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They were back at the Joestar estate in NYC for Christmas.
Kakyoin was hardly considered a guest anymore. All Mr. Joestar’s regular Christmas party guests recognized him at this point. He had his own stocking on the mantle. There were several ornaments that belonged to him on the tree. Holly made cherry cobbler every year just for Kakyoin.
Kakyoin had grown very fond of the family tradition. He looked forward to it every year. Even with all the chaos, he loved spending time with Mr. Joestar and Holly.
And Jotaro, of course.
Their seventh anniversary was coming up. Kakyoin couldn’t believe how fast time had gone by. University had come and gone in a whirlwind. They had already graduated two years earlier. Jotaro was wrapping up his masters and making tentative plans for getting his PhD. Kakyoin had gotten a job working for an art curator while making his own art on the side.
They lived a comfortable little life in Japan but it was still fun to get away sometimes.
They did the usual festivities. Mr. Joestar hosted several Christmas parties for his many, many important friends. He and Jotaro entertained like the gracious hosts Mr. Joestar and Holly taught them to be, even though it wasn’t technically their party.
They had several moments with just family as well. They watched movies and ate meals together. They baked cookies and listened to Christmas music. It was a lovely time all around.
So Kakyoin was confused when Jotaro suggested that they ditch the last and biggest of Mr. Joestar’s parties and do something else.
“What’s going on?” Kakyoin immediately asked. His voice was dripping with suspicion.
Jotaro had an impenetrable expression. “I made dinner reservations,” he said.
Kakyoin was taken aback. “Why?”
“Our anniversary,” Jotaro said.
Kakyoin felt himself melt a little. He leaned against Jotaro and wrapped his arms around his waist. “You want to do something special for our anniversary?”
“Yeah,” Jotaro said.
“But what about the party?” Kakyoin asked, still feeling somewhat hesitant. “I’ve been planning with Holly all week.”
“She already knows,” Jotaro said. “We can skip hanging out with the geezers for one year.”
Kakyoin laughed. Jotaro leaned down and kissed Kakyoin on the lips. “Wear something nice,” he murmured.
Holly excitedly helped Kakyoin pick out what to wear later that evening. “You have to wear green, Kakyoin-kun! It’s your color!”
“I always wear green, Holly,” Kakyoin laughed. “Isn’t this a fancy restaurant? Maybe I should wear a suit.”
“Jotaro loves you in green, Kakyoin-kun! Don’t worry, you’ll look fantastic.”
Holly took Kakyoin shopping the next morning and bought him a forest green suit jacket. It fit him extremely well. After the shopping. Holly lamented to him.
“Oh, Kakyoin-kun, my nails look horrible! But I just hate going to the nail salon by myself. I always go with my girlfriends back home. Would you come and get your nails done with me? You can just get something subtle and tasteful!”
Kakyoin agreed to go to the nail salon with Holly, who instructed the nail tech on how, exactly, to do Kakyoin’s nails. She seemed more interested in Kakyoin’s nails than her own. Kakyoin chalked it up to Holly’s selfless nature. She would never allow for Kakyoin to look bad.
Once they arrived back at the penthouse it was already time for Kakyoin to get ready for his date. He felt very handsome in his full ensemble. The suit jacket hinted at Christmas but was subtle enough to pass for a year-round look. He was having a great hair day. He wore expensive leather shoes, a Christmas gift from the year before. His nails gleamed, making Kakyoin wonder if maybe he should go to the nail salon more often. He put on his favorite cream-colored scarf and stepped out of his room.
Jotaro was already waiting for him by the front door. He was wearing a black suit and tie. He looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine. Jotaro looked him up and down as soon as he saw him. He looked happy with what he saw.
“You look good,” Kakyoin said. “Like, really good.”
“You, too,” Jotaro said. He held out his hand. “C’mon. Let’s leave before my mom tries to get a picture of us.”
Kakyoin giggled and took his hand. Jotaro held onto his hand for the entire journey to a beautiful restaurant. Kakyoin couldn’t tell how much their meal cost, as there were no prices to be found anywhere, but he was sure that the food and drinks must have been astronomically expensive.
It was hard to feel guilty when it was so delicious. Jotaro admitted that his grandfather had suggested it to him. He said that he knew it would be good if his grandmother approved.
Kakyoin felt slightly lightheaded by the end of their meal. He was a bit drunk from both the champagne and Jotaro’s handsome face.
They walked around the city for a while afterward, hand in hand. They got the occasional stare, although they were in admiration rather than confusion or disgust. Kakyoin leaned against Jotaro’s side as they walked and Jotaro leaned back.
It felt incredibly right to be walking by Jotaro’s side. Kakyoin felt like he was bursting at the seams with joy and contentment.
They arrived at a little garden. Jotaro led him into the garden. It was beautifully lit with Christmas lights and gorgeous decor. The glow of the lights against the dark of night was magical.
In the center of the garden was a giant Christmas tree. Kakyoin dropped Jotaro’s hand with a gasp as he approached it. “Doesn’t this look just like Mr. Joestar’s tree?” He wondered aloud.
“Beautiful,” Jotaro murmured behind him.
“Yeah,” Kakyoin agreed with a dreamy sigh. He savored the tree for a handful of seconds.
He turned around with his mouth open, about to ask Jotaro how he found this place when he froze at the sight of Jotaro kneeling down on one knee.
He blinked at the sight, not sure if he was reading the situation correctly. When Jotaro reached inside of his suit pocket and pulled out a small box, Kakyoin gasped.
A proposal. Jotaro was proposing to him. He was on the ground. It was really happening.
Jotaro opened the box. Kakyoin saw a gleam of gold but it was hard to see the details through tears.
“Noriaki-”
“Oh my god, oh my god,” Kakyoin gasped. He lowered himself so that he was on both knees in front of Jotaro. Jotaro looked slightly spooked by his reaction but he tried again.
“Noriaki-”
“Yes!” Kakyoin cried. “Oh my god, Jojo! Yes! I want to marry you!”
Jotaro’s shoulders relaxed. He was clearly relieved. He took the ring out of the box. Kakyoin shakily held out his left hand. Jotaro slid the ring onto his finger. Jotaro looked almost mesmerized as he did so.
Kakyoin kissed him before they could even get off the ground.
They walked home together, hand-in-hand, not quite different but not quite the same either. They were still soulmates. They still had the same deep connection they had always had. But now they had made a promise to each other. Soon, the promise would be official: to love, to comfort, to honor and keep, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health.
“I love you,” Jotaro murmured to him.
“I love you, too.”