Giorno Giovanna came back from school, crestfallen and looking at the mud stains on his clothes obtained by the pushes of his classmates that bothered him for the usual: his Asian features and his shyness. Nothing out of the ordinary. But as he turned down an alley, stains on the cobblestones caught his eye and he stopped. Was it blood? He looked around and suddenly saw a person lying a few meters from him, hiding behind the vehicles. He was breathing heavily and his shirt was stained with blood. He was mesmerized by those faintly glowing eyes that seemed to tell him to run, but Giorno didn't. He didn't know why, but that person...

He wanted to get closer, but voices stopped him.

-Shit, where did he go?!-
-Find him! Don't let him get away!-
-He can't go far with those wounds!-
-Don't you think he's gotten into one of the houses?-

Four men in suits came out of the alley, as if desperately searching for someone, and then Giorno looked back to his right, where the man lay bloodied and his eyes half open. He noticed that he had reddish hair and looked young.

That person, even if he didn't know him, seemed as sad and lonely as he was. So Giorno stood in the blood to hide it and stared at the strangers.

-Keep your eyes on the floor! There should be blood that will take us to him!-
-You go straight, we'll go this way.-
-Hey, brat.- said a threatening voice near him.

Giorno was surrounded by those men and one of them, the one with long hair, had spoken to him.

-Have you seen a wounded man around here? He is not very tall, but he has red hair. And it had blood.-

Giorno raised an arm and pointed to his left.

-He fled that way.- he said simply.
-Over there?- asked one.
-He won't be able to move fast with those wounds, he shouldn't be far!-

-Let's go!-

The other three guys left, but the long-haired guy was looking at Giorno suspiciously. But he didn't flinch, and there was no hesitation in his dark gaze.

-Come on!- shouted one of the other strangers, drawing the attention of that man.

-I'm coming.- he said, giving Giorno one last look to go after his companions.

As he disappeared from sight, the boy took one last look at the overgrown subject and walked away.

oOo

Susanna Bangles was not stupid, quite the opposite. In addition to having an above-average I.Q., pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry, being a college professor candidate, and teaching many courses, she was a very perceptive person. Not for nothing was she going to marry a man she loved but who had less emotional intelligence than a teaspoon. She had it for both of them, so it wasn't a problem for their relationship.

What was a problem was that her future husband omitted relevant information. Honestly, she assumed that Jotaro had told his family and friends that he was getting married because, really, how he didn't tell their relatives? Besides, he had told her he would, promised her. Of course, her mistake was assuming that he had done it, that's why she had sent the groom's invitations without consulting him (besides, the vast majority lived far away, she had to notify them in advance, right? Air tickets are expensive and cumbersome).

Because of this, she had been extremely surprised to see Mohammed Avdol at the door of his house pretending to be the MC of the wedding and taking Jotaro to drink something at noon, to bring him back several hours later quite drunk and crestfallen. While waiting for the coffee to take effect on Jotaro, she and Avdol had sat down to talk. And then he had told her that he was a crusader, something that she always understood to be like a former group of cosplayers or nerds who played role-playing games, but it turned out to be a group of forced friends who had traveled the world twice chasing to blondes who wanted to destroy the family.

-We were a very diverse group.- Avdol had told her. -Surely Jotaro has told you something about that. There was Jotaro's grandfather, Mr. Joestar, Jean Pierre who is French, Iggy who was a New York dog, Kakyoin Noriaki who was Jotaro's classmate at school, and I, of course.-
-Kakyoin?- she asked.

Avdol had become slightly uncomfortable and she (I insist, she was not a fool) noticed that. Because Jotaro also got uncomfortable when she asked him about him.

Because yes, she knew of the existence of Kakyoin Noriaki. And he knew he was special. Jotaro did not travel to Japan twice a year just to see his family and his friend did not travel to the United States every year to do business if they did not have a relationship, let's say, special. In fact, this was happening even before Susanna and Jotaro started dating, almost a year ago. She knew that when Kakyoin came to California, he and his boyfriend would go camping or on a boat trip for a couple of days and disappear from the map. Jotaro was always a little sad after those visits and masterfully dodged when she asked him when he was going to introduce him to his mysterious friend.

-That boy has always come to visit Jotaro, but he has never introduced me. Not even when we were just friends.-
-Well, he didn't introduce me either, did he?.- Avdol had told her, smiling.
-Yeah well, it's not like you guys visit often either.- Susanna replied. -But thanks for coming to visit him, although I suppose one of his grandparents sent you here when he found out that his only grandson was getting married.-

-It was Mr. Zeppeli.- Avdol had admitted with a chuckle.

-Avdol... I... I want to ask you something.- she said after a few seconds of silence. -Jotaro and Kakyoin…-

-Miss Susanna.- the Arab interrupted her. -I know what you want to ask me and believe me when I tell you that I understand, but you must ask Jotaro what is on his heart.-

She knew that Avdol was right, of course. It's not like she hadn't tried, especially on those days when her husband-to-be spent what little free time he had between wedding calls, his exercise routine, his final exams, and pampering and catering to her.

Something was happening and he could only suspect, but she needed certainty. Her future husband had been weird since he had made a call to Japan and a few hours later he had received a fax with huge handwritten kanji and an obvious message of hate. This had caused a kind of emotional breakdown, which in Jotaro's body translated into a dazed grimace and no ability to speak for at least a few hours. That's why he was in the living room looking melancholy at the bay.

-Jotaro?- she called, one hand on his shoulder while the other held a cup of tea.

He looked up and smiled slightly at her, taking the drink she offered him.

-I was thinking that it is time to call your parents and your family to explain the "sudden" marriage. And to your friends. That's why you're like this, right?-

Jotaro said nothing.

-That's why Avdol came, right?.- she spoke again.

-Yes.

-He is nice. You should see each other more often, JoJo.-

After several seconds of silence, Susanna made another attempt.

-I didn't think you hadn't talked to your family about the marriage, that's why I sent the invitations. You told me you would.- she said, sighing.- And I assumed it was so. Gomen.-

-It's not your fault, I…I should have done this right- Jotaro said, taking his hand and smiling warmly at her. -Having introduced you to at least my grandparents, who live in the same country. Having explained everything to my parents.-

-I know it's late, but you should. I don't want to show up to a wedding and have half the seats empty just because you didn't dare make a single phone call.-

-Surely Avdol already told them everything.-

Susanna swallowed.

-Everything, "everything"?-

Jotaro nodded and she felt a knot in her stomach, but she chose to ignore it.

-Is that why your family leaves messages at reception and the phone hasn't stopped ringing despite the fact that you told them you were sailing for several days?-

-Maybe. That's why I disconnected it.-

They stood looking at how the sun had begun to sink into the ocean. Susanna got up and brought the phone (after reconnecting it) which she placed on Jotaro's lap, who looked at her blankly.

-If it's any consolation, I haven't told my family everything either, but I think you should. It is better that they hear it from you than from your friend.- she said.

Under Susanna's serious and collected gaze, Jotaro dialed his grandparents' numbers first.

-After that we have to talk about Kakyoin Noriaki.- she told him from the kitchen, putting water to boil.

oOo

A few hours earlier, Avdol had been at San Francisco International Airport, almost about to board, when a girl with the SWF logo on her vest came up to say he had a call.

- Now what, by Allah.- he said, following the woman on the phone that she was at one of the inns. He picked him up while he sighed, already knowing who it would be. -Mr. Zeppeli?-

- I'm Joseph. Caesar is in the bathroom because he ate something bad.-

- Are you referring to yourself, sir?-

- What?-

-What?- Avdol repeated, massaging his temple.

-Did you talk to Jotaro?-

-Yes.-

-And what did he tell you?-

-"Passengers of flight 36599 to Paris, please board through the gate..."- the voice said over the loudspeaker.

-He's in love with Susanna.- Avdol said impatiently.

-Aha, yes.-

-But he is also in love with Noriaki.-

There was such a long silence on the line that Avdol thought there was something wrong with the phone.

-Mr. Joestar? Hello?-

He didn't have time for that, so he hung up and got in line to get on the plane.

oOo

-That Jotaro is in love with Nori and that woman?- Suzie asked her husband, after he told her what Avdol had told him, an hour later, because she had just arrived home. -Did you tell Caesar?-

-I didn't make it, because he locked himself in the bathroom to vomit. I think he is pregnant.-

Suzie hit him on the head with the bag she was still carrying in her arms and Joseph laughed.

-With how fertile you are, I wouldn't be surprised, moron.-

-If I were more fertile we would have had more children.- said Joseph thoughtfully. -There were not always methods to take care of ourselves.-

-Stop that train of thought at once, Joseph Joestar. Holy and Josuke are enough for me. I'm not of age to raise or worry about more children and even less if they're yours scattered around the world, unfaithful pig.- said Suzie in the same tone that she would have used to tell him "there's freshly brewed tea." -I'll change my clothes and we'll talk. Roses, can you make some tea please? Then go rest, dear.-

Roses, who was behind her lady, made a slight bow and went to the kitchen. Joseph grunted at that difference in treatment, but he didn't say anything else until he saw his husband emerge from the bathroom, his face pale and sweaty. Joseph went to him and bent down to hug him gently around the waist.

-What are you doing?- Caesar asked noticing Joseph's hands anchored to his hips.

-I'm calculating how much you have.-

-How much of what?-

-Of pregnancy. Since you've been in such a bad mood and nauseated lately, I'm pretty sure I defied the laws of biology and got you pregnant… ouch!-

Joseph received a strong blow to the head that dazed him a bit and ended up letting go of his husband, hurt but amused. He moved away from him and flopped down on one of the living room sofas with his eyes closed.

-Yes, you'll be an asshole.- he said. -Did Avdol call?-

-Yes darling. Well, actually I called him.-

-And what did he say?-

-He said that Jotaro…-

The ringing of the phone interrupted him, so Joseph went to answer it.

-Jotaro what?- Caesar asked.

-Shh, wait, hello?-

-Hello Jiji.- said a deep voice on the other end.

-Jotaro!-

Out of nowhere Caesar appeared, magically recovered, and Suzie, in some kind of sweatshirt and barefoot, next to him, looking at him anxiously.

-Wait, I'll put you on speakerphone.- Joseph said, looking at all the colored buttons on that infernal device they had recently bought. -Why does this crap have so many buttons? Where is the speaker button?-

Jotaro listened as he pressed different buttons, which caused it to be put on hold for a few seconds, disconnected, reconnected, and a buzzing sound in the background. "What the fuck?" Suddenly he heard very clearly the voice of his other grandfather yelling at him:

-Do you know how to fly airplanes and you don't know how to put the speaker on a simple telephone?-

-I see you found the loudspeaker, you can stop fighting now, I can hear you well now.- Jotaro said, running his hand through his hair.

-He doesn't know how to fly planes, if he did, he wouldn't have destroyed four- he heard his grandmother say. -Jotaro, do you hear us well?-

-I already told you yes.-

-To all of us?-

-Yes, can you please stop arguing?- said the grandson, hitting his forehead with the receiver.

-Excuse me? My first plane crash was not my fault! I was twelve years old! I didn't know how to fly planes yet!- Joseph bellowed.

-But who would think of sending a hamon wave to the pilot and risking his life and his uncle's life? Frankly, Joseph…- Suzie was saying. -JoJo, honey, how you been? We have a lot to talk about, bambino.-

-I know. I mean, I know you guys are mad at me but…-

-But in the other three accidents you were piloting, JoJo!- Caesar interrupted. -Basically you're the unlucky one. And no, bambino, we're not mad at you, just a little surprised by your decision.-

-"That-it-was-not-my-fault."- said Joseph. -In the first it was kidnappers, in the second it was the pinnacle of evolution that wanted to kill me, in the third a Stand that wanted to kill us and in the fourth... in the fourth it was Kakyoin, who went crazy! By the way, Jotaro, how come you're getting married and it's not with that boy?-

-It wasn't Kakyoin's fault.- Jotaro explained for the thousandth time, feeling that they had had this conversation many times already. -He explained to me years ago that it was a Stand that entered the dream…you know what? It doesn't matter, I wasn't calling to tell you about the trip to Egypt or the plane crashes.-

-I imagine that you called us to explain how it is that you are in love with two people at the same time, but you are going to marry one of them when you are very young and without telling us.- said Joseph, as if he were talking to you about what he had for lunch.

-What?!- Caesar exclaimed. So you do like Kakyoin? And why the hell are going to marry a gringa then?-

-I love Kakyoin.- Jotaro said.

There was an awkward silence on both sides of the conversation. Caesar, Joseph, and Suzie exchanged anguished looks, while Jotaro sighed, looking up at the ceiling for the strength to say what he wanted to say, but he heard a soft noise that caught his attention, and he found his bride-to-be leaning against the door frame from his study, with tears in her eyes and a trembling cup of tea in her hand. And she was heartbroken.

-How come you love Kakyoin?- she said quietly.

Of course, they hadn't had that conversation yet.

-I'll call you later.-said Jotaro, hanging up the call. -Susanna…-

She backed away from him as she got closer, tears welling in her eyes,

-I always suspected that you and him had a special relationship, but I thought he was your ex or something. Or that he was your platonic love, your lover, your friend with benefits, what do I know. I told myself that I could live with that, even if you want to keep seeing him sporadically, because I always believed that you loved only me. But you love him!- she exclaimed in a sob. -And what does that make of me? You're going to marry me by betrothal, is that it? Or am I a screen to hide your relationship with him?-

-No, Susan. I really love you and I want to marry you.-

-If I wasn't pregnant, would you marry me anyway?- she inquired with a sarcastic laugh as she angrily wiped away her tears.

-Yes.- Jotaro said without hesitation. -Maybe not in such a hurry, but yes.-

-Not in such a hurry.- Susanna repeated, turning her back on him and going into the bedroom. -You're basically telling me that you're getting married now out of haste and commitment, Kujo Jotaro.-

He followed her into the bedroom and watched as she tossed some clothes into a small suitcase she kept under her bed. Jotaro felt a hollow in his stomach, but he didn't stop her.

-That's not what I meant.- Jotaro said, running his hands through his hair. -Can you… sit down for a moment so we can talk? Then if you want you can yell at me and leave. You know that... it's hard for me to talk about these things and if you don't calm down for even a minute I won't be able to explain to you.-

Susanna remained silent and immobile for a few seconds that seemed infinite, but then she sat up on the bed with a resigned sigh and looked at her hands.

-Very well, I hear you. You have five minutes. Then I'll go back to my apartment and cancel the wedding. I'll keep my son quiet and you'll only be able to see him on weekends, because I'm not such a villain as to take away the opportunity for him to meet their father.-

Jotaro stood in front of her, digging his nails into his palms and staring into emptiness, because he knew if he looked at her, he couldn't talk.

-Shortly before coming to the United States, years ago, I confessed to Kakyoin that I loved him and we began a long-distance relationship. Over time, it morphed into something beyond, and I knew I wanted to spend my life or most of my life with him. Anyway, I was thinking about how to approach him that he wanted us to at least live in the same city, but then… I met you.-

Their gazes connected and Susanna saw in the beautiful eyes of her fiancee sincerity... and his love. He was looking at her with love, as he had always looked at her. But there was a shadow of pain in them too, one she always refused to see.

-Honestly, before I met you, I had only felt this way for Noriaki. And before that, I thought I didn't like people…in a romantic way. Not at all, really. So… when I started to fall in love with you and realized that I still loved Noriaki… I kind of went into an existential crisis.-

-When do you not have existential crises?-

Jotaro smiled slightly.

-I didn't know how to handle it, really. I thought that I could…eventually talk to each of you and explain the situation, but you told me that you were pregnant and although it made me very happy, it scared me even more because I knew that I could no longer explain everything that was happening to me. And if I didn't talk to you... much less would I talk to Nori…-

-Kujo Jotaro!- Susanna stopped him, standing up in front of him. -Don't you dare use my pregnancy as a justification for your cowardice and lack of emotional intelligence to face your problems. Was the pregnancy a countdown or a bombshell that prevented you from talking to me or your…friend or whatever?-

Jotaro's eyes widened and they were both silent, only interrupted by Susanna who sniffled. When she spoke again, it was in a very hoarse voice.

-I think this pregnancy was very timely, you know? I feel like it forced you to make a decision, which in this case was "choose me". Would you have done the same if there was no child involved?-

-I…-

-And if Kakyoin could get pregnant? Or did he have a terminal illness? What would you have done? What would you have decided? Who would have weighed more on the scale?-

–It was never about that, it's not about choosing, Susanna!-

-That's what you did! And you didn't choose me or him, you chose a person you don't know yet!- she exclaimed, with her hands on her belly. -Jotaro, I don't want to share my life with someone who is only with me out of commitment, don't you understand?! I am not that kind of person. I don't want to be.-

-I'm not the kind of person to stay with someone just out of commitment, Susanna.- Jotaro said, his voice deeper than usual, as if he was holding back the urge to scream. -If that was the case, I would have stayed in Japan with Kakyoin and never met you. This would not be happening.-

-Perhaps it would have been better that way.- she said coldly. -We would not be in this problem and you would be happy with your little friend.-

Susanna didn't know it, but Jotaro stopped time and closed his eyes, as if he could stop the tears from falling down his cheeks. He wiped himself with his wrist and looked for those infinite seconds at Susanna's delicate features and hugged her. Then he left the room and time returned.

–Jotaro?-

Susanna heard footsteps in the kitchen, but when she went there, she caught a glimpse of the apartment door closing.