Chapter 232. I Cannot Do It
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"Oh, it's just not working at all~~"
Unlike their previous excitement, Polnareff now looked utterly defeated. He rested his body on the table, glancing over at Kakyoin, who wore a similarly disheartened expression, and asked, "Kakyoin, do you really think this method will work?"
"We've tried to lift his spirits, but Jotaro still looks as troubled as ever. Nothing's changed, right?"
"I don't know either."
In response to Polnareff's question, Kakyoin could only shrug, as if saying, Why don't you ask the magic conch? After all, he wasn't sure what was truly on Jotaro's mind.
Or maybe something was bothering Jotaro, but they'd already tried to address it?
Earlier, Kakyoin and Polnareff's conversation could be considered a kind of "therapy" — a way of dealing with Jotaro's sudden silence after the recent events of "Stardust Crusaders".
Even though Polnareff might be a bit thick-skinned, and Kakyoin more at ease, neither of them could have so easily moved past the shadow of "Stardust Crusaders" and begun discussing who should be the real protagonist without feeling the weight of their previous losses.
Of course, Polnareff might be a bit tempted by the idea of being the main character — not for the title itself, but because then he'd have a chance to beat DIO and let out some of his pent-up anger!
Polnareff's real excitement was fueled by the thought of revenge! After witnessing Avdol, Iggy, Kakyoin, and Joseph fall at the hands of DIO and his followers in the script world, Polnareff — already deeply invested in the story due to his "Chosen Actor" status — was brimming with rage!
He barely managed to hold himself back, only because he knew someone was even more furious than he was: Kujo Jotaro.
While Polnareff at least avenged Avdol and Iggy, Jotaro had to watch his own grandfather, Joseph, die right before his eyes. Although Joseph would "revive" once they exited the script world, this did nothing to quell the burning fury in Jotaro's heart!
Since filming for the last episode wrapped up, Jotaro had retreated from the script world, remaining cold and distant. Polnareff and the others could only attempt this "therapy" to ease some of his inner pressure.
But judging by the results, it didn't seem to be working.
"It looks like Jotaro will have to deal with this himself," sighed Joseph, who was more of a "living presence" than an active participant in this intervention.
"Jotaro's in a mental dead end, and there's nothing we can say to help. The best solution…"
It was simple: just look at Polnareff. All he needed was a chance to take his revenge.
If they could beat the one who created this knot — kill DIO — the tension would resolve itself. But killing DIO was no easy task…
"So, Mr. Joestar, are you saying you can't help either?" Polnareff asked, still unwilling to give up. "Weren't you the one who once took down the Ultimate Being? Can't you teach us some way to overcome an impossible enemy?"
Polnareff looked at Joseph with hopeful eyes.
"I don't think you're mistaken," Polnareff insisted. "Mr. Joestar, you must have felt this way too, right?"
"Like we're not just filming something unrelated to us, but that we're in another world where, as long as we can awaken our Stands and fight DIO, the events of "Stardust Crusaders" could actually happen?"
Kakyoin was silent.
He'd thought it was his own delusion, but it turned out he wasn't the only one…
"I see now," Joseph replied, enlightened. "Polnareff, you believe that because I resonate with my counterpart in "Battle Tendency", I should be able to connect with him and gain insight, right?"
But his understanding lasted only a moment. Seeing Polnareff's hopeful gaze, along with Kakyoin's, Joseph sighed. "Unfortunately, I really don't know what to do."
"Even though I feel "Battle Tendency" 'me' resembles me, I have no idea how he managed it. Was it just luck, as the narrator said, or was it, as 'I' claimed, all part of a grand plan? Having never lived through it myself, I honestly can't answer."
This was the simple truth.
As Jotaro's grandfather and Jolyne's great-grandfather, Joseph didn't want to see Jotaro stuck in his gloom. Jolyne's investment in "Stardust Crusaders" wasn't recouped because of their family connections. Though selling the rights to use new technology meant "Stardust Crusaders" wasn't a financial loss, as an elder, Joseph naturally wanted to provide Jolyne, his great-granddaughter, with what he believed to be the best.
But doing so? He simply couldn't!
As Joseph and the others were agonizing over how to console Jotaro, the subject of their discussion, Kujo Jotaro, was already making his move.
Since everyone had said the problem was about people, Jotaro had gone straight to DIO's actor, knocking on his door, and facing him directly!