Author Notes: This chapter is mainly about setting up the tragedy of the next chapter, and showing how broken John's relationship with his family is.
It's especially tragic given how Part 8 ended.
Chapter 2: Deciding One's Path
The year is 2091, 70 years after the infamous rise of Eden's Fruit and Forbidden Legume, which increased the lifespan and healing properties of those who consumed it to a degree in its initial iteration, but more importantly, the ability to use Stands. The power led to greater prosperity but also gave rise to greater conflict as Stand users are destined to come in contact with one another. And it is on the brink of global war.
A man is taking steps in modulating this phenomenon today.
Joestar Residence
John arrived in a quaint little 21st-century style house amid the futuristic scenery, he opened the door quietly as he entered the living room with a table and set of three chairs.
He saw an elderly couple, a woman with whitish hair that had traces of it being formerly pink, and an elderly man in a sea captain's outfit. He held a cane in one hand and had gained a monocle to see through the right eye due to its vision becoming less clear over the years.
"Father. Are you still going to sit by as this all happen? Like you've done for decades?" asked John.
The man was silent, seemingly stern and intently listening...
Until John heard snoring coming from the old man.
The woman shook the man awake with John not particularly surprised.
"He's getting on in years. We haven't taken in Eden's Fruit since... In any case, it's managed to keep us living a bit longer than expected.," she said.
The old man turned to John and asked-
"You've allowed someone to take those blasted edible plants?"
"And it's better to let him or anyone with the remnants of the Rock Disease just die am I right? It's not a sin to take it. It was a virtue in disguise. We can do so much before we need to update our methods to be useful." John said plainly.
Before the old man could retaliate, John stated-
"I'm not turning a blind eye to this situation when we're on the brink of World War III. Something has to be done to resolve this more peacefully. Even if I have to bend the arms of the leaders behind their backs to get them to sign treaties"
As John turned around, the man said-
"Was that all you had to say? Did you come here just to talk about all that? Not even coming to have a meal with us? When we might pass on without you knowing until the next day? I've been around longer than you, so you don't have the right to act like you're a worldly-wise genius. And I know this, there are people you can't just resolve through incapacitation and gain the peace you want peacefully. You have to put them down by getting your hands dirty."
John then replied-
"You hid while everything went to hell. Don't talk about taking necessary actions when you didn't do anything."
With that, the bespectacled man left.
"That kid, he's got Jobin's dangerous and radical ideas in him in exploiting the fruit to further his ends and wanting to make his mark in the world. Joshu was also taken in by this radical notion of making it big when he decided not to stop the creation of Eden's Fruit.," said the old man.
"Still, it helped out that family and halted that pandemic, which would've wiped out most of humanity if it wasn't produced.," the woman muttered.
"We took too long to have a kid. And when we finally did, I'm too bitter and getting on in years to relate to him.," the man replied.
After a brief silence, the woman asked-
"Is it because it reminds you of that time?"
The old man shuddered as he recalled the events replaying, as a young man, being powerful yet helpless to stop the deaths of his new family and the resultant fruit born during his attempt to avenge them.
"I know this much. Members of the family with this star do not live content lives.," he said.
After another pause, the old man sporadically brought up-
"He still hasn't brought up his boyfriend yet. I mean how does it work? With his? I mean I have four family jewels. So by that logic, he's got four elephants down there by genetics."
The woman blushed as she asked, startled-
"I'm sure he's got protection until he's ready. Why ask this?"
"It's not about knocking up? It's about taking care of the added libido. Four Elephants!," the old man shouted.
Prospect University
John arrived at the footsteps of a large, prestigious University.
He looked up to see a dark-skinned Afro-Latina man with stubble, slick brown hair in a ponytail, dark iris eyes, a dark orange shirt with a guitar emblem in front, denim jeans, and blue tennis shoes.
"Ricky. It doesn't look like they'll be joining the group. Despite this, I've already decided to take this path.," said John.
"They can watch from the side as we make a change. They'll eventually understand.," said the man as he walked closer to John.
The two men drew closer as they embraced each other for a kiss.
"You haven't told them about us yet?" asked the dark-skinned man.
"I'll bring up the engagement afterward.," said John as he entered the university.
A tall man in a red, zipped hoodie, approached the school with 14 shadowy figures. His blood-red yellow irises and blue pupils looked at the building as he chuckled. He began to walk up the staircase.
Next Chapter: Fragile Peace
