Standstill Bonds

Chapter 12 ~ Unsettling Disturbance

The next day after school, Jotaro and Josephine stood in the familiar clearing, facing each other.

"Today is going to be tougher," Jotaro began, the sternness in his voice caught Josephine off guard. "You need to be prepared for real combat situations, should the worst happen."

Josephine nodded slowly, the thought of encountering Pucci again sent a shiver down her spine, but it also fueled her desire to grow stronger. She summoned Shadow of the Eclipse, her Stand's dark form flickering into view beside her, ready and waiting.

"We're going to push your limits today," Jotaro continued, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. "Make sure you focus, in a real fight, you need to anticipate every move."

Josephine swallowed away her nerves, "I'm ready," she affirmed, her voice steady.

Jotaro's Stand, Star Platinum, materialized beside him and without warning, Jotaro commanded Star Platinum to strike. Josephine barely had time to react, instinctively commanding her Stand to block the blow. The force of the impact sent her stumbling back, but she managed to keep her balance.

"Faster," Jotaro urged, "You have to be quicker than that."

Gritting her teeth, Josephine refocused, her mind racing to keep up with the barrage of attacks Jotaro sent her way. Shadow of the Eclipse responded to her commands, moving fluidly but Jotaro was relentless. Every time she thought she had caught up, he pushed her harder, faster, forcing her to adapt on the fly.

"Not bad," Jotaro grunted as she narrowly avoided anothher punch from Star Platinum, "but you're still holding back. Stop thinking so much and trust your instincts."

Josephine's frustration flared. She wasn't holding back, but it felt like no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fully keep up with him. Her breathing became labored as she deflected another hit, desperately trying to think of what he might do next.

"I'm not—" she began, but Jotaro cut her off with another strike.

"Don't talk. Focus."

The force of Star Platinum's next attack sent her to the ground. Gasping for breath, she looked up at Jotaro, frustration and exhaustion clear on her face.

"Get up," Jotaro's voice was firm and he was not letting up, "In a real fight, you won't have time to rest. Stand."

Josephine gritted her teeth, pushing herself back to her feet. The ache in her limbs screamed for her to stop, but she couldn't. There was no way she was going to embarass herself in front him. She summoned every ounce of strength she had, forcing herself to stand tall.

"Alright, lets go again Mr. Jotaro."

Star Platinum lunged forward once more, and this time, Josephine was able to move her stand faster. She tried harder to think on her feet, anticipating where Star Platinum was going to be instead of thinking so hard about where it was at, watching where its eyes were looking. The clash between their Stands continued, each movement more intense than the last, until finally, Jotaro called it to a halt.

"Alright, that's enough," he said, his voice steady as he recalled Star Platinum.

Josephine collapsed to her knees again, gasping for air. "That... was brutal," she muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Jotaro walked over to her, his stance relaxed but his gaze still sharp. "It's the only way you'll be ready for the worst." He bent down, offering her a steady hand to stand up, "I'll walk you home again,"

Just as they began to leave, something changed, Jotaro froze mid-step. His eyes narrowed, scanning the surrounding trees with sharp eyes. Suddenly, Jotaro's hand shot out, grabbing Josephine's arm with a vice-like grip. His sudden change in demeanor sent a surge of anxiety through her. She could see the hardened look in his eyes as he muttered, "He's here."