insurmountable | The Bet

The Bet

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?

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[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.

[ 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.

[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]

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.

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.]

[ 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.

[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.

[ 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!

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.

Edited 2024-12-31 20:38 (UTC)

[ 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.

[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]

[ 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.

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 ^^]

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?

[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.

Edited (i...didn't actually finish the sentence....) 2025-01-01 20:33 (UTC)

[ 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.

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.]

[ She puffs out her chest, looking a little too proud of herself as he calls her a tour guide. He's not wrong. If anyone asked, Yoimiya is confident she's got it in her to be one of the best tour guides in all of Inazuma. She knows the coolest spots and can talk people's ears off. Maybe she should look into it as a side gig if she ever gets bored...

But for now, she's more than happy to be Ajax's personal lil guide as he gets accustomed to Inazuma. ]

Hehe, the wilder, the better! I can guarantee you're going to have a great time here. I can wait for you to see Watasumi Island. I have a feeling the country boy from Morepesok will have a great time there.

[ Time sure flies when you are having fun, they've talked so much that they've reached her home without realizing it. The apartment complex is small and not super fancy, but it's a cozy living space and she wouldn't trade it for the world. Their quarters are on the third floor and just from standing at the bottom, she sees the lights are off and assumes that Itto hasn't made it back yet. Maybe by some miracle, he's had better luck than her? Ugh. Talk about embarrassing but it's fine. She doesn't mind losing that badly since she's landed a guy far more interesting than her other targets. ]

Well, this is my stop. Welcome to my humble abode! It's a bit small, but my roommate and I are happy to call it home.

[He's familiar enough with Inazuma to know where Watatsumi is. At this rate, he's pretty sure she'll end up naming off almost every single island in the nation, and on that note he might as well make time while he's here to visit them all. He's sure he'll have enough time, there's no way he'll get recalled before he can do that. There was a lot of work to do and it's barely gotten started yet.

Ajax looks up to survey the building as soon as Yoimiya stops in front of it, understanding that this must be her place. It's not too far from his own, which'll make life easy for the both of them. Within walking distance, perfect for living in a busy city and not having to take a cab or drive a car themselves. He can see a bike rack too, so that's yet another option. Perfect.]

Definitely nothing wrong with small- it's hard to find anything else around here. I was looking at some of the accommodations around the area before I came to Inazuma, and it seems like there's a lot of small apartments for a little too high of a price.

[That's life, though.]

Either way, I'm sure it's nice even so. I'm glad we got you home safe. Thank you for the nice time tonight Yoimiya, I really enjoyed myself. I couldn't of expected to meet someone in the way that we met tonight.

[ He's got that right. Yoimiya can recall the massive headache she and Itto went through trying to find an apartment suitable for their price range. Neither one of them have high-paying jobs ~~sometimes Itto doesn't have a job >:l~~ so they really had to do some digging just to find a comfy place to live and thankfully, this small complex suited their needs perfectly.

Anyhow, Yoimiya might not have scored the way she wanted but she still considers her encounter with Ajax as a win. She beams at him, happy to hear that despite the rocky start, he had a great time in the end. ]

Me too, I had a wonderful time with you. Can't recall the last time I clicked with a guy practically on the spot. Buuuut before you go, don't forget about our little deal.

[ Not that it was a deal to begin with but regardless, Yoimiya holds up her phone. ]

Phone number, please! Hehehehe.

[ She looks way too proud of herself as she giggles. ]

[Smiling as Yoimiya's hand emerges with her phone, he also gets his own phone out, quickly opening his contacts so he can get dem digits.]

Haha, how could I have forgotten? Of course. Here.

[He recites his phone number for her, waiting until she texts him something so he can add her to his contacts. Would be hard to set up another date without that, after all.]

I think our beach idea sounds grand for a second date. I'll text you tomorrow about it, so we can set up when to go. Teach me how to surf and I'll teach you how to bag a big fish, one you can show off to all of your friends.

[Winking at her, he slips his phone back into his pocket. Now that things are really happening here, he's getting a little excited to see her again after tonight. It's a nice, refreshing feeling, one he's grateful for after his last few dates.]

[ SCORE!!!! Yoimiya feels like she's on top of the world as he recites his digits. Phone in hand, she quickly jots down his number in her contacts with a big smile pulling at her cheeks. This is the face of a girl who looks like she's won the lottery. ]

Hehe, you got a deal! By the time I'm done with you, you'll be a surfing pro. And I trust you'll level up my fishing techniques.

[ Giggling, Yoimiya sends him the first-ever text message from her.

A kaomoji!

(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ ]

See you tomorrow, then? I can't wait to watch you jump into the water to catch a shark with your bare hands.

[ She still... isn't exactly sure if he was joking or being serious. Are Snezhnayan men like this? Either way, she can tell their date will be a whirlwind of exciting chaos. ]

Edited (forgot to format the text message sobs) 2025-01-05 23:32 (UTC)

[Quickly adding her to his contacts, he smiles at the little kaomoji in his messages now. Cute in person and cute over texts. That's something he can get behind. He sends back a lame :) to her, because there's no way he knows how to do this kaomoji thing.]

It'll be a treat, I promise.

[He looks at her with a little smirk on his face, confident in his abilities to do some crazy stuff in the water. But in Snezhnaya, everything is crazy, so why not bring a little bit of chaos from home to Inazuma?

Ajax will end the night with a simple, brief kiss to her lips, bending down to press them together before standing back up again. He'll wait until she goes inside before he leaves, of course.]

See you tomorrow.

[ She thought he was joking at first but now, she isn't sure. Maybe he really is serious about catching a shark with nothing but his bare hands. After all, she's seen some of the massive beasts in Morepesok, maybe Snezhnayan men just do things differently with a side of crazy...

But regardless, Yoimiya is happy to end the night on a good note. She stands on her tiptoes to return the kiss, elation pours from him and into her with every pass of his sweet lips. A kiss from him is the perfect way to end the evening. ]

See you, Ajax. Have a good night.

[ With that, she sends him one last wink before turning on her heels to head into her apartment, happy and excited for their date tomorrow. Once inside, she finally glances at her phone to see a simple :) message from him. Not as fancy as her kaomoji and a bit silly but the simplicity makes him endearing.

Looks like he's got a lot to learn about kaomoji... ]

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The Bet

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