Ryoko Kakyoin

"What happened to you? Why did you disappear from our lives? Why…? You were my cousin, so why won't you tell me, Noriaki…?"

- Ryoko Kakyoin

Ryoko Kakyoin (花京院 涼子) is a primary character featured in Crazy Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak, a spinoff manga of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. She is Noriaki Kakyoin's cousin.

She spends a few days in Morioh after visiting Noriaki's grave and suddenly stumbles upon a strange book that predicts future events.

Appearance
Ryoko is a teenage Japanese girl who is just entering university. She has a skinny body and is of small stature, being more than a head shorter than Hol Horse, but has relatively large hips. She has long hair pulled back into a short ponytail and a braid running along the side of her head. Ryoko also has a notable twisting bang on the right side of her face, styled after her older cousin, Noriaki. Like Noriaki before her, she wears a single cherry earring.

Ryoko wears a light shirt with short sleeves, a dark necktie, a long dark skirt with a large dark belt that covers her whole abdomen, and loafers with spotted socks.

Personality
Ryoko Kakyoin is a character deeply tied to her past, primarily influenced by the death of her cousin Noriaki Kakyoin, whose memory she still holds dear ten years later. Struggling with guilt and a desperate desire to uncover the circumstances surrounding Noriaki's demise, Ryoko's personality is a blend of strong determination and a longing for closure.

Ten years after Noriaki's death, Ryoko takes the time to visit and mourn over Noriaki's grave just before the academic year begins. After he passed away, she dedicated herself to researching the cause and found incidents that may have some connection, like senator Wilson Phillips dying on the same day. According to Tohth, Ryoko hasn't moved on from her affection for Noriaki. She has styled her bang after Noriaki's, wears the same earring as him, and when Josuke Higashikata mocks Noriaki by misnaming him maliciously, she slaps Josuke without thinking. Ryoko desperately wants to discover how her cousin died because she is crushed by the guilt of being responsible for his death, which is a misconception that has weighed on her since her childhood. Tired of blaming herself, she wants to make sure Noriaki didn't die because of her. Her inner thoughts torment her, persuading her to follow what Tohth says. Upon communicating with Noriaki's soul, Ryoko's guilt is relieved as Noriaki explains that he was the only one at fault for falling to DIO's spell. Starting to forgive herself, Ryoko decides to encourage Noraki in his fight rather than try to persuade him to stay safe.

Despite her polite demeanor, Ryoko displays a contemptuous streak, especially when confronted with individuals she perceives as wicked or disrespectful. She is not afraid to stand up for others and selflessly defends an elderly woman from a public nuisance, calling him "so evil that she can see it clear as day". Her eagerness to protect others extends to physical intervention, such as getting Josuke to deal with the thug she was facing, and later kicking Josuke out of danger when a possessed chef was about to attack him with a knife. . Believing Josuke is a delinquent, she subtly teases Josuke about his hairstyle, asking him if he was trying to replicate a character from the movie  with his unique pompadour. She stands up to him when he offends her, correcting him when Josuke mistakenly calls her a "high school girl" by informing him that she is his senior. Josuke calls her out on her attitude, thinking that Ryoko gives off the impression that she is better than others. Her behavior, often perceived as hostile, stems largely from her relentless pursuit of truth about Noriaki's death and her inner struggle with guilt. She impulsively tends to act violently, slapping Josuke when he provokes her, and threatening to shoot Hol Horse. Moreover, when Tohth's riddles annoy her, she slams her fist on the side of a building. Eventually, she realizes that Tohth was describing her own inner self as a "fuse just waiting to be lit".

As she starts to come to terms with her past, she acknowledges and appreciates the help she receives, showing a warmer and more grateful side to Josuke. She also forgives Hol Horse even though he fought against Noriaki in the past. She acts embarrassed after crying in front of Josuke because of him teasing her, blaming Josuke for getting her hair into her eye. Ryoko prefers having a boyfriend who lives close to her, isn't younger than her, and talks more nicely to women since she rejects Josuke for those reasons. However, she becomes friendly with him after all his attempts to cheer her up, finally thanking him and complimenting his hair after they say their goodbyes to each other.

Tohth
Tohth is a comic-book-like Stand whose whimsical story periodically updates itself to predict the close future with 100% accuracy. Although not a Stand user herself, Ryoko stumbles onto the book and wields it in hopes of unraveling the mystery of her cousin's death.

Background
At some point in 1988 when Ryoko was seven years old, she went on a family vacation to Egypt along with her cousin, Noriaki Kakyoin. They encountered DIO in Cairo. Ryoko apparently escaped DIO's notice by hiding behind some planks while the Vampire confronted Kakyoin. DIO used his Stand to immediately appear as if he teleported behind Noriaki. He tried recruiting Noriaki to work for him but Noriaki summoned Hierophant Green and tried to use Emerald Splash. However, Noriaki's attack didn't make it on time as DIO implanted a flesh bud into his forehead. Noriaki's demeanor suddenly changed and he became a loyal servant to DIO. Ryoko managed to safely return to Japan with her family but then Noriaki vanished, only for his corpse to be found in Cairo.

Encountering Tohth
In March 1999, Ryoko has just gotten admission to a university. Before the academic year begins, she goes to Morioh to pay her respects to Noriaki's grave. A bird suddenly flies above her and she has a vision of DIO apparently trying to seduce her to his side. When she returns to her senses, she tearfully asks why Noriaki "disappeared" from his family's lives.

Going back to town, Ryoko calls someone to inform them of her whereabouts and says that she plans on staying in Morioh for several days. While walking, she spots a strange comic book on the ground and picks it up. Skimming the pages, she sees a line predicting that Hol Horse will see DIO. The sight of DIO's name makes her recall a scene of Noriaki obeying DIO's orders. Someone approaches and Ryoko takes the book with her, hiding it in her bag. She then passes by Hol Horse himself while walking away with the book.

Later, Ryoko takes out Boingo's book from her bag and contemplates taking it to the police. She thinks back to how Noriaki vanished after returning to Japan without saying a word to his family and then his corpse was found in Egypt. When she thinks that the book could have had something written about Noriaki in it, new pages showing Josuke start to emerge.

A thug parks his car in the middle of the road, blocking the way for other drivers. An elderly lady walks up to him and asks if he can move his car but the thug furiously tosses his phone at her, asserting that she made him miss part of an important call. Ryoko walks in front of the old lady and deflects the phone away with her bag, breaking it when it hits the ground. She tells the man that although he's clearly evil, he'd be better off parking somewhere else. Infuriated, the man yells at Ryoko for breaking his phone and asks if she's one of Fungami's girlfriends. However, the thug's girlfriend comments that Fungami only likes pretty girls.

The thug insults Ryoko's dangling hair, claiming Fungami wouldn't give the time of day to someone like that. Ryoko then smirks and asks if he was talking to the boy behind her, pointing out Josuke. Instantly, Josuke rapidly punches away the thug's car with Crazy Diamond, reshaping the roof of their car into a cage. Hol Horse apologizes to Ryoko for Josuke's behavior, asking if she got hurt anywhere. Ryoko thinks back to the pages she just read in the book, amazed that its predictions came true.

Conflict with Josuke
Tohth describes how Ryoko thinks she hasn't changed at all since she was seven years old despite people calling her really mature. After all those years, she can only think about her cousin and wants to know why he got killed no matter what. The book also reveals that Josuke is the key to solving the mystery, and Ryoko wonders how a delinquent could help her like that. Josuke calls out to Ryoko, angry that she indirectly insulted his hair as well. In response, Ryoko asks Josuke if he based his hair on the Nexus-6 model lady from  since it doesn't look like a standard pompadour. Josuke doesn't understand and asks her to clarify whether that's an insult or compliment. However, Hol Horse interferes and says Josuke should cherish ladies instead of threatening them.

Hol Horse asks Ryoko if she can understand his Japanese properly. Although he would like to apologize by taking her out for dinner, he has business to take care of. Ryoko is confused, but Josuke explains how Hol Horse got separated from someone he came to Japan with. Hol Horse describes how Boingo is short and was carrying a comic book, asking if Ryoko saw him anywhere. Shocked, Ryoko clutches her bag with Tohth inside and hides it behind her. She tells Hol Horse that he should ask at the (neighborhood police station).

After Hol Horse leaves, Ryoko takes out Tohth again, realizing it must be the book Hol Horse mentioned. She doesn't want anyone to take it away from her until she learns the truth. New pages then emerge, telling Ryoko to slap Josuke in the face in order to learn the first hint toward Noriaki's death. Josuke interrupts while she's reading by grabbing her hand and yelling at her since he doesn't want his grandpa to see them. He asks why she's still following them and tells her to leave. Amused, Ryoko asks Josuke whether he's trying to avoid his grandpa while he's on police duty. Josuke doesn't like her tone and calls her a highschooler, causing Ryoko to explain how she just graduated from high school in spring and is only wearing her uniform because was visiting a grave. She calls Josuke a hypocrite for wearing his uniform already when he won't even be in high school until next month. Josuke rants about how Ryoko talks like she's above everyone else and asks which actor Ryoko copied her hairstyle from. Ryoko ends up slapping Josuke for insulting her cousin, but Josuke smiles in response. He thinks this attitude fits her much better and asks Ryoko if she feels relieved now.

Approaching the Truth
Ryoko is astonished that she actually slapped Josuke for making fun of Noriaki, and remembers that Tohth predicted that she would also kick Josuke in the butt next. Josuke asks why Ryoko doesn't go to Noriaki for help if something's troubling her. Ryoko thus reveals that he passed away, causing Josuke to awkwardly apologize. Just then, Josuke acts as if he's heard a gunshot but Ryoko hasn't noticed anything.

Ryoko suddenly sees one of the possessed chefs charging toward them with a knife and kicks Josuke out of harm's way, fulfilling Tohth's next prediction. Ryoko then witnesses Josuke dispatch the group of crazed women as the chefs are hit by an invisible force near Josuke. The women regain their senses, being confused but also unharmed for a reason unknown to Ryoko. A police officer arrives on the scene and asks Ryoko what just happened there, to which Ryoko claims she didn't see anything.

Ryoko discreetly follows Hol Horse and Josuke and eavesdrops on them talking about their Stand powers. She hears Hol Horse reveal that there is a parrot in town who possesses a Stand and was trained by DIO. Ryoko realizes that this is the hint Tohth promised her and that Hol Horse knows something about DIO. She consults Tohth to know what to do next and the book warns her that she cannot openly pry Hol Horse about DIO or else he will simply play dumb. The best thing to do is look for a "fuse" waiting to be lit and then ignite it. After that, she'll finally reach the truth while everyone is screaming from the explosion. Ryoko disappears for a while as Josuke and Hol Horse work to stop a criminal named Koji Kiyohara who seemingly has used Pet Sounds to cause various rampages in town.

Later, Ryoko finds herself in an alley. She recalls when her mother told her about Noriaki's death ten years ago. She also thinks about the fuse that Tohth told her to find. After getting angry that the book won't give her a straight answer, she calms herself down thinking she shouldn't blow up from anger like Josuke does. Thinking about Josuke gives her a sudden realization that he might be the "fuse" that the book was talking about. Josuke then arrives and asks Ryoko whether she's hiding something from them. Ryoko worries about whether Josuke knows she's hiding the book. She attempts to run away from Josuke but is trapped by a dead end. Josuke grabs her hand and pulls out Boingo's book from her bag. He mentions that he caught a glimpse of it when she slapped him earlier but wasn't actually sure if it was the same book. Josuke assumes that Ryoko must have some reason for having it since she doesn't seem like the type to steal.

Ryoko pulls her hand away and exclaims she can't give the book back yet. She tells Josuke about the time she and Noriaki met DIO ten years ago in Egypt.

Josuke asks what Ryoko's motivation has to do with needing the manga. Before she could show him, Hol Horse appears and reveals that he followed Josuke since he thought Josuke was acting strange. He apologizes but asks Ryoko to give him back the book. Josuke asks if he could just listen to Ryoko since she has her reasons but Hol Horse refuses since Boingo needs it back. Since he doesn't want to cooperate, Josuke destroys a dumpster behind Hol Horse using Crazy Diamond and then restores the pieces to trap Hol Horse inside it. He tells Hol Horse that it will just be for a little while and then runs away with Ryoko. Ryoko asks Josuke why he helped her since she thought he would be on Hol Horse's side. Josuke replies that Ryoko has looked angry about something ever since they met and he didn't want to leave her like that. His response confuses Ryoko; she asks him what he thinks she's angry about, but Josuke tells her that only she would know. Subsequently, Ryoko runs away from Josuke.

Ryoko starts getting intrusive thoughts, wondering if there's even a point to finding out what happened to her cousin. Even if she learns the reason, he won't come back. Her primary motivation for wanting to learn the truth is because she feels guilty that Noriaki's death was because of her, and she wants to know if that isn't the case. She tries getting her mind to stop but continues thinking about how her memories of her cousin became a curse. Ryoko realizes that the "fuse" was actually inside her all along, rather than it being Josuke. Not being able to handle her inner conflicts anymore, Ryoko drops Tohth and falls to the ground. Suddenly, Pet Sounds implants Ryoko with a memory to possess her. She gets up and staggers away, leaving Tohth behind. Tohth's pages flip in the rain. The pages say to give Ryoko a gun so that she can shoot Hol Horse in the head.

Disclosure
Karaiya takes off Ryoko's clothes to disguise Boingo, in order to lure Josuke into a trap. He then gives her a gun while leaving her wandering in a construction site, trapped in a memory. Eventually, she is found by Hol Horse who sees her pointing a gun at herself and tries to wrestle it off of her hands.

In the memory, Ryoko heard Joseph Joestar tell Noriaki not to admit defeat. Suddenly, she was sucked into a doll along with Noriaki's soul after his battle against Telence T. D'Arby. Enclosed in a void space within the doll, Noriaki apologizes to Joseph and Jotaro for losing, while Ryoko is shocked to see him. Noriaki's soul is able to see Ryoko's soul within the doll and wonders whether Atum defeated her as well, but realizes that can't be possible since she doesn't look defeated and she's much older than she should be. Ryoko blames herself for getting Noriaki possessed by DIO. Noriaki wonders whether his mind is just hallucinating her there, but he comforts Ryoko nonetheless and blames his own immaturity for getting possessed. He believes that if he had a strong enough will, DIO wouldn't have been able to control him with a flesh bud. Ryoko tries telling him that he isn't weak, but Noriaki claims he was able to forgive himself by accepting his own weakness. While they're talking, Noriaki sees that Jotaro and Joseph managed to defeat Telence, and is glad that he could continue his fight. Ryoko attempts to stop him from leaving at first so that he could go home alive without fighting, but realizes that would be the wrong thing to do. Instead, she cheers him on, telling him that she knows he'll win and will be fine. Noriaki is glad that Ryoko grew up safely in the future, letting him know that his journey wasn't for nothing. As he leaves the doll, Ryoko cries that she still has something to tell him.

When Ryoko wakes up, she unknowingly pushes Hol Horse and he falls, but manages to grab onto the ledge. Ryoko assumes Hol Horse did something to her but he explains he was just looking for a comic book. Ryoko remembers seeing Hol Horse in Tohth and believes he is connected to DIO. She asks if he knows what happened to her cousin Noriaki, but Hol Horse stammers, unable to respond. Since he stays silent, she grabs the gun on the ground and points it at Hol Horse, demanding that he answers what he did to Noriaki. After a moment, the cowboy decides to tell Ryoko the truth: he was Kakyoin's enemy ten years ago and fought him and his friends as DIO's servant, but was no match for them. He thinks he was just a coward. Ryoko trembles upon seeing Hol Horse's solemn face filled with regret and hesitates to shoot him. Noriaki's spirit appears by Ryoko's side and gently pushes her hands down, telling her that it's okay now. Hol Horse is surprised that Ryoko didn't shoot him, but Ryoko says that maybe it's because she wants to be a coward too.

Ryoko helps Hol Horse get back up off the ledge. He tells her that the only way he can describe what Noriaki and his friends did ten years ago is that they saved the world. Suddenly, Hol Horse's forehead starts bleeding, fulfilling Tohth's earlier prophecy. Ryoko is surprised as to what happened, but Hol Horse says it's an old wound that never healed properly. However, now he has the feeling that it'll get better. Josuke and Boingo meet up with Ryoko and Hol Horse as the incident is resolved, with Josuke carrying Pet Sounds in his arm.

Leaving Morioh
Ryoko speaks with her mother on the phone while walking down the street. Her mom asks if she'll come home to Kanagawa before heading to university, but Ryoko apologizes since she is planning on finding a place to stay in Kyoto. Her mom asks if she'll be okay being far away from Morioh, but Ryoko claims she already got to say goodbye to Noriaki.

While she's at the bus stop to go to the airport, Josuke confronts her for not saying goodbye to him. She asks what he wants, since she already apologized and said thanks to him. She then starts lamenting about the misconceptions she had, but Josuke doesn't think it's a bad thing to hold onto her hero. When she responds that she can't cling to Noriaki forever, Josuke decides to slice her bang off using his Stand. He asks if she feels relieved now, but she angrily slaps him. Using his ability, Josuke then restores her bang back to normal and smiles. Ryoko understands what he was trying to prove to her and starts crying. Josuke cheers her up and offers to be her boyfriend, but she instantly rejects him because he lives too far away and is younger than her. Josuke's reaction makes her start laughing a lot. She thanks him and Josuke wishes her good luck in Kyoto. As they say their goodbyes, Ryoko praises Josuke's hair by calling it cool, to which Josuke agrees.