〖JJBA - EN〗- Last Judgement

Chapter 56: An explosive duo.

Morioh, Japan. June 19th, 1999.

[default: English / italics: Japanese]

Jotaro was quieter than a tomb. Luckily Koichi was a good conversationalist, or the mood on the way to the shoe repair store would have been more heavy and awkward than ever. From time to time, (Y/N) gave him sidelong glances, but he only looked ahead, hands in his pockets and jaw clenched. He still had their discussion from the day before stuck in his throat, and that was understandable. So she didn't speak to him, busy holding the conversation with Koichi. When they arrived in front of the shoe repair shop, which happened to be doing alterations, Jotaro finally laid eyes on his companions. But he said nothing more. He opened the door to the store and entered. Koichi and (Y/N) exchanged a look before following him. They greeted the old man behind the counter and Jotaro didn't wait a second to show him the jacket button recovered a few days earlier from the crime scene.

"Mmh... What do you want to know about this button?

- If that doesn't remind you of anything, nevermind," Jotaro groaned. "I was wondering what clothing it could come from.

- It's funny you ask me that. I just mended a jacket with that button. A customer came by yesterday for me to sew him exactly the same. It's the same, right?" the old man asked, pointing to a jacket on a hanger.

Koichi exclaimed in surprise.

"Jotaro!

- Yare yare daze... We found him.

- Found what?" the old shoemaker asked.

"Nothing at all", (Y/N) answered to avoid suspicion. "How was this customer? Do you have his name?

- Are you kidding me? Of course I have it. I remember each of my clients' name. That's the least I can do. I memorized thousands of them.

- Is it true?" Jotaro asked in a voice betraying his suspicion.

"Great", (Y/N) cut him off before he could say something stupid. "Can you give it to us?

- Mm-mmh... I hung a label at the neck's level. But I remember all the names anyway, huh... It's just that it will go faster."

The old man got up, a cup of tea in hand, to check the tag on the jacket. As he was searching, (Y/N) felt her body tense. They were close to finding their target. And it seemed way too simple to be true. As the old man had trouble reading a kanji, Koichi approached to help him. But he quickly backed away. The cobbler's hand that was holding his cup exploded in bloodshed. (Y/N) tugged on the collar of Koichi's jacket to pull him back, one arm in front of him, ready to protect him. She was used to surprise attacks, and her experience in the mafia only increased her mistrust. The old man was shaking as he looked at his shredded hand, and he didn't notice that a kind of small tank was climbing on his shoulder. In fact, he would never have been able to notice it. This little tank was a Stand.

"M-My hand!!

- J-Jotaro!! (Y/N)!! What is happening?!

- Be careful, Koichi", (Y/N) said.

"Stay away," Jotaro ordered.

The Stand leapt into the old man's mouth in another bloodshed and Koichi screamed in terror. (Y/N) hid his eyes and Jotaro put a hand on his shoulder to reassure him. He turned to (Y/N), the moment was suddenly far too critical to take his resentment into account.

"Is this the Killer's Stand? You s-

- Jotaro! (Y/N)!" Koichi exclaimed looking through the young woman's fingers.