Crowriver: I'm going to be 100% honest, I forgot. I pulled an Araki (That's a joke, please don't kill me) and I forgot Shizuka. I am extremely disappointed in myself, but I managed to come up with a solution.

She's at school. She's slightly younger than Johnny, so she's still in middle school in America. She grew up with Johnny, so she is just as much of a sister to him as Jolyne. Unlike Johnny, she doesn't really want to be a hero, she actually wants to take over Joseph's realty business when he gets old again.

Guest: Yes, it most certainly has.

PhantomKnightPercival: I really appreciate this. Comments like these are why I'm still writing.

TheSBRquestioner: Maybe he will...maybe he won't.

Kyoka was sitting on a bench in her hero costume, playing with her jacks as the events of her phone call with Johnny were playing through her head. His face after she told him what his mother was doing was stuck in her head, playing on repeat. He had simply said "I have to go" and hung up, leaving Kyoka staring at an empty screen.

Oh, how she wished that she could be there for him. Wrap her arms around him and tell him that everything was going to be okay, that she was there.

But she wasn't there for him, not really. He was on the other side of the world, in the middle of the desert getting hunted for something that wasn't his fault. She didn't blame Gyro for that of course, it wasn't his fault he got a price on his head, but her friend was in real pain.

Not only from losing his hero career before it even began, but from seeing the effect it had on his family. Kyoka just couldn't stop picturing his face. The look on his eyes, the way his eyebrows raised, and then knit together. The raw emotion that she saw come from him, it bothered her, it bothered her a lot.

Maybe it was the hero in her...Kyoka's eyes hardened as she came to a resolution: I will save you JoJo, just as you saved me...no matter what!I

"Excuse me, Kyoka Jiro?"

Kyoka looked up at the direction at the speaker, and she immediately knew who he was related to.

He looked a hell of a lot like Johnny, except his hair was black, and combed into a pompadeur hairstyle. He wore a white leather jacket that was adorned with two pins that were shaped like a heart and a peace sign. He had a yellow undershirt, and his blue eyes shown with a kind glint.

He looks like some freaky amalgamation of JoJo and Prince. Kyoka noted. She stood up and bowed. "Yes sir! I'm honored to be working with you!"

The man waved his hands in front of him. "Hey hey hey! No need to be so formal! My name's Josuke Higashikata, but you can just call me Josuke. I'm gonna be showing you a bit of the ropes, so you can follow me."

Kyoka followed Josuke through the streets of Morioh, taking in the scenery. It was honestly a beautiful town, a cool breeze blew through as seagulls flew through the air, and the people looked so content to simply walk around and take in the view. Kyoka followed Josuke as the passed a rock that almost resembled a face.

"Yo, Angelo."

"What?"

Josuke smiled. "I'll uh...tell you later."

Kyoka stared at the deformed rock, before shrugging and saying, "Yo Angelo" and following her new mentor. It could have been her imagination, but she could've sworn she heard the rock growl...

"Oi, Josuke!" A familiar looking guy came running up to the two of them. He had vertical scars going down his face, and his beady eyes gleamed with excitement as he ran up to them. Then Kyoka remembered.

"Hey, aren't you the guy who was eating a Big Mac in the bushes when I went to the movies with JoJo?" Okuyasu frowned. "Hey! I accidentally brought it into the movie theatre! I didn't want to get in trouble if I ate it in there!"

"But why the bushes?"

"They have cameras!"

"Yeah, but you would be outside the building, so you wouldn't have gotten in trouble." Josuke explained. Okuyasu opened his mouth to retort, only to realize that Josuke wasn't wrong. "Shit!"

"Anyway, this is Okuyasu Nijimura, my right hand man. Literally. He's kind of a dummy, but he's pretty good where it counts! Okuyasu, this is Earphone Jack, our new intern."

Suddenly, a green haired man with a combover and a headband appeared behind Okuyasu, carrying a painting canvas. "Don't run off on me like that, you dolt! You scared off the pigeon I was drawing!"

Josuke leaned over towards Kyoka's ear and whispered, "That's Rohan Kishibe, famous manga artist and Morioh's resident snob. He's basically a real life version of Squidward." Kyoka snorted at the comparison. Rohan, who had heard Josuke's comment, turned to retort, only to light up when he spotted Kyoka. "Ah! You must be the new intern! I would have introduced myself, but Josuke seems to have DONE THAT FOR ME!" Rohan glared at said Joestar, who offered a simple shrug. Rohan shook his head and turned his attention back to Kyoka. "Ever since I saw your quirk at the Sports Festival, I've wanted to draw it. Your earphone jacks are so...precise, and yet at the same time they are strangely elegant, beautiful even. Do you mind if I take a photo for reference?"

"Um...sure." Kyoka didn't know whether to feel flattered, or creeped out.

"Well...she can do that later. I'm taking her on patrol now." Josuke said, grabbing Kyoka by the wrist and leading her away from the manga artist. Josuke let go and walked beside her. "So...you and Johnny seem close."

"He's my best friend."

Josuke nodded, a smile coming onto his face. "He was saying some pretty great things about you, and from what I saw at the Sports Festival, I don't doubt it." Kyoka blushed. "I'm sure he was just being nice."

"No, if I know my nephew, he usually means what he says. He doesn't bullshit when it comes to stuff like that."

"Josuke!" A somewhat short guy with grey hair came running up to them, a tall woman with long black hair trailing behind him. "Koichi! Oh, and Yukako too, what is it?"

"We have a lead on the red scratch killer! Tell him, Chiho."

A woman walked out from behind Yukako and approached Josuke, tears in her eyes. "Takuma...Takuma Hasumi is the killer. He is my boyfriend...I saw him do it. He...He was going to kill me too." Josuke put a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, we'll get him. I promise. "

Josuke turned to Koichi. "Contact the Speedwagon Foundation, let them know we have to hide Chiho here for her protection. " Koichi nodded and ran off, leaving Yukako standing there. "KOICHI! DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE YOUR FIANCE BEHIND!" She screamed as she chased after him. "And you!" Josuke pointed at Kyoka, causing her to jump. Josuke smiled, "Come with me, you're gonna help me solve a murder."

Kyoka's heart soared. Her first internship...and she was already helping with a murder case! Kyoka grinned from ear to ear and nodded her head. Together, she and Josuke bolted to the library.

...

"Hmm...town records indicate he's been living in Morioh for most of his life. But that doesn't give us jack shit about a motive." Josuke wondered as he paced back and forth, running a comb through his hair. Kyoka was equally as stumped. Then she found something interesting. "Mr. Josuke, it says here that he was from an orphanage." Josuke paused, and rushed over to the book. "Lemme see..."

Sure enough, the perp is an orphan. "Abandoned in a temple? That's just asking for him to be demon spawn."

Josuke pondered some more. "There is a method to his madness. He seems to be working his way up to somebody, almost as if he was practicing..."

Kyoka tapped her forehead. "Do you think he could be going after the people who abandoned him?"

"YES! HA HA! You're amazing kid! That has to be his motive!" Josuke patted Kyoka affectionately on the shoulder, causing her to beam with pride.

"Crazy Diamond! Had a feeling I would run into you today!"

Josuke turned to see the Pro Hero Death Arms walking up to him. "Death Arms! I assume you're investigating the murders too?"

"Well...I was, but now I'm taking my new intern on patrol in the area. Hope you don't mind, I know Morioh is your turf and all..."

Josuke furrowed his brow. "I don't have a problem with it. Since when did heroes have turf? Aren't we all trying to help people?"

Death Arms nodded. "Sure, sure...it's just that certain areas make a bit more money than others, I thought that's why you settled down here, since villainous stand users appear in Morioh every other week."

"I settled down in Morioh because it's my home, and I made a promise to protect it. I don't really give a damn about the money, it's mostly just a means to an end."

Death Arms laughed. "Then you're still pretty naive, rookie. The world doesn't work on honor alone. I assume that's why you're actually letting your intern help you?"

"Why wouldn't I let her, she needs the experience."

"Her quirk isn't exactly cut out for this kind of thing, Diamond. You probably should've picked someone else if you wanted to get something done."

Kyoka felt her heart sink as all of her insecurities came flooding back to her. Here was a pro, saying that she couldn't do it. Maybe Johnny was wrong, maybe she really wasn't all that great.

"Hey, that's a step too far. She's already been more of a help in this investigation than you have, so I wouldn't talk."

"I haven't actually tried yet."

"WHY NOT?! People are DYING, isn't that more important than making a quick buck?"

"Says the guy who's clearly putting all of his money into his hairstyle."

CRACK!

Kyoka watched, horrified, as a massive armored stand emerged from Josuke and punched Death Arms right across the face. Her mentor's face was twisted into a mask of fury.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY ABOUT MY HAIR?!"

"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!"

Crazy Diamond mercilessly pummeled Death Arms, and with a finishing blow, Josuke punched Death Arms clear through a wall. "Death Arms!" A voice shouted out, and a wolf-like girl ran over to check on her twitching mentor.

Kyoka's blood went cold. That was Inu Ookami. Inu was one of the people that used to make fun of her in middle school.

"Look at them, they're like ugly little snakes!"

"Wonder what would happen if I tied them together..."

"Who would want her? She's flatter than a dinner plate, and those spaghetti noodles she calls ears would only drive people away."

"Ugly ass bitch."

Kyoka remembered her words all too well. She had heard them over and over again in her head for years, and they made her think things that made her feel even worse.

I'm ugly.

My quirk is useless.

My body is unappealing, nobody would ever want me.

These were the thoughts that Kyoka had come to accept as fact.

"HEY!"

Kyoka snapped out of it as her vision was filled with Josuke's concerned face. "Are you okay? Is there something I can do?" Kyoka's face felt wet, she must have been crying. Josuke pulled her into a hug. "Listen, I taught that bastard a lesson, he's never gonna say that shit about you again, capiche?"

Now Kyoka felt the tears coming, and she couldn't hold them in any longer. Josuke held her tight as she let it out. "Listen to me, I picked you for a good reason. I saw potential in you, and Johnny did too. You deserve to be here...I've been through a whole lot, and let me tell you, I know potential when I see it." Josuke brought her face to meet his. "I couldn't have found a better intern. When Death Arms called me a rookie, he didn't know what the hell he was talking about. I haven't been a rookie since 1999.

You know...you remind me of Koichi. He didn't really believe in himself either, even though he was already one of the most reliable guys I know. He also has sound based abilities, believe it or not."

"Really? "

"Yeah, he used to be scared out of his wits during stand battles...but he grew, he evolved, and now he's one of the most capable stand users in the Speedwagon Foundation. I can tell, you're more similar to him than you think."

Kyoka wiped her eye. "Thanks Mr. Josuke..."

"No problem!"

Suddenly, Josuke's phone went off, the ringtone was Okuyasu's voice yelling "Oi Josuke!" , much to Kyoka's amusement. Josuke's eyes widened, before a mischievous smirk came across his face. He turned to Kyoka. "Takuma Hasumi was spotted at Thorn Parlor...why don't we head down there and prove Donkey Kong wrong?"

Kyoka nodded. "Let's do it!"

...

"Hear anything suspicious Earphone Jack?" Josuke asked. Kyoka shook her head. "Nothing, if he's still here, he's staying still." Josuke nodded. "Okuyasu...come with me. Stay here for now, Earphone Jack, report if you hear anything that we should know about."

Kyoka nodded, and Josuke and Okuyasu entered the building. She focused her jacks on any potential sounds, that would indicate the villain's position. That's when she heard shuffling, but it wasn't coming from the building...

"I think the villain is outside..." Kyoka whispered into her walkie talkie.

"You sure?"

"Yeah...someone's hiding in the trees...it almost sounds like-"

A whooshing noise violated Kyoka's eardrums, and she quickly tilted her head to the side, a knife sliced her cheek as it embedded itself into the ground beside her. "THE VILLAIN'S ON ME!"

"WHA-" Josuke's voice was cut off as a second knife knocked the walkie talkie out of Kyoka's hand. Then when the villain revealed himself, his bowel cut flapping in the wind as he gave her an apathetic stare as he held another knife ready to throw. "So, this is Josuke's intern...must admit, you've got talent. Most people don't see me coming."

Kyoka backed up, fear etched it's way into her soul as the serial killer slowly approached her, wielding death in his hand. "Tell me, those ears...you could hear me coming, couldn't you? Interesting...it really is a shame I have to kill you, but Josuke has to learn his lesson somehow, right?"

Kyoka gritted her teeth and brandished her jacks. "I-I've fought villains before, this isn't anything new!" Takuma raised an eyebrow, "You've fought stand users before?"

"Yeah, I-" Kyoka froze. The last time she fought a stand user was...

The memory of a bullet hurtling toward her face went chills down her spine. The last time she fought a stand user was Magenta Magenta, the man who almost killed her at the USJ.

Oh God...I'm fucking screwed.

Takumi readied the knife, smiling. "You're bluffing, I can see the fear in your eyes. What has hero society come to these days? Sending fresh meat to die..."

Takumi threw, but the knife never made it to Kyoka.

Instead, a loud sound resembling a bass drop filled the air, and it fell into the waiting hand of a very pissed Okuyasu Nijimura. Okuyasu's beady eyes were wide with rage, and he snorted out steam. "Who the hell do you think you are, throwing knives at kids?!" I

Okuyasu's stand, The Hand, lifted it's right hand and swiped, teleporting Okuyasu right in front of Takumi, much to the serial killer's shock. Okuyasu used the momentum to tackle Takumi right through the exterior wall of the building, the two men rolling to a stop inside of a library.

Takumi tried to get up, but The Hand stomped on the back of his neck, pinning him down. "You think you could stab one of Johnny's friends in front'a me?! HUH?! I'll show you!"

The Hand began stomping up and down on Takumi's head, while Okuyasu shouted, "YOU LITTLE SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Okuyasu kicked a bloodied Takumi into a bookshelf, and the serial killer slumped to the floor.

Okuyasu looked back at Kyoka. "You okay? Your cheek is bleeding!"

"Fine, thanks to you. I owe you one."

Okuyasu smiled, giving Kyoka a thumbs up as he turned his attention back to the enemy stand user. Suddenly, Okuyasu's eyes went wide, and he began violently coughing, falling to his knees as Takumi propped himself back up, brandishing a book.

"This is my stand: The Book. It has all of my memories inside it, and anyone who looks at it will experience what I went through with those memories. Okuyasu Nijimura, I just gave you the influenza I had when I was nine."

"You have me...the fuckin' FLU?!" Okuyasu exclaimed between his rattled breaths. Okuyasu heaved as his eyes met Kyoka's, and he mouthed: Don't look, RUN, and find Josuke. Kyoka reluctantly nodded and ran off, but then she stopped when she looked back and saw Takumi raise his knife, ready to put Okuyasu out of his misery .

Okuyasu closed his eyes, bracing himself for death. Big bro...I'm comin' soon. But then he heard Takumi cry out in pain.

Kyoka came back, and she had stabbed one of her jacks into Takumi's hand, causing him to drop the knife. "Sorry Okuyasu...but I can't run away. I shouldn't have even considered it. Why would I run away like a little bitch baby, when this guy was going to kill you?! It should be the other way around! YOU should be running from ME, Takumi Hasumi! Because I'M A HERO TOO!"

And with that, Kyoka struck Takumi across the face, sending him reeling back with a gash on his face.

Like a whip...

Takumi brandished The Book at her, but Kyoka's eyes were closed. So the serial killer turned around and bolted, with Kyoka following close behind, only pausing to give Okuyasu an apologetic look as she chased him up the stairs, her eyes glued shut.

Just then, Josuke burst into the room, blood flowing from a wounded leg. "OKUYASU!" Module kneeled down to heal his friend, but Okuyasu grabbed his collar. "Earphone...jack...alone...needs...help."

Josuke nodded. "I'll come back for you!" Then Josuke hobbled up the stairs, desperate to catch up with his intern. Takumi had set up a homemade crossbow that was rigged to fire the moment a door was opened, and now Josuke had an arrow in his leg due to carelessness.

He could only hope that Earphone Jack could hold Takumi off until he got there...

...

Kyoka couldn't see, but she didn't need to.

She could hear everything around her as long as one of her jacks is plugged in. She heard another woosh, and she jumped to the left, heading the sound of an impact as knife hit wall. "You're immune to my stand as long as you close your eyes, but you cannot dodge forever!"

"You sure about that?" Kyoka responded. Then she heard him frantically climb the stairs to the roof, and she quickly followed him.

Right into a trap.

Takumi had thrown a knife right as she got through the doorway, there was no way she could move away in time, she was trapped by the door frame.

Kyoka screamed as a severed earphone jack fell to the floor.

...

"Hey Johnny."

"Hmm?"

"You seem out of it today, you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Gyro blinked. "You don't look like you're fine."

"I said I'm FINE, Gyro."

Gyro laid back down in his sleeping bag. "You know you can talk to me...right?"

"I know...yare yare...I'll tell you about it in the morning."

Gyro closed his eyes. "Alright then."

...

Kyoka fell to the ground, clutching her ear as Takumi stood victoriously above her, raising the knife above his head. "You fought well, Earphone Jack, but it appears as though I have outsmarted you."

Takumi brought his knife down, only for two earphone jacks to stab him in the eyes.

Emphasis on TWO.

She still had both of them. Kyoka uncovered her ear, revealing her very much intact earlobe. "I'd say that was a trick that JoJo would be proud of. I cut the cord on my headphones, so you'd think you cut one of my jacks off and get in close."

Takumi writhed around in pain as he attempted to reach for The Book, only for Kyoka's boot to stomp on his hand. Right then, said boot channeled the sound of her heartbeat directly into his face, causing the serial killer to squirm and scream even more. Takumi yanked his hand out from under Kyoka's boot and crawled to the edge of the roof, before aiming another knife.

"Oh no you don't! SOUNDWHIP BARRAGE!"

Kyoka's jacks smacked Takumi around, similar to a stand beatdown. Takumi buckled under the sheer force of the lashes, and Kyoka decided to add something a little extra:

"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!" Kyoka bellowed as she beat the serial killer to the ground.

"Holy shit!" Kyoka turned around to see Josuke staring at Takumi, and then at her, and then at Takumi again. Then he broke out into a huge smile. "Congrats! I told you that you were amazing!"

Kyoka looked down at the bruised and bloody Takumi, and that's when she realized what just happened:

She had beaten a vicious serial killer, all by herself. Josuke started sniffling as Kyoka turned to look at him. "Is something wrong Mr. Josuke?!"

"No! I'm just...proud. That's all."

She was using my battle cry! Oh my God, she looks up to me! I guess you were right Dad, maybe I am a good teacher after all!

Josuke walked over to Takumi and picked him up by the jacket. "And you, sir...are going to Tarturus."

Takumi grinned, spitting out blood in the process. "No, I'd prefer hell." With that, he ripped the jacket off and plummeted off the side of the building, despite Josuke's best attempts to catch him. Kyoka averted her eyes as she heard a loud thud.

...

Kyotoku Jiro waved at his daughter as she walked over to his car. "Bye Mr. Josuke! And thanks for everything!" Josuke waved back as she got in. " Hey! When you get to the work studies, you know who to call! "

"I will!"

"You got that training regimen I sent you?"

"Yeah!"

"Good! Stick to it, or else I'll let Rohan draw you!"

Kyoka stuck her tongue out at her mentor as her father started the car and drive away. "So...you have fun?" Kyotoku asked.

Kyoka grinned. "Yeah, I really did."