A/N: And we're back! Really thrilled with how this one turned out. Now, I'm sure you're wondering, so here's my answer: the events of Persona 5 Royal will not affect my plans. I've already got the major beats mapped out, and as much as I would love to, there's no real way to make that happen. Editing as always is done by Ghost Fire 6.
Chapter 23: In The Garden
Tuesday, 5/31/20XX, Tokyo Station
"Ok, ok, be cool. Yeah, you got thrown for a loop, but you can deal with this. Just…be cool." Jolyne mumbled out, beginning to pace in front of a bench as the other Phantom Thieves watched.
"Is she…normally like this?"
"You kiddin'? I ain't ever seen Jolyne like this. Even with Kamoshida and that guy with the water stand, I barely saw her sweat."
"It is pretty weird…" Ann remarked, sitting next to Ryuji and Yusuke on said bench. "Still, considering what happened the last time one of her family members came to town, I can see why she'd be nervous."
"Oh man, don't remind me. Her uncle almost killed me when I said something about his hair…" Ryuji muttered out, as Jolyne began to bite her thumb.
"'Hi, grandma, grandpa. How've you been? Totally haven' been up to anything crazy lately…'"She muttered, almost as if she was rehearsing.
"So, considerin' what her great-uncle's like, what do you think her grandma's like?"
"Let's see, Jolyne once told me her grandparents raised her after she moved to Japan. So given her disposition, and what we know about that side of her family so far…" Morgana muttered, imagining what could be making Jolyne so nervous.
"Hm, someone who could make Jolyne nervous…" Yusuke muttered, snapping his fingers. "Ah, I see now! She's the latest in a long line of fierce warriors, counted among the greatest martial artists in the world! However, since coming to Tokyo, Jolyne has slacked on her training, and with the World Martial Arts tournament around the corner, they've come here to-"
"Dude, you fall asleep watchin' a movie or something? No way that's what's going on." Ryuji put out, tapping his chin in thought. "Let's see…oh! They're bank robbers, and they're coming to Tokyo for one last score!"
"How is yours any better?!" Morgana asked, as Ann sighed.
"C'mon you guys, be serious!"
"Oh c'mon, it's fun! Tell us, what do you think Jolyne's grandparents are like?" Ryuji asked, causing the model to sigh.
"…alright, fine. Her grandparents are the head of the Road Warriors, the toughest biker gang in Japan, and they're coming here on a cross country tour."
"See, that's the spirit!" Ryuji cheered, and Jolyne stopped her pacing.
"What are you three even doing here? I thought we were supposed to be laying low!"
"Takamaki-sa…I'm sorry, Ann told us what was happening today, and we wished to tag along to meet your grandparents." Yusuke explained, causing Jolyne to sigh.
"You guys didn't have anything better to do?"
"The paperwork for me to move into the dorms is still being processed, so I wish to spend as little time at Madarame's house as possible."
"The track team's practicin' at our usual spot, and I'm trying to steer clear of those guys."
"I don't have a modeling gig today, and Shiho's finishing up her remedial classes." Ann finished, causing Jolyne to sigh.
"So you guys are killing time by speculating about my mysterious backstory?"
"Nah, we're just trying to figure out what's for you so rattled." Ryuji answered, earning a nod from their artist.
"Ryuji is correct. Even when faced with Madarame's threats, you didn't bat an eyelash. So to see you like this…"
"Alright, alright, calm down." Jolyne instructed, letting out another sigh. "Look, my grandparents aren't bank robbers, or martial artists, or…did you say biker lords, Ann?"
"…yeah."
"Seriously? Anyways, my grandparents are probably the least crazy members of my family." Jolyne explained, rubbing the back of her neck. "So the why of it is a whole other can of worms, Morgana told you guys my grandparents raised me since I came to Japan, right? Well, the thing is…I haven't seen them since I was sent here."
"And? Don't they live in Kyoto or something?" Ann asked.
"Nagasaki. So it's not unusual that I haven't seen them…" Jolyne nervously swallowed at this. "What is unusual…is that I haven't called them since I've been here." She stated, causing all of their eyes to widen.
"Wait, for real?!"
"My parents freak out if I don't call them once a week!"
"Even Madarame made me check in when I left school…"
"Your grandparents raised you, and you don't even call them?!" Morgana scolded.
"Hey hey, quit your judging!" The transfer student beckoned. "Look, the day I got here, my life's been like something out of a video game. It kinda…fell to the wayside." Jolyne justified. "I mean, between Kamoshida, Josuke, that toy guy, Madarame, the water guy…it's been one thing after another. And when I remember, I don't have time. I've felt really bad about it, and I'm worried they'll be mad, and-"
"Jojo!" Jolyne's heart skipped a beat as the high pitches voice rang out over the bustle of the station. She turned around, barely processing before something slammed into her. Whatever it was knocked the wind out of her, two deceptively thin arms wrapping around her and squeezing the air out of her, lifting her off the guard.
"Ooof!" Jolyne grunted our, as the Phantom Thieves took in the woman currently squeezing the life out of their leader. Her age was anyone's guess, as her grey hair framed a deceptively youthful Caucasian face that was currently in a bright grin. She wore a light blue turtleneck with a red gem around the neck, with a beige coat over it. "Grandma…can't…breathe…" Jolyne gasped out, as Holly Kujo seemed to realize she was squeezing the life from her granddaughter.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I just saw you, and got a little carried away!" Holly apologized, causing Jolyne to laugh.
"I gotta day, I've missed those hugs though." And with that, the Joestar women came in for a proper hug, Jolyne squeezing her grandmother tight. "I'm sorry for not calling."
"Don't worry about it, dear. You've been under an enormous amount of stress lately." The elder Joestar reassured, causing Jolyne to silently chuckle. If only she knew... "With the trial and the transfer, I'm sure you had a rough time adjusting! So what if you forgot to call? All that matter is that you're doing well!" As the two pulled away, Holly's brow furrowed, squeezing Jolyne's arms through her blazer. "Oh my…Jojo, have you been working out? I don't remember you being quite so…muscular." She asked, causing Jolyne's eyes to widen.
"Oh, uh, there's a gym on the way home. I've been going there on my way back from school." Jolyne hadn't noticed that, between her time in the Metaverse and her working out with Ryuji, she was slowly starting to bulk up. Fortunately, Holly seemed to buy that excuse.
"Oh, that's fantastic! Maintaining physical health is just as important as your studies!" She cheered, Jolyne sheepishly smiled.
"If you say so…" She replied, looking around. "Where's Grandpa?"
"Oh, he's just getting our bags! He'll be here in a moment."
"Jojo!" And as soon as she said that, another voice called out her nickname, and Jolyne looked to see a rather large, burly man with a bushy gray beard in a coat and hat carrying two suitcases. Jolyne smiles, approaching the man as he set the suitcases down.
"Grandpa!" The Phantom Thief leader exclaimed, meeting Sadao Kujo in a big hug.
"How're ya, doin', kiddo?"
"Eh, I'm already tired of getting squashed by the people on the subway every day, but I'm managing." She joked, and that's when Holly noticed the three students on the bench, particularly the Shujin emblem on two of them.
"Oh, Jojo, do you know these people?" Holly asked, earning Jolyne's attention.
"Oh, yeah, I guess introductions are in order. Grandma Holly, these are my friends. The tall lanky one is Yusuke Kitagawa, the loud one in the t-shirt is Ryuji Sakamoto, and the…" she took extra care with how to describe Ann, something that didn't go unnoticed by Ryuji. "…one with the pigtails is Ann Takamaki."
"Hey, don't forget me!" Morgana butted in as he stuck his head out, causing Jolyne to hold her bag in her hands.
"And this is Morgana. Long story short, he's a stray cats no followed me home. He has abandonment issues, so I take him with me."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Yusuke formally greeted with a bow, they all nervously swallowed as Holly seemed to be…examining them. It was hard to tell what she was thinking, being scrutinized by a look they had seen all too often on their leader. Ann felt like Holly's emerald eyes were boring into her specifically…
Before they were all blinded by Holly's dazzling smile. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy that Jojo's already found such wonderful friends!"
'This warmth…this smile…it's like gazing directly into the sun! I've only felt such warmth and beauty in the Sayuri…'
'Holy crap! I feel like I'm about to go blind just looking at her smile!'
'It's more beautiful than any Treasure!'
'It's like being wrapped in a warm blanket made of kindness and understanding! It's like she knows everything we've ever done, but doesn't care!'
"Are…you guys ok?" Jolyne asked, the other Thieves regained their composure.
"Uh, sorry. We were kinda thrown off by how…opposite you two a-OW!" Ryuji was cut off by Ann elbowing him in the side.
"He means you're so much different from what we were expecting! Jolyne's told us all about you!" An obvious lie, but one Holly chose to ignore.
"Well, I wish I could say the same! My brother told me about Ryuji-kun and Ann-Chan, but you two are so much more vibrant in person! Oh, but I don't think Josuke mentioned you, Yusuke-kun…"
"That is understandable, seeing as we didn't meet until later." Yusuke answered, Sadao pursed his lips.
"For some reason, you remind me of my father. I can't quite nail it though…" The musician mumbled, Jolyne looked away at the mention of her father. However, before anyone else could say anything, Yusuke's stomach grumbled rather loudly.
"…my apologies. I…forgot to eat lunch, and have only had bean sprouts."
"Yusuke, how do you forget to eat lunch?" Ann asked, causing their artist to look embarrassed.
"I…became absorbed in my art, and lost track of time."
"Jeez, man…" Ryuji sighed out, though Holly giggled.
"That just means he's passionate about his art! But Yusuke-Kun, you should still try to eat at least three square meals a day." Holly scolded, only to tap her chin. "Though after being on that train all day, I could use some real food…oh! Why don't we treat you all to lunch?" The matriarch remarked, only for Jolyne to shake her head.
"Grandma, you really don't need to do that…"
"Nonsense! I want to get to know your friends!" Holly countered.
"What about your luggage? Don't you need to check in to the hotel?"
"Oh, we can do both! The hotel we're staying at has a world class buffet that I've been dying to try out!" Sadao spoke up.
"Y-you mean the Wilton?!" Ann excitedly spoke up. Ever since they had celebrated there following Kamoshida's defeat, Ann's dreams has been filled with memories of the expansive buffet. "I-I mean, if they're offering, it'd be rude to refuse…"
"You just want to get back to that dessert bar…" Jolyne muttered, Holly knelt down to Morgana sticking his head out of Jolyne's bag.
"What do you think, Mister Kitty? Does that sound good to you?" Holly asked, causing said mascot to look indignant as Holly reached over to scratch his chin.
"How dare she speak to me that way? I am not a ohhhhh…" He purred pure as she scratched his chin, beginning to purr. "Ohhhh that's the spot…"
"Holly, we can't take an animal into a hotel…"
"Oh shush, Honey! Jolyne already said the poor thing has abandonment issues, so it'd be cruel to make him sit out! Plus, he agrees with me!" The older woman protested to her husband, who just sighed.
"And this is why I never win an argument…" the musician gave a small smile, causing Jolyne to sigh. This pretty much summed up the last three years of her life. Once Holly got an idea into her head, it was impossible to shake it loose.
"Well, I guess if Yusuke needs to eat…then let's go."
Shujin Academy
Makoto Niijima nervously swallowed as she stood outside of the principal's office. She'd just finished a student council meeting, only to have been told by a teacher that Kobayakawa wishes to see her. There was no doubt in her mind what he wanted to talk about, and she wasn't looking forward to that.
Fighting down her nervousness, she knocked on the door. "Come in!" The principal's voice beckoned, and Makoto entered his office. "Ah, Niijima-San. I'm glad I was able to catch you before you left. Tell me, how was the student council meeting?"
"It was…very productive, sir. We're preparing to finalize the permission slips for the social studies trip next month, and approved refunds to the art club after the field trip to the exhibit was cancelled."
"Good, good. And your studies? How are those proceeding?" Kobayakawa couldn't have been more transparent if he was a ghost, but Makoto still decided to play along.
"Uh, they're fine. I placed in first in the exams last month, but I wasn't really satisfied with my scores in literature…"
"Ah, ever the hard worker! You place at the top of your year and you still think you could have done better." The principal mused, folding his fingers together on his desk. "Speaking of hard work…what's the progress on that matter we discussed?" Aaaaaand there it was. Makoto winced, before regaining her composure.
"W-well, I've been keeping my ear to the ground, and I do have a few leads, but I don't know anything for certain yet." And with that, the kindly smile vanished off the principal's face, being met with a disapproving frown.
"You mean you haven't found anything yet? No students who had a grudge against Kamoshida-San?"
"Welk, that's the thing, sir. There's no shortage of students who had been angered by Coach Kamoshida. Volleyball players, both past and former, their friends, members of the track team and other athletic clubs, the students he expelled…I mean, I don't even know for a fact that it was done by a current student. That message could have very well been sent by someone who graduated, or who was expelled by Coach Kamoshida…"
"You're telling me you don't even have any suspects?" He growled, Makoto shook her head.
"I didn't say that, sir. I…do have a good suspect in mind, but I don't have any solid evidence just yet." That was an understatement. Her prime suspect seemed to possess otherworldly powers, ones that Makoto had no believable explanation for. After all, she couldn't exactly say that the transfer student had psychic powers…
Kobayakawa let out a sigh, massaging the bridge of his nose. "I suppose that does make sense. After all, they won't accept any half baked ideas…" He mumbled, and Makoto swallowed a lump in her throat.
"I…I did hear one thing. From a former volleyball player who graduated last year…" She spoke up, earning Kobayakawa's attention.
"Well? What did he say?"
"He…he said that he had come to you about Coach Kamoshida's harsh tactics, but that you brushed him off. I've heard similar stories from various students, both past and present." This was it. The moment of truth. "Did…you know what Kamoshida was doing? Not just the abuse, but the sexual harassment, and…and the rape?" The brunette asked, the temperature seeming to drop as Kobayakawa's eyes narrowed.
"I fail to see how that's relevant."
"E-excuse me?" She gasped out, red eyes blinking in confusion.
"I fail to see what good comes from a question like that."
"Sir…why do you want me to do this?" Makoto asked, hands balling up behind her back. "I thought you wanted to find out if any of our students were up to no good. But if you're doing this to absolve yourself-"
"I'm sure it was traumatizing." He spoke, confusing her once more.
"I'm sorry?"
"When Suzui-san jumped. Seeing one of your peers try to take her own life like that…it must have been awfully traumatizing. And I'm sure this investigation has placed you under an undue amount of stress, which is why I'll ignore any insinuations." The principal stated, tapping his fingers on the desk. "We must provide a school where all our students may feel at ease, and that means getting rid of any troublesome elements that may be lurking."
"B-but sir, we don't know for a fact that the Phantom Thieves of Hearts really exist!"
"You mentioned refunding the art club field trip, so you're no doubt already aware of the incident with that Madarame fellow." Kobayakawa stated, frowning as Makoto nodded.
"The news mentioned that he received a calling card, similar to Kamoshida."
I obtained a photograph of the message from a friend in the police department, and it's not just similar: it's virtually identical." He explained. "I don't wish to believe that this is connected to our students, but I cannot ignore the possibility. Hence why I asked you to investigate."
"I…see. So…you wish for me to weed out any criminal elements lurking in our midst, so as to put our students and their families at ease." Makoto surmised, earning a smile from the principal.
"I knew you'd understand! That's why I want you to devote your energy to the task at hand, rather than baseless accusations."
"I understand. Thank you, sir. I'll let you know when I find anything." And with that, she bowed and walked out of the office. Every word that came out of Kobayakawa's mouth had been a lie. He didn't care about the students, or their families. The yellow wearing principal was trying to cover his own ass, and he was using Makoto to do it. He was using Makoto as a truffle pig, dangling a college recommendation letter in front of her so she would do what he wanted…
She felt something drip onto her foot, and the short haired brunette looked down to see a rep droplet on her show. "What…?"
And that's when Makoto noticed her hands. When she'd been talking to Kobayakawa, she'd clenched her fists so hard that her nails had dug into her hands, so hard that they drew blood.
Shibuya
"Oh man, I'm already stuffed…" Ryuji groaned out, laying back in the couch. "I haven't been this full since…well, since the last time we came here."
"Haha! Nothing quite like a full belly of good food, eh, Sakamoto-kun?" Sadao asked as he sat next to Holly, who set a platter of sushi in front of Morgana.
"Here you go, Mister Kitty! I only got the best fatty tuna for you!" She cheered, and Morgana's eyes shone in adoration.
"I love this woman…"
"Grandma, I'm trying to be careful how much I feed him. If he gets too heavy, then I won't be able to carry him around anymore." Jolyne protested, earning a hand wave from Holly.
"Oh, one little plate won't kill him!" The older Joestar reassured causing her granddaughter to sign. As Ann sat down next to her with her plate full of sweets, the blonde looked over at Yusuke's plate, a bizarre mix of fish, vegetables, and meat.
"Yusuke, you know it's all you can eat, right? You can go back as many times as you can in an hour."
"Oh, I'm aware. However, when I was composing my plate, I began to think about the Golden Ratio, and sought to attain it as best I could."
"But you know that all that stuff's going to just mix together, right? Especially the gravy, the beans, the fish…"
"I…realized that after it was too late. However, I shall persevere!" The blue haired boy declared, Sadao leaned over to his granddaughter.
"Kitagawa-kun's an odd one, isn't he?"
"You have no idea…" She whispered back, as Holly clapped her hands.
"So, tell me how you all met! I'd love to know how Jojo got such wonderful friends so fast!" Holly asked, and Ryuji remembered their rehearsed cover story.
"Well uh, Jolyne got lost on her first day, an I kinda bumped into her and decided to help her out. After that, we just hit it off." He explained, earning a nod from Ann.
"And she actually sits behind me in class, where we hit it off as well! It helped that I was already friends with Ryuji from middle school." Ann 'explained.' Close enough to the truth without any details.
"And you, Yusuke-kun?" Holly asked. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's a Kosei crest, right?" He asked, causing Yusuke to raise his eyebrows.
"I'm impressed. Not many outside of Tokyo recognize my uniform."
"Well, when we were looking at schools for Jojo to attend, we looked at Kosei, but they wouldn't answer our phone call." Sadao explained, causing Jolyne to wince. She didn't like being reminded of the period between her arrest and transfer to Shujin…
"That's not surprising. They are rather picky with who they admit. Even I had to fight for my scholarship." Yusuke remarked, Ann and Ryuji's eyes widened. "You see, I first encountered Jolyne a few weeks ago, when I asked her to be a model for my painting." Jolyne's eyes widened, realizing what Yusuke was about to say. "Of course, I should've known that I would have difficulties constructing a nu-"
"Ora!" Stone Free manifested and moved across the table to clamp down on Yusuke's mouth, cutting him off in time for him to look at Jolyne shake her head.
"Hm? You were going to have difficulties constructing…?" Sadao asked, Stone Free removed its hand.
"Constructing…a new portrait without first learning about that subject. Over the course of the last few weeks, I grew to know her as a friend." Yusuke explained, causing Jolyne to sigh in relief as Stone Free disappeared. She didn't notice the slight contraction on Holly's face, unnoticed by anyone else…
"Well, that's quite a story!" Sadao remarked, leaning back. "See, that's why I miss living here. You only get stories like that here in the big city. Nagasaki's great and all, but it's awfully boring compared to here. Nothing ever-" Without saying a word, Holly elbowed Sadao, who noticed Jolyne looking away. "…you know, on second thought, I don't know what I'm taking about. Navigating a labyrinth like this is a young folk's game. I mean, get on the wrong train and you can be on the other side of the city before you know what's happened."
"Uh huh…" Ryuji trailed off. "So…how long are you guys here for?"
"Oh, only a few days. Tonight, tomorrow, and we head back Friday morning." Holly explaiend.
"We'd love to stay until Monday, but I've got a gig on Saturday night." Sadao explained, earning a curious expression from Ann.
"A gig?"
"Mmhmm! My band and I are playing a wedding reception."
"You play music?" Yusuke asked, and Sadao looked taken aback, turning to Jolyne.
"You mean you didn't tell them?!"
"Tell then what?"
"Why, that your grandpa used to be a world famous musician!" The older man exclaimed, earning a glare from a few of the other patrons. "In my heyday, I toured the world! Japan, China, Italy, England, America…anywhere there's a love of good jazz, you could find me filling entire venues!"
"Dear, that was 30 years ago. You know the kids aren't into jazz anymore."
"Nonsense! Jazz is eternal!" The musician declared, earning a laugh from the group.
"So…" Yusuke spoke up, drawing her grandparents' attention. "If you don't mind, may I ask a personal question?"
"Yusuke, this isn't class. We're friends. Speak your mind". Jolyne instructed, he nodded.
"Well, I've heard about her great uncle, and I've met the two of you. May I ask as to where her parents are?" Ryuji and Ann both exchanged a wide eyed look, kicking themselves for not instructing Yusuke on that taboo subject, while all three Kujo's expressions turned downcast. "I…have made a mistake. Please, forget-"
"No, it's fine." Jolyne spoke up, letting out a sigh. "I was going to tell you guys one day anyway, and nows as a good a time as any. My mom…passed away a few years ago. My dad's here in Japan, but he's…not around a lot. He's always busy with work." She almost spit out that last sentence, causing Holly's smile to finally completely vanish.
"Jotaro, our son and Jolyne's father, works as a professor of Marine Biology in Hokkaido." Sadao explained. "However, when Jolyne moved here to Japan, Jotaro had already agreed to embark on a several month long marine wildlife expedition. By the time he came back, she'd already settled into Nagasaki, and Jotaro decided he didn't want to move her from her life. And the universities in Nagasaki didn't have Marine Biology programs like Hokkaido does, so he stayed up there while Jolyne lived with us."
"…I see." The artist muttered, frowning as he looked at his friend. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to dredge up such a sore topic."
"It's fine, you couldn't have known." Jolyne reassured, and Holly put her smile back on.
"Alright, everyone! Remember, we've only got 45 minutes left, so let's eat up!"
"Oh man, I've gotta get back to that sweets table! I didn't even get to the chocolate fountain last time…"
"I overdid it last time, so I'm good…"
"I do not know when the next opportunity for such a meal will arise. Plus, it would be rude if I didn't go all out!"
"Jolyne! Go get me more sushi!"
Public Prosecutors Office
"Well?" Sae Niijima asked, arms folded as she examined the person examining the files across from her. "See anything?"
"Not particularly…" the figure across from her stated, a gloved hand turning the page. "Your research is as thorough as always, Sae-san. Income sources, when traffic, social media…you've even managed to figure out what restaurants they frequented and what tv shows they watched. You've truly outdone yourself."
"I didn't bring you here to discuss my organizational skills." Sae stayed, causing the boy who had visited Leblanc to chuckle as he set the file on her desk.
"Of course not. I know better by now than to expect a social call." He joked, before his smile faded. "If there's a link between the two victims so far, you would have found it by now. The way I see it, Suguru Kamoshida and Ichiryusai Madarame could have gone about the rest of their lives and never even be in the same district. So far, the only thing linking them…" The boy paused, pulling out the Calling Card from the exhibit. "…is this. A calling card from the so called Phantom Thieves of Hearts, one stating their crime and vowing to make both men confess their crimes with their own mouths."
"Which they did. Even the timeline between calling card and confession doesn't line up. Kamoshida confessed six days after receiving his, while Madarame confessed in five." The prosecutor explained, causing the boy to frowned.
"I doubt there's any connection there. And if they received any additional threats, you would have found it when checking their email and call histories…" The Brown Haired Boy muttered, tapping his chin. "Did you check their mail?"
"Of course. We even had investigators check the trash in all of their frequented locations, and found nothing." The grey haired woman answered, leaning on the desk. "Rumors of their crimes surrounded both these men for years, but there was never any solid evidence. Whatever they received would have had to have been substantial in order to compel both of them to suddenly express remorse."
"I'm forced to agree. I wonder…" the student muttered, frowning as he sighed. "Sae-san, are you familiar with the 'Strangers on a Train' scenario?"
"You'll have to explain." Sae beckoned, and the boy leaned forward.
"It's based on an old American movie, that was in turn based on a book. Two men are riding on a train, minding their own business. There is nothing linking either of them on any level. Not their jobs, their friends, their hobbies…perfect strangers. Out of nowhere, one man mentions his wife is cheating on him, prompting the other to mention his abusive father. There, the two men formulate a strategy: each man will kill the other's tormentor."
"The perfect crime, in theory. Assuming that enough time is left between murders, each man would easily be able to avoid suspicion, as the police would not have reason to suspect a killer with no motive." Sae mused, folding her fingers in front of her on the table. "Is that what you think is happening here? That their victims agreed to take revenge on the other's tormentor"
"Possibly. After all, even you would have difficulty linking a crime to a complete stranger. However, I'm not entirely sold, as in this digital age we live in, you would have found something by now." The boy explained, before he frowned. "Although, if that was the case, I doubt they would use the same method and public announcement. Still, I think the core premise is solid." He stated, causing Sae to frown.
"As interesting as it sounds, I don't think I'll be able to sell my bosses on a theory based on a movie." She answered. "The investigation into Madarame is still on it's infancy. If there's a link to be found, it's possible we haven't turned it up yet."
"Which is why I'm here. After all, you're not one for social calls." The Boy surmised. "You wouldn't be showing me all this if your superiors hadn't approved it. I imagine they're desperate to put an end to all this already."
"Unorthodox crimes require unorthodox solutions, and you've rarely disappointed. Let's just say I like our odds." The older Niijima sister answered. "Well? Are you in?" She asked, causing Goro Akechi to simply smile.
"I wouldn't be here if I hadn't already decided my answer. After all, we do make quite a team, don't we?" Akechi mused, looking at the Calling Card. "The Phantom Thieves...working together, we'll figure out who they really are."
Yongen-Jaya, Evening
"Oh, so this is Leblanc!" Holly exclaimed, as the three Kujo's stood outside the coffee shop. "It's so homely…and that name! It's so exotic and sophisticated!"
"Heh, 'Leblanc'…growing up, I never thought ol' Sojiro-kun to be a bookworm." Sadao chuckled, as Jolyne opened the door. As usual, Leblanc was practically empty, save for Sojiro working on a crossword, much like he had when Jolyne first arrived.
"Let's see, Japanese thief who was boiled alive…didn't I see that in a tv show once?" Sojiro mumbled out, and Jolyne cleared her throat.
"Hey, Boss."
"Hm? Oh, welcome back. No customers today, so feel free to study down here or whatever." Sojiro absentmindedly mumbled out, not even looking up.
"Uh, Boss? We've got-"
"Sojiro-kun!" Holly exclaimed, startling Sojiro out of his crossword.
"What the-?!" The restauranteur exclaimed, blinking as he processed his visitors. "Wait a second…Miss Holly?! Mister Sadao?"
"C'mon, Sojiro! You're not some skinny little kid anymore! No need for formalities!" Sadao declared, as the Boss got off his stool.
"I Uh, didn't know you two were going to be in town! I would've cleaned up a little if Jolyne had mentioned you were coming…"
"Hey, I found out about it this morning. They just took me and my friends out to an early dinner." Jolyne explained, as Holly looked around the restaurant.
"Oh my…Jotaro said this place was lovely, but I didn't think it was quite like this! I'm so happy you've done great for yourself!"
"Uh, thanks. After I left my government job, this felt like the next step." Boss explained, as Sadao examined the countertop.
"This wood…this isn't local oak, is it?"
"Uh, no. I imported it from America. Cost me quite a pretty penny, but I think it was worth it." Sojiro explained, picking his apron up. "Can I get you anything? It'd be free of charge."
"Oh, we can't let you do that! After all, you've already been helping us out so much just by taking in Jolyne!"
"Ah, she's no trouble. Compared to how her father was at her age, she's a saint." Sojiro joked.
"He just likes having free labor around to lend an extra hand."
"Hey, I pay you! What do you think the cat food money's for?" Sojiro retorted, earning a pair of widened eyes from Holly.
"Wait, you work here, Jojo?"
"Eh, 'work' is a strong word. More like she gives me a hand when I need it, and I'm return, I'll teach her how to make a perfect cup of coffee." Boss explained, earning a chortle from Jolyne.
"And that's if you need a hand. This place is normally so dead you don't need me." The transfer student retorted, Sadao smirked as he got an idea.
"Well, you've got two customers right here. Why not show us what Sojiro-kun's taught you?" He asked, and Sojiro smirked.
"Well, we can't turn down a request from two customers. After all, small businesses have to make sure we make our customers happy, right?" He teased, earning a sigh.
"Good grief, fine. I'll go get changed." She stated, retreated up to her attic room. As she got changed, Sojiro couldn't help but shake his head.
"You know, I had my doubts, but she's a good kid. Almost can't believe she's Jotaro's daughter." He remarked, before his smile faded. "I…hope it's ok that she's in the attic. I'd let her stay in my house, but…"
"Jotaro already explained that situation to us. We're just grateful you took her in at all." Holly reassured, her own smile fading. "So she's…doing alright?"
"As far as I can tell, yeah. She's always out doing something, though what I'll never know." Sojiro explained, crossing his arms. "Honestly, I expected the whole thing to be a giant pain, but she's really a great kid, so I never feel like I have to worry." Holly and Sadao smiled at this, and before long, Jolyne emerged wearing her barista outfit, thing her apron.
"Alright, who's ready for some coffee?"
A short while later, Sojiro was watching intently as Jolyne poured the coffee into cups, before setting them in front of her grandparents. She'd down exactly as Sojiro taught her, and watched nervously as the elderly couple each took a sip. Holly's reaction was immediate, her whole face lighting up.
"Oh my god!" She declared in English, slapping her hands on both of her cheeks. "It's so good!"
"I'll say! It's a little nutty for my taste, but still! I've only had coffee this good while traveling!" He declared, and Sojiro tapped his chin. He grabbed the bag, clicking his tongue.
"Ah, you used the Cuban Crystal Mountain beans. Low acidity, a sweet and nutty flavor…I've got a regular who comes all the way from Ikebukuro just to get a cup of this about twice a month." Sojiro explained, pouring himself a small cup and taking a sip. "Hmmm…it's a bit bitter, and the nut taste is a bit pronounced. Still, not bad…" He analyzed, smirking. "I gotta say, you two sent me one hell of a part timer."
"Hey, I've gotta earn my keep somehow, right?" She joked, earning laughs from all of them, when Sojiro's phone rang. He picked it up off the counter, his brow furrowing at the caller ID.
"Unknown number…?" He muttered out, answering it. "Hello?" Whoever was on the other line was clearly unexpected, Sojiro's eyes widened. "How did you get this number? Hey, I'm the one asking questions here!" Jolyne exchanged a look with her grandparents, as Sojiro frowned. "Now? Where? …fine." He growled, aggressively hanging up and noticing that the others were looking at him. "Sorry, something's come up. I've gotta head out."
"Oh! Is everything alright?" Holly asked, Sojiro sighed.
"That's a loaded question. Let's just say I've gotta take care of something in the city that's come up." He explained. "Where are you two staying?"
"The Wilton, in Shibuya."
"Good, I can drop you two off on the way." He stated, turning to Jolyne. "You good to lock up?"
"Yeah, no problem. What's going on?" She asked, leaning forward. "Is it about that guy who was here a few weeks ago?"
"Don't worry about it." He cut off, before smiling at the two grandparents. "Give me a minute to grab my coat."
"Alright…" Sadao yielded, and as Sojiro walked off, the two turned to Jolyne. "Has something like this happened before?"
"Kind of, but I don't know anything about it." She answered.
"Well, there's no since worrying about it. He's grown up a lot from that boy who played with Jotaro." Holly remarked.
"Guess you're right…" Jolyne stated, leaning into the countertop. "What are you two doing tomorrow?"
"Well, it's been a minute since we've been in Tokyo, so we thought we'd do some sightseeing. See the Tower, go to that 'Book Town' place, do some shopping…" Holly explained, an idea occurring to her. "Oh! We should go out for dinner tomorrow, just the three of us. Does that work for you?"
"Yeah, I didn't have anything tomorrow anyways."
"Excellent!" Sadao declared. "There's this jazz club in Kichijoji I want to check out, and they should let minors in no problem!"
"There are still jazz clubs around…?"
"Like I said, jazz is immortal!"
"Good grief…" Jolyne responded, smiling as she shook her head. "That sounds good. Text me the details, alright?"
"It's a date!" Holly declared, as Sojiro returned with his hat.
"Ready?"
"Mmmm! Thank you for the food, Sojiro!"
Wednesday, 6/1/20XX
"God, finally out of May…" Jolyne yawned out as she approached the Ginza line, Morgana nestled in her bag. "Ugh, we gotta stop going to that buffet. Every time we go there, I have the weirdest dreams…"
"'Mornin'." Ryuji greeted as he walked up to her in his usual variation of their uniform, causing Jolyne to raise an eyebrow. "Man, I'm glad I tapped out when I did. Last time we ate there I almost puked. Least we didn't run into that asshole with the shades again. Still, that was pretty nice of your grandparents to treat us like that." Ryuji stated, yawning.
"Uh huh…Ryuji, did you forget something?" Jolyne asked, causing her best friend's brow to furrow.
"Whaddya mean?" He asked, Jolyne gestured to her uniform.
"Think about what day it is. Do you notice anything different?"
"What, did you change your hair or somethin'? Cause it pretty much looks the same." He answered, looking over his friend. Everything looked the same. Her hair, her white short sleeved shirt, her skirt, her ba-
Short sleeved shirt. First day of June. Which meant…
"Oh crap, it's already June?!" He exclaimed. "I totally forgot we were supposed to switch to summer uniforms! You uh, you think they'll say anything?"
"Well, I don't think Kawakami would, but you've got Ushimaru. He'd definitely say something." This caused Ryuji to shudder.
"Oh man, he hits me with that damn chalk of his again, and I'll get a concussion!" The former track star panicked, before he took a deep breathe. "Alright, I can make it!"
"Make it? Ryuji, what are you…?" Before Jolyne could ask any further, Ryuji took off in a full sprint, leaving Jolyne and Morgana in the dust.
"Does he really think he can make it to his house and school in time?" Morgana asked, and Jolyne shrugged.
"Good luck, Ryuji…"
Aoyame-Ichitome
Jolyne was walking from the station to Shibuya, her phone chiming.
HK: Dear Jojo, here's the address for the jazz club tonight. Me and Grandpa are going to tour the city, and we'll meet you at the club at 7:00 PM. Please dress up nice! Love, Grandma.
"Does she think that she's writing an email…?" Morgana muttered as he read the message.
"Oh, she's always texted like this. I've tried explaining it to her over and over, but she still does this." Jolyne explained. "Oh, by the way, you're going to have to stay home tonight. I don't think I can sneak a cat into a jazz club."
"Hmph! Very well then. I'll have to continue my training on mine." Morgana boasted. "I feel like I'm close to a breakthrough, one that'll surely capture Lady Ann's heart! Without you around, I'll be sure to finish it!"
"Whatever you say, buddy."
"Wait *huff huff* up!" A familiar voice called out, and she looked to see Ryuji sprinting towards her. He skidded to a stop, Jolyne manifesting Stone Free to stop him from slamming into her.
"Look at that, you made it. Morgana had his doubts, but I knew you could make it." She teases, as her friend panted.
"Never *huff huff* run so fast *hucf huff* in my life…" He panted out, letting out a burp. "Oh god, I'm going to be sick…"
"Easy there, Ryuji. You made it, don't give up yet." She said, patting him on the back of his red shirt. "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but…you grabbed the wrong shirt." She pointed out, causing Ryuji to look at his red 'No Mo Rules' shirt as she walked towards the school.
"Aw, for real?!"
Afternoon, Nakano
"Holly, are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" Sadao asked, Holly softly smiled.
"I'm sure. This is something I need to do on my own."
"Alright. I'll be at the cafe around the corner when you're done." He reassured her, Holly took a deep breath as she entered the cemetery. The former housewife cradled the flowers in her arms as she picked up the customary bucket and filled it with water, before she walked among the headstones, reading the names of the deceased. She occasionally saw others there to pay their respects, but she mostly kept her distance. Fortunately, Holly didn't have to wait long, as she soon saw the gravestone she was looking for. She set the flowers down in front of the grave, before going about cleaning the grave. Some Westerners thought that this customary ritual was tiresome, but Holly didn't mind. After all, considering why she was here in the first place, cleaning the grave was the least she could do.
Once that was done, Holly opened her purse and pulled out the incense and the rousoku candles, placing the candles in the customary lanterns and lighting them. Once that was done, she used the flame to light the incense, placing them in the appropriate container. Finally, she knelt down as best as her old bones would allow her, clapping her hands together and bowing.
"I know it's been a while since the last time I was here. We moved out of the city a few years ago, and we don't get back as often as I would like." She spoke aloud. "I've…felt bad I haven't been able to come here. I'm sure you would tell me I'm being silly, but I still feel guilty. I mean, after all you did for me, the least I can do is visit your grave." Holly said, sighing. "Papa passed away last year. He…he wasn't always himself the last few years, and it got worse when Mama died, but I do know that he never forgot you. There were somethings he never forgot. And you'll be happy to know he passed away in his sleep, so he never suffered. It helps me knowing that you've all reunited up there."
"Jotaro'/…well, he's still himself. He hasn't changed too much from how he was back then. I don't know how close you two were, but I'm sure you'll be happy to know he's doing fine. But…I do wish you two had been able to stick together. I'm sure you would have loved to meet Jolyne…oh! That's Jotaro's daughter, but I'm sure Pap already told you." She spoke aloud, smiling softly. "She's a wonderful young woman, and I wish you could have met her." Holly stated, before frowning.
"I…wish I could have known you better as well. You and the others…you all sacrificed so much for a woman you barely even knew. So, for that, I came here to say…thank you, Kakyoin-kun. For the life you gave me."
Kichijoji, Evening
Jolyne stepped out of the subway station, the crisp, cool evening air blowing her braid. Per Holly's instructions, she mixed things up from her usual look of green jacket, blue top, and jeans. Now, she wore a simple green dress with flower and berry imagery surround the neck area, having left the bulky Shujin bag at home in favor of a smaller purse she kept mainly for aesthetics rather than function. She stared at her phone, looking at the directions for the GPS. As she followed the directions, the Phantom Thieves leader couldn't help but laugh at how effecting it was to use a Navigation app that didn't take her to a Palace or distorted desires…
"Let's see, take a right here, and…"
"Ah, Jojo! There you are!" A familiar voice exclaime , as she looked up to see her grandparents waiting outside the address Holly had sent. "Did you have any troubles?"
"No, I got here no problem. May have had a rough start, but I've gotten pretty good at navigating the city." Jolyne responded, looking he rhrabdorents over. Sadao was dressed in a cream colored blazer and salmon colored dress shirt, while Holly wore a white dress. "You two cleaned up nice."
"Well, this is kind of a classy place, so why not? Plus, it does young folks like you good to dress up every now and then." Sadao remarked. "Have you been to this part of the city?"
"I came here once when I was exploring, but I didn't really stick around." Jolyne as needed, looking at the door. "So this is the place? I expected something more…fancy, I guess?"
"In my experience, music doesn't really care what the venue looks like." The musician retorted, earning a sigh from Holly.
"Honey, I agree with Jolyne. When you described it to me, I was expecting something a little more up class…"
"But you loved going to places like this when we were dating!"
"That was almost 50 years ago…" Holly responded. "Do we even know if Jolyne can be in here?"
"The manager's an old friend of mine, and he said that she should be fine if she's accompanied by a parent or guardian. And, well…" The older man gestures between the two of them, causing Jolyne to sigh in defeat.
"Alright, you win. Let's head on in."
The first thing Jolyne thought was that the place was more crowded than she expected. The tables surrounding the stage were practically all full, filled with couples, singles, businessmen, college students, and any other group. "Guess music attracts all types…" Jolyne muttered as they were seated. "So how's you hear about this place, Grandpa?"
"Ah, me and the manager were bandmates about 30 years ago, so I figured I owed him a call." Sadao explained, as the first act got on stage. "Oh, we're in for a treat! See that singer up there? She's an American player, straight from New Orleans! I've listened to a few of her recordings, and she's really good!"
"So what's she doing here?" Jolyne asked, as the band began to play a slow, melodic tune.
"If I had to guess, I'd say she's touring. See, musicians like him gain notoriety for their musical talent. When you gather a large enough following, you're able to market those skills to a wider audience, with the gamble being that there are people everywhere who'll be willing to pay to listen. Back in the day, the easiest way to do it was just start playing around town, and hope the right person would notice. Nowadays, with the internet, it's way easier to get your music in front of the right ears." Sadao explained, tapping his fingers on the table along with the music. "No matter what kind of music you play, be it jazz, rock and roll, pop, techno, Enka…somewhere in the world, you'll always be able to find someone who loves your sound."
"That's actually how your grandfather and I met." Holly spoke up, her voice a whisper so she didn't interrupt the music. "I was studying here as a foreign exchange student in college, and I just happened to stop in a coffee shop where he was playing. Something the way he played his music…it lured me in, and the rest is history!" Holly reminisced, lightly smiling as she recalled that time. "Papa nearly had a stroke when he found out I wanted to stay here."
"Heh, that's putting it mildly. I remember Holly told him, and barely a day later, Joseph was breaking down my door." Sadao recalled. "Heh, the old man was so pissed off at me moving in with his only daughter that I think he expanded it to all Japanese."
"Wait, Joseph hated the Japanese? That's news to me."
"Oh, he got over it eventually, but he was mad at me for a good twenty years or so. Hell, he almost crushed my hand with that metal arm of his…" Sadao recalled, causing Holly's smile to cloud with sadness.
"I wish you could have known Papa in his prime, Jolyne. He was so energetic and full of life. Even in his 70's, he still managed to get into quite a bit of trouble."
"What are you talking about? That man was a troublemaker up until the day he died." Jolyne commented, earning a chortle from Sadao.
"I always respected how he never stayed in one place." The musician remarked, tapping his foot along with the music. "Course, the feeling wasn't mutual. He never really did like what I did for a living…"
"He was just old fashioned that way." Holly said, causing Sadao's smile to fade.
"When I was younger, I thought he was just a stubborn old man. I was too infatuated with the music, with the thrill of performing, that I didn't focus on being a husband and father when I should have. Didn't realize he had a point until it was almost too late.." He stayed, causing Jolyne's brows to furrow.
"What are you talking about?" Sadao and Holly exchanges looks, causing Holly to nod and Sadao to sigh.
"I thought I could have it all. A family and a career as a world famous musician, perfectly balanced. I'd perform a little, and raise my family. Sounds like the dream, right?" Sadao asked, following up with a sigh. "For a few years, it went great. Play a few shows around the city in places like this, rake in the dough, and get a nice house. But then, when your father entered high school, I got noticed by a British producer, and next thing I knew I was touring the globe."
"I already knew all that. The house is decorated with your old albums and posters." Jolyne responded, and Sadao sighed once more.
"And all that came with a cost. I was on the road 24 hours a day, for months at a time. I was gone more often than not, and when I was home it was like I was just recharging." The musician reminisced. "And Jotaro…when I left, he was a sweet, caring boy who wouldn't hurt a fly. By the time I came back from my first tour, he'd become a delinquent, always getting into fights, hitting his teachers…it was like he'd become a stranger overnight." Jolyne felt a lump forming in her throat, drawing the obvious conclusions.
Her own father had always been traveling for work, so often that it had resulted in her parents' divorce and Jolyne barely seeing Jotaro. Even when her mother passed away, she had barely seen him since, as when he wasn't at the university, he was always traveling for some business. "What…what did you do?"
"Well, I couldn't exactly stop touring. I had a family to support, after all. And your father understood that. Still, the longer I was away, the more we became strangers. Hell, I didn't even know Holly had gotten sick until it was almost too late."
"Dear, that was my request. It was just a little fever. I didn't want to distract you."
"Still, I should've been there. I mean, you almost died!" Sadao protested, almost losing control of his volume. "After that, I stopped touring, moved back home full time. Me and Jotaro…it took us a long time to get back on track. And we're still not as close as we want to be, but I'm just glad I have some semblance of a relationship with my son now."
"Must be nice…" Jolyne sighed out. "Sometimes…sometimes it feels like he doesn't care. Like he doesn't-""
"Stop." Holly cut off, leaning forward and grabbing Jolyne's hand. "Never say that again. Your father loves you more than anything in this world. Just like Sadao did, he has his reasons." Holly's face was deadly serious, her tone harsh and reprimanding, which was enough to make Jolyne remember this. In her entire sixteen years, Holly had never raised her voice at her once, so to be scolded like this…well, let's just say it made the Metaverse seem cozy.
"…alright."
"…good." Holly sighed out, and the three Kujo's sat at the table in silence as the band finished playing their first set. Fortunately, they didn't have to sit in silence for long, as soon a figure approached their table.
"Well well, look what the cat dragged in!" An older man teased, and Sadao grinned as he saw the man.
"Muhen, you old so and so, it's been too long!" Sadao declared, standing up and embracing the man, who turned to Jolyne and Holly.
"Who are these two lovely ladies?"
"You remember my wife, Holly, and this is our granddaughter, Jolyne."
"Ah, the minor you wanted to sneak in. Of course" Muhen teased, smiling at Jolyne. "Your grandpa and I used to tour the world about thirty years ago, and we played together for twenty years before that. Oh, the trouble we'd get into…"
"Is not appropriate for a teenager's ears. I still want her to respect me, after all."
"Oh come on, not even the Harajaku story?"
"Especially not the Harajaku story." Sadao finished, and Muhen sighed.
"Ah, you used to be way more fun." The owner teased, looking at the stage. "You know, there's an intermission before the next act. Wanna get back up there and show these youngsters how it's done?"
"Ha! Thought you'd never ask." Sadao responded. "You two mind if-?"
"Of course not! It's been minute since Jolyne's seen you play." Holly reassured, causing their granddaughter to give an awkward smile.
"Go for it, Gramps." She reassured, causing the elderly man to grin. Soon, he was gone, leaving the Joestar women alone. Holly frowned, letting out a sigh.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you like that, Jojo. It just…it hurts me to hear you talk about your father like that."
"I…I know. But…I can't help but be angry. Everytime I've needed him, he's nowhere to be found. When my mother died, he leaned me off on you two. When the trial went down, he didn't show up. It's hard not to feel wanted."
"I…understand why you'd feel that way. Just…just know that he has his reasons." Holly answered, sighing. "Josuke told you our history, right? About…our family legacy?"
"You mean the crazy spooky ghost powers we have? He did, and I've got one." Jolyne answered, and Holly let out a sigh.
"Do you know what happened in 1987?" The elder Joestar asked, causing Jolyne's brow to furrow.
"You mean with that DIO guy, right? Josuke told me he took our ancestor's body, but he didn't say what exactly went down." She answered, Holly frowned.
"When he acquired his stand, he gave it to all of us. Me, Papa, Jotaro, and Josuke. The thing is, I'm not…strong like them. I never have been. When our Stands manifested, Papa and Jotaro were able to tame theirs, while me and Josuke…our bodies couldn't handle it. We both grew deathly ill, Josuke was only 6 at the time, so he has an excuse. And even then, he fought it. But me…it felt like my soul was tearing me apart from the inside."
"And the reason…was DIO?" Jolyne asked, Holly nodded, her hand going to where her star shaped birthmark was.
"That's how it was explained to me. I still don't really understood how it worked, but when my Stand awoke…it was like my body tried to reject it. Like an organ transplant gone wrong." Holly explained, frowning as she thought back to that time. "Papa and Jotaro…the only thing they could think of was to find DIO, and…and end it." Holly swallowed the lump in her throat, and kept going. "I don't know what happened on that trip…Papa and Jotaro never told me, but…four people left Japan, and only those two came back."
"My dad and Joseph." Joker finished, Holly nodded once more.
"Whatever happened saved me, but…Jotaro was different after that too. Papa was too, but he was used to losing friends by then. But Jotaro…it changed him. It was like…it was like he was afraid everyone around him was made out of glass, that they might break if he wasn't careful. When he met Josuke, it looked like things were starting to change, and when he met your mother…i hadn't seen him like that in so long. And when you were born…I'd never seen him that happy." Holly explained, a smile crossing her face. "I'll never forget seeing him holding you for the first time. It was like he was holding the whole world in his hands…"
Jolyne listened intently, hanging on every word. Growing up, even before the divorce, Jotaro had always seemed…distant. Like he was always somewhere else mentally, and he always took whatever chance he could to get away. Until now, Jolyne had always assumed he just didn't care for her, but now…
"What changed? Why'd he always go on 'business trips' or whatever?" She asked, and Holly shook her head.
"Even if I knew, that's something only he could answer. I just want you to know one thing, something I want you to hold deep in your heart: he is proud of you." Holly stated, squeezing Jolyne's hand in a reassuring way. "I know because I am proud of you. You are so smart, and kind, and funny…and strong. Sweetheart, I am jealous of how strong you are." The woman stated, causing Jolyne to sheepishly smile.
"That's a bit much, don't you think?" Jolyne asked, and Holly smiled.
"Not at all. The past few months have shown me just how strong you really are." Holly stated, causing Jolyne to shake her head.
"I'm just doing what anyone else would do with a raw deal like this."
"I'm…not talking about the trial." Holly confessed, looking around before leaning close. "Can you keep a secret, Jojo?" A confused expression spread across Jolyne's face, as she leaned forward.
"Uh, sure."
"I need you to understand, you can't tell your father or grandfather about this. Sadao has never really understood any of this, and Jotaro…if he knew about this, it would upset him. Make him feel like it was all for nothing." Holly explained, swallowing the lump in her throat. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small compact mirror, opening it and setting it in front of Jolyne. She closed her eyes, focusing. Jolyne was about to ask what was going on…
When glowing green vines sprouted from Holly's back. They wrapped around her arms, red plants blooming as they did so. "Holy-"
"This is my Stand, In the Garden." The elderly stand user explained, vines wrapping around her arm. "When Jotaro finished things with DIO, my Stand disappeared…for a while. But then a year or so later, it…returned. I panicked, worried I was about to die…when I thought of Papa and Jotaro. Thought of what they sacrificed in order to save my life. And with that, I was able to finally tame my Stand." Holly explaiend, as Jolyne examined the vines.
"It's…beautiful. The Stands I've seen so far have mainly been humanoid, but this…this is beautiful…" Jolyne muttered, her fingers tingling as they touched the vines. "What do they do?"
"Did you know what my father could do with his?"
"Josuke said it was something to do with…'spirit photos?'" The Granddaughter asked, earning a nod.
"He could take pictures of anything, just by focusing on it. If he focused, he could even make it appear on a television." Holly explaiend, opening the mirror. "Mine works in a similar way, but more…limited. While he could take photos of anything he focused on, I can only see members of our family. Here, let me show you." The vines extended towards the mirror, wrapping around it and sparking. Instantly, the reflection of Jolyne was replaced with an image of Josuke working late at the hospital. The image then changed to the two of them sitting in the club, Jotaro grading papers, Shizuka asleep in her bed, and someone else she didn't recognize. Someone with blonde hair…
The mirror cracked before she could ask a question, and the vines retracted. "I can't do it for long, but it lets me see our family members. It doesn't even have to be a blood relative. I don't know the science, but if they're a Joestar, I can see them." Holly explained. This…this made sense. Every stand she'd seen so far—which was only a handful—had some sort of combat application. Josuke had called Stands a manifestation of the users willpower, their fighting spirit given sense. For Jolyne and Ryuji, this made sense given their dispositions. But Holly…Holly didn't have an ounce of animosity in her body towards anyone. She hated conflict, and always played the mediator. The more Jolyne thought on it, the harder it was to picture her grandmother, the woman who had once intervened in a fight between two strangers, with any kind of offensive ability.
"There any kind of limit to that?"
"Well, I can only maintain it for about thirty seconds, longer with a bigger mirror, and it's not any good in a fight. But I can see our family, anytime…and anywhere." The noise of the crowd faded away, replaced by Jolyne's heart hammering in her ears as Holly looked her directly in the eye. "It's why I know how strong you are…Phantom Thief."
"You…you know?" Jolyne asked, her voice cracking as she felt herself began to shake as Holly nodded.
"Your first day of school, I woke up early and decided to check in on you. I saw…saw that King in the castle, saw you summon some winged creature." Holly explained, Jolyne's mouth running dry. "I almost called you, but oddly enough…I wasn't worried. It was like watching someone wake up from a long nap, fresh and recharged. And then a few weeks later, when the news broke of the Phantom Thieves…well, it didn't take me much to figure it out." She recounted, and Jolyne dryly swallowed.
"Have…have you told anyone else?"
"Of course not. I suspect Josuke already knows, but I haven't said anything to Sadao. As far as he knows, I just started missing you, and wanted to visit." The grandmother explained, as Jolyne began to hyperventilate.
"I…I don't…" They had been so careful. Gone to great lengths to avoid anyone noticing them, to the point they'd started meeting Shibuya to prevent eavesdropping. So for Jolyne's grandmother to tell her she knew…well, Jolyne was starting to freak out a little.
"Jojo, I want you to calm down. I just…I want some answers. Can you do that?" She asked, earning a kid from Jolyne. Jolyne gave an abridged recounting of their fights with Kamoshida and Madarame, explaining their Metaverse and their Personas.
"…and after that, we decided to lay low until…until we find our next target." Jolyne explained. "Ryuji's lookimg in this website people made about us, but I don't think he's found anything yet."
"I see…" Holly mused. "What kind of person would this be? How do you choose your target?"
"Well, we…we look at people who have it coming. People who have taken advantage of others, who hurt people just to help themselves." The leader explained, and Holly frowned.
"Why? Why didn't you stop after Kamoshida?" Josuke had asked Jolyne a version of this same question. She'd given a half-answer then, about how it was the right thing to do, but Holly…she couldn't lie to Holly.
"Because I'm tired of seeing people get away with treating others like garbage. The people who think the world belongs to them, who take and take and take…I've never been able to stand those people, even before the trial. And when I came to Shujin, and I saw what Kamoshida had done to Ryuji, what he was doing to Ann and the other students…I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. I…felt like I had to do something. And I realized that he wasn't the only one. People like Madarame, that guy from Nagasaki...I couldn't just let those people do what they wanted."
"So that's why…" Holly muttered, and Jolyne looked away.
"Are…are you going to report us?" She asked, and Holly actually smiled.
"Do you remember when you told us you liked women?" Holly asked, causing Jolyne to snort.
"How could I forget? I was a blubbering, emotional mess. I was all tears and snot the entire time." She remembered.
"Do you remember what I said that night?" The grandmother asked, and the granddaughter had to think for a moment.
"You said…you didn't care who I loved, as long as I stayed true to myself." This earned a nod from Holly, and Jolyne felt her eyes start to dampen with tears as Holly's smile bathed her in warmth.
"Right now…I feel like I did on that night. Like I'm seeing who you really are for the first time. You've taken off your mask, and now you can be who you really are." The older woman reassured, looking her granddaughter in the eyes. "Whatever you do, as long as it's your path, you will always have my full, unconditional support. The only thing I ask…is that when you're lost, afraid, or uncertain, you follow your heart. Do that, and your family will always have your back." She asked, and Jolyne smiled as she sniffled.
"And here I was thinking it was going to be something difficult. I promise you, I'll always do what's right."
Holly smiled, reaching into her purse and retrieving a handkerchief to hand to Jojo. "Here, I don't want you to ruin your makeup." She beckoned, Jolyne taking the handkerchief and wiping her eyes.
"You know, I've kinda got a reputation as a badass leader. Can't really let word get out that I almost broke down crying in the middle of a restaurant." Jolyne joked, earning a giggle from Holly.
"Your secret's safe with me." Holly reassured, as Sadao got on stage. "Oh, he's done warming up!" Holly declared, and as the owner introduced Sadao to the audience, Jolyne couldn't help but smile.
Her family…at times, she'd felt like the black sheep of the family, like there was something wrong with her that made her stand out. But if the past couple months had shown her anything, it's that no one in her family was really normal. And honestly…that felt pretty damn good.
A/N: And that's another family reunion in the bag! Let me know what you think, and tune in next time, for the social studies trip!