'I need to train more if I want to get into UA and become a mafioso. But how would I manage that?' Giorno thought to himself.
"I am here by rounding this corner sharply!" All Might yelled as he rounded around the corner and met face-to-face with Giorno.
"Gah! All Might, why are you here?" Giorno blurted out suddenly.
"Your determination and forgiveness towards that Bruno guy intrigued me. I also heard that you wanted to go to UA High, correct?"
"Yes, I do."
"I may have a solution for you! I have a protege that you could train with!"
"Wh- why would... Why would you offer me this? I'm a normal person, unlike you!"
"You ripped off your own arm just to potentially save the kid. I call that an action worthy of being a hero!"
"Okay then... Suppose I DO accept your proposal, who is your protege?"
"A kid that is currently training to go to UA. I wanted to help him out so I did that." A single drop of sweat drops from his cheek.
...
"Hmm..."
"I'm glad you accepted my proposal!" All Might roared as they walked towards the supposed beach.
"Yeah, whatever."
"...
That power of yours, does it happen to be a Stand?" All Might proclaimed.
"Hmm... From what I noticed from Bucciarati, yes." Giorno responded.
"That explains a bit. Y'see, not many people know about Stands nowadays. Only a few pro heroes and Stand users themselves know what their powers really are. Whomever is born with one of these is incredibly lucky. They firstly can't be erased by people like Eraser Head because technically they aren't Quirks. Secondly, they can't be seen by anyone unless if they're looking at a photo or video playback. And lastly, they are way stronger than normal Quirks. There's a whole foundation that studies around the work of Stands but that's not what I'm here to talk about, is it?"
"So, what's this training method you want to use?"
"Hauling garbage!"
"What?! Garbage?!" Giorno exclaimed.
"You said that you wanted to have this city be for the better. But not everything is going to be solved by beating some boss syndicate. This beach upcoming for us used to be very beautiful, but then people started to dump their waste in the the ocean and it was all washed up here. I want you and my other protege to work on clearing it out before the U.A. entrance exams!"
"Before the exams? That's only about 10 months away! And all of this garbage spreads so far along the beach!" Giorno said looking over the railing toward the beach.
"And if you manage to do this 'impossible' task, then you'll prove to yourself that you will indeed become a hero!"
"...
I take the scrawny boy down there is your... Deku?"
"Hmm?"
"I think I know him." Giorno said stepping down some stairs to get to the beachfront.
Giorno stepped across the waterfront and approached gradually towards his schoolmate. The water beyond the garbage glistened and the air smelled horrid. The stench of sweat and tears filled Giorno's senses and he hesitated before walking towards Deku more. He was hauling a heavy-looking metal locker very barely across the sand. Life was almost gone in the kid's eyes and his head reeled back as he put his weight into his pulls. Giorno turned his head slightly as his hair brushed the back of his neck and saw the muscular man before him called out Midoriya.
"Come on. Put your back into it, Midoriya! It's not going to move itself!" All Might proclaimed.
Deku didn't even move his head towards his idol and pulled harder until the veins in his arms were clearly visible. Giorno decided not to interrupt... whatever Deku was doing. Giorno looked on at the piles of trash and saw dust rise from beyond the scraps. He walked over and grabbed few small objects from the sand and looked at All Might, who was now pumping his fist up next to Deku. Giorno looked back at what he thought was a washed up toaster and used Golden Experience to crush it down to a smaller size. He could simply turn it into a frog and carry it like that instead, but he'd rather work on using the physical side of Golden Experience for now.
"This is going to take a while..." Giorno muttered.
Training and working out with All Might wasn't the only thing he was going to be doing. He had to meet up with his new friend, Bruno Bucciarati.
"You'll find our familia is in control of all of the businesses here in Musutafu. The name of our group, is Passione. It's a fitting name for a group such as ours. But understand this, the name of our group isn't our boss' name, or anything of the sorts. To be honest with you, nobody knows his true name, nor what he actually looks like. Orders are handed down through a multitude of steps and processes that makes it impossible to trace back to it's source. One of these ways is through some of the most trusted individuals in our group, Capos. The Capo you're about to meet is a man named Polpo. He resides in this building over here." Bruno said pointing off to his side with his thumb.
Giorno opened his eyes at what he saw and spied many towers looking down upon him. Bricks lined the walls of the building.
"Th-this is-!
It's a prison!" Giorno awed in disbelief.
"That's right, Polpo was convicted of a crime of unknown origins and sentenced to 15 years in the slammer. Though, this doesn't stop him from doing his job. Even as though he is trapped beyond these bars, the cops inside have no idea that he is still in control of a portion of the organization. He can leave whenever he wants, but he chooses not to.
Listen, Giorno. In a matter of minutes he will commence his trial. It is critical that you pass. His mood with dictate what you will do, so don't do anything wrong." Bruno started to glisten with sweat. "And remember, he can never find out."
"I understand." Giorno promptly responded and then walked away. "Wait a second, you mentioned that these powers of ours are not Quirks, but Stands? I never asked on how you acquired yours, or how any of these began in the first place. And how many others have these abilities?"
"Again, the answers you need are inside this building. If you pass, that is." Bruno answered harshly.
The distinct sounds of alarms blaring rung about the room and the barred doors opened to let Giorno in. The blaring stopped shortly after.
"Before you head in, I'm going to need your watch and everything on you in this here tray. After that, you can move to the pat down." A guard said.
Giorno walked over to the yellow container and placed his bag into it. He breathed inwards before reaching into his pockets to see if he had anything else. He wandered his eyes over to a nearby guard and spied him with a gun. The gun looked outdated but it still looked as if it were able to kill someone fairly easily if he failed the pat down. Giorno took his hands out of his pockets and shook his hands to say he has nothing in them. The alarm sounded again for the next door over to open. Giorno walked through the newly opened hallway and looked into the eyes of the female in front of him.
"Please stand over there, hands above your head." She told Giorno as the door closed behind him.
Giorno did just that and wandered into the center of the room and placed his hands above his head.
"Once we open the gate, please go forward and stop at the end of the hall. You got that? Polpo's cell is labeled N-28. You really can't miss it. And even though his cell is reinforced with glass, you may still hold a conversation. Exchanging items is strictly prohibited between any of you. So don't even think for a second of trying anything. You have a maximum time of 15 minutes, make it count. Once you enter, I will close the gate behind you. If he engages in any illegal or any violent actions, yell and we'll come to help."
"He's going to stay within his cell? Aren't we supposed to meet in some sort of room?"
"Not a chance. Do you even realize who this man is?
It was hard enough just to get him in his cell..."
Giorno remembered her words and continued down a long hallway with dark green shading and almost no light coming down it besides for that faint grassy glow. Carvings of heads adorned the walls near the ceiling and each one had a different look to it. A room lit up suddenly next to him as the gate behind closed. The room was a pretty standard one at best, with there being a yellow and black bed with a sink next to the toilet. A desk layed next to the bed and it had a fancy clock and lamp sitting upon it. Giorno squinted his eyes into the glass window and searched for Polpo, but he couldn't see him.
"You are injured, are you not? Your left arm that is."
Giorno looked bright-eyed at the sudden voice emanating from the cell. Suddenly, and arm materialized onto the bed and soon came along the rest of Polpo's body.
The bed was actually the Capo. The man's neck looked as if it were a scarf, as in he was fat. Giorno dropped a bead of sweat off his cheek and swallowed hard.
'What?! I thought that was a bed!'
ドドドド
"I spied a spot of red markings on your right hand. That told me that you were holding something of a certain heavy weight and were carrying it for a while. I'd say that may be because of the sling of a bag. This deduces that you've only been holding it in your right hand, and haven't used your left for carrying of use. Now why would this be? And is that the distinct smell of... garbage?"
"First of all, you're correct. I've been holding my bag exclusively with my right hand. Also, I injured my left arm a little while ago and it's still not healed. Secondly, yes, I was in a garbage-like area for most of today."
"Ha ho ho!
I envy your youthful body and determined spirit." Polpo then opened his fridge and pulled out a bottle that would've been big for any normal person, but was actually the size of Polpo's hand. "By the way, you drink wine?"
"I'm underage... And we're not allowed to exchange items."
"Phff. That's just a formality. What people do when they're watched and what they do when they're not, are totally different things!" Polpo says as a hidden compartment opens up next to Polpo with several guns, a violin and a stuffed bear. "That is what lies in between the ugliness of humanity. The only downside to me being in this cell is the fact that I no longer can appreciate staring a roofs and white-painted walls."
'Polpo... You're living as a king... But that's not why he's in there. It wouldn't matter if he left or stayed, and let's be honest that he's safer in here than out there with that kind of body.' Giorno thought. 'The more pressing matter of this is... How did they fit him through the door? Did they have to take out the glass to get him in, or was he not like this when he first got in there?'
"Bucciarati has already informed me of your arrival. You seem to want to be a part of our family, correct? Giorno Giovanna, that was your name. If you're ready to begin I would say we begin with the interview."
Polpo crunched down onto a cracker he collected from the fridge and blood burst out from his lips and down his mouth. Polpo pigged out on his own finger and chewed loudly. Giorno looked over at his clock for a second and looked back only to see his fingers all fine again and he's holding some wine.
'Wh-What just happened?! For a second it looked as if he munched away on his own fingers! Or maybe... He's using his Quirk, or even a Stand... Either way, I need to act nonchalantly and keep him from finding out about our plan.'
"When you're separating the worthy from the unworthy, what is the most beneficial way to you when considering this?" Polpo asked pointing a now lit lighter in his hands.
"What a person is able to do, correct?"
"Is that so...? If so, then what can you do, friend?"
Giorno opened his palms to reveal about 200,000 Yen onto the floor. Polpo started wide-eyed at the money he grabbed.
"While that guard was checking me for any items, I took some stuff off of her. I thought they're come in handy for this test. Of course I'll return them on my way out."
"Ha ha ha ho hm hm ha ha! Is that everything you have?" Polpo said curiously.
"Other than that, I can fold my entire ear into my ear-canal."
"Ho ho ho ha ha ha! Very interesting! But see... There's something really important we've yet to speak about. And what that is, Giorno Giovanna, is trust. That is in fact the most important part of letting someone by your side. Compared to that small detail, every other trait becomes obsolete. Have you ever seen a hero take on a sidekick without at least knowing who they are, or if they're truly trustworthy? No! My test will make sure you are indeed trustworthy as we intend all of us would be. The flame of this lighter here will reveal all!" Polpo exclaimed opening the slot for food to pass into his cell and passing the lighter through it. "Take it and go. You are to never let that flame die out. But be careful, I warn you. 'He's my friend who speak well of me behind my back.' Do well to remember those words. When taking on becoming a part of our family, we need to know if you'll be with us 100% of the time, even when nobody is watching.
24 hours.
That's how long this test will be going on for. You must never let that flame go out. If you bring it back safely lit, you join us. Straightforward, isn't it? And don't worry about it running out of fluid, it's got enough to last through a whole week without going out. All you need to do is lay upon your bed and watch that flame 'till 3 pm tomorrow. Do this very simple task and you'll prove your trustworthiness. But don't even dare to think of taking my words lightly. If you even sneeze or a small gust of wind hits that flame, it'll go out and you'll never again be welcome in the presence of our family. Now take that item and be on your way, Giovanna."
Giorno slid his hand slowly to grab it and looked back at Polpo.
"3 pm. Don't. Be. Late."
'24 hours...'
"All visitors must now head back through the gate for a pat-down." An announcer said. "Once we give you permission to exit the premises, you may proceed to the next room to retrieve your items."
"Wait, didn't Polpo say something to you?" Giorno hiding the lighter.
The guards backed up from Giorno and pointed their guns.
"You've now been warned, receiving anything from a convict is strictly prohibited!" The woman from before said to Giorno.
'Shoot! I thought Polpo would've bribed the guards to let me pass!'
"Hands above your head and walk slowly towards me now!" The woman yelled, causing some other workers to take notice.
'I hid her wallet in the palm of my hand, I should do the same with the flame.'
Giorno grabbed the bare flame with his hand and walked forward towards the lady, guns still drawn towards him. The lady put her hands onto Giorno's and left him from the legs upwards. He felt awkward, but this was standard procedure. He thought anyways. The lady stopped her search once she got to the base of his fists.
"You're free to go. But first, please show me what's in your palm." She said snatching Giorno's arm at the speed of light.
'Argh! I forgot that Quirks also existed in everyone for a second!'
"Now open your hands immediately! That's an order!"
Giorno sweat harder and he slowly opened his fist to reveal... a flower.
"A flower...?" The woman said letting go of Giorno and picking up the item. "It looks real, and it smells so too. No drugs or any form of gunpowder resides on this plant from what I can deduct. It seems like this isn't dangerous, I'll let this slip. Our visitor is free to go." She said letting the doors to the next room open.
Giorno walked downtown back to his apartment, gripping the item in his hands tightly.
'Earlier, I had turned the lighter into a flower and hid the flame within it's petals. But still, that was way too close for comfort. Actually, what if this lighter was a part of Polpo's ability? I can't know for sure just yet...'
A wind blew through the flame and Giorno quickly cupped his other hand around it. Giorno then walked past many of his classmates and ignored anyone who tried to speak to him. He opened the door to him apartment many blocks later and closed it behind him, he then let out a sigh of relief. The very sigh he made almost put the flame out. Giorno cupped his mouth and panted hard for a few seconds. Giorno quickly grabbed a plate, bread and took a bite out of the food and place the lighter into the roll. He placed the lighter-holder down on his desk and covered the sides with books and other flat objects to stop a breeze from putting it out.
"Now... I just need to protect this flame with my life..." Giorno muttered. "I'll make sure the window is locked."
Giorno the next day stepped down the stairs to head to school.
'How in the world am I going to manage getting this flame to school and to Polpo shortly before the last bell rings...?'
"Get out of my way, GioGio." A kid said bumping into Giorno, causing the lighter to go out.
"A-Are you shitting me?!" Giorno yelled.
"What's your deal, Blondie?!" The kid replied, revealing themselves to be Bakugo.
"You made the lighter go out!"
'Maybe I can go back to Polpo and ask to retake the test... No, he's not that forgiving...'
"Yeah? So?!" Bakugo yelled getting into Giorno's face
"Are you two boys doing alright?" An old man came up to them saying. "Is this about that lighter going out?" He continued, pointing at the item in Giorno's hand.
"I'm sorry, but this matter doesn't need to involve either of you, sorry for my outburst, Bakugo-sama." Giorno said bowing to Bakugo.
"But the lighter doesn't seem to in fact be damaged,it looks perfectly fine. And if my old ears don't deceive me, I can still hear it releasing fuel."
Bakugo is currently spewing profanities at Giorno in the background.
"Wait, what did you just say?" Giorno responded.
"Yes sir, there's something emitting from here." The old man responded back with leaning into the lighter in Giorno's hand and taking it.
'No... That should be impossible...'
The old man retried lighting it about 3 times before a large tower of flames came out of the object.
"Okay, that looked more like a blowtorch than a lighter, but here's your stuff back." The old man said turning around and started to walk again.
A being emerged from behind a corner from where the old man was heading and appeared as a large humanoid with a Venetian carnival mask-styled head, bound in a dark laced cloak and Venetian hat. The figure turned a corner sharply and Giorno looked after it, the thing then disappeared.
"Hey bastard, listen to me!" Bakugo yelled as he punched Giorno in the back of the head.
Giorno turned around to see the figure looming over the old man a few meters away.
"You're the one who ignited the flame. I will offer two paths of only one will lead to your salvation."
"?!" Giorno motioned looking back.
Bakugo traced Giorno's look and spied behind him, where the old man stood still. In Giorno's eyes, the old man's soul seemed to be grabbed by this entity and held within it's grasps. The old man couldn't see anything going on, but his body physically shivered in fear.
"Time to choose. Do you want to live on an live as one of the chosen or do you proceed along the path of death?"
'Bakugo can't see it, meaning it's a Stand! And not just any Stand, it has to be the Capo, Polpo's!'
"You are the one who reignited the flame, you shall receive my arrow."
An arrow pierced through the old man's brain and invisible blood shot out along with it.
"That's too far! You've messed with the wrong person!" Giorno exclaimed pointing at the Stand.
"This is not the one, this soul is not one of the chosen." The Stand said.
"What the hell are you pointing to?!" Bakugo said demanding an answer.
The old man flew backwards and landed into the awaiting arms of Giorno. Bakugo shot his eyes open at the damaged man that flew backwards and searched his eyes around for the thing that caused it. The eyes in the old man were devoid of life and his skin looked like it had been drained, but no wounds were present. Giorno came to the revelation that this Stand could somehow manipulate someone's soul and kill them with that arrow. Giorno backed up away from the creature and stepped into the shadow of a fallen leaf. The thing's head cracked around and looked right at Giorno.
"You, too, have reignited the flame. Salvation awaits! From here are two paths!" Black Sabbath said as it lunged forward at Giorno.
Giorno dropped the old man and precariously did a back flip in Bakugo's eyes.
'He attacks anyone that has witnessed the ignition of the lighter?!'
Black Sabbath grabbed Giorno's shadow and pulled it towards it and it molded into a face. The lump of a face then turned inside-out to then become Golden Experience and it was held down by the other Stand. Bakugo stood there confused as Giorno also stood still, unmoving.
"Salvation awaits! From here are two paths! Do you want to live on an live as one of the chosen or do you proceed along the path of death?"
"Argh!"
'This guy is way stronger than Golden Experience! The old man died right after he was impaled by that arrow! But what will happen if he pierces my Stand?!'
"Or is it your destiny to perish?!"
Giorno grabbed the blade of the arrow and blood spurted from his hand as a burning sensation shot across his palm.
"Guess I have no choice! I don't give a damn anymore if Polpo is a Capo! If he thinks he can derail my golden dream and murder innocent bystanders like that old man, then he'll have to die by my hands!" Giorno yelled.
Giorno took his other hand and threw it between Black Sabbath's arms and into it's chest. He kicked it's shins and turned around sharply to point at the being.
"MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!"
The Stand was flung backwards and Giorno posed as the bricks below him cracked and Bakugo looked on in confusion.
"My Stand, Golden Experience, will set your senses on fire and into a slow-motion haze." Giorno exclaimed.
The Stand fell backwards onto a pale of water, but the water obstructed Giorno's vision of the Stand and it disappeared. The pale flung to the side and landed at Bakugo's feet. Giorno took a step backwards.
"He's gone!"
'He should have no motor control, though!'
The sun beat down upon the ground and a single drop of sweat came off Giorno's forehead.
'Where did he go?'
To Be Continued...