"You really don't have to keep wearing that gloomy expression, you know."
"We finally have a chance to relax... you should enjoy it while it lasts."
Subaru Natsuki looked over at Homura Akemi, noticing that her face was still a mask of tension. He felt that she was being far too hard on herself.
"Why did you speak up for me?"
Homura glanced at Subaru, her voice quiet and searching.
In the final moments before the reset, her actions had been nothing short of a betrayal. If DIO had truly been willing to grant her wish, she might never have triggered the rewind.
Even if the ultimate result was positive, she had still made choice that she felt was unforgivable.
By all rights, she should have been shunned or at least viewed with a deep sense of suspicion.
And yet, in the end, it was Subaru and Miyu who had navigated the terms of her presence in this restored world.
It was true.
In that final fated encounter, Jotaro Kujo had systematically dismantled DIO.
When Shenron appeared as promised, Jotaro had claimed the wish for himself.
That act had effectively terminated the cycle of conflict between the Masters and Servants.
Ideally, everyone would have simply gone their separate ways, waiting for the war's duration to expire so they could return to their own worlds.
But Jotaro had made a specific commitment.
'I don't particularly want to do this, but I have debts that need to be settled.'
Even if Jotaro had been the one to deliver the final blow, he had to acknowledge that without the desperate struggle of the others, he never would have reached that point.
Despite their previous hostilities, Jotaro had developed a grudging respect for their resolve.
These people, as the old man would say... they were all individuals who possessed a true [Golden Spirit].
Consequently, Jotaro had no intention of letting them return to their homes empty-handed, though he made it clear that such a privilege wasn't universal.
Under those circumstances, Miyu and Subaru had advocated for Homura's inclusion.
As for the ultimate outcome of that request, Jotaro hadn't given a definitive answer.
But in Subaru's mind, there was no doubt that the man would follow through.
"Based on what Miyu told me, you're currently in a period before the Walpurgis Night incident even occurred."
"I can probably guess the nature of the wish you'd make..."
"With Jotaro Kujo's power, resolving the issue with Kyubey and the Witches should be a simple matter."
"..."
The fact that these strangers seemed to understand her internal struggles so perfectly was still a source of confusion for Homura.
But as she processed Subaru's words, a small, fragile flicker of hope began to take root in her heart.
***
"Oh, that feels much better!"
"Jotaro, you really have become something else, haven't you?"
Joseph Joestar stretched his limbs, a look of profound satisfaction on his face as he felt the surge of vitality through his muscles.
"Good grief, old man. Can't you just stay quiet for five minutes?"
"Hey! If I'm going to see Kakyoin and the others again, I have to look my best, don't I?"
"I want them to see me in the form they remember best! AH HAHAHAHA!"
The muscular, elderly man let out a booming laugh, his energy as infectious as a child's.
Despite his advanced years, the sheer joy of the moment had stripped away a decade of weariness.
The comrades he hadn't seen in over ten years...
Just thinking about the reunion made his heart race with excitement.
"I still haven't had a chance to tell Polnareff about any of this."
"He's going to be absolutely ecstatic when he finds out."
"I'll have the Speedwagon Foundation track him down immediately. Who knows where that man has been wandering lately."
The prospect of a full reunion had made Joseph uncharacteristically active.
"Alright, Jotaro! I'm heading off to collect the guests. You finish up whatever business you have left here!"
Having hitched a ride with a Foundation vehicle, Joseph gathered his things and departed in a whirl of energy.
"Yare yare daze..."
Jotaro let out a heavy sigh as he watched the old man leave.
While he was also looking forward to seeing Kakyoin again, he knew he had to finalize the situation in Morioh first.
If he didn't resolve the remaining variables now, he didn't want to be forced into another time-skipping trip later.
Besides, given his current level of power, even a full-scale "Rebellion" would likely be settled with a single punch.
"First, let's take care of that particular loose end."
"The temporal reset should have sent him back to his original starting point."
Jotaro had no intention of leaving a certain coward to roam free.
Leaving a potential threat with such "Sticky fingers" alive was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
Fortunately, the war had forced the man into the light, and Jotaro now knew exactly who he was.
"The shadow boss of an Italian Mafia organization..."
"Diavolo."
Jotaro picked up a photograph,a product of one final instance of Joseph's Spirit Photography.
With the target's location confirmed, Jotaro's silhouette simply vanished from the spot.
***
"What's wrong? Are you feeling regretful?"
Floating high in the air, Itachi Uchiha heard a voice from behind and turned his head.
"All that struggle... and in the end, you gain nothing for yourself."
"A life that ends in such a hollow state must feel incredibly desolate."
"But then again, that was your own choice."
"Similarly, just because you failed doesn't mean everyone else shared the same fate."
A figure cloaked in black stood there, his voice carried a cutting, ironic edge.
Recalling the events of the war, Itachi's primary failing had been his inability to find common ground with the other Servants.
Even if his Master had been someone else, he never would have been capable of the same "Self-Sacrifice" that Subaru and the others had displayed.
Being excluded from the final grace was a natural consequence of his isolation.
Allowing himself to be manipulated by DIO after a single lapse in judgement... that could only be described as "Retribution."
"Your perspective is still too narrow."
"That lack of caution was the direct cause of your defeat... though I suppose it's only natural for your first time."
"I think I'll just send you back now."
The figure snapped his fingers. Before Itachi could ask a single question or gather any information, he vanished from the reality of Morioh.
"I'm not doing this because I have a grudge... it's just that if I leave you here, Jotaro will eventually find you and deliver a localized 'Ora'."
"While reviving you wouldn't be difficult, I'd rather not waste the time."
Adhering to the principle of not letting the man be beaten to death, the God decided to send him home early.
***
"Heehee! I can walk! I'm really okay now!"
Yuuki stood on the pavement, spinning in a circle to test her restored body. She looked over at Accelerator with a bright, radiant smile.
"Hey! Don't just go running off like that! It's been ages since you've used your legs to touch the ground, hasn't it?"
His broken arm had already been fully restored. Accelerator frowned as he watched Yuuki's exuberant movements.
"It's fine! Jotaro-san healed me completely!"
"And I already got used to walking before you even woke up!"
Yuuki continued to flutter around in her slippers and hospital gown, her joy practically tangible.
"Tch... is that so?"
"Fine. Just make sure you cherish this chance. You might not get a miracle like this a second time."
Accelerator reached out and placed a hand on her forehead, confirming that her immune system and cellular structure were functioning normally. His voice was stern, but his actions were meticulous.
Being able to cure a terminal illness with nothing but a physical touch...
It was a level of control that far surpassed his own [Vector Manipulation].
It wasn't magic, and it wasn't science.
Stand users...
A small smirk played across Accelerator's lips. He had burned the memory of these people into his mind.
This experience had certainly taught him a few valuable lessons.
Relying solely on [Reflection] clearly wasn't going to be enough from now on.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]