Bearticguy7: Bricks are awesome.
Kyeo307: I don't want Setsuna to be a villain, she's a rival. She is neither friend or foe to Kyoka, they're just competing over a guy.
Although Setsuna doesn't know she's fighting a losing battle.
Euphoria: That'd be fun!
cflat: There will be more sentences where that comes from.
nocringeman: I'm currently binge watching Demon Slayer right now, good shit. But...I don't want to copy something from Demon Slayer, I want to give Kyoka something different, something unique.
Humble3dore: That review really made my day, honestly. I truly appreciate that you think so highly of my story, and I hope to continue to write a story that you can enjoy!
"Reports of a remote stand entering people's homes is cause for concern for Mustafu this morning, as a string of disappearances soon followed. One thing is clear, as the area is still currently recovering form the last string of disappearances, many are calling local heroes to report on the issue." The reporter said. "One thing that a survivor managed to tell police before their abduction from the precinct: the stand is looking for someone. We will report when more information comes to light."
Josuke turned off the TV and made a face, staring at the map where he and Kyoka had marked the disappearances. "They don't seem to be connected. If this guy is looking for someone, shouldn't they be taking people involved with this person?"
"Maybe it has something to do with it's ability?" Kyoka said, scratching her chin. "I hope to God those people aren't dead...the last thing we need is another mass-murdering asshole."
"There was no trace of a struggle, or a body. Either this thing is only taking them...or it's another Killer Queen." Josuke said darkly. "Except this thing is targeting random people."
"What do we do about it?" Kyoka asked. "This stand doesn't seem to be affiliated with any major villain groups, it's just kind of doing it's own thing."
"All we can do right now is attempt to guess it's motivations. It's a remote stand, so finding it's user is going to be extremely difficult."
"Knowing my luck, I'm probably going to end up fighting it." Kyoka muttered.
"Sorry, guess the Joestar luck was kinda passed down to you, huh?" Josuke said with a grin.
"I'm really in it now. Plus, I've got to learn Hamon now, so..."
"Hey, Hamon is great for healing, so my dad tells me." Josuke said. "You get a bit of a healing factor when you're good enough."
"Well that explains why Johnny doesn't have any ugly scars." Kyoka said, before realizing what she had just implied. "W-we haven't done a-anything!"
"Kyoka, you naughty girl!"
"NO! I SAW HIM SHIRTLESS, THAT'S ALL!" Kyoka said, turning red and waving her jacks in front of her face. "WE'RE TOO YOUNG FOR THAT!"
Josuke chuckled and ruffled his prodigy's hair. "Chill out Kyoka, jeez!"
"I hate you."
"No you don't, besides, what kind of mentor would I be if I didn't tease my favorite student?"
"Er...Johnny?"
"He's my nephew first."
"So...I'm your favorite student."
"Well duh, you're the first and the best!"
"That's me, slowly ostracizing Johnny from his family."
"Oh shut up!" Josuke laughed. He took a look around the treehouse, and nodded his head. "Man, I wish we had a cool hideout when we were hunting Kira."
"We put a lot of work into building it." Kyoka said. "We needed somewhere where we could discuss things about One For All, and battle strategies, somewhere isolated. Not to mention it's a cool place to have movie nights."
"The defenses are pretty neat too, it's like a FNAF office."
"You're really referencing that of all things? An old man like you?"
"Hey! I'm only 30!"
"Old."
Josuke jabbed a finger into Kyoka's forehead. "You're gonna be 30 someday too, Kyoka Jiro."
"Let's see...that's in about 14 years...you'd be 44, almost halfway there!"
"...Kyoka, I'm afraid I'm going to have to hurt you."
"That's like, around my dad's age. You'd be a dad, rockin' the dad bod."
"DAD BOD?!"
"Did I just send you into your midlife crisis early?"
"I'm leaving."
"No, please stay! Let's talk about life!"
"Nope, nope. I'm gonna get away from this conversation before I suddenly develop kidney stones." Josuke said, and Kyoka snorted, following Josuke to the elevator.
"Jiro kissed JoJo?" Setsuna asked, her eyebrows coming together.
"That's what Monoma told me." Itsuka Kendo said, shrugging. "It's Monoma though, so he might be trying to get you pissed at her."
"I'm already pissed at her, she's using him!" Setsuna said, throwing her arms up into the air. "Jiro was a hardcore introvert before the Cultural Festival, and now she's suddenly attached herself to one of the most sought after guys in the school?! There's no way something like that could happen so quick!"
"Or maybe...they're both more open to showing affection in public." Kendo said.
"Huh?"
"Look, I'm friends with Yaoyorozu from class A. JoJo and Jiro have been close since the USJ incident. They have been best friends for a long time, is it really a stretch to think that there might've been something more?"
"I...didn't know that."
"Yeah, she's been his friend almost from the start. You might be making moves on someone who's already taken, Tokage."
Setsuna looked to the side. "I mean, from my point of view, she just suddenly started holding hands with him. She was basically in the background, and she just pops into the fray from out of the blue...but if they were keeping their relationship a secret...that's just stupid."
"Like you said, she's a bit of an introvert."
"Yeah...look, the last thing I want to do is cause any damage."
"You kissed him on the cheek, directly in front of her."
"I thought she was a fake!" Setsuna said, exasperated. "Like I said, she just showed up! How was I supposed to trust her around him?!"
"Is she a fake though?"
"I...I don't know, maybe I went a bit too far. I don't trust her, not at all, she just has this air of...'fakeness' whenever she's around me."
"She isn't dumb, Tokage. This 'fakeness' is probably her trying to be nice to you, although I think you'll see the real Jiro if you keep this up." Kendo warned. "If the rumors are true, she has every right to want to beat you up."
"I'll apologize to her if they're true...but since they're just rumors, I'm sticking to my guns." Setsuna decided. "If they're already dating, and Jiro is genuine, I'll back off. Until then, I'm gonna try and win him over. Those rumors came after our interaction in the hallway, she could've spread them to cover up her plan to become more popular. I...will give her the benefit of the doubt though."
"Okay...if you're really going to be stubborn about this." Kendo said. "The Joint training is coming up, you know...don't blame me if she goes all out."
"She can try."
Kendo shook her head, and went into their common room, leaving a conflicted Setsuna behind.
I really don't want to hurt her if she's actually a good person...I don't want to be the bad guy. I just can't get these suspicions out of my head...
Maybe...I'm jealous, and it's clouding my judgement.
JoJo has been an inspiration to me since he came back. The fact that his career was pretty much over...and he came back regardless...it was just so cool! If he could do that, why couldn't I be the best hero I can be?
I admire him, and that admiration turned into something a little more, and I have never been shy about going for what I want, so I went ahead and tried to flirt with him.
I'll keep trying to defeat Jiro, until I know the truth, because I'm not one to simply let things slip out of my grasp...but I won't antagonize her until I'm certain she's actually the bitch I initially thought she was.
Still...they've been friends for much longer than I thought...
"Aizawa...we just came back from a trip two days ago." Gyro said to the semi-blind homeroom teacher.
"Well, this one is an assignment." Aizawa simply said. "The goal is to see how you all could handle running a hero agency, and Nabuu Island is a perfect setup for that."
"Well, we are already kind of forming our own agency..." Ochako replied.
"I know, that's why you better ace this. Start packing."
"We just unpacked two days ago!"
"Did I stutter?"
Gyro grumbled, hardly believing what he was hearing. "I was happy with one trip, but now two?"
"At least I get to go on this one...it should be fun!" Ochako said, pumping her fist into the air. "A chance to act like real heroes!"
"Uraraka...we've been acting like real heroes for a while now." Gyro said.
"Oh...right...well I have less experience, so I'm excited!"
"Oh boy..."
"Hey, I need to prove I belong in this group somehow!"
"You...fought DIO, one of the deadliest villains to have ever lived, I think you're good."
"But I haven't actually worked with the team yet! This is the perfect opportunity to see how I can fit into whatever dynamic you guys have going on!"
"Well, I better get packing then..." Gyro said. "Two days after I unpacked..."
"Okay, see you on the boat Gyro!"
"I hope the boat has beds, Johnny's gonna be real tired."
Koichi Hirose had a problem.
Not only was Yukako expecting him to come home soon, but he had ended up in a stand battle. A random stand, with seemingly no user, had began assaulting him out of nowhere.
Thank God for his combat experience, or he would've been a goner.
The stand had a pyramid-shaped head, with two empty eye sockets, lined with gold, and it maneuvered around on three mechanical spider legs. The stand was fast, very fast, definitely an A in speed, but it was also quite sloppy.
"If you were facing off against my user too, you would've been hit right now." The stand finally spoke up, flailing it's hands at the much more nimble Koichi and Echoes.
"What do you want?! Yukako will kill me if I'm late, so you better have a good reason for attacking me!" Koichi responded, dodging a swing from the stand.
"You know of One for All, don't you? The Joestars do, and you're one of their closest allies. Who has it?"
"As if I'd tell you!" Echoes Act 2 flung a 'whoosh' on the ground, blowing the enemy stand upwards.
The stand simply dashed to the side, grabbing onto an electric line and lowering itself down to the ground. "Your abilities are quite impressive, you must have been honing them for years."
"I have been. Who are you?! Why are you chasing One for All?!"
The stand rose to it's full height, towering over Koichi.
"I am Paradise City...and One For All...will serve as my new battery."
"YOUR NEW BATTERY?!"
"You wouldn't understand." Paradise City rushed Koichi. "If you won't tell me where One For All is, then I have no choice but to claim you."
Claim me... Koichi thought to himself. "You're the one who's been abducting people! Where have you been taking them?!"
"Elysium...I think you'd like it there." Paradise City said. It's voice never raised, even when it was straining itself. Whoever this stand, and user was, they were completely calm and confident, as if they knew that victory was assured.
"Elysium? Isn't that another word for Heaven?!" Koichi yelled. "You're killing them!"
"No, I'm not. I don't really feel inclined to explain my abilities to you, as that would essentially give you the advantage, but I can assure you, they are alive...until my stand needs a recharge."
"When will that happen?!"
"Two weeks. By that time, they will have accepted their fate. Elysium is a paradise...they will die contently, without pain or suffering, they will embrace their fate with open arms...as will you."
"Why though?!"
"Elysium must be maintained...if a few have to die for the paradise to continue, so be it."
He isn't making sense...these people are alive, but in a different location? They have to die so...this location can continue to exist? Clearly, this stand has a clear motive...and perhaps some twisted desire to help people... Koichi thought to himself.
His stand has low precision, so I can dodge him easily, but he isn't exactly letting me hit him either. This is a game of keep away...
He isn't even attacking with his fists...but his fingertips...it's like Killer Queen! One touch and I'm a goner!
It was painstakingly clear, while the stand was sloppy, it was far from inexperienced. This was a stand that was exceptionally good at what it did.
"I'll tell you a bit about my abilities, if you tell me yours. It's obvious that I can't let you touch me, why is that?"
"You'd be among the taken. Your turn."
A man of his word.
"I can use Act 3 to influence your gravitational force."
"That seems quite powerful, taking you down will certainly be quite a challenge." The stand said politely. "Although it doesn't matter whether you get away or not, One For All will still be within my reach."
"How is that?"
"I'm the type that likes to think ahead, to plan for the long term." Paradise City held up a hand, it's tripod legs grinding to a halt. "It's clear that we're both experienced, and that you are an exceptional fighter. Most would've already fallen. Before we continue, I will permit you to let a loved one know you are fighting, as a sign of respect."
"Er...thank you..." Koichi pulled out his phone, keeping an eye on his opponent as he texted This'll that he was in the middle of a stand battle.
Paradise City was politely waiting for him to conclude. This was a gentleman villain.
"Thank you, she says that she's going to strangle you if you hurt me."
"You have an interesting choice in romantic partners."
"She grew on me...and I know better than to let her worry, so let's make this quick, shall we?" Koichi said, and Paradise City nodded.
"Yes...let's."
Heroes pursued the runaway truck as it sped away from them.
"Drive faster." Dabi instructed the terrified driver. "Unless you want me to turn up the heat."
"Y-y-yes sir."
"I'd prefer smoother driving, if you please." A girl in a yellow hoodie said, looking to be on the verge of vomiting.
"DABIIII!" Endeavor roared from the back.
"Shut up old man...your time will come." Dabi muttered. This electric looking woman began shooting lighting bolts at them in an attempt to stop the speeding vehicle. "Oi, Goldilocks, it's your turn."
"Do I have to?"
"I can melt you."
The girl sighed. "Fine..." She walked over to the open back and spread her arms out wide. She then proceeded to turn into solid gold, absorbing the electric attack and giving Dabi an opportunity to fire back.
The electric hero fell out of the pursuing car in her attempt to dodge, but managed to roll safely out of the way.
Endeavor growled, and was about to unless an attack himself, when a fireball landed in front of the runaway truck, stopping it where it stood. All of the hero cars came to a halt as the runaway truck spun around...
To reveal a glowing Santana, who had intervened. The heroes began backing up as Santana began approaching the truck, keeping his icy blue eyes trained on Endeavor in particular.
"You...why are you here?" Endeavor asked, his hands bursting into flame. He was prepared to do his duty, and fight the Pillar Man to the last.
"Taking out the trash."
Santana grabbed the overturned truck and ripped it open with his bare hands, his skull visor searching the contents of the truck. He sighed, and pulled out the unconscious driver, carefully laying the man down. "They ran as soon as they saw me...the cowards."
"The League has no place here!" Endeavor shouted.
Santana slowly turned to the number one hero. "You're afraid..."
"No, I'm not." Endeavor said.
"You should be." Santana said. "I don't take kindly to those that mistreat their own...it is one of the highest dishonors. Feel lucky I don't kill you where you stand, Enji Todoroki."
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
"Tracking down All For One's little shits...although..."
Santana turned his arm into air, and began rotating the air, pointing it towards the truck.
"WHAT ARE YO-"
"DIVINE SANDSTORM!"
The truck was shredded in mere seconds by blazing winds.
"I've always wanted to do that...thank you Genesis. They have escaped...with the equipment too, damn it."
Endeavor stepped forward. "You're interfering with our investigation! Leave before I incinerate you."
"I can turn into lava, you know."
"..."
"That's right, now be quiet like a good little wife beater, okay?" Santana observed the area, and something caught his eye.
It was a photo, left behind by the other villains in their escape.
Santana picked it up, and frowned. "So...this is what they were after...I see your game now, All For One."
Santana felt a buzz in his pocket. "Hello?"
"Is he really taking a phone call right now? The number one hero is literally in front of him."
"Him? No, he's dead. Listen I'm in the middle of an investigation right now...Himiko, you are not allowed to leave that bed...NO! I will get along fine without your help, please wait until you have fully recovered. You can barely speak, please rest. Do it for me, okay? I promise, I am not fighting alone...yes, I will get you ice cream. Alright, goodbye."
"..." Endeavor was enraged at this point. He had worked hard to get to where he was now, and he was determined to be a hero that Shoto could be proud of...
And Santana, the man who usurped All For One and Shigaraki, wasn't taking him seriously at all.
"What's that look for, Enji? You want me to respect you?" Santana said, inquisitive.
"Yes."
"Earn it." With that, Santana turned to smoke, and the smoke began heading towards the nearest convenience store.
"He's...actually getting ice cream..."
"Why didn't we just arrest him? He's a villain!" Edgeshot said.
"He's a whole different breed of villain...literally, he's not even human." Endeavor said, remembering the warning that All Might had given him. "We are lucky he didn't choose violence..."
"He chose ice cream."
The heroes looked up to the sky to see Hawks, the number two hero, descending down with a cocky smile. "Honestly, who could blame him?"
"You could've helped back there."
"I...just got here, sorry."
Paradise City pressed the attack, while Echoes Act 3 was blocking just about every strike, albeit with difficulty.
"You know, it's actually quite ironic that I have low precision, considering my user is very precise."
"Your user sounds intelligent."
"He has years of experience." Paradise City replied. "Many, many years..."
Koichi picked up a rock, broken free from the damaged road, and threw it up into the air. As soon as it went above Paradise City's head, Echoes Act 3 appeared beside it.
"ECHOES ACT 3, THREE FREEEEEEEZE! EAT S-H-I-T!"
The rock hurtled down towards the remote stand, but Paradise City did something Koichi didn't expect...
It scuttled to the side, faster than the rock could fall, and jumped high into the air. The rock buried itself into the ground, and the street began to crack, much more than it was supposed to...
HE WAS STANDING OVER A GAS LINE! SHIT!
BOOM!
Koichi was thrown back by the explosion as the street erupted into flame. SHIT! OW THAT HURTS!
Koichi luckily managed to avoid any serious injuries, but his left arm was now burned. That's when Paradise City landed on top of him, pinning him down with one of it's three legs.
"I calculated the trajectory of where the explosion would send you, and lept accordingly. Down to the individual second. Of course, I know better to underestimate an experienced stand user such as yourself-"
Paradise City blocked a strike from Echoes Act 3, and twisted it's mechanical arm through it's guard, grabbing the normally crass stand by the throat. "See?"
"You're right, you shouldn't underestimate me..."
Paradise City made a small sound of surprise when his hand was suddenly pulled to the ground. "Hm? Oh, I see. You already put your ability on me, so it works on stands as well."
"Yeah, I did!" Koichi pulled himself to his feet, as Three Freeze had taken the enemy stand off of him.
"I'm truly impressed. You're quite resourceful." Paradise City complimented. "I'd imagine you'd be quite reliable as an ally."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me." Koichi said, standing over the seemingly downed stand. "Now, please stop chasing One For All, and return everyone to where they belong."
"They don't want to leave, Elysium is a paradise. Elysium must be maintained, it must continue to exist, and a quirk like One For All can keep it running for a very long time. Elysium is my life's work, my sole reason for existing... I can't give up."
Paradise City suddenly raised it's other hand up, and Koichi backed up as he saw the arm extend towards him. He can stretch his arms?!
CRACK!
Paradise City swung it's extended arm like a whip, striking Koichi's exposed chest, knocking him back a good distance. It was only a glancing blow, but that didn't matter...
Because Koichi was starting to disintegrate.
Koichi looked at his hand, which was slowly turning to dust, and then at Paradise City. The dust that was once Koichi's fingertips was being drawn to the chest cavity in the middle of the stands torso...no...
He was being pulled in, one molecule at a time.
Nonononononononono, this can't be it! Koichi thought to himself as he struggled against Paradise City's pull! God damn it...I can't believe this...
"No one has ever escaped my touch, just to let you know. I have so far had a 100% success rate when I've already touched my target. Do not be afraid...for paradise awaits you."
Koichi's arm was now gone up to the elbow, and he was being drawn closer to Paradise City by the second. How am I being drawn in like this?! This pull, its almost like...
GRAVITY! HE ALTERED MY GRAVITY!
Paradise City suddenly felt the weight on it's other arm release, and it sat up, brushing itself off. "You released me?"
"THREE FREEEEZE!"
Koichi and Echoes Act 3 used their ability once more, but not on Paradise City...
But on Koichi himself.
As Koichi slammed into the ground thanks to his ability, the molecules that Paradise City had stolen were ripped out of the surprised stand, and Koichi thankfully got his arm back.
Of course, the impact really screwed him up, but he had escaped what was supposed to be inescapable.
"You...actually managed to avoid being taken. Of course, you're not doing to well from the impact, but...congratulations, you're the first person to have done that in almost 676 years..."
676...years? Koichi thought to himself, struggling to stay conscious. He had slammed himself into the ground at full power, all to escape the gravity of the other stand, but he had done significant damage to his body in the process. How...? How old is this stand?
"I shall leave you, although I believe you could've been a great addition to Elysium...oh well, you have earned your stay in this wretched sick world, good luck."
Paradise City dashed away, almost too fast for Koichi's eyes to track. Koichi undid his ability, wiping blood from his mouth, and began limping back to his apartment, knowing full well what awaited him when he got home.
She's going to freak out. I'm sorry Yukako, that I'm coming home like this...
Please don't hurt me.
"I hope this goes well." Johnny muttered.
"Why wouldn't it? Nabu Island has a pretty low crime rate." Izuku said, confused. "If anything, we'll only be doing small things, like helping civilians with problems."
"Because it seems that weird shit always happens to us on islands."
"Where did you get that idea?"
"I-island."
"Fair...but we also went to Air Supplenia island, and we were fine!"
"Kyoka found out she was a Hamon user."
"Er...does the little bit of land in the middle of the creek count? The one by our treehouse? It is surrounded by a body of water..."
"Kaminari was attacked by a giant moth creature on the bridge right next to it, and it is still flying around the woods as we speak."
"Okay okay! So we've had some bad luck with islands, we've seen weird shit everywhere!" Izuku protested. "The whole group is knee-deep in the bizzare!"
"I'm pretty sure I'm completely submerged."
"You will be soon if you don't stop talking all negative." Kyoka threatened, entered the conversation. "I will push you off this fucking boat."
"Am I wrong?"
"Not really...but it could be good weird shit, you know? Something we could laugh about." Kyoka said. "Yare yare, you're such a pessimist!"
"I have a reason to be."
"Pissing me off?"
"Partially, there's also trauma."
"Fair. Come on Mopey, you're coming with me." Kyoka grabbed Johnny's arm and began too lead him away.
"Goodbye Izuku, I'm being taken." Johnny called out.
"See you JoJo."
Kyoka dragged Johnny off to the side, and brought him over to a table with a steaming coffee mug waiting for him.
"Kyoka, this is why you're the only one for me."
Kyoka giggled, and gestured for him to sit. "Grumpy JoJo is funny, but he can't be around forever."
"I'm glad this boat has a restaurant."
"Well...I heard a rumor that your uncle may have...put a little money into it."
"Which one?"
"I believe it was Mr. Giorno."
"He paid for one trip, and now he's paying for this one?"
"He loves you."
"I'm thinking you left a pretty good impression on him too."
"Well, he didn't smite me, so I'm thinking that too."
"He wouldn't smite you, he's too nice."
"He's able to."
Johnny laughed. "Uncle Giorno wouldn't put you in the infinite death loop, he's very responsible about using it. Even if he wanted to, GER wouldn't let him."
The two just sat there in comfortable silence as Kaminari entered the room. "Oh hey guys!"
"There he is, the D'arby slayer!"
"Aw come on, it was your sister's plan JoJo."
"She just told you to play dumb, you did everything else on your own."
"Well, it couldn't have been hard." Kyoka joked.
"Hey!"
"Aw, you know I'm just messing with you. I'm really proud of you Kami, you were a true hero back there."
"Thank you...that means a lot. Hey! We'll all working together this time!"
"Well, hopefully that doesn't mean there is a threat that everyone has to tackle."
However, if they had been paying more attention, they would've noticed a mechanical hand grabbing the handrail outside, followed by a distinct pyramid-shaped head.
Or perhaps they would've noticed a dark shape of a cowboy, glowing green eyes being the only thing visible as he watched the young heroes conversate, as he rested on top of the sailboat's mast.
Neither of their intentions clear.
Stand Name: Paradise City
Stand Master: ?
Power: B
Speed: A
Range: A
Durability: C
Precision: D
Potential: A
Description: A remote-controlled stand with an unknown user, it seems to be obsessed with a place known as Elysium. It has a habit of abducting people, although it appears to be with good intentions.
With a single touch, it alters the victim's gravity towards it's chest cavity, although it is unclear whether the victim actually dies if their molecules are captured, or if they are sent to 'Elysium.'
It has claimed that it's user is as precise as it is not. What that means has yet to be revealed. The stand also claims to be extremely old...meaning it's user must be as well.
It can extend it's limbs to a maximum of 8 meters, making it's winning touch all the more likely, it often uses them like whips.
The only way to escape it's grasp is if a stronger gravitational force is applied.
It can be operated remotely, so the user could be miles away. This stand is a genuine threat...
Especially to those who don't possess a quirk capable of fighting against it.
