You call this a projection?

In the original story’s Stand battle on the plane, Noriaki Kakyoin took the initiative to offer to fight Tower of Gray himself. To some extent, this could be considered Kakyoin’s ”letter of loyalty” to Jotaro Kujo and the others.

Even so, after the crash caused by Gray Fly, when the group was forced to rest in a Hong Kong restaurant, Jotaro remained on high alert. When he saw Kakyoin suddenly flip the lid of the teapot—a conventional silent signal in Cantonese teahouses to notify the waiter to add water—Jotaro, unfamiliar with the custom, watched him with intense scrutiny.

Simply put, he suspected Kakyoin might be signaling someone.

While that was technically true, the signal wasn’t for one of DIO’s Stand users, but for the restaurant staff. One couldn’t blame Jotaro for being paranoid; it was only human nature given the circumstances. In such an environment, it was hard not to overthink things. Once they became better acquainted, the suspicion would naturally fade.

But for now...

Perhaps because he had been used to loneliness since childhood, Kakyoin was acutely sensitive to such things. He could tell with absolute certainty that just now, Shirou Emiya and Joseph Joestar were asking for his advice out of genuine sincerity, not as a test.

This... honestly left Kakyoin at a loss. Even before this, Kakyoin had asked Joseph and the others why they trusted him so easily.

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”Why? Because Shirou trusts you, Kakyoin! Since Shirou says you’re fine, then you’re probably really fine!”

In Kakyoin’s memory, Joseph had asked this with a look that was both matter-of-fact and concerned: ”By the way, Kakyoin. Even though Stand users have the protection of their Stands, shouldn’t you really get some proper rest first?”

”...”

”Uh, why was I able to convince Mr. Joestar to trust you? And why am I so certain you’ll be our ally?”

After receiving that answer from Joseph, Kakyoin had turned the same question toward Shirou Emiya.

Clearly, compared to Joseph’s casual acceptance, Shirou was momentarily stumped by the questions. After a long silence, he said: ”...That question actually leaves me a bit unsure of how to answer.

It’s not that I can’t say, but making you truly believe it would be quite a hassle. It took me a lot of effort to convince Mr. Joestar and the others in the first place.

But what I can tell you, Kakyoin, is—trust requires no reason.”

Yes, that was the reason Shirou and the others gave. It held a kind of beauty that Kakyoin couldn’t quite wrap his head around. However, he didn’t actually mind this trust.

But the enthusiasm that came along with that trust was another matter entirely. Facing the sincere inquiries of Shirou and Joseph, Kakyoin felt truly troubled by his inability to provide an answer that matched their energy.

”Alright, Shirou, Mr. Joestar. Don’t push Kakyoin too hard.”

Though the process was a bit rocky, Kakyoin was now integrating well into the group compared to his initial stiffness.

Seeing this, Avdol helped Kakyoin change the subject while speaking with a serious expression: ”After all, we still have a problem before us—

Since we can’t guarantee whether DIO’s Stand users will continue to infiltrate, we can no longer travel to Egypt by plane.

Furthermore, with DIO’s spirit photography ability, our method of landing that out-of-control plane is likely no longer a secret. When the next attack comes, the enemy certainly won’t give us another chance.”

Hearing this, Joseph and the others grew solemn.

It was true. As long as they could ensure no enemy Stand users boarded, a private jet at 10,000 meters was undoubtedly the safest place. But once an enemy slipped inside, that same jet became a high-altitude coffin where ”the heavens don’t answer and the earth doesn’t hear.”

”Come to think of it, Shirou, isn’t your Stand ability capable of projecting others’ abilities?”

Joseph suddenly thought of something and asked: ”In that case, if I have the SPW Foundation bring over some items belonging to pilots, couldn’t you project their piloting skills?

That way, we can ensure we’re the only ones on the plane. We’d guarantee no enemies infiltrate and ensure no more innocent people are caught in the crossfire!”

Joseph couldn’t help but pat himself on the back for his brilliance.

The reason Kakyoin and the others were able to exploit a loophole and infiltrate the jet was that the pilots weren’t Stand users. Being unable to see Stands, they naturally couldn’t defend against a Stand user’s infiltration.

But if Shirou were the one flying, it would be different. Not only would he be staying with the group, leaving no opening for DIO’s assassins, but even if they did find a gap, it would be a toss-up as to who would come out on top given Shirou’s projection abilities.

However, Shirou Emiya, the person in question, shook his head. ”That method won’t work, Mr. Joestar

In fact, if I were truly capable of that, I could have just continued spirit-writing to the plane’s electronics and flown it directly to Egypt.”

At this point, Shirou turned his tea-filled cup upside down—a gesture Joseph found painfully familiar—and said: ”I can indeed project a pilot’s skills, but that skill is limited to the theory of learning it. Using that level of skill to fly a plane is like asking a child who just learned that one plus one equals two to solve calculus.”