled his thumbs. "Afraid of commitment. Afraid of a duty that I didn't consent to…"

"Right. He had to deal with his own bastard of a father." In Gyro's family, being a doctor was part of the family business. All the sons did it, and Gyro was no exception. "But you didn't consent to it. You had every right to not want to be a doctor. It's your life, Gyro."

"It wasn't just my life though!" Gyro's face twisted in anguish. "If I was committed to being a jockey, it'd be different! At least then I'd have the excuse of leaving that place for something I was passionate about! But… I was just a jockey because it was something I happened to be good at! It was easy for me, and I wasn't committed to it either!" He shook his head. "And because I blew off my father and my duty in the hospital… that family died. And that kid is in a coma because… because I wasn't there…!"

"That's bullshit and you know it, Gyro!" Johnny slammed his fist against the couch, the sound muffled but enough to get his friend to focus on him again. "What could you have done, huh?! What use would you have been if your own father, a guy with more experience than you, was not able to do much?!"

"I-I could've…"

"Gyro, maybe you weren't committed to being a doctor like your dad wanted, but don't think for a second that family died because of some bullshit like lack of pride or commitment." Johnny crossed his arms and glared at him. "Shit like this just happens. It sucks, but we've just have to accept there isn't much we can do about it." He pointed to the door. "You are here. And you helped not just Nanako, but me."

Gyro blinked, "You?"

"Remember how I was freaking the hell out?" When Gyro nodded he continued. "I was freaking the hell out, Gyro. I think… I think I had a panic attack. I watched my brother die, Gyro." He said it. He admitted to that part of himself that he only ever revealed to Chie and Yosuke. And… and it didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. "I heard him die. W-When Nanako was crying out in pain I didn't know what to do! That's why I called you! And… and…" He took a deep breath and let it out. "And you helped to calm me down. You were able to say the things to get me out of my funk. You didn't just help Nanako, Gyro. You helped me. And if you ask me, you should take pride in that."

He glared at the Italian.

"You are a lifesaver. Take at least some pride in that."

Gyro was silent for a second, seeming to mull this over. Soon a small grin spread across his lips. "You sure have a way with words, Joestar."

"I try my best."

They were silent for a few more seconds before Gyro said, "I'm sorry about what happened to your brother."

"Yeah. So am I."

The brunette looked up and muttered to himself, "Drive, pride, and commitment… It's sort of scary how much meaning we put into those three words. But we need them, don't we?"

Johnny could understand what Gyro was saying. It was sort of scary how powerful those three words were, and how much each of them were needed for everyone to just function.

And a lack of one quality, or too much of another, would ruin them.

"Yes. But we need to reach out for them nobly."

"That's just something I'm probably going to have to keep learning to do." Gyro sighed and smiled at him. "But… thanks for telling me all this, Johnny. Sometimes even I need a good kick in the ass, don't I?"

"Well, that's what friends are for right?"

The Italian blinked in surprise before grinning. "You got that right! Nyohoho~!"

*SMASH*

Moon Social Link: RANK SEVEN

"Going to need to see if Igor can put this thing on permanent mute one of these days."

"I'm glad you're my friend, Johnny." Gyro got up and dusted off his pants. "Even though…"

"Even though what?"

"Ah, forget it. It's nothing." It didn't sound like nothing, but Johnny wasn't about to push the matter. "I need to go to the pens and maintain things. You should come along the day after tomorrow so we can practice."

"Why not tomorrow?"

"Schedule's booked. Kou and Daisuke actually want me to help them out with something so their clubs will be ready when the break ends." He grinned at Johnny and turned around, waving over his shoulder. "See you later, Joestar!"

"Yeah, see you." Johnny watched the door slam close and frowned at it. What the hell was Gyro talking about at the end? "Even though… guess he's still got some stuff bottled up."

Well, it's not like he's any different.

He felt his phone vibrate and took it out to read the message sent to him.

Mind going on a walk with me? I want to go someplace special. - Yosuke

"Dude, it still amazes me how you're able to move around that thing. Especially uphill!"

Johnny smirked at that remark. "Don't underestimate a cripple's upper body strength. Especially one that's become good at kicking Shadow ass."

Yosuke laughed at that and pointed forward. "Come on. It's that way. You're gonna love it. I found it when I was bored out of my skull and went for a walk around town. It's like my personal spot!"

Yosuke had brought him to the furthest edges of town, where the paved asphalt roads of Inaba ended and the gravel paths of the mountains began. They were just at the edge of a forest path, one that went further into the mountains and the view of Inaba would be completely choked off by trees.

Well, it wasn't like the view had been perfect on the way up either. There was the odd chain link fence, tree, and bush preventing a good look of Inaba itself.

But the spot Yosuke brought them was something else.

"Holy shit! That's one hell of a view!"

The spot Yosuke walked up to was perfect. There was just a simple wooden fence separating the path from the cliff below. He could see basically all of Inaba stretched out beyond it. The perfect distance where he could make out individual houses without them becoming a smeary unidentifiable blur. And in the distance the sun was setting, but its glare wasn't affecting the view in the slightest.

It was perfect.

"Yeah." Yosuke smiled wistfully. "This view… it kinda puts things into perspective."

"What do you mean?"

"The reason why I used to hate Inaba."

"So we're diving right into this, huh?" Well, Yosuke did call Johnny out of the blue to show him this place. "Y'know, when you said you wanted to show me someplace special…"

"Yeah, yeah. I know. What a way to set the mood, right?" The brunette flashed him a self-mocking grin. "I know that I cried my heart out last time. But there's still some stuff that I gotta get off my chest now I sorted things out. So bear with me, okay?"

Johnny shrugged. "You know I'm all ears, Yosuke."

"Thanks." His friend pointed out to the town. "It's a nice view and all. But… even though I came here sometimes to get away from it all, it was always a reminder. That the town is so small and dull and boring. I mean, you can see it from all the way up here and you can tell nothing's going on."

Yosuke was silent for a few seconds, losing the smirk and looking down at the town.

"Probably thinking about Saki." It made sense. While Yosuke seemed to be feeling better, the guy was probably still grieving over the girl. It hadn't been easy for Johnny either when he lost Nicholas. If anyone could even come close to what Yosuke was feeling, it was him. "It's okay if you still feel bad, Yosuke."

"Yeah, I know." He let out a weary sigh. "I… I still think about her sometimes. And I don't think I'll ever stop missing her. But I still want to move on and do something with myself instead of feeling shitty all the time."

"Well you're already doing better than me." The American shrugged. "It took me years to stop feeling like shit."

They stood there in silence for a few more seconds, merely soaking in the view of Inaba below.

"I want to tell Saki-senpai something." Yosuke said as he leaned forward, putting all his weight on the railing. He looked wistfully in the distance, staring down at all of Inaba. "Where you are isn't important."

"What do you mean?"

"This town…" He motioned below. "This town that I hated? I love it now. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's still boring as hell and if I wanna do something I have to go a town or two over. But… my family lives here. So do my friends." He looked over to Johnny and his cheeks turned a bit red. "And… it's where I met you. Without this town I wouldn't have any of that."

Johnny felt his own cheeks warm at the statement. "T-Thanks." Yosuke… thought that deeply about him? Really?

"And I didn't do much to deserve it when I arrived. Or acted."

When he first met Yosuke, he just thought the brown-haired heir of Junes was an idiot. A loudmouth that tried too hard to fit in and be friends with everyone by acting goofy all the time. He didn't hang out with Yosuke willingly, only going along because he was offering a free meal.

But Yosuke showed his positive qualities even before his Shadow showed up.

Yosuke was brave and loyal. He was willing to risk his life to save Johnny from his own Shadow, in spite of the obvious danger. All because he couldn't stand to see Johnny die.

Time and time again, Yosuke proved his loyalty as a friend. Someone who understood Johnny and was there even when he acted like a complete ass. Someone who reached out to him no matter what either were feeling at the time.

And now?

Now Yosuke was showing once again why he was one of the best people Johnny ever knew.

He didn't cry this time, and that alone felt like an accomplishment.

"You're important to me, Johnny. You're my best friend." Yosuke's face turned a slightly deeper shade of red before he looked away. "And… and it's because of that I realized something. The important things are all around us. We just gotta know where to look."

"That… that means a lot, Yosuke." Shit, now he was crying a bit. A single tear, but still. God, were his emotions always this melodramatic? He wiped it away, hoping the other teen didn't notice. "You're important to me too, you know. Always have been… sorry it took so long for me to tell you."

Wait, was Yosuke fidgeting?

Nah, it had to be a trick of his eyes.

"I… thanks, dude." He chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. "I had always wanted to be special to someone. That's why I was really psyched when I got my Persona. I could finally contribute and do something that would give my life meaning. But… that was a bunch of crap. It's not where you live or what you can do that makes you special." He glanced back at Johnny and said, "It's living your life and just being you… before you know it, you'll be special to someone. And… and I'm glad its you and the others."

"Me too." Johnny smiled back at him and decided to tell one simple truth. "I don't know where I would be without you or Chie."

They just smiled at each other, basking in the warm rays of the setting sun with Inaba in the distance. The enveloping feeling of trust and… was it love? Perhaps it was. A deep love, going beyond even the romantic kind.

It felt… unbreakable.

*SMASH*

Magician Social Link: RANK NINE

"Me neither. Probably just moping around feeling sorry about myself. But I guess both of us would be on the same boat." Yosuke let out a small laugh as he pointed out. "Anyways, let's not let things get too sappy. Let's see if we can spot out everyone's houses from here!"

Johnny chuckled and said, "Y'know… I never visited your place."

"Well, let's fix that sometime! I've got some cool stuff to show you." He pointed to the square building jutting out on the edge of town. "There's Junes… and there's the Shopping District so…" He dragged his finger down and then to the right. "My house is there! Y'know, the one with the funky roof."

Johnny squinted and said, "You should probably tell your dad to do some maintenance on that."

"Ugh. Yeah, I'm already helping him with that crap on the weekend."

"Okay. So if that's the Shopping District…" Johnny dragged his finger down and then made a sharp left. "We need to go three blocks and… it's there! You can even see the garden!"

Yosuke squinted. "You might need to do some maintenance on that. It looks overgrown."

Johnny winced at that. Yeah, he had been neglecting that lately.

"Okay. So we got our houses down!" Yosuke clapped his hands. "Let's see if we can find Gyro and Chie's next!"

The two spent another hour talking, laughing, and pointing out Inaba's various 'landmarks' before deciding to head home for the night.

As far as Johnny was concerned, it had been a great time.

"…Damn it."

Chie walked down the streets of the shopping district with her hands in her shorts' pockets. She glared at the ground, wishing there was a stone to kick. Sure, hurting an innocent stone wouldn't really make her feel better. But it would at least give her something to do.

She'd spent all day… doing basically nothing. She'd gone out to Okina, milled around all day, ordered a fruit parfait, and then went back. "I just need a day to myself! I can make my decision within the hour! Why waste all day thinking about this?" The brunette scowled at herself. "Now it's night, and I still haven't decided what the hell I should do!"

After her talk with Yukiko, Chie had decided she would think about what she should do. Yukiko had all but given her blessing and encouraged Chie to go for it. Under normal circumstances that should be the kick to the ass she needed to make up her mind.

And what had she done after that heart to heart talk with her best friend?

Why, piss away the day of course!

"Why the hell does this need to be so complicated." She muttered to herself and looked up. "Do I tell him or don't I? It's an easy decision. I just need to pick one."

She could decide to keep it in like Yukiko had. But… no, it wouldn't feel right. Chie knew herself enough that keeping a feeling like that bottled in would be torture for her. She wasn't as strong as Yukiko in that regard.

But telling Johnny about how she felt… it just opened a new can of worms.

She felt nervous at the prospect. It was more nerve wracking than exam week and going into Shadow territory combined. It was her telling a guy she was friends with that she was interested in him and that they should go out!

And she didn't even know if he would say yes to her!

"I mean, does he even like me?" Well, he didn't like her for her looks if his comments about seeing her, Yukiko, and Rise in their swimsuit was anything to go by. "No… no, he has to like me… as a friend? How the hell does this work?"

Chie let out a groan and hung her head. Why did this have to be as complicated as something out of a sappy romance flick?

"Damn it, what the hell is up with me?"

Her ears perked up when she heard a familiar voice. She looked up and saw Yosuke walking towards her, but not seeming to register her presence. His hands were in his pockets and he was staring at the ground with a pinched expression on his face.

"It's just Johnny… I just told him he was my best friend." He grumbled aloud to himself. "It's not a big deal, so why…?"

Well. That was one hell of a coincidence. They both had the American on the mind.

"Yo, Yosuke." She spoke up, causing her fellow brunette to halt in his tracks and look up in surprise.

"C-Chie! What are you doing here?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I live around here?"

Yosuke rolled his eyes. "Hardeharhar. I see Johnny's been rubbing off on you."

"Oh come on, don't be like that." She looked at Yosuke and frowned. Along with her, he'd been one of Johnny's earliest friends in Inaba. Like her, he had seen Johnny's Shadow and vice versa. Maybe he could offer some advice. "Hey… you wanna get a soda?"

The teenage boy crossed his arms and eyed her. "I'm not paying for you."

"Come on, I'm not that cheap. Besides, you don't owe me anything yet." They walked over to the soda machines and inserted the money. As her finger traced the selections she said, "I'm going to say something that's private. Utter a peep to anyone else and your balls are gone."

"What else is new?" Yosuke muttered while pressing a button at the same time she did.

She heard the rattle of the machine and took a deep breath.

"I think I want to ask Johnny out."

A Dr. Salt NEO rolled into the slot below.

She looked at Yosuke, her heart pounding as she did so. The brunette was staring at her with a gaping jaw and wide eyes, and she felt her cheeks grow hot as the embarrassment boiled up from inside her.

"D-Don't give me that look!"

"Like, really?! You actually…?!" He covered his mouth, probably realizing he was shouting, and then took it off before whispering, "Are you sure…?"

"I think so." She reached down and took out her soda. "I… kinda realized it yesterday. I talked to Yukiko about it, and she thinks I should confess to him. Probably because I can't expect Johnny to do it."

"That guy?" Yosuke snorted. "Yeah, don't hold your breath on that. You remember how long it took for him to warm up to us? And that was just as friends!"

Yeah, she remembered that. She'd called him an ass when he tried to blow off her and Yukiko's invitation to walk home with them. And that was just the start of their relationship.

"I know." Chie sighed and opened her soda. As she did Yosuke picked up his own, an Orange Smash, and they took a sip from their respective beverages. "It's just… You've known him for as long as I have, Yosuke." She looked down and fidgeted. "Do you… think he can see me that way?"

Yosuke was silent for a few seconds, looking at his soda contemplatively, before he answered.

"Well…" He pointed at her and said, "He certainly wouldn't have gotten excited over the prospect of you being in a swimsuit."

"Yeah, and you would." She scowled at him. "Don't think I forgot what you tried to pull at the camp."

"I was more looking forward to Yukiko, but…" She smashed her heel down on his foot and he yelped, jumping up and down and hissing, "What, you wanted me to tell the truth didn't you?!"

"Like I needed to hear that crap!" She shook her head and turned around. Leaning her back against the machine, she took another sip while Yosuke took some experimental steps with his foot. "Yosuke… you know what I mean, right? Would Johnny see me as… y'know… girlfriend material?" She grimaced and said, "If he's gay you can tell me."

Hey, she couldn't discount the possibility.

At least a revelation like that would make her decision easier.

Yosuke's own cheeks reddened and he took a sip of his soda. After smacking his lips a few times he said, "No… I don't't think he's gay. Like, maybe not all the way…" He waved his free hand dismissively. "Y'know what I mean."

"Oh, so he's bi? Well that is not a big deal."

Yosuke grunted and continued. "It's just… he's not really into the sex thing. He doesn't really seem to find the idea interesting. But… he does care a lot. Like, he cares about people deeply. You know how he is." He pointed at her. "And he does care about you."

Chie sighed. "I know. But… it's not the same."

"Look, I'm not exactly someone who can give you a straight answer. But I can offer you some advice." He took another sip. "I never really told Saki how I felt, and now… I never will again. I regret that, Chie. I regret it a lot. Hell, I wouldn't have minded if she rejected me. At least I would've told her how I felt."

She winced at that. Here she was, complaining about whether or not she would confess to a boy, while Yosuke was still feeling the sting over losing Saki. "I really am an insensitive jackass. First Yukiko and now him. You're really doing great, Chie."

"I think you should confess. That's my advice." He shrugged and took one final sip before throwing the can in the recycling bin. "You won't know until you give it a shot."

"But… what'll happen if he says no?"

"…Nothing. It won't make you less of a friend to him." He grinned. "It's just not his style."

Chie smiled. "Yeah, it isn't." Shaking her head, she finished her soda and put the can in the bin. "Thanks, Yosuke."

"Hey, no problem. What're friends for?"

They bid each other good night and began walking to their houses. But for some reason, Chie was feeling just a bit better.

"I probably won't say it just yet. Gotta work up the nerve…"

But it would probably be soon.

"At least I hope…"

"Big Bro! I think that's the last of them!"

Johnny wiped the sweat off his brow and grimaced at the smear of brown that was probably on it now. Nanako merely giggled and handed him a damp towel, which he accepted gratefully.

"Shouldn't have forgotten about this." Johnny muttered to himself. "Any more time and the place would've been full of weeds."

"Yeah, but look at all the veggies we picked up!" Nanako displayed the basket proudly, showing the big basket full of tomatoes, onions, and eggplants. "I'll be able to make something yummy out of these!"

Well, at least that was something to look forward to.

Nanako seemed to practically jump out of her seat when he got home and declared that they needed to work on the garden. Dojima was absent from the house again, so she was probably bored out of her skull.

"Seriously, why is he even working late anymore? Didn't he say that the case was over?" Though something was bugging him. When he said the case was completed, he said it in a way that implied that he was angry.

Why?

Why had he said it like that?

"Big Bro?"

"Yeah?" Johnny looked up at Nanako, who was putting down the vegetables. "What's up?"

The thing that alarmed him right away was how Nanako's formerly happy expression turned into a downcast one. It was as if the joy she just felt had evaporated, replaced by something more dour.

"Is something…?"

"Am I dad's real daughter?"

"What?!" He sat straight up and glared at Nanako. "Of course you are! Who told you that you weren't?"

If some kid told her this as some sort of sick prank then he was going to have a very long talk with the parents. Cursing was more than likely going to be involved.

"N-No! No one told me!" Nanako shook her head furiously. "It's just that… I was watching something on the television. About how a boy found his real dad." She frowned and looked down at the ground. "The dad so happy to see his son again… and I began thinking that maybe the reason why dad comes home so late and isn't happy is because I'm not his real daughter."

He grimaced at these words. "Shit. This is the crap that goes through her head when you're not around, Dojima!" Still, he had to put a pin to these dark thoughts somehow. If Nanako got this shit into her head and internalized it, who knew what would happen later?

"Has he ever said you're not his real daughter? That he doesn't love you?"

"No!" Nanako said instantly, and Johnny breathed out a sigh of relief.

Well, at least Dojima had something over Johnny's own piece of shit father.

"Then there you are." Johnny pointed at Nanako. "You're his real daughter. He loves you. So don't let some stupid documentary or news report tell you otherwise."

Maybe he was lying to Nanako. But if so, it was a lie she needed to hear.

A smile spread across his cousin's lips and she nodded enthusiastically. Once again, Johnny couldn't help but be amazed at the ease which children just accepted things. Was this, truly, just the magic of childhood?

"Good! Then I'm his real daughter, and he's my real dad!" She then pointed to Johnny. "I know that you're not my real Big Bro. But… I want you to be! You don't mind, right?"

That was easy to answer. "Of course not."

"…I just wish my real mom was here." His cousin mumbled to herself. She sat down on her small stool and began messing with the bottom of her t-shirt. "Mom… why did she have to leave, Big Bro? Why did she have to have that accident?"

"Because…" He hesitated. What could he say? That horrible shit just happened with no rhyme or reason? Because that was basically what happened as far as he could tell. His deceased aunt was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and got run over by some asshole who either lost control or wasn't looking. "…because sometimes it's just someone's time to go, Nanako. And we can't control it."

God, he was just great talking with children wasn't he?

"… it's not fair." Nanako shook her head. "When she was here, we would all go out together. We would pick up flowers at Samegawa…"

She sounded sad, but Johnny could pick up the slight twinges of happiness from her voice. Was she actually feeling better reminiscing about her mom? "Do you mind telling me what else you did with her?"

Nanako blinked in surprise, but the smile was beginning to return to her face.

And as she talked about her mom, Johnny felt happy.

"I can be here to talk to her about her mom."

When Nicholas had died, he had gone to a therapist for a bit.

It was… fine. But it wasn't exactly the same as talking to the rest of his family.

His mom had become a shell of herself for months, acting as if she were in a daze whenever she wasn't crying her eyes out. Johnny didn't even attempt to broach the subject with her.

And his dad… well, he wasn't the talkative type. Least of all to his less preferred son.

But with Nanako he could be there. Whenever she felt sad or alone, she could taklk to him about her memories.

And, perhaps on some level, she knew only he would understand her pain.

*SMASH*

Justice Social Link: RANK FIVE

"Ignore it… Ignore it…"

Nanako talked for a few more minutes about what she did with Dojima back when her mom was alive. It was all clipped and short. Not very long, which made sense since she was six and likely didn't remember much. But he felt all the longing and loss… as well as the sad happiness that came from the reminiscing.

It was nice.

Maybe it was because he was so absorbed with talking to Nanako that he was shocked when Dojima walked to the front of the garden and leaned against his house. "Hey, that garden's looking really good again! I was afraid you two lost interest!"

"Dad!" Nanako chirped happily, running up and hugging the man. "Welcome home!"

He chuckled and dislodged her from him. "And so am I! I see you've been Johnny's helper today."

"Me and Big Bro got a bunch of veggies!" She declared and pointed at the vegetable basket. 'They came out really big!"

"And they look delicious." He pointed at the house. "Why don't you bring them inside?"

"Okay!" With that, Nanako ran back, grabbed the basket, and ran back inside the house without looking back.

Leaving Johnny and Dojima alone.

"She misses you, you know." Johnny fixed his uncle a stare when he got back into his wheelchair. "Maybe you can at least try to get back earlier?"

"…I'm doing my best." Dojima muttered. "But thank you for being there for her."

"Well someone has to."

His uncle looked like he was ready to shout something but relented. Instead he took out a deep breath and then exhaled, reaching into his pocket all the while. "I… know I have been strict lately about your curfew. But after… everything that's happened I thought that you would need this."

He tossed something towards Johnny and the American caught it. He looked down and saw it was a key.

"I still don't think it's a good idea to go out at night. But you're also a teenager, and knowing what me and my sister were up to back when we were your age you'll begin sneaking out if I keep barring you." Dojima fixed him a hard stare. "But! You are only allowed to go to the Shopping District and I expect you to be with one of your friends. If you meet them, text me who it is and I won't have any complaints about you going out."

Johnny raised an eyebrow at this. "Does he seriously think letting me go out will make up for that shit he pulled yesterday?"

…No, that wasn't Dojima's style. Even he knew enough about the man to make that judgement call.

"So… he's just being nice?" That was a new one.

But who was he to complain?

"Fine. I can work with that." Johnny pocketed the key and began moving outside the garden. "In fact, I'll go right now."

"Alright. Be safe."

Johnny had to admit he felt good going out at night. The night air was cool, but not to a discomforting degree. He could hear the sound of insects and the lights from the lamp posts and houses helped to illuminate his way.

"Should've done this a while ago."

But it soon came to an end. He found himself in the Shopping District and frowned when he saw it was empty save for a few stumbling drunk guys.

"Guess all the action's gone for tonight."

"Johnny?"

He turned around and smiled at the familiar face.

"Hey Yukiko. How's it going?"

Yukiko felt some relief enter her when she saw that the American was smiling.

"Good… he's still feeling better."

Meeting up with Johnny hadn't been her intention when she went on a walk. She'd even given her mom the lame excuse that she was going to get some beauty products from Junes that she'd run out of.

"All the same, I'm glad he's here."

Talking with Johnny might take her mind off of things.

"Good! Was just going to Junes for some stuff." She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you doing out here? Kanji-kun mentioned that your uncle wasn't happy the last time you were out late."

The blond waived his hand dismissively. "Eh, it's all right now. Dojima gave me permission to go out so long as I give him a heads up." He took out his phone and began to text something. "Speaking of which…"

"Well, it's good that he's trusting you this much." Yukiko had only met Ryotaro Dojima a few times when she and her friends were investigating. He was acting in his capacity as a police officer, so he had been a bit strict and intense when he was telling them to move along. But she couldn't really fault him for that. It was a murder investigation and he was a detective. "At least now he won't be so stressed."

The American finished texting and put away his phone. "I guess. I think he just wants to bribe me for some shit he pulled at home."

She frowned at his tone. "What did he do?"

"Just the same old crap of putting his job before Nanako." He shook his head. "You mind dropping it? I don't want to feel shitty right now."

The raven-haired girl nodded. Even if they were more open to each other about what was bothering him, she wasn't going to force Johnny to open up about everything going on in his life. "Plus he doesn't appear upset about it… and I don't feel like it's too serious. Maybe it's something he and his uncle need to talk out."

An idea struck her and she smiled.

"Well… if you feel like it, you can come with me to Junes." She beamed in pride. "I'm going food shopping for my latest dish!"

"Please tell me you're following a recipe…"

"Ha! I anticipated this, Joestar!" With pride she reached into her purse and flourished a folded up recipe she printed from the internet. "I circled everything we don't already have from the inn, and I'm only getting those! Nothing more!"

With a suspicious eyebrow Johnny took the paper and scanned it. Seemingly satisfied, he handed it back to her. "What the hell? I'll tag along."

Smiling, both teens walked for ten minutes and reached Junes. While the store wasn't normally packed it was now practically empty. There were a few old men and women who were wearing the uniforms of the store and one bored looking guy with bags under his eyes managing the customer service desk.

"Night shifts in stores are always creepy." Johnny muttered to himself and Yukiko had to agree.

Even the clean up workers and some of the staff who worked the inn in the dead hours of night always seemed a bit off to her.

"Probably not nice to think about that, though."

Offering the night staff a silent apology they went to the vegetable section and she took out her list. "Okay, so what I'll need is yellow squash and that'll be it for the vegetable side of things."

"What are you planning on cooking?"

"Oh, it's a casserole with squash as the main ingredient." Picking up one of the vegetables she began to inspect it. "It sounded fun to make and I wanted to see if I can make a recipe that's a bit more complicated than usual." She put the vegetable in the basket and frowned. "After the party, I realized that even with all my practice I'm still messing up. I mean, it's not exactly encouraging to hear that your omelet rice knocks out taste buds."

More like humiliating. She knew that Johnny and the other guys didn't hold it against her and were trying to maintain the good atmosphere, but she still felt bad about it. Once again she had misunderstood the directions of the recipe and screwed up. How the hell was she supposed to live on her own if she cooks herself crap like that?

"You tried. It was better than what you were making before." Johnny shrugged. "I mean, remember when you were first starting out? I wouldn't even touch that crap!"

"Yes. Don't remind me." She felt her cheeks get hot from the embarrassment. "I still feel bad for Chie and Yosuke…"

"Don't feel too bad. Half of it was Chie's fault, remember?" They both chuckled at the memory and began walking to the aisle containing dairy products. "Don't let it get to you, Yukiko. Just keep practicing the basics and you'll get better."

"I know. That's why I try to practice alone in the kitchen." Yukiko smiled as she took a block of cheddar cheese. "But sometimes the head cook comes in and helps me out." A laugh escaped her lips. "When I was beginning to practice, he'd sometimes try to take the knife away from me!"

In retrospect she couldn't really blame him. Chopping up an onion with a butcher's knife wasn't exactly the smartest of decisions.

It was a miracle none of her fingers came off with how she swung that thing down.

Her friend grinned. "I can see that."

"Oh, stop it." They began to walk to the aisle containing the condiments. "It's not just the head cook either. Sometimes the other members of the staff come in and watch me. I tell them to leave me alone but they insist on staying to watch and offer me advice."

That had always happened whenever she tried to cook. Her parents were usually too busy to offer lessons, and their meals usually consisted of whatever was made for dinner in the inn so she didn't have a hand in making any meals for the three of them. Because of this, it was usually the head cook and the staff that were in the kitchen.

The kitchen, when it wasn't too busy, was a peaceful place. The scent of baking bread filled the air and mixed with the smells of whatever was being made for the main course, calming her in a strange way. The polished silver of the countertops and the pristine white flood filled her with an odd sense of professionalism whenever she entered the room in her kimono or in an apron.

It was never too hectic in those hours she entered, and rather than it feeling like another workplace it felt like somewhere she belonged.

She let out a sigh. "They're probably worried about my cooking too."

"Oh, I don't doubt it. You were committing some crimes against the culinary arts before." When she shot Johnny a glare he rolled his eyes. "But they're also seeing you improve. So… I guess they're impressed? They want to see your progress, probably."

"They're… watching because they care?"

"Maybe? I dunno. I never met them."

Yukiko thought about this. Before, she only saw the staff of the Amagi Inn as just that. Workers who were hired by Mom and Dad to help manage the inn, and who she had to interact with in order to do her own job. It wasn't exactly a nice way of seeing people she'd talked to and work beside for years, but it was how she felt.

But there were instances where they did stuff that went beyond just being workers. Some stayed around to help her clean up, even if their shift ended. They'd talk about their days with her and offer her pieces of cake or cups of tea. Some of them would ask what was wrong when she was feeling upset or down in the dumps.

And they were almost always around when she was trying to cook…

Her heart filled with a warm happiness and she smiled at the thought.

It was a nice one.

"You know… once when I was trying to make my own dinner the head chef shouted 'I can't stand it anymore!' And took the knife away from me to make the rest." She'd never been so mortified in her life, and once again retrospection could see why. Frying chopped squid that had been soaking in apple cider vinegar probably wasn't a good idea. "The waitress saw it and told the chef 'Yukiko wants to make it herself, even if it's awful." A small sad smile graced her lips as she said, "Before I knew it, I was studying 'how to cook for the boy I like'."

Part of her wondered if she would've put this much effort in trying to cook for the girl she liked.

"Chie…" Telling Chie about the feelings she once had for her had been hard. When she saw that her friend seemed to put the pieces together and asked Yukiko if she saw her that way, it took all of her willpower not to look scared. Her heart was pounding like crazy and she didn't know how to respond.

Yukiko had been content to never let Chie find out about her old crush. When the stuff with her Shadow happened, she was a bit nervous about her friend figuring things out but had been relieved when it appeared Chie was oblivious.

It wasn't because she was scared about her friend rejecting her. Calling her a freak and a pervert like they were in some sort of cheap schlocky drama. She knew that Chie wasn't like that.

She had been nervous because it might change their relationship.

But when Chie was about to leave, obviously feeling sick and guilty about not realizing things sooner, Yukiko mustered up her courage and decided to finally confess to everything. The old her would've just meekly let Chie go and would see it as another sign to leave Inaba as soon as possible, but she wasn't like that. Not anymore.

She was Yukiko Amagi. She was a girl who accepted her true self and defeated monsters beyond human understanding.

And if she was ever going to prove her strength to herself, to show that she wasn't her old self anymore, she would have to come clean about everything.

It was amazing how easy it came out. Her fears and worries washed away when the words came out of her mouth, and Chie admitting she could never be with Yukiko that way like she suspected didn't hurt. Their relationship, the thing she feared of being ruined, remained as strong as ever. Hell, it became even stronger.

"If I told the staff that I actually liked a girl… they would probably not have cared either."

"Yukiko? Are you okay?"

She looked back at Johnny and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm fine. Just… remembering some things." She giggled. "Like, how one of the waitresses dragged my parents in and had them help out! The entire thing became a huge group project!"

"It became edible, right? Then that would make the entire thing a success!"

Yukiko looked up in thought. "…I don't think it was all about the food. Maybe they came… because they just cared."

Because if they were only concerned about the food, they would've just let the head chef take the knife away from her. He would've made the dish and that would've been the end of that.

Instead, they came and helped her along. They believed in her eventually getting the hang of it, and wanted to encourage her.

They wanted to encourage her independence, and didn't have a problem with it.

"Maybe it wasn't all a lie." She looked at Johnny and smiled. "Please try my cooking next time, okay?"

Maybe once, she had seen Johnny Joestar as boyfriend material. Hell, he had been one of her most recent 'prince' candidates to get her the hell out of the town.

But no.

He was something else.

Over the time they had spent together, Johnny had become a friend who saw Yukiko as herself. Who believed in her and encouraged her in his own way, pushing her to become better and more independent.

His belief… his drive and bravery in the face of everything… even when it reached dangerous levels she couldn't help but admire him for it.

Maybe she would've seen him as someone she could truly love.

"But no… not anymore."

She would never betray Chie like that.

"Sure. Hopefully this time it'll actually taste like something." Johnny said with a grin.

She frowned. "Mention that again and I will hit you."

Yukiko loved Johnny… but it wasn't romantic love. It was something deeper than that. A connection she was glad existed, even if she couldn't put words to describe it.

Maybe it was something beyond friendship.

He held up his hands in defeat and they continued their shopping. They continued the shopping trip, talking about nothing in particular before walking home part way with each other.

Part of her was tempted to tell Johnny that Chie was interested in him. Tell him to think about how he felt about Chie and tell her friend.

But no.

"It wouldn't do either of them good."

As she waved goodbye to him and continued on her own way, she looked at the moon and smiled.

"It's all up to you, Chie."

"…do you understand me, you little brat?! If any of this leaks to the press, you're finished!" came the voice of the cow from the other side of the door. "You won't get a single cent from us! As soon as you come of age you're out of our door and life!"

He ignored her and continued to sip his wine. A present from a race he'd won previously but never touched for one reason or another. It wasn't as if he had a complex against alcohol. He drunk some champagne nd wine at social events. But he never drank enough to become intoxicated.

It would make him no better than his wretch of a father.

But now? Now here he was drinking wine as if it were water. His head buzzing, but not pleasantly. Rather than having the desired effect the alcohol was only enhancing his anger.

"Damn it…" He rose to his feet and threw the glass, smashing it against the large painting of his elderly adoptive mother. "DAMN!"

What the hell? It wasn't as if he cared for the old bitch anyways. She had always been a means to an end. She profited by having a gifted jockey as an adoptive son, securing lucrative promotional deals and prestige while he got the promise of far greater riches when she finally kicked the bucket.

But now it was all going wrong.

He reached into his pocket and took out a small gold medallion. The etchings on it were the cursive English letters of the letters D and B. Flipping it, he saw on the opposite side were the letters M and B.

The initials of his mother.

His true mother.

"No matter how poor we are… we cannot forget our dignity."

He clenched the medallion tightly and grit his teeth.

"Dignity… those bastards repaid your dignity by sentencing you to death! Because they were the ones who held all the power and money!"

He had made a vow during his childhood. That he would climb to the top of society and make those that looked down at him and his mother pay. That no one would get in his way.

"Don't be sad… all of this… all of this happened because of my sin. It's not your fault…"

If his mother's actions were sins worthy of death, then God's laws were worth less than shit.

He would do anything to achieve victory. He would use his cunning, intelligence, and skill to win every race. He would destroy all his competitors through any means necessary to secure his victory, grinding their worthless pride into the dust so they wouldn't dream of ever trying to rise to his level again.

It had worked for years… but now because of some fool with loose lips he was close to losing everything!

"Damn it all!" He hissed, pocketing the medallion and stomping over to his work desk. Opening his laptop he began scanning through the email his manager had sent.

Not all hope was lost. They had caught the little bastard early and were paying off the right people to squash to story. But it was advised that he 'lay low' for a bit and allow the legal team his manager had created to do their work.

"He's a rat only interested in keeping his investment… but a useful rat nonetheless."

He needed to calm down. Flying off the handle would make him lose control and possibly lose everything forever.

All his actions needed to be controlled and managed so that he could continue to rise through the ranks of society.

For now, though, he would need to patiently wait.

"But I cannot stay here… if I do I will throttle that wench!"

But where to go? Where on Earth could he…?

He heard glass break, and he turned to see that the single candle he lit for ambiance more than anything had broken. Wax had spilled over the countertop, straining all his papers and his copy of Paradise Lost. "Damn." He muttered and walked over. He needed to call the help to clean this and his broken wine glass up…

He stopped and noticed the newspaper that the wax was already beginning to harden over. The wick had slid over and burnt out, but not before singing the corner of one small article.

GYRO ZEPPELI: INABA STAY PERMANENT?

Yes… he remembered the Italian. They never raced in the same circuit, but they knew each other by reputation. He hadn't thought much about the man's sudden hiatus, just that it was one less troublesome rival for the limelight.

"He finds that backwater country town interesting enough to stay in…?"

He hadn't set foot in the country unless it was absolutely necessary for a race. His spite and hatred for the lands of his childhood were far too great to allow him to rub shoulders with country bumpkins.

But… staying in the city was now unbearable. Far too many people would recognize him, and he would be hounded by the unwashed masses for comments about the controversies. Filled with the bastards that now considered him damaged goods because he got caught.

He hated them. Hated them all.

A small memory flickered into his mind.

"I wish you had seen my home town, sweetie. It was so peaceful… filled with mountains and streams where I would play as a child. I left it, hoping for a better life in a foreign land. But now… now I wish I could go back…"

He took out his phone and began to dial the number for his manager.

After a few rings the rat answered. "Diego? D'you know what time…?"

"Shut up." Diego Brando hissed out. "I don't pay you to remind me of what time it is. Here's what I want you to do. I want you to have your legal team contact the city government of Yasoinaba, Japan. Search for any property owned by the Kamiyama family."

"What the hell for?"

"I believe it's about time I obtained the inheritance my mother left me."

And as Diego and his manager talked, a small blue butterfly watched from outside the window…

…and the wheels of fate began to turn.

—[To Be Continued \]

Notes: Hope you enjoyed the chapter and that cliffhanger, betaed by the ever-excellent Saint Danielle!

Writing Chie's scenes of falling in love has to be the most fun I've had. Because not only am I writing the female perspective of love, but how weird and messy it kind of is. She has to psych herself up just for the possibility of confessing and even then she has her own doubts. It's not a clean thing that a lot of anime and FanFiction make it out to be, and I hope that I'm making it seem natural.

Having Yukiko come out as bisexual is something I thought would be interesting, especially with how some of her Shadow's dialogue and view of Chie can be interpreted. But what worried me is handling it respectively. Because writing LGBTQ+ characters is a tricky thing, and unfortunately some fall into the trap of them being gay being their one defining character trait. I didn't want to do that with Yukiko. She's her own person and an interesting character who just happens to be bisexual. And I hope I pulled that off.

As for Yosuke? Well… he's still managing that Junes in Narnia.

And what's this?! Diego Brando in the house? What?! No way! What does this mean?!

Guess you'll have to keep tuning in to find out!

Be sure to leave a review and check out the TV Tropes Page!

Until next time!