Better Days

Chapter 9

"Kakyoin! Jotaro! My boys!!"

Jotaro sighed as his grandfather made a ridiculous scene in the middle of the airport.

"Calm down old man."

"Oh, Jotaro, let him be. It's been a while since he visited. How are you Mr. Joestar?"

"What have I told you about that Mr. Joestar mess, huh? It's Jiji to you!"

Noriaki blushed as Joseph nearly picked him up in a hug, "Oh! Jiji!"

Joseph dropped Kakyoin and moved to hug Jotaro, nearly falling in the floor when his grandson sidestepped out of the way, "Oh come on, Jotaro! Give your old man a hug!"

"Pass."

Noriaki rolled his eyes and laughed as Joseph chased Jotaro around the airport trying to hug him.

"Alright you two! You're making a scene."

Jotaro moved to hide behind Noriaki, "Stop your stupidity, old man!"

Joseph frowned, "I just wanted a hug from my grandson!"

"Maybe later, Jiji. We should go. We can talk over lunch. There's a lovely Italian place not far from our apartment."

"OH! My treat!" Joseph shouted.

Jotaro sighed, "Calm down old man. It's just lunch."

"It's an Italian lunch! Is it worth it, Kakyoin?"

Noriaki shrugged, "I believe so. Isn't Mrs. Joestar Italian? You could tell us how authentic it actually is."

"I will! Come on boys! Let's go have lunch!"

Twenty minutes later they sat at the restaurant as Joseph ordered for everyone.

"I promise you, boys. You will love what I ordered. Squid ink pasta is the best!"

"You wanted to talk to Noriaki about something, old man?"

"Jotaro! Be polite!" Noriaki said.

"Oh, he's alright, Kakyoin. I am here to talk to you about something important. But maybe we can wait until after lunch?" Joseph asked.

Jotaro huffed, "Fine. But it better not be anything stupid."

Joseph sighed, "Trust me. It's not. I wish it were, but it's not."

Kakyoin narrowed his eyes, "What is it, Jiji?"

"I'd rather wait..."

"Spill it, old man!"

Joseph grumbled, "Fine...but you're not going to like it..."

"Jiji...what's wrong?" Noriaki asked.

"Nothing's wrong. It's just...we've figured out how to restore your memories..."

Noiraki's eyes widened, "Really?!"

"It's not just that..."

"Then what is it, old man?" Jotaro asked.

Joseph fidgeted in his chair, "Well...Kakyoin...you're not exactly...normal..."

Noriaki leaned forward on the table, "What do you mean?"

"Well...you're...a clone..."

A long silence filled the area as Noriaki absorbed the words.

"A clone? What do you mean?"

Joseph sighed, "The real Noriaki Kakyoin died in Egypt. You are a clone. Created to help Jotaro recover..."

Noriaki sat still for a long moment, waiting for Joseph to laugh or smile or anything to tell him the man was joking. But it never happened.