Chap 57: night with a friend
They take their seats circling around the table, the gang were all having fun talking to eachother, a smile present on everyone face. It doesn't change the fact that they could very well die the next day, but while it can last they chose to spent it being happy while they can.
Laughing, making jokes, talking about what they'll do after all of this is over. He didn't know about this scene taking place, obviously because he wasn't here for it or maybe he has change the timeline of this world enough to this could happen. But he don't know if this was all it takes, to derail the train to a future where all of them won't be alive to do it in the original world.
Kakoyrin won't finish school and grow up to become an artist she want to be.
Avadol won't be coming home to see her mum.
Even those that made it out alive will be leave with scars, Josano with severe PTSD, her grandmother won't encounter a out of body experience, and polnale might able to avoid her death in Italy if she had more help.
It felt so real, the warmth he felt when he was accepted into their team, when they’d laugh on their car trips, the flirtatious way Polnale keep trying to ask him out, those moment when he fallen asleep and would rest his head on Kakoyrin shoulder, Avadol read his fortune once trying to take his mind off the threatening future ahead, the classic dad jokes or rather mom jokes from Josane that make everyone else cringe except for him.
He actually kinda like it, almost gave him an audible chuckle from time to time.
All of these moment, he doesn't want them to be a nightmare to those that lives, or a dream to those that passed. Everyone dies, but memories remain.
Through the times they risked their lives, undergo personal battle and came across many hardships, he felt happy to have come on this trip. In a very selfish way, he felt happy to be alive for a seccond time and he wanted to do something for them as well. More than just his own agenda of getting more strength, he wanted to help them to be getting through this challenge too.
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He can hear them snozzing behind the door, as they were taking turn for a night watch. Takichi take a seat beside Josano, in this trip they have spoken little. The time they spent together might even be shorter, it's not that he want to care about them more but more like, they can understand and vibe with each other well.
The sound of a coffee cup placing down on a drink coaster knocked her up, rubbing her eyelid.
"Thanks." She take the cup, a muffled word of appreciation pass her lips.
Both of them sat in silent, watching the empty sand blowing by the cold wind of night. Illuminated by the cresent moon.
"At the table, you din't tell." She ask, a sudden tone of care he didn't forsee.
Takichi turn to look at her, Yellow temperance summon from his hand and shape itself into a question mark for him, he found this way of using his stand for comunication much way too late. The note book was a hassle to keep walking around, and only some of the crusader takes their time to learn sign language.
"I mean, we'll all share our goal for what we want to do after this. But you haven't share anything to us." He can almost tell the red coming of the side of her face as she said it, not because she's shy. No, never, not in a million years.
*I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.* In bold yellow letter from his stand, the whole time, jojo herself didn't share with anyone about what's she going to do when they defeated Dio either.
'Boy, she must be really nervous about it.' He through, seeing the cap wearing girl taking one un-usually long sip, and a seccond, and a third.
"Dolphin." She finally said after the fourth sip, "i like to study sea creature, especially dolphins. I'm thinking about finishing school and getting a degree in marine biology."
Takichi can't help but smile, the once cool tough looking girl now seem so small and sheepish. Trying to hide her face under that cap. Through she does keepn it close to her cannon counterpart, he must admit.
"There i said mine, now it's your turn." She said steering the conversation away.
*I have a bookstore that i own, i'll be returning to it after all of this is over. And my wife too.* For a moment, Jojo expresion was one of unexpected shocked, her eyes open wide, the cup of coffee almost slipped from her hand.
Jojo is stuck frozen in her seat for good while before she leans back slightly, arms crossed, the brim of her hat casting a shadow over the green eyes as she processes the news.
"Hmph. Didn't see that coming....Yare yare daze." She adjusts her hat and turns slightly, there's a brief pause before a faint smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth.
"Guess there’s more to look forward to now." She smile in genuine appreciation for the news.
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Inside of a grand, opulent structure, crafted from golden sandstone, towering columns, intricate hieroglyphic carvings, and a sprawling courtyard. One sole being sat in a room fill with lavish furnishings made from ebony and cedar, inlaid with gold and gemstones.
She sat ominously in the dark, with only golden hair shimmering through for her follower to see.
"So, all have failled." The dark voice began, her tone menacing to the kneeling servants on the floor in front of her. "I shall be mercifull and give you all one final chance, go and eliminate them."
"""We won't fail you lord Dio.""" They all said at same time and stood up. They all head in one direction for one purpose and one only, to kill the jostar. Clearing a path for their master way in her goal of rulling this world.