"Is that Godzilla?!" Gyro asked, pointing towards the giant lizard that was walking down the street like a normal person.
"No Gyro, his quirk just makes him look like Godzilla."
"Man, I-Island is full of colorful characters, Nyo ho!"
"Yeah, including us."
Gyro grinned. "The Italian cowboy, and the crippled hero student...we really are an unlikely duo, huh?"
"And we've come a long way."
"We aren't done yet, we still have to get me across that finish line in first place, hand the reassembled Corpse over to the Speedwagon Foundation, and piss in Valentine's coffee."
"...or we could not do the last one."
"Oh come on...it would be hilarious! After all he put us through, I think pissing in his coffee is the least we could do."
"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure taking a leak in the President's coffee is some sort of federal crime, so I would consider-"
"I'm pissing in his coffee, Johnny."
"No."
"Just watch, the moment he turns his back-"
"NO."
"I AM HERE! SLIGHTLY DISTURBED BY WHAT I OVERHEARD, BUT GREETING MY FORMER STUDENT REGARDLESS!"
"Jesus!" If Johnny could have jumped out of his wheelchair, he would have. All Might stood behind them, giving Johnny his ten million watt smile.
"Mr. Ya- All Might?! What are you doing here?" Johnny asked, to say he was surprised would be an understatement.
"I was invited to the expo! One of my old friends is involved, do you know David Shield?"
"Oh! Wasn't he your sidekick?"
"Yes! His daughter is currently giving young Midoryia a tour-"
"Izuku is HERE?!"
"Ha Ha! Calm down my boy! I'm sure he'll be just as excited to see you!"
Johnny turned around. "Gyro! Wheel me over to the museum, now!"
" ... "
"...Gyro?"
Gyro was busy staring at All Might with an expression of childlike wonder. Clearly, the Italian was a fan. Johnny sighed, and whistled for Slow Dancer.
The horse came running to her master, knocking over the starstruck Gyro in the process. "Hey, Johnny!" Johnny spun onto his horse, to All Might's surprise, and raced off.
"You forgot your wheelchair, dumbass! What are you gonna do, ride your horse in the building?!"
Gyro grabbed Johnny's wheelchair, stopped to give All Might an awkward wave, and raced after his friend, leaving the number one hero standing there with a confused expression.
What happened while Johnny was gone? Since when could he do that?
...
"Johnny!"
No response.
"Johnny you asshole! Where are you?!"
Gyro heard nothing. Wherever Johnny was, it wasn't in the museum. Who does he think he is, running away from me like that?
"Johnny! If you don't come out, I'm throwing your wheelchair in the ocean!"
Gyro ran around the corner, and smashed right into someone.
"Oof!"
"Maledetto!"
Gyro fell to the ground, followed by whoever he bumped into. "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Gyro said.
"It's alright, it is my fault as well. "
A hand was offered, and Gyro took it, but wasn't prepared to come face to face with the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. "Whoa..."
The girl had black hair tied up in a ponytail, and judging from her...revealing costume, it was clear that she was a hero of some sort. The girl raised an eyebrow. "Whoa?"
"Oh! Um...sorry, just...we really rammed into each other, had to catch my balance."
"Oh dear, I apologize! Are you hurt? I can make-"
"No, I'm fine. I've been hurt a lot worse than a bump on the head, although I appreciate your concern."
The girl sighed. "Okay...well, I'm glad you are alright."
Gyro scratched his head. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to see a guy riding around on his horse, horseshoe beanie? Brown hair? He uh, left his wheelchair behind."
The girl shook her head. "I'm afraid not."
"Well...if you see him, let me know, okay?"
"Of course, what is your name?"
"Gyro Zeppeli."
The girl smiled. "Momo Yayorouzu, if I see him, you'll be the first to know."
Gyro watched Momo walk away, his eyes taking in her form as she turned the corner. "Nyo ho!"
...
Kyoka waited for Momo to return. The creation quirk user had left to go to the bathroom, and Kyoka had to wait with Uraraka.
This was awkward, considering the gravity girl had been giving her dirty looks as of late.
Kyoka didn't have any idea as to why Uraraka has been on edge around her, but she was pretty sure she didn't do anything wrong. She could feel Uraraka's eyes on her back right now, and it was making her uncomfortable.
"I'm back." Momo rounded the corner, and Kyoka breathed a sigh of relief. Her friend looked a bit...flustered, as Kyoka noticed. "What's wrong, Yaomomo? "
"Oh...nothing."
The three girls made their way through the museum, only to see Izuku Midoryia with a pretty blonde. Kyoka's eyebrows raised, before a slight grin came across her face. My ammunition senses are tingling...
"You look like you're having fun, Deku..."
"U-Uraraka?!"
"It looks like you're having fun..."
"You said that already."
Kyoka wiggled her eyebrows. "Sorry Midoryia, are we interrupting your date?" Kyoka took delight in watching him squirm. She knew the poor guy barely had the confidence to talk to girls, let alone ask one out, but it was funny to mess with him.
"No no no no no! You've got it all wrong! This is Melissa Shield, she's been showing me around the island!"
Melissa stepped forward, clearly amused. "Hi, it's nice to meet you all!"
...
"Johnny you fucker!"
Johnny turned around to see Gyro running at him while carrying his wheelchair over his head. "Oh, you finally caught up." The Italian gave him a dirty look. "I almost ran over a pretty girl searching for your crippled ass."
Johnny raised an eyebrow. Pretty girl?...yare yare...once a Zeppeli, always a Zeppeli.
"Well, I couldn't find Izuku...so I guess we should get something to eat to pass the time."
"Oh sure, deflect my anger with food."
"It always works."
Gyro tried to keep his angry expression, but he just couldn't. "Damn it, you know my weakness." Gyro hung Johnny's wheelchair on Slow Dancer, and whistled for Valkyrie. Once Gyro's horse arrived, the two proceeded to ride through the streets, looking for food.
"Hey, is that Johnny Kujo?!"
Johnny's eyebrows knit together, before a crowd of girls surrounded him and Gyro.
"I've been rooting for you two since the beginning!"
"I love an underdog!"
"You're so handsome!"
"Italian heartthrobs are the best! "
Gyro turned to Johnny. "I think we have fans..."
Johnny looked like he wanted to tie a bag of rocks around his lame legs, and throw himself in the ocean.
...
"Wow, you worked on a murder case?!" Melissa exclaimed.
"Well, I only got to help with the investigating part, but yeah, I guess I did." Kyoka lied, again. The only people who knew about the real events of her internship were Josuke, Izuku, and Johnny. Of course she had to tell Johnny, why wouldn't she?
Momo sighed. "I only did a commercial..."
"Don't worry Yaomomo, there's always next time." Kyoka attempted to console her friend.
Before Momo could respond, Kyoka's phone went off, and Johnny was the caller.
Kyoka motioned with her finger, indicating that she had to take it.
"Hey JoJo, what's up?"
"Jiro, put it on speaker, I want to speak with him too."
Johnny's voice came from the phone. "Was that Yaomomo?"
"Yes. Hi JoJo, it's been a while!"
"I'm here too!" Izuku shouted from the table over.
" *audible exhale* of course you are...so, I need some advice."
"Sure, ask away."
"So, there's this girl..."
Kyoka felt her heart drop to her stomach. Was Johnny asking her for advice on how to ask someone out? Did he find someone during the race? Why did she care?
"I'm trying to get her attention. You see, it's someone I know, a real good friend of mine that I haven't seen in person for a while. The issue is...she doesn't know I'm behind her, what's the best way to get her attention?"
Okay...not asking someone out...that's good...
Again...why do I care?
"Um...throw something at her?"
"Are you sure? Is that really the best course of action?"
"Yeah, just throw something at her."
Gyro's voice came, not from the phone, but behind her. "Well, she asked for it."
What?
That's when a peanut hit her in the back of her head. "OW!...wait a second..."
Kyoka whirled around, and Johnny Kujo was grinning at her from the back of a horse.
In person...
"I got her attention, what's next?"
"You...you..."
Kyoka charged towards Johnny and yanked him off of his horse, crushing him in a hug. "You asshole, you're...you're here. I can't believe it..." Johnny smiled and returned the embrace, while Gyro watched in the background.
Izuku was having a conversation with Kaminari and Mineta, when Mineta suddenly had a panicked look on his face, and Kaminari's jaw dropped, pointing at the scene unfolding. Izuku turned his head.
Is Jiro hugging someone...why is there a horse...Gyro?!...no it can't be...
"JOJO!"
Izuku came running up to his childhood friend and literally stole him from Kyoka, earning a bemused look from the teenaged musician. Johnny laughed and embraced his friend, no...his brother. "Hey Izuku!"
Momo looked on, touched by the reunion, when she noticed that Gyro was standing with them. Oh, so that's who he was looking for.
Gyro walked up to Kyoka and offered his hand, and she took it, giving him a firm handshake. "It's nice to finally meet you in person, Jiro!"
"Same here Meatball."
Izuku finally put Johnny down, and the paraplegic removed his wheelchair from his horse. Melissa's eyes widened. "Oh! You're Johnny Kujo! And you're Gyro Zeppeli!"
Gyro raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, how does everyone know us around here?"
"We've all been watching the Steel Ball Run, of course!"
Kyoka blinked. "You can watch it?!"
"Yeah, it's being livestreamed online, didn't you know that?"
"So...we could've been watching them race this entire time?"
"Yeah." Melissa turned to Johnny and grabbed his hand. Gyro glanced at Kyoka and saw that she was making a funny face. Real subtle there...
"You have been especially inspiring, Johnny. The fact that you chose to race, despite your condition, it has given hope to those who had none."
"Really?"
"Yes! There's like, a whole movement going on, and it's all about supporting you! You may have lost out on being a pro, but you're inspiring others to be better, and if that isn't a hero, I don't know what is."
Johnny looked down. "Thank you...I didn't think anyone would bother paying attention to me."
"Johnny, throughout this whole race, you've been the ultimate underdog. People love underdogs." Gyro said.
Melissa turned to Gyro. "And let's not forget the mysterious Italian heartthrob that took him under his wing."
"Heart...throb?"
"Well, that's what the media is calling you."
Johnny snorted. "Heartthrob...would a heartthrob hotbox me?"
"It was funny and you know it."
"It was unpleasant, disgusting, and entirely uncalled for."
Kyoka cleared her throat. "While I'm sure we'd love to continue talking about Gyro's farts, I can hear Iida coming...aaaand he just saw you, he's running faster."
Sure enough, the class representative came to a grinding halt in front of Johnny. "JoJo my friend, what a welcome surprise! And Zeppeli, it's good to finally meet you!" Iida began shaking Gyro's hand so stiffly, that Gyro was surprised neither of their arms broke off.
The group then separated, with an assigned time to come together with their formal wear on. Gyro and Johnny saddled up, and Kyoka accompanied them.
"I...still can't believe you guys are here." Kyoka said.
"I know! When I saw you I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming...we haven't actually seen each other since-"
"The Hospital."
Johnny smiled, but it was a sadder smile, Kyoka noted. "A lot has happened since then." Kyoka frowned. "You sound like you guys have been through a lot."
"Well...people have been trying to kill us every other day...and honestly, it feels like the danger is only growing." Gyro responded.
"I know...I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried sick, but I know better than to doubt you guys...I mean, you've lived so far, right?"
Johnny frowned. I know she means well, but she wasn't there. We could have easily died multiple times...hell, I could kick the bucket tomorrow for all I know. She doesn't understand...but she can't understand, ever...
No one my age should ever have to go through something like this.
"JoJo? You're spacing out."
"Oh, sorry! Just thinking..."
Gyro stretched, "Well, I got to take a piss, be right back."
Gyro ran to a nearby outhouse, leaving Johnny and Kyoka alone.
"So...what are you wearing for the party tonight?" Kyoka asked.
"A tux that an...acquaintance helped me pick it out, you?"
"Yaomomo has a dress for me...I'm not really sure I want to wear it though, not really my style."
"I'm sure you'll be fine."
"I'm not really the type of girl that would look good in a dress, JoJo."
"Please, you look great without one, you'll look great in one."
Then Johnny realized what he just said. Kyoka turned redder than a tomato and began sputtering out a series of incoherent words. Johnny felt the heat rise up to his cheeks. Oh no.
"Th-that wasn't f-flirting or anything! I was j-just complimenting you! That's all!"
"Y-yeah! I knew that!"
Did, did he really just say that he thought I looked...great? No, you heard him Kyoka, he was just being nice, there's no way he would ever think that way about you.
BOOM!
Johnny blinked, and the sighed. "Yare yare...Katsuki?"
"Probably."
...
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, DEKU?!"
"I-I-I..."
"16 SECONDS...NEW REC-what do you mean you want my microphone? O-okay, big fan by the way."
"Come one, come all! And see the world's angriest flying ferret!"
Katsuki turned his head, seething. "I'M NOT A FUCKI-"
Johnny sat in the middle of the arena, microphone in his hand and a spy grin on his face. Katsuki jumped away from Izuku and stomped his way over.
"You've got some nerve, Leg Day, showing up here like that."
"I missed you too, Koochski."
"Tch! Whatever!"
Kyoka walked up to Johnny. "You just going to let him call you that?"
"Yeah, it's Katsuki. He's always going to be an asshole, may as well just accept it."
Kyoka made a face. "Well I don't like it. You've been through too much, and it feels like he's shitting all over it."
"Kyoka...everybody who isn't my friend is shitting all over it. I'm being called an underdog for a reason, you know."
"How many people have made fun of you?"
"...a lot. People are saying that Gyro is just carrying me through the race, trying to reclaim my former glory and all that shit, calling me pathetic for trying...I've just learned to ignore it."
"The next time someone insults you, I'm going to kick them in the balls."
Johnny sighed. If he knew Kyoka, that wasn't a meaningless threat, but a promise.
"Well, since I can't do that, I'll leave it to you."
"JOHNNY!"
Gyro came running up. "Stop running off you asshole! Jesus!"
"Sorry Gyro, wasn't paying attention."
"No shit!"
"Oh lay off of him Gyro, he hasn't seen us in a while." Kyoka said.
Gyro sighed. "I know, I know. You just can't blame me for getting nervous when you suddenly disappear. Don't forget we're still being hunted."
"I said I'm sorry Gyro, I'll be more careful."
"Good, because Mr. Joestar and Wekapipo are here. They didn't crash the plane, believe it or not."
"Well that's good news."
...
Momo brushed through her friend's hair.
It took ages to convince Kyoka to wear a dress, but now she was helping her get ready.
Get ready for Johnny, that is.
Momo smiled. It was obvious Kyoka had a bit of a thing for the Joestar, ever since the USJ. The way she lit up when he was brought up, the way she reacted when Johnny got hurt, and the fact that she has maintained contact with him when the rest of the class has been a bit...lackluster in doing so.
Kyoka was her best friend, Momo could see right through her attempts to cover it up: she was crazy about him.
Kyoka probably didn't even realize it herself, which is why Momo was going to help her realize her feelings for him.
She finished brushing Kyoka's hair to the side, and put a little pink flower into her hair. "There, all done."
"I don't feel comfortable."
Momo laughed. "Well you've always been so casual! It takes some getting used to, that's all."
Momo brought Kyoka in front of the mirror. "Look."
Kyoka knitted her eyebrows together. She looked...different, not pretty, but different. She looked down at the pink dress that Momo gave her. It felt...off.
"You look beautiful, Kyoka."
"Sure, whatever you say, Yaomomo."
Kyoka was pretty sure she'd never look beautiful. She turned an grabbed the jacket from her hero costume. "I'm wearing the jacket."
"But-"
"I'm wearing. The. Jacket."
Momo giggled. Well, at least I made some progress. "All right."
...
"COME HERE ASSHOLE!"
"NO!"
Johnny crawled away as Gyro chased him with a hairbrush. "YOU NEED TO GROOM YOURSELF, YOUR HAIR IS FULL OF KNOTS!"
"I WASH IT, ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?!"
"IF YOU'RE GONNA GROW YOUR HAIR OUT, YOU NEED TO BRUSH IT!"
"I WAS WEARING A HAT!"
"WELL YOU'RE NOT WEARING THE HAT NOW, ARE YOU?!"
"NO! YOU RIPPED IT OFF MY HEAD!"
"LET ME MAKE YOU PRESENTABLE!"
Johnny began crawling out of the room. "YOU'RE ASSAULTING THE DISABLED!"
"I'LL SHOW YOU ASSAULTING THE DISABLED IF YOU DON'T GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!"
Gyro grabbed Johnny's legs and dragged him back into the room.
"HELP ME!"
...
Gyro came out in his suit. He was wearing a purple dress shirt and a green vest. His hat was gone, and his long blonde hair was done in a ponytail. "What do you think, Johnny?"
"That Batman would like to have a talk with you."
"Oh fuck off, it looks good!"
Johnny was wearing a light blue dress shirt and a black vest. His head felt like it was on fire from his hard Gyro brushed it, but it was combed neatly. His hair had grown throughout the Steel Ball Run, now it reached his shoulders. Gyro had pimped his wheelchair, it was now covered in neon lights and glitter, much to Johnny's annoyance.
"Did we have to include the wheelchair in my makeover?"
"No, but it's funny."
"I think you look great, JoJo!" Iida said, giving Johnny a thumbs up.
"I feel like a disco ball..."
Momo and Kyoka came into the room. "Sorry we're late, Jiro was a little shy."
Kyoka was hiding behind her friend with an embarrassed look on her face, while Kaminari and Mineta began cheering. Kyoka slowly came out from behind Momo, and her eyes drifted towards Johnny.
Only to find him face down on the floor. As soon as he saw Kyoka in a dress, he had attempted to go over to her, only for his wheelchair to get snagged on something, and the paraplegic Joestar fell out of his wheelchair.
Kyoka giggled as she made her way over to Johnny, kneeling down and extending her hand. "Need help, klutz?"
Johnny raised his head from the ground, meeting her eyes. "You look amazing."
Kyoka became flustered. "O-oh, I don't kn-know about t-that."
"Kyoka, take the compliment and help me up."
Kyoka blushed as she wrapped her arms around her friend and pulled, her face got even hotter as she felt his body press against hers as she set him into his wheelchair. Why the hell are you getting all flustered Kyoka, it's JoJo. He's your friend, and that's all he is to you.
Right?
"Kyoka? You good?"
"Oh um...yeah, just...I'm not used to wearing stuff like this...it feels like a costume."
"Well at least you aren't wearing a T-shirt!" Kaminari exclaimed, giving her a thumbs up. "She looks like a female assassin." Mineta mumbled.
Kyoka jabbed them both.
Melissa came in. "Sorry I'm late guys! Deku, looking sharp! Oh, Johnny and Gyro! You guys look great too!"
"Great and disabled."
*jab*
"OW!"
"Don't talk about yourself like that, idiot."
Melissa chuckled. "I mean it, Johnny. You look like a celebrity!"
"I'm trying to think of crippled celebrities without being offensive."
Kyoka's jacks hovered menacingly over Johnny's head.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop! Thank you Melissa, you look pretty."
He thinks she looks pretty?
Gyro once again looked at Kyoka. I see you, Jiro.
The Italian grinned. "Alright everyone! Me and Johnny have to meet up with some of our friends from the race, but we'll see you on the dance floor!"
Gyro briefly glanced at Momo.
Just then, large metal plates covered the doors, and an alarm blared over the startled group.
"Emergency Lockdown: Engaged"
"Fuck my life." Johnny muttered.
