The Saga Rock festival hasn't started its main event yet and there are already many people frolicking around between stalls containing food, goodies and the like. The anticipation of getting to watch their favorite bands perform on stage could have contributed to the high attendance. That, and the festive atmosphere in the air is irresistible for the spectators.
As they wait for the main event to start, festival staff members are busy preparing behind the stage to get the acts to perform. The acts themselves are also doing the same thing, whether it's through encouraging each other or checking if they have the right music and equipment for their upcoming parts. Of course, this includes Franchouchou.
In the tent situated behind the stage, Kotaro is standing before Franchouchou and Rianima to give them a speech about their respective jobs for today. While Rianima looks the same as always since they always wear their stylized outfits and makeup disguise provided by Kotaro, all the girls are wearing a new idol outfit made by Kotaro to be used beyond the festival. While the red, argyle short-sleeved blazer over a white, collared shirt and mid-calf boots remains the same for all of them, each seven girls have different colors, sizes and accessories to fit them. Sakura has a pink skirt, Saki wears an orange one, Ai has on a light blue skirt and a black stocking, Junko adorns a gray skirt, Yugiri wears a red skirt, Lily dons a yellow one and lastly, Tae has a purple skirt and pantyhose covering her legs. Also, each has different collar accessories ranging from ribbons for Sakura, Ai, Yugiri and Lily and neckties for Saki, Junko and Tae.
"Today, you will be taking a major stage for the first time. Once your performance begins, I won't be able to do anything else for you," Kotaro told Franchouchou. He turns to Rianima and espouses a different but identical statement to them. "As for you boys, Weather Report could be keeping an eye for Franchouchou and you all. I would very much like it if you seven take the fight outside the perimeters of the festival. We don't want any human casualties or just anyone involved in our state of affairs."
Hearing from him that he wouldn't be able to assist them once they are on the stage and fighting against Weather Report respectively seems to make them nervous, but Kotaro walks forward to them as he says, "Let me get a good look at you all..."
It appears Kotaro wants to ease their worries when he said that. Franchouchou is going to take the whole festival by storm and having a great, if not, decent performance is important, which will be a nerve-whacking task. Rianima, on the other hand, will take on against an enemy Stand who can control the weather. All kinds of weather phenomena are fair game for the Stand, so they are in for a hard fight if by chance Weather Report has no restraints and just attacks Rianima with every weather phenomenon it can manipulate.
Seeing Kotaro looking at them, making nod gestures for each of them, seems to be calming their minds...
...Until Kotaro suddenly showered them with a spray container directly on their faces, starting from Sakura and Kakyoin.
"Aaaaahhhh!" Franchouchou and Rianima screamed and coughed as the liquid entered their noses and mouth. Kotaro continues spraying them all with a smile, stating, "Here's some extra strength 「waterproof spray, made especially for zombies」! Now, even if it starts raining, you'll be fine! There's plenty more left, so everybody make sure you get your spray on!"
Escaping from Kotaro, Saki picks up one spray container and reads the label. With an angry look, she says, "This says it's for shoes, damn it!"
"What would I give him a piece of my mind right now if it weren't for the agency today..." Narancia darkly implied through gritted teeth.
After they are all temporarily made waterproof by Kotaro (and given a good scolding), Franchouchou waits outside the stage and audience area. Saga Rock is filled to the brim with many spectators of all ages and gender, eagerly waiting for their favored music groups like Iron Frill to be on stage. Even if it's going to rain sooner or later, they choose to endure it because it's worth it going to the festival for a chance to watch them on stage.
At the same time, Rianima stands outside near the entrance to play their role as bodyguards for Franchouchou. Well, it's more like protecting the spectators looking to have fun watching the concert and making sure nothing is wrong with the event itself. Kotaro relayed to them before they went to the festival that an anonymous tip told him yesterday that Weather Report will appear outside the premises of the festival. They thought that the overcast sky that is about to be filled with lightning and pour down rain was the work of the enemy Stand, but Kotaro told them that a storm brewing above Saga Rock caused by Weather Report is just a coincidence. He doesn't deny the Stand will manipulate the weather when they are going to fight him, but the general message is "don't think too hard about it."
That message would have an impact on the seven Stand Users if weren't for the growing worry some of them have that Weather Report could attack Franchouchou and possibly the attendants behind their back, even with Hierophant Green, Magician's Red and Aerosmith on standby, patrolling the premises.
The red monoplane hovers above the venue unseen from pretty much everyone except for the faint sound of its propeller as Narancia looks at the radar. The radar is adjusted so that it will detect Weather Report's presence only. If he didn't adjusted it, the screen itself would show multiple blips of carbon dioxide expelled by the spectators below.
So far, the radar is not detecting their target. While he's not standing for many minutes, Narancia can't help but feel restless and anxious when, not if, their target is going to appear.
For Avdol, he observes, with arms folded, at the Life Detector floating up a few meters above them. If he has any worry that the heat radar could get extinguished by the rain, he shouldn't be since the flame itself is hot enough to vaporize any water if they come close. That is, if the water is not coming fast to Magician's Red's flames.
Having adjusted the radar to detect only their target, he comes up short-handed like Narancia. Avdol can't help but worry also that Weather Report could be attacking Saga Rock behind their backs, but he remains optimistic and patient. If he failed to detect the enemy Stand, then Kakyoin would, possibly ensnaring it once he found their target through Hierophant Green.
Speaking of Hierophant Green, the slithering Stand crawls through various stalls and between people to find signs of Weather Report's presence on the ground. Admittedly, the chances Weather Report will appear among the crowd of people or possibly in the waiting room for the performers is low, but Bucciarati is keen on covering all areas as possible, therefore the enemy Stand wouldn't be able to slip pass their sights.
Going by this strategy, Kakyoin, Avdol and Narancia stay close to Bucciarati and Mamezuku as they use their Stands to cover all possible space Weather Report could appear in. Meanwhile, Johnny and Gyro are somewhere away from them to scour the surrounding area with their horses in case the enemy Stand appear far from the venue. Once they found the Stand or even signs of its presence, Johnny will fight it using Tusk while Gyro hurried back and inform them that they found Weather Report.
With all of this happening, Rianima will catch Weather Report in its act before it has a chance of doing anything. This is helped by Mamezuku giving Bucciarati's strategy a success rate of 「24.7 percent」. On the surface, the rate is not much, but when dealing with Stands or something unpredictable that could endanger anyone's lives, the number may sound generous.
As the uneasy waiting game continued, Bucciarati spares a glance to the heavens above filled with overcast clouds that appear gray on various spots. He remembers Kotaro's words that there is a storm over Saga Rock, so it should be easy to guess the upcoming heavy rain will have lightning and thunder crawling and roaring across the sky. Quite literally, it is a calm before the storm, for Rianima and Franchouchou. Speaking of Franchouchou, Bucciarati wonders if Ai will be okay performing under a storm. He believes Kotaro wanted Ai to overcome her fear of lightning with her bandmates' help if he knew a storm was coming beforehand. He is worried for her, wanting to stand by her side like he did last night so she doesn't have hallucination of rumbling thunder in the midst of a heavy rain, but sooner or later, he wants Ai to overcome, or at least, endure her fear of lightning that have ended her life so early. He hopes Franchouchou will support her before or even during their performance.
Off to his side, Mamezuku spins a ball created by peeling his right hand and forming the stripped wires into a sphere-shaped appendage roughly slightly bigger than a steel ball. This is the result of his Spin training, of which he already learned so much from Gyro and Johnny. Thanks to their guidance and his own skills using Doggy Style, Mamezuku is able to form his entire hands into spheres attached to his wrists like a chained spikeball. By imbuing them with the Spin, he just has to hurl the spinning spheres against anything and pass on them the Spin energy for offense, defense and even traversal. The last word is unproven for now, but definitely a possibility in his book. Other than changing his hands into spheres, Mamezuku has thought of doing specific moves only he can do like rotating long ropes, forming his legs into a spring and creating a makeshift drill from his unraveled arms and have them spin on the ground. Whatever moves he can think of doing using Doggy Style, Mamezuku is able to achieve anything he can imagine through the Spin. He has Johnny and Gyro to thank for their teachings and guidance as well as telling him about the history of Spin and its use in the Zeppeli family.
Looking at the spinning sphere, Bucciarati sees Mamezuku is becoming competent in the Spin. Granted, it could be because he already knows the basic rules of the Spin so he is accustomed to how they work, but it's not wrong to say that Rai will soon to be an expert in the Spin similar to Johnny and Gyro. "I see you are one step before becoming quite proficient to the Spin, Mamezuku."
Rai did not turn to him but he listened as he focused on the spinning sphere now placed on his wrist, as if he's spinning a steel ball, and says, "I am. Having known mostly the uses of the Spin technique, I can confidently say that my combat and strategic capabilities went up. I have no hard percent rate yet, but I would be lying to myself if I said it's around 25 percent."
"As long as you keep training yourself in moderation, you will find your untapped potential," Bruno offered him this advice. "I hope you can use whatever you learned from Gyro and Johnny to assist us during this fight."
Believing he practiced long enough for spinning the sphere, Mamezuku reverts it back to his hand as he says, "To be frank, I could only help the two, but it's not off the table for me to help you all when we finally fight our target Stand."
"Let's hope you keep it that way, especially when we all relax during our downtime," He stated with a smile. "In fact, I believe you are becoming comfortable being with us, Mamezuku. Have you grown past your own concern that you won't be fine living with us?"
"...Give me two months," That is his response. "Though at this point, I am becoming accustomed to your presence under the same roof, Bucciarati." He even gives him a small smile, signifying he's getting okay living with others.
This would have a profound effect on the leader of Rianima if only the rapid gallops of Valkyrie carrying its rider back to them weren't heard, along with a shout.
"Guys! Our target...! 「Johnny and I finally found the elusive Stand」!"
Rianima perks up and stare at Gyro when they heard his words. Valkyrie made it to them, prompting Bucciarati to step closer to confirm what he heard from him. "Are you sure? Is Weather Report actually outside the festival venue?"
"Yeah. Johnny and I spotted it when small clouds came flying in front of us as we searched the Stand," Gyro affirmed. "Before we know it, the clouds grow in size and manifest into its humanoid form. I almost haven't saw it properly when I got Valkyrie to return back to you guys as Johnny told me he will keep it busy."
"I see. Then there is no time to waste!" Bucciarati turns to his teammates with determined eyes. Everyone already knows what they must do next when he says, "Let's go! We will follow Gyro to where he found our target. Be prepared everyone! This is a fight we must not fail!"
"Understood!" "Yes!" "Alright." Rianima shouted in response.
The distance between the festival venue and the place where Gyro found Weather Report is a few kilometers away when the six made it to the area that will soon become a battlefield between Rianima and Weather Report.
Standing on the concrete road with farmlands surrounding it, Rianima stop running when they see Johnny, sitting on Slow Dancer, furiously locking eyes with Weather Report. The enemy Stand itself is surrounded by small, raining clouds brimming with lightning of the same size as it stared back at him. It didn't avert its sparking eye from him, even if the rest of the group arrived.
Not averting his eyes also, Johnny says, "About time you all showed up. I was about to shoot its head and put this Stand out of its misery."
"Sorry if we took long to get here Johnny-san," Kakyoin apologized, bringing out Hierophant Green as he turns to the enemy Stand. "We didn't expect the distance to be this far from the venue. Not helping is Gyro slowing down so we can catch up with him and not get lost on the way."
"Hey, don't be sorry. What matters is you all came here, and now, it's about time to give this freak of nature a beatdown from us." He replied, burrowing his eyebrows a little.
As everyone summons their own Stands or prepare their abilities, Avdol took notice of Weather Report's appearance. Hm? Wait... This enemy's body... It's struggling to keep itself together. Most of all, it looks quite injured and missing one eye from its right. What happened to it?
It's like what Avdol said. Weather Report's cloudy body is threatening to split apart from it but has enough strength to still maintain a humanoid shape and its right eye is nowhere to be seen on its face, likely shattered by an unknown cause. Rianima and Franchouchou didn't get a good look of Weather Report when it first appeared because it was dark, so they didn't know what it looked like except for its cloudy body and irisless eyes. Junko should have remembered what it looked like, but when asked about it, she shook her head and told everyone she must have forgotten its appearance. This doesn't make sense. How could she forget Weather Report's appearance and is surprised to hear two weeks have passed? It's like she was only kidnapped for a day. Even Kotaro is puzzled about it.
Such observation seems hardly beneficial in learning its ability so the fortune teller should have stayed silent, but his curiosity of its present state led him to tell everyone about it. "Everyone. Weather Report looks worn-down. What happened to it before it appeared before Johnny?"
"Ah, well, about that.. That's the first thing I noticed when I locked eyes with it," Johnny concurred with his words. "And before you ask, no. I didn't attack the Stand until you guys arrived like I told you earlier."
"Huh. How strange," Narancia muttered, having Aerosmith on standby above him. "What, did it get into a fight before that led it to become injured?"
"That's quite a guess," Mamezuku commented. "I believe you four didn't engage with it at all when you searched for Junko, right?"
"Yes. All it did is escape from us every time we found it." Bucciarati nodded.
"So then why? Why is Weather Report not in a proper shape?" He continued asking. "From what I'm seeing from this, it is peculiar. And let's not get into how the heck Junko escaped from its hands and appear in a clearing somewhere."
フォォォォォーッ
Seeing the waiting has been dragged on long enough, Weather Report starts producing wind from its body and clouds surrounding it, billowing their clothes, hair and accessories. Rianima tensed up in anticipation as Magician's Red, Sticky Fingers and Magician's Red get to the front to prepare their assault against Weather Report. It is fitting because Kotaro told them that Weather Report is a close-ranged Stand. While its weather manipulation has possibly a massive range comparable to long-ranged Stands as its main ability, it could try get up near them and hit them with either rain, lightning, snow or wind to mangle their now-vulnerable bodies. They can feel the change in temperature and the rushing wind fine but feeling it like when they are still alive is a different experience together.
"Guess you will get your answers later Mamezuku," Gyro calmed Valkyrie down as he charges one steel ball in his holster. "That is, if this Stand is willing to talk or is not dead when our fight is over."
"I doubt it. We came here to eliminate it. I can mull the questions all I want for long until an answer is presented to me like fruits and vegetables growing ripe for harvest." Mamezuku stated, charging his own take of the Spin through his spherical-shaped hands.
"Alright... Here it comes!" The last words from Kakyoin were uttered before the close-ranged Stands engage Weather Report, primarily through rapid punching courtesy of Sticky Fingers. Everyone is on standby as they can see the weather around them changing so it rains upon them.
Resolved to kill their target and put its reign over weather to a permanent halt, Rianima will be busy for many minutes, not knowing if Franchouchou has their turn and will succeed.
The wait for their turn to the stage is nerve-racking, to say the least.
It is typical for Sakura to feel anxious about anything new that comes in her way. Ever since she finds out she was revived as a zombie with no memory and was forced to be in the spotlight along with the girls for not even two days, she can feel even a little bit of nervousness in her head that threatens to discourage her. Being a zombie who must not let her identity and secret get out at all costs played the part in getting nervous over doing whatever Kotaro wants for the girls.
Thankfully, Sakura is not alone in her struggle to save Saga from obscurity and regaining her memorues because she has her fellow bandmates and bodyguards by her side. All of them may have different attitudes and duties within the groups but that doesn't mean they are not willing to do what Kotaro wants them to do in his attempt to succeed in bringing attention to Saga. They are all in this together not as fellow bandmates or bodyguards, but as companions who will support each other to go over an uphill battle.
Knowing her friends and companions, Sakura tries to ease her nerves as she waits for Franchouchou's turn. Her anxiousness may not disappear completely, but this time, she is feeling confident that Franchouchou will succeed pass Saga Rock. Part of this is because she, again, had a flash of memory when watching the revamped Iron Frill.
That memory has become clear for her to see that she is indeed watching and cheering for the old Iron Frill, one where Ai Mizuno used to be part of and its lead singer.
Sakura sees a pattern in getting her memory back little by little and it's through taking part in idol activities. Maybe Kakyoin is right that she has a passion for idol singing if her flashes of memory keep appearing in her head.
Right now, Sakura waits for Franchouchou's turn to get on stage and show the audience what they are capable of past their fledgling status. Speaking of her bandmates, she takes a look at them and sees how they are enduring the nervous wait.
Ai-chan is standing on the doorway with Junko-chan sitting behind her. They sure look highly strung. Yugiri-san and Saki-chan seems fine and relaxed, especially for Yugiri-san who is brushing her hair with a small comb. Have to admit, I'm a bit jealous of how she is taking this well. Tae-chan is looking up with her mouth wide open but at least she's not causing trouble. And lastly, Lily-chan has her heart out of her chest, beating rapidly, possibly out of nervousness...
Wait, Lily-chan's heart...? Ah!
"Lily-chan, your heart...!" Sakura whispered frantically to Lily, panicking on the inside but not shouting it out so that staff members working nearby do not assume something bad.
"Hnnngh! I-It just won't get back inside!" Lily exclaimed, trying to push the still-beating heart back inside her body. It took a staff member to announce that Franchouchou is on standby that Lily's heart returned inside while she and Sakura stand up straight and pretend nothing happened.
The heart is still beating rapidly inside Lily's chest, but at least it's not outside.
Hearing their turn is soon up, each individual member tries to maintain composure and not get anxious. It looks like no one is saying anything as Ai continues staring outside, Junko, hugs her knees up close and Yugiri continues brushing her hair calmly until Saki stands up and shouts with so much vigor. "Aaaaalriiiiiight! Let's bust a move out there!"
"Raaaaaaauuuuuugggghhhhhh!" Tae mimicked her shout, including raising one clenched fist up high.
"Please do not shout! The current act is still on stage!" One of the staff members told the two.
"Oh, sorry..." Saki apologized, sitting back down and resting her cheek on her palm. Amusingly, Tae copied her movements, up to including mouthing out her apology, albeit in a slurred tone. "Ohsry."
Sakura and Lily share a laugh of their antics while the rest stare at them.
"Man, what's the big deal? These guys should see what a rally is like..." Saki is nonplussed of the staff's intervention, voicing out her complaint.
"Wawough." Tae lets out, returning back to resting her cheek.
"You really fit as a good leader." commented Yugiri with a smile
"Even Tae-chan follows you." Sakura added, giggling when Saki turns to her and Tae does the same. The former biker boss had only realized that the mysterious zombie was following her actions like a child. It's kinda sweet and cute.
Hearing the act is finished and the audience clapping their hands at the end of the performance, Ai turns around and says, "Okay, form up everyone." Doing what she said, Franchouchou huddled up together.
"Leader," Saki started. "I already said what I was gonna say."
"Sakura, it's your turn." Ai told Number One.
"Huh? Uh..." After thinking carefully over what she will say, Sakura brings out her smile and says, "I'm super glad we're all here today! I want this group to do its best. All of us, together, forever!"
"Hell yeah! Now let's show 'em what we got!" exclaimed Saki.
"YEEEEAAAAHHHHH!" Franchouchou shouted with determination. Whatever anxiousness she has in her evaporated when seeing everyone's resolve. Sakura believes that they will succeed for sure.
Still, there is an issue with Ai's phobia considering the overcast sky, but she and her friends will be by her side. All she can do is hope the Heisei idol pulls through.
Rain started pouring down from the clouded sky by the time Franchouchou stood before a small stair leading to the stage. Guessing lightning will occasionally flash and send out booming thunder during the rain, Saki asks Ai if she's gonna be okay.
"Yeah... It's not as bad as I thought..." That is her response. She hopes she didn't jinx herself after saying that. Saki doesn't look convinced, but she pushes the thought away as they all walk up on the stage, shined by the stage lights.
Most of the audience immediately took shelter when it started raining. Some of them are covering their heads with cloths for protection as they run towards any canopies. They believe they are not gonna miss anything about the last act of Saga Rock because it's an idol group they have never heard of. It's a small loss compared to the previous acts.
Lining up side by side in front of the remaining audience, everyone heard the rumbling thunder in the heavens. Though she tried not letting her fear get to her, Ai's twitching body and anxious stammer earns her a look of sympathy and concern from Sakura and Junko.
Saki raises a megaphone to her mouth and speaks through it. "Heeeeey! We are Franchouchou! Uh, I was born and died in Saga- W-Wait! I mean, like... It felt like I died...!" She quickly corrected before continuing. "And then, I met these girls... And so, like, that's why I love Saga! That's all!"
Despite their underdog status, few people are willing to clap their hands for Franchouchou, including the Metalhead Duo. Saki throws the megaphone behind her, which is caught impressively by Kotaro. The man smiles in anticipation of Franchouchou's and Rianima's success for this day.
BGM: Atsuku Nare
The stage lights brighten up in time for the song to start playing. Franchouchou raises their arms like a cross as they begin dancing, but some of them are unable to hide their anxiousness, which is noticed by the few people who were in the front.
"They seem really tense."
"Is that how they're supposed to look and act?"
"This is hard to watch. Give me a break here..."
Calm down, you can do this... You have to! Ai thought to herself to calm her fear down, listening as the song swells into the first verse.
Wakariaez-
ドーン!
"Hiii!" She lets out, but she continues even though she's starting to sing out of sync and stammer again.
k-karamawari bakari
Nareatte mo muki aenai koto
Takusan atte
Jama na puraido de
(motsurete)
Kokoro... k-kakimidare
(tasukete)
ドーン!
ゴロゴロ...
"What's going on?" Skull, the lanky one with long hair, wondered as he watched Ai stammer and appear scared.
"Is she scared of the lightning?" Bone, the fat metalhead, guessed, seeing how lightning and thunder attempts to send her confidence tumbling down with each flash.
Eventually, Ai cannot take it anymore, so she crouches down and holds her head in fear. Fortunately, Junko saw this, so she acted quickly and started singing in her place for the next line.
Taekirenai noooooo!
Suddenly, the song changed genre to include a rocking guitar as Junko passionately does an impressive dance move before she faced down Ai and holds out her hand for her. "It's all right. I'll back you up." She sincerely told Ai.
Hearing her words is what she wanted to hear to keep going. Grabbing her head, Junko pulled her up and the performance continued on with absolute resolve.
Jimon jitou nante No! No! No!
Aa me o akete
Jibun toki hanate Dance! Dance! Dance!
Aa amaenaide
Atsuku Nare! LIVE!
Honkin de butsukatte
Itami o wake atte
Sekai ni utagoe hibikase
Atsuku Nare! BURN! Zettai tsutawarutte
Hisshi ni mai odotte
Minna o egao ni dekiru haze
We can do it!
Tsuyoku mabushi ano hikari o
Tsukamitorou!
Whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa
Seiippai yaru dake sa
Mune no kodou o shinjite
Koronde mo tachi agatte
Shinde mo haiagatte
Me no mae no te o nigitte
Jidai nante
Tobikoete!
Ai raises her pointed hand up as the song reaches its climax as the clouds above started lighting up.
ドゴォォォォンッ!
What Weather Report lacks in numbers, it makes up for its dominion over the kind of weather phenomena to attack or bombard Rianima.
It started raining during the middle of the fight. Rianima didn't have time to know if Weather Report called upon the rain or it happened naturally like it predicted by the forecast when the Stand manipulated the rain to shoot them towards Rianima. Kakyoin, Narancia and Johnny got wounded by hundreds of sharp rains, Avdol, Bucciarati and Mamezuku used their Stands to evade or vaporize the rain, and Gyro dropped the spinning steel balls to create a whirlwind to suck the rain in while he steps back to prevent himself from getting slashed. Thanks to Sticky Fingers, Bucciarati appeared out from a zipper below Weather Report after a detached arm punched the enemy Stand's jaw, halting his attack. Bucciarati proceeds to punch rapidly, shouting "ARI ARI ARI!" for each punch. However, Weather reacted after five seconds by lighting Bucciarati's arms in fire through friction in its cloudy body. He got distracted enough that Weather seizes the chance to put him on a chokehold and threatens to pour water into his face. Kakyoin pulled Weather Report away with Hierophant Green for Narancia to pelt it with gunshots.
Rianima picked up their bearings as Weather Report next produces strong twisters from its arms to pull any members or disorient them and move them away to pick two easy targets. That targets would be Mamezuku and Avdol, the latter extinguishing the flames on Bucciarati's arms. The two would be pulled in the twister if weren't for Narancia dropping a bomb to the twisters. The bomb pulled to Weather Report before exploding in its face, scorching its cloudy body with dark smoke and soot. Not long after that, Johnny, Gyro and Mamezuku attack with their Stand and Spin abilities. Johnny and Gyro would have liked to achieve the Golden Spin using Slow Dancer and Valkyrie, but the harsh winds from earlier lead them to withdraw within their minds, so they have to settle with shooting out nails and steel balls with Mamezuku whipping the Stand with the spinning wire spheres. Weather Report can only get out of their attacks by sending small clouds assailing them with hails, prompting them to retreat.
The hails are a prelude to Weather Report lowering the temperature, effectively freezing the surrounding area and almost Rianima but Magician's Red produced multiple floating hot flames to prevent the approaching frost. Undaunted by this, Weather Report sends out heavy snow and strong winds in a circular radius. The speed and density of the wind and snow overwhelmed Magician's Red and its flames as Rianima got buried halfway in snow and endured the intense freezing to their bodies. Despite this, Avdol lets out a shout as he intensified the flames of Magician's Red to, at worst, stave off the cold and melt the snow, even just a little bit. Avdol sends out many Red Binds to Weather Report, who didn't react in time when it found itself ensnared by the flame ropes, stopping the snow and wind. Weather Report retaliated by sending out hailstorms to Avdol and he retaliated next by melting them with its scorching flames. However, there are many hails that Avdol is not guaranteed to melt them all, especially when most of them are big. Not willing to get crushed by many hails, Avdol retreated with Magician's Red, in turn freeing Weather Report but not without losing bits of its body more.
Feeling itself losing its body the more it drags this on, Weather Report produces wind in its body to propel itself at high speed toward Rianima. The Stand intends to pass through any of them and set them ablaze or shock them with lightning brimming in its body. Rianima again dodges the speeding enemy using their Stands, with Narancia and Gyro being helped by Bucciarati and Mamezuku. Kakyoin and Avdol chased Weather Report through Hierophant Green's tentacles and Red Bind but with the speed its going and having to barely dodge the Stand, getting their hands or shoulders getting burned or shocked, stopping the charging Weather Report is hard. Kakyoin decides to fool Weather by covertly spreading tendrils on the ground while Hierophant Green chased it with the tendrils it is chasing. However, Weather Report sees this by sensing the rain and noticed the tentacles on the ground. In response, it flew up high, still being chased by Hierophant Green's tendrils (Avdol has to give up when it went out of its range). Getting irritated by Kakyoin's persistence, Weather slashed the tentacles with the rain, wounding Kakyoin's hands. Fortunately, Weather Report's attention was on Kakyoin the whole time that it didn't notice Aerosmith and Mamezuku charging towards it. Peel Planter is hanging on the plane's tail behind using Doggy Style, leading him to ensnare the enemy again after charging up his own Spin to paralyze it. Aerosmith is free to pelt it with gunshots after Mamezuku drops back to the ground before dropping a bomb on it again.
ドカァァァンッ
When the smoke clears, they see that, to their dismay, Weather Report survived by separating its cloudy body into many white clouds brighter than the gloomy clouds above pouring out rain and brimming with lightning. Rianima assembled together as they watched Weather Report coalesce back into its humanoid form. When it did, they can see that the Stand didn't escape the explosion unscathed, as in addition to the Spin caused by Mamezuku, it's becoming more injured the more it got attacked by their combined might and the longer this fight dragged on. Weather's not the only one who is being injured however, as Rianima is getting exhausted from the energy expelled or the wounds they got from Weather's assault. Blood is scattered around the ground getting mixed with the rain. It's not going to wash off anytime soon due to it being thick like oil.
Holding his right hand that has a bleeding hole created by the rain, Mamezuku stares at Weather Report and says, "The enemy is not going to give up anytime soon. From what I examined, despite being injured from the start and during the fight, it's slowly healing itself through the atmosphere we inhabit."
"What, really?" Narancia shouted in disbelief, Clutching his bleeding shoulder while ignoring the small cut in his cheek, he glares at Weather Report and says, "Damn… No wonder it's still going strong despite attacking it with all we got. I bet that Stand is drawing in air containing a faintest trace of clouds from the sky."
"It's not surprising then that the arrival of a storm coincides with Weather Report's arrival," Kakyoin stated, kneeling on one knee on the ground due a wound in his left leg. His waist, hand and shoulder are not spared as well. "Even if it didn't call forth stormy clouds at the time of festival, it is possible the favorable environment provides the enemy with plenty of resources so it can continue as much as it likes."
"Well we can't just stand here and discuss about what that Stand is capable of!" Johnny, sitting on Slow Dancer when both of his legs got many bleeding cuts rendering him unable to stand up, aims his finger to Weather Report as he says, "We must stop the enemy before it grows back to its full strength! Gyro!"
"You got it! ORAAAA!" Shaking the lingering frost in his body which temporarily stopped the bleeding cuts in his waist, cheeks and back, Gyro throws a steel ball above him as Johnny shoots out one nail to the spinning ball and four more nails aimed at Weather Report. The Stand simply avoided it by dispersing into wispy clouds, which flies toward Rianima to possibly attack them. Seeing this, Gyro runs to a different position so he can properly aim the spinning ball floating in the air by hitting it with his second steel ball. The ball that has a hole in it ricochets off the thrown ball, hurling towards the coalescing Stand, who managed to catch it before it can hit its face.
"Uh oh! That's a bad move you made grabbing the ball that has a hole on it!" Gyro taunted.
Sure enough, the hole moves away from the ball through Weather's arms, ripping the matter apart before it arrived to its chest. The hole proceeds to shred it, causing high amount of pain to Weather Report that is expressed through it arching its body and head as if it was screaming in pain.
Bucciarati, Mamezuku and Avdol run to the Stand, the leader thanking Gyro and Johnny for their help before summoning Sticky Fingers, Magician's Red and Doggy Style. "Okay! Time to dispose the Stand! Go, Sticky Fingers!"
"Magician's Red! Seize the enemy again with Red Bind!" Avdol commanded.
"GWAAAAAGGGH!" Magician's Red roared.
"Let me help you. Doggy Style!" Mamezuku shouted, sending out ropes.
Once they are close, Sticky Fingers reared its fist as it wait for Weather Report to get captured…
…Except it didn't happen, because Weather Report suddenly exploded, stopping the three. "What!?" Bruno exclaimed.
In its wake, fog or mist expanded, surrounding Rianima. The level of visibility lowered immediately as the dense fog continued trickling until everyone can only see their silhouettes.
Whipping his head around, Bucciarati can only see Avdol and Mamezuku because they are with him but not the others, leading him to shout their names. "Kakyoin! Narancia! Johnny, Gyro! Are you all still there!?"
"We are, Bucciarati!" Narancia's voice is heard. "But, shit. I can't see anything in this fog!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! E-E-Easy there Slow Dancer!" They heard Johnny apparently trying to calm his horse down, indicated by the panicked neighing and frantic gallops of the horse. "G-Geez! Slow Dancer sure is worked up by this fog! I have a feeling this is anything but good."
"What is Weather Report planning now?" Kakyoin appears to be near the three since they can him faintly as he stands up, clutching his left leg. "It exploded into a fog that is now surrounding us. Is it trying to get us lost sight of it? No, that isn't right. It is possible it's still here, just spread out as a fog."
"I am hoping the pain is too much that it got desperate by becoming a fog," Two metallic thunks can be heard as Gyro speaks up. "I'll just clear the fog by using my steel balls. Not sure if it's gonna be effective though."
"Everyone, stay close with each other!" Bucciarati ordered, taking one step forward to Kakyoin in his bid to get everyone close so they don't get separated in this fog. "The enemy could be planning an attack, so we must-"
He only took one step when the fog disperses. "Huh? The fog… it's gone?"
Contrary to their expectations that Weather Report could be planning an attack when it coated everyone in fog, the fog is gone before they know it. Rianima look at each other in confusion, wondering why the fog disappeared. Nowhere do they see Weather Report, as if the Stand itself disappeared.
"Uh… what just happened?" Narancia asks in confusion. "Why did the fog end up dispersing like that?"
"I do not know. Weather Report also disappeared since it exploded into a fog before we can attack it." Avdol replied, not hiding his confusion too.
"Hmm… Going by that logic, I guess this means we finally defeated Weather Report, huh?" Gyro assumes with a smile. "I bet the Spin Johnny and I made surely damaged it before it can properly heal itself back." While it certainly looks like it, most of Rianima has doubts Weather's defeat ends in an anticlimactic fashion.
ゴロゴロ...
"Hm?" Hearing the rumbling thunder, Kakyoin looks up and sees the clouds directly above him lighting up with colts of lightning. The clouds light up more and more, growing in intensity and sound as thunder continues roaring without stop, which is enough for everyone to look up as well…
…Which is where they saw Weather Report looking down on them as it spread its arms wide before the heavens flashed in a bright light.
ガシャンッ
ドゴォォォォンッ!
Lightning struck Franchouchou so intensely that a shockwave is emitted in its wake, surprising and scaring the audience.
Once the lightning is gone, the stage is visibly damaged. The back wall is completely shattered while the headlights are all destroyed by the shock. While that is to be expected considering the power lightning can do, what's surprising for them all is that Franchouchou isn't affected by the lightning at all.
In fact, they all don't look charred and damaged!
If that's not surprising enough, their bodies started glowing in a pale blue color, the same color as lightning.
"...We are fine?" Ai said in surprise, realizing immediately her vocal pitch and tone was altered, giving it an echo effect.
"It's because we are zombies." Junko told her, making sure she didn't say it loud enough for the audience to hear her.
Franchouchou is not the only group that got struck by lightning. Few kilometers away from the venue sees Weather Report, after escaping Rianima's attack by dispersing itself into a fog before covertly coalescing back high above them, control the clouds up in the sky to charge up electricity before bringing down lightning on Rianima when the fog below clears up. It appears they comprehended what will happen next in a split second before lightning covers the group.
Knowing full well the group won't be able to survive 15,000 volts of lightning shocking their body, Weather Report is assured it managed to kill Rianima. The lightning disappears quickly, and Weather floats down so it could get close and see their charred bodies lying or even standing in a smoke-filled circular soot...
"!?" Weather's remaining eye could not believe what it was seeing. How...? How is Rianima still alive despite lightning striking their bodies visibly!? That is its thought when looking at the confused group of Stand users.
If the enemy is not surprised enough, then it surely should be when Rianima's bodies glowed in a pale blue color. Not the same color as the yellow lightning Weather conjured but the effect is the same.
"What the? We... are alright?" Kakyoin said, looking at his glowing hands.
"Why is our body glowing? It's like... I am filled with a boost of energy!" Avdol asked and described the feeling stirring in his body.
"Did we... go back to being zombies?" Bucciarati guessed, looking at everyone's glowing form. "I heard a shattering sound before lightning filled my ears and eyes. Also, I cannot feel my heart beating and my injuries being healed."
"So the reason we survived is because we turned back into zombies?" Gyro summed up, gripping a steel ball.
"Quite possible," Mamezuku replied. "As for our glowing bodies... What do we make of it?"
Before they try making sense of what is happening to their bodies, Weather Report appears to attack them. It looks like it failed to kill them instantly because they turned back into zombies somehow. Angered and undeterred, the enemy Stand decides to just scorch their bodies to finally kill them for good. Rianima acted quickly, with Avdol, being the closest to Weather, directing Magician's Red to charge up a Crossfire Hurricane. "Magician's Red! Stop the enemy from advancing!"
"KRAAAAAAAAA!" The Stand roared before firing an ankh towards Weather. That is when Rianima sees that the ankh is coated with surging electricity and flying fast towards Weather, who didn't have reaction time to evade it, so the ankh exploded upon making contact. The damage and explosion threw Weather away to the ground, who is now looking more injured.
Seeing what just happened, Avdol and the rest look at Magician's Red, whose flaming legs have seams of electricity covering it. Also, Avdol can feel a lot of energy in his Stand like in his body.
Awestruck by this development, Avdol asks, "What is this? My Stand... it's brimming with energy and... has electricity in its body?"
"...Wait, if Magician's Red has a boost of energy..."
Thinking up a logic based on it, Narancia brings out Aerosmith. To his and everyone's surprise, the monoplane is coated with electricity, even having the same glow as its user. "Woah! My Aerosmith...! It's filled with electricity too!"
"Could our zombie bodies being struck by lightning gave our Stands a boost of energy and lightning amplification?" Kakyoin theorized, summoning Hierophant Green and seeing its exposed skin having streams of electricity flowing inside its body.
"That's a likely explanation. Seems like Weather Report's attempt to end our lives instantly failed spectacularly and only succeeded in amplifying ourselves and Stands." Bucciarati said. At this point, Rianima is feeling confident that this fight has become easier thanks to Weather's mistake. Speaking of the Stand, it got up limply before charging towards the group again, not willing to give up no matter how many injuries it got.
But its cloudy body is struggling to maintain its form together shows otherwise that the enemy is getting close to defeat.
Filled with「resolve」once more, Rianima prepares their Stands to tackle against Weather Report, with Johnny, rearing Slow Dancer in a show of dominance, exclaiming, "Alright! Time to finish this!"
At the same time, staff members are mobilizing to assess the damage and see to it medical aid is delivered to the potential victims of the lightning strike. One member holding a headphone with a small microphone attached to it is giving out orders through it, stating, "Stay calm and check everything! The current act should-"
"That won't be necessary!"
The man who said that is Kotaro snatching the headphone off of his hands. The staff member didn't get to say anything when Kotaro shouted to the microphone bombastically. "START THEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MUSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!"
BGM: Electric RETURNER
Recognizing the song that they first performed many months back for their guerilla performance, Franchouchou get into positions as the song swells to the first verse. This time, with lightning amplifying their voices, this version of Mezame RETURNER will be different but recognizable and electrifying.
Mezame RETURNER
negae ba ii n da
kiseki, kanjite mitai n da…
(instrumental)
Akogareta no wa itsu no koro no yume?
Mune no oku ni kakushita sutōrī
Bashitto kimetai kono Succeed!
Tomatcha ikenai kono Proceed!
Isshinfuran de iku dōchū!
Yara kai mirai e maishin-chū!
Aa mō kore ijō arukenai…
son'na koto naideshou hora ne!
Furikaette mite guruguru guruguru… guruguru guru!
Aiu~isshu!
Ā issho!
Tomoni futtosutanpu!
Anrimiteddona Dreaming!
Ah Ah Ah Ah!
The cheering audience was dazzled by their spectacular singing and fantastic voices but when they made an impossible feat of shooting out lasers from their fingertips propels them to raises their glowsticks as they applaud uproariously.
Mezame RETURNER! Negaeba ī nda!
Kimochi hikari hajimeta nda
Mezame RETURNER! Omoeba ī nda!
Suteki wakuwakuna hodo chō dai dai, dai!
Mezase! Mezase! Saijō! Sairyō!
Kowaimono nado nai! Nai! Nai!
Todoke! Todoke! Atsui kimochi!
Kanaderu Sōru ni… Cut in!
From the moment Weather Report tried salvaging his attempted tactic by bringing forth the terror and wrath of wild weather, the tide of battle tipped hard to Rianima's side.
With their electrified Stands on their side, they are all merciless in attacking Weather Report before it can carry on its threat of delivering dangerous weather phenomena against them.
Narancia attacked first, ramming Aerosmith to Weather's torso. Normally the plane would just pass through its body and caught on fire, but not this time because the electricity coating Aerosmith allows the plane to be able to contact its body. Weather could only react in surprise as it got carried along. Smiling in delight, Narancia hauled Weather Report towards Bucciarati, Mamezuku and Avdol.
It's no surprise what these three will do next.
"ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI!"
"CROSSFIRE... HURRICAAAAANNNEEEEE!"
"DOGGY STYLE!"
After getting hit by many shocking punches, a jolting flaming ankh and electrical wire ropes, Weather tried fleeing after recognizing they were seriously damaging it. Unfortunately, the high amount of voltage it got in its body is so much that Weather is paralyzed, which is only amplified by Hierophant Green tangling it with its electrified tendrils.
"Going somewhere? Not on my watch! EMERALD SPLASH!"
"AEROSMITH!"
Weather Report is on its last legs after getting pelted by voltaic bullets and emeralds for five seconds. The Stand lies on the ground, trying desperately to crawl away. It has no energy left to properly control the weather, even though it really needed it to escape. Its body is now close to breaking up, emitting vapor as it looks like its beginning to melt like cotton candy in water. It's almost pitiful.
Lucky for it, Johnny and Gyro will put it out of its suffering.
"ORA!" A steel ball lands on Weather's back. The Spin energy fully paralyzed it, as well as euthanized it so the Stand has become lethargic.
Weather Report did not look up or at anyone else as Johnny shot three bullets to its head. What remains of the Stand becomes water vapor rising in the air, up to the clearing clouds.
Clouds started parting to let the sunlight through, illuminating Franchouchou if their glowing bodies are not enough, as the audience cheered for their performance, which has increased when they made an unprecedented move of continuing singing in spite of lightning striking them with the Metalhead Duo's adoration for them only increased.
Wind blows through his face, swaying his hair as Kotaro says, "Now they look like real idols. It's finally begun..."
Hand covering her eyes, Sakura couldn't believe their luck that their performance ended impressively. She couldn't let her tears of joy out as she cried.
"Come on. Keep it together now." Ai soothes her, standing on Sakura's left while Junko takes her right.
"Idols are supposed to bring people smiles." Junko reminded her.
After she is done crying, Franchouchou lined up as Kotaro throws a megaphone to Saki, who catches it with a smile. She then raised it to her mouth and declares, "We're Franchouchou! Nice to meet yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The group raised their hands up high before bowing for the still-cheering audience. The only one who isn't cheering is Okoba, who is left even more skeptical about the soon-to-be-unfledged idol group.
"Oi, oi... Did I really just see that?" Okoba wondered.
"This is great! This is gonna be huge!" Inubashiri has a camera ready, smiling at their act as he takes picture of Franchouchou to be part of the article he and Okoba are going to publish.
Back to the zombie Stand Users, the group is expecting the familiar shattering sound because it signified the enemy Stand is defeated and their current fight is over. But now that they think more about it, perhaps the fact that they turned back to zombies during the fight possibly means the victory has already been decided in their favor.
Catching the steel ball back, Gyro lets out a satisfied smile and snort. "Heh. Never thought I would be using a steel ball to execute a Stand. Well, I am glad Weather Report is finally gone from our sights for good. All thanks to the lightning it conjured energizing our bodies and Stands."
"I guess we are lucky," Bucciarati said with a smile. "If we got struck by lightning while we are made mortal, it's over for us before we realize it."
"We sure are," Kakyoin concurred, looking at the parting skies letting the orange sunlight shine through the holes. The rest joined him in staring at the sky when he added a remark. "Have to admit. The idea of our bodies boosted by electricity which in turn boosts our Stands feels strange, but at the same time, good."
Everyone has no response, only acknowledging it with grunts and nods. Regardless of if it happened almost suddenly, they are glad that it led them to victory. One that is being cherished by them now.
As the setting sun dyes the sky with its orange hue standing in contrast to the approaching gradient of violet and blue on the other side, Franchouchou and Kotaro are all standing around the van, waiting for Rianima. Earlier before they left the mansion, Kotaro told the Stand Users to find them waiting near their van when they are done defeating Weather Report. They are not sure if their fight went on for too long or too short, so all they can do is wait and hope they made it alive and succeeded like Franchouchou did for their act in the festival.
As Sakura excitedly talks about how their concert went, Ai cannot resist smiling at her enthusiasm and relief that they had done a great job. Franchouchou's first song managed to ease the audience in for their style before they went all in for the remix of Mezame RETURNER thanks to lightning striking their bodies, amplifying their voices and letting them shoot out lasers for impressive effect. Hearing the fans' applause as they cheerfully wave their glow sticks proves to her that Franchouchou went past their fledgling status. She knows their path is only just beginning, but she is confident they will endure the trials in the near future.
Ai continues listening to Sakura's ramble when, from her peripheral vision, she sees Junko approaching her. She had a concerned look on her face as Ai turned to her.
With Ai's fearful cower during the concert fresh on her mind, Junko is wondering if she is now okay. While she is glad Ai did not falter again when lightning struck them, she believes her fear of lightning is still there in her mind, possibly having not disappeared or at least, become mostly absent.
With a deep breath, Junko proceeds to ask Ai. "Ai-chan, are you feeling alright?"
"...Feeling alright?" Ai repeated with one eyebrow raised. "About what?"
"Oh, you should know," Junko said it like she expects her to be aware of. "Your... 「fear of lightning」?"
Understanding what she wants to talk to her about, Ai lets out a sigh when she remembered her cowering in fear over the sound of thunder. Averting her gaze, Ai says, "To be honest, I still have my fear over thunder and lightning. Even if I may try overcoming my fear, I wouldn't forget that I died from lightning. You can say that it's engrained in my subconscious."
"..." Junko remained silent, listening to her along with the others when they heard Ai talking to her.
"But, when we all got hit by lightning, I... actually didn't get scared of it. And that's not because we are zombies so our bodies absorbed the voltage and glowed as a result," continued Ai. "If it weren't for you Junko-san, I would have floundered my act and rendered our concert a failure. Seeing that you, the girls and even Kotaro want to be by my side, I believe... I can brave through lightning. Besides, it's not like all of us except for Kotaro will be killed by lightning. As such, thank you, Junko-san."
Letting a smile appear after hearing her, Junko remarks, "You're welcome, Ai-chan. I wanted to help you, after all."
"Oh, and also, about our argument two weeks ago... I am sorry for being mad at you. And Lily-chan too." Ai looks at Junko and the girls with an apologetic look, especially to Lily since she yelled at her when she wanted to comfort her. "I think it's not much for me apologizing, but..."
"Do not worry. I accept it," Junko assures her. "We just have our different views to being an idol, that's all. As long as you have me and the others, we will bypass our own weaknesses and play with our strengths. Is that alright with you, Ai-chan?"
Happy to see they both have an understanding with each other, Ai nodded with a confident smile, stating "Okay, Junko-san."
To solidify that things will be okay between each other, they shook hands. Watching from the sidelines, everyone is glad there is no more hostility between Ai and Junko. Feeling her tears ready to flow from the sight of a friendship mended, Sakura walks over and congratulates the two. It didn't take long for the rest to huddle around the two, smiles and compliments being directed at them. While Kotaro didn't join, he didn't hesitate to let a small smile appear on his face watching this.
"Looks like you girls are all happy and celebrating. I take it your act went well?"
Everyone turns to the approaching Rianima after hearing Kakyoin's words. Predictably, the girls are happy to see them, with Tae marching towards Kakyoin to give him an affectionate nibble to express her happiness to see them, starting with him.
Kakyoin isn't able to summon Hierophant Green or stop Tae with his hands when the zombie latches on him, sending both of them to the ground. Rianima and Franchouchou looked on with surprise as Tae bites his head, much to his chagrin and disgust because she may ruin his hair, especially his long twisting bang.
"Kaqueennnnn!" Tae mumbled in her nibbling.
"H-Hey, Tae-san! Please get off me!" Kakyoin pleaded, trying to push the surprisingly strong zombie off him. "I-I know you are happy to see me and the others, but I don't want my personal space to be invaded suddenly! Come on, are you listening to me, Tae-san?"
"Tae-chan, please listen to Kakyoin! He is getting uncomfortable." Sakura grabbed Tae's arm and started pulling her off of him as she tried placating the happy zombie. She succeeded in pulling Tae away from Kakyoin, but her arms detached in the process, leaving them hanging on Kakyoin's neck and head. "Ah!"
"Phew... I can breathe easy again. Thanks Sakura," Kakyoin plucks the arms off and reattaches them to Tae. "And here are your arms, Tae-san."
Everyone is laughing at what they saw, with Yugiri, Bucciarati, Johnny and Mamezuku smiling as substitutes. Any normal and sane person would freak out and question how Tae's arms got off her so easily, but not to them. And while they do find all of it really strange, it does not hamper the joyful mood that has settled for them.
After that little predicament, everyone talked about Franchouchou's successful act that has Junko helping Ai and in turn, reconciling, and Rianima's fight against Weather Report that is made slightly easy because the enemy Stand was weakened for some reason. Kakyoin, Avdol, Narancia and Gyro lamented that they didn't see Franchouchou's entire act live though they will get the chance through watching a recorded video while the girls expressed their relief when hearing Weather is defeated. It didn't take long when both groups learn that they got struck by two lightning, surprising them all. After hearing what effect lightning did to them, they are wondering if luck was on their side and the fact both of them got struck likely at the same time is a coincidence. At least they take comfort that they didn't die and got beneficial effects in turn.
"Heh, the fact that all of us got hit by lightning that temporarily gifted us with altered voice tones and boosted Stands is quite a shock!" Gyro did not resist to make a joke related to lightning.
"..." Everyone stares at him blankly, including Tae. Thinking they haven't got the pun, Gyro next says, "Get it? Shock, as in getting electrocuted... And really surprised, because it led us all to victory. It's a clever pun and joke, wouldn't you say?"
"For sure, Gyro," Johnny responded with a nod as he indulges in sarcasm. "It is a fitting word to be used for a joke related to electricity. How could you not resist such a joke like that to describe how lightning did to us?"
"I know, right?" Gyro's detection towarrds sarcasm remains at zero when he replied.
"Pffft... Hahahahahaha!"
Everyone turned to Ai having a laugh. She is neither irritated by Gyro's electricity-based pun nor offended. If anything, she can feel her chest lightening up, as if her fear of lightning is not getting to her this time. "I admit. It is quite a funny and suitable joke. How can you not resist, Gyro-san? It did give us all quite a shock!" She smiled at him.
"You're... not annoyed I made an inappropriate joke, Ai?" Gyro asks her.
"No, don't worry. I mean it when I said it is funny and fitting." She sincerely told him.
Grinning widely which showed his golden teeth, Gyro feels invigorated and said, "Haha! Hearing you appreciated my joke makes me want to think up more jokes I will like to share to you all! Better watch out everyone, for Gyro Zeppeli will create more jokes that I am sure most of you will laugh at!"
"Oh boy... What have you done, Ai?" Saki stated, blaming and staring at her for causing Gyro to potentially ramp up his silly jokes much to their detriment.
"Hey, come on. I only said it because I do find it funny," Ai defended herself. "Maybe you should tell Gyro not to make any more jokes. Or give him pointers so he can come up with clever and really hilarious jokes."
Before anyone can say more, Kotaro shouted at them because he had waited long enough.
"Hey! All of you, get in the van! It's time we get out of here!"
With their job for the day over, everyone piled up in the van, hoping to celebrate a job well done, like eating in Drive-in Tori as requested by Saki. Once everyone is inside, the van drives off from the parking lot. Few people paid heed to them the whole time as they went on with their own businesses for the remaining hours left in a single day...
Including a great horned owl perched on a guardrail in front of the parking lot who never diverted its yellow eyes off of them until the van shrinks in the horizon.
"Hoo, hoohoohooooo... Hooooooooo... Hoohoo..." The owl hooted before leaving the area and taking off in the air.
To be continued
Stand Analysis:
Weather Report
Destructive Power: A
Speed: B
Range: C
Stamina: A
Precision: E
Developmental Potential: A
Weather Report is a humanoid Stand formed from a mass of clouds giving it shape that manipulates the atmosphere for near-total control of weather. Any kind of weather phenomena and its related subjects known by many, like rain, wind, lightning, clouds, and snow, Weather Report can control them for offensive and defensive tactics.
While there is more to Weather Report's ability, its overseer forbades it from getting too powerful for its targets because Rianima and Franchouchou are meant to survive every Stand battles, no matter how much they want and capable of killing them.
After almost ten months of the fanfic stalling during this arc due to hiatus and reworking of the entire fic, I am happy to announce that the Saga Rock arc is done!
...AKA the arc where fans realize Ai and Junko are an item and shipped them for all its worth.
Let me tell you all. I am relieved and exhilarated to move pass Saga Rock arc and proceed with the story. For the past ten months, it's like I have entered another writer's block and stalled the fanfic, leaving it stuck in the middle of the arc after a cliffhanger in the old version of a chapter where all three fights are compressed into one single chapter, causing it to be rushed and not as developed and thrilling as much as I hoped. Not only that, I left it in a cliffhanger that, as you all know already, really makes me want to lobotomize my part of the brain that came up with that plot point so that I completely forget it.
With the whole arc done, we can all finally move on to new chapters and keep the pace going!
A lot of developments happened not only in this chapter, but also the whole arc: Ai and Junko got into an argument that they mended after Franchouchou's concert in Saga Rock, they and Rianima dealt with four (Mista screams in the background) enemy Stands based on weather phenomena, Mamezuku is finally able to utilize the Spin in his Stand, Johnny and Gyro have Slow Dancer and Valkyrie back as zombie horses fittingly enough, the mysterious circumstance surrounding Junko's kidnapping before her rescue, and lastly, Franchouchou's concert in Saga Rock and Rianima's battle against Weather Report succeeded in a high note after getting struck by lightning that their zombie bodies absorbed, causing them to gain autotuned voice and impressive lasers for Franchouchou and boosted Stands brimming with electricity for Rianima. No autotuned voice for the guys, in case you are wondering.
The idea may have waited for 10 months to be implemented in the story, but one guest review wondered if Rianima will gain similar glowing forms like Franchouchou. I found it interesting, so Rianima gets the same treatment as Franchouchou did when a lightning struck the girls. Also, this will not be the last time we see the two groups gain electricity powers for their performance and fights, respectively. But don't expect it will come up in this fanfic, for I am saving that to the sequel.
Aside from what I said one paragraph above, there are minor interesting scenes I added across the entire arc: the great horned owl in the beginning of the arc and end of it and this chapter, the aristocratic-looking man spotted in Franchouchou's first fan meeting and the second appearance of a hooded woman after appearing and disappearing in the twelfth chapter, looking for her cat named Hartzler, which is actually its second appearance. I will not reveal their significance yet, but all those scenes listed above will become important later, and one of them will be the main antagonist of the story. Who is it, you may ask? Well, foreshadowings are all you got for now, which I had laid out as early as the third chapter.
...But, if there is one thing I like to say regarding these original characters, one character is a red herring for the role of the main antagonist.
Okay, I have said too much. It's time I end this chapter and arc and move on to the next 4 - 6 or 7 chapters, four of which will be about Lily's and Saki's backstory. With the JoBros being there, it is obvious I will include them for most of the scenes. As for the three chapters, they will be original ones focusing on another Stand battle. This will be the last arc before the third act of Living Things begins. It is not near the end yet when that comes, but after many chapters for the third act, we will enter the last arc that is mostly filled with fights, as usual for the final arcs of the eighth JoJo parts.
Lastly, happy belated birthday to our clumsy but kind and empathetic pink-haired egghead with a strong passion, Sakura Minamoto, and our proud, muscle-bounded gentleman with a valiant heart who started the bloodline as the first ever JoJo, Jonathan Joestar! They were born on April 2 and 4 respectively, only a day and three days after my own birthday. I am proud to say that I am happy to be born in the same month as these two, Sakura especially since she might be my most favorite girl/idol/zombie who I seem to relate to. Of course I could not forget Jonathan, whose conduct and behavior are what everyone should strive to follow even against a cruel world.
Alright! It's time for me to sign out! Stay safe, have a great day and see you all next chapter, everyone.
I bid you all adieu~.