heart of glass | josuke higashikata

.:. six .:.

The weekend had finally arrived, and Y/N was hoping to be able to relax for once. Of course, that didn't quite go to plan. Friday after school had gone normal, actually. Josuke, Y/N and Koichi took the bus together before splitting off in town square. After that, Josuke wanted to grab some snacks so they made a quick stop at the convenience store before heading home. And after a night spent competitively playing video games, the pair fell asleep on Josuke's couch. Y/N luckily managed to avoid any awkwardness by waking up in the middle of the night and bee-lining for Josuke's room.

Saturday morning she went home, showered and got dressed, and was in the middle of making herself breakfast when her intrusive thoughts began once again. 'What if Jouske thinks I'm lying, and that Tomoko didn't actually just assume we were together? Oh god, I hope he doesn't think I'm being creepy!' It slowed her down, and she had only just managed to finish breakfast by the time she could hear Josuke calling from outside. She didn't notice how his voice suddenly stopped as she hurried to gather her bag. She had a bit of homework that needed to be done, but besides that she hoped to spend her day at the arcade.

As she stepped out onto her porch, Josuke's voice caught her attention.

"Me? I'm headed to the arcade." Josuke said.

"Cool! Is Koichi meeting us there or what?" This voice confused Y/N. It was definitely a guy, but not Jotaro or Koichi. Y/N had never heard it before.

"Oh, uh..." Josuke chuckled nervously. "Actually I'm going out with my friend, Y/N. She lives right there."

"No way, you're friends with a girl?" The guys voice was overly excited. "Is she single? Is she hot?"

"Dude stop!" Josuke huffed. "Y/N's not just my friend, she's-"

"Your girlfriend?" The guy's voice roared, Jouske quickly hurrying to shut him up.

"Josuke, I'm heading out." Tomoko's voice sounded, and the front door of the Higashikata house clanged shut. "Oh, who's this?"

"Mom, this is-"

"Okuyasu Nijimura." The guy, Okuyasu, interrupted.

"He's a friend from school who lives nearby." The words flowed effortlessly from Josuke's mouth, so effortless that Y/N herself almost believed them. But if this Okuyasu guy was from school and lived close by, then how come Y/N didn't recognize his voice or his name?

"It's nice to meet you." Y/N could hear the smile in Tomoko's voice. "I'll be back by dinner, I expect you to be too, Josuke."

"Alright!" Josuke called after her.

"So this Y/N chick, she your girlfriend or what?" Okuyasu was clearly trying to talk quietly, but Y/N was getting the impression that nothing about him was quiet.

"Oh uhm..." Josuke was clearly nervous. "Uh, yeah." Y/N nearly dropped her keys, her finger just barely looping through the ring time to stop from dropping. She stood there, heart pounding and mind racing, unsure if this second would ever pass. Josuke just called her his girlfriend, did that mean something? Was this a sign that he liked her? Did she want him to like her?

"Oh, hi Y/N!" Tomoko's chipper voice sounded, making Y/N turn around. Tomoko waved and Y/N returned it, letting out a breath when Tomoko started to walk away. Then, it hit her-Josuke had only said she was his girlfriend because Tomoko was standing right there. Feeling deflated-surprisingly so-Y/N locked the front door and walked the few steps around the corner to her driveway. Josuke and another very tall boy, no doubt Okuyasu, were standing in Josuke's yard just off of the sidewalk.

"Hey Josuke." Y/N tried to muster her best, most normal smile. "Ready to go?"

"Woah dude." Once again, Okuyasu was using his quiet voice. "Your girl's a total smoke show."

"Shut up." Josuke's face turned pink as he quickly jabbed his elbow in Okuyasu's side. "Hey Y/N!" He stepped forward, smiling wide. "Uh, this is Okuyasu, you two haven't met yet. He's another stand user. It uh, it was his brother who turned Koichi into one." Y/N nodded, stealing another glance at Okuyasu while he was still doubled over. She remembered the brutal story of Koichi getting his stand, and Josuke having to fight off the guy who did it.

"Wait, another?" Okuyasu was now upright again, stepping forward and putting his arm up on Josuke's shoulder. "You're a stand user?" He jabbed a finger in Y/N's direction. "No way, you're too small."

"Excuse me?" Y/N eyebrows knitted together as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not small." She puffed her cheeks out. "I'm way bigger than Koichi! It's not my fault both of you are freakishly tall."

"Wh-what? Freakishly tall? I'm not freakishly tall." Josuke whined. "I'm only a littler taller than my grandfather was!"

"Yeah but Jotaro's like seven foot!" Y/N argued. "He's a freak too, so it must be a Joestar thing."

"Jotaro, who's Jotaro?" Okuyasu leaned more against Josuke.

"His twenty eight year old nephew." Y/N didn't hold back her small laugh. "Another stand user, there sure are a lot more of those these days."

"You're tellin' me." Okuyasu nodded. "My bro was workin' real hard. Even I don't know how many people he shot with the bow and arrow."

"Wait what?" Y/N eye's widened and she stared up at Josuke. "A bow and arrow, Josuke what is he talking about?"

"Oh yeah." Josuke chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I might have changed a few details when I told you."

"Okay, well unchanged them. Right now." Y/N ordered, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at Josuke. "What's this about a bow and arrow?"

"Ugh!" Josuke huffed. "I didn't want you to know because it's so violent. Another reason I'm glad you weren't there that day. Seeing Koichi like that..." Y/N's expression softened at seeing just how upset Josuke looked. "It's true, though. The power of stands weren't granted by another stand like I told you before, it was a bow and arrow. Koichi was shot through the neck, I didn't think he'd survive because I couldn't get to him right away."

"Oh..." Y/N couldn't find the words to say anything else.

"I'm sorry for lying, I just didn't want you to have that image in your head." Josuke apologized, and suddenly Y/N felt bad.

"No, Josuke it's okay." She sighed, taking a few steps forward. "You were just trying to protect me, and I appreciate it. But since we're both gonna be fighting until all these enemy stand users are eliminated, I need to be on the same page as everyone else. Even if you think it might hurt me, I have to know."

"You're right." Josuke also took a few steps forward, reaching out and taking one of Y/N's hands. She had to stop herself from gasping lightly. Still, every touch felt different. "I guess I just can't help myself, but I need you to be safe. I just don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

"Aw, you two are just adorable!" Okuyasu gushed, bringing Y/N and Josuke out of their moment and back to the present. "Makes me wish I had a girlfriend." He grumbled.

"Oh, uh, should we tell him?" Y/N looked back up at Josuke biting his lip.

"Tell him what?" Josuke was doing his best to act oblivious. "Oh um, that." He chuckled nervously when Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I guess we-"

"Hey, I've been looking for you two." The sound of Jotaro's voice made all three teenagers jump. Looking down to the street, Jotaro was leaning out of his rental car's window. "Get in, we have to talk back at the hotel."

"Hey, you know this guy?" Okuyasu turned back towards Y/N and Josuke. "Or is it normal for weird guys to just drive up and say shit like this to you?"