>>5385519"-How are you and Dark Rider getting along?"
"We're doing well." he says with a small smile. “After all, when you, Cauli, and Okira aren't here, the only one who can see Dark Rider is Chaya. But, well... After last time, she's been hesitant to even look at my Stand, much less talk.”
You look back to Dark Rider, smiling while holding your laughing daughter on its shoulders, and have to force yourself to remember what happened the first time Koruza's Stand awakened. Leaving Future Chaya a quivering mess on the ground, reduced to powerlessness by Dark Rider's ability and forcing Towa to flee from her own son's power. Such a frightful experience would have no doubt left its mark on her.
“That's rough.” you say, trying to figure out why your Chaya doesn't have a Stand but this one does. Then you remember what you'd learned, how Chaya had acquired her Dragon Force from the you in her timeline, just before his death and she went to live with Towa. “Doesn't she train her Stand with you?”
“No. Once she discovered that her Stand weakens her body, making her much more susceptible to damage, she's refused to use it.” he tells you, shaking his head. “Even out on missions she almost never uses it, just bringing it up when there's another Stand defending its user, she has to punch through to get the win.”
“I see.” you say, pondering if you should say something to Future Chaya about this while still watching your daughter having fun. But before you can, someone notices you.
“Daaaa!” Okira shouts, smile still on her face as she finally notices you. “Look!”
“Hahaha, I see you up there.” you reply, her joy infectious and making your own face break out in a wide smile too. “What're you doin?”
She only laughs in answer, Dark Rider taking her around the room again before coming to a stop beside the two of you. Your daughter then reaches out towards you, Dark Rider gingerly picking her up off its shoulders and handing her over, you debate a second before placing her now on your shoulders as well. Which she clearly enjoys, settling into place as the dark Stand stretches and massages the back of its neck.
“Hard on the neck, aren't they?” you ask Dark Rider as Okira grabs two handfuls of your hair to balance herself, the giant Stand chuckling a bit in its deep, gravelly voice.
“I'd rather not have any of my own.” it replies good naturedly, you hear its neck cracking as it works to loosen itself back up from being a riding mount. It then turns to look at Koruza, an almost-annoyed look on its face as it addresses him. “No. You can't do the same.”
cont
