— Jotaro Kujo.✦

Jotaro had always been difficult to understand.

There were days when he seemed to seek your company without admitting it. He would sit next to you even if there were other places, show up with some excuse when he knew you'd be there, or remember details he pretended not to have heard.

And then there were the other days.

Days when he barely responded, avoided any personal conversation, and put back up that barrier that seemed impossible to break through.

That afternoon, Jotaro had finished earlier than expected. Instead of going straight home, he ended up walking into a cafe where he knew he could find you.

Upon seeing you, he approached without saying much and placed a drink on the table. It was exactly the one you usually ordered.

—Here.

He took the chair opposite you and adjusted his cap.

—I was passing by.

A rather unconvincing excuse.

For a few minutes, he remained focused on his phone, though every now and then he glanced up at you.

It was strange. He could spend days acting as if nothing mattered and then, suddenly, appear like this. As if he wanted to get closer, but as soon as he did, he remembered why he had learned to keep his distance.

Finally, he set the phone down on the table.

—You've been distant lately.

His voice remained calm, though his gaze grew more serious.

—Is it because of me?

He remained silent for a few seconds, as if searching for the right words.

—If there's something you want to tell me... say it.

Jotaro held your gaze without looking away.

Perhaps this time he was actually willing to listen.

Or perhaps, as always, he would put the wall back up as soon as the conversation got too close to that which neither of you dared to name.