The Ludicrous Escapade Pt.4

Just Eat It

"Rohan, what are you doing?!" Shouted Santana as he caught your body after it slumped over.

"I'm just checking if it's really her." He started flipping through your pages, skimming the contents closely. "You can never be too sure. There are all sorts of Stand users out there. What if this is all some kind of elaborate ploy to fool us?"

Santana looked away. He had also been a tad suspicious at first so he didn't entirely blame the guy. And hopefully Rohan would prove it really was you.

The mangaka's expression shifted a little as he started getting to the memories of all the events that happened after you were sent to another universe. He was obviously going further than just confirming who you were. "Oh, wow..." He resisted the urge to tear a few of them out, though his movements became a little more jittery. "This is excellent! After all these years, I'm finally getting the urge to draw again!"

"That's right. You've been on hiatus for a while, haven't you?" Santana helped you back up to your feet as your face returned to normal.

Rohan gave a small, affirmative hum, his face still an inch away from yours. "I've been suffering from writer's block as of late. A lack of inspiration. But now my muse has returned!"

"It's good to see you, too..." Was all you could muster in response, your hand feeling along where your head had peeled open. "And I can tell you all about what happened later."

Rohan placed a hand on your upper back, leading you over to his table. "Too busy worrying about what to do with Giorno?"

Your gaze immediately shifted to him, at first wondering if he had known something about it, but then you realized he probably just read it off of you. "Yeah." You took a seat, Santana and Emporio following suit. "I contacted the SPW Foundation about my return on the way here and told them to revoke Giorno's power. But I wouldn't be surprised if he has some devoted people to him on the inside, already. He can be charismatic when he wants to be."

You briefly thanked Tonio as he poured you your own glass, and then took a sip of the near heavenly water. "Whatever happened, I just really want for things to be settled peacefully, if possible. We can't afford to fight him."

"And to think he let Anasui out, too." Emporio fidgeted with the cup in his hands. "I know Giorno wanted to get you back to this universe, but to get the help of the guy that kidnapped you?" It just didn't make sense to him.

"Perhaps Giorno plans to kill him after all this is over with?" Suggested Santana. "I would not be all that surprised." He raised his head a little, recalling something else. "I believe he got Bruno to teach him Hamon, as well. Better than using a stone mask to forsake his humanity, I suppose."

"But the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, as they say." Kars was now leaning on your chair, his long hair occasionally brushing against the side of your face. A smile more akin to a snarl formed on his lips. "Especially with all his talk of wanting to be different."

Tonio returned from the kitchen, setting a dish in front of each customer. "And for you, Signorina, the usual. Spaghetti al nero di seppia."

"Thank you, Tonio. I appreciate it." You picked up your fork, eager to dig in.

Tonio smiled warmly. "Don't mention it. Just doing my job." He returned to the kitchen to start working on dessert.

The squid ink pasta practically melted in your mouth, reminding you of all the time you had spent in Morioh, or even just in this universe. Although, it mostly brought back all your memories of Joseph and Caesar. They would always be the ones you associated with this dish.

You let out a muffled sob, your fork clenched tightly in one hand while the other moved to cover your mouth. This dish always seemed to have this affect on you. Perhaps it was even stronger now that both of them were dead. You'd miss them. Them and everyone else you'd known that had passed on.