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It's been few years since Jotaro had adopted Haruno, he wasn't expecting to have Haruno get attached to him so quick. He supposed it was because he adopted him when he was barely a few months old. It's been around seven years now since he's had Haruno and officially four since he's had Jolyne. He could feel his heart pang at the memory of a love lost and forgotten. He briefly wondered how Marina was doing, if she was doing better than she had been in their marriage.
He could feel himself heading down that way until he could hear the sound of Haruno saying his first words, he rose his head to see Star Platinum watching the VHS of younger Haruno. He could feel his lips twitch as Star brought him closer to the television, a sense of fondness growing in his chest in seeing young Haruno blow raspberries.
Haruno scrunched up his nose when he realized Jotaro was away from him, a squeak of annoyance escaping his mouth. Jotaro huffed a laugh as he remembered that moment. Haruno gave a small hum as he reached his hands out to Jotaro. "I'm not picking you up, you'll get too dependent on me Haru." Haruno whined as he opened and closed his hands repeatedly at Jotaro.
"If you want a hug Haru, then come here." The angle changed when Star Platinum took the tape recorder from him. It now showed both Jotaro and Haruno a small space away from each other, Haruno's pale complexion getting a tad bit red from the small amount of anger he felt. "Come on Haruno." Jotaro encouraged the raven haired boy he released a yell out of anger.
Jotaro could see the small smile on his lips in the VHS. He wondered if it was hard to see his emotions, if others struggled to see what he felt. He changed his mind when he saw younger Haruno laugh at his younger self’s smile.
“Come on Haruno, come on.” His younger self can be seen beckoning Haruno towards him, the boy in question pouting before turning away. He could faintly remember Star Platinum making a signal toward him and distracting him from Haruno.
Star Platinum made a signal, capturing Jotaro’s and causing the teen to turn to the Stand. He was unaware of the twinkle in Haruno’s eyes as the small boy shakily pushed himself up on unsteady legs. Unaware of the flashes of something gold appearing and balancing him.
Haruno looked determinedly at the still distracted Jotaro before he shakily walked towards him. Jotaro only turned around to see Haruno take steps towards him, a glint in his eyes that shook him to the core. A glint of determination that every Joestar carried from birth.
Haruno kept walking until he collapsed into Jotaro’s open arms with a smug grin. “Da!” He said next, causing Jotaro to freeze.
He was rather surprised that day, but he could remember himself blushing as if he was on his first date.
Haruno was 5 when he realized he could see his dad’s invisible... friend? He thinks its friendly, he hasn’t seen it hurt dad yet. One thing he’s happy about, he didn’t know what he would do if he saw it hurt dad. Dad didn’t deserve to be hurt, the injuries he came home with at times.
He wouldn’t know if it decided to hurt Jolyne. Little Jolyne who was still a baby and the sweetest little sister Haruno could ask for. Yet... There were whispers that were often said behind his back, it made him sad.
“I heard that Haruno Kujo’s mother didn’t want him and that’s why Kujo-san takes care of him.”
“I heard he doesn’t even want Haruno also. He’s always so late on picking him up.”
Haruno knew it wasn’t true, his dad cared for him. Yet, that talk he overheard made him sick. Made him sad. What if it was true? What if his dad didn’t want him? What if this was why Mari left dad, him and Jolyne??
It plagued his mind for weeks, enough that dad’s purple friend noticed. Dad was okay, he didn’t know why Haruno was sad. Haruno usually waited until he knew what to say but this tine, it didn’t happen. The purple friend appeared in the middle of the night, holding a small ladybug plush that Haruno instantly loved.
It’s hair looked like the stars that dad sometimes let him look at in the night, twinkles flashing here and there. It made him... smile at it. The hair reminding him of the time he and dad would go outside and watch the stars, dad telling him the constellations as Haruno dozed off.
It had a big grin his face, excitedly bringing him the ladybug plush and gently holding it out towards him. Haruno gently took it out of its hands, squeezing it in his arms until he heard his dad’s voice from somewhere.
“Haruno’s doing good gramps. He’s been doing well in school and he’s been taking care Jolyne when I’m busy.”
He gasped softly as he stared at the star before him who looked at him with soft eyes. “I’ll take him and Jolyne up to New York when Jojo is a bit older. Granny would love Giogio, he’s very attentive to his flower garden. He’s such a good kid.”
There was silence except before his dad talking again began. “He’s my son... Of course I’m proud of him. Of course I love him gramps, he’s everything I could ask for.”
He wasn’t aware when the tears started running down his cheeks until the star before him gently whipped away the tears. He gently sniffed as the purple star seemed to fondly caress his hair before gently tucking him in and bringing the ladybug plush to his arms.
It seemed unsure for a moment before it leaned down and placed a kiss on his head before disappearing. Haruno felt himself smile as he drifted off to sleep, unaware of his dad holding the two sets of phones in his hands near his bedroom door.
Haruno wasn’t aware when his dad fell asleep during the movie. If he had to guess, it was probably after Jolyne demanded to be taught how to make paper stars. It started off in a small number until it grew to reach what he thinks is a thousand. “Starry... Is it a thousand now?” The star figure glanced around before holding up two fingers.
They were two away from a thousand now. He briefly wondered if it was normal to make paper stars with your dad’s ghost friend before he brushed it off. They only reached a high number in a short time was because of Starry, his quick fingers letting it be easier to collect a thousand of them. It made his lip twitch before he let his face neutral out.
Jolyne had her tongue stuck out as she slowly made a star, endless paper cuts littered her fingers as she held a look of concentration. A sense of fondness washing in his soul as he watch his little sister make the second to last star. Her duo colored hair was loose from its buns and braids.
The black and pink making a nice color on her, though it was his opinion since he favored the color pink a lot. Her pale green eyes flickered up to look at him, “Up?” She asked as she proudly held up her star to Starry, the ghost looking at it before giving a thumbs up.
“Dad’s asleep.”
Jolyne paused and put her star in the jar, turning her head to look at their dad slumped on the couch. She narrowed her eyes, “Da’s gunna be cold.” Haruno nodded before gesturing to the blanket on his lap. “Wanna take a nap with him?”
If Jolyne’s eyes can get any brighter at that suggestion, Haruno would’ve done it minutes ago. His younger sister scrambled her way towards their dad, easily climbing his form and settling herself on his right side. Leaving the left open for him, he stifled a laugh.
He stood up and dragged the blanket towards them, climbing up and curled himself and placed his head where he could hear his dad’s heartbeat. Not a second passed before Starry gently tucked the blanket around them.
The two of then quickly drifting off to sleep because of the warmth their dad radiated during winter.
The two were unaware of half lidded green eyes looking at them before turning to the Stand in the room. Star Platinum threw a thumbs up and placed the last paper star in the jar and closed it. Jotaro Kujo grunted and tugged his hat down to shade his eyes.
Before wrapping his arms around his children and allowing himself to doze off with his children. A soft whispered sentence escaped his lips.
“I could have thousands of wishes but none of them would be used, for this is my wish.”