JJL Chapter 8
California King Bed (1), originally Daiya Higashikata's Strange Love (1) in the UJ release, is the eight hundred fifty-fifth chapter of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. It is also the eighth chapter of Part VIII: JoJolion.
Summary
Emphasis is made on a curious square mark by now seen both on the wrist of Yoshikage Kira's corpse, and on the handrail leading to Norisuke IV's study (Yasuho remembers also seeing it on various other places at the (former) Higashikata home).
Yasuho recieves a DNA test apparently confirming that Kira and Josuke are "the same person," to within a small margin of error. Yasuho's mother Suzuyu Hirose is introduced (drunk and asleep; offending Yasuho).
All the while, Daiya Higashikata engages Josuke with her Stand California King Bed; extracting his specific memory of the meaning of the square mark. She explains her Stand's rules, and her wish to enjoy his memories for herself. This contest continues as the chapter ends.
Plot
Previous events are recapped on pages 2 and 3.
Josuke holds Daiya, whose left thigh bone is still exposed as the middle of a massive wound.
As Josuke frantically calls out for help and searches for a phone, he is reminded of the mysterious square mark he has so far seen on the handrail leading to Norisuke's study and on the wrist of Kira's corpse. Suddenly he notices that Daiya's wound is gone.
Daiya states, "Fairness is rules, and rules are power"; and that Josuke should not fuss over her, as a rule.
A chess piece in the style of the Knight emerges from the corner of Josuke's left eye, including an orb which depicts the square mark. Josuke does not seem aware of it, saying only that it feels as though a dangerous force is approaching him.
The piece shoots with great force at the floor. Only when Daiya retrieves it does Josuke notice the piece.
Daiya strides to a chess board by the couches, placing it near a King, Rook and Bishop housing the images of a cat, rose bush, and bicycle, respectively (a Queen is present with no clear image inside). Josuke reflects that it suddenly feels as though he has lost something important.
Daiya provides an overview of the meaning of the pieces; that they contain specific memories belonging formerly to specific individuals, but that the concept would be difficult to fully understand; although she does, when she rolls the pieces on her cheek.
Josuke examines the Knight, struggling to remember the meaning of the image of the mark.
Explaining again that "fairness is rules," Daiya gives the rules of her Stand (which she describes as a gift from God; adding that she heard Josuke has one too).
Daiya explains that when she was 2-3 years old, she fell into the faults at the border of the Higashikata estate. Her vision worsened, but she gained her Stand, California King Bed - With which she can take one memory from a person when they break a fair rule.
Soon, Josuke understands that Daiya has taken his memory regarding the mark; grabbing her by the collar, anxiously asking what it is she wants with him, along with her father.
Unaffected, Daiya opines that "happiness is to share memories with someone." She tells Josuke that she likes him, and that her goal is to collect his memories in order to share in them.
Josuke snatches the Knight and attempts to break it, when Daiya explains that that would in fact eliminate the memory completely.
Daiya touches the watch on her left wrist, expressing again that "the fairness of rules is power"; telling and demonstrating to Josuke her Stand's weakness: That when she steps on his shadow, his memory will return to him. She says that this won't be easy, since she has memorized the sources of natural light in the house.
Josuke acknowledges the danger Daiya poses, resolving to retrieve his vital memories, concerned that he will utterly lose sight of "what's important."
The scene transtions to Yasuho, returning to her house. She rights a pair of high heels spread on the hallway, before announcing herself home and calling after her mother.
She discovers her mother behind the couch, on the floor, before lifting an empty bottle of a seemingly alcoholic drink. Suzuyu Hirose is revealed asleep, with the mark of a kiss on the right of her chest.
Yasuho begins to weep, disturbed by her mother's behavior; putting her shoes back on and preparing to leave, thinking that she too doesn't know where she should go or who she is (reflecting on Josuke and the Higashikatas).
Before leaving again, Yasuho picks up a letter returned to her from the police and/or an "investigation company," titled "DNA Investigation Result Report"; which states that Yoshikage Kira and Josuke Higashikata, "to 95.8% accuracy," are "the same person" (dissatisfied, Yasuho reveals that she paid 80,000 Yen out of pocket for the test).
Immediately, Yasuho notices the mysterious mark found earlier on the handrail leading to Norisuke's study on the wrist of Yoshikage Kira's corpse in a picture on her phone, which she realizes she noticed growing up while playing at their estate; including on "the staircase handrail," the floor on the second floor, near the door, and near a chair leg.
In the Higashikata house, Daiya announces a wish to go out, asking for Josuke's help in changing. Josuke resolves to make Daiya step on his shadow, not only to retrieve his memory but to take something more.
With a bubble, Josuke removes the sound that the light switch to Daiya's closet would have made as he turns it off; projecting his shadow across the floor of the closet. He moves to the left in order to place his shadow in front of her feet; which she notices, explaining her deduction that he may have turned the light off secretly, as she tells him to move while she checks.
Appearances
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