"Since we're here, let's buy some clothes! I'll help you coordinate ♡" Kitagawa Marin's eyes sparkled. She eagerly started picking out clothes for Diego. "Dio-kun, do you have any preferred fabrics?"
"Nope. Speaking of which…" Diego had zero clue about choosing clothes. From childhood to now, he'd always worn whatever his mom picked out as the coolest set. "I've never bought clothes for myself. It's always been the same outfit gradually altered to fit as I grew."
Thinking about his other clothes… they were all bought by Sui and the others. Seriously, doesn't that mean I can't do anything myself…
"Then let's try them on one by one. Hmm—but yeah…" Kitagawa Marin brought over a T-shirt covered in bright flowers and a pair of blue jeans, holding them up against Diego to check the size. "Dio-kun still gives off the vibe of a 19th-century British nobleman."
"Anyway, just try it on first!"
Diego took the clothes into the fitting room, took off his own outfit, revealing his muscular build, and put on the selected pieces.
Not far away, Enrico Pucci was staring intently at Kitagawa Marin.
"This woman… just what is she planning to do to my dearest friend!"
Enrico Pucci was the closest friend of the vampire Dio Brando in this world. Some time ago, he learned of his friend's death. To avenge Dio and fulfill his wish of reaching heaven, he personally traveled to Morioh to devise a plan targeting Jotaro.
But on the way to Morioh, he unexpectedly spotted Diego Brando on the street. The familiar face made him immediately change plans: first confirm this Dio's identity.
Forget about Jotaro for now…
However, after seeing the wicked woman Kitagawa Marin daring to lay hands all over Dio, a trace of anger surged in Enrico Pucci's heart.
"This damned woman—how dare she… how dare she touch Dio's sacred body, that flawless form beloved by God, with such blasphemous contact?!!"
Enrico Pucci clenched the wall so hard his knuckles whitened. Red light glinted in his eyes as he viciously contemplated how to torment the irreverent woman before him.
Rip…
As the curtain was pulled open, the new-look Diego appeared before both Kitagawa Marin and Enrico Pucci.
Diego struck a classic JoJo pose. Though it looked a bit strange, it somehow carried an unexpected sense of beauty.
"How's that? Ko no Dio is handsome, right!"
"Ah… mm… mm…" Kitagawa Marin instantly turned into bean-eyes, giving only mechanical responses while continuously bringing new clothes for Diego to change into.
Still at the same wall, Enrico Pucci covered his nose, ears perked up, face full of excitement as he watched Diego, silently giving Kitagawa Marin a thumbs-up in his heart.
Casual-wear Dio!!!
Young lady, thank you. You really are a good woman. I misjudged you—this is practically a miracle!
Next!! Next!!
I want to see suit Dio!!!
(Vampire Dio often showed off in front of Pucci and never wore anything else, so the constantly changing Diego right now was extremely captivating to him.)
Rip…
Each time the curtain opened brought a new JoJo pose.
Kitagawa Marin hugged her chest, fine sweat appearing on her face. She kept a straight face, unable to make any recommendations or comments, only continuously snapping photos to record everything.
This is bad… what do I do…
I like them all so much ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Cupid's arrow struck Kitagawa Marin right in the heart.
But wait—huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? They're all insanely handsome! I can't choose at all?!
There really exists someone who looks invincible in anything—and he's standing right in front of me now!
I can barely keep my face under control…
"Then let's buy this one!" Kitagawa Marin held up the black T-shirt Diego had just taken off.
By the way—if Dio-kun likes it, I'll secretly buy another one as an "accidentally bought" couple's outfit…
"Fine by me. I don't have any preferences when it comes to clothes."
Heh…
Victory… perfectly in line with the 『plan』…
Kitagawa Marin showed her 『all according to plan』 smile.
"But honestly, I think this look is the handsomest. So refreshing!"
Diego took off the top, revealing his imposing physique. He turned his back, let his hair down, and a gentle breeze blew—his hair fluttered in the wind, adding an air of mystery. Left hand raised in front, right hand gripping his waist, he stood before Kitagawa Marin.
(The wind was actually caused by Diego stopping time and asking the wind sprites to help.)
"Ah…" Kitagawa Marin silently raised a perfect 10/10 sign. She had completely 『lost』…
I really like Dio-kun…
For Enrico Pucci, this ultimate "temptation" pierced straight through his consciousness. With a satisfied expression, he collapsed to the floor, unable to rise again.
"Sublime… this is heaven!"
Why is that black egg covered in white salad dressing staring at me, Dio?
Diego glanced over and decided to take Kitagawa Marin and leave.
...
"All done. Kitagawa—this is the real 『Kuroe Shizuku』 now."
Diego carefully placed the final hair accessory on Kitagawa Marin, set the cosplay reference photos aside for comparison, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Go check the mirror!"
"It's exactly the same… Dio-kun, have I become an excellent servant (Kuroe Shizuku's original line)…?" Kitagawa Marin touched her face in disbelief, her lips trembling slightly.
Click!
"Perfectly done! You've officially become ko no Dio's excellent dressing doll." Diego handed her the photo. A glint of cunning flashed in his eyes before he asked, "So? Want to post it on Twitter and share?"
Kitagawa Marin paused, then shook her head. Her brows relaxed as she smiled. "No way. I'm Dio-kun's exclusive 『dressing doll』. These are precious memories just for the two of us—I'm not letting anyone else see."
"Right now, I'm experiencing unprecedented satisfaction—and it's all thanks to you, Dio-kun."
You've passed. You're qualified, Kitagawa.
"Then forget the vocalist for now. Let's take a few more shots in different poses. Three, two, one—cheese!"
"Ehh, wait, I'm not ready…!"
Click!
A photo was taken of Kuroe Shizuku's radiant smile—one she would absolutely never show.
The meaning of a photo is to turn a fleeting moment into eternity.
...
Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding dong!
"Wait, Dio-kun, don't mash the doorbell like that!"
"Huh? Why not?"
Thud thud thud thud thud…
Hm? This presence… it's Kita Ikuyo. If she's the one becoming vocalist, no problem.
"Just a sec, coming right away!"
Click…
"Eh? Marin… and Dio-san? What are you two doing here?"
Kita Ikuyo looked at them in surprise.
"Yo, little sun. Sashiburi."
"Long time no see, Dio-san!"
"Eh? Little sun?"
"Come on, her hair's bright red and her whole vibe is so warm—doesn't she feel just like the sun? Anyway, I came with good news."
While speaking, Diego casually walked into the living room and flopped onto the sofa without any manners.
"Hey—hurry up and pour tea for ko no Dio!"
"Yes yes, coming—"
In the living room, Kita Ikuyo was pouring tea for Diego and Kitagawa Marin. She cautiously asked, "Um… Dio-san, you came to see me because…?"
"I heard you've been practicing guitar but can't get it right no matter what. I can help you figure out what's wrong." Diego instantly switched from lazy sprawl to proper sitting posture, crossed his hands under his chin, and looked serious. "Can you play something for me?"
"So that means… Dio-san is going to be my teacher?!!" Kita Ikuyo's eyes sparkled, her voice unable to hide her excitement.
"Don't get too excited yet. My standards are high—if you can't meet them, it won't do…"
"Yes!!! I'll do my best!!!"
I don't want to stay just as Ryo-senpai's friend.
I want to help Ryo-senpai. I want to become the spotless daughter of the flawless Ryo-senpai…
With those impure motives, Kita Ikuyo excitedly ran back to her room, brought out the "guitar" she'd bought, placed the "guitar case" on the coffee table, and opened it in front of Diego.
"I don't know why, but no matter how much I practice, I can never get that crisp guitar sound. It always makes this low 'pong' 'pong' noise…"
When the "guitar" was revealed to Diego, he froze. Silent. Face dark. He took the "guitar" from her.
He improvised a short rhythm.
"Something like this?"
Tap tap tap tap tap…
"Dio-san is so good! But it's still making that low 'pong' 'pong' sound." Kita Ikuyo clapped wildly beside him, cheering enthusiastically.
"Little sun, do you want to know why?" Diego wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes, looking at Kita Ikuyo with amusement.
"Eh? Why?"
"Because this is a bass. A multi-string bass. Not all basses have four strings. And you even picked a rare left-handed one. I don't know whether to praise your taste or criticize it…"
Kita Ikuyo, you idiot—even after practicing until your fingertips were calloused, you still didn't realize this wasn't a guitar.
Even I, someone who only flipped through music theory books in the library, noticed.
Thud!
"Kita—!!"
Kitagawa Marin hugged Kita Ikuyo tightly and shook her furiously, trying to wake the poor girl who couldn't accept the massive blow.
"I think… I just saw heaven…"
"Wake up! This is your house, not heaven—!"
"Hey, Marin, do you remember high school? That was my lost youth…"
"Why are you already seeing your life flash before your eyes?!!!"
That's way too real. I, Dio, went through all this effort to be abstract and funny, but I can't compete with natural talent like Kita casually being an idiot. Full effort can't beat genius.
"Marin, this bass—I overdrew two years of New Year's money and allowance from Dad to buy it. I want to entrust it all to you…"
"Kita!!!"
Tears streamed from the corners of Kita Ikuyo's eyes. Her soul seemed to emerge from her mouth, trying to float upward and escape her body.
Kita's actually pretty decent in real life. Can't let her just pass away like this… So Diego moved.
"This bass—ko no Dio has taken a liking to it. Perfect timing; my house could use an instrument for decoration." Diego pulled out a thick stack of cash from his wallet—roughly the price of the bass—and slapped it onto Kita Ikuyo's face. "Take this money and get away from my bass!"
"Eh, I can't accept this!" The great soul-recalling technique worked perfectly. Kita Ikuyo instantly returned to her senses and waved her hands to refuse the money.
"Then you don't plan on staying with your Ryo-senpai anymore?" Diego saw through everything and struck straight at Kita Ikuyo's heart with the question.
"I…"
Diego switched to Serie's signature deadpan expression.
So troublesome. I really am bad at persuading people.
Better leave it to the sprites…
[Memory sprite, investigate this person's memories for weaknesses and design a question she can't possibly refuse. At the same time, voice sprite, imitate my voice and speak the question.]
[As you wish.] ×2
With the sprites' cooperation, Diego leaned close to Kita Ikuyo's ear and moved his lips.
"It's fine if you can't become Ryo-senpai's daughter? You don't want to spend your whole life being seen by Ryo-senpai as just an ordinary, forgettable band fan, do you?"
Because Diego didn't want to delve into Kita Ikuyo's deeper memories, the sprite spoke on his behalf in words rich with local fine tradition.
"Th-That still doesn't mean I can accept sensei's…"
Diego put the multi-string bass back into its case. "Very well. Let's go!"
"I can't accept it!!!"
...
Ever since Diego entered the SPW Foundation's radar, the extremely wealthy SPW Foundation and the Joestar family jointly established a dedicated department to handle all of Diego's needs.
At the same time, the department was responsible for collecting intelligence and data on Diego's abilities, analyzing them, and finding countermeasures.
—Inside an SPW Foundation research base—
"According to the investigation results sent by Dr. Kujo, Diego Brando is extremely dangerous. In addition to the already known 『The World』 time stop, he also possesses strange healing and magic abilities."
"Compared to the previous Dio Brando, he has completely diverged from being a vampire—sunlight has no effect on him."
"Mr. Joseph Joestar denies the possibility that Dio has become an Ultimate Being."
"As of now, since Diego Brando's appearance, he has only killed one person—Angelo. His threat level to society is judged as…"
Tap tap tap tap…
"Sir, Diego Brando has contacted us again."
"Let me see."
The SPW Foundation staff member stared at the reimbursement form Diego had sent and fell into deep thought.
"Dio plays instruments too?"
"Not important. Dio's going back to school soon anyway."
"True."