Anyone who talked about Konk: I love you.

Bearticguy7: Dude, I could fill a whole library at this point! How many good stands can one guy have?!

FinchFlyingAce: Go for it! You can even connect it back to my story of you really want to, I wouldn't mind! I'm just happy one of my characters caught somebody's interest!

Euphoria: :) I'd be spoiling too much.

Vamsi: Thank you!

AshenOne: He's an ape, why wouldn't it be covered in shit? As for cryptids and mythological creatures showing up in my story, I'm seriously considering it. As for A Legacy to Build, I'm having a bit of a creative block when it comes to that story, but I will update it eventually!

Guest: 1) Possibly 2) He might later 3) Not all the way

Other Guest?: I have something planned for our favorite serial killer/detective, but he won't be coming back to life.

Balancedgoose: This genuinely made me smile, thank you for such a kind review, and I'm honored that you like my story so much! I can definitely try adding Josuke a bit more, but Giorno is going to appear more in my Diego spinoff.


"Hairspray?"

"Todoroki, if you keep this up, I'm gonna shave that candy cane lookin' bowl cut off and turn it into a tapestry." Johnny said, his eye twitching. "Where the FUCK are those two?!"

"Calm down man, you're a little high strung." Kirishima said, putting a hand on Johnny's shoulder. "They might just be having some trouble."

"Or they're IN trouble..."

"If they don't get here soon, I'll just hang MYSELF!" Aoyama stated, and Johnny facepalmed. "Don't...don't word it like that..."

"I NEED CHEESE, STAT!" Aoyama yelled, running away.

"Someone's emotional." Todoroki remarked. "Dear Evan Hansen."

Johnny made a motion with his hands, as if he were going strangle the duel quirk user, but pressed his lips together and slowly forced them down. "Violence isn't the answer Johnny...just remain calm, you're worried about your friends...and this isn't a big deal."

"Eh, the movie was a little weird for me." Kirishima said, scratching the back of his head.

"You want to sing 'Waving Through a Window' JoJo, I know you do."

"Why are you so convinced that I'm a theatre kid? I have seriously NEVER even mentioned a musical ONCE, and I have given no indication that it is an interest of mine."

"You just seem like it."

"HOW?!"

"CATS, take it or leave it."

"Violence isn't the answer..." Johnny said to himself with a forced grin on his face. "It's the question, and the answer is YES!" The youngest Joestar proceeded to walk over to the sink in the kitchen area, ran water over a paper towel, and chucked the wet rag into Todoroki's face.

Todoroki didn't even say a word, he just stood there with a wad of wet paper towel on his forehead, staring at Johnny with a blank expression.

"The Little Mermaid."

"Todoroki...have YOU even seen any of these?" Johnny said, exasperated.

"I was never allowed to watch Disney movies, my father thought they would make me weak."

Johnny winced, remembering his own suffering at the hands of his mother. While most of the world didn't really know about the abuse Endeavor inflicted upon his family, Todoroki had recently shared some of it with him.

After Susan's crimes were revealed, Todoroki had decided to tell Johnny of his own childhood. While Endeavor at least had some affection for his son, training Todoroki as a child soldier greatly influenced Johnny's distain for the current number one hero.

Johnny hoped he would never have to work with the guy, he was Susan 2.0 in his book.

Johnny sighed. "Yare yare daze...I'm not a theatre kid...but maybe I could get a few people to do a Disney marathon with you if you really want."

"Dude...that's kind of messed up." Kirishima said. "The not-watching-Disney-movies part, not the marathon."

"It's how I grew up." Todoroki said, shrugging. "As for the marathon...it would be pretty nice...do you have any recommendations?"

Johnny paused to think. "Well, I'd consider 'the Hunchback of Notre Dame', I've always loved that one."

"I knew it."

Johnny closed his eyes. If Gyro or anybody else capable of calming him down didn't show up soon, he was about to make the floor look like Christmas.


Kyoka nervously paced around the gymnasium.

There was so much at stake, if an enemy stand user attacked them NOW, out of all times, all the progress they made would be for nothing. Gyro and Izuku still weren't back, and now her keyboardist and drummer had gone looking for them.

If they started late, there would be no doubt a HUGE backlash. Some were bitter at the hero course for the current mess the school was in, if they were late, it would look like they didn't care, and people would only think worse of them. Not to mention the biggest reason Kyoka did this was for Eri, she was taking a huge leap of faith, putting herself out there like this...

And if she fell, Kyoka wasn't entirely sure how long it would take for her to get back up. She was putting herself on display, something pre-UA Kyoka would have never dreamed of...she honestly didn't know how well she could take it if they failed today, because her insecurities would undoubtedly return in full force. She was taking a risk...

But life wouldn't be worth it if she didn't. Kyoka NEEDED this, she wanted to show the world that she isn't the same self-loathing little middle school girl that started the year, but a hero who could bring a smile to the hopeless, a hero who would protect those smiles with her life.

Her heart was aching to sing just as her brain was. Kyoka sat on the side of the top bleacher, her back to the edge, deep in thought.

"Y'know, I heard a rumor that JoJo has a girlfriend." Kaminari's voice broke through her train of thought.

"Huh?"

"Interesting...he is admittedly a catch, it was really only a matter of time before it happened." Tokoyami responded, tuning his guitar. "Any word on who it is?"

"No, he's pretty good at keeping secrets...apparently he's like...super devoted to her, from what people are saying." Kaminari said puffing out a cheek and shooting Kyoka a brief glance.

He's trying to get me to give up on Johnny...but the poor idiot doesn't realize that the girl in question is ME. Kyoka realized, frowning. Kaminari saw the frown, and misinterpreted it to mean Kyoka was disappointed.

"He's just...well, he seems like a guy who's pretty reserved, he was probably waiting for someone REALLY special to come along, and he's just flat out uninterested in anyone else. You have to respect the guy for it, like Mineta said, the guy could have a harem if he wanted to."

Except JoJo isn't gross...oh Kami...how am I going to deal with you?

Kyoka cleared her throat, attempting to remain aloof. "Well, if that's the case, I'm happy for him."

"Aren't you one of his best friends? I'm surprised he wouldn't tell you." Tokoyami said, and Kaminari's face dropped.

Kyoka grabbed the mug filled with the Gold Tips Imperial that Momo brewed for her earlier, took a sip, and slowly began to lean backwards...

Except she forgot that she was still on the top bleacher, and next thing she knew she was fighting to keep her balance.

"WHoaOAOaOh!" She waved her arms around in a panic as she tilted backwards, the mug falling to its doom.

Both Kaminari and Tokayami rushed to catch her, but Kyoka eventually used her jacks to pull herself back up again, both flustered and experiencing an adrenaline rush. She honestly didn't see Tokoyami blindsiding her like that, but it was a glaring flaw in her cover. Suddenly, she had to face the concept of admitting that she was Johnny's girlfriend, to the other boy who liked her no less.

Just before the concert, where said boy was playing guitar...and morale needed to be at an all time high...she couldn't break his heart, ESPECIALLY now!

Okay Kyoka...how are you going to bullshit your way out of this one?


"ACK!" Gentle Criminal spat out as another air bullet slammed into his torso, knocking him to the ground. Izuku had calculated the position of a few of the criminal's air shields and performed a trick shot off of them.

He's fighting like Johnny. Gyro realized. The spinning, acrobatic shit, and the fancy shots...he's literally using Johnny's fighting style, minus Tusk. He's actually pretty damn good at it too!

He's really working hard to keep up with his childhood friend, isn't he? Izuku looks up to him...

Gyro smiled as he remembered wrestling Johnny down at I-Island just to comb the guy's hair. Let's just hope this is as far as it goes.

Izuku pinned Gentle and La Brava down, and Gyro panted as he finally caught up.

"It's over. Gyro, call the police, I'll keep these two down." Gyro nodded and pulled out his phone, while Gentle and La Brava struggled to get out of the OFA user's grip, with little success. It seemed like their time was finally up.

"Gentle?"

"Yes, La Brava?"

"I love you."

Gentle's eyes softened, and he smiled. "Thank you..."

"Okay, that's touching and all, but, we're about to arrest your ass. This could have just been avoided if you had listened to u-"

Gentle suddenly punched Izuku into the air, and Gyro's face fell out of shock. "When the hell could you do that?!"

"La Brava has the power to empower those she loves! She is my trump card!"

"Izuku! Take out the munchkin!"

La Brava screamed as Izuku began chasing her around in circles, while Gyro summoned Ball Breaker to defend himself from Gentle's attack. The two clasped hands, and Gentle began trying to crush the little stand with brute force. Surprisingly, Gentle was able to hold his own, undoubtedly due to the power boost from his sidekick, and also because Gyro didn't want to snap the guy's arms.

"I HAVE CONVICTIONS TOO, GYRO ZEPPELI!" Gentle hollered.

"That's too bad...you forgot the number one rule when fighting an Italian...Gentle Criminal..." Gyro grunted out.

"And WHAT would that be?!"

"ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR PEPPERONI!" Gyro said with a grin, and proceeded to jab his pointer fingers into Gentle Criminal's nipples, using the spin to twist them into spirals.

"aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Gentle Criminal screamed bloody murder as Gyro gave him the world's worst purple nurple, while the Italian cackled in delight. "How's that for conviction?!"


"Look...JoJo doesn't have to tell me everything."

"But...you ARE around him all the time...maybe he doesn't trust you as much as you think he does." Kaminari said, offering her a sympathetic smile. "This secret girlfriend of his-"

"It's a rumor, Kaminari, it's probably not even true. Where did you even hear about this anyway?" Kyoka asked.

"Er...through the grapevine?"

"Mineta."

"Well he heard it from-"

"It isn't a primary source Kaminari, Jiro has a point. We have no way of knowing if it is reliable information, so we shouldn't just assume it is true." Tokoyami said, crossing his arms. "This is how friendships fall apart."

Kaminari nodded. "I was just bringing it up...I'm just afraid a secret like that might end up hurting people..."

Kyoka pinched the bridge of her nose, thankful that she was able to 'debunk' the rumor before it took off. Still...she couldn't afford to think about stupid relationship drama, that could take a back seat to-

"If JoJo DID have a girlfriend, would he be public about it?"

"Oh my God...dude will you knock it off?!" Kyoka snapped. "Why are you so determined to prove Johnny has a girlfriend all of a sudden?! Seriously, it's NOT. A BIG. DEAL!"

"I-I don't know, I was just having a conversation."

"Well, you're coming across as pushy...if I didn't know any better I'd say your interest is PERSONAL." Kyoka said, trying very hard to keep calm, but she wasn't being very successful.

"E-er...why w-would I-I care about it? JoJo's l-love life is his business..."

"Then butt out. He deserves his privacy, and if he does have a girlfriend...well I'm sure she's happy with him, don't go ruining it by sticking your nose where it doesn't belong." Kyoka stuck a finger in Kaminari's face, and he frowned.

"...Jiro what's the deal?"

"I'm just looking out for my friend...sorry if I seemed a bit agressive, Gyro and Izuku aren't back yet, and I'm starting to get worried about them." Now she felt bad, snapping at Kaminari, and she wasn't lying when she said she was worried.

"They have been gone for a while, the performance is in a half an hour, I'm sure that isn't helping your stress either." Tokoyami consoled her, and Kyoka flashed him a nervous smile.

"Thanks Tokoyami...Momo and Bakubitch went out, but they haven't come back either...I don't know what I'm going to do if this falls apart..." She said, putting her head in her hands. "If some stupid villain ruins all of our hard work..."

"Hey, you taught me how to play guitar in record time, if you can do that, then you can recover from it if the festival does get ruined, I know it. Hell, you've proven you're strong time and time again." Kaminari said with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Kami...sorry for snapping at you."

"You were right...I was being a bit too pushy, I just...I was just curious."

"Yeah...okay."

Gyro, Izuku...you two better be okay.


"THIS IS NOT OKAY!" Gyro yelled as he and Izuku was being squeezed by several air shields, Izuku being caught as well. They were slowly being pressed together.

"Gentle Sandwich is one of my best techniques!"

"It isn't gentle...at all!" Izuku yelled.

"You forced this in yourselves!" Gentle said, pointing an accusing finger at the both of them. "I had to abandon my gentle fighting style and give in to brutality in order to win, so you understand how serious this is?!"

"Why are you so obsessed with ruining shit for other people?!" Gyro yelled. "Are you really that selfish?!"

"I wanted to be a hero! I wanted to be popular, but I suffered because of ONE failed good deed! So I decided I would be popular another way. Don't you understand that this is all I can do?! I was left with no choice!"

"There is ALWAYS a choice!" Izuku yelled back. "You chose to look after yourself, and only yourself! True heroes don't care about popularity!"

Gentle increased the power of the air shields, squeezing the two even tighter. "I will not bend! I will sacrifice my morals, anything to achieve my goal!"

"Any...thing?" Gyro choked out.

"YES!"

"What...about...her?"

Gentle turned around to find that Ball Breaker had La Brava by the neck. "La Brava!"

"You said you would sacrifice your morals...so can I. Just a flick of the wrist, that's all it would take. The question is...are you willing to sacrifice your partner? Are you really that much of a selfish bastard?"

"Gyro..." Izuku said in disbelief.

"You're bluffing...you wouldn't hurt her." Gentle said, although it was clear that he was panicking.

"I could be...I could also be completely serious. It's really up to you to decide, release us, and I promise she won't be hurt." Gyro's gaze didn't waver for a second, he looked like he meant every word. He would kill La Brava if Gentle didn't let them go.

"Don't do it Gentle, stay strong!" La Brava yelled, but it was clear she was terrified.

"FINE, just let her go..."

Gyro and Izuku both collapsed as they were released from their prison, and Ball Breaker released La Brava. Gentle immediately attacked, but Izuku locked arms with him, and the two exploded into the air, before Izuku managed to get a roundhouse kick in.

"St. Louis Smash!"

Gentle slammed back onto the ground, defeated. Beaten, bloody, and pinned by Izuku, he looked up to glare at Gyro, only to find the Italian smiling at him.

"Why are you smiling?! You just threatened her li...you really WERE bluffing, weren't you?"

"I wanted to see just how selfish you really were. You care for her...just as we care for our friends. How would you feel if someone came along and crushed her hopes and dreams, trashed her goals, and shat all over her hard work?" Gyro asked.

Finally, it seemed as though Gentle had finally understood things from the other two's perpective, and he hung his head in shame.

"This fight is over." Izuku said, breathing heavily. "It was probably the hardest fight I've been in yet."

"*cough* Santana."

"I didn't really fight all that much Gyro, I was kind of busy dying."

"*cough* Overhaul."

"...okay, you've got a point."

"*cough* Muscular."

"This was the hardest fight I've had from a MORAL standpoint!"


Later, Gentle Criminal would surrender, asking for La Brava to be pardoned, even though the heroes had no idea who either of them were. Before he was taken away however, Gentle genuinely wished them luck, so it seemed as though they parted on good terms. As Izuku and Gyro began to head back to the school, picking up Izuku's dropped groceries on the way, they remained silent.

FInally, Izuku spoke up. "Gyro?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you threaten La Brava?"

"I told him why, I wanted to see if he was selfish enough to sacrifice her, it was a test."

"It felt wrong. Even if you were lying...taking hostages like that felt wrong."

"I never said it was right." Gyro replied, sighing and brushing off his hat. "Listen...I get it, it wasn't very heroic of me, but...when the world is at stake, you may have to do some shitty things. We both know that this concert is something more than just a stupid festival...I couldn't let them ruin it."

"I know WHY you did it...it just...I didn't like the look on her face."

"Gentle Criminal needed to see he was being selfish...that he was putting her in harm's way, in order to come back to his senses. He fought for himself, I was fighting for Kyoka in particular, that's why I was willing to go the extra mile." Gyro explained. "Kyoka has been putting all of herself into this concert, all to save Eri from her inner demons, to show the world that we are heroes. You know how she is...she isn't one to put herself out there, so for her to be doing this is a HUGE step for her. She used time that she could've spent with Johnny, doing homework, or even resting, to write that song and train the band. After all of her hard work, I couldn't let Gentle and La Brava come in and ruin it all. She'd be DEVASTATED...so, I think scaring a criminal is the better of the two outcomes, don't you think?"

Izuku nodded. "I guess...I just haven't come to terms with the fact that this isn't a black and white world yet. It's light greys and dark greys...nobody can be perfect in either aspect."

"Hey, if God was perfect, would there be sin? As long as you don't go too deep in the grey, and you're fighting for something just...you should be fine." Gyro said, patting Izuku on the back. "...I'm sorry for scaring you..."

"It's fine...I'm just not ready for...you know..."

"WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU TWO IDIOTS BEEN?!" Bakugo suddenly entered their vision, looking pissed as hell. "EARS WAS HAVING A FIT!"

"Clearly in a fight." Momo came up from behind him, arms crossed. "I assume you two have a good reason for being so roughed up."

"The guy was going to ruin the festival."

"...okay...that IS a good reason, I guess you two are in the clear, although we should hurry, the concert is going to start soon!"

"MERDE! Come on Izuku, we have no time to lose!"

"Can't I wash the blood off my face first?!" Izuku protested.

"MOVE!"


The murmur of the crowd was enough to put Kyoka on edge, but soon a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. Johnny rested his head on her shoulder. "Hey...you're gonna do great."

"I've only ever sang for you and the class...there's so many people..."

"And each and every one of them would be nuts if they didn't love you."

"You're just saying that because YOU love me."

"I do, because you're amazing. It's time to show everyone how amazing you truly are...you're Earphone Jack after all, the hero who brings smiles to the hopeless!"

Kyoka smiled. "Cheesy bastard...alright, I'll see you on the other side. Kiss for good luck?"

"Of course."

Johnny gave her a quick peck on the lips and ran to join the special effects crew, leaving her standing there with a stupid grin on her face. She kept it as the band came on stage, and it only grew wider as she saw a certain ten year old in the audience, being held by Mirio Togata.

It's just like Mom said...musicians and heroes really aren't all that different, they have the same goal:

Let's put a smile on that face, shall we Eri?

Kyoka got to the front, facing the large crowd, and took a deep breath, the smile never leaving her face.

This was her time.

That's when Bakugo screamed something about dying and released an explosion, starting the music, and Kyoka screamed out into the crowd.

"THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY!"

"What am I to be?

What is my calling?

I gave up giving up, I'm ready to go

The future's left unseen, it all depends on me

Put it on the line to follow my dream, yeah!"

Mina's dancers were doing fantastic, although Iida had deviated from the choreography and opted to do the robot instead. Johnny and Gyro were on the girders up above, with the Italian carrying a massive jug of clear liquid. "Look at her...look at her go!"

"Tried all my life

I've tried to find

Something that makes me hold on and never let go

Oh!

Hero too, I am a hero too

My heart is set (My heart is set) and I won't back down

Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero

True heroes (True heroes) stand up for what they believe

So wait and see

So wait and see"

It was at that point Kyoka spotted Mr. Aizawa in the crowd, and a tear involuntarily appeared in her eye. He came...

Their old homeroom teacher was now wearing sunglasses, but his baggy old clothing was the same as always...and he was smiling, he was SMILING!

"What do they think of me?

Who do they think I'll be?

I could not care less, I don't wanna know

Am I doing right?

Am I satisfied?

I wanna live my life like it's meant to be

Yeah!

Tried all my life

I've tried to find

Something that makes me hold on and never let go

Oh!"

Standing next to him was Joseph, young again, but there was no doubt the twinkle was back in his eye. He had the energy back, the same energy that made her love that goofy old man, er...goofy young/old man?

Did she do that?

"Hero too, I am a hero too

My heart is set (My heart is set) and I won't back down

Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero

True heroes (True heroes) stand up for what they believe

So wait and see!"

"People will judge for no reason at all

Yeah, they might try

To say your dream's dumb, don't listen

They may look down on me and count me out

I'm going my own way

They may look down on me and count me out

I'm a hero, I've got music!"

"Hero too, I am a hero too

My heart is set and I won't back down

Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero

True heroes stand up for what they believe (Yeah, I'll be!)"

Kyoka shouted the last part as Gyro dipped his hands in the liquid and shot his hands out, and spinning bubbles flew everywhere, floating above the stunned crowd. Johnny and Izuku flung Aoyama, who was tied to the ceiling, and Johnny imbued the rope with Hamon, and the light from both Aoyama and the Hamon reflected off of the bubbles, creating a strobe effect.

Momo shot confetti from her arm as she was playing away at the keyboard, and Tsuyu was swinging Uraraka around, allowing the girl to use her quirk on a few lucky audience members.

"Hero too, I am a hero too

My heart is set (My heart is set) and I won't back down

Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero

True heroes (True heroes) stand up for what they believe

So wait and see!

I have met so many heroes in my life

Gave me the strength and courage to survive

Gave me the power to smile everyday

Now it's my turn to be the one to make you smile!"

Kyoka finished the last line and turned to look at her band, her wonderful band, as they finished up the last of the instrumental, before closing out the song with a few strums of her base guitar.

As the song ended, Kyoka couldn't hear anything at first, all she knew was that the crowd was...standing? Then the applause hit her right in the face, the thunderous roaring applause, cheers, and screams as the audience expressed their delight.

They loved it. They loved HER.

Then came the icing on the cake, when she searched the crowd, she saw something that made her heart melt, and she collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

Eri had the biggest smile on her little face, she was waving her arms around. They had successfully removed Overhaul's shadow over her.

As Kyoka broke down, her classmates came rushing over to her, enveloping her in a big group hug. The whole time, in her hysterics, she was repeating one thing:

"WE DID IT!"


Alright! We actually are going to have a Festival pt 3, since Kyoka still owes Gyro a favor, and we know that Aizawa is back. Mostly, I think we all needed a few light hearted chapters after all the doom and gloom, don't you?