No Stand battle this chapter...just the racers going about their lives.
The rain had stopped, but the air still had a somber feel to it.
The group of four sat around a campfire, none of them said a word. Joseph looked at his great grandson, sorrow was etched onto Johnny's face, but he shed no tears. Gyro was sitting directly in front of the campfire, staring into the flames. Hot Pants was asleep...or at least she was pretending to be...
Joseph stood up and stretched, before pulling out his phone. They were in a shit load of trouble...and it was even worse with Mountain Tim gone.
He needed to make a call...
...
If there was any benefit to being a ghost imprisoned inside of a turtle, it was that you could get a cool room all to yourself.
Jean Pierre Polnareff grabbed his TV remote and sat down next to Jotaro. He had asked Giorno to decorate the room inside the turtle to his liking, and now he had his own miniature paradise. Jotaro would visit him inside the turtle on occasion, and this was one of those times.
"So...the Ex was behind all of this, huh?"
Polnareff offered his friend a beer, and Jotaro reluctantly took it. "Yeah...well, she was a part of it. I...didn't think she could get any worse...but she helped that bastard shoot my son. Worst of all...she ran all the way to America to be with that asshole boyfriend of hers. "
The Frenchman gritted his teeth. "If only I still had Silver Chariot...I would slice her to bits for what she has done...you know how happy I was when you made me Johnny's godfather?"
Jotaro smiled. "You wouldn't give the baby back, you almost kidnapped him. Gramps had to wrestle the poor kid out of your hands."
"Exactly! I love that kid! And now...I'm stuck in this turtle. I want to help, so much, but I can't do anything!"
"You don't have to, Polnareff. Johnny...has his own problems. He won't know about this...He can't know about this...I don't want to pile more shit on him than he already has...Gramps called, one of Johnny's allies was killed."
Polnareff's face darkened. "It's just like Egypt...he really is following in your footsteps...in every sense. "
"You're right Polnareff...I never wanted this for him. I didn't want to discourage his dreams, so I let him attend U.A...but, I don't want him to end up like me."
"A hero who saved the world?"
"A big bundle of PTSD and depression."
"Ah..."
Jotaro put his head in his hands. "I'm...worried for him, Polnareff. What if he dies? What if he doesn't, but he lives his life full of regret, like me? What if-"
"Enough of the 'what ifs' Jotaro. They will only make things worse. Your son is alive, and he has your grandfather there to help him. He isn't alone, and you need to have faith in him. Your son is a Joestar after all...even if he isn't in the best condition."
"I know..."
That's when a knock was heard on the top of the turtle's shell. "Dr. Kujo? Are you in there with Mr. Polnareff?"
Jotaro's head popped out of the turtle, startling a certain Momo Yayorouzu.
"What is it, Yayorouzu?"
"Well...Mr. Aizawa was busy, and I need some...advice. Is it okay if I..."
Jotaro sighed. "Yare yare daze...come inside the turtle."
"Um...how do I-"
"Just stick your hand in the key on it's back."
Mono reluctantly did so, and found herself inside a room decorated with swords and assorted knick knacks. "Hello Mr. Polnareff."
" Yayorouzu! Good to see you! "
Jotaro made his way over to a seat and motioned for Momo to sit down. "What was it you wanted to ask?"
"How do I...I have been having trouble with my confidence lately...and it's starting to bring me down. How do I deal with this?"
A sympathetic look came across Jotaro's face. "Is this about your loss to Tokoyami at the Sports Festival?"
"It's not just that! The only thing I did at my internship was pose for a camera! I...I came to this school on recommendation...and it seems like I am failing at every turn. I...I feel like I don't deserve it! I want to do well...I want to live up to everybody's expectations, but I can't!"
Tears went down her face, this was the first time she had ever confessed these feelings to anybody. Then she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Jotaro lifted his hat to meet her eyes.
"Yayorouzu. You are one of, if not the most brightest students in Class 1A. But you are also just that, a student...you're still new to this. You can't just walk into U.A and expect to be a pro hero right off the bat, these things take time. You have plenty of time to learn and grow...so don't rush to grow up so fast. You will fail, it happens. It happens to pros all the time."
Jotaro looked down. "I failed to protect my son from my enemies, and as you know, I took it pretty hard. But I got back up, because I didn't want to let you guys down. You will inevitably fail, but what matters is whether or not you get back up."
Momo wiped a tear from her face and smiled at her teacher. "You always know the right things to say, Dr. Kujo. This is why you're my favorite teacher."
Jotaro felt the heat rising to his cheeks, so he pulled his hat down over his eyes. "Yare yare...you should head home Yayorouzu, the school day is almost over." Momo nodded and exited the turtle.
Jotaro glanced at Polnareff, and saw that his friend was giving him a 'you do care' look.
"Yakamashi, Polnareff..."
"I didn't say anything..."
...
"We need to make you look spiffy, Johnny!" Joseph said as they walked down the street.
"What's the point, I look ridiculous enough in this wheelchair." Johnny muttered.
"You, are a handsome young man, and it is time for you to look the part! There is a big party at I-Island, Johnny, you need to look your best!"
Johnny sighed, he knew better than to try and talk the old man out of things when he got like this. They entered a store for fancy suits, and Johnny wanted to puke.
Johnny was very casual. He didn't really like to be in the spotlight...unless it was hero work...and he had no chance of doing that anymore, so yeah, he just didn't like being in the spotlight. He was the type of guy that would throw on jeans and a hoodie and call it a day, but Joseph and Gyro insisted on buying him a suit.
Johnny wheeled around the store, giving each outfit a bored look as he endured the torture.
Then he wheeled around a corner, and came face first with Diego Brando.
"Oh!...Kujo."
"Diego."
The two sat in the middle of the tuxedos in an awkward silence. How could you make small talk with a man who tried to kill you?
Finally, Diego spoke up. "I...heard about Mountain Tim..."
" ... "
"You know, despite the fact that he threatened me at gunpoint...he really did seem like a good man...he didn't deserve what he got."
" ...what's your point, Diego? "
"I...I've been thinking about what you said after you were strangling me...I want to turn over a new leaf. I want to believe you, that there's good in me...Valentine labeled me a traitor...I think it's time I chose a side."
Johnny took a deep breath. "If your asking if you can travel with us...we need all the help we can get, so you can...at least in my opinion. But remember what I said-"
"I know...thank you...for giving me a second chance." Diego pulled out his cap, he had removed the DIO from it. "I'm done letting that man define my life...come, I'll help you look for a suit, I think I know one you would look great in."
Johnny blinked. Am I...actually making friends with Diego Brando? I don't want to get my hopes up...but if he isn't tricking me...
Johnny followed the British Jockey.
...
"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!" Kyoka's earphone jaxks flew towards their target, but Crazy Diamond just batted them away and readied a fist, sending it towards his prodigy.
Kyoka backflipped away from Josuke's jab and dragged her hand along the ground of Dagobah beach, and when the stand raced to hit her, she threw sand straight into Crazy Diamond's eyes, knowing that the effect would extend to it's user. Josuke winced, but he kept his eyes open despite the pain. Crazy Diamond stomped on the ground, kicking up sand in every direction. Then it began pummeling the same filled air around it.
"DORARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARARA!"
Kyoka opened her eyes, and found that she was staring at a giant sand castle. "Really?!"
"This is my sanctuary, hero! You can never get me in here!"
Kyoka plugged a jack into her boot, and unleashed a soundwave at the castle, causing the sand to collapse around her mentor. Josuke's voice came out in a muffled scream, causing Kyoka to erupt in laughter at his misfortune.
Crazy Diamond burst through the sand, and Josuke glared at her as he brushed sand out of his hair.
"Come on Mr. Josuke, what's with that dirty look?"
Josuke narrowed his eyes. "That's it. I'm not taking you out for ice cream."
"Wait-"
"Too late, you hurt my feelings."
Kyoka huffed and sat down in the sand. "Good job Jiro! You've made a lot of progress in your fighting style!" Izuku yelled from the bench. Kyoka gave a wave in his direction.
Josuke got the last of the sand out of his hair. "So...I hear you're going to I-Island with All Might, is that true Midoryia?"
"Yeah!"
"Hey, I'm going too! Yaomomo had some extra tickets to the expo, so the girls gambled for them, and I got one."
"Wow, that's great!"
Josuke smiled. "Well, then it looks like the two of you have something to look forward to. Oh, and I'm not actually angry at you, just in case you were concerned."
"I know, Mr. Josuke. You only get angry when someone insults your hair."
"Hey! I'm getting better at that! Anyway...you've grown a lot Kyoka, not many quirk users can go toe to toe with a stand user and live to tell the tale."
Kyoka flushed with embarrassment. "You were taking it easy on me."
"Strength-wise, yes. But Takuma Hasumi certainly wasn't."
"Yeah..."
Kyoka and Izuku's phones went off at the same time, which could only mean one thing.
Stinky Cheese: I just farted in Johnny's room, and then I locked the door.
Wheels: I am this close to shooting you.
Earwax: How did it smell, JoJo?
Earwax: Okay, out of all the names.
Wheels: You started this war, Kyoka. You drew first blood.
Lettuce: All my names are just vegetables. :(
Wheels: Well at least your name doesn't represent your life.
Earwax: JOJO!
Wheels: It's a joke. I'm joking.
Kyoka shook her head. "I'm gonna kill him."
...
Diego was ironing his suit, getting ready for the big event.
He would never admit it, but he really did want to make amends, and he was glad that Johnny was willing to give him a second chance.
"Are you sure we can trust him, Johnny?"
Diego raised an eyebrow. Do they know I can hear them?
"No, don't get me wrong Gramps, I don't trust him...yet. But I'm willing to give him a chance."
"Alright..."
"You two do know that Scary Monsters enhances my hearing, right? "
"..."
...
Wolfram walked in front of his men.
"Okay...you all know what the stakes are. We get that quirk enhancer from Sheild, and we are in the clear. Any questions?"
A hand raised.
"Ah yes, our new friend. What is it?"
"Will Joseph Joestar be there?"
Wolfram raised an eyebrow.
"Yes...he's accompanying his crippled grandson in the Steel Ball Run...why do you ask?"
Santana lowered his hand. "It's personal..."
...
"Well...didn't expect the boat."
The racers were leading their horses onto a series of boats. The Joestar group, now including Diego, had just finished loading theirs.
"You coming old man?" Johnny asked.
Joseph shook his head, while Wekapipo walked up next to him. "Me and Mr. Joestar aren't racers, so we are forced to travel separately. Not to worry, Mr. Joestar was kind enough to rent a plane for the both of us."
" A plane...? "
Joseph nodded. "Don't worry Johnny, it'll be fine!"
The two of them began walking away.
"Wekapipo..."
They couldn't hear him.
"Wekapipo, wait!"
It was too late, they were out of earshot.
Gyro raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"Gramps + plane = kaboom, 98 percent of the time."
"Oh...well, Wekapipo's dead."
Hot Pants sighed. "Cut it out, you two. They'll be fine..."
"You don't know Joseph Joestar like I do."
Gyro turned to Hot Pants. "So...dress or tux?"
"You'll have to find out, Gyro."
Gyro turned to Diego. "Dress or tux?"
Diego's eye twitched. "You are already making this redemption arc difficult, Zeppeli."
Johnny grinned and shook his head. "Yare yare daze..."
I-Island...here we come.
