Chapter 14: Making Me Irritated Is Your Mistake
Yes, clearing the game.
Or rather, for Shirou Emiya, who had been brought into this "game" world by the Infinite Game System, the only way he could think of to save himself was to project Josuke Higashikata's [Crazy Diamond] and find a way to bypass the restriction that [Crazy Diamond] cannot heal its own user.
His efforts to gain the trust of Joseph and the others were established precisely on this basis. After all, Josuke Higashikata is Joseph's illegitimate son.
Of course, in the process of achieving this goal, nothing stopped Shirou Emiya from stepping in to save more people—to rescue those from the tragedies he had seen in the memories of his past life.
—"In a way, this can be considered a form of peace of mind."
—"Though Mr. Joestar and the others might not know it, I, who have received help from them, must act to ensure my own tranquility and to prevent myself from feeling regret in the future."
—"Helping Mr. Joestar and the others clear this 'Defeat DIO' process in an easier way ahead of time is the compensation I can offer them."
In the airport corridor specially arranged by the SPW Foundation, Shirou Emiya was preparing to board the private jet.
Even though he knew the dead-end nature of the "Ally of Justice" path after gaining his past life's memories—whether it was Archer, Emiya Alter, or Kiritsugu Emiya, their experiences proved that there was no "worst," only "worse"—Shirou still found himself unable to stand idly by after knowing the original future of Jotaro and the others.
Thinking of this, just before entering the private jet, Shirou quietly approached Joseph's side.
He whispered into Joseph's ear: "Mr. Joestar, there is actually one thing I didn't tell Jotaro and the others. It's not just Ms. Kujo who is suffering from the effects of a rampaging Stand.
Actually, five years ago, after your encounter with Ms. Higashikata, you had an illegitimate son whom Ms. Higashikata gave birth to as the fruit of your love.
That child, who also inherited the Joestar bloodline, has unfortunately also been affected by DIO and has awakened a Stand."
"...!?"
Initially, upon hearing Shirou mention Tomoko Higashikata, Joseph felt a wave of embarrassment. Simultaneously, he gained an even deeper realization of Shirou's prophetic abilities.
After all, Joseph was certain that his secret affair was something only he and Tomoko knew clearly. Everyone else, including his family, had been skillfully kept in the dark by him.
But Shirou not only knew about the affair but also knew news that even Joseph didn't: that Tomoko had actually gotten pregnant—
He has a son? He has a son!?
Before Joseph could recover from this news, Shirou's next sentence caused his pupils to shake violently once more.
Unlike the previous shock—which was a mixture of surprise at having a son and guilt toward Tomoko for raising the child alone—this latest piece of news filled Joseph only with rage and urgency.
"It's not too late yet," Shirou said. "Morioh Town isn't far from here, and since we are about to leave Japan, Jotaro and the others likely won't find out about your illegitimate son for now.
However, Mr. Joestar, unless you plan to never acknowledge Ms. Higashikata and the child for the rest of your life, you will eventually have to explain the matter of your affair to Jotaro and the rest."
That was true. But if the matter were that easily resolved, Joseph wouldn't have hidden his relationship with Tomoko until now.
Still, continuing like this was definitely out of the question. Shirou Emiya had given him a timely reminder this time, but what about next time? If a similar situation occurred and Josuke Higashikata fell into danger because Tomoko didn't know how to contact him...
If the danger could be largely avoided or mitigated simply by acknowledging them, yet the worst-case scenario happened because of his own cowardice—the first person who wouldn't be able to forgive Joseph would be himself.
Joseph had never treated Tomoko as a mere mistress. Instead, like Suzi Q, he viewed her as a lifelong love; they were both his "wings."
Falling back a slight distance from Jotaro Kujo, Joseph spoke a few words to a nearby SPW Foundation staff member.
Returning to Shirou's side, Joseph made a certain resolution. "Thank you, Emiya. Once the business with DIO is settled, I will confess everything about Tomoko and the others to Suzi Q."
As if a heavy burden had been lifted, Joseph, who had always seemed weighed down by something, found his steps becoming much lighter after making this resolution.
Even his Stand followed suit. Simply put, Joseph's [Hermit Purple] had evolved from needing to smash a 30,000-yen camera to perform Spirit Photography to the point where it could eventually do so without breaking anything.
Through his unique investigative talent, Shirou Emiya could clearly feel the process of the Stand growing alongside Joseph's mental strength.
—"Is this... a good deed being rewarded?"
Recalling the price of being an Ally of Justice in the Type-Moon world from his memories, and comparing it to the "price" of his instinctive kind reminder in the world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Shirou didn't know what to say for a moment.
Dazed, he was led by the enthusiastic Joseph onto the private jet provided by the SPW Foundation.
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Meanwhile, in the captain's exclusive passage of this private jet.
A strange duo consisting of an old man and a high school student was ignoring the SPW Foundation staff responsible for the final identity check of the pilots. Or rather, one could tell from the vacant stare of the inspector that he had likely been controlled by this odd pair long ago.
Just like the original pilot currently leading this strange duo to board the plane!
"Kekeke! Did they think they could avoid an attack with such petty tricks? How naive!"
The old man in the duo laughed mockingly at Shirou and the others, who appeared to have boarded a plane but were actually imprisoned in this "coffin of the sky."
"Now, let us be the ones to kill these enemies who have made Lord DIO irritated!"