Standstill Bonds

Chapter 21 ~ The Unexpected Truce

Jotaro and Josephine walked side by side toward the school the next morning. The early warmth contrasted with the cool breeze, a sign of the lingering season of summer in transition to Autumn. Jotaro, absorbed in his thoughts about the day's responsibilities and the students he needed to oversee, was suddenly pulled from his mental checklist by Josephine's bright and cheerful tone.

"You know, Mr. Jotaro," she began, turning her head to look up at him, a playful smirk on her lips, "I never figured you for the type who could actually have fun. I always thought you were the tough, brooding kind of guy."

Jotaro gave a casual shrug, his eyes still focused on the path ahead. "Being Stand users means we face trouble. Can't afford to mess around too much. Besides," he added, "I've also got responsibilities as a teacher."

Josephine rolled her eyes, Jotaro, the ever so serious guy especially when his real softness was pointed out. "Sure, 'Mr. Serious Business'. But I've never seen you laugh like that, it was cool."

Jotaro rolled his eyes, but the subtle twitch of a smirk betrayed his true feeling. "Yeah, well... don't get used to it."

-

The morning unfolded without much excitement as the hours rolled into lunch. The school cafeteria buzzed with its usual midday chaos; students chatting, trays clattering, the smell of various foods mingling in the air. As Josephine found a seat, her eyes met with Hiroshi's across the room. His smug, overconfident grin made her sigh, she knew what was coming. She set her tray down with a groan, steeling herself as Hiroshi sauntered over.

"What do you want, Hiroshi?" Josephine's tone was direct, exasperated, ready for whatever he had to throw at her.

"Oh, just wondering when you'd show your face again. I figured after last time, you'd be too embarrassed to come back and see me," Hiroshi sneered, his smug grin widening.

Josephine scoffed, very unimpressed by him. "Embarrassed? Hardly. You're the one who needs to grow up and move on."

Hiroshi's grin faltered, his expression darkening. "This school's my turf. Watch your mouth, or you'll regret it."

Rolling her eyes, Josephine cut him off, her patience wearing thin. "Right, because you're such a king around here, aren't you? Newsflash; you're the one who keeps getting in trouble. No one's fault but your own."

Hiroshi's face flushed with anger and his sneer returned with a venomous edge. "And yet here you are, thinking Mr. Jotaro gives a damn about you. You're a nobody and he's a nobody. Honestly, you should just go by 'JoJo.' Your names stuck together, cause you're both nothing."

At the insult directed at Jotaro, Josephine felt a surge of rage course through her. She couldn't hold back anymore. Her Stand materialized beside her, its shadowy presence looming ominously.

Hiroshi took a step back, his eyes wide in disbelief. "What the hell-"

Before he could finish, Josephine's Stand lunged forward, delivering a sharp blow that sent him staggering backward, clutching his side. His shocked expression turned to pain as he gasped for breath.

"Don't ever insult him again!" Josephine's voice was trembling with anger, her Stand poised and ready for more action.

Hiroshi, gritting his teeth, managed to summon, by Josephine's great shock, a stand of his own, a sleek, silver-plated humanoid figure with glowing lines tracing its form. Josephine's eyes widened as she registered what was happening.

"You-you're a Stand user too?"

Hiroshi straightened, a wicked grin curling his lips. "That's right, JoJo. And you're about to find out just how outclassed you are."

The nickname was laced with mockery, but Josephine barely registered it as the two Stands clashed. Tables overturned, food trays scattered, and yet to the surrounding students, it seemed like an invisible, paranormal chaos was unfolding around them.

Hiroshi's Stand moved with speed, using the harsh cafeteria lights to power up and increase its momentum, darting around Josephine's defenses. But Josephine, thinking quickly, began to observe the shadows cast by the overturned tables. Her Stand melded with the darkness, using the cover to maneuver out of sight. With a sudden, well-timed attack, her Stand landed a brutal blow to Hiroshi's side, sending him crashing into the ground again, winded and coughing. Josephine stood over him, breathing heavily, her anger still simmering.

She wanted to say more, to scream and shout, but she found she didn't have the energy left in herself to do so. But as she turned to walk away, something made her pause. She glanced back at Hiroshi, noticing how his so-called friends were now laughing at his defeat, mocking him for being beaten by a girl. It was an unfortunate sight; peer pressure, the force that had likely shaped Hiroshi into the bully he was. Josephine hesitated. Despite everything, she felt a strange pang of pity. Slowly, and with a heavy sigh she walked back toward him, ignoring his posse, who shrank back as she approached.

"Cowards," she muttered under her breath.

Standing over Hiroshi, she extended a hand toward him. He looked up in shock, meeting her eyes.

"Had enough?" she asked, her tone softened, almost casual.

Hiroshi, still clutching his side, stared at her hand for a long moment before reluctantly accepting it. His expression was troubled as he stood, his pride clearly wounded. Before he could respond, the headmaster's voice boomed through the chaos, silencing the entire cafeteria.

"What is the meaning of this! Who caused this chaos?!"

Collectively, the entire group of students scattered around slowly turned their gazes in Hiroshi and Josephine's direction.

"Both of you, my office. Now!"

-

Mr. Bushida's office felt tense as he scolded Josephine and Hiroshi for the chaos they caused in the cafeteria. He demanded an explanation, keen to discern who had instigated the brawl.

"Explain yourselves. Who started that chaos?"

Josephine, after a moment's hesitation, broke the silence. "I threw the first punch." she admitted.

The headmaster looked taken aback, clearly expecting Hiroshi to be the instigator. "Is that true?" he asked, his eyes narrowing at Hiroshi.

Before Hiroshi could answer, Josephine interjected again. "It is true sir, I...I was angry and upset, but I shouldn't have taken it out in such a way. I started it and am therefore responsible for what happened in there. This is not his fault."

The headmaster looked at her with an assessing gaze, sensing an unusual turn of events, he instructed them to leave and cautioned against any future disruptions.

As they left the office, Hiroshi grabbed Josephine's shoulder, pivoting her to face him. "What the hell was that about?" he demanded, his confusion evident.

Josephine shrugged, her expression calm. "It's the truth. I started it."

Hiroshi frowned, still baffled. "But... why take the fall for me? I've been giving you hell since you first got here. Don't you want to get back at me?"

Josephine met his gaze, her voice steady. "No, Hiroshi. I just want to end this. I don't want to keep going in circles, fighting the same fight. This whole shit is pointless, and I think you know that too..."

He stared at her suspiciously, searching for an ulterior motive, but found none. After a beat, Hiroshi let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You're something else, JoJo."

He extended his hand for a handshake, a reluctant but genuine gesture. Josephine hesitated for a moment before accepting it, grasping his hand with her own.

"Don't think we're friends, but... you've earned my respect."