Standstill Bonds

Chapter 4 ~ United in Contemplation

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a tranquil twilight glow over the city as Jotaro and Josephine made their separate ways home after their meeting.

Jotaro walked through the familiar streets of Tokyo with a steady, practiced stride, his footsteps lost in the hum of the evening. His thoughts, however, were anything but calm. The weight of responsibility sat heavily on his mind, like a tempest threatening to break free. He had reluctantly agreed to mentor Josephine, and the decision left him feeling split between apprehension and duty.

As he reached his home; a traditional Japanese house tucked into the city's landscape, he paused at the entrance, collecting himself. His mother, Holly, was waiting inside, her gentle smile a beacon of warmth in the fading light. Her age was beginning to show, but her spirit remained as vibrant as ever.

"Welcome home, Jotaro," she greeted softly, her voice imbued with affection.

"Thanks, Mom,"

Her smile deepened as she watched him retreat to his room. She understood the burdens her son carried, even if he rarely spoke of them. Jotaro closed the door behind him, the familiar scent of old books greeting him. His room, a blend of study and sanctuary, was cluttered with relics from his past expeditions; marine fossils, photographs of ocean life, and academic texts.

Sitting at his desk, Jotaro's eyes lingered on an old photo of his younger self with his grandfather, Joseph Joestar and his old comrades. The memories stirred something deep within him; the battles they had fought, won and lost. The world of Stands was not something to be taken lightly, and yet, here he was, agreeing to guide a young girl through its complexities.

"Good grief. Why did I agree to this?" he muttered, his brow furrowed. His gaze drifted toward the window, the soft glow of the city reflecting in his eyes. He could see flashes of the past; the battles, the sacrifices, and the weight of it all settled heavily on his chest. But he couldn't turn his back now.

"She needs help," he finally admitted, though there was no one to hear him. A resigned sigh escaped his lips. He knew the risks, the dangers that awaited anyone who wielded a Stand without control like she did. If he didn't step in, Josephine could hurt someone, or even herself.

Meanwhile, across the city, Josephine pushed open the door to her new home, greeted by the muffled sound of raised voices drifting from the kitchen. The sharp edge of her parents' arguments sliced through the house. They barely noticed her return, too engrossed in their discussion about bribes and money, the many criminal dealings they worked through.

Josephine sighed deeply as she slipped quietly past them and headed for the sanctuary of her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. The walls here felt like both a prison and a refuge; a place where she could retreat from the chaos downstairs but never truly escape it.

Seated on the edge of her bed, Josephine wrapped her arms around her knees, drawing them close to her chest.

"How did it get this bad?" she whispered to herself, staring blankly at the far wall. Her parents' voices continued to murmur beneath the floorboards, reminding her of the life she didn't want to be part of. She longed for something different, something better, something free of the dark shadow cast by her family's actions.

Her thoughts drifted to Jotaro, the teacher who had reluctantly agreed to help her. He was stern and unreadable. She didn't know him well but first impressions told her he was no nonsense and certainly not one to let his emotions rule his head, unlike herself. Could he really help her control her Stand? Could she finally escape the chaos she was born into?

As she gazed out of her window at the night sky, a single star caught her attention, twinkling faintly in the distance. It was a small, fragile light amidst the darkness, but it was there. And in that moment, Josephine allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could change for the better.

Back in his study, Jotaro remained seated at his desk, deep in thought. His mind wandered to Josephine again. There was something about her, something that reminded him of his own journey when he had first discovered his Stand. He wasn't sure what path lay ahead for her, but he knew one thing; he couldn't let her face it alone.

Both of them, separated by the city, were lost in their own thoughts, contemplating the choices they had made that day. And so, as the night came in, Jotaro and Josephine shared the same thought: tomorrow might be the start of something scary, but it would also be the start of something new.