Diya recoiled from the employee.
"What's wrong kid?" The man asked while poking his chin, "You look like you've just seen a ghost."
"Wh-wh-what was that?" Diya barely managed to stammer.
"Oh, the guy falling?" The employee put his hands on his hips and looked up to the dark sky. "Well, it is raining. He probably just slipped."
"No!" Diya mustered all the courage he could find to yell. "This morning has been the most terrifying morning of my life! There was something behind you! It swiped its hand and made that loud noise, then that guy fell to the ground!"
"You saw that?" The employee jumped back defensively as the mechanical figure appeared and towered over the both of them. "Come on then, show me your Stand!"
Diya screamed and fell to the ground.
"Stand!?" Diya sobbed. Any courage he had found was now gone. Diya was unable to hold back tears. This power, it's terrifying. Why am I so afraid?
"Oh, you really don't know what a Stand is?" The man lowered his defense immediately as the figure faded away. "Hey kid, don't cry. I'm sorry. I'm Okuyasu Nijimura, let me help you up." The man offered his hand to Diya.
Diya still couldn't speak. He could barely even breathe, but he saw the man's steely expression and stance change quickly into one of gentleness. Diya took the man's hand, and he helped Diya to his feet.
"I didn't mean to scare you kid, but what most people can't see my Stand, The Hand" Okuyasu chuckled. "It seems that most new people that I meet who can see it are out to try to hurt me or my friends. Here, take this. Your nose is really snotty." The man took a washcloth from his apron and handed it to Diya. "I promise it's clean."
Diya hesitated, but took the rag to wipe his nose.
"People try to hurt you?"
"Not so much anymore," Okuyasu looked to the sky and sighed, "but you can never be too careful."
"What was that thing behind you?" Diya asked apprehensively.
"That's complicated. It's called a Stand. My friend's nephew knows all about them." Okuyasu started walking back towards the store and Diya followed, leaving the drunk face down in the mud behind them. "I think he called it a physical form of your fighting spirit. Usually you wouldn't be able to see a Stand if you didn't have one yourself. I gotta say, you've got me stumped. I have some friends that might know, but they aren't in town right now." Okuyasu sighed, "You're a high school student right?"
"Yes," Diya replied softly, "My name is Diya Nagata. I'm 16 and a sophomore at Morioh Central High School."
"You have to go to school don't you?" Okuyasu thought for a moment, "Let me buy you some breakfast. I get off of work around the same time Morioh Central lets out. If you meet me here then, I may have some ideas."
Do I really want to get caught up in this bizarre situation? Okuyasu's Stand is truly one of the most terrifying things I have ever seen. It looks like something out of one of my nightmares. Diya shivered. I have to say though, I'm morbidly curious about this Stand and why I can see it. Diya nodded at Okuyasu.
"I'll be there at 2:30."
Okuyasu nodded as they headed into the convenience store. Okuyasu bought Diya breakfast and gave his wallet back. The two new, uneasy acquaintances exchanged farewells as Diya went off to school.
I don't understand anything about that kid, Okuyasu thought to himself. He might be trying to trick me, but he genuinely seems like a scared kid. He seems harmless enough. Okuyasu looked down and sighed. He looked back up as Diya faded into the distance. I've never been very smart... I wish Josuke and Koichi were around, I hope I can figure this one out on my own.