Chapter 26 ~ Suppressed Sentiment

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Jotaro awoke to the soft hum of conversation drawing him to the living room where Josephine and Polnareff were deep in discussion. Josephine, with her sketchpad in hand, was passionately explaining her sketches of Charadriformes, a group of medium to large birds that live by the shore, eating bugs or other small creatures. She detailed the nuances of their beaks and adaptations of some species to various coastal environments in Japan.

He stood in the doorway, watching as Josephine gestured animatedly while talking to Polnareff. "So, you see, Polnareff, the different beak sizes and shapes help them survive in specific regions. It's like their own evolutionary toolkit."

Polnareff, sitting on the sofa, was genuinely intrigued. "I never thought birds could be this interesting. Incroyable. What about that one?" he pointed to another sketch.

Josephine grinned. "Oh, that's the Japanese Murrelet. Fascinating little guys. They live along the Japanese coast and Taiwan, they eat mainly fish and invertebrates. They're skilled divers and use their little wings to swim underwater. They dive and swim more effeciently than they actually fly, that's how much they've adapted and evolved to living on the water."

Polnareff was impressed. "You're a clever one, Josephine. Who knew you'd be a bird expert on top of everything else?"

Josephine blushed, looking down at her sketchpad. "Well, I just find it interesting, that's all."

Jotaro couldn't help but acknowledge her dedication to learning, even in the midst of their impending battle. It was a side of Josephine he had seen plenty of times before; a curious, intelligent girl navigating life around both schoolwork and many stresses that plagued her life.

Josephine, engrossed in her sketches and enthusiastic rambling, didn't notice Jotaro's entrance until she awkwardly greeted him mid-sentence. "Oh, hey, Mr. Jotaro! Morning!" She quickly regained her composure, flashing him a bright smile.

Jotaro offered a nod in return. "What are you up to?"

"Just sharing some bird knowledge with Polnareff here," she replied, gesturing to her sketches. "I'm onto the Spectacled Guillemot now!"

As she delved into her explanation, Jotaro took a seat next to Polnareff, who nudged his arm. Leaning in, Polnareff whispered, "What's it like for your new friend to have passion in a similar field?"

Jotaro agreed and responded quietly, "She's definitely got a knack for it, she knows more than most kids her age." They continued their subdued conversation while Josephine kept up her enthusiastic chatter about birds, completely unaware of the exchange behind her.

Polnareff observed Josephine with a warm smile as she continued her lively discourse. Turning back to Jotaro, he commented, "She's quite impressive. Her parents must be proud, non?"

Jotaro's demeanour shifted instantenously, a clear displeasure spread on his face at the mere mention of her parents. He took a deep breath to compose himself before responding, "Proud? Her parents don't give a damn about her."

Polnareff's expression shifted from jovial to one of concern. "Pourquoi? What do you mean?"

Jotaro leaned in, lowering his voice as he revealed to Polnareff the truth of her situation. "Apparently, her parents committed fraud in England. She said to escape justice, they forced her to move here and they make her help with their illegal business. I wanted to do something but she made me promise not to report them, she doesn't want to be deported back. They don't respect her Polnareff, they use her. It makes me sick."

Polnareff's eyes widened in shock, realizing the depth of Josephine's struggles. They both turned their attention back to the young girl, who remained blissfully unaware.

Polnareff's expression soured into a scowl as he muttered in French "Ça me fait chier!" (that pisses me off!) expressing his disdain for such people. "Je ne supporte pas ce genre de gens," he grumbled.

Jotaro flashed him a puzzled look to indicate is lack of comprehension.

"Excusez-Moi, I said I can't stand people like that." He quickly translated.

"Yeah, it's messed up. That kid deserves better."

They both fell into a contemplative silence, watching as Josephine continued her sketching and writing. Jotaro, shook his head, turning his attention to more urgent matters. "Back to business, did you contact Giorno? Can he help us?"

Polnareff nodded, a determined gleam in his eye. "Oh oui, I already contacted him last night, and he's willing to help. He'll be here by the end of the week."

Jotaro's expression tightened slightly, his shoulders tensing in a mirrored action. "End of the week? That's the best he can do?"

Polnareff sighed, understanding his friend's frustration. "I'm afraid so. There's a major gang incident back in Italy, and it requires Passione's attention. It should be resolved within the next two days then he'll catch the first plane here."

Jotaro rubbed his forehead with a quiet grunt. "We could use him sooner."

Polnareff laid a hand on Jotaro's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I know, mon ami. But Giorno's promised his support, and he'll be here as soon as he can."

Jotaro nodded, acknowledging the reality of the situation. "Fine. We'll manage until then."

With the assurance of Giorno's impending arrival, the two of them continued to discuss their plan and how to gather information on Pucci's possible whereabouts and activities. As they did so, their conversation was abruptly interrupted when they both noticed the look of worry on Josephine's face. She had paused her sketching and her simmered with a note of fear.

Polnareff addressed her gently, "Ma petite, what's wrong?"

Turning to face them, Josephine took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm scared. It's all hitting me now I guess. But, I want you both to know that I'll stand and fight with you, no matter what."

Polnareff gave her an encouraging nod. "That's the spirit kiddo. We'll face this together."

Jotaro  felt a twinge of apprehension. He had agreed to let Josephine join the fight, but the protective instinct within him still lingered strongly. Suppressing his inner concerns for the time being, he gestured to the vacant space on the sofa. Josephine nodded gratefully and joined them. She was given a space to talk about her own worries with the fight, though the topic was still serious, it was much calmer and less tense than the previous day's discussion of the matter. Their conversation was supportive and almost theraputic in its nature. Polnareff, seated at the opposite end, listened to her and Jotaro attentively, occasionally injecting playful comments to lighten the mood.

During a brief pause, the frenchman turned to Jotaro with a mischievous grin. "Come on, give the kid a hug. Pretend I'm not here." He playfully turned his head away, creating a bit of humor to ease the tension. Josephine found Polnareff's antics endearing and let out a genuine giggle before turning to Jotaro and giving him a reassuring look. 

'Don't worry about it.' she mouthed quietly and playfully with a shake of her head. Despite her understanding, she was taken by surprise when Jotaro responded by pulling her into his side. The gesture, though subtle, sent a rush of warmth through her.

Josephine soon let out a heavy sigh, gradually relaxing into the moment. There was something comforting about Jotaro's increasing moments of affection, something she had never experienced with her own father.

As Jotaro held Josephine close, his mind briefly wandered into introspection. The subtle warmth of her presence when she was around, the connection they had forged; it stirred something within him. He contemplated the unusual comfort he himself found in these moments with her, a comfort he hadn't anticipated. Jotaro realised he couldn't deny the emergence of a sentiment he had long suppressed. His emotions were like an enigma, and he hesitated to unravel them fully. Yet, as Josephine leaned into him, he felt a sense of reassurance that things didn't need to be said vocally.

Responsibility still pressed heavily on his shoulders, but for that fleeting moment, he allowed himself, even if it was just internally, to appreciate the connection he had with the young, spirited girl who had become an unexpected presence in his life.

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