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A few days had passed since Dio was defeated. The world was seemingly back to normal, though no one knew they were truly in danger. Jotaro was currently still in Egypt, cleaning up after the events and tying up loose ends.
He had yet to enter his room. He wasn’t sure he could handle it yet.
But they had to check out tomorrow, and his stupid grandpa told him there was no getting out of it. He hated the way his grandpa clapped him on the back, looking at him with... was it pity? No, not pity. But he had a familiar look in his eye, like he understood what Jotaro was going through.
Scoffing, he shrugged his hand off. He’d never admit that it helped him ever so slightly. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready to face the room his best friend once stayed in, but knowing he knew that Kakyoin would punch him for hesitating so much.
With a breath that almost sounded like a huff, he unlocked the door the Kakyoin’s room.
Taking a step in, the smallest smile graced his face. The room looked exactly like you’d expect a 17-year-old boy to have. There were clothes strewn about and papers scattered everywhere.
It was easy to forget that this man was also an artist, after everything they went through. Taking some time, he cleaned up the room, and packed up his stuff as if he was going home.
Taking his time, Jotaro cleaned up his room. Opening the closet up, he found an array of jackets and even a back-up school uniform. As he was pulling the clothes out, a small notebook (?) fell out of one of the pockets.
With a grunt, he leaned over to pick it up and froze. It was not a notebook, but a small sketchbook. He carefully opened the first page and quickly closed it, as there was a small Jotaro doodled that said, “yare yare daze” above it.
Throwing the item on the bed, he finished up his job of cleaning up his room and walked out carrying his luggage. Joseph was waiting right outside with his hands crossed. He didn’t say a word as Jotaro simply walked past him with the others luggage in tow.
Joseph let out a breath through his nose as he looked around the room. Taking the sketchbook, he knew that Jotaro would want it someday but avoided mentioning it since the wounds were still fresh.
He was worried at first, but he thinks with some time, Jotaro will be okay. Just like him. He had lost his best friend when he was only a little older than Jotaro. Chuckling to himself, he retired back to his room.
The following week had seen the remaining trio return to Japan. The first thing they did was check in on Holly, worried that they were too late, or that something else had happened in the time that they were gone.
To their surprise, Holly was making dinner when they returned home. Joseph started screaming and crying and tackled his daughter while Jotaro muttered some insult under his breath before taking off to his bedroom.
Joseph wanted to strangle the man for disrespecting his daughter, but he knew that it was not the time. He explained to Holly that Jotaro had lost someone close during this time and to go easy on him. Holly started crying as she heard the news and began to pull out ingredients for Jotaro’s favorite desert. She may not understand fully, but she was going to do what she could to make him feel better.
Meanwhile, Jotaro trudged up to his room before sitting on the edge of his bed. He carefully unwrapped Kakyoin’s coat from his luggage and hung it up in his closet before slamming his fist into the wall.
He wanted to scream but he couldn’t. He didn’t know what to do, how to process these emotions, and he was afraid he was just going to explode.
This was not the Jotaro Kujo he knew he was.
A few months passed, and Holly receives a package in the mail from Joseph. She wonders what it is as she goes to open it up. There are a few packages within and a few letters. She separates the letters to her son and the letters to her.
Excitedly, she calls Jotaro downstairs. His mood swings have been up and down, but he’s been following his day to day as usual. He walks downstairs with a grunt and stands at the top of the stairs. Holly gives him a big smile and laugh as she passes the box and letter from Joseph. At the same time, she also hands him a plate of rice balls for lunch.
He nods as he takes the packages and food and heads back to his room.
Taking a bite out of one of the balls, he opens the letter from Joseph.
“Hey kid,
I know you found this in Kakyoin’s room after everything in Egypt. I know there was a lot happening at the time, but I didn’t think leaving it there was a good way to relive his memory. Plus, I know you took his jacket and I hope you’re taking care of it.
Thank me later!
Joseph”
With a grumble, he slowly opened the package in question. There it was, the exact sketchbook he left in Kakyoin’s room. Truth be told, he did regret leaving the sketchbook in that room. He wasn’t sure if he could ever get that back, and he never went through it.
Flipping through the first few pages, there were tons of cute images. There were sketches of everyone, the stand users they faced, and even cute sketches of Hierophant Green. He even stumbled upon a sketch of the baby stand and couldn’t help but smirk at that memory.
Finally, he flips to the end and freezes once again. There was a small drawing of Kakyoin and Jotaro holding hands. Underneath in neat writing, the worlds “I love you” caught his eye. One more shaky turn, and he came across a neatly folded note.
“To Jotaro.”
Folding open the note, he read it carefully.
“Dear Jotaro,
If you’re reading this, then either I’m dead or I finally opened up to you. Honestly, as much as I hate the thought, I’m probably no longer living because I’m too scared to ruin our friendship.
You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and while the circumstances aren’t great, I’m glad I got to meet you and everyone else. Our beginning was rocky, but you took the time to free me from Dio’s grasp.
I’m hoping we have a happy ending.
Back to the matter at hand, if you’re reading this... then you must’ve seen the drawings. I know you wouldn’t skip a single page just in case you missed crucial information. Maybe I'm kidnapped and you’re trying to find me. Who knows? But the matter of the fact is, you read my confession.
It’s true. I love you. I am in love with you. When, you ask? Well, it’s been a complicated journey and we’ve synced up so well. I don’t know when it started, but I can’t stop. Even when you’re an asshole all the time. Even though you call your mother a bitch all the time.
I know you. I know the real you. Hell, this whole adventure started because of your love for Holly. You’re a dick on the outside, but I know you’re soft on the inside. Everything we’ve been through together points to it. You’re almost a loveable rock, but you’re definitely the rock I fell for.
I wish we could have had a normal high school life together. Even if we are just friends, at least we could be normal. Though, I honestly don’t think we’d be this close if it weren’t for Dio.
Ha, I can imagine your face right now, collected as ever, but I can see the glare in your eyes. The worry you secretly burden as you pile it all on yourself. I know you blame yourself for what is happening to your mother, but Jotaro. I know you. I know you will do everything to save her, and I know you will save her. There is no doubt about it.
I wish you would open up to me. But, I guess that’s hypocritical of me, isn’t it? If I expect you to open up, I would need to open up myself, huh? I hope we get the chance to talk about this. I hope we can sit down together, and I can overthink your stupid glare.
I hope I’m not dead. I hope...
Anyway. Thanks for reading this until the end. I know I tend to ramble a lot, and especially writing this right now, in this dingy hotel room. It’s funny to think that you’re only across the hall from me right now. I could simply walk over and tell you all this in person. Of course, I’m too afraid.
In case this is found by some random person... My name is Noriaki Kakyoin. Please find Jotaro Kujo or one of my companions drawn out in this sketch book.
Please.
P.S. I can’t say it enough. I love you, Jotaro Kujo.
Noriaki Kakyoin”
Trembling hands folded the note closed and placed it gently back in the sketchbook. Those same trembling hands then gripped the book tightly before placing it gingerly within the bed side stand drawer.
Jotaro them sat for a solid 10 minutes, as if he were processing what he just consumed. He suddenly clenched his fists and stood in anger. Stomping over to his closet, he slammed the door open before reaching angrily towards the damaged school uniform hanging there.
Then, as if he suddenly lost all energy, he fell to his knees in front of the dresser. He carefully pulled down the damaged uniform before hugging it to his chest. “Goddammit Kakyoin. You’re so selfish.”
He squeezed the words out as he felt so many emotions circulating inside of him. Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't he tell me himself?
Standing up, he carefully hung the uniform back up before glancing to his bedside table.
He can’t believe he never got the chance to let Kakyoin know that his feelings were reciprocated.