**JOSUKE'S POV**:

I had to call Koichi and Okuyasu for an emergency meeting at St. Gentlemens. We sat down and ordered the usual. Okuyasu ordered a strawberry shortcake while Koichi got just a soda. I got a coffee with milk and cream.

"Why did you call us here Josuke?" Okuyasu asked. "Where's Kuro?"

"I wanted it to just be us guys today."

"Why?"

"Because I need to admit something." Both of my friends raised their eyebrows.

It's time to confess. I need them to know, because I need their help. It's time to admit what I've been holding onto for years. I took a deep breath, getting ready to admit my secret. "I love Kuro."

Okuyasu's jaw dropped while Koichi sipped on his soda "YOU WHAT?!"

"I mean, it was kind of obvious." Koichi mentioned.

"Wait, how long have you known?"

"For about a few months. After the Yoshikage Kira mess and things calmed down, the way you look at her is completely different compared to the way you look at us. It reminds me of Yukako." I started to blush. Was it that obvious?

"Wait, how long have you liked her?" Okuyasu questioned.

I avoided my eyes from my two friends as I twirled the loose hair that was on the back of my head. "I guess…a few years."

"For a few years?! You held onto this for THAT LONG?!"

"Well I met her when I was in elementary school and we've been friends ever since, but I don't know when these feelings started to erupt. It's as if ever since high school started, whenever I see her smile, my heart skips a few beats. Maybe I've liked her all this time and I just didn't know it."

"Well then, what's the plan? Do you intend to confess to her?"

"That's why I called you guys here. I was going to give her this." I took out of my pocket a white box. I opened it showing a peace sign necklace. Its gold hue matched the pins on my school jacket. "I bought a motorcycle with the leftover money I won from the lottery. I was thinking of taking her somewhere and giving her the necklace while confessing to her."

"Why don't you take her to the amusement park?" Okuyasu suggested. "I've seen it in those late-night rom-coms. You guys go to the amusement park, ride the Ferris wheel and when you get to the top, that's where you confess and kiss."

"Okuyasu I don't have any money left. Besides, I don't think it's even open this time of year."

"Tonio's?"

"We've been there before together."

"The park?"

"We're not 10 years old Okuyasu."

"Why don't you just tell her normally?" Koichi mentioned as he took another sip. "You've known her for years."

"Because I want her to feel special when I confess to her." I used my hand to hold my head up from the table. "I want her to see me as a man, not some childhood friend. She doesn't take any of the hints I drop and a few days ago she changed in front of me with no embarrassment whatsoever. I don't think she sees,"

Both Koichi and Okuyasu choked on their drinks. "She changed in front of you?!"

"Well, she only changed her shirt and skirt! She was just in her underwear! I didn't see anything else!" My eyes strayed from the two of them.

"You can't just say "you saw her in her underwear" without any context!" Okuyasu yelled. "What the hell were you two doing?!"

"We weren't doing anything! She just got mud all over her clothes so she needed to shower!"

"Ok so here's the real question: have you ever had "those" thoughts about her?"

I paused for a moment. "What do you mean"

Okuyasu leaned towards me and whispered. "I mean, have you ever thought of the two of you, you know…"

My face turned deep red. "I'm not answering that! Besides, you're missing the point! I just…" I used both my hands and covered my face. "I just want her to love me as much as I love her."

"Ugh. I'm tired of hearing about your teenage love-sick drama." I hear a very familiar voice coming from behind. It was Rohan, who appeared to be working on the latest chapter of his manga. "Koichi, why do you even hang out with these two babbling idiots?"

I stood up from my chair. "Who are you calling a babbling idiot you stuck-up mangaka?"

"Guys," Koichi tried to butt in. "Let's not fight, at least in the middle of the restaurant."

The mangaka and I clicked our tongues as I sat back down in my seat.

"Rohan-sensei, what would you do if you were in Josuke's situation?" Koichi asked.

The mangaka rolled his eyes. A smirk then came across his face. "Well if I was in your shoes, I'd say you're screwed. No woman who changes in front of a man thinks of them in a romantic sense." Koichi then gave Rohan a frustrated glare. "But, if you insist, north of my house there's a lone hill. Around this time of year, thousands of purple aster flowers bloom on top of it. The road to get up there is quiet and there's not much traffic. I usually go up there once or twice around this time of year to draw the flowers. It's a decent place to do something romantic I guess."

Finally, a decent suggestion. "And I can drive up with my motorcycle. Thanks Rohan-sensei!" That stupid mangaka did something decent for once.

"Tch, don't waste your breath. I only answered because Koichi's here."

"So that's your plan?" Okuyasu asked. "To take her up to the hill and confess? What if she says no?"

"Then… don't make me think about that. I don't think my heart could take it. I don't want to think about the awkward ride back home." I covered my face with my hands. "How could our relationship go back to normal after that?"

"Josuke, even if she says no, I don't think she'll want to stop hanging out with you." Koichi tried to console me as he put his hand on my shoulder." "She's not that kind of person and you know that."

I took a deep breath in and let it out."I know."

"Then stop doubting yourself. Stop doubting her. Everything will be ok."

I moved my hands away from my face and saw Koichi smiling at me. "Thanks, Koichi."

"So I'm really the only one left in our group that won't have a girlfriend?" Tears started going down Okuyasu's eyes. He put his head on the table and started to sob.

"Okuyasu, just give it some time! You'll find a girlfriend sooner than later." Koichi tried to comfort him. I feel like he's the only one here that's actually romantically stable.

We chatted for what felt like an hour, my friends trying to coach me on what to do.

This will work

This has to work.

After a while, the sun started to set in Morioh. The three of us parted ways at the restaurant. I made my way home and entered my house.

"Welcome home Josuke!" My mom called out from the kitchen as I opened the door. The smell of curry filled the house. "Jotaro called! He wants you to call him back as soon as possible."

"Sure mom."

I took off my shoes and school jacket, leaving me only in my yellow shirt and school pants. I went into the kitchen, picked up the phone and dialed Jotaro's cell number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jotaro. You said that you wanted me to call you back."

"I did." His voice sounds monotone as usual. "Both Genji Ito and Yuki Agawa were found dead this afternoon."

What?

My eyes widened in shock. "They died? But…how?"

"Yuki was found dead around 3:00 pm today in her cell. Genji died around the same time in his house. Because it's too soon, we can't get an autopsy to see the insides of their bodies, but it's obvious that it's the same stand user that's been hunting down other stand users."

It feels like things are getting more dangerous in Morioh compared to when we fought Kira. If this person could kill with that much ease, who knows who they'll go after next. What's worse is that we don't know why they're doing this.

"Did you tell anyone else this?"

"I called all the stand users that live in Morioh that I gave my phone number to."

My mind immediately went to Kuro and her smile. Koichi, okuyasu and I can probably hold off any stand user, but Kuro has a defensive stand. It's not made for fighting. "Did you call Kuro about this?"

"Yea. She was one of the first few people I called. Josuke."

"Yes?"

"Remember. You have one of the kindest stands in the world, but you can't bring the dead back to life."

"…I know."

"Bye."

He immediately hung up.

Each day feels like I'm losing a grip on all my friends. I almost lost Okuyasu when we fought Kira. I'm not going to lose anyone else.

I dialed Kuro's number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Kuro. Are you ok?."

"Yea." I could hear a slight tremble in her voice. "I'm just kind of scared."

"Don't worry. Everything will be ok. I promise."

"Remember when you fought Kira, and instead of going to the hospital, you and Jotaro came to my house covered in blood so I could patch you up?"

"Yea. I remember you being mad at me for not going to the hospital."

"I… I thought about what would've happened if I lost you. You put yourself in so many dangerous situations, I'm scared that one day, you won't come to my house so I can help you."

"Kuro, even though I can't heal myself, my stand is strong enough to protect others including you. Don't worry about me."

"…ok."

"I'm more worried about you."

"Josuke I'm fine."

"But,"

"I can use my stand to defend myself. I'll be ok."

"…Fine". This is my time to reach out to her. "By the way, can we meet up together on Saturday?"

"You mean tomorrow? Sure. Where do you want to meet up?"

"Actually, I'll pick you up at your house at around 3:00 pm. I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?"

"Yeah! Think of it as an event of some sort." I tried to play it off as cool and casual as possible.

"Um, ok. I guess I'll see you tomorrow ."

"Ok, bye!"

"Bye" she hung up the phone before I could sneak anything in.

"…love you."

After the call, My mom and I sat down for dinner. It's always been just the two of us for dinner unless Kuro was over. My plate was covered with white rice and a brown curry sauce that had onions, chicken, potatoes, and carrot chunks in it. Even though this is one of my favorite foods, I only felt like picking at it.

"You should be able to pick up your motorcycle tomorrow from the car dealership sweetie." my mom said.

"Yea."

"All those weeks at driving school over the summer will finally pay off."

"Yea."

My mom stopped eating for a moment and placed her fork on the table. "Josuke, what's wrong?"

"I'm just thinking." I said as I picked at my food. "Can I get some advice?"

"Josuke,you rarely ask for my opinion. Is everything ok?"

"Yea. A friend of mine has had a crush on this one girl for a while, and he's been thinking of confessing to her. He has a plan and everything set up, but he's too nervous to go through with it."

"You're talking about Kuroko, aren't you?"

"Yes? Wait, no I'm not!"

"Josuke, you're terrible at lying." My mom put her elbows on the table and cupped her hands together as she swung her feet back and forth happily. "Oh course you're talking about Kuroko and you! It's been so obvious for years."

My cheeks started to turn pink. "Was it really that obvious?"

"Whenever you invite her over, you get that look on your face that Joseph used to have whenever I hung around him. You know that he confessed to me first."

"He did?"

"Yup. I didn't know he was married at the time though. We were teasing each other and I said that he had weird lips. But he said, "Even with these weird lips, if we were to fall in love, you can kiss them all you like." Since then my heart has never felt the same for another man. I don't think Kuroko is that good when it comes to taking hints, so you probably have to be a little more direct to her."

"Ok, then what should I say?"

"Josuke, I can't tell you what to say. Say what's in your heart. That's the best place to start."

It feels weird asking your mother for love advice, but at this point, I'll take anything I can get. "Thanks mom."

"No problem. In exchange for this advice, make sure you do the dishes this time."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

After I ate dinner, I showered and got ready for bed. I opened my closet which was filled with my school clothes. I don't want to wear my school uniform tomorrow, yet I don't want to wear anything too sophisticated. I sliped my hand between each article of clothing, debating if it was worthy of being worn for this occasion.

Too fancy.

Too casual.

I don't even think I can fit this anymore.

My hand brushed against a bright red knitted sweater. Underneath was a dark green and black polka dot collared dress shirt.

Perfect.

Tomorrow's the day

The day I'll confess my love to Kuroko.