all-american :: jotaro x reader

chapter 2 :: all-american explorer

I wake up. The first thing I notice is something is burning.

I run to the source of the smell and find my mom in the kitchen scraping some bacon from a pan into the trash. She spots me and smiles feebly. "Sorry. Did I wake you up?"

I shake my head no and use my hand to smooth down my hair. "I see you tried to make breakfast." My Mom laughs nervously. "I went to the grocery down there. I also think I nearly set the house on fire."

"Sorry I'm up late. Jet lag." Waltzing over to the counter, I hoist myself up and sit on the countertop before my mom slaps my thigh with the spatula. "Off." I slide off. "What's going on today?"

"Nothing that I can think of," my mom says, sliding some eggs onto a plate, "probably just adjusting. Unpacking, maybe some shopping."

"Question," I mention as she hands me the plate of eggs and a fork, "when am I starting school? Senior year, you know. And how about your job-"

"Soon," mom says. "Soon."

I cut into the egg and take a bite. "I wanna go out there and explore. I haven't been here for 11 years, and personally, I'm kind of starting to like it again."

"I knew you would eventually," Mom replies, "this is your home, after all."

"I was born in Osaka."

"Close enough."

I laugh. I missed it when she was like that.
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The morning air is still a little damp outside, but the sun is bright, so that makes up for it, I guess. And on top of that, I was smart enough to remember to bring my sweater, something I usually neglect to do.

The town is quiet, which isn't something I'm used to yet. California was always loud. Even if you got up in the dead of night, someone in the apartment would be making noise or some car outside would be honking their horn for no reason.

Stuffy late summer air invades my lungs and makes them feel new again. California was stuffy. Here, the air is clean and doesn't smell like cigarettes and exhaust.

A cat runs by. California had cats.

It stops in front of me and looks up, like it knows something is different. He meows suspiciously and I frown. It runs away. That was kind of mean. I yell an apology to the cat but it probably can't hear, or doesn't care.

I continue my journey. As I walk around, I pass a bunch of buildings I didn't think this traditional old town would have. They've got this huge school, a few department stores, this super cool temple, and a doctor's office. I talk to a few old ladies who greet me and loudly note that I look foreign, and which I have to loudly respond back that I am.

I've been out for a few hours now when I notice that the fence that I've been walking past seems a little long...?

Just as I'm about to start running to see how far it goes, it stops.

Looking ahead, there's this huge traditional building. An inn, maybe? My mom has probably talked about these at one point or another. I'm actually kind of intrigued by it, it's got this cool sand garden and has a bunch of bamboo patches and this cute little fountain! What a nice little place.

I realize I've been standing there for a few minutes staring creepily at this building, so I walk away (kind of embarrassed at myself). I can imagine someone was looking out the window of their room and being like, "look at this idiot, she's been standing there for ten minutes like a deer in headlights." Wild.

I shove my hands back into my pockets and avert my gaze forwards again when something obstructs the traditional and green atmosphere. Something very tall and...black?

It takes my slow brain to realize that it's a person, just faced away from me. And smoking. Really can't think as to why someone would wear all black on a sunny day, which is the one thing that's a bad idea.

I look down and realize I'm wearing a black shirt.

I scoff and continue forward. I'm kind of curious to see who that is, but I also am kind of not. I know Japan is supposed to be safe, but think about it. Someone wearing all black is probably not a safe person. I take my chance anyway and turn the corner, even though I could have just crossed the street.

They hear my footsteps and suddenly turn to look in my direction.

I mutter under my breath, "gee." Super tall boy (for a Japanese person, at least!), looks pretty upset with me every though we've never met, jawline could probably cut paper, and looks...vaguely American. Maybe he's also...? Probably not. He seems familiar but maybe that's just because he looks vaguely American.

We catch each other staring. He exhales a mouthful of cigarette smoke. As I walk past him, our eyes meet for a second, and I give a closed-mouth smile. He raises an eyebrow and returns to his cigarette.

I keep walking, my hands still in my pockets. He seems interesting. In America, Nobody looked like that, except the people at lunch who would gather around a stereo blasting scream-y music and talk about how much they hate their parents.

He was kind of cute, though.

I shake my head. What the hell am I thinking? That dude was a regular old delinquent having a smoke break or whatever. I shouldn't critique his fashion or anything, people wear what they want and that's okay, y'know?

Amidst my thoughts, I realize that I am standing in front of my house.

I must have done a huge circle around the block or something, but at least I know now that if I'm ever lost, after I pass the inn I'll be home.

"(y/n)! Come in here!" I can hear my mom's voice from outside and quickly jog inside the already open door, not even bothering to take off my shoes at the door before becoming defensive. "Mom! What's wrong?"

She stands in the living room by a huge box. Seeing me (and more notably, my shoes still on) she smiles, and then frowns. "(Y/n), you know better than to take your dirty shoes farther than the mat by the door."

I sigh, run over the take my shoes off, run back to my spot and pose defensively again. My mom laughs. "Okay, Karate master, I need you to help me move this TV."

I walk over. "Mom, You can't be buying TV's when we only have so much money to live off of until you start your job."

"I know, I know. Consider it a housewarming gift." I sigh once again and help her lift it up onto the TV stand, and plug it into the wall.

"Just so you know, we're visiting my parents tomorrow, so get ready...mentally." She wipes some sweat off her forehead (from just lifting a TV). I roll my eyes. We just got here and she's already making me socialize?

I thought moving to a new country to escape your cheating father meant not talking to anyone.

Well, at least not right away.
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A/N
Have you gone outside today? It's good to get some fresh air every once in a while.