The Bet

[whybeanstho]

Yo, Yoimiya!

[The booming voice of Arataki Itto resonates throughout the small apartment they share in downtown Inazuma, a loft that came relatively cheap for its location in the city. The buzzing of cars and people passing by the third story window could be heard all throughout the place, walls thin as a sheet of paper. But with it all comes the excitement of the city, and for these two, a plethora of food to gorge themselves on whenever it came time to feed. Inazuma in this day and age has everything to choose from, and food filtered in from all over the world.

It was a perfect set up for them both.

But for now, Itto sits at their small kitchen bar, eating his dino-shaped chicken nuggets that he'd microwaved from out of the freezer. On the plate is some barbeque sauce to dip them in, and he of course is trying to talk to her with his mouth full.]

Ain't it about time we go out and do some grocery shopping? MAN my stomach has been rumbling for the past week or so.

[In goes another dino nuggie, eating them up like they're water.]

If I don't get some food in me soon, I'm gunna shrivel up and wither away! Hey, you think I could talk Shinobu into...I MEAN, ahem, do you think she'd do us a solid and find us a sweet spot to pick up from?

Comments

[monoceroscaeli]

[R00D

He smiles back, thinking it's pretty cute of her to keep the joke about Hanabi going is it a joke to her though, is it but it's really cute that she loves her fish. Guess he'll find out how hard it'll be to impress her, according to Yoimiya's standards.]

Me? Well...I suppose I enjoy a bit of cooking. It's a fun challenge to me to be able to learn and perfect multiple dishes. And, I rather enjoy movies. But, the thing I love the most is martial arts and weapons training. There's nothing quite like the physical feel of battle, haha.

[He smirks with all the confidence of someone who knows they're good at what they do, and he's proud of it.]

[niwabi]

[ R00D HANABI IS NEVER A JOKE—

Yoimiya's eyes light up with intrigue as she listens to him list out his hobbies. She never would have pegged him to be a chef and that makes him even more interesting. Despite that she has... peculiar taste in foods, she'd love to try his cooking. But the most interesting of them all is his love for martial arts and weapons, that's the most unique hobby she's ever heard anyone tell her. ]

Martial arts and weapons, huh? That's the first I've heard of it. You don't hear people say they enjoy fighting as their hobby every day.

[ How interesting! And now that she thinks about it, Ajax looked like he was about ready to deck that creep's lights out. ]

What kinda weapons are you into?

[monoceroscaeli]

Which ones aren't I into?

[He laughs as if it was silly to think that he'd be picky about it.]

You name it, I've likely mastered it. Admittedly, there's a few I'm still working on, but it won't be long until I've got those down, too.

[His eyes practically sparkle as he's talking about it. There's three subjects he could go on and on about, and this is one of them.]

I've amassed quite the collection of weapons as well, but I didn't bring them with me to Inazuma. Only a few practice weapons came with me, but I've been eyeing some of those authentic Inazuman swords for quite a while since I've arrived.

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya momentarily shoots him an incredulous look. Discussing weapons as a way to get to know someone isn't exactly a normal thing, he's the silly one for being such a weapons freak in the first place. That aside, she's pretty impressed to hear that he's mastered basically every weapon in the book. That takes time and energy most people don't have.

Not to mention, she can't help but notice the sparkle in his eyes as he discusses his unusual hobby. That's the face of a man who is really, really into weapons. ]

If swordplay happens to be on your resume I'm sure you'll be able to master the katana in no time! I don't know much about western swords but I do hear it's quite different from how samurai use their blades. But I have to ask...

[ This has been on her mind since the topic came up. ]

Are you some kind of hitman? I promise I won't tell anyone.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He's happy she has faith in him! He won't let her down, he'll master the katana too in time. He'll put that on the list of things to make sure to do while he's here in Inazuma. He should be here long enough to get a teacher, and learn how to use one...

...oh.

That question cuts through his thoughts for a second, and he looks at her with a surprised look, before he starts laughing.]

What? Oh, oh no, don't worry, all of my official duties reside all within the scope of my government job. I'm not a hitman, but I guess I gave you that idea, didn't I?

[He can see it. Talking about weapons and such, admitting to being from Snezhnaya, the shadiest government in the world...yeah. Makes sense.]

Sorry. I'm just an enthusiast who likes to perfect his craft. Getting to cross blades with others is fun to me, but I'm not in the business of killing anyone, haha.

[niwabi]

[ Oh, oh no, don't worry, all of my official duties reside all within the scope of my government job. I'm just an enthusiast who likes to perfect his craft. Getting to cross blades with others is fun to me— HMMMMMMMMMM sounds like something a HITMAN would say. 🕵️ Yoimiya narrows her eyes at him, shooting a skeptical expression that almost looks like she doesn't fully believe him. ]

Well, alright. I was going to offer my assistance if you needed help moving bodies. Since you saved my skin, it's only fair I scratch your back in return.

[ She's just kidding, of course. His love for weapons might be a little shady but he seems like a genuine guy. ]

If you don't mind me asking, what got you into the hobby? It's kind of unusual to meet someone so enthusiastic about weapons in this day and age. But I think it's a pretty interesting hobby, nonetheless! You certainly look like you know how to defend yourself.

[monoceroscaeli]

[She's giving him the side-eye! She doesn't believe him fully, but he's telling the truth! Ajax supposes that it's not so farfetched to think that she might think he's not being completely honest...like okay, maybe it is a little weird to be this into weapons and fighting but he just really likes it...he swears...]

Hahahaha...

[A hand goes up behind his head. The joke is appreciated, though.]

Well, some of it came out of necessity, and I just found I liked it after that. Snezhnaya can be a hard place sometimes, so learning to defend oneself is a pretty good idea. But the more I learned, the more I became enamored with combat itself. And, after a while, they let me start touching weapons. Soon after, I wanted to learn them all.

[Hoping that's a good enough explanation for her, so she doesn't think he's a hitman...!]

[niwabi]

[ And, after a while, they let me start touching weapons. Soon after, I wanted to learn them all.

............ DOT DOT FUCKING DOT. If it were possible, Yoimiya's brow would be above her head with the amount of side-eye she's giving him. This guy is becoming shadier by the minute. ]

Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

[ There's a pause on her end before she erupts into a small fit of giggles. ]

Hehe, just kidding. Snezhnaya seems like a difficult place to live. Between the cold, the blizzards, and everything else I'm impressed by the resilience of the people who live over there. It's no wonder why you felt the need to take up arms to defend yourself.

[monoceroscaeli]

[That short pause before she starts giggling makes him think for a second that she's still super sus of him. And maybe she still is even after the giggles! He sighs with a fond exasperation at her, not knowing what else he could say in the moment to convince her otherwise. He's really not a hitman!!!!!]

It certainly presents its own challenges. But enough about that, for now.

[He'll talk her ear off about Snezhnaya if she lets him and that's not a good way to get to know a girl, so he dismisses the subject now for fear of talking way too much about himself.]

Tell me, what was the funniest thing that's happened to you at the daycare? Children are such innocent souls to be around...I'm sure you have your fair share of stories.

[niwabi]

[ She has a lot of questions about Snezhnaya and could honestly listen to him all day but since he's changed the subject, she's happy to move along. Especially if it involves kids. And oh boy, does she love talking about children. His question causes her whole face to brighten up like a summer's day. ]

Oh goodness, where do I even begin? Here recently, I was getting everything ready for naptime but I could none of the kids were having it. I stepped out for just a brief moment to grab a toy left behind in the hallway and when I came back they had already constructed a massive pillow fort in an act of rebellion. Hahaha, all of them just wanted to keep playing. And if you asked me, I'm pretty sure one of those kids purposely left that toy as a trap.

[ The memory alone is enough for her to bust out into another giggling fit. Children are precious gems, a treasure to this world. ]

It was so cute! The first time I'd seen a group of kids all mutually agree on something.

[monoceroscaeli]

[There it is. The second Yoimiya's face lights up like a Christmas tree, he knows he's really hit something she truly loves. When she said she wanted to be part of a child's growth, she wasn't kidding. He listens intently, imagining the whole scene before his very eyes, with a rebel force of kids who did not want to nap.

It wouldn't be out of the realm of reality to think that they set her up either...to which he has to laugh.]

Wow. To think that such small children were capable of coming together and making an alliance against their babysitter like that...impressive indeed. I hate to see the day my little siblings band together and use the same techniques on me...

[A terror trio of Anthon, Tonia, and Teucer...his nightmare loool]

[niwabi]

Right? I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Really goes to show you that kids are smarter than adults give them credit for.

[ As silly as their little stunt was, she'll never forget those precious children. Yoimiya's face softens as soon as he mentions his siblings. Come to think of it, he does give off the older brother vibes. From his reaction about her job, she had a feeling they share the same passion for helping children and his siblings might be the reason. ]

What are your siblings like? If they are creative like the kids I monitor, you better watch out! They might try an act of rebellion on you one day.

[monoceroscaeli]

Haha, I'd like to think I may be spared from such an action. They're good kids, and I'm very proud of all of them. Out of the three younger siblings I have, Tonia is the oldest, and she's certainly the most assertive one of the bunch, to keep her brothers in line. Anton is a bit...nerdy, I suppose, and Teucer is still growing. He's about seven, so he's got a ways to go yet.

[He shoots her a smile, one that reflects how fond he is of his family. They mean the whole world to him, and he'd do anything for them.]

Maybe, depending on how things go from here, you can meet them one day.

[He has a feeling she'd get along with them just fine, and they'd love her. It doesn't take a whole lot for his little sibs to really like someone, but Ajax does have a tendency to wax poetic about people he likes.]

[niwabi]

[ Precious. That singular word is all she can think about as she listens to him gush about his younger siblings. Just from that snippet, she can tell all of them are vivacious in their own way. She can already picture the scene in her head, his three siblings dragging their doting older brother everywhere while they all have a great time. But the most heartwarming part of listening to him is seeing the smile spread across his face as he talks about them. She can tell that's the face of a man who would go to the end of the world for his family.

And Yoimiya can't deny she finds that terribly attractive. Family men are her type to a T. ]

Oh, yes, please! I'd love to meet them one day. Have they visited you in Inazuma yet? If not, feel free to hit me up and I'll be happy to show them the best places to visit.

[ Even if the situationship doesn't work out between them, Yoimiya still wants to meet his darling siblings. She believes him when he says they're good kids. ]

We can go to Amakane Island and take part in one of their many festivals. Oooh, do they like fireworks? I could try to make something personalized for them and, and...

[ She loves kids so darn much to the point of getting overly excited. Oops, even she realizes she needs to slow her roll. ]

Sorry, sorry. Got a little overly excited.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Yoimiya's enthusiasm is definitely one that can't be rivaled. She starts speaking so fast with all the ideas she's got for his siblings to come visit Inazuma that he almost feels like he should stop her before she gets too carried away. Thankfully, she manages to stop herself on her own before he has to intervene, his eyes brightening at her joyous outburst.]

Hahahaha, it's quite alright- that's the kind of energy you need to take care of small children. We can talk more about it when and if the time comes. Everything sounds wonderful, and I'm sure they'd love it.

[And as they walk along the beach, he notices they're finally reaching the end. There's an exit back up into downtown proper, and Ajax realizes that it's starting to get late. They'd been partying and spending enough time with each other that he completely lost track of the time.]

May I walk you home? I'd feel bad if you were to find yourself out here alone at such a late time of the night. And, you can tell me if you ever go surfing here. This beach must be a perfect place for it.

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya inwardly sighs in relief, thankful that Ajax is so patient. He had every right to cut her off right then and there but he still listened to her excitable ramblings and for that, she's grateful. It'd be best to take time to get to know each other before meeting his siblings but until then, she will happily await the day she gets to meet those bouncing bundles of joy. She might even have a whole list of activities for them to do by then.

But for now, she's happy to call it a night and show him the way to her apartment. She laces their fingers together and starts leading him to the exit. ]

Of course! You're such a gentleman, it's rare to see a guy exude chivalry.

[ Ajax truly is a rare breed, one that she finds herself intrigued with the more time they spend together. ]

You're right, the beach is perfect for surfing. You'll be able to catch some of the biggest waves here. And since you like fishing, I think you'll also enjoy ocean fishing. You can catch all sorts of beasts here like sharks!

[monoceroscaeli]

I'll have to put surfing on my shortlist then...

[Hand in hand, they now start back towards the bustling parts of the nightlife of Inazuma City, and he's happily ignoring the whole of it to focus solely on Yoimiya. The more she talks, the more he realizes he could sit quietly and let her go forever if she wanted. That's another thing he notices too- she has a pretty cute voice on top of it all.]

Though I wouldn't mind getting in the water and catching a shark myself...sounds like a daring challenge.

[yes he did say "get in the water"]

We could always make that our next date. That is, if it sounds appealing to you.

[niwabi]

[ Did he just say he's gonna get in the water?????

Maybe he's more crazy than what she took him for. Oh wells, that makes him more fun if anything. She's already looking forward to all the chaotic avenues he plans on taking her down. ]

Let's do it! Sounds like I'll be in for a treat with you. Bring your best fishing equipment and fanciest swim trunks.

[ She giggles, shooting him a wink. He'll look good in anything lbr. ]

We can exchange phone numbers if you'd like. That way we can schedule our next date.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He's not sure if she knows he meant that literally, but it doesn't matter. Getting that cute giggle and wink out of it was worth it, and now he's getting her phone number. Worth it.]

Yeah, we can exchange them once we get to your place. Do you like living down here among all the hustle and bustle of the city? It's not for everyone, after all.

[He's guessing she does, since he's walking her home. Would be awkward to walk her to a car at this point whoops]

[niwabi]

[ Score! Might not be the euphoric night she was hoping for but obtaining his phone number and landing herself a second date counts as a win in her book. She'll just have to hope Itto didnt score much in the bedroom department. ]

I'll admit, the city has it's perks. It's nice to be able to walk to the nearest convenient store without having to travel but truthfully, I'm a country girl at heart. I've always loved living near the great outdoors.

[ Speaking of her silly roommate... ]

But my roomie and I figured living in the city would be more of an advantage for us.

[monoceroscaeli]

I can understand always having one's heart back in the country.

[His hometown, as she already knows, is a little backwater...so it seems that a country girl and a country boy managed to find each other in the big city.]

I'm guessing it's for work for the two of you?

[Not that he can swing by her daycare and not look weird, but he's keeping that in mind for the future in case things go well ^^]

[niwabi]

That's right! It was a tough decision since we prefer the country life but we knew that moving to the city would make our lives a whole lot easier. In the end, I don't regret our decision. Making the trip from Hanamizaka to the daycare would take so much time out of my day.

[ They definitely came out here for "work" and other..... endeavours. There are slim pickings out in the countryside, the possibilities are far more endless in the city. Their livelihood really does depend on finding as much people as they can... but Ajax doesn't need to know her little secret, though. For now, anyway. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ ]

You sound like you're a country boy yourself! I should have realized you're a kindred spirit since you're from Morepesok. How are you enjoying the city life?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Making a note of that for later, he'll think of some nice place to go with Yoimiya one day that's away from the busy life of the city. That would make for good quality time together, granted things don't go sideways early on, so it gets filed in the back of his head for something nice to do. He squeezes her hand in response, and his answer to her question is definitely a happy one.]

Honestly, I enjoy it. Traveling is something I've always loved to do, and with any luck, I'll get to see the seven corners of it all before I leave this world. Country life is my beginnings, but getting to experience every walk of life, be it in a small fishing village or a downtown metropolis, is something I treasure.

[His eyes are bright, clearly thankful for the opportunities he's had to see the world so far.]

Who knows when I'll leave Inazuma to pursue my next endeavor, but while I'm here, I'm going to make the most of it.

[niwabi]

[ Sounds like Ajax is an adventurer at heart, she can respect that. If anything, his desire to go on a journey makes him even more appealing. She can appreciate a man loaded with ambition and he definitely has it in spades. Her expression softens at the gentle squeeze of her hand, she can practically feel his genuine desires seeping out of his touch.

It's complicated. Although she has her own ulterior motives for him, there's a part of her that wishes to see him accomplish his dreams of traveling the world. That's a goal she can deeply resonate with. ]

Hopefully, you won't be out of Inazuma too quickly, there's still so much for you to see and explore. And I think I might miss you a bit if you just up and leave.

[ Grinning from ear-to-ear, she sends a cute lil wink his way. They only just met a few hours ago but she's already intrigued her far more than any guy she's met. ]

I'll make sure you have the adventure of a lifetime while you're in Inazuma! With me at your side, I can guarantee you'll make the most out of your trip and then some.

[monoceroscaeli]

Haha, you're making yourself out to be more of a tour guide than anything else.

[He teases, though he feels his heart warm a little from her words. He won't be leaving Inazuma anytime soon as far as he can tell, and with the nice time he's had here tonight, he wouldn't want to leave anytime soon anyway. He's got a lot to do and a girl to get to know so it wouldn't do to disappear yet.]

I'm not ready to leave anyway...I wouldn't want to pass up on an offer like that. You're practically letting my imagination run wild.

[He sends a wink right back at her, laughing a little at their little bit of flirting. No matter the outcome, he thinks he's going to enjoy the time spent here with Yoimiya and getting to know Inazuma. And honestly, he can't wait.]