AN : Don't Think too much about this chapter okay? lol
Friday 8 January 2001.
Inside a modest yet well-kept apartment that felt both tidy and filled with a strong sense of "Art," there was a man sitting quietly at his desk, focused on drawing. The room itself carried a unique atmosphere—clean, organized, yet layered with creative energy that made it feel alive in a subtle way. That man was none other than Hirohiko Araki.
At first glance, nothing seemed too unusual about the place. But for anyone with a keen eye, or perhaps a deeper understanding of history, the details within the room told a very different story. Scattered across shelves and corners were various "unique items"—objects that didn't quite belong to any ordinary collection.
If an archaeologist were to step inside this apartment, they might completely lose their mind. These weren't just decorations or replicas—they were artifacts of significant historical value, pieces that the world believed had long been lost to time. Yet somehow… they existed here, quietly resting within this man's home, as if history itself had decided to gather around him.
Hirohiko leaned back in his chair and took a slow sip of his coffee, letting out a quiet breath as he stared at the unfinished page in front of him. "Hmmm… why does Zaboru want to meet me anyway?" he muttered to himself, his tone carrying mild curiosity mixed with a bit of reluctance. "Technically he is my superboss now… but still, it's really a hassle."
He stretched slightly, rolling his shoulders before setting his pen down for a moment, his eyes drifting away from the drawing. The room fell into a brief silence, broken only by the faint sound of the city outside. For someone like him, interruptions were never welcome—especially when he was in the middle of creating something.
Tonight, Zaboru would be visiting him. The thought alone was enough to pull him out of his usual rhythm. Right now, his manga was being serialized under Hakushensha—"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure"—and it had already progressed into the second JoJo, Joseph Joestar, with the arc nearing its conclusion. The series was gaining attention, steadily building its reputation.
And Hakushensha itself… was owned by ZAGE.
Which meant, whether he liked it or not, Zaboru was his boss.
Hirohiko let out a small chuckle at that realization, though there was no real tension in it—just mild amusement. Even so, the idea of meeting someone like Zaboru in person… it wasn't something he could simply ignore.
Meanwhile, on the streets of Tokyo, Zaboru rode his bicycle away from the office, the cool air brushing past his face as he moved through the city. There was a quiet excitement in him—subtle, but unmistakable. He had wanted to visit this person for a very long time, yet his schedule had always gotten in the way, pushing the idea further and further into the future. Meetings, projects, endless responsibilities… there was always something more urgent. But today, for once, he finally made the time.
And the reason was simple.
In his previous life, Zaboru had been a huge fan of JoJo. To him, it wasn't just another story—it was something far beyond that. The word "extraordinary" didn't even feel enough to describe it. It was bold, unpredictable, and completely different from anything else he had experienced. Bizarre, unhinged, strange… yet somehow incredibly stylish and powerful at the same time. Every panel, every character, every idea—it all carried a unique identity that felt like pure art.
He loved everything about it.
And now, riding through the streets of Tokyo, Zaboru was on his way to meet the very person who created it. The thought alone made his excitement grow, even if he kept it contained behind his usual calm expression.
It was something far more personal.
Not long after, Zaboru arrived at the address. He slowed his bicycle and stepped off, his eyes instinctively scanning the house in front of him. Something felt… off. Not visibly—everything looked normal at a glance—but there was a subtle, almost unsettling sensation in the air that he couldn't ignore.
'Huh…? Why does this house feel like this…?'
He narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing. With a quiet breath, he activated his Aura of Influence and Living Scan, letting his senses reach out toward the building, attempting to read it like he would any other place.
But the moment his awareness touched it—
It stopped.
Blocked.
Like hitting an invisible wall.
'What the hell…?'
Zaboru's expression shifted, a rare flicker of surprise crossing his face. His abilities had worked on countless people and places without resistance, yet here… they simply refused to go any further. Not weakened. Not distorted.
Just… denied.
For a brief second, he considered pushing harder—forcing his scan through whatever barrier existed. But something in his instincts told him otherwise. This wasn't something to casually test.
So instead, he exhaled softly and stepped forward.
No need to overthink it.
He raised his hand and pressed the doorbell.
A few moments passed.
Then, the door opened.
Standing there was a Japanese man in his thirties, calm and composed, his presence strangely grounded despite everything Zaboru had just felt.
"Come in, Boss."
Zaboru blinked once, then smiled faintly, nodding as he stepped inside.
As Hirohiko Araki gestured for Zaboru to sit, the two of them settled into a calm yet subtly tense atmosphere. There was no awkwardness, but there was a quiet weight in the air—as if both of them understood that this meeting wasn't entirely ordinary.
Zaboru smiled, his usual composed demeanor softening slightly.
"Araki-san… I'm actually a big fan. Your JoJo manga is truly extraordinary. Honestly, even that word doesn't feel enough. I really love your work—your ideas, your style… everything about it."
For a brief moment, he didn't sound like the head of ZAGE.
He sounded like a genuine admirer.
Zaboru reached into his bag and carefully pulled out a JoJo volume, holding it with a certain level of respect before extending it forward.
"Could you… sign this for me?"
Hirohiko chuckled quietly, clearly amused, though not surprised. He accepted the volume without hesitation and signed it smoothly, as if this was something he had done countless times—yet still found mildly entertaining.
"Well… technically, you are my boss," Hirohiko said casually, a faint smile forming on his lips. "So you don't really need to act like this, boss."
Zaboru only smiled in response.
But internally—
He was already observing.
Without making it obvious, Zaboru activated his Living Scan ability.
And the moment he tried to read Hirohiko—
Nothing.
No response.
No feedback.
No connection at all.
It wasn't resisted.
It wasn't distorted.
It was simply… blocked.
Zaboru's expression remained unchanged on the outside, but inside, a sharp alert flashed through his mind.
It wasn't just surprise.
It was instinct—something deeper, something warning him that the person in front of him was not someone he could measure with normal logic.
Hirohiko noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
He grinned, slightly wider this time, as if amused not only by Zaboru's reaction, but by the entire situation itself.
"Interesting…" he said, leaning back slightly, his tone almost playful.
But beneath that playfulness—
There was something else.
Something unsettling.
"Don't bother. That ability won't work on me."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No doubt.
Only certainty.
Zaboru didn't respond.
But he understood.
This wasn't resistance.
This wasn't defense.
This was… absolute denial.
Hirohiko's eyes met his directly—calm, steady… yet piercing in a way that felt far too deep, as if they were looking past everything Zaboru was trying to hide.
Not just seeing him—
But understanding him.
"So… it's obvious now, isn't it?"
A small pause followed.
The air felt heavier.
"The creator of ZAGE… you have abilities."
Zaboru swallowed, keeping his face steady despite the tension building in his chest.
"U…um, what do you mean, Araki-san?"
His voice was controlled, but there was no hiding the uncertainty beneath it.
Hirohiko Araki let out a quiet chuckle, as if the question itself was unnecessary.
"Don't play the fool. Relax—I'm not going to say anything."
He leaned back slightly, his tone still casual, yet there was something unmistakably firm behind it.
"But be careful next time. Don't just use your ability on anyone."
A brief pause followed before he continued.
"In this world… there are people who can do far more than you think."
The way he said it was light—almost dismissive—but the meaning carried weight. It didn't feel like speculation. It felt like experience.
Without breaking the flow, Hirohiko reached to the side, grabbed a soda, and tossed it toward Zaboru.
Zaboru caught it on instinct.
Hirohiko opened one for himself and took a slow sip, acting as if nothing unusual had just been revealed.
And somehow—
that casualness made everything feel heavier.
Hirohiko leaned back slightly before speaking again, his tone calm, almost playful.
"I've got your secret, boss… but don't worry, I won't expose it. Let me add a little spice instead… hehehe."
He lifted his drink and took a slow sip, completely at ease, as if the situation wasn't unusual at all.
"I'm not exactly a normal human either. In fact… I've been living in this world for a very, very long time. Longer than you can probably imagine."
He shrugged lightly, as if what he had just said carried no real weight.
"Yeah… living gets boring after a while. Everything starts repeating itself. People come and go, eras change, but in the end… it all blends together." He glanced at Zaboru with a faint grin. "At least your games are good. They make things a bit more interesting."
Zaboru's eyes widened.
For a moment, he couldn't process what he just heard.
In his previous life, there had been rumors—jokes even—that Hirohiko Araki never aged, that he was somehow immortal because he always looked young no matter how much time passed. Back then, it was just internet nonsense, something fans joked about.
But now…
Standing right in front of him—
That "joke" didn't feel like a joke anymore.
Zaboru was completely flabbergasted.
In this world…
It might actually be real.
Hirohiko smiled faintly, his gaze steady as he looked at Zaboru.
"Don't worry about it. I've seen countless great men rise, shaping the world just like you do. And one thing is always certain—none of them are truly normal."
He paused briefly, as if recalling something far older than the moment itself.
"Each of them had something… abilities, instincts, something beyond ordinary people. But someone like you, who isn't driven by power or greed despite everything you had" he let out a small chuckle, "that's rare."
There was no exaggeration in his tone.
Only observation.
"I've watched people like you come and go. Some burned too bright, chasing power. Some lost themselves along the way. And some… simply disappeared, leaving nothing behind but their impact."
He leaned slightly back again, his voice returning to a more casual tone.
"But very few… stay true to what they started with."
A short pause followed.
Then—
"Ah… and I've been meaning to give you something."
Without much warning, Hirohiko reached beside him and casually tossed a small pendant toward Zaboru.
Zaboru caught it instinctively.
The pendant was embedded with strange, carved stones, each one etched with patterns that didn't feel random. There was something unnatural about them—subtle, but undeniable—like they carried meaning far beyond simple decoration.
Zaboru took it, frowning slightly. "Huh… Araki-san, what is this?"
Hirohiko chuckled. "Just wear it. It might save your life someday. Consider it my payment—I do enjoy your games, after all. Hahaha. Anyway, you can go. I'm busy, boss."
Zaboru nodded and began to leave, still glancing at the stone pendant resting in his hand. The weight of it felt strange—not heavy, but present in a way he couldn't quite explain.
'What is this, really…?' he thought. 'And… Hirohiko Araki is actually immortal…?'
As he stepped outside and got back on his bicycle, the night air brushed against him again, grounding him slightly. Yet his thoughts refused to settle. The world he believed he understood had just shifted in a way he couldn't ignore.
'I wonder… how many superhumans exist out there? And what kind of abilities do they have in this world?'
Instead of fear, a grin slowly formed on his face.
'That actually makes things exciting…'
He began pedaling through the streets, his mind already moving forward.
'Maybe I should make a game about this in the future… hehehe…'
He let out a quiet chuckle to himself.
'Still… Hirohiko Araki is seriously amazing. Immortal, calm, and completely unfazed… he's just that cool.'
Zaboru shook his head slightly, a sense of disbelief still lingering, yet mixed with genuine admiration.
By the time he continued riding back home, his expression had already returned to its usual calm—but there was something new beneath it.
This day…
was definitely not something he had expected.
To be continue ,
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