At the same time, before and during Franchouchou's turn…

BGM: Fight to Antagonize (Stardust Crusaders OST)

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 if it happened naturally like it was predicted by the forecast when the Stand manipulated the rain to shoot them towards Rianima. Kakyoin, Narancia and Johnny got prickled by hundreds of raindrops imbued with piercing power but Avdol, Bucciarati and Mamezuku used their Stands to deflect or vaporize the rain, while 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 on fire by having them go through its cloudy body and let air friction take its course. He got distracted enough that Weather seized the chance to put him on a chokehold and threatens to pour water into his face, but 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. Those targets would be Mamezuku and Avdol, the latter extinguishing the flames on Bucciarati's arms. The two would be pulled in the twister if it 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, working together for the first time as fellow Spin Users, with the latter opting to showcase his progress to his two senseis. 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 them within, 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 hail, 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 intensifies 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 it's 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 chases it with the tendrils it is chasing. However, Weather Report sees this by sensing the rain and notices the tentacles on the ground. In response, it flew up high, still being chased by Hierophant Green's tendrils (Avdol had 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 so 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 observed, 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 glared at Weather Report and said, "Damn… No wonder it's still going strong despite attacking it with all we got. I bet that Stand is drawing in air containing the faintest trace of clouds from the sky."

"It's not surprising then that the arrival of a storm coincides with Weather Report's arrival," stated Kakyoin, 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 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! OOORAAAA!" 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 flew 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 manages 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」 in it!" Gyro taunted.

Sure enough, the hole moves away from the ball through Weather's arms, ripping the matter apart before it arrives at its chest. The hole proceeds to shred it, causing a 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 of 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 waits 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 see 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 to lose 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 dispersed. "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 looked 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 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 stopping, 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 looked fine 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 realized what will happen next in a split second before lightning covers the group.

Knowing 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. "And… my voice!"

"Did it get filtered somehow while our body is glowing with electricity?" Narancia guessed, deciding to test it by shouting "Hellooooooooo?", achieving the same result. He's astonished, stating, "Okay, this is very weird."

"More than that… 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," replied Mamezuku. "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 floats down before them 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… 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 give 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 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 THEEEEEEEE! MUSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC! ! !"

BGM: Electric RETURNER

Recognizing the song that they first performed many months back for their guerilla performance, Franchouchou gets 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 raise 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!

(The song plays in tandem with the Weather Report fight)

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 catch 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.

BGM: With My Team (Zombie Land Saga OST)

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 soothed her, standing on Sakura's left while Junko took 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 declared, "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 pictures 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 signifies 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'm glad Weather Report is finally gone from our sights for good. All thanks to the lightning it conjured energizing our bodies and Stands."

"Yeah. We are lucky," Bucciarati said with a smile. "If we get struck by lightning while we are 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 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, 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're done fighting 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 and the unexpected surprise that bolstered their voices and overall music, 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 remembers 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 it, I wouldn't forget that I died from lightning. You can say that it's ingrained 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-chan, I would have floundered and caused our concert to be 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, Mizuno-san. I wanted to help you, after all."

"Oh, and also, about our argument two weeks ago… I didn't get the chance when we met again after but, I am sorry for getting mad at you and not taking your issue seriously until Saki and Bucciarati-san talked to me. That goes too for Lily-chan after I coldly stated a harsh truth to her." 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'm not sure if apologizing to you is enough, but…"

"Don't worry. I accept it," Junko assures her. "We just have our 「different views」 on 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, Mizuno-san?"

Glad to hear they reached an understanding, Ai nodded with a confident smile, stating "Okay, Junko-chan."

To solidify that the animosity between them is buried, they shook hands. Their patching up was seen by everyone watching from the sidelines and they are glad no more hostility between Ai and Junko exists. 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?"

The girls and Kotaro heard Kakyoin assume as they turned to him and the approaching Rianima. Similarly, the seven guys are satisfied and happy at a job well done, and from noticing Junko and Ai making mends, to Bucciarati and Narancia's delight. Predictably, the girls are happy to see them, with Tae marching towards Kakyoin a little suddenly, giving him no time to react before he's bombarded by her affectionate nibbles.

Eventually, Kakyoin couldn't stop Tae from latching onto him and pushing him to the ground. Rianima and Franchouchou looked on with surprise as Tae continued biting his head, much to his slight chagrin 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're 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. "Oh, 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 easier 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 learned 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 making 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? Nyo-ho ho!"

"For sure, Gyro," Johnny responded with a nod as he indulged in sarcasm. "It's 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 towards sarcasm remained at zero when he replied.

"Pffft… Hahahahahaha!"

Everyone turned to Ai laughing, much to their surprise because 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 Gyro-san made an inappropriate joke, Ai?" Lily asked 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 felt invigorated and said, "Haha! Hearing you appreciate my joke makes me want to think up more jokes I would like to share with 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 gulped, 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 could 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 moved to enter the van. Some of them hoped they should celebrate for a job well done, like eating in Drive-in Tori as requested by Saki. Grinning at their liveliness, Kakyoin followed them with the intent of agreeing with the blonde idol, but then…

"Meow!"

"Hoooo! Hooohooooo! Hoooo! Hooohoooooo!"

"Huh?"

Stopping, Kakyoin turned around and saw two animals walking up to him: an orange tabby cat and a great horned owl. He blinked in curiosity and confusion at the sight of an unlikely sight of a domesticated and wild animal being together, until he recognized he saw the owl before. "Oh, hello there. We meet again, little owl. What brings you here along with your… friend?"

Crouching, Kakyoin extends a palm to the owl's beak. She began preening his fingers while trilling seemingly in delight, earning a chuckle from the man either because it felt ticklish or the owl's eagerness. "Seems like you didn't forget me. Do you have a photogenic memory, little owl? Guess that means the stereotype of owls being wise might be true."

He turned to the tabby cat walking around his crouched form, rubbing his face, body and tail against him as if marking him. This earned another chuckle from Kakyoin, amused by the cat's behavior, before he perked up after realizing what the cat was. "Oh! Weren't you the cat who was being searched by a mother and her daughter two days ago? I'm surprised to see you here."

"That's because Hartzler wants to see you, including me!"

!?

Eyes widening immediately, Kakyoin stood up in shock staring at the owl who, if he's not being crazy, spoke like a human in a deep, female tone of voice. It appears the owl and the cat mirrored his reaction, but for a different reason.

"What the…? Did I hear you… say a complete sentence… out of your beak?"

The owl stared back at him, wide-eyed. "Uhhh, nope?"

"There it is! You spoke again!" Kakyoin realizes he's indeed not being crazy. He did really hear the owl talk!

"Kakyoin! What's wrong? Why are you still outside?"

Just then, Sakura approached the stunned teen from behind, alongside her groupmates and his groupmates. Kotaro can be heard in the driver's seat admonishing them from leaving the van, but the zombies pay him no heed for now as their attention is on Kakyoin seemingly regarding the two animals acting like deers in the headlights in bafflement, of which they only noticed just now after Lily pointed them out.

Noticing Kakyoin's silence, Avdol asks him next, "Kakyoin, what's the matter? You looked surprised by something…"

"I am, because of this owl…" He pointed at the guilty-looking owl, if that's a possible description of her behavior, "talked like a person."

Everyone stared at him like he lost his mind. "A talking owl? You do know only parrots can talk, and that's only through imitating their owner's voice, right?" Lily reminded him.

"No, I can really speak normally!"

!? !

This time, it's the zombies' turn to be surprised as they all looked down at the owl putting a foot in the mouth, or actually, a beak in her mouth.

"Huh?! That owl did talk!" Johnny expressed his surprise.

"You idiot!" The cat snarled in a baritone tone of voice, "You don't know when to stop, do you Lynn!? Stop speaking!"

"And now that cat talked!" Ai gasped. Hartzler appeared to realize his hypocrisy as his eyes widened.

No one dared to speak, all profoundly confused by what they're seeing and hearing. Mamezuku, Gyro, Bucciarati, Yugiri and Junko wanted to be skeptical and play devil's advocate that maybe they're just hearing things or imagining it, but even they didn't have it in them because they did really hear their voices out of their beaks or little mouths. They kept staring at the cat and owl, who started backing away. Kakyoin immediately noticed it so he stopped them.

"Wait, you two! Just… What are you two?! How come you can speak like a human? And also… You two had already taken a liking to me so soon. Why is that?"

The animals turn to each other for a moment before they face Kakyoin and talk once more with a look of delight.

"Because we missed you, Kakyoin."

The thirteen zombies are more surprised than before, with Kakyoin being affected the most. "Wh-Wh… W-What…?" He wanted to ask them again, but the two fled the scene quickly. "Ah, wait!" He reached out to the sprinting cat and flying owl, but they're already too far away to be stopped. The zombies just stood there in bewilderment watching the two animals flee, some of them staring at Kakyoin wondering how those two knew his name. Has he met them before? But when? Just… What's the deal with those animals?!

"I AIN'T GONNA REPEAT THIS AGAIN, YOU INATTENTIVE ZOMBIES! GET. IN. THE. VAN!"

But that's a question for another day as they have a celebration to attend to, so they piled in as per Kotaro's impatient command and left. By this point, the sun has almost set in the horizon, coating the horizon and the land below in a yellowish-orange glow.

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 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 purposes.

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 battle, no matter how much they want and are capable of killing them.