Chapter 8: Madam, You Also Don't Want...
"..."
Silence. A long silence.
The fact that Shirou Emiya knew their secrets while they knew nothing about him—other than the information he chose to actively display—made Joseph feel as if he were in a bathroom, completely unaware that someone was peering at him through the keyhole of the door.
He felt a sense of exposed bashfulness. But Joseph had to admit that Shirou Emiya was right.
Knowing that Shirou could rapidly master the Ripple breathing method through this means, Joseph found it truly difficult to refuse the request. After a moment of being dazed, Joseph finally recovered his wits.
"This is truly... is there anything you don't know?"
"Now, now, it's not like I know everything." Detecting the change in Joseph's tone, Shirou said modestly, "I only know the things that I am able to know."
To be honest, he wasn't really being humble; it was the simple truth. For instance, what Joseph and the others ate for dinner yesterday—details like that which were never revealed in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga—Shirou truly didn't know.
"...Then let's do as you suggested."
Joseph paused for a moment, then took a gemstone from his collar and tossed it to Shirou Emiya. "It can't compare to a certain special jewel, but ever since I learned of DIO's resurrection, I've used this to practice a certain ultimate move during this period. Is this gemstone sufficient for your ability?"
Reaching out to catch the gem, Shirou—who had the memories of his past life and knew exactly what Joseph was referring to—instinctively activated Projection Magecraft on the jewel in his hand.
Sure enough, Joseph was right. Not only the Ripple breathing method Joseph had recently re-learned, but even Joseph's innate talent for generating the Ripple through correct breathing rhythms was projected onto him. Shirou smiled broadly. "No problem. This stone is more than enough."
On the other side, after listening to the conversation between Shirou and Joseph, Jotaro Kujo had gained a general understanding of the "evil spirit" suddenly appearing on him—which he should now call a "Stand."
However, Jotaro waved his hand as if shooing them away. "Hey, if your business is finished, then hurry up and leave. Thanks to you all, lunch time here is almost over."
As he spoke, Jotaro pointedly glanced at the clock on the detention cell wall. Because they were all gathered here, the other prisoners—who were already terrified of Jotaro's "evil spirit"—didn't dare walk past him to go to the cafeteria.
"Eh? Jotaro, aren't you leaving with us?" Shirou looked at him with confusion.
"You didn't think I'd easily believe something so irrational, did you?" Jotaro turned his head back toward Shirou.
He admitted that Shirou's previous predictions were accurate. But what came after? A vampire who had lived for over a hundred years? And this vampire was supposedly planning a terrifying evolution ritual for humanity? Oh, right—according to Shirou, this ritual wouldn't just affect humanity, but the entire universe?
"..."
Using a few verifiable truths to gain trust before using lies to deceive—that was a classic tactic.
"Only an old man like you would fall for that, Old Man," Jotaro said, not even calling him "Grandfather" anymore.
Seeing Jotaro's look, which treated him like a fool, Joseph grew furious. "Old Man...!?"
"Pfft... forget it, Mr. Joestar. It's only natural for Jotaro to think that way," Avdol chuckled softly. "But Jotaro, by your logic, isn't the 'evil spirit' on our bodies also an irrational thing?"
"..." Jotaro fell silent. This was indeed something he couldn't refute.
However, to truly convince Jotaro—or rather, to make him realize this wasn't just something that had nothing to do with him—one more heavy blow was needed.
Wasn't that a coincidence? Shirou Emiya happened to know just the thing.
"Jotaro, I should have mentioned this earlier—"
Under the rhythm of the Ripple breathing, Shirou's body was slowly recovering, and he was no longer gasping for air as he had been. "The reason Stands appeared on your bodies is because your ancestor's body was occupied by DIO. Influenced by this bloodline, after DIO awakened a Stand through some method, you all awakened Stands as a consequence."
"Yeah, you did mention that. So what?" Jotaro scratched his ear with a finger.
"Don't be in such a hurry, Jotaro," Shirou continued, ignoring the dismissal. "There is one thing regarding Stands that you might not know yet. But the fact that Mr. Joestar and the others rushed here so urgently is actually related to this."
"..."
"...!?"
Jotaro was still confused, but Joseph—who understood the implication of Shirou's words and had seen his prophetic ability—guessed what Shirou was about to say.
He cried out in shock first, "Wait! You don't mean...!?"
"Yes. Ms. Kujo has actually awakened a Stand as well." At Shirou's words, everyone turned to look at Holy Kujo.
Even Holy herself pointed a finger at her chest in confusion, instinctively saying, "No, I—"
"Ms. Kujo, don't be so quick to deny it," Shirou interrupted. "Keep in mind that only Stand users can see Stands. And you, Ms. Kujo, who can see them... it's impossible for you not to be a Stand user. As for why you can't summon your Stand?
First, it's possible the awakening is incomplete. Second... Ms. Kujo, have you felt unwell lately? Please answer honestly."
Remembering something, Shirou added one more sentence: "While I understand you don't want people to worry, think of the consequences of hiding a condition from a doctor... Ms. Kujo, you also don't want your father and your son to regret your decision to hide your illness after the fact, do you?"