Delrosario: Jotaro isn't a sailor though...whatever.
Bearticguy7: I don't know if I'm going to do anything involving reincarnation. I prefer characters who are dead to stay dead, unless their resurrection serves a purpose. I was initially going to have Johnny be a reincarnation of Jonathan, but I decided it was better if they were separate characters.
Jpx0999: I've wanted to add Tokoyami to the group for a while, and this was the perfect time to do it, considering this arc revolves around the supernatural.
Alexander Lawliet: Criticism taken! Thanks for the feedback!
PhantomKnightPercival: Glad to hear from you! Yes, things are heating up pretty soon...and Jotaro loves her.
Ivory Insanity: Perhaps...you might be onto something...
Guest: You are onto something with Y2K. As for Kira...it IS a supernatural arc...but his presence might be a bit different than you think.
Monster King: Thanks!
BryanTF2: I don't know how you managed to figure out it was Popeye. I literally put him there so people would think he was Josuke! However, his fight was not unimportant...
A troll with a purpose.
Makobro23: He's going to be a big help in an upcoming arc!
"I've had enough." Tomura growled, turning off Popeye the Sailor. He had researched the mysterious enemy in an attempt to find out what his Quirk was...
Only to find out that it was a cartoon sailor from the 30s.
After all that growth, he was beaten up by a fucking cartoon.
"Tomura, Popeye the Sailor is pretty much unstoppable once he eats his spinach-"
"I'M DONE! WE LOST DABI DAMMIT!" Tomura snarled, slamming a gloved hand in the table. His features were filled with rage. "This is the last time I'm humiliated by that stupid 10,000 year old BITCH!"
Ujiko sighed. "Tomura, we can't afford to be reckless. We've come so far, we're so close to realizing the Master's dream. AFO is counting on you..."
"Even with my awakening...I couldn't beat a cartoon. I need more POWER!" Tomura retorted, flinging the table aside in his rage. "I can't help Master if I'm not strong enough!
" Tomura-"
"NO! I'M SICK OF THIS! I'M SICK OF HIM! I CAN ONLY HANDLE SO MUCH!" AFO's successor angrily ranted, throwing his hands up into the air. "I would've taken the heroes to war by now if it wasn't for him! I want Santana DEAD! NOW!"
"Tomura, please! He has an advanced intellect, we can't afford to be rash! I understand why you're frustrated, but we must prepare accordingly!" Ujiko pleaded. "If you fall now...everything we worked foe would be for nothing..."
Tomura turned to Ujiko, his snarl fading into something calmer.
"You're right...it's just...he has gone from a hurdle to a wall. I always thought the heroes would be our greatest threat...not other villains."
"Of course not."
"Master kept them all in line, he was the greatest of them. Now...a Pillar Man is gaining power in his absence, and every time I try to face him, I'm USELESS." Tomura said, putting his hands together. "We need to take a different approach, but what?"
"I could attempt to upgrade your body..."
"No. That project is far from ready. While we have to be careful, we also can't waste time. Santana is charismatic, idealistic. He's good at getting people wrapped around his finger...because he is genuine. I'm using the Liberation Front for our own ends, so that immediately puts me at a disadvantage."
"The Barge and Y2K can prove useful."
"Only if I have the capability to use it. I only have one Quirk right now, and until I have Master's that's all I get. We'd need time to pull it off, that's why we need to retrieve it's user alive for the time being."
"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" A deep authoritative voice asked.
Tomura and Ujiko looked up to find a mass of rags descending from the ceiling, with a porcelain mask covering what would have been a face. A pair of bright red eyes gave off a sense of coldness.
The Stranger landed, and stood uupright, every movement sending chills down their spines.
"Who the hell are you?" Tomura asked.
"A friend, should you play your cards right. I have made an acquaintance of your master...very interesting fellow...seems a bit delusional but who am I to judge? Anyway...what if I told you there was a way to get enough power sufficient enough to take the fight to Santana?"
"Is there?" Tomura asked quietly, but Ujiko held out a hand.
"Sir, we don't know your name. Who would you be, to have such knowledge?"
"You may call me...Lugh." The Stranger said after some deliberation, even though it was clear that he was using an alias. "Pillar Men are naturally superior to humans, that's just basic biology. In order to truly stand a chance, you must either train in the art of Hamon, which takes years to truly master...or you become something other than human."
"Other than human? I can do that?"
The Stranger let out a cold laugh, sending a shudder down Tomura's spine. "Yes. You should definitely continue to try and get Y2K, but your humanity is the only thing holding you back. Trust an old friend of your master...that is the key to your victory!"
Tomura stared at the otherworldy presence in the room with unease...and intrigue.
"Is that so?"
"Tomura...let's be reasonable, you just met this...thing." Ujiko said, but then the Stranger turned to him with a cold glare.
"Perhaps you would like me to take it up with All For One?"
"Until you supply us with proof that you and he are working together-"
The Stranger reached into his rags and pulled out a large ornate black mask, resembling AFO's old breathing apparatus, except it pulsed with a strange green energy. It resembled a skull, paralleling Santana's helmet.
"In one week, I will free him from prison. Do not ask how I have the capabilities to do this. During that time...he and I are entrusting you with his new mask...and this."
The Stranger handed Tomura a small bone, and a spiky pink fruit. It resembled a fig...although AFO's successor felt a surge of raw power coming from it.
"Eat that when holding the bone, and you can take it within yourself, granting you more power. Beware though...you will have to sacrifice something..." The Stranger warned. "That plant is rare, and as far as I'm aware...there is only one branch in existence, and Santana has it. Unlike him, I understand it's true power."
*For those confused, Chapter 70 mentioned that Santana stole a 'rare plant' from the Speedwagon Foundation...
JoJo veterans...you already know what it is.*
"How did you get the fruit then?"
"I stole it from Santana of course. I'm pretty good when it comes to...subtlety." The Stranger said, lowering his head. "I don't know for certain what you would lose to absorb the bone, it could even be your Quirk, but you will gain power from it."
Tomura looked at the fruit and the bone, and he knew the Stranger wasn't lying. The bone was no ordinary bone, and the fruit radiated enough power for a Non-Stand User to feel it.
I would lose something though...but what? Can I choose what I lose? Probably not...but the prospect of more power...more DESTRUCTION...it might just be worth the risk.
Ujiko watched in horror as Tomura popped the fruit into his mouth. "NO!"
The Stranger began laughing, his cold, melodic laughter filling the air as Tomura began to scream. Blood poured on the floor as the bone dug it's way into his flesh, and AFO's successor began mutating before their eyes.
Tokoyami dropped into the lab, his eyes wide as he processed everything.
Some sort of...robot? A mech? Why is it here? Why are my classmates journeying to this place?
He peered into the library area, to find Momo nose-deep in a book. She looked tired, as if she had been reading for a while. On the couch next to her was Kyoka, sleeping in Johnny's arms.
Well...that's new, although to be honest not much of a surprise.
Tokoyami scratched his beak, processing everything. It was clear that Momo had been studying for a long time, possibly the whole night. It made sense considering her best friend received a mummified hand in the mail.
He knew what it was.
He had initially followed his classmates to tell them, but after he had seen them go into the woods, he grew suspicious. Why the woods? What was their teacher talking about? Why did Momo take the severed hand/candle with her?
He decided to sleep on it, and later flew into the woods the very next morning to check it out.
Now he knew, there was some sort of secret safehouse here. They had moved into here for Kyoka's protection. There was a library, with a glass case containing a plague doctor's mask for some reason. In fact, quite a few antiques littered across the whole facility.
What have you all been up to?
That's when Kyoka's jack shot up.
Tokoyami ducked out of sight as the purplette lifted her head, cursing under his breath. If his classmates knew he was spying on them, he would have a lot of explaining to do.
"What's wrong?" Johnny asked, lifting his head.
"Thought I heard a..." It didn't take much for Tokoyami to know that his classmate was concentrating. "There was movement in the lab. Could be Gyro..."
"Gyro is on his morning jog." Momo responded.
"Holy shit, Momo get some rest!" Tokoyami heard Kyoka get up, and Johnny giving a slight 'oof' as she did so. "Have you been reading all night?!"
"I'm finding out what this means."
"I'm fine...honest. I swear I hear breathing over there, is somebody awake?" Kyoka called out, and Tokoyami began holding his breath.
"Don't worry, it's just Tokoyami." Momo responded.
...
...
...what?
"What?"
Tokoyami was soon met with the classic Kyoka Jiro glare as his classmate peered at him from the doorway.
"...I can explain."
"Then you better get to it. Get in here."
An earphone jack wrapped around his arm before he could do anything, and yanked him into the library. Johnny was giving him a neutral look, not exactly bothered by , as was Momo. Upon closer inspection, the ravenette looked quite tired. She had definitely pulled an all-nighter.
"Um...how did you know?" Tokoyami asked.
"This place has a top-notch security system, it can even detect ghosts. The man who designed it was quite brilliant." Momo responded. "I got an alert as soon as you came in, and then I saw you on the cameras."
She was hiding her phone with the book. She was watching him sneak around the whole time.
"Well...now I'm just embarrassed. Why didn't you just approach me?" Tokoyami asked.
Momo gave him a smirk in response. "Well...it was kind of funny."
"..."
"Dude, why are you here?! Were you following us?!" Kyoka asked, angry. "We were here all night! How long have you been snooping around in here?!"
"Kyoka, calm down." Johnny said.
"I am calm, I just want an explanation!" The purplette responded with her arms crossed. "You haven't been the type to dig into other people's business Tokoyami, so you have to have followed us for a reason."
"I understand I violated your privacy, that wasn't my intent. I followed you because of the hand." Tokoyami said. "Your behavior was strange, and the fact that you went into the woods and didn't come back made me concerned."
Kyoka's face relaxed, and she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yare yare...had a feeling that was the reason. Thanks for looking out for us Tokoyami, although now we've got to explain all this...again."
"Again?"
"This isn't the first time people have caught onto this." Johnny explained. "We have a whole B team filled with people who are aware of the situation."
"I see. I...may know what the hand situation actually is."
That got their attention.
"Really?" Momo asked.
Kyoka grabbed her classmate by the shoulder and looked him in the eye. "TELL US."
"I read about something like this once, Yaoyorozu, does this library have a book on the occult?" Tokoyami asked. "Because if I'm right, I don't think the hand is a bad thing."
"If that's the case, you're the best intruder we could ever ask for." Kyoka replied.
Momo retrieved said book, and put it in Tokoyami's hands. It made sense, since their classmate was into dark things, he might actually recognize something like this. Tokoyami flipped through the book, his eyes narrowing until a smirk came onto his beak. "I was right. Jiro, you have nothing to worry about."
"That's debatable considering where I have to go, but please continue!"
"It's a Hand of Glory. The pickled left hand of a hanged man, along with a candle. An occult item, but one that isn't harmful in the slightest. Putting the candle in the hand and lighting it gives the holder second sight. It can reveal hidden treasures, unlock ANY door, and...can allow the holder to see ghosts."
"Wait...so..."
"Jiro, you don't have an enemy, you have an ALLY. Whoever sent this to you sent it as a gift." Tokoyami replied, closing the book.
"Some fucking gift, what kind of maniac thinks it's a good idea to send a teenaged girl a pickled hand?" Kyoka said with a huff. "However, I'll take your word for it. That...actually puts me at ease a little bit. So...do I use it, do I put it in the middle of the room or something?"
"You light the candle, and you walk around with it."
"...I have to touch it?"
"Well...yes."
"...never mind, I hate this again."
"Kyoka, someone handed you the ability to see ghosts on a silver platter, don't be such a baby." Johnny said with a smirk.
"You're a baby!"
"Are they normally like this?" Tokoyami asked as the couple began bickering, and Momo smiled.
"Oh yes, all the time."
Santana was in the middle of a staring contest.
It was odd, considering he had a similar experience with Momo Yaoyorozu just before his attack on UA...
Now Gyro Zeppeli was returning the favor, apparently.
They stared at each other for a good while, neither daring to move. It had been a while since Santana had last interacted with a member of the OFA group...and now he had encountered the one that had the most reason to hate his guts.
He had no time for a fight, not here.
"What are you doing here?" Gyro asked slowly, a glare on the Italian's normally smiling face.
"Shopping."
"..."
"..."
"For what, stone masks?"
"Food."
"...food."
"Yes."
Gyro made no movement, but his hand was on a steel ball. At any moment a fight could break out, and since the Spin was one of the things that could shatter his armor, things could get ugly.
"I have no intention to fight right now, Zeppeli."
"Did you think I just forgot about Hol Horse? You aren't very high on my list, bud." Gyro responded. "You hurt my friends too."
"It was the nature of the confrontation, brought about by my desire for vengeance, and my fear of your bloodline. As of right now, you don't stand in the way of my goals, so I must reiterate, I don't want to fight right now." Santana said, holding up a grocery bag.
"I'd like to go back to my girlfriend in one piece."
"Then we have an agreement."
"..."
"..."
"What are you up to?" Gyro asked after a while. "I've heard rumors...the League gaining influence in other countries, including my home country of Italia. Should we be more worried about you?"
"I have a message to spread, a message the world needs to hear. It's gaining traction because it is something people genuinely believe in." Santana responded. "You only have to worry about me if you get in the way."
"I thought you wanted to exterminate us."
"Not anymore, not unless you force my hand."
Both of them were recalling their fight, how Gyro had lost his cool and almost met the same fate as Ceasar, how Santana now had a permanent scar from the Zeppeli's fury.
"You fought well that day. I still suffer from the wound you gave me."
"Good, that was the point."
"So I'd remember you? I wear this scar with pride, Gyro Zeppeli...a true warrior gave it to me."
"So you'd remember not to go after the people I care about. Think of it as a bit of payback for Hol Horse, I might not've known him long, but he deserved better." Gyro said, taking his hand away from his steel ball. "So stay away, or I'll know exactly where to throw."
Santana chuckled. "I expect nothing less. Good luck on your future endeavors...because you'll need it should we come to blows for a second time. I no longer fight alone."
"We're ready, we already have a few pros on our side this time around."
"Is Endeavor one of them?"
Gyro titled his head to the side. "No?"
"Good, you don't need that man fucking everything up for you. Make sure he never finds out about your...operation." Santana replied, and gave Gyro a brief wave. "Until we meet again, Gyro Zeppeli..."
"Yeah...until we meet again."
Then the score can be settled. Both thought.
Kyoka's fingertip brushed against the leathery flesh of the Hand of Glory, and immediately withdrew it.
"DEuaAGh!"
"Just touch it."
"It feels so gross...ugh I'm gonna hurl."
"You're so dramatic."
"It's a DEAD GUY. Would you touch a mummy? That gross...leathery shit it calls skin...uuughh..."
Katsuki pushed past her and picked it up, and proceeded to force it in her hand.
"GYAAAAGH! NONONONONO! FUCK!"
Kyoka was holding the mummified hand as far as her arm would allow, her face squished in discomfort. In the hand sat the candle, and the purplette begrudgingly produced a lighter.
"Tokoyami, if this summons a demon or something...I'm making sure it eats you first."
"It's a Hand of Glory Jiro, you're fine."
"This feels so gross."
"You said that already."
"IT IS!"
"LIGHT THE FUCKING CANDLE ALREADY!" Katsuki snapped.
Kyoka lit the candle, cringing away from the disgusting hand in her own. The candle's flame turned a bright blue, and Kyoka blinked.
"Oookay. Now what? I...oh...hey, that painting...the one of Dr. Stewart's sister...it has some weird blue glow to it."
Momo took the Hand of Glory from Kyoka, convulsing just a bit from disgust, and put a hand to her mouth. "It reveals hidden treasures..."
The gang began delicately removing the painting from the wall, and Momo gasped.
Inside a small hidden alcove was a silver crucifix with Margerite engraved on it. It was lined with several small jewels. Momo reached in and took it within her fingers, her eyes watering up.
"His sister's crucifix...he kept it safe..."
There was a moment of silence as those in the room processed what they had just found. Ulric's passing was fairly recent...to find a sentimental item such as this soon after...
"Yaoyorozu?" Tokoyami asked, concerned over the vice representative's sorrowful expression. He still hadn't gotten the story behind the lab, or of Momo's connection to it. The ravenette sniffled and wiped her eyes, and held the crucifix to the light.
"Sorry Tokoyami...I'm just...remembering someone. Kyoka...that thing works."
"Yeah, no shit...are you okay?"
"Yes. Now that the mystery behind the hand, at least it's purpose, is solved...I'm going to lie down. I...think I'm going to put this with his mask...can you explain everything to Tokoyami?"
Kyoka nodded. "Sure, rest easy..."
Katsuki held out his hand, and Kyoka put the Hand of Glory in it. With the hand in...hand, Katsuki began waving it around, testing it himself. "So...we know what it does, now we just have to find out who sent it to you. They clearly want to help, since you're going on a ghost ship and all."
"A ghost ship? Like the ship is a ghost, or..." Tokoyami began to ask.
"No, it's a real ship. It's floating of the coast of Morioh...my mentor is keeping an eye on it." Kyoka explained. "Something on that boat was calling my name in a recording I heard...it's a lion's den for people with phasmophobia."
"So...you."
"Yes...someone sent this to help me see the ghosts in there...but who?" Kyoka scratched her head, confused.
"You're going to have to explain all of this from the beginning, I have many questions."
"Oh boy...pull up a chair, you're gonna be here a while."
Uuuughh! I hate paperwork! Stupid official sanctioned teamups! Mirkothought with a grimace as she entered the doors of the Morioh Agency. Why the hell did Kujo have to intern with his uncle? What am I supposed to say? "Hey, can I lead your nephew into the woods to risk his life against a creepy death monster?"
Convincing Ryukyu to let her borrow Uravity was hard enough, this guy had a familial connection to his intern.
Walking up to the front desk, Mirko slammed her hand onto the top, startling the receptionist. "Is Crazy Diamond here? I have business with him."
They do a bunch of illegal shit already, why does this part have to be legal?!
"Well, that depends." The man said with a cheeky grin. "What's it for?"
"Who the hell are you to ask?"
"I'm Tanabi Kobayashi, one of the biggest names in Morioh. I-"
"Kobayashi, don't you have kids to scam with fake dead cats or something?" A male voice cut in, and a handsome man sporting a sleek pompadour entered the room.
"It was one time!" Tanabi protested, his greying flattop looking more like a table the more Mirko looked at it. "I've been a changed man for years now!"
"That's because you're still afraid of Koichi. Mirko, can't say I was expecting a visit from the legendary rabbit hero herself, what can I do for you?" Josuke asked with a sincere smile. Unlike his nephew, Josuke was clearly a cheery, laid back type of guy.
"Er...first of all nice hair, second...I would like to propose a teamup of sorts..."
"You? Teaming up with people? That doesn't seem like the Mirko I've heard about."
"I know about the Musketeers, alright?"
That got Josuke to frown.
"Do you?"
"Yeah, Hawks found out about them, and now he wants me to help support them. So in order to solve this weird paranormal shit that's happening...I want to work with your nephew."
Josuke motioned for Mirko to follow him in the other room, and she obliged. The two pro heroes entered a small gaming room, a paused game of F-Mega on the television screen.
"Talk about retro."
"Hey! It was revolutionary for it's time!" Josuke snapped, earning a snort from the rabbit hero as she took a seat on the couch.
"How old are you?"
"30."
"Wow, only four years older than me, and you're playing that? F-Mega: Gear Shift is much better than that old hunk of junk you call a game."
"The new one? Sorry, I prefer to stick to the original. If it isn't broke, don't fix it." Josuke said with an indignant huff, sitting across from her. "So...you know about what's really happening at UA, huh?"
"I do. Don't worry, I'm not going to rat or anything...but I have to ask...are you really okay with the stuff your nephew is doing?" Mirko asked, her ear twitching slightly.
"I don't think I can ever be okay with it...but I do accept it." Josuke responded. "My family...the Joestars, are heroes from birth. There isn't a single member of our family who hasn't been pulled into situations like this...it's what fate wants."
Mirko scoffed. "Fate?"
"Fate...more real than you think. If you really need Johnny's help, then I have no problem with it. It's just the reality us Joestars have to live..." Josuke replied, leaning forwards. "As long as you keep an eye on him, and you have his back, I'm okay with it."
"This was...surprisingly easy. Do I have to fill out paperwork?"
"Probably."
"Bleh, no thanks."
"I mean, it's only proper."
"You don't really seem like a proper guy."
Josuke grinned, and picked up a controller. "Well, how about this? Since you dissed one of my favorite games, how about we play it? Race me, and if you win, you don't have to do the paperwork."
"I can beat you any day!" Mirko said with a grin, picking up a controller. "Bring it on Morioh Boy!"
"Morioh Boy?"
Jotaro huffed in annoyance, he had checked the dorms and found them spotless. The hand had sent him into a new level of uncertainty...especially since Kyoka was the target.
He couldn't, and wouldn't let anything happen to that girl.
He had just learned that the hand was in fact a gift, but it didn't change the fact that someone had been in the dorms, and Kyoka definitely had an enemy out there.
Why her? What is it about Kyoka that requires her to go to this stupid rundown ship? Who has it out for her? And...who wants to help her?
An enemy and an ally...both unknown. The ally has access to occult items...
It may very well have to be something he would have to sort out himself.
"You're stewing again."
"Did you hear what happened?" Jotaro asked his daughter, not even phases that she had suddenly appeared behind him.
"About the hand? Yeah...I was actually looking for her, but Johnny told me that going to Exodus now would raise suspicion. Makes sense...vetting mailed a severed hand isn't exactly normal, their classmates are all riled up." Jolyne replied, looking towards the ceiling with a worried look on her face. "I heard she was pretty shaken up..."
"Who wouldn't be?"
"You."
Jotaro snorted, and turned to his daughter with a smirk. "Fair. I've brought it up with the family...one of us should accompany her to this boat. Josuke is more likely to go than anyone else...but there's the issue with navigation."
"I'll go."
"...what?"
"I said I'll go." Jolyne said. "I'll bring Narciso with me too. Kyoka is smart, but she doesn't know how to navigate a prison to save her life. He and I know how that shit works, so we are the best people for the job."
"I...understand but...you just got married." Jotaro said, his voice growing a bit softer. "I couldn't ask you to return to a prison like that, not after what you went through in Green Dolphin..."
"I'm not an inmate this time, am I? Besides...we can both agree that Kyoka is family at this point." Jolyne said, getting straight to the point. "You know I'd do anything for family."
Jotaro knew that all too well. She literally went back into Green Dolphin to retrieve his DISCS from Pucci...if she hadn't done that, he would've been nothing but a corpse.
She endured those horrors for his sake, a father who abandoned her.
"I know that. I'll let her know about your decision...I'm sure she'll appreciate the support." Jotaro said, taking his hat off. "That makes me feel a little better."
"Don't want any more grey hairs than necessary?" Jolyne asked with a wink.
"Get out."
Ujiko stared in disbelief as the shadow that was once Tomura Shigaraki chortled, examining his new body. He was now over 8ft tall, but the darkness of the room kept the villain hidden.
"It feels...good, Doctor. Euphoric even...eating that fruit was a game changer..."
"I...I..."
"Don't worry Doctor, I'm still me. In fact...I don't really hear Tenko anymore..." Tomura said, his massive form briefly convulsing in the darkness. Taking a seat across from the Doctor, he began chuckling again. "It appears our mysterious friend has taken his leave."
Sure enough, the Stranger had left, leaving a small drawing of a smiley face behind.
"Is he really in league with All For One? Did...AFO really condone this?" Ujiko muttered to himself. "What was the deal with that fruit? That bone? What did it do to you?!"
"The bone wasn't human, obviously. The fruit performed some kind of...equivalent exchange. It took something from me, but allowed me to absorb the bone. A transfusion with a price, in a way."
"So..."
"Start preparing Doctor, we're taking the fight straight to Santana this time, something tells me that my new body is all I'll need. In fact, why don't you do a few tests on it?"
Ujiko glanced at Tomura, before grinning himself. "I see...you want to see if it can handle...?"
"Yes. If it can...I should be able to match Santana in power this time. I can feel it...I'm no longer the butt of his jokes, no longer under his foot! I'll crush his stupid little movement once and for all this time!" Tomura said with a sneer. "This will be an all out attack, an all out war!"
"I shall round up the Nomu then."
"Leave The Banshee at The Barge, the Shadow was very clear that it would be necessary to cripple the heroes. Can't have them getting in the way of this."
Ujiko was grinning from ear-to-ear now, and he nodded. "Of course. Let's kill a Pillar Man."
The doctor left the room as Tomura's body pulsated once more, and the rising king of villainy put his hands together, his smile being covered by...something...
"Let's destroy everything he's ever created. His "Genesis" won't come to pass, not while I still draw breath. I'm going to destroy it all!"
...
The Stranger stood on a building, amused. His rags billowed in the wind as he observed the Paranormal Liberation Front's headquarters, the porcelain mask concealing his expression.
That was almost too easy. Tomura Shigaraki's hatred makes him dangerous and vindictive...but also quite easy to manipulate.
Same could be said of his master's delusions of grandeur.
The Stranger chuckled, recalling AFO's rhetoric about the nature of villainy, and how he desired to be the big bad straight out of a comic book.
Real life doesn't work like that. He is simply a human with a powerful Quirk, nothing more, nothing less. Yet his power has corrupted his mind, causing him to foolishly believe that he was destined for greatness...
Making stupid backup plans like a paranoid schizophrenic, arrogantly expecting everything to go his way, because he's the "Demon King."
Ha! Demon King! What a foolish title! The only person who actually calls him that is himself!
It was also painfully easy to manipulate AFO, despite the man being a self-proclaimed "Puppet Master" himself. The Stranger was certain that AFO suspected treachery, as delusional as the man was, he was certainly intelligent.
While that was the case, The Stranger could rely on AFO's arrogance, he would certainly underestimate him, and that would be his own undoing.
Still, I benefit from feeding his ego, so I'll continue to play the suck-up until he wears out his usefulness. Then...I think I'll give him a rather brutal reality check.
The Stranger cleared his throat, and left off of the building, before his rags began to take the shape of wings. Flying off, the inhuman monster smirked under his mask.
It was all coming together.
Johnny packed the last of his old Steel Ball Run gear, and took a bite out of his sandwich as he looked out of Exodus' window.
"Here we go again..."
"Hurry it up." Mirko said from the lab, and he could practically hear her tapping her foot impatiently. "I already had to do fucking paperwork, I want to hunt this thing already!"
Shouldn't have challenged my uncle.
"Geez, she's really on your case."
Johnny looked back to see both Gyro and Kyoka standing behind him, and smirked. "To her, I'm just a kid."
"We are just kids." Kyoka retorted.
Johnny noticed a duffle bag around his girlfriend's shoulder, and his expression saddened. "You off too?"
"Yeah..."
Gyro began slowly producing a bag too, and Johnny facepalmed.
"So we're all going in separate directions, nice."
"If it makes you feel better, Hawks and I won't be too far away. We'll be in the woods too." Gyro assured his partner, gripping Johnny's shoulder. "We do what we have to do."
"I know."
"Wish I could relate. I'd rather help you hunt the cryptid." Kyoka said, and rolled her shoulders back. "Someone has to find out what's happening with that boat though...and it looks like that's me. Tokoyami wants to come along...now that he knows about us he wants to help."
"There's a shocker. We may as well just invite the whole class at this point." Johnny remarked. "If only there wasn't a fucking traitor..."
"This...might be the last time we see each other for a while. It'll take a few days to hunt to The Rake...and we have no idea how long you'll be on that boat, and whatever the fuck is going on in the woods with the page could be long too." Gyro said, taking off his hat and brushing it off.
The three stood in silence for a while, processing. Then, without a word, they entered into a group hug. It was silent, because there was nothing that needed to be said.
Gyro spoke up first. "If either of you two die, I'll start my villain arc."
"I hate how that's a legitimate concern we have."
"My...villain arc?"
"No you idiot, dying." Kyoka responded.
"I love how Johnny and I are hugging, and we just have a tiny punk in between us."
"I am not that short asshole!"
Johnny laughed, and hugged the two of them tighter. "Stay safe you two...I'll try and do the same."
"Don't scare Ochako." Kyoka said, smiling.
"I'll try. Don't piss yourself on the boat."
"Can't guarantee that I won't."
The trio separated, and Kyoka closed the distance with Johnny, kissing him. As soon as she separated, she gave him one last smile. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Do I get one?" Gyro asked.
"No."
"Fuck!"
"COME ON! I'M WAITING!" Mirko yelled from the lab. "You can be all mushy when we're done!"
Johnny sighed, waved to the other two, and went to Mirko. Kyoka and Gyro shared one glance, and headed over to Jolyne and Hawks respectively, Kyoka being joined by Tokoyami.
All three knew that the path forward would be far from easy.