Bearticguy7: Fun! I like it!
Kyeo307: I'm starting to lean a little more into the bizzare side of things. The worlds of JoJo and MHA can be pretty weird sometimes! Also, I just thought I'd start sharing some fun facts, to celebrate how far the story has come!
Jpx0999: I am going to start utilizing Holly more, but I think I'm going to keep her as a passive character. I really couldn't imagine someone so sweet beating the shit out of someone.
Shizuka, on the other hand...is going to become part of the main cast. I'm going to explore her character a bit more.
Spaghetti Sauce: Next is the Joint Training Arc, which will be fairly short. Mostly just a few chapters worth of characters flexing their shit.
Then comes the Santan- I MEAN MY VILLAIN ACADEMIA ARC!
Born-From-Black-Lightning: I agree, it's probably due to us imprinting on the characters in way. For me...Ulric was the first OC I made that actually had an impact on people. I was pretty proud of the work I did on him...
He's my best work, hands down.
delrosario. ivogmail. com: As of right now? Yes...but it probably won't be as long as this story.
So, this chapter focuses on some of the upgrades that Ulric's library has provided some of the characters, and some high school drama.
Which will make the next arc all the more satisfying, in my opinion.
"Whoa, what did you do to the sword?!" Gyro asked upon seeing Kyoka approach. They were about to have another Hamon lesson, this time focusing on how to incorporate gear into Overdrives.
"You mean swords." Kyoka responded, pulling out her sword and splitting it into two. Inserting her jacks into the pommels of the two blades, they both began to vibrate with the pulse of Kyoka's heartbeat. "You know that sword the Doctor used? The one that he based off of my jacks? YaoMomo managed to replicate his design over the past week, and split my old sword in half to make two Amputators. However, I've renamed the sword Vibrato."
"Clever! Since it's tailored to work with your jacks...damn...that's pretty cool. His inventions are really gonna come in handy, aren't they?"
"Well, yeah! I'm pretty excited to try these out." Kyoka said, detaching her jacks from the blades and reassembling the sword back into one. "I think I'm gonna call them Vibrato: Allegro."
"The musical term used to signify a faster pace. I assume that when it's a single sword it's called Vibrato: Moderato." Gyro said with a grin.
"Look at you, knowing the terms for tempo. Yep, that's right! The single sword is powerful, but slower. However, when it's split into two they become much faster and they don't restrict my movement as much. Hence, Moderato and Allegro."
They were standing on a hill overlooking the school, ready to use weapons in order to spar. Gyro had brought several items to train with, including string, a soda bottle, and a pair of underpants.
"So, you can produce Overdrives now, pretty damn powerful ones too. Already you have increased your power through your commitment to the training-"
"You mean torture."
"Complain all you want, but the results don't lie. You're stronger." Gyro said with a smirk.
Kyoka sighed, knowing full well she couldn't argue with Gyro's logic. "Alright...so we're covering weapons today. Knowing about Pluck, I'd assume my swords would be effective, right?"
"Yes, but they are also obvious weapons. The real trick to Hamon is it's versatility, and the fact that you could beat someone with a soda bottle." Gyro took the bottle and pointed the cap at Kyoka. "Dodge this."
*POP!*
Kyoka moved fast, too fast for the projectile to hope to hit her. She was already developing the enhanced reflexes of a practicing Hamon user. "Please...this better not be a repeat of the 'firing squad' lesson."
In order to train Kyoka's reflexes, Gyro had taken pot shots at her with a BB gun until it ran out of pellets. She had returned to her room, sore and covered in welts, but it had helped her dodging capabilities quite a bit.
"Nah, Johnny would kill me if I did that again. That was an example. That cap could easily break bones, snap fingers. Yet, it's simply a drink. Weapons in plain sight, ready to be used in creative and inventive ways...that's what separates the rookies from the pros." Gyro said, taking a swig from the fizzling drink.
"So basically, I can be as subtle as I want with this, almost anything could be a weapon." Kyoka said, nodding. "I've seen JoJo set up Hamon String Traps...and I've already manipulated a giant snake...speaking of that, any word on Glycon's body?"
"Nope...he could still be out there."
"Shit...anyway, Hamon is a power that thrives off of creativity. Got it."
"There are multiple techniques on how to use it relative to your body, like training with a martial art. My ancestor, William Zeppeli trained in Sendo...and taught it to Jonathan Joestar. However, Hamon is much easier to use with weapons. Now...pick up a weapon from the ground, or your sword if you're feeling up to it, and experiment."
"...there's a twist, isn't there?"
"Yes...because I'M ATTACKING YOU!"
The purplette sighed. "Knew it."
Kyoka sidestepped Gyro and backflipped over to the weapons, making a WHOOSH sound as she did. It was no secret that her body had been enhanced by the training, she could now jump twice as high as she used to.
Snatching the string and stuffing it into her pocket, it didn't take long for Gyro to advance, but she caught his fist and responded with a punch of her own.
She's keeping up with me now...all without her jacks. Good work Kyoka!
The two exchanged blows, trading punches and kicks. Kyoka ducked under Gyro and put a hand on his chest, before unleashing a blast of Hamon straight from her fingertips.
Releasing your Hamon from your fingertips instead of your whole fist, focusing the energy into a single point. You really have been learning!
Gyro landed on his ass as Kyoka dashed the other way, and chuckled. "Damn...I'm impressed! You've been practicing!"
"Every day. I'm going all in Gyro!" Kyoka responded with a smile, beckoning Gyro to attack. "Come at me!"
"As you wish, Nyo Ho!"
Kyoka suddenly threw one of her Allegro swords right at him, still encased in it's scabbard for obvious reasons, and Gyro quickly noticed that a string was tied to the handle. Kyoka was going to yank it back once he dodged it, hitting him from behind.
Clever!
Gyro opted to catch the sword instead...
Only to be yanked towards Kyoka by the Hamon enhanced string.
"GET OVER HERE!"
"With pleasure!"
Gyro used the momentum to clothesline his friend, knocking her to the ground.
"Ow..."
The Italian knelt beside her, offering a hand. "Not bad, you caught me off guard with the sword throw! However, I know you can be more creative than that!"
"I'm sure." Kyoka took Gyro's hand and got to her feet. "Hey, at least I kept up with you that time!"
"You've really improved Kyoka...I'm proud of you." Gyro said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Just keep working at it, find new ways to use the environment around you. You've got a whole new array of shit to work with."
Kyoka examined the ball of strong in her hand, and closed her fist around it. "You got it, Gyro. As painful as it is...thanks for teaching me, I really appreciate the time you've put into it."
"You're one of my best friends Kyoka, the second person in our group that I befriended, after Johnny. I would gladly take time out of my day to help you." Gyro replied earnestly. "Just play around with it, alright? I'm gonna be hands off when it comes to this lesson, because it revolves solely on your ability to improvise. We'll meet again...Wednesday, does that sound good?"
Kyoka smiled. "Yep, sounds good. I'll get right to it...should I use Hamon in the joined class tomorrow? I know I'm far from ready...but I think I'm good enough to start using it in class. It could come in handy, since people are expecting sound attacks from me...most people in 1B would assume I'm only good for support."
"That would be smart. Especially considering a certain lizard has it out for you." Gyro said with a snicker. "Oh the look on her face when you pull off an Overdrive...even if she isn't fighting you it would wipe that smug grin off her face!"
Kyoka nodded. "I just want to get her to leave JoJo and I alone. Honestly...I...understand that she admires him...but she missed her chance long before she decided to pursue him. I don't just want to be all territorial though...how can you say 'stay away from my man' without coming across like you're possessive?"
"I don't know. It might worsen her already flawed perception of you." Gyro responded. "Some sort of misunderstanding took place that got her to mistrust you. I guess we should at least appreciate that she's looking put for him."
"I guess...but she's trying to steal him. No matter how good her intentions are...I won't stand for that. Johnny is someone who is earned...not taken." Kyoka crossed her arms, stewing. "She won't convince him to leave me...no matter what she does. I have nothing but faith in him."
"You know she tried to report you when Romeo got you drunk, right?"
Kyokagrowled. "That wasn't my fault! I wouldn't do something like that...I was lucky we defeated Romeo before Aizawa came..."
"He would've known, and Johnny would've defended you until his dying breath. Tokage...must have seen things and misinterpreted them, like what happened with Romeo. Don't forget, he kind of manipulated her into thinking you were blowing the wedding off."
"But what did I do?!"
"Multiple things, at least in her mind. Since she has feelings for Johnny...she's biased against you. In her mind, you're an unworthy competitor that is going to hurt him. Not to mention that you like to dress punk...maybe she thinks you're a delinquent."
"...I'm not a delinquent though...I'm a hero student, my job is to enforce rules. I just like rock!" Kyoka protested, sighing. "Nobody else has a problem with my style! Although...that actually makes sense...holy shit, she actually thinks I'm a fucking delinquent! That is so..."
"Infuriating?"
"YES!" Kyoka snapped. "She seriously judged me based on my fucking style! Music is part of who I am Gyro! It's my whole fucking background, my parents are musicians! My dad is in a fucking rock band!"
"You're using the word 'fuck' alot."
"I'M ACTUALLY PISSED!" Kyoka ranted. "She's assuming I'm a troublemaker that's going to hurt Johnny, all because of..." The purplette took out Vibrato: Moderato and sliced through a tree in a fit of anger, screaming in frustration.
As the sword was modeled off of Ulric's Amputator, the vibrating blade shredded through the tree like a chainsaw, cutting the whole thing down.
Gyro understood her anger. Kyoka's sense of style came from her genuine love for music, it was incredibly important to her sense of identity. Her parents were musicians, she was born into a family, raised to love and appreciate the beauty of sound...
To be judged to be a delinquent, a troublemaker, a rulebreaker based on the attire that connected her to this background...it was one of the worst insults you could ever throw at her.
Kyoka stood there, fuming over the fallen tree.
"Kyoka...are you okay?"
"I'm...fine. I'm just really...I'm so offended." Kyoka said. "It makes sense now...she said I was using him...she tried to report me for underage drinking...she's trying to piss me off. She wants to prove that I'm a delinquent, it all makes so much sense. She doesn't think I'm right for Johnny because she thinks that I'm...no, no I would never hurt him, I would never use him. Johnny isn't my fucking ATM machine, he's the best thing that has ever happened to me!"
Gyro put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course not, you're one of the kindest people I know...and a hell of a musician if I've ever heard one. You're awesome, hardworking, and...your style actually drives that point home. Just prove her wrong, Kyoka."
"Oh...I will." Kyoka declared. "I'm gonna start by practicing my Hamon...and I'm gonna use it to kick her ass! I hope I fight her tomorrow...because it gonna be more than just a few punches."
"Really?"
"Yes. It doesn't matter whether I win or lose...because our fight will be a symphony. I'm going to turn it into art, the purest form of self-expression. I'll beat her with my sound...regardless of how the fight turns out." Kyoka's eyes were fierce, indicating that this was a promise. She was going to give Tokage a taste of her truest self.
It didn't matter how the fight turned out. Setsuna Tokage would be getting a reality check, Kyoka would be sending Setsuna a message she would never forget:
I'm a punk musician who wants to bring hope to those who have none...
I am a hero...I'm better than you think I am.
So you can go and shove it up your ass, Tokage.
"Damn, so you're going to be carrying gadgets around with you now?" Kaminari asked Momo. They were currently inside of Exodus, looking over Ulric's blueprints.
"Yes...one thing I learned from Dr. Stewart was the benefit of thinking ahead. If I create tools on the fly, it actually only works toward my detriment." Momo explained. "Of course, I would have to create things regardless based on whatever situation I'm in, but if I'm armed ahead of time...I can increase my stamina tenfold."
"Are you gonna turn into a mastermind too?"
"I wouldn't call myself that." Momo said, shaking her head. "However...I am going to learn from his example."
"Well...I think it's pretty badass! You're Batman now!"
"Uh..."
"You're a rich detective with her own personal arsenal of cool gadgets, a neat library, and a badass martial artist to boot! You're Batman...er...Batwoman?"
Momo chuckled. "You misunderstand, Kaminari. None of this is mine...it's ours. Dr. Stewart entrusted me with his work, so I'm using it for our benefit. I think that is what he would want me to do anyway."
"So...we're Batman?"
"...sure."
"Awesome!" Kaminari pumped his fist into the air. "So...Todoroki was wondering, since we're sort of forming our own branch...what would B team be doing?"
"You guys act independently... obviously you're a part of the team, but you all have the option to grow and improve as your team sees fit. You all have the treehouse now, so feel free to make it your own."
"So our team makes it's own decisions." Kaminari said, nodding. "So...if I moved a gaming system in the treehouse..."
"It doesn't matter to us, we have Exodus now. Todoroki wanted the treehouse so you all can build your team from scratch, like we did."
"You guys are helping us, right?"
Momo smiled. "Of course...we're all one big unit. However, having two teams operating somewhat independently from each other would increase our effectiveness. In order to make that happen, the B team must learn to work together, to collaborate to build something from scratch."
"So we can trust each other as much as your group does." Kaminari finished. "That's actually a pretty good idea! Team bonding!"
"Yes...now, do you want to see me test out a weapon he designed?"
"YES!"
Momo chuckled, and put on a small cufflink. "I actually found this in the back room. I remember that he used it against one of the giant rats while we were in the pyramid together...this should come in handy when I'm in a scrap against a stronger opponent."
The ravenette squeezed a trigger near her middle finger, and the cufflink extended, gears and metal plates whirring until her hand was encased in a giant metal fist.
"WHOA!"
"He only used it once, but it crushed the rats' skull with one hit. The blueprints call them Piston Gloves. Apparently, he also was quite proficient in bare knuckle boxing...although I shouldn't be surprised considering how hard he hit me during our fist fight. These are...quite...heavy..." Momo grunted out.
"That is sick! He made that?!" Kaminari examined the giant fist, and pointed towards the gears near Momo's wrist. "Those look like they can extend."
"They can, there's another trigger that appears near the pointer finger once the glove is assembled." Momo replied, reading the blueprints. She extended the fist and pulled said trigger, and it rocketed out about 2 feet away from her arm, before coming back. "I see...I shouldn't extend my arms all the way, they can't handle the weight. The extension is done by the fist itself...brilliant."
"That is awesome! So...you gave Jiro new swords...you've got a sick robo boxing glove...anything else?"
"He has a whole library of inventions. Some of them are tools, some are weapons, and there are even quality of life inventions such as this mechanical water wheel." Momo pointed to a blueprint. "This can generate enough electricity to power the treehouse without ever needing the backup generator. We can avoid pulling power from the school entirely, making it even more difficult for people to catch on to our activities. It's environmentally-friendly too!"
"I take it we're building it then?"
"Yep! He had so many wonderful ideas...I'm sure he could've made many more..." Momo said, detracting the fist. "The Doctor was brilliant..."
"You really miss him, don't you?" Kaminari said, a sympathetic look on his face.
"I do, I miss him alot. I suppose...the new ideas will have to come from me now, won't they?" Momo said, taking off the metal cuff and setting it aside. "I'm going to make something out of this...something that will make us all better heroes. His work won't be going to waste, it will benefit mankind, just as he wanted it to."
"He picked the right person for the job."
Momo glanced up at Kaminari, touched. "Thank you."
"It's no problem, YaoMomo. I meant it."
Gyro yawned, teaching into a box of pizza to pull out a slice, munching on it.
Mmmmm...pizza...
"Hey, Zeppeli!"
Gyro turned his head to see Setsuna Tokage waving at him. "Oh hi, I was just thinking about you."
About how Kyoka is gonna thrash you...
"Really? Huh, funny." Setsuna said, glancing at the pizza box. "Are you eating that entire thing by yourself?"
"Yep."
"Wow...you must have a pretty high metabolism." Setsuna commented. "Ready for tommorow?"
"Yep."
"...Cool. Look, if you see Jiro...can you give her an apology from me?"
That caught Gyro's attention.
"What for?" The Italian asked, sitting up. Setsuna glanced to the side, looking slightly ashamed.
"I...kind of assumed the worst the other day...I should've looked deeper into the situation when she turned up drunk. I just...I can't help but feel as though she's trouble. I know you and JoJo both trust her, and I wish I could accept that...but...I've seen a few things that I'm a bit reluctant to share...they might cause some serious damage."
"If you know we trust her, shouldn't that be enough?" Gyro asked with his arms crossed.
"...apparently not. Can...I be real with you for a second?"
Gyro pondered it for a moment. "Okay, sure."
"I...have feelings for JoJo. You see...I got into this school on recommendation, like your girlfriend Yaoyorozu, like JoJo. My grades were good, my Quirk is powerful...yet I felt unsatisfied. I felt like something was missing...then I heard about his accident."
"Kyoka visited him in the hospital on that day, you know."
"..."
"Sorry, please continue."
"Just hearing about another recommended student getting hurt like that...it scared me, because it showed that no matter how good of a student you are, no matter how talented...the world can crush your dreams in an instant. So...I checked up on him, I began watching the Steel Ball Run...I saw him join up with you, and I saw every win and loss. Throughout it all...I was inspired. He was the embodiment of determination."
"He inspired you to be better."
"Yes! I improved in my performance, because I kept thinking: 'if he could do it, so can I.' I wouldn't be nearly as confident today if it weren't for him. Then...when he came back to the school...it was just so...admirable. He almost won the race, and he got his life back."
Gyro sighed. "Naturally, those feelings of admiration turned into attraction."
"...yes. I know I haven't had many chances to hang out with you guys...but I want to. I want to get to know him, to learn what drove him to do something so inspiring! Honestly, the only thing preventing me from asking him out is Jiro." Setsuna furrowed her eyebrows. "She just showed up out of nowhere, and has just been acting shady ever since I met her. I...I think she's using him Zeppeli, and I know you're going to assure me that she isn't...but I have some evidence."
"If you have evidence, why don't you just show it to me?"
"Because if it's a misunderstanding...I don't want to ruin your perception of her."
"I see." Gyro took another piece of pizza out of the box. "Do you think she's a delinquent or something?"
"Well...she has done some things that have led me to make that conclusion. I really think she's manipulating you guys. I know you think of her as a friend...but...please be wary of her. That being said...I jumped the gun the other day, so I owe her an apology."
"I'll be sure to tell her. Just to be clear Tokage, I don't believe you are right about her at all."
"Do I have a chance with him?" Setsuna quickly asked. "Please, if anyone would know, it's you."
"Well-"
*BANG!*
*SPLAT!*
Gyro stared in shock as his pizza box exploded. There was a deathly silent as the Italian and the greenette sat in silence...
"MOTHERFUCKER!"
The Italian stood up, livid, and took a steel ball out of a holster, spinning it. "WHO THE FUCK JUST DESTROYED MY PIZZA?! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"SQUAWK!"
A hawk came down and slashed at Gyro's face, but he managed to put his arm up. Blood flew from his arm as Setsuna stepped back, shocked. "What the hell?! A bird?!"
"A hawk..."
Up above them was a figure with appeared to be a human with multiple wings spread out across his body. Blonde hair flew in the wind as the man lifted what appeared to be an arm, revealing a rifle that was pointed directly at them.
"We're under attack."
Gyro chucked the steel ball at the figure and dove to the side, but the man's body separated into dozens of hawks, all screeching. Only his head remained...
Wait...it couldn't be.
"I'm back...Gyro Zeppeli, and this time...I won't make the mistake of fighting you and Kujo together. I bet you thought you had gotten rid of me...but you underestimated...the power OF GERMAN SCIENCE!" Fritz Von Stroheim's severed cyborg head screamed.
"What the hell?! How did you get a body of...BIRDS?!" Gyro yelled.
The hawks reassembled into a human form, latching onto each other to create something resembling a human body. "I used a special frequency to bring the birds under my control! Now they exist only to serve me and my purpose! I won't forgive you for the Steel Ball Run!"
"What?!" Setsuna yelled. "What the hell did they do to you?! Were you a contestant or something?!"
"No, I was hired to kill them! It's none of your concern, this is between me and Zeppeli!" Stroheim barked. "Go back to being second rate, you side character!"
Side character?! Who does this guy think he is?! Wait...
He was hired...to kill them? During a horse race? Why?
"Tokage...leave. Actually...find Johnny. He'd want to get in on this..." Gyro instructed.
"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to stop you right there, Zeppeli. I'm not a pushover, I can fight too...in fact...I can beat this guy." Setsuna replied. "Besides...it's about time 1B got to see a little action."
"Tokage-"
Setsuna suddenly separated into several pieces, and scattered herself around the battlefield. The pieces of the greenette swarmed around, outnumbering the hawks easily. Stroheim snarled, and the birds that formed his body began attacking the pieces, but the class 1B student's hand came put of nowhere and made a grab at the cyborg's head.
Stroheim used the hawk he was currently mounted on to dive put of the way, and recalled several birds. "Impressive! It appears as though I was mistaken, you are one, and yet you outnumber me! I see I will have to get creative!"
The German mercenary flew away, towards the city, and Setsuna reassembled her torso. "Come on, he's getting away!"
"Hold it! He's-"
"Luring me onto a trap, I know. If this guy is dangerous, we can't just let him run around! We're heroes! Besides...I have an idea, if you're up for it."
Gyro narrowed his eyes, but Setsuna was already pursing his old enemy. The Italian sighed and ran after her...
Sorry Kyoka...guess I'm teaming up with your rival. I can't just ignore Stroheim...
"Uh oh, grumpy Kyoka is back." Johnny muttered to his childhood friend, and Izuku gave him a concerned look.
"I don't think it's the funny kind of grumpy this time...look at her."
Kyoka was stewing in the corner of the common room, plucking away at her guitar. Her expression was intense...and she was sneaking glances at Johnny.
She wants me to come over there. Shit, she's actually angry...
At least it isn't at me...although that means I'm probably going to get mad too.
Johnny made his way over and sat next to her, Izuku following close behind. "What happened?"
"...Tokage hates me because I'm punk."
"Are you sure?"
"Gyro deduced it. He just texted me to say that she apologized for the Romeo incident...but that she thinks I'm a troublemaker...that I'm some type of delinquent that's leading you on for shallow reasons. I think...this is the first time anyone has made that assumption about me."
Johnny turned to glare at the wall. "That makes sense...and pisses me off. Plus, not all delinquents are bad people...my dad was one back in high school, but he was still a good person. People also assumed Uncle Josuke was one because of his pompadour, and you know how sweet that man is."
"Do I even give off the impression of being a delinquent?!" Kyoka asked, setting her guitar aside.
"Not at all. I mean, you look tough...but you're also pretty approachable." Izuku replied. "Even when I didn't know you, back in the beginning of the year, I never felt threatened by you. I just thought you looked kind of bored."
Kyoka snorted. "Yeah...I get that alot. She thinks I'm going to hurt you JoJo...she thinks I'm dangerous. All of her actions make sense...she's trying to save you."
"You saved me first...from myself, from my mother. She can't save me from my hero."
The purplette fell silent, and grabbed Johnny by his wrist to yank him into a hug. "Thank you...JoJo. God...I don't know what I would do without you...I really don't."
"Same here."
Izuku, just standing awkwardly beside the couple, was remaining silent, unsure what to do since he didn't want to ruin the moment. Then the two both yanked him into the hug.
"You're a good friend, we're hugging you too." Kyoka said, smirking.
"I feel like such a third wheel right now."
"You are the third wheel, accept it."
Izuku chuckled. "Fair enough...I can't think of better people that I'd like to third wheel for. Even if you are just a couple of raw assholes."
Johnny burst out laughing. "Heheh...I'm still not used to hearing you say things like that!"
"He's turning into us, Johnny. We took a socially awkward, impressionable young man with a heart of gold and turned him into a raunchy jackass. Just you wait, soon he'll have a caffeine addiction, and he'll start being all depressing and cynical." Kyoka said teasingly.
"That...describes me more than you."
"I know, I'm in charge of corrupting his sense of humor, you're corrupting everything else."
"No...no, you're corrupting him more."
"Me? You've known him much longer than I have!"
"Guys?" Izuku said, still in the hug.
"Yes, and he didn't start becoming an asshole until he met you, Kyoka."
"He idolizes you, not me."
"Well, I actually really admire both of yo-" Izuku was about to cut in, still trapped in the hug, but he was once again cut off.
"You helped him with his confidence issues, you spent a lot of time together while I was away during the Steel Ball Run."
"He said that you were a brother to him, he worships the ground you walk on, Jonathan."
"Oh sure, pull out the full name card."
"Jouta."
"KYOKA!"
The purplette snickered, hugging Johnny tighter and crushing Izuku in between them. "I fucking love that name!"
"You two are doing this on purpose...aren't you?" Izuku said, unamused.
"Of course we are." The purplette lifted her arm, freeing Izuku from the embrace. "You know damn well that neither of us could resist."
Izuku shook his head, chuckling, before his face turned serious. "I...I remember, I had something I wanted to tell you guys. I've...been having dreams recently...about my predecessors."
That caught the couple's attention.
"The previous users of OFA...what are they about?" Kyoka asked.
"Memories...flashes...I've come to accept that OFA doesn't make me a chosen one or anything...but it's still a unique Quirk. Flashes of the first user..and All For One. I think the Quirk is...telling me something."
"What?"
"I'm not sure yet...it called me the 'Ninth', the first user spoke to me."
"Quirks...don't have anything to do with souls though...Stands do. Unless you have some kind of psychic connection with the dead." Johnny speculated. "But then you'd be able to see ghosts..."
"Maybe it's like a computer." Kyoka said. "OFA stores memories and personalities of previous users, like it's collecting data. After all, it's pretty much the only transferable Quirk in existence...wouldn't it want to remember previous users?"
"Like Thriller, not the Necromancer himself, but rather a mental doppelganger created from his brain patterns." Izuku theorized, putting a finger on his chin. "Ifthat'sthecasethenIwonderwhatOFAhaslockedawayinsideofitImeanitpreservesmemoriesofprevioususerssomaybeitalsohasotherthingsmaybeIcouldevenaskcertain-"
"When do you think he's gonna run out of air?" Kyoka asked.
"Soon. Ghosts can also contact people in dreams, whether they have a Stand or not. That's how Valentine first contacted me...so maybe it really is something supernatural." Johnny suggested.
"Maybe it's both."
"-andthenagainthishashappenedbeforeduringmyfightwithShinsosoIreallyshouldn'tbesosurprisedalthoughAllMightnevermentionedhavingdreamslikethesesomaybethatmeansthisisentirelynewandnotsomethinghecouldhelpmewith. *GASP!* AIR!"
If you ever said that being on the top of the hero billboards was easy, Hawks would have to punch you.
Here he was, eating fried chicken and minding his own business, when a severed head piloting a bunch of birds flew right past him, firing what appeared to be a flamethrower.
In hot pursuit were two students in UA attire, one of them being someone he recognized by the wide-brimmed hat and the long blonde hair...Gyro Zeppeli. He actually watched the Steel Ball Run, due to Joseph Joestar being his poker buddy, and he found himself impressed by the Italian's rather flashy way of doing things.
Of course, he also knew the true nature of the race. Being trained as an intelligence operative meant he was stellar at investigation...but also because Joseph straight up told him.
He would've done the exact same thing, if he was being honest.
Hawks sighed, and spread his wings. Looking at his bucket of fried chicken, he put a protective arm over the top and flew after them.
"Hey you two! Mind if I join you?"
"Hawks?!" Setsuna yelled. "Oh my God, we're sure to beat this guy now!"
Gyro gave Hawks a brief nod as he shifted his steel balls over to his feet, and zipped over to keep up with the number two hero. Granted, Hawks was flying far from his top speed, but he didn't really need to put in much effort to catch Stroheim.
"So...this guy been bothering you for a while?" Hawks asked, dodging one of the bride as it attempted to claw his eyes out.
"Yeah...a real pain in the ass." Gyro responded. "Doesn't know when to quit."
"This is between me and Zeppeli, Chicken Boy! I don't care how popular you are, you will face the full power of GERMAN SCIENCE! EVEN REDUCED TO A MERE HEAD, I AM STILL A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION!"
"Why the hell are you still coming after us?! The Steel Ball Run ended a long time ago! Look, I'm sorry we had to blow you up, but-"
"You fool, I don't care about that!" Stroheim yelled as he sent a bunch of hawks to attack...Hawks. "You have beaten me twice now! I need to beat you twice, only then I can be satisfied!"
"So this is a competition to you?"
Stroheimturned his head to find Setsuna's torso floating beside him with a smirk. "Wha?"
"Good, I like a good competition! Say, let's play a game, if you can somehow take out every single one of my pieces, we'll call it a victory and go our separate ways! That's one out of two, no?"
"I told you, this was between me and Zeppeli! You're powerful, but this grudge is only on him! All you are is a nusiance! Don't butt in where you don't belong!"
"Isn't that the whole point of being a hero? I get it...but Zeppeli, JoJo...they are people I want to know. I have no idea what the deal is with the Steel Ball Run, or why you have it out for them...but they...JoJo, are people that I admire, so I will defend them without hesitation!"
"I don't care, fuck off! You're so annoying!"
"I think you're just too chicken to fight me."
Stroheim glared at Setsuna, a glare that would root anyone to the spot with it's intensity...but not the greenette. She just kept up a playful smile, seemingly oblivious to the German's hostility.
I see...she's hard to intimidate. Tokage has nothing but confidence and bravado, all of that conceals a proficient tactician... Gyro thought to himself as Setsuna's pieces swarmed the area. Every single piece of her that isn't attached to her is positioned in such a way...
So that Hawks and I can bounce projectiles off of them. She is expertly setting up an attack.
Hawks, meanwhile, sent a bunch of feathers to carry his bucket of fried chicken, and was currently trying to aim for Stroheim's head.
Suddenly, the birds carried the German mercenary upwards, out of Setsuna's web. The greenette's smile wavered ever so slightly, but she didn't lose it. Tokage keeps her cool pretty well too, even when something doesn't go her way.
"Those birds...even if he's controlling them, they're living things." Hawks said, coming to a stop. "Alright...enough chasing...tell me what's going on."
"Well-"
"I already know he's one of your enemies from the Steel Ball Run, but what does he do? He's some kind of cyborg, right?"
"Yes...he's Fritz Von Stroheim, the human weapon. He was born Quirkless, but he got cybernetic enhancements, similar to his ancestor Rudol Von Stroheim, who was an ally of Johnny's family back in the day...even though he was affiliated with...unsavory characters. As a result, he's incredibly competitive, anxious to prove himself worthy of the Stroheim name." Gyro explained. It was clear that the number two hero knew more about the situation than he thought, so he began phrasing things in a way that Hawks would understand.
"He attacked us on...you-know-who's orders back during the Steel Ball Run, but Johnny sabotaged one of his grenades and blew him up. Later...he attacked us again on school grounds, but we ended up decapitating him. A hawk carried his head off...which is why he somehow has an army of them."
"I see." Hawks narrowed his eyes. "A persistent one, huh? I'd say he has about...12 birds...and a gun. I don't really want to take out the birds, meaning we have to knock his head away so he isn't controlling them."
"He's pretty damn mobile." Setsuna chipped in, pointing up at the swarm that was encircling them. "Which is why I'm going to box him in. I can split my body into a max of 50 pieces, I should be able to keep him busy for you two to knock the head off."
"FEATHER BLITZKRIEG!"
Birds dove towards Gyro, but feathers suddenly latched to the back of the Italian's jacket, carrying him high into the air. Setsuna began surrounding the birds, smoking any that attempted to leave her makeshift bubble, and Hawks gave the Italian a clear shot.
Not wasting any time, Gyro threw a low-powered steel ball at Stroheim's head, knocking it into Hawks' hands. The birds scattered, returning to their natural habitat upon being freed from the cyborg's control.
"Pretty easy, you kids handled that well, I barely had to do anything!" Hawks complimented.
"It almost sounds as though that's what you wanted." Gyro replied, knowingly.
"...well, in a way. I've heard some great things about you from Mr. Joestar, so I wanted to see you in action, even if it really wasn't that big of a thing." Hawks said, tossing Stroheim's head up and down.
"WAAAAGH! STOP THAT! I'M GETTING SCHWINDLIG!"
"You could've caught him easily, you're arguably the fastest pro hero out there right now." Gyro said with a grin. "You just didn't want to drop the fried chicken, so you let us do the dirty work."
"Hey! I could've just ignored you guys!" Hawks poked Gyro in the shoulder. "You probably would've gotten him, you've beaten him two times before."
"I'm not judging man, if I had food on the line, I'd do the same thing...as long as whoever is involved with the fight can handle it, of course. Nyo Ho!"
The two blondes stared at each other for a while, while Setsuna pieced herself together, watching the scene in confusion. Finally...
"I think I like you, kid." Hawks said, taking out a piece of fried chicken and handing it to Gyro. "Here...as a sign of respect."
"Thank you sir! I will eat it in a matter of seconds."
"Of that I have little doubt. Welp...I better figure out what to do with this guy..." Hawks held Stroheim up to the sun in order to get a better look at him. "I wonder if I could mount you on a wall..."
"Funny, I was wondering the exact same thing about you."
Suddenly, a headless body came and tackled Hawks to the ground, and Stroheim's head landed right on top of it, reattaching itself as he rolled to the side.
"Ha! Fools! Did you really think I would just rely on a bunch of birds?! I was only buying time for my body to get to me! I reactivated it with a wireless signal once I got within range of UA, I knew that you people were keeping it! I was merely buying time for my body to get to me undetected! Fritz Von Stroheim is reassembled once more!"
Several machine guns with laser sights emerged from the German's back, and began targeting Setsuna's pieces. The greenette grimaced as several parts of her exploded, including her right hand. Luckily, she got her torso out of the way.
OWOWOWOWOWOWOW! GETTING SHOT REALLY FUCKING HURTS!
Stroheim glanced back at her. "Those were warning shots...stay out of this! My built-in targeting system could've easily gone for your heart, or your brain."
"I'm a hero, risking my life's part of the job." Setsuna retorted.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! NONE OF YOU!"
"I do."
Stroheim turned to Gyro, who was tossing a steel ball up and down. "Was?"
"You simply want to prove yourself, don't you? Johnny and I are the only people you have really targeted while you were here. You simply want to settle the score, make things even, right?"
"...yes, that's precisely it. I was unsatisfied with the way our fight concluded during the Steel Ball Run, Kujo ended the fight before I could give it my all. Later, I was outclassed because you two were working together...I want a victory to make up for those embarrassments."
"Does it have to be a fight?"
Stroheim tilted his head to the side, oblivious to the fact that Hawks was getting up...or more likely he just didn't care. "What do you mean by that?"
"Look, you're bombastic and chaotic, but you have also gone out of your way to make sure that no one else is involved with our skirmishes. You could've killed Tokage back there, but you just warned her. Hell, you probably heard her say that she could regenerate, and that's why you took a few shots at her. You aren't an evil jackass, you just want to settle a score...so why don't we just resolve this in a way that doesn't involve tanks and guns and...birds."
The blond mercenary seemed to consider it for a while. "Okay...you wanna play UNO?"
"WHAT?!" Setsuna yelled.
"UNO...yeah, that sounds pretty good."
"I should warn you Gyro Zeppeli, I show no mercy with +4 cards. I like to combine them with +2s, so I can utterly crush my opponent!"
"We need more than two players though, I can text Johnny if you want."
"Yes, then I can beat both of you!"
"Wait, hold up." Setsuna reassembled what remained of herself and put up her one hand. "This guy tried to kill you three times, and you're just gonna settle it by playing a card game?!"
"Wanna join? UNO works better with four people." Stroheim asked, as if he didn't just shoot at her a few seconds ago.
"...I...think I'm gonna have to pass..."
"That's okay, I'm up for it." Hawks said, taking a bite out of his fried chicken. "Today's a slow day...so I could use something to take my mind away from the boredom. There's a cafe nearby that we could go to."
"Sure."
Well...that was anticlimactic. What started out as a brawl turned into an UNO game between the villain, the Steel Ball Run duo, and the number two hero...
May as well stick around...I could get an opportunity to talk to JoJo once he arrives.
"Why the fuck did she have to be there?" Kyoka muttered, looking at the text Johnny just sent her. "Just leave bitch. Let him play UNO without having to worry about you making advances on him..."
"Are you worried?"
Kyoka looked up to see Jotaro standing over her. "Only about him. I know how uncomfortable he feels when people come onto him, not unlike his old man."
Jotaro made a bit of a huff, which Kyoka counted as a chuckle. "That's true. Vlad King is talking some serious shit behind closed doors, you know. He says that Tokage is one of the most capable students in the school. He fully expects her to dominate the competition tomorrow."
"She may very well be talented, and smart...but...that honestly doesn't matter. My goal isn't to win Johnny from her or anything, my goal is to give my best performance. No matter who I end up fighting tomorrow, I'm going to show them just how good of a hero I can be."
"And that's all I would ever expect from you. Winning or losing doesn't matter, it's that you give them your very best. Simply show 1B what you're made of."
"Oh, don't worry...I will be." Kyoka took the ball of string she was playing around with. "I will be..."
"Good...and if that girl keeps giving you trouble for making my son happy, I'm giving you permission to beat her fucking ass."
"Uh..."
"Beat her ass, Kyoka."
"I...don't think a teacher should say stuff like that."
"All that other stuff was me as your teacher, but this is as his father...beat her ass all the way into the ground. Doesn't have to be tomorrow, but if she ever attempts to break you two apart, knock out those pointy teeth and make them into a necklace."
Kyoka stared at him for a moment, and smirked. "I'm surprised you were able to make that distinction, Dr. Kujo. You call Vlad King biased?"
"I said the teacher stuff first, and I told you to call me Jotaro outside of class."
"You're gonna be secretly rooting for me, aren't you?" Kyoka teased.
"I'm leaving." Jotaro said, getting up.
"Aww come on!"
"Yare yare daze...good luck tomorrow, kid. I've seen you do great things...so I know you'll knock it out of the ballpark." Jotaro said with a brief smile. "And that's as both your teacher...and your friend."
"Thanks Dr...Jotaro...you're making this very confusing for me!"
"So...uh...ready for tomorrow?" Setsuna asked, nudging Johnny with her elbow. Thanks to a series of unfortunate circumstances involving Stroheim's hawks reappearing and taking Hawks' fried chicken, he was left alone with her.
So, he had decided to walk back to the school...and she joined him...
He knew she was just being sociable, but he also knew she wanted time alone with him.
"Yep." Polite but indifferent, a tactic that always repelled unwanted attention every time Johnny used it.
"I'm pretty excited! Our first shared class! Maybe it can finally mend the bridge between our classes, and we can all start hanging out together a little more. New friendships...and other things..." Setsuna said coyly, a faint blush coming to her cheeks.
"Rivalries?" Johnny asked, deciding to put a little pressure on the whole Kyoka v. Setsuna situation.
"Well...a few of those have already formed..."
"Really? I didn't notice."
"...I'm sure you have, no need for sarcasm. JoJo, has Jiro ever done anything for you?" The greenette asked. "Like, favors...or maybe even thoughtful gifts and stuff like that?"
"She gave me my current hero costume...in fact, the light blue one was directly inspired by her. She got me my first beanie after I was injured, as a going-away present."
"I see...and she isn't mean to you in any way, right?"
Johnny turned to look at Setsuna. "Kyoka is one of the kindest people I know...if you knew half of what she has accomplished, you wouldn't have these suspicions."
"...I see, you must trust her a lot."
JoJo doesn't really seem like the type to trust blindly. He seems to be a pretty cautious person...I mean, who wouldn't be after the stuff he's been through? It sounds like there was more to the Steel Ball Run than just a race...
"Kyoka is one of my closest friends..."
Friend...he just called her a friend...
"I see...I've just...seen things that have caused me to be a bit suspicious of her. She just seems like...the rebel type, you know?"
"She's a musician, she likes punk rock."
"Yeah, okay. Look, I've tried not to assume the worst of her, I really have. For all I know it's been a series of misunderstandings. I'll try to get to know her a little better."
Johnny's posture relaxed, something that Setsuna took note of. Was he stiff this whole time? I see...he's letting down his guard.
I really hope Jiro isn't the person I think she is. He's clearly been hurt enough.
"Good, please do."
"I really want to get to know you too, JoJo." Setsuna said, upfront. "I can't deny it, people like you fascinate me. You're clearly a walking encyclopedia of adventure, and I have always wanted to go on one. You're just so...cool!"
Johnny was a bit taken aback. She was being completely honest, he could see it in her posture, her voice, and even her eyes. This was someone who yearned for adventure, for thrills, and to her...he was someone who had lived her dream.
Of course, she had no clue about the several near-death experiences he and Gyro had during the Steel Ball Run, all of that was kept under wraps for good reason.
He did kind of assassinate the president, after all.
"Well...I'm flattered. I suppose I can understand that...although my adventures always end up being pretty...bizzare."
"Dude, I don't care. Seeing you finish that race, and come back to school...it inspired me to be a better hero. That's why I hate this stupid 'Anti-Class A' thing that my class has going on, I want to get to know you!" Setsuna said earnestly. "I know that you're a reserved guy...but I promise, I can make it worth your time!"
She isn't afraid to tell me, right to my face, that she admires me. Honestly, I have to give her credit...she's pretty charismatic. However, I won't give her any semblance of a chance until she revises her opinion of Kyoka.
"Maybe...I'll think about it."
Setsuna's eyes lit up. "Great! I'll...uh...see you tomorrow!"
"Yeah...er...bye Tokage."
Johnny began walking towards the entrance of the dorm building, only to see Kyoka with her face and hands pressed up against the glass of one of the windows, which was cracking from the pressure the purplette was exuding on them.
The Joestar put his face in the window, and grinned as Kyoka gave off a muffled yelp from within.
Setsuna was beaming.
She's friendzoned. Oh boy, it's like this massive weight was lifted off my chest! I guess I didn't really need Zeppeli's answer.
"Look, Jiro wants this to be secret."
The greenette raised an eyebrow upon hearing Denki Kaminari's voice. She peered around the corner to find him conversating with Shoto Todoroki.
"I think it's wrong to keep this from JoJo..."
"If he finds out, it's all over! Jiro and I would be ruined!"
"JoJo deserves better than this. Much better. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I know...look, it's last minute, that's why I'm telling you."
Kaminari looked desperate, his body posture suggested that he was paranoid. Setsuna's eyes widened as she detached an ear and sent it their way. What is happening? What did I just stumble in on?
Todoroki sighed. "Kaminari, you're my friend, but this time you've really goofed it up. This could do some serious damage."
"I know! I know! I got myself into this mess, but you're the only guy who could save me! Jiro put her trust in me, and I blew it! If JoJo finds out about all of this because I messed up, she'll kill me!"
"You two really should have thought this through, now you'll both face the consequences."
Oh my God...that...
Slut!
It didn't take much to see what was going on here. While Johnny may have just friendzoned Kyoka, that didn't mean he didn't harbor feelings for her...she was still manipulating him in some way. Kaminari was clearly in on it...
She was going to break the poor guy's heart.
Without another word, Setsuna put her phone away, having recorded the conversation. She turned and walked the other way.
"I DROPPED THEIR ANNIVERSARY CAAAKE!" Kaminari wailed. "I don't even remember how many months were on it!"
"You're screwed. It's only two days away."
"TODOROKI YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" The electric-quirk user screamed. "She was gonna surprise him, and I DROPPED IT!"
"You're gonna die. Don't worry, I can start looking for gravestones."
"He's gonna find out, I accidentally left the present in the treehouse." Kaminari sobbed. "I'm dead...I'm so dead..."
Todoroki was on his phone, and a stressed Kaminari looked over his shoulder.
He was ordering a coffin.
Kaminari took a look at the coffin with a terrified look on his face, and then at Todoroki, who was making a slitting motion across his throat.
"KAMINARIIIIIIIII!" A certain purplette yelled from the dorms.
"She can hear us from this distance, remember?"
Kaminari went pale as a grappling hook was fired from one of the dorms, embedding itself right next to him. He then proceeded to book it as Kyoka began swinging after him.
"I GAVE YOU ONE FUCKING JOB!"
Todoroki lifted up his hand to salute a fallen classmate. "Farewell, my friend. The Musketeers will forever cherish your memory."
...
...
(Kyoka forgave him).
...
...
...
...
(After giving him a wedgie).