Work Text:
Jotaro, who was it that said
"A white wall may seem empty
But it's ready to be filled
And, in its readiness, it needs nothing
It stands complete." ?
After your adventures with the guys in Egypt, you decided to change your identity and teach English at a school in a small city you were raised in called Morioh. To your surprise, the city was not as unusual as the adventures you had in Egypt. Many of the people there had stands, some of which are more dangerous than others. You decided to brush it off, knowing you moved to this city to avoid the dangers of other stand users. Although you regret choosing Morioh as your safe space, you still need to finish your job as a teacher, since money was tight and you didn't really have other options. Your stand, Pagan Poetry, usually watches you behind your back on the lookout for other stands. You see that two of your most delinquent students, Josuke and Okuyasu, are among those stand users. However, you didn't really have a reason to tell them you're a stand user, even if they did notice you are one of them as well. They never saw you as a threat, more like a chill English teacher enjoying the last years of her twenties. After class, you decided to confront both of them for the unreported absences they had had for a week.
"So, do you boys have any reason for not going to school for a week without reporting to me, or anyone in the school board, for that matter?" You spoke in a soft, but professional tone as you sat at your desk while they stood beside your table. "This is very intolerable behavior. I tolerated your unreported absences for one day, but a week is just absurd, you guys are trying to get me fired!"
Josuke puts his hand on his nape. With a sharp grin, he replied. "We uh, we had to do stand missions. Our boss won't really tolerate-“
You stood up from your desk, your hands slamming the table as hard as you could.
"Josuke, Okuyasu, I know you guys are doing missions. I pay my respects to you both. But my job is on the line right here! If I don't tell your parents about this, the school board will hang me!" you yelled. "I need to meet this boss of yours, or I will tell Ms. Higashikata about you two!"
Okuyasu glanced at Josuke, and Josuke glanced back at him. With a sigh, Josuke replied with a simple sentence.
"Alright, ma'am, it seems like we can't just...let this be happening every day," he sighed.
"But our boss is kind of scary. Is that fine?" Okuyasu added.
"It's not like I can do anything other than meet him." You sat down, taking off your glasses, pinching the bridge of your nose before getting up again.
Josuke then called his boss, it seems like he was waiting in front of the school the whole time. They were about to do another mission, but I had to intervene to have a talk with him.
"He said he can meet you now, he's in front of the school," Josuke said before hanging up the call.
You gulped.
You didn't expect this to go this far.
Your heart felt like it was going to drop.
'Is he a good person?' You thought. 'Will he hurt me?'
But either way, it was your job on the line.
"Alright, let's go."
You and the boys went in front of the school. Your hands were shaking a bit, but you needed to control them to preserve any timid behavior in front of their boss. Pagan Poetry was behind you, guarding you in case of any trouble. You went up to the guy with Okuyasu and Josuke, and he looked like he didn't notice our presence, hence the fact that Okuyasu kept tapping his shoulder, and he didn't respond.
You then started to notice his appearance. Could it be?
"Oi, Jotaro-san," Josuke shouted. "Our teacher is here!"
Jotaro?
Kujo Jotaro?
He turns to face you fully, broad shoulders squared, expression carved into that same unreadable, stoic mask you once trusted, and drives the blade straight into your chest.
For a moment, your mind refuses to catch up. It can’t be him. It can’t be.
And yet,
It’s the man you crossed half the world with, all the way to Egypt.
The one you stood beside against Dio Brando.
The one who helped you steady your hands when your Stand first slipped out of control, who fought alongside you and your friends like it was the most natural thing in the world.
It’s him.
It’s Jotaro Kujo.
He held a toddler that looked exactly like him in his arms.
"...Jotaro?"
Jotaro looked at you in silence, and then he put Jolyne on the ground, petted her head, and told Josuke and Okuyasu to play with her for a bit when you both wanted to have a serious talk privately.
After Jolyne and the boys left the two of you alone, you both sat on one of the chairs at the nearest Family Mart. Jotaro held an unlit cigarette and spoke before asking you,
"Do you mind?"
You looked at him in awe. He really did change. Not just his appearance, but his manners too.
"Not at all, Jojo," you smiled as you lay back on the chair, drinking the latte you had in your hand.
He then nodded and proceeded to light up the cig, puffing it and blowing it like he used to. Some things just never change. Even with his more delicate appearance, there's still something in Jotaro that keeps him the way he is.
It was something, not even something you can see.
It's not something you could even describe.
There was something about him that made you think,
He was truly someone, even if you had to cut off contact with him for some years.
He never really left your mind, and here he is now.
"Hey, are you zoning out?" Jotaro said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.
"Oh, yeah! Sorry, dude." You said, putting your hand on your nape, trying to regain consciousness.
Jotaro pulled his hat to his face, "Good grief. You always zone out, even until now."
You giggled a bit, lightly shaking the cup of latte in your hands.
"Some things just never change."
He looked at you again with a serious look.
"Let's just get back to the topic before you do that again."
He pressed the lighted up ciggarrette on the ashtray before facing you.
"As you may know, this city is filled with Stand users."
You nod slowly. "Yeah. Your students made that pretty obvious."
"They’re not the only ones."
You hum, only half-listening, because your attention keeps drifting.
Back to the kid.
She’s laughing, tugging at Josuke’s sleeve while Okuyasu crouches down to her level, saying something that makes her giggle louder.
Your lips curve faintly.
"...Your cousin?" you ask casually, nodding toward her.
Jotaro goes quiet.
And that’s your first mistake.
You glance back at him, brows knitting slightly. "What?"
Another pause.
"My daughter."
Everything in you stills.
"...What?"
Your voice comes out quieter than you intended.
Jotaro doesn’t repeat himself. He doesn’t need to.
Your gaze snaps back to the girl.
Same dark hair.
Same presence.
The realization hits you all at once, sharp and breath-stealing.
Your chest tightens.
"...You’re married?"
The question slips out before you can stop it.
Jotaro looks at you.
There’s no hesitation.
"I was."
Something in your chest cracks.
Oh.
Oh.
You swallow, suddenly very aware of the way your hands tighten around your cup. You look away quickly, like that might hide it, like he won’t notice.
Of course, he notices.
He always does.
"...I didn’t know," you murmur.
You let out a small, breathless laugh, shaking your head. "Yeah. Guess I didn’t."
Silence stretches between you, thick and uncomfortable.
Your eyes drift back to her again.
His daughter.
Jotaro’s daughter.
"...She looks like you," you say softly.
"Let's just get back to the topic. As you may know, this city is filled with Stand users."
You nod, quieter this time. "Yeah."
"For the past few months, there’s been a pattern. Disappearances. No witnesses."
Your brows knit. "So someone’s hunting."
"Yeah."
You lean forward slightly, elbows resting on your knees. "And you’re letting high schoolers get involved?"
"They’re already involved," Jotaro replies evenly. "I’m making sure they don’t get themselves killed."
You huff. "That sounds like you."
A beat.
"What about me?"
Jotaro’s gaze shifts to you, sharp and steady.
"You stay out of it."
You blink.
"...Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
You let out a disbelieving laugh. "You tracked me down, dragged me into a conversation about a serial Stand user, and now you’re telling me to stay out of it?"
"I didn’t come to Morioh for that."
"Then what-"
"To make sure the city is safe. To make sure you’re safe."
That stops you.
Your chest tightens, just slightly.
You look at him, searching his face for something, anything, but he’s as unreadable as ever.
"You don’t get to decide that," you say, quieter now.
"No," Jotaro agrees. "But I can warn you."
You scoff under your breath, looking away. "I can handle myself."
"I know."
The immediate answer throws you off.
You glance back at him.
"Then why do you..."
"Because I’ve seen what happens when people like us underestimate things like this."
His voice doesn’t rise. It doesn’t need to.
It’s heavy with experience.
With memory.
Egypt flashes in your mind before you can stop it.
You look down at your hands.
"...I didn’t come here to fight anymore," you murmur.
"I know."
"Then stop acting like I’m still one of your teammates."
A pause.
Jotaro exhales slowly. "You were never just a teammate."
Your breath catches.
You hate that it does.
You look away quickly, gripping your cup a little tighter. "That doesn’t change anything."
"No."
Silence settles again, thick but not as sharp as before.
You force yourself to straighten, pushing past it.
"...So what do you actually want from me?"
Jotaro studies you for a moment.
"Nothing."
You frown. "That’s not true."
"I want you to stay alive," he corrects. "That’s it."
Your chest aches again, softer this time.
"...You’re annoying," you mutter.
"Yeah."
You let out a quiet breath, shaking your head.
"If something happens," you say after a moment, "I’m not going to just sit there and do nothing."
"I know."
"And I’m not calling you for permission either."
"I didn’t ask you to."
You glance at him, a little surprised.
"...You’ve gotten less controlling."
"Don’t push it."
That earns a small laugh out of you.
For a moment, it almost feels easy again.
Almost.
Was it you?
I, I don't remember
But it makes me wonder
Jotaro, why couldn't you be ready, too?
The heat is the first thing you remember.
Heavy. Suffocating. Clinging to your skin as the Egyptian sun beats down without mercy. Sand crunches beneath your shoes, exhaustion settling deep in your bones after yet another fight.
You wipe at your forehead with a groan. "I swear, if I survive this, I’m never stepping foot in a desert again."
"Good grief."
You don’t even have to look to know who it is.
Jotaro Kujo stands a few steps away, hat tipped low, coat barely shifting in the dry wind like the heat doesn’t affect him at all.
"You say that after every fight," he adds.
"And I mean it every time," you shoot back, though your voice lacks its usual edge.
You take a step forward,
And your vision swims.
Your foot catches awkwardly in the sand, balance slipping,
You don’t hit the ground.
A hand catches your arm.
Firm. Steady.
You freeze.
For a second, all you can feel is the heat of his grip through your sleeve, grounding you before the dizziness can fully take over.
"Tch. You’re overheating."
"I’m fine," you mutter automatically, even as your knees threaten to give out again.
Jotaro doesn’t let go.
Instead, he sighs, quiet, almost annoyed, and shifts his grip, guiding you toward the small strip of shade cast by a crumbling wall nearby.
"Sit."
"I said I’m fi—"
You don’t get to finish.
He presses you down by the shoulder, just firm enough to make you comply without thinking.
You blink up at him, momentarily stunned.
"...Bossy."
"Shut up."
There’s no real bite to it.
You huff softly but don’t argue further, leaning back against the stone. The shade is minimal, but it’s something.
Jotaro crouches in front of you, pulling his hat down slightly as he studies your face.
"You’re dehydrated."
"And you’re stating the obvious," you murmur.
He clicks his tongue.
A second later, something cold presses against your cheek.
You flinch slightly, then realize—
A bottle.
Condensation beads along the plastic cool against your overheated skin.
You blink.
"...Where did you even get that?"
"Doesn’t matter."
He nudges it into your hand when you don’t immediately take it.
"Drink."
You stare at it for a second longer than necessary.
"...Thanks."
Jotaro doesn’t respond.
But he doesn’t move away either.
He stays there, crouched in front of you, making sure you actually drink, gaze flicking over you like he’s checking for something you can’t see.
You take a sip.
Then another.
The cool water feels like a miracle.
When you lower the bottle, you catch him still watching.
"...What?"
"You’re zoning out again."
You huff, a faint smile tugging at your lips. "Some things never change."
"...Yeah."
For a moment, neither of you moves.
The desert stretches endlessly around you, the others’ voices faint in the distance—but here, in this small pocket of shade, it feels strangely quiet.
Safe.
You look at him.
He looks away first.
Your eyes drift, just briefly, to where his daughter is still playing.
"...You really have a kid," you murmur.
Jotaro follows your gaze. "...Yeah."
You nod slowly.
"Didn’t think you’d settle down like that."
"I didn’t."
You snort softly. "Clearly."
A faint pause.
"It didn’t last," he adds.
You go still for a second, then nod once.
"Oh, I'm sorry for that."
You don’t ask for more.
He doesn’t explain.
Some things don’t need to be said.
The awkward silence lasted more than a minute before any of you spoke.
You push yourself up from the chair, stretching slightly. "Alright. Guess I’ll try not to get murdered in my own workplace."
"Do that."
You glance at him over your shoulder, a small, teasing smile tugging at your lips.
"No promises."
"Good grief."
Jolyne runs straight into your leg, nearly knocking the breath out of you with the force of it.
You blink, startled, looking down as she wraps her arms around you like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
"...Whoa, hey."
Jolyne Cujoh looks up at you, bright-eyed, completely unbothered.
"You’re the teacher, right?"
You steady her instinctively, crouching just a little. "Yeah, I am."
"I’m Jolyne!" she says proudly.
Of course you are.
Your chest tightens.
You don’t mean to, but your hand comes up, resting lightly on her head, smoothing down her hair in a gesture that feels far too natural.
Familiar, even.
And that’s when you feel it.
That gaze.
You look up and meet Jotaro’s eyes.
He’s staring.
Not in his usual sharp, assessing way.
Not like he’s reading a threat.
Something quieter.
Something heavier.
His gaze lingers on the two of you, on the way Jolyne clings to you, on the way your hand rests against her so easily, like it belongs there.
Like it’s always belonged there.
For a split second, something unreadable flickers across his face.
Not quite regret.
Not quite longing.
But close enough that it makes your chest ache.
You pull your hand back a little too quickly.
Jotaro’s expression smooths out almost immediately, the moment gone as if it was never there.
"...Jolyne," he says, voice low. "Don’t bother her."
"I’m not!" she protests, clinging to you tighter.
You let out a small, awkward laugh, trying to ignore the lingering weight of his stare.
"It’s fine. I don’t mind."
But something about the way he looked at you
Like he was seeing a life that never happened
When he doesn't leave you.
Jolyne pouts, still clinging to you like she’s decided you belong to her now.
"I’m not bothering her," she insists.
You huff out a small laugh, shaking your head. "It’s fine, really."
Before you can overthink it, you slip your hands under her arms and lift her up.
She’s lighter than you expected.
Jolyne lets out a delighted sound, immediately settling against you like she’s done this a hundred times before, small hands gripping your sleeve.
"There we go," you murmur.
And just like that， she fits.
Your arm supports her weight without effort, the other instinctively coming up to steady her back. It’s natural in a way that makes something twist uncomfortably in your chest.
You don’t miss it this time.
That look.
Your eyes flick up again, meeting Jotaro Kujo’s gaze.
He’s staring.
Again.
And this time, he doesn’t look away immediately.
His eyes track the way Jolyne settles into you, the way you adjust your hold without thinking, the way she leans into your shoulder like she belongs there.
Like she’s safe there.
Something shifts in his expression， subtle, almost imperceptible, but you catch it.
A flicker of something that feels dangerously close to what if.
Your breath catches.
You look away first.
"She’s friendly," you say, trying to sound casual.
"Yeah."
Jolyne giggles softly, playing with the edge of your sleeve. "You’re nice."
You smile faintly. "Thanks."
A pause.
"You remind me of someone."
Your heart stutters.
You don’t ask.
You don’t need to.
Jotaro exhales slowly, dragging a hand to the brim of his hat.
"...Jolyne."
"Mm?"
"Come here."
She hesitates before tightening her hold on you.
"No."
You blink, caught off guard.
Jotaro sighs. "Don’t make this difficult."
"I like her," Jolyne insists, burying her face against your shoulder.
Your grip tightens slightly without meaning to.
You glance at him again.
For a moment, neither of you says anything.
It feels like something fragile is stretching between you. Something unspoken. Something that shouldn’t exist.
"...It’s fine," you say quietly. "She can stay for a bit."
Jotaro studies you.
Then, after a beat，
"...Do what you want."
It’s not permission.
Not really.
But it’s the closest thing you’re going to get.
Jolyne perks up instantly at that, humming happily as she settles more comfortably in your arms.
You try not to think about how right it feels.
Or how much that scares you.
Jolyne perks up in your arms, shifting so she can look between you and Jotaro Kujo, eyes bright with something dangerously innocent.
"She can be my other mommy!"
Everything in you locks up.
Your breath catches, fingers tightening just slightly around her without meaning to.
"...What?"
Jolyne beams, completely serious. "Yeah! I like her. She’s nice. She can be my other mommy!"
Heat rushes to your face.
You don’t look at him.
You can’t look at him.
"Jolyne, that’s not-"
"Jolyne."
His voice cuts through, sharper than before.
Not loud.
But firm enough that it makes her pause.
Slowly, you look up.
And immediately wish you hadn’t.
Jotaro is staring.
Not just watching.
Staring.
There’s something tight in his expression now, something restrained, like he’s holding something back with sheer force. His jaw shifts slightly, his hand tightening almost imperceptibly at his side.
Anger.
But not at her.
Not really.
Something deeper. Something heavier.
Something that looks a little too much like regret.
"Don’t say things like that," he says, voice low, edged in a way you haven’t heard in years.
Jolyne pouts. "Why not?"
A pause.
A long one.
Jotaro exhales sharply through his nose, dragging a hand beneath the brim of his hat like he’s trying to compose himself.
"...Because it’s not that simple."
Your chest aches.
You shift your hold on Jolyne, suddenly too aware of everything—the way she fits against you, the way his eyes keep flickering back, like he can’t stop himself.
"It’s okay," you say quietly, trying to smooth it over, even if your voice feels a little unsteady. "She’s just being a kid."
Jotaro’s gaze snaps back to you.
And for a second, it’s worse.
Because now it’s not just anger.
It’s frustration.
In the situation.
At you.
At himself.
You can see it in the way his shoulders tense, in the way his eyes linger just a second too long on you holding her.
Like he’s seeing something he doesn’t want to see.
Like he can’t afford to.
"...Jolyne," he says again, more controlled this time. "Come here."
She hesitates, clinging to you tighter. "But-"
"Now."
That does it.
You feel her small hands loosen, even if she doesn’t want to.
Your arms feel strangely empty as you gently guide her forward.
"Go on," you murmur.
Jotaro takes her from you, movements careful, but his expression stays tight, controlled in a way that feels more forced than natural.
Jolyne settles against him, still pouting. "I like her…"
"...I know."
His voice is quieter now.
But it doesn’t soften the tension.
You look away, rubbing the back of your neck awkwardly. "Sorry. Kids say things."
Silence.
"...Yeah."
But it comes out rough.
Like he doesn’t quite believe that either.
And when you risk a glance back,
He’s still looking at you.
Not angry anymore.
Like he’s trying to bury something that came a little too close to the surface.
And failing.
Jolyne squirms in his arms for a second longer, clearly unhappy.
"I like her," she mumbles again, quieter this time.
"...I know," Jotaro Kujo replies, voice still edged, though it’s softer now.
But she’s not satisfied.
With a small huff, she wriggles down from his hold before he can stop her.
She lightly hits his leg in protest.
"Mean!"
Before either of you can react, she turns and bolts, small footsteps quick as she runs back toward Okuyasu Nijimura and Josuke Higashikata.
"Oi! Wait up!" Okuyasu calls, immediately crouching to catch her as she crashes into him again.
Josuke laughs, ruffling her hair. "What’d you do this time, Jotaro-san?"
Jolyne points back dramatically. "He’s mean!"
You can’t help it; a small laugh slips out of you.
But it fades just as quickly.
Because when you look back
Jotaro is still standing there.
Still.
Silent.
His hand lingers where she hit him, like he barely registered it.
Like his mind is somewhere else entirely.
On something else.
On you.
The air between you feels heavier now that she’s gone.
No buffer.
No distraction.
Just the two of you again.
You clear your throat, shifting your weight. "She’s energetic."
"Yeah."
Short.
Flat.
But not cold.
Not entirely.
You glance at him, hesitating. "...You okay?"
A beat.
Jotaro adjusts his hat, pulling it down slightly, like he always does when he doesn’t want to be read.
"I’m fine."
You don’t believe him.
And judging by the way his gaze flickers back to you, lingers, just for a second, you don’t think he expects you to.
You both sit again, in the same chairs, the same distance, like nothing just happened.
Like everything didn’t just happen.
From afar, Josuke and Okuyasu are still messing around with Jolyne, her laughter carrying faintly over.
You don’t look at them.
You look at him.
"...About my students."
Jotaro glances at you. "What about them?"
You cross your arms. "They’ve been gone for a week."
A pause.
You don’t give him time to answer.
"They were with you."
It’s not a question.
Jotaro doesn’t deny it.
"...Yeah."
Your jaw tightens. "Do you have any idea what that looks like on my end?"
"They were handling something important."
"And I’m handling a job I can’t afford to lose," you snap back.
Silence.
You exhale sharply, trying to rein it in. "You could’ve at least told me."
"I didn’t think-"
"Exactly," you cut in. "You didn’t think."
That lands.
Jotaro’s gaze hardens just slightly. Not defensive, but not unaffected either.
"I wasn’t trying to involve you."
"You already did," you say flatly. "The moment they stopped showing up to my class."
You added, "I covered for them. Every day."
Jotaro’s eyes flicker.
"And I’m running out of ways to do that," you continue. "If this keeps up, I’m the one who gets questioned. Not them. Not you. Me."
The words hang heavy between you.
Jotaro exhales slowly, dragging a hand under the brim of his hat.
"...You’re right."
You blink.
That wasn’t what you expected.
"I should’ve told you."
The tension in your shoulders eases, just slightly.
But not completely.
"...Yeah. You should’ve."
"I’ll fix it."
You let out a quiet breath. "You can’t just ‘fix’ attendance records, Jotaro."
"I’ll make sure it doesn’t come back on you."
You study him for a second. "...How?"
"I’ll handle whoever needs to be handled."
You huff softly. "That’s not reassuring."
"It’s not supposed to be."
That almost makes you smile.
Almost.
You shake your head, looking away for a moment before glancing back.
"...Just don’t do that again."
A beat.
"...I won’t."
From Jotaro, that’s as close to an apology as you’re going to get.
You nod once.
"...Good."
The noise from the others drifts back in, lighter now.
You lean back slightly, arms still crossed, eyes narrowing just a bit as something clicks in your head.
"Wait… you were dating an American model?"
The question slips out before you can stop it.
Jotaro pauses.
Just for a second.
"...Yeah."
You blink, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "That’s, wow. That’s not what I expected."
He doesn’t respond.
Of course he doesn’t.
You tilt your head, studying him more openly now. "Didn’t take you for the type."
"I’m not."
"Clearly not, considering how that ended," you mutter, half under your breath.
A brief silence.
You tap your fingers against your arm, curiosity getting the better of you. "So what, she just liked the whole brooding, mysterious thing?"
Jotaro exhales through his nose. "Drop it."
That only makes you huff softly.
"Relax, I’m not judging," you say, though your tone is a little too light to be entirely honest. "Just… trying to picture it."
"You don’t need to."
You glance at him, then away again, a small smile tugging at your lips.
"...Yeah. Probably not."
Another pause settles in.
Softer this time.
You shift slightly in your seat, voice quieter now. "...Still. You really lived a whole life, huh."
Jotaro doesn’t answer right away.
When he does, it’s low.
"...Something like that."
Your chest tightens just a little.
Because you weren’t in it.
You nod slowly, more to yourself than to him.
"...Good for you."
It sounds right.
It should feel right.
But something about it lingers. Uncomfortable, unfinished.
And you don’t push it any further.
I was ready, ready to be happy
Ready for that long look that never ends
The room is dim, the cheap hotel curtains barely keeping out the harsh glow of the Egyptian night. The air feels too heavy, too quiet now that the others have settled down after another fight.
You sit on the edge of the bed, shoulders hunched, fingers gripping the fabric of your clothes like it might keep you together.
It doesn’t.
Your breath stutters.
Then breaks.
A quiet sob slips out before you can stop it.
You press a hand over your mouth, like that might silence it, as anyone would even hear you over the hum of the old air conditioner.
You’re supposed to be strong.
You’ve made it this far.
So why would you-
A knock.
You freeze.
Another one.
More deliberate this time.
Before you can answer, the door opens slightly.
"…Oi."
You don’t have to look.
You already know.
Jotaro Kujo stands in the doorway, hat low, silhouette framed by the dim hallway light.
Your heart lurches.
You turn away quickly, wiping at your face. "I’m fine."
Silence.
Then the door clicks shut.
He steps inside anyway.
"Didn’t sound like it."
You huff shakily, trying to pull yourself together. "You should knock before coming in."
"I did."
You don’t argue that.
Instead, you keep your back to him, shoulders tense. "It’s nothing. Just tired. I'm on my period."
A pause.
You expect him to leave.
He doesn’t.
"That’s not it."
Your throat tightens.
God, you hate that he can tell.
"It is," you insist weakly.
"...You’re a bad liar."
That almost makes you laugh.
Almost.
Another silence stretches, thicker this time.
The mattress dips slightly beside you.
You go still.
He doesn’t touch you.
Doesn’t say anything right away.
Just sits there.
Present.
Grounding.
"...It’s just a lot," you admit finally, voice barely above a whisper. "Every day, it’s another fight. Another Stand. Another chance that one of us doesn’t make it back."
Your hands clench in your lap.
"I thought I could handle it. I can handle it. But..."
Your voice cracks.
You look down quickly.
"...I’m scared."
There.
You said it.
The word hangs in the air, fragile and exposed.
Jotaro doesn’t react immediately.
No shock.
No pity.
Just a quiet, steady presence beside you.
"...That’s normal."
You blink.
"...It is?"
"Yeah."
Simple.
Certain.
You let out a shaky breath, shoulders loosening just a fraction.
"...You’re not scared?"
"...I am."
You turn to look at him, surprised.
His gaze stays forward, expression unreadable as ever, but there’s no hesitation in his voice.
That does something to you.
You let out a quiet breath, something in your chest easing.
"...You’re bad at showing it."
"Tch."
That earns a weak, genuine laugh out of you.
Silence settles again, but it’s different now.
After a moment, Jotaro reaches into his coat and pulls something out.
A small candy.
You blink.
"...What?"
He holds it out toward you.
"Take it."
You stare at it like it personally offended you. "...Why?"
"You’ll feel better."
"...That’s not how emotions work."
"Just take it."
You hesitate.
Then, slowly, you reach out and take it from his hand.
Your fingers brush his for a split second.
Warm.
You unwrap it, popping it into your mouth more out of compliance than belief.
A beat.
"...It’s actually kinda good."
"Yeah."
You glance at him again.
He’s still not looking at you.
But he stayed.
That’s enough.
"...Thanks," you murmur.
Jotaro adjusts his hat slightly.
"...Go to sleep."
You huff softly. "Bossy."
"Shut up."
There’s no bite to it.
And for the first time that night
You feel like you might actually be okay.
The awkwardness that followed the topic of his divorce felt endless.
It stretched between you, heavy and unmoving, filling every bit of space the conversation had left behind.
You stare down at your drink, watching the condensation slide down the cup, anything to avoid looking at him.
You regret bringing it up.
It wasn’t appropriate.
Not after everything.
Not when things between you were already fragile.
Even if it was him.
Even if, once upon a time, he was your best friend.
You let out a quiet breath, fingers tightening slightly around the plastic. "…Sorry."
The word feels small.
Too small for what you meant.
"It doesn’t matter."
You glance up.
Jotaro Kujo hasn’t moved much, but there’s a faint shift in his expression, something less sharp, less guarded.
"It’s over," he adds.
Simple.
Blunt.
Like it’s just another fact.
But something about the way he says it makes your chest tighten anyway.
"...Still," you murmur, looking away again. "Didn’t mean to pry."
Silence settles again.
Not as sharp this time.
But still there.
Lingering.
You tap your fingers lightly against the cup, then stop.
"...You really changed," you say after a moment, quieter now.
Jotaro exhales through his nose. "Not that much."
You huff softly. "You asked for permission before smoking."
A beat.
"...That’s new."
"It’s basic manners."
You glance at him, a faint smile tugging at your lips. "Since when did you care about that?"
He doesn’t answer right away.
And when he does,
"...Since it started mattering."
Your smile falters.
Because that doesn’t sound like the Jotaro you knew.
Or maybe it does.
Just older.
Quieter.
You look down again, voice softer. "...You would’ve hated dealing with me back then."
"I did."
That makes you let out a small laugh despite yourself.
"Wow. Rude."
"You were loud."
"And you weren’t?"
"...No."
You shake your head, a faint warmth slipping into your chest despite everything. "You’re still the same."
"Yeah."
Another pause.
"...Things would’ve been different."
Your breath catches.
You don’t look at him.
You can’t.
Because you already know what he means.
Or at least you think you do.
Your fingers are still against your cup.
"...Different how?" you ask quietly.
A mistake.
Because now there’s no taking it back.
Jotaro exhales slowly, dragging a hand beneath the brim of his hat.
"...Doesn’t matter."
Of course.
Of course, he’d say that.
You let out a small, shaky breath, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes.
"...Yeah."
It doesn’t.
But it does.
And that’s the problem
And, now, I don't know what to do
Yes, Jotaro, I'll say it
This is a love song, isn't it?
The airport is too loud.
Too crowded.
Too final.
Announcements echo overhead, people passing by without a second glance, but it all feels distant, blurred at the edges.
Because all you can focus on is him.
Jotaro Kujo stands in front of you, hands in his pockets, hat tipped low like always.
Like he’s about to leave for just another trip.
Not like he’s crossing an ocean.
"You didn’t tell me it was this soon," you say, trying to keep your voice even.
"I didn’t think it mattered."
You let out a sharp breath. "Didn’t matter?"
"It doesn’t change anything."
"It changes everything," you snap.
A few people glance your way. You don’t care.
"You’re moving to America, Jotaro. That’s not—" you cut yourself off, shaking your head. "You can’t just drop that like it’s nothing."
He doesn’t react.
Or at least, not in a way most people would notice.
But you see it.
That slight tension in his jaw.
"I’m going for studies."
"Yeah, I got that," you mutter. "That’s not the point."
Silence stretches between you.
You hate it.
You hate how he always does this, keeps everything locked down as nothing gets to him.
"You could’ve told me earlier," you say, quieter now. "I had to hear it from someone else."
A pause.
"...Didn’t think you’d care."
That hurts more than it should.
Your chest tightens. "Wow."
You laugh, but it comes out hollow. "Yeah. You’re right. Why would I care, right?"
Jotaro exhales slowly, like he already knows this isn’t going well.
"You made your choice."
You freeze.
"...What?"
"You stayed."
Your brows knit together. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You didn’t come with me."
Your breath catches.
"...You never asked me to."
"I wasn’t going to."
Of course.
Of course, he wasn’t.
Frustration bubbles up again, sharp and messy. "Then don’t stand there acting like I chose something over you when you never gave me a choice in the first place!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
Your chest rises and falls unevenly as you look away, suddenly exhausted.
"...You’re impossible," you mutter.
"...Yeah."
"...Things would’ve been different."
Your heart stutters.
You look at him, really look at him, and for once, there’s something there. Something not fully hidden.
"Different how?" you ask, softer now.
Jotaro steps closer.
Close enough that the noise fades again.
Close enough that you forget where you are for a second.
"...You would’ve come with me."
Your chest aches.
"You didn’t even give me that option," you whisper.
A pause.
"...Tch."
Before you can react, his hand catches your wrist.
Firm.
Grounding.
You turn back to him, breath catching,
And he’s right there.
Closer than he’s ever been.
For a split second, neither of you moves.
Then he leans in.
The kiss is sudden.
Brief.
Not perfect, hesitant in a way that doesn’t match anything else about him, like he’s acting before he can stop himself.
But it’s real.
Warm.
Overwhelming in how long it’s been building without either of you saying a word.
Your hand instinctively grips the front of his coat, like you need something to hold onto.
And then he pulls away.
Too soon.
Of course.
His expression closes off almost immediately, like he’s putting everything back where it belongs.
"...Take care of yourself," he says.
Like that didn’t just happen.
Like he didn’t just change everything.
Your heart is still racing.
"...That’s it?" you manage.
A pause.
"...Yeah."
Your throat tightens.
You nod slowly.
"...Right."
Final boarding echoes through the speakers.
He lets go of your wrist.
This time,
You don’t stop him.
And neither does he.
But even as he walks away,
you can still feel it.
That one moment.
That one mistake.
That one what if,
that followed you for years.
"We should get going." Jotaro spoke. “The villain could be in the place any minute now.”
“...Right. You should.”
Jolyne whined, clinging to Josuke’s arm. "But I wanna stay!"
"We’ll come back," Josuke said, laughing lightly. "Sensei’s busy."
Okuyasu nodded. "Yeah, don’t get fired ‘cause of us, alright?"
You rolled your eyes. "Too late for that."
It almost feels normal.
Almost.
Jotaro’s gaze lingers on you for a second.
"...Stay alert."
You frown. "...I always am."
A pause.
"...This one’s targeting Stand users."
Your grip tightens slightly.
Before you can ask more, he turns.
"Let’s go."
And just like that, they leave.
You wave at them.
You watch them disappear down the street.
Jotaro doesn’t look back.
Of course he doesn’t.
The moment they’re gone, the air changes.
Too still.
Too quiet.
Your smile drops.
"...Yeah. That’s definitely not suspicious."
A strange poem about a plain and ready white wall
One with many questions
"Wait!"
And then she’s running straight at you again.
You barely have time to react before she jumps, small arms wrapping around you as you instinctively catch her.
"Whoa, hey!"
She clings to you as she belongs there, burying her face into your shoulder.
"I don’t wanna go," she mumbles.
Your grip adjusts automatically, steadying her.
"...Jolyne," you say softly, trying to keep your voice light, "your dad’s calling you."
"No."
Firm.
Immediate.
You blink.
Behind her, Josuke lets out a small laugh. "Damn, she picked you."
Okuyasu nods. "Yeah, you’re done for."
You huff quietly, but your attention shifts,
Because you can feel it.
That gaze again.
You look up.
And there’s Jotaro.
Watching.
Not saying anything.
Just watching the way she clings to you, the way your arm supports her without hesitation, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Something unreadable flickers across his face.
Your chest tightens.
"...She really doesn’t like listening, huh," you murmur.
"She does," Jotaro replies.
A pause.
"...When she wants to."
Jolyne tightens her hold on you. "I like her more."
That earns a quiet snort from Josuke.
You try to ignore the way your face warms slightly.
"That’s not a competition," you mutter.
Jotaro steps closer.
Slow.
Measured.
"Jolyne."
She doesn’t move.
"...Come here."
"No."
Your breath catches slightly at how fast she answers.
A beat.
Jotaro exhales through his nose, something tense in the motion.
"...Don’t make this difficult."
You hesitate, then gently shift her a bit in your arms.
"Hey," you say softly, "you’ll see me again, okay?"
She peeks up at you.
"...Promise?"
Your chest tightens.
You glance at Jotaro for half a second.
He’s already looking at you.
"...Yeah," you say quietly. "Promise."
That’s enough.
Slowly, reluctantly, Jolyne loosens her grip.
You lower her carefully to the ground.
She takes a step back, then suddenly,
She lightly hits Jotaro’s leg, once again.
"Mean!"
And before he can respond, she bolts again, running straight back to Okuyasu and Josuke
You can’t help it.
A small laugh slips out.
But when you look back,
Jotaro is still there.
Still watching you.
And this time,
He doesn’t look away.
And a dog as speechless as that same wall
And the sorrows of love's slow passing
Goodbye, Jotaro
Eventually, they really do leave.
No more interruptions.
No more excuses.
Jolyne waves one last time, her voice carrying faintly down the street. "Bye, sensei!"
You lift your hand, smiling just enough for her to see it.
"Bye."
Josuke gives you a lazy salute. Okuyasu follows, grinning like nothing in the world could go wrong.
And then there’s him.
Jotaro Kujo doesn’t say anything at first.
He just looks at you.
One last time.
Like he’s trying to memorize something he already knows he shouldn’t.
"...Take care of yourself," he says.
You huff softly. "You too."
A pause.
You almost say something else.
You almost ask him to stay.
You almost-
Don’t.
"Don’t let them skip class again," you add instead, lighter than you feel.
"...I won’t."
That’s it.
No promises.
No maybes.
Just something small enough to leave behind.
He adjusts his hat.
Turns.
And walks away.
This time,
He doesn’t stop.
Don’t hesitate.
Doesn’t look back.
And you don’t call out to him.
Because you understand.
You always did.
The street feels too quiet after they disappear.
Too empty.
You stand there for a moment longer than necessary, staring at the space where he was.
Where he isn’t anymore.
"...Yeah," you murmur to yourself.
Then you turn.
Because you have a life here.
A job.
Students who depend on you.
A city that needs someone to stay.
Even if it was never going to be him.
Further down the street,
Jotaro doesn’t slow down.
Jolyne is talking about something, tugging lightly at his sleeve, her voice bright, alive.
He responds when he needs to.
Short answers.
Quiet.
Present.
But his mind isn’t there.
Not completely.
For a brief moment he stops.
Just for a second.
"...Jotaro-san?" Josuke glances back.
"...It’s nothing," he replies.
And he keeps walking.
Because he knows.
Going back would change things.
It always did.
And he doesn’t have the right to do that anymore.
Not to you.
Not to her.
Not to anyone.
Somewhere behind him, you’re still there.
Alive.
Safe.
Out of it.
That’s enough.
That has to be enough.
"...Tch."
He pulls his hat lower.
And keeps walking.
This time, for good.