Kakyoin, Jotaro, and Koichi stumble back into the office, only to see Okuyasu staring blankly. The wall in front of him, where Jotaro pinned the photograph of Kira’s father to, is now blank. “Okuyasu?!” Kakyoin calls, and he snaps his head up at the sound. “Are you okay?!” “He tricked me,” Okuyasu says dumbly, focusing wide eyes on Kakyoin, Jotaro, and Koichi. “He tricked me, again, he was fine- he was still trapped, he lied to us Koichi, but then I- I- I just let him go-” “Okuyasu!” Jotaro barks, and he jolts, gaze darting to Jotaro. “Where did he go?! We can still catch him!”

Josuke snarls then, Crazy Diamond shimmering into the air beside him, his grip tightening on the photo. “You damn bastard- you just revealed your weakness, then! I can just rip up the photo-” Yukako sucks in a breath. “Wait, Josuke-!” Josuke rips the photo in half, then in quarters, and- Suddenly a bright line cuts through Jotaro’s face, cuts through Koichi’s middle, cuts through Josuke’s chest, and Kakyoin and Jotaro lock eyes just in time for Kakyoin to see them widen before they all start falling to pieces right in front of him.

Kakyoin blinks. “‘They?’” Reimi’s hands re-clench into fists, dropping from their folded position, and Kakyoin rolls back just a bit to give her a little more space, brows furrowed in concern. “Koichi! Okuyasu and Yukako! Josuke! We’ve already done that- that tactic!” Kakyoin’s brows furrow further. “Wh- why does tha-” “Because if they know and see through the trick, it’s not worth it — because they’re the only people I’ll ever get to fight! Because I’ll never get to leave this alley! Because I’m DEAD!” Reimi slaps a hand over her mouth then, but it doesn’t stop her voice from cracking, nor her shoulders from shaking.

When Jotaro kisses him for the first time, in their hotel room near the Saudi Arabian desert, Kakyoin doesn’t even register it as a kiss. / The second Kakyoin and Jotaro are alone in the latter’s room for the first time since Kakyoin was discharged from the hospital, Jotaro cups his jaw and swoops in, and Kakyoin loses his voice. / Kakyoin is just about considering putting his book away and getting ready for bed when Jotaro enters their bedroom with a soft groan, crawls into the space next to Kakyoin, and meets Kakyoin halfway when Kakyoin swoops in. - Jotaro, Kakyoin, and how Jotaro adjusts his kissing method over time.

“...Kakyoin?” Kakyoin jerks his head. In the doorway of the room next to 324 — Joseph’s room, Kakyoin remembers dazedly — stands Jotaro, his hat off, but his coat still on, and Kakyoin’s throat clicks. “Jotaro,” he breathes, turning fully, and Jotaro stiffens before he shakes his head. “What are you doing here?” Jotaro asks, and Kakyoin swallows. “I-” his throat ties itself up, his windpipe becoming a knot, and Kakyoin just wheezes the slightest bit, strained. Jotaro frowns, eyes skirting over his frame, going still as he sees the blood on Kakyoin’s clothes. “Did- did something happen?” Jotaro’s eyes widen, his stance following suit as he looks around. “Is- are- is Josuke okay?” “That’s not-” Kakyoin rasps past his entangled throat, “they’re- yes, Josuke- everyone is okay. I-” “Then whose blood is that?” Jotaro demands, pointing, and Kakyoin grits his teeth. “Yours!” He says emphatically, a little hysterically, and Jotaro freezes.

“Are you all okay?” Kakyoin cuts in, raising his head to scan their faces. “We’re…” Josuke sighs heavily. “We’re alright,” Okuyasu pipes up then, taking up for Josuke. Josuke glances at him and he smiles, shakily. Josuke leans into him, nodding a bit. “We’re okay,” Yukako confirms. “We’re just- well, you were the one that went into a burning building,” she adds a little softly. “It wasn’t burning when I went in…” Kakyoin chuckles quietly before his gaze slides back to Koichi. He hesitates. “...And you, Koichi?” Koichi snaps to attention, jolting violently, which makes his friends around him hunch toward him. “Huh?”

“I said” - Koichi’s voice bursts from the speakers, and Kakyoin’s blood runs cold at his high, panicked tone, Okuyasu and Yukako both stiffening beside him- “that- I-” Koichi lets out an enraged snarl, something Kakyoin has never heard from the boy, and it spurs him into action. Marching up, he barks into the speaker, “Koichi?! What’s wrong?!” “Fuck,” Koichi curses, and Kakyoin blinks rapidly at the language. “It’s bad! I was- I ran into the killer! Mr. Jotaro’s hurt!”

“Where- where did this come from?” Avdol asks then, and Kakyoin blinks. “I-” it’s his turn for his voice to buckle then, the reminder of what exactly he called for slamming back into him, making him shudder, his grip tensing on the phone. Oh, Jotaro- “Kakyoin,”Avdol says, frown evident in his voice, “What’s wrong?”

Kakyoin’s breath hitches. “Jo- Sta- time,” he croaks, and Joseph’s eyes widen while everyone around them lets out confused noises. “Oh, my god,” Joseph croaks, leaning back a bit, and it’s so- so him that Kakyoin can’t help but giggle a bit, a little hysterical, and he feels his guts churn a little. “Mr. Joestar-?” “Jotaro can stop time,” Joseph announces, and everyone exchanges glances, but Kakyoin doesn’t care; he stares at Joseph, and Joseph stares right back, his brows pinching. “...Yeah,” Josuke says unsteadily, and then Kakyoin snaps his gaze to him. “You knew?” Kakyoin strangles out.