OKOSHI | JOJOLION

025 | a parting gift.

★ . . . IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU A week ago that you would spill your life story to Kira-Joestar Holly, you would have laughed. But as it turned out, Kei's mother was an exceptionally good listener. She said she wouldn't judge you, and her illness aside, you were tempted to believe her.

"True love is a fickle thing, isn't it?" Holly said. She flipped idly through a magazine, her fingers running over the glossy pages. "It's so hard to say what it is."

"I'm glad you agree," you said. "Imagine grappling with that for a whole month."

"You're quite tenacious then. A weaker person might have given up."

"I can't claim all the credit. In a way, I did give up. Otherwise, wouldn't I still be out there? Searching?"

Holly's voice suddenly went steely. "You shouldn't discredit yourself. Just because you didn't succeed in something doesn't take away from the fact that you tried. You don't need to be brave to succeed. You need to be brave to try."

In their small way, Holly's words did make you feel better. Even if her mind wasn't where it used to be, you appreciated Holly being patient enough to listen to you and to offer you support, from whatever part of her that was still alert.

Just then, Kei burst through the door. She skidded to a halt, slightly out of breath, and looked from you to your mother. She seemed surprised to find that you were only talking.

You got up from your seat. "Hey, Kei. How are you doing?"

"Um, well. Thank you for asking."

"Hello, dear." Holly smiled. "We were just talking. There's no need to look so worried."

Obediently, Kei went over to her mother and leaned down so that Holly could kiss her cheek.

"What were you two talking about?" Kei asked tentatively. There was a crease between her eyebrows.

"That's for us to know. You don't need to worry about it."

You shrugged when Kei looked at you, crossing the room to wait in the hallway outside. A few minutes later, Kei joined you, still frowning.

"Walk with me?" you asked, and Kei nodded.

You could practically feel the questions bubbling inside of Kei. She wanted until you were out of her mother's earshot though, not speaking until you were on your way to the cafeteria.

"Were you the one who paid all of my mother's medical bills?" she blurted. "The nurse at the front desk told me that it had all been taken care of today."

"I also asked them to keep some funds in reserve. It should be enough for your mother to use for a year or so." You would have reserved more, but apparently that was the legal amount Japanese banks would allow you. Since it was technically TG University Hospital that owned the funds now, you hoped they would still be valid once you were gone.

Kei actually scowled. "You shouldn't have done that. I will pay you back. It's not your responsibility to care for my mother. I can—"

"Kei. I have a limitless fortune and I'm going to be leaving soon. This was the least I could do. Please don't think anything of it. It's my thanks to you and your mother for supporting me during my time in Morioh."

"But we did nothing to support you," Kei muttered. "You have no obligation to help us."

Maybe you didn't, but you wanted to do at least one good thing before you were gone.

"Don't think anything of it," you said again. "I like your mom. I want her to get better. The doctors told me her progress is good. She probably won't have to stay here for much longer."