Chapter Text
Arriving at Morioh’s airport, Johanna looks around the terminal, reaching back to grasp Giorno’s arm to make sure she doesn’t lose him among the people milling about. The pair look for the ever-familiar sight of Kakyoin’s red hair or the bright yellow letters of Speedwagon.
“Madre! Up ahead!” Giorno calls, letting go of his suitcase briefly to point a few meters to their right. Looking in that direction, Johanna smiles and waves at the bespectacled man, who waves back. It takes about a minute for the mother-son pair to make it over to Kakyoin and little Jolyne, who sprints out from behind her Papa to collide with Giorno’s stomach.
“Giogio!” the little girl chirps, her little arms wrapped around him as she looks up at him with an adoring smile. Johanna and Kakyoin cover their mouths as poor Giorno wheezes, his hand patting his great-grandniece on the head as he fights to regain his breathing.
“It’s good to see you again, Kakyoin. How has your therapy been going? I can see you don’t need to rely on wheelchairs and crutches now,” Johanna asks, looking at the leg braces supporting his weight. Kakyoin chuckles and nods, watching as Jolyne pleads for Giorno to pick her up like he had done two years prior.
“Therapy has been good. The doctors believe that, given a few more years, I’ll be able to walk completely on my own once more,” he tells her, watching as Giorno tries to distract Jolyne, only to fail completely as she stamps her feet. The young man leans close to Johanna, asking, “Does your son know that his bangs look like doughnuts?” Johanna covers her mouth to hold back her laughter while Giorno offers an alternative to picking Jolyne up with a piggy-back ride. The little girl hums before nodding once and leaping onto Giorno’s back without warning, nearly knocking him on his face.
“Oh dear,” Johanna sighs, hurrying over to help steady her son before looking at Jolyne with a frown, scolding, “You need to warn someone before just leaping up on their back, Jolyne.”
“Sorry Gramgram. Sorry Giogio,” Jolyne apologizes, wrapping her little arms around Giorno’s shoulders and giving him an affectionate squeeze. Giorno pats her hands reassuringly before grabbing his suitcase and looking up at Kakyoin.
“The car is this way,” Kakyoin tells them with a smile, leading them out of the airport and to the curb. A white Prius waits for them, a booster seat already set up in the back seat for Jolyne. It takes a few minutes for everyone to settle into their seats, mostly because Jolyne wanted both Giorno and Johanna in the backseat with her, leaving Kakyoin to potentially struggle with the map on his own. Eventually, they manage to make a compromise, with Johanna helping Kakyoin with the directions while Giorno distracts Jolyne with everything that’s happened since they last saw each other.
“…and then, Madre flipped him on to the ground and stared down at him like,” Giorno pauses, tilting his head down and frowning dramatically, making Jolyne giggle, before continuing on, “She, then went on to scold him for trying to rob a flower shop, because flower shops are such a niche store. Not many people go to a flower shop and spend hundreds of dollars at once, only weddings and funerals give that kind of money and it’s out of season for one of those.”
“Did that really happen?” Kakyoin asks as he makes a right turn into Morioh proper.
“Unfortunately. Turn right again about three blocks,” Johanna tells him, glancing up at the streets they’re passing by while looking at the map.
“So, a mafiaso showed up at your store, tried to make you pay protection money, then tried to rob you, and you just laid him out on the sidewalk,” Kakyoin summarizes, sounding far too amused for someone trying to scold her. Johanna huffs, gently elbowing the young man, careful not to jostle his driving.
“Oh hush, Mr. I-may-have-just-caused-a-homophobe-to-have-a-mental-break-down-in-a-Kmart,” Johanna points out. Giorno snorts from the back seat while Jolyne cackles, both obviously remembering the absolute train wreck that trip was. Kakyoin sniffs, raising his head as he keeps his gaze on the road.
“I will neither confirm nor deny such an accusation,” he huffs, grinning into the rearview mirror as his daughter howls with laughter while Giorno snickers. Johanna covers her mouth and looks away, trying not to laugh.
“T-turn left four blocks down,” she manages to choke out, clearing her throat while Kakyoin nods idly. The rest of the ride continues like this, Giorno and Jolyne sharing stories while Kakyoin and Johanna would comment on it, until they arrive at the Morioh Grand Hotel. Exiting the car, they look up at the nice-looking hotel, noting how close it is to the beach.
“Swimming!” Jolyne cheers, attempting to sprint to the water. Giorno’s Gold Experience catches her by the back of her shirt as Kakyoin chuckles, popping open the trunk to pull out all the suitcases they had put in the car. Johanna picks up Jolyne, huffing in amusement as the little girl pouts at being stopped.
“Not yet, little Jojo,” Johanna hums, pressing a kiss to her granddaughter’s forehead, “we need to check in and meet with your Daddy first.” Jolyne perks up at the idea of seeing Jotaro, bouncing excitedly in her Gramgram’s arms.
“Do ya’ think he’s seen cool fishies and starfishies? He- he’s doin’ a-a-a the-sus on starfishies!” Jolyne babbles excitedly, her little arms flailing about in her excitement. Johanna hums, nodding along to the little girl’s chatter while Giorno pulls out her suitcase along with his own while Kakyoin fishes out his and Johanna’s suitcases. The red-haired man nods toward the hotel, getting a nod from Johanna before leading the small group into the hotel. In the lobby, a tall man dressed in a white coat stands in the center, easily catching everyone’s attention as they pass him. Johanna smiles at her grandson, setting her granddaughter down to watch the little girl run up to her Daddy while her Papa follows with a soft, smitten smile.
“Daddy!” Jolyne calls out, sprinting up to Jotaro. The mammoth man kneels down, accepting the little girl into his arms, while Star Platinum appears behind him, cooing at the little girl for his more expressionless user. Jotaro looks up at Johanna and Giorno with a nod, his eyes softening in the manner it always does for his family.
“Obaasan, Gio-kun,” he grunts, his eyes focused on Giorno’s bangs, “Did you know you have doughnuts in your hair?”
“Oh mio Dio,” Giorno huffs, throwing his hands into the air while Johanna laughs at her son’s antics. Jolyne giggles while Kakyoin turns around to hide his laughter. Jotaro’s mouth twitches in amusement, before he turns toward the elevators. Their little group follows him into the elevator, squeezing in as best they can.
“We’re on the third floor,” Jotaro tells them calmly, pushing on the third button. As the elevator rises, Jotaro reaches into his jacket pocket while Giorno shifts with both his and Jolyne’s bags. Johanna looks down as Jotaro hands her two keys.
“These are for room 326, with Jiijii and the invisible baby,” Jotaro tells her. Johanna blinks down at the keys before looking up at her grandson nervously.
“Joseph didn’t-” she starts, only to sigh in relief when Jotaro shakes his head.
“No, he’s only cheated once. Apparently, he and Josuke found her on the side of the road, her Stand already activated and making her invisible,” Jotaro explains. Kakyoin perks up at that information while Jolyne crinkles her nose in confusion.
“I thought people got Stands when they were kids,” Jolyne hums, frowning as her own Stand’s little hand reaches up and grabs Jotaro’s white hat. The man sighs, Star Platinum appearing to pin his hat on his head while gently batting the little studded hand. Jolyne whines and drops her head on her Daddy’s shoulder, pouting at not being allowed to wear his hat. Johanna smiles while Kakyoin hums thoughtfully.
“No, I think I had Hierophant since I was a baby. My parents mentioned how I would often bat at nothing when they came to check on me, acting like I was playing with a mobile,” the red-haired man explains. Giorno nods in agreement.
“Even though Gold Experience didn’t fully appear until the battle against Father, I was still able to summon aspects of him when I was a toddler,” he points out, picking up the bags when the elevator opens. Jolyne makes a little noise of understanding as they walk to the rooms, bouncing a little in her Daddy’s arms when he opens the door to 326.
“Oi, Jiijii. We’re back,” Jotaro calls. Joseph startles, looking up at the group in confusion as he holds a shape wearing baby clothes. Johanna swallows, her heart hurting at the sight of her grandson looking so old, squinting at the group from behind a pair of glasses, looking so confused. It takes a second, but recognition finally flashes through his eyes as Giorno sets down the bags and Jotaro finally puts Jolyne down. Joseph smiles when Jolyne runs up to him and Giorno walks over curiously.
“Hello, little Jojo. Giorno,” Joseph greets them, pausing to blink at Giorno’s bangs before asking, “Why do you have doughnuts in your hair?”
“Perché me lo chiedono tutti?!” Giorno complains, making Johanna laugh while Joseph looks startled. The old man looks over at Jotaro and Kakyoin in confusion.
“Did someone ask him about them already?” Joseph asks, looking between the men in confusion. Immediately, Jolyne points at Jotaro.
“Daddy did!” she tells him, completely unrepentant for throwing her father under the metaphorical bus. Giorno snorts at how quickly she snitched on Jotaro, while Kakyoin immediately turns to help Johanna with her bag, the two of them trying to hide their laughter.
“Yare yare daze,” Jotaro sighs.
Josuke, Koichi, and Okuyasu walk around town afterschool, waiting for 4:30 before going to meet up with Jotaro-san and Joestar-san at a café. Josuke and Okuyasu were explaining their “fight” with Shigechi when Koichi noticed that there were two foreigners at the fountain, the little girl leaning into the fountain while the older boy watches her carefully.
“I got some!” The little girl crows in, what Koichi thinks is, English. The boy huffs, patting her hair gently.
“Yes, but you need to put those back,” he tells her. Koichi furrows his brow, unable to keep up with the conversation as the little girl whines quickly and the boy answers back just as quickly. The little girl growls and turns back to the fountain, flinging what was in her hands into the water before spinning around and crossing her arms, pouting and blinking back tears. The older boy sighs and kneels down, speaking to her softly and patting her head.
“Oi, Koichi! Whatcha’ lookin’ at?” Okuyasu asks, startling him from his eavesdropping.
“Ah! I-it’s nothing!” he tries to wave off, only for Josuke and Okuyasu to both look over at the pair. The boy is shaking his head as the little girl stomps her feet, pouting at him as they speak rapid English back and forth, her voice slowly getting louder and louder.
“What’s going on over there?” Josuke wonders.
“It seems that the little girl had taken some coins from the fountain and the older boy is telling her why she shouldn’t take the coins from the bottom,” Koichi explains, wincing when the little girl yells something shrilly. Suddenly, a golden arm plucks a rock off the ground and turns it into a flower, holding it out to the little girl. She calms down a bit, tear tracks on her face from her screaming and a little frown still on her face, but she takes the flower. The golden arm disappears into the boy, who smiles at the little girl and says something that makes her nod. She scuffs her shoe before wrapping her arms around his neck as a hug, burying her face into his shoulder. The boy stands with a sigh, bouncing the girl in his arms, gently rubbing at her back. While the whole scene was rather sweet, that golden hand put Koichi on edge. Glancing up at his friends, he can see that they tensed as well.
“Did you see that arm?” Josuke asks. Koichi nods once, watching the pair carefully.
“Ya think he might cause trouble?” Okuyasu asks, watching the two warily.
“Only one way to find out,” Josuke mumbles, walking toward the fountain. Okuyasu follows, ready to fight should the need arise. Koichi jogs after them, chewing on his bottom lip nervously. The little girl looks up from the boy’s shoulder, spotting them walking toward the pair, and points at Josuke. Or, more accurately, at his hair.
“Steak hat! I want a steak hat!” the girl cries out, looking excited. Immediately, Okuyasu and Koichi hurry over to Josuke when he stops. The boy turns and blinks at them, before he winces.
“Jolyne, that was mean. That’s his hair, not a hat,” the boy scolds. The little girl looks stricken, turning to Josuke with big watery eyes.
“I’m sorry!” she wails, clinging to the boy desperately as she starts crying. The boy sighs again, crouching down to set her on the ground before turning to the three of them. He bows politely at them.
“I apologize for Jolyne’s comment. She didn’t mean to insult you,” he explains. Josuke takes a few deep breaths, still obviously angry, but willing to let an honest mistake go.
“Just don’t do it again, please,” Josuke requests. The boy nods and repeats what Josuke said to the little girl in English, leading to her nodding her head so rapidly that Koichi is surprised that she doesn’t get dizzy. The boy huffs a soft laugh in amusement before glancing at his watch.
“Oh, do you gentlemen know where the café deux magots is? We’re supposed to be meeting with my Madre and her Fathers there,” he asks, polite in a manner that Koichi feels only the rich people on his mother’s soap operas do.
“Well, we were going there just now. You can come with us,” Okuyasu offers, giving the two a crooked grin. The blond boy nods once with a smile, turning and speaking softly to the little girl in rapid English. She nods, blinking up with watery eyes, before stumbling over to Josuke and hugging his legs.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be mean!” she hiccups, tears still dripping down her cheeks. Josuke offers her a wide grin, patting her head.
“Uh… No… worries,” he assures her, his English a little unsteady. The little girl blinks up at him, sniffing before she tightens her arms around his legs briefly. She lets him go to and turns back to the older boy. He crouches down, letting her climb onto his back before standing up.
“I’m Giorno, by the way. This is Jolyne. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the boy finally introduces himself. Koichi perks up as Josuke and Okuyasu offer them grins.
“I’m Hirose Koichi, nice to meet you,” Koichi offers with a bow. Giorno nods at him with a smile, turning when Okuyasu steps forward.
“I’m Okuyasu, that’s Josuke,” he introduces with a jerk of his thumb. The blond blinks, looking at Josuke thoughtfully, before shaking his head and offering them a polite smile.
“A pleasure, I assure you,” he tells them.
“Well, we better go! We’re going to be late,” Josuke tells them, walking off. Koichi falls in step with Giorno as Okuyasu walks beside Josuke.
“So, does Jolyne not know any Japanese?” Koichi asks, watching the girl look around. Giorno’s mouth flattens into a line, glancing at Jolyne before sighing.
“It’s more that she knows too many bad words,” he explains. Koichi blinks, only to jump when Jolyne pushes on Giorno’s shoulders.
“Go fucking faster!” she cheerfully chirps, making Koichi choke and causing both Josuke and Okuyasu trip, whipping around in shock. Giorno just looks vaguely tired, lightly shaking his head.
“What did Madre and I say about that word?” Giorno sighs. Jolyne blinks innocently.
“Don’t say it in front of Gramgram. It upsets her delicate sens-a-bill-a-teas,” she sounds out, getting a huff of laughter from Giorno as he shakes his head.
“Non ha tutti i torti,” he mumbles, the language unfamiliar to Koichi, before he clears his throat and corrects her, “No. It’s that the word is a bad one.”
“Faster?” Jolyne asks, looking far too innocent not to know what Giorno is saying. He seems to have caught on, as he glances at her with an arched brow. She giggles and buries her face into his shoulder, a little cyan hand patting Giorno’s hair. Koichi nearly trips, blinking up at Jolyne as he tries to make sense of what’s going on. It looks like Giorno and Jolyne are both Stand users, but he’s never seen either of them here before. On top of that, Jolyne is young enough that, like with Shizuka-chan, she might be what Jotaro-san had called a natural-born Stand user and Giorno’s calm nonchalant reaction implies he may be a natural-born Stand user too.
“We’re here!” Okuyasu calls back with a grin. Koichi looks forward, glad to see Jotaro-san sitting at a table. However, not only is the table larger than their usual choice, but there’s more people with him as well. Firstly, is Joestar-san, obviously zoning out, although he will turn to look at the other two people when they speak to him, responding somewhat comprehensively while bouncing Shizuka-chan in his arms. Then there’s a handsome red-haired man, wearing a pair of sunglasses. His mouth is tilted up into a fox like smile, as he alternates between speaking with Jotaro-san (or maybe flirting? Teasing? Koichi can’t quite tell, but it’s obvious that the two men are closer than just acquaintances) and gently pulling Joestar-san from his thoughts. He’ll occasionally look at their last companion, peering at what they’re working on with seeming interest, before turning back to Jotaro-san and Joestar-san. The last person is a beautiful woman with short, dark hair. Her turquoise eyes and rich tan skin screams foreigner, but the elegance she moves with reminds Koichi of the traditional dancers his mother and sister took him to see during a festival one year. She’s also the one to see them, as she smiles and stands up, setting down a pair of knitting needles with a good amount of yarn knitted together.
“Madre!” Giorno calls, crossing the street carefully while Jolyne bounces on his back. Jotaro-san looks up upon the blond’s shout, standing up and stepping beside the woman, his mouth curling slightly as Giorno arrives at their side of the street, plucking Jolyne off Giorno’s back. Immediately, the little girl curls herself around Jotaro-san’s shoulders and neck, chattering rapidly in his ear as he nods calmly while motioning for Koichi, Josuke, and Okuyasu to join them.
“Josuke, this is your great-grandmother,” Jotaro-san says, blinking when the three of them start yelling and sputtering in shock.