Bearticguy7: Okay, just wanted to make sure!
PhantomKnightPercival: You see, now I want to see Lord of the Rings. Haven't seen it in ages...
Kyeo307: Yup, you found him! This chapter is basically the confirmation...
Although his real name, age, and intentions remain unknown...
Guest: Thanks! I'm truly glad you've been enjoying it so far!
Euphoria: Thanks! I wanted to show why someone so noble as Beru could fall in love with Shigaraki, so I decided to make him similar to Diavolo and Doppio. The difference is, Diavolo and Doppio worked side-by-side, but Tomura is constantly bullying and suppressing Tenko into submission. Maybe Tenko will have an ability of his own...or maybe he'll use decay to someone else's advantage...
the guest: It's certainly going to be a tough opponent, I'll try and fit it into the story!
Kosaku Valentine: Reviews like these are the reason I'm going to see this story through to it's end. Time and time again, your words and kindness have assured me that what I'm creating is worth it, and I know I have said this a million times, but I owe you! Thanks for being such a great friend, and I wish you nothing but the best on your own projects!
Because they're awesome! And you've given me so much creative material to work with!
boy: Honestly, yes. Don't worry, Gyro might even get a second arc...
Balanced goose: Interesting stand! It reminds me of Grateful Dead, also, to answer your question, I watch both! Some of the dialogue is from both, just to mix it up a little!
dumpstertrashfire123: Slime Shinobi was actually a bit of a reference to Terraria's King Slime, and how easy it is to kill, but his master is more of a mini-boss for the heroes in the next arc. Fritz von Stroheim is definitely going to make a return! This stand would make sense as to why he always seems to have war vehicles on hand.
FinchFlyingAce: I had to! There was a reason she fell in love with Shigaraki, she saw Tenko!
Johnny peeled open his eyes upon hearing his door open, albeit quietly. He turned his head in confusion, and reached out in the darkness for his light...
Instead he ended up grabbing something a bit softer.
"JoJo, that's my boob."
"Huh?" Johnny said, groggily, his mind not the sharpest at the moment. Then he realized that the voice belonged to Kyoka...
"Oh...I'm sorry..." Clearly it still hadn't hit him that his hand was in a no-no spot.
Kyoka's hand touched his, not to pull it away from herself, but instead to stroke it. "I don't mind..."
"What're...you doing in my room?"
"You were calling out for me in your sleep...I could hear you from my dorm room..."
"I'm sorry." Then Johnny finally realized where his hand was. "OH MY-"
"Shhhhh...I already said I didn't mind." Kyoka said, and gently pushed Johnny's hand aside. Then he felt a weight get into bed next to him, and a pair of arms wrapped tightly around his torso from behind. "I'm here for you."
"Iida could end up yelling at you for being in here."
"I don't care...you were having a nightmare about what happened to me, weren't you?"
"...yes."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Johnny's eyes had somewhat adjusted to the dark, and he turned his head to find Kyoka's eyes trained on him, concerned, yet loving.
"It played out the same way...except you didn't wake up..."
"I'm so-"
"Kyoka, seriously, stop apologizing. It was Nine's fault, 100%."
"Still...it hurt you. I've always wanted to make you smile, you know that."
"I know...and I know that me being hurt makes you hurt."
Kyoka nodded into his back. "Being in a relationship and being heroes as the same time is fucking hard."
"I agree...but like you said after our fight with Santana...challenges are meant to be overcome. Still, I honestly don't know what I would've done if I had actually lost you...I had no idea what to do next."
"You would survive, it's who you are." Kyoka said, her hand reaching up and resting on his cheek. "You're a survivor JoJo, and you're one of the strongest people I know, you could live without me."
"Would it really be a good life though? I'd probably keep going out of sheer stubbornness, not happiness..."
"Do I really make you that happy?"
"I honestly don't see how my life could be happy without you in it."
"Turn around."
Johnny did as he was told, and was met with Kyoka's lips. Kyoka threw her arms around him, deepening it, and Johnny followed suit. Kyoka separated, and rolled on top of him, placing her ear over his heart.
"I feel the same way, JoJo...I honestly do. I don't think I could ever form a connection as deep as the one I have with you ever again. You mean the world to me, which is why I'm going to be there by your side, every step of the way."
"Ditto."
Johnny felt Kyoka's body shake as she giggled. "I'm trying to comfort you after a stressful experience, and all you can say is 'ditto?'"
"Well, you put it so eloquently, I couldn't compete."
The two both laughed, and fell into a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company.
"JoJo?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to spend the day together?"
"...I would like nothing more."
"Good."
Izuku rolled his shoulders back, exhausted from the long workout.
He probably smelled awful, he forgot his deodorant before he went out, and now he was probably reeking of B.O.
Still, he didn't mind, he actually felt pretty nice.
They had successfully defended Nabu Island, albeit with a few close shaves, and he felt like he had made some progress with his relationship with Katsuki. The way they fought together was something he had never thought possible, but they turned out to be a pretty devastating team.
Was Katsuki starting to be his friend again? Izuku hoped so, after years of bullying and resentment, Katsuki becoming his friend again was always far more important than having a quirk.
In fact, the whole experience arguably brought the group closer than they already were, even if it was scary as hell.
Izuku flipped the switch on the treehouse elevator, waiting patiently as it carried him up to the top.
When he walked in, he found Ochako sitting in the floor.
"Uraraka?"
Ochako's head whipped around. "OH! Deku! Sorry, guess I was too distracted to notice the elevator, I was just rearranging my stuff to fit in with everybody else's."
"Where's your desk? Or your chair?"
"..."
Izuku then remembered her money situation. "Oh...Uraraka, you should've told someone! We would've been more than happy to help you get one!"
"It's fine, I can sit on the floor."
"No, no, you are part of this team, you get a desk like everyone else." Izuku offered his hand. "Come on, I'll take you shopping."
"W-w-w-what?! Deku, it's not that big of a deal!"
"You aren't going to be left out."
"Deku, I don't have the money for it! I'd have to ask my parents, but then they'd get suspicious about why I need it, and then-"
"I'll buy it for you."
"A WHOLE DESK?! Deku, there's no way I can take advantage of your kindness like that!"
"Nope, I'm putting my foot down, you're not going to be the only one without a desk."
"De-"
"Foot is down."
Ochako sighed. "You're so stubborn...I'll pay you back when I have the money, how about that?"
"That isn't necessary."
Ochako opened her mouth to argue, but she realized there was no point. Izuku was one of the most determined people she knew, and she knew that trying to change his mind would be a fruitless endeavor.
He's so thoughtful...
Ochako slapped herself in the cheeks. STOP IIIIIIT!
"Okay Deku...I'll get ready...thank you."
"Of course! You're my best friend after all! Or er...one of them."
Ochako couldn't help but giggle at Izuku's awkwardness. "I'm still going to return the favor...but seriously, thanks Deku. You're my best friend too."
As the two teens left to clean themselves up, they both had a sudden thought that rooted them to the spot, paralyzed in fear.
Wait...
IS THIS A DATE?!
"Hey Dr. Kujo?"
"Yes Jiro?"
"I was...wondering if I could sit next to Johnny today in class. I know we have assigned seats and all, but after what happened on Nabu Island, I just want to be near him."
Jotaro closed his eyes. "As your teacher, I have to say no..."
Kyoka lowered her head. "I understand."
"But I'm his father first. Go ahead."
"Thank you, Dr. Kujo..." Kyoka turned to head towards Johnny's seat.
"Jotaro."
"Huh?"
"When you're not in class, you call me Jotaro, understand? Johnny wasn't the only Joestar who was scared for you..."
Jotaro looked Kyoka in the eye, and while his face remained in a neutral deadpan, his eyes conveyed something that made Kyoka realize something.
He cared about her, not in the 'I'm your teacher' way, nor in the 'you make my son happy' way...
But in the, 'I genuinely care about you, as an individual' kind of way.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"I know, that's what Johnny keeps telling me."
"Then stop apologizing."
"It's really hard not to."
"Yare yare daze...you might want to talk to Josuke too."
"Right...thanks Dr. Ku- Jotaro."
"Yare yare daze...to much mush for my taste, just take care of yourself kid." Jotaro waved her off. "Now go and pretend you aren't making goo goo eyes at my son."
"I..." Kyoka sighed, unable to find a retort, and walked over to drag her desk over to Johnny's, purposely annoying Katsuki with the screeching noises that it made.
"You've got a death wish, Ears?" Katsuki said with his teeth clenched.
"No...*cough* UGH! What's that smell?!"
"Izuku, here, poured an entire bottle of cologne on himself."
Izuku looked absolutely ashamed.
"WHY DUDE?! UGH MY NOSTRILS ARE ON FIRE!" Kyoka turned away from Izuku.
"I didn't have time to take a shower, I realized that I didn't do a homework assignment, so I rushed to complete it, and I thought if I splashed myself with the stuff I would be okay."
"No, no this is far worse than a post-workout stench. What were you thinking?!" Kyoka shook her head, waving her jacks in front of her face. "Cologne never works dude, just use deodorant!"
"I'm sorry."
"You've never used cologne before, what's up with that?" Johnny asked.
"...Just thought I'd try something new..."
"Did you comb your hair...or...try to?"
"...Thought I'd try something new..."
"You also seem a bit more nervous than usual."
"Okay okay! I...noticed that Uraraka didn't have a desk in the treehouse, so I offered to help her look for one...and...is that a date?! You guys are dating, did I just ask her out on a date?!"
Johnny and Kyoka shared a knowing look, and Johnny spoke up. "No, Izuku, it's not a date unless you want it to be, just two friends going out to buy furniture."
"Oh...okay."
"He almost looks disappointed." Kyoka muttered in Johnny's ear, and Johnny fought back a grin.
"You're an idiot Deku, you overthink shit too much." Katsuki said, grumbling. "Dousing yourself in that shit, it wouldn't even be acceptable if it was a date!"
Izuku looked down in shame. "I was worried okay?"
"It almost sounds as though you were preparing for one." Johnny said with a smirk.
"N-n-n-n-no, I wasn't! I was just trying to get rid of the stink, honest!"
"For...a date?" Kyoka said, twisting an earphone jack into a heart.
"No!"
"Hey favorite people, how are you guy-" Gyro was walking up to check on his friends, but he had taken a big breath beforehand, and was now on his knees, coughing and wheezing.
"Izuku you killed Gyro!"
"I'm sorry!"
Ochako Uraraka had faced down the evilest villains.
DIO, someone who could stomp All For One into the ground after beating him in a game of chess.
Himiko Toga, a knife wielding psychopath in the woods.
Alessi...well...you know.
Mothman.
Thunder McQueen.
Nine.
And yet, she would prefer to fight them all at once, than the situation she was currently in: spending time, alone, with the boy she had been crushing on since the Sports Festival. Never had she experienced anything so nerve wracking.
She had spent the entire class period staring at the wall, pondering what to do. Should she just go along with it? Was there anything more to this than just Deku being Deku?
Then she remembered what the Necromancer said.
Why should I take the word of a creature like him? He betrayed everyone he ever worked with, he's not trustworthy at all!
But...he did want to hurt Deku...
Izuku obviously cared for her, he had made that very clear throughout their friendship, but did it come from his good heart? Was he just being a good friend?
Or was the Necromancer telling the truth for once?
Ochako glanced over at the small group that had formed across the classroom.
Kyoka had moved her seat next to Johnny's, having resolved to spend the whole day with the Joestar to help each other heal from the Nabu Island incident. The two had begun showing a bit more affection for each other in public, sparking new rumors that they were dating.
Even now, they were holding hands underneath their desks. They were both coming out of their shells, a little bit at a time, and Ochako was proud of them both.
Ochako was ashamed to admit, she was now seeing her and Izuku in their place. STOP IT!
UGH! Ever since the Necromancer said that, these feelings have just been getting worse! I should be focusing on other things, like my hero career, or making enough money to help my parents!
I need to think about something other than Deku!
Ochako decided to think about what she would use to decorate her new desk...
That Izuku insisted upon buying for her...
Like the kind hearted hero he was...
...
...
...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
"Oi, Deku."
"Kacchan."
Katsuki shoved some cash into Izuku's chest. "The others and I decided to pitch in, so don't be an idiot and lose it."
"You pitched in?"
"I FELT PEER PRESSURED, ALRIGHT?!" Katsuki snapped.
"That's...really thoughtful of you guys...but I was going to use my own mon-"
"USE THE MONEY OR I KILL YOU! We're all helping Round Face, got it?!"
"I-I uh..."
"TAKE THE FUCKING MONEY!"
"Okay Kacchan, geez...I'll use it."
"Good, don't forget you're on a team, loser." Katsuki's expression softened a bit. "That means we all help each other, so don't go doing shit with your own money."
Kacchan...actually seems to have a grasp on the concept of teamwork now... Izuku thought back to their recent fight with Nine, fighting side by side, and smiled. He really is becoming my friend again...
"Oi, what're you smiling about Nerd?"
"It's nothing."
"Nuh uh, you're thinking about mushy shit!" Katsuki jabbed a finger into Izuku's forehead. "I'll kick your ass if you keep that up!"
"Alright Kacchan, you got me. Thanks, I'll be sure to help Uraraka pick out a good one."
"Don't pick anything I wouldn't approve of!"
"Bakugo, no offense, but Izuku shouldn't be taking desk advice from you, considering yours looks like charcoal." Momo entered the conversation with a book on different wood types.
Katsuki raised a finger, and then put it back down. "Fuck."
Momo's mood had improved since her fight with Paradise City, upon receiving a much needed pick me up from the islanders. Her actions had prevented casualties, and they prepared her a big feast to help her regain her strength before they left.
It was safe to say she was...okay.
"I would recommend a mahagony desk, something sturdy. Considering how often she accidentally make things float, we should also get something that can be bolted down."
"Sounds good, although it is her choice."
"It is, just don't let her pick the cheapest option, she needs a good desk." Momo said. "Especially with all the trouble we get into."
"Alright, thanks for the advice YaoMomo...I'm off."
It's just shopping Izuku.
With a girl...
What's the worst that could happen?
"So, Santana seeks to destroy us." Ujiko said, watching as the Doctor measured Shigaraki's blood pressure. "I believe he's made that clear a long time ago."
"We pushed him too far by hurting that blood-sucking brat." Shigaraki said, snarling. "Now he isn't targeting the Joestars anymore, just us."
"He is the only one who knows who has One For All, besides the master. We cannot communicate with All For One anymore, since Santana eliminated our connections in the prison, and our mole within UA reported directly to him."
"Breathe in." The Doctor instructed, and Shigaraki huffed, doing as he was told. "Now exhale."
"Do you have a normal voice? You've been using the voice box thing since I met you."
The Doctor's mask disguised his expression. "I'm afraid that is quite the invasive question, Tomura."
"Well, you came in limping today." Shigaraki said, wrinkling his nose. "And you're very suspicious, I never see your face."
"I'm limping due to a miscalculation in my personal affairs, and I'm afraid I'm not much on the eyes." The Doctor responded.
"We don't even have a real name for you. Not to mention you treated All Might."
"...I also treated you. I don't care who the patient is, I have a sworn duty to help those in need." The Doctor responded curtly. "I have no bias."
"Well, I do."
"You're free to go." The Doctor said. "You don't need any further treatment."
Shigaraki got off the table and strutted over to Ujiko. "Now can you continue the experiments?"
"I can." Ujiko said with a grin.
"Good...maybe...we should get rid of Spooky, that way he doesn't talk." Shigaraki muttered to Ujiko.
"I have remarkably good hearing." The Doctor said, shutting Shigaraki up. "And I am prepared in case you do." He pulled on the handle of his cane, revealing that it was actually a disguised sword.
"You really think that could kill me?"
"Not without help."
Shigaraki tilted his head, and grinned. "Nah, you aren't worth it." With that, he and Ujiko exited the room, leaving the Doctor alone.
If they were more observant, they might've seen a spider-like apparitionwaiting to ambush them from above. Without a word, the Doctor sheathed his sword, and snapped his fingers, dismissing it.
"Ungrateful wretch..." The Doctor said in a distinct British accent, having turned off the voice box. "Still, he's quite the fountain of...useful information."
Izuku and Ochako were walking together, deathly silent.
They went to get ice cream, and they were somehow talked into getting the couples discount, even though they both insisted they weren't a couple.
As if things couldn't get any more awkward.
Ochako opened her mouth, trying to start conversation, but froze.
What can I possibly say that could turn this around?
They eventually came to the furniture store, and Ochako immediately pointed at the cheapest desk possible. "That one."
"No."
"What?"
"Kacchan will kill me if I let you get that, besides, everyone put in a little money, so it's okay to pick something a bit more fancy." Izuku said with a smile. "Just pick what you want!"
Ochako blushed upon seeing Izuku's cheerful expression, and turned away far before she could get flustered further.
"I...really feel bad, taking advantage of your kindness..."
"Don't be, all of us are happy to help!"
Ochako and Izuku fell silent once more, but it was a much more comfortable silence. Just two best friends looking at furniture.
"NOBODY MOVE!"
Both of them turned to find a stand and it's user holding the store at gunpoint, and they both turned to each other and groaned, befre running towards the would-be robber.
The man was dressed in what looked to be a surgeon's outfit, and the stand had a giant right arm covered in syringes. The user turned to the two, and his eyes widened. "Hey...you two are UA students, right? I remember seeing you in the Sports Festival."
"Why are you doing this?!" Izuku asked. "Robbing a furniture store?!"
The man composed himself, and suddenly became downright menacing. "My motives are none of your concern...although if you should know...I am actually here for you."
The stand brandished it's syringes.
An assassin?!
"Who sent you? Shigaraki? Santana? Someone else?" Ochako said, raising an eyebrow.
"Shhhigaraki. He wants the two of you dead, more than anything! And he hired me, Doctor Death, to finish you off for good! I just wanted to get you two in close..."
The stand swung it's giant right hand at them, and Ochako floated up and over it, while Izuku attacked from underneath. Together, they attacked both his head and his head at the same time.
Doctor Death winced at the battery, but continued his assault, punching Ochako across the face, and swinging the syringe hand down towards Izuku. Izuku grabbed the stand's wrist, ready to finish him off with a well placed Detroit Smash...
Only to find that the user was pointing his gun at Ochako.
He knew she could handle herself, and he knew that she would likely dodge it...
But for the briefest moment...he hesitated...
And cried out as a syringe jabbed into his shoulder.
"DEKU!"
At breakneck speed, the gun and syringes changed positions just as Ochako came forward, stabbing her in the side. Ochako collapsed to the ground as the assassin stood over them, grinning.
"Well, it looks like my work here is done."
Izuku rubbed his shoulder, noticing that the liquid from the syringes was gone. "What did you inject us with?!"
"A poison." Doctor Death said, making the two teens' blood run cold. "One that will kill you in four hours, during that time, your body will start to deteriorate, making any attempt to chase me impossible. I would start saying your goodbyes while you can, because there isn't a cure. That, is the true ability of my stand, Sugar Pill!"
With that, Doctor Death began to exit the building with swagger, taking the money that the cashier had produced. "Shigaraki is already gonna give me some serious dough...think of this as my tip." With that, he left.
Izuku and Ochako could only sit there, stunned.
"No cure...?"
"Four hours..."
"We...do we really have only four hours left to live?" Ochako asked, horrified. "M-my parents, our f-friends...what are we going to tell them?"
"That we'll be a little late...there's no such thing as no cure, only one that hasn't been discovered." Izuku said, clenching his fist as a determined look came onto his face. "We aren't dead yet, Uraraka!"
"I know that look! That's the, 'Deku has a plan' look!" Ochako said, grinning.
"There's one man who's more familiar with biology than anyone we know! One man who's sole ability revolves around it! If anyone can identify this poison and what it does, it's JoJo's Uncle Giorno."
"So...you two are just...sticking together the whole day?" Gyro asked.
"Yes."
"What about going to the bathroom?"
"Sticking together within reason Gyro." Johnny said, annoyed.
Gyro chuckled. "Nyo ho! I'm just playing with you guys! That's actually pretty sweet, although I could imagine a certain Setsuna Tokage would be quite pissed."
"I...actually didn't think of that." Kyoka said, smirking. "Johnny, I have an idea for lunch, what if we have a picnic in full view of 1B's classroom?"
"Yare yare daze..."
"Think about it! She would be totally distracted by it and forget to take notes! Oooooh, or maybe she'll finally get it through that thick skull that you and I are a thing!"
"You kissed me in public the other day, I think she already suspects it. That is, if the rumors spread to her."
"Kyoka, she isn't the first girl to try and make a move on Johnny, so why are you focusing on her in particular?" Gyro asked, confused.
"Because she's the one who's actively trying to make me feel like shit for being with him." Kyoka explained. "And...especially after what happened with Nine...I'm not going to tolerate it. There's a difference between mistakenly asking out someone who's taken, and belittling the girl he's dating."
"Wait, she's being mean to you?! I'll kick her ass!" Gyro said with a glare.
"Not directly, just little things, like blantanly flirting with him while I'm there, and giving me looks after she does so, and I catch her glaring at me sometimes."
"The only reason I didn't hit her the other day was because I didn't want to cause a scene." Johnny added. "She seems to either hate you simply because you're close to me, or she might have the wrong impression of you."
Kyoka sighed. "I guess I hope it's the second one, if it's a misunderstanding this could be resolved simply by talking...but she needs to talk to me. She treated this like a competition right off the bat, while all she had to do was ask me about it."
"And she's digging her own grave." Gyro said with a smile. "I've known you two for a while now, and you were inseparable before you were dating."
"Well, yeah...he gave me his fucking internship, not to mention all of the encouragement."
"You deserved it." Johnny said. "I don't think anyone else could've qualified."
"You've always got to find some way to woo me, don't you?"
"I...wasn't doing it intentionally."
"Of course you weren't...look, I can be a bit jealous sometimes...but I'm not malicious about it. If she got the wrong impression because I went into 'Don't touch my JoJo' mode, then I want to clear it up. However, if she's just a jealous bitch...I'm crushing her."
"We do have that joined class coming soon...do you think she'll try anything?" Johnny asked.
"She'll try to beat me, and she might succeed, I'm not going to underestimate her. She may very well prove too much for me, I have no idea what her quirk is...but you aren't someone who can be 'won', JoJo. You chose to be with me, and she's gonna have to deal with that."
"I think you'll kick her ass." Gyro said with a grin. "It's you we're talking about, not to mention your newfound Hamon breathing...by the way, did you do your homework?"
Kyoka began to glow. "Does this answer your question?"
"Look at that! She's doing it on command!"
"That's because you're a better teacher than I am, Gyro." Johnny responded. "You don't need my heartbeat as a reference anymore."
"I'm still going to listen to it." Kyoka deactivated her Hamon, leaning backwards. "I can activate it now...but I still need to learn how to use it effectively. It can be used by my jacks too, you saw when I sucker punched Nine."
"Yeah...you can combine Hamon with sound, I've honestly never heard of that before." Gyro said, scratching his facial hair in confusion. "Honestly, it's kind of like how Tusk and Ball Breaker each has it's own unique version of the Spin, you might be creating something entirely new."
"I should learn how to use Hamon the proper way first." Kyoka responded, deep in thought. "Then I can see how I can combine it with sound...I...can probably use the Spin now too, right? Since it's an evolution of Hamon?"
"Yeah...but one step at a time." Gyro said, patting Kyoka's shoulder.
"Hamon can interact with quirks, boosting them just a little bit...I wonder what the Spin does?" Johnny inquired. "I mean, it caused Tusk to evolve three times."
"Just watch, she'd start growing jacks all over her body, until she turns into some Lovecraftian horror." Gyro quipped. "We'd have to send her to live in the ocean and call her Kyokus Jackus."
"Ew, no! I don't want to be some weird earphone jack tentacle monster! Also, what the fuck is that name?!"
"I'd still love you." Johnny said, and Kyoka snorted.
"I know."
Izuku felt like he was going to throw up.
He was really starting to feel the effects of the poison, as was Ochako, and they were forced to lean on each other to stand upright.
Izuku would have normally been quite flustered, but he was too busy focusing on staying concious.
"Deku...are you...burning up too?" Ochako asked, sweat lining her brow.
"Yeah..."
They had reached Giorno in time, and the leader of Passione was quick to extract some of their blood with Gold Experience.
"Deku?"
"Yeah?"
"It's been two hours since we were injected...we only have two left..."
"I know, but we can still pull through. Mr. Giovanna can solve this."
"What if he can't?"
"...then we say our goodbyes."
"Are you scared too?"
"Of course..."
Ochako turned her head to look at him. "I don't want to end things with regrets...can I...can I tell you something?"
"Always."
"Deku...I've alway-"
Giorno came walking in with a bemused look. "There's nothing wrong with either of your blood."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"HUH?!" They both yelled at the same time.
Giorno nodded. "You two are perfectly fine, there isn't a single thing wrong with you. Gold Experience is detecting nothing foreign inside of your bodies."
"B-b-but the assassin injected us, he said it was poison!" Izuku yelled, walking over and taking the blood sample from Giorno.
"Deku...you just walked as if you were perfectly fine." Ochako said, shocked.
"Holy shit, what is this?!"
"Have you ever heard of the placebo effect?" Giorno asked, and the two teens shook their heads. "Sometimes, people may be experiencing symptoms due to psychological issues rather than a physical illness. When this happens, doctors prescribe them with 'medication' that will help, but this 'medication' is useless, it just tricks the mind into thinking that it's getting better."
"So..."
"This stand user completely bullshitted you into thinking you were dying, the stuff it injected you with was completely useless. You were under the placebo effect."
The two teens just stared at Giorno in disbelief...
And then Ochako fell backwards, landing on the floor with a thud.
"URARAKA!"
"We were preparing for the worst...and we were perfectly fine." Ochako breathed out. "This...was all just a waste of time...we wasted two whole hours worrying about this..."
"This 'Doctor Death' guy...he really was just a two-bit crook, wasn't he?!" Izuku became angry. "All that bullshit about being an assassin was a LIE!"
"I'm afraid so." Giorno said, holding back laughter. "You guys ran into a con artist."
"At least he didn't con us out of the money...there's no point in finding him now, he's long gone." Izuku said, annoyed.
"So...what now?" Ochako asked, sitting up.
"We...get you a desk I guess..."
"...okay..."
"You two look quite embarrassed." Giorno noted with a smile.
"You don't know the half of it...please don't tell the others about this, especially Kyoka and Gyro, those two would never let us live this down..."
"My lips are sealed."
"Thank you...oh, Uraraka, what were you about to say before Mr. Giovanna came in."
Ochako turned away, her face becoming red out of sheer embarrassment.
"It's...it's nothing, don't worry about it."
"Oh...I forgot to mention...Johnny and his girlfriend wanted to have lunch with me today."
"What does that have to do with this?" Izuku asked, and Giorno pointed at the clock.
It was lunchtime, and lunchtime is for lunch.
Meaning a certain girl with super hearing was probably already here...
Without another word, Izuku flung open the door and ran out into the hallway, and Kyoka's laughter soon filled the air, and Ochako ran into the hallway to find that the two were currently wrestling on the floor, Izuku had tackled their hysterical friend to the ground.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU TWO ARE IDIOTS! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TWO WERE BEATEN BY A USELESS STAND! OH MY HEART! HAHAHAHAAAA!"
Izuku began laughing along with her, and Ochako couldn't help but join in. The sheer absurdity of the situation was frankly quite amusing.
We thought we were going to die!
HA!
We really are idiots!
Honestly, with the Nine incident still burned fresh in everyone's mind, it was nice to have a good laugh.
Credit for Sugar Pill goes to Sergeant Specter!