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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[ Yoimiya-sensei... she could get used to hearing that!

She's trying hard not to giggle as he carefully studies her hand movement. He's taking this chopstick lesson seriously and she can't be any prouder of her student. Once he's done, she watches him try to emulate her hold but...

It's not quite right. And it shows in how it falls right out of his hand.

Ah... they have a lot of work to do. ]

It was a little off but you're getting there! Here, let's try this.

[ Yoimiya brings the fallen chopstick back to his hand, placing it inside his palm. She gently folds his thumb around the utensil, and positions his middle finger to where it supports the bottom of the upper chopstick. ]

Try thinking about it like holding a pencil!

[He watches in dismay as the stick falls right out of his hand and onto the table. Frowning, he wonders what on earth he did wrong. He swears that he'd emulated her perfectly, so what went wrong? He'll have to really think about it to make sure he doesn't mess it up again.

Silently, he lets her put it back in his hand, fixing his grip in a way that feels so unnatural. He's not used to having the bottom stick that far down on his middle finger, and now she's got him pinching it while holding the upper stick like a writing utensil. He's a little scared to move his fingers, so he looks to her before he even chances it.]

Okay...but how am I supposed to move them? Do they both move? I don't see how the bottom one is supposed to move...

[Shows how little he knows about chopsticks...]

[ Now, she might be an Inazuman with chopsticks ingrained into her brain but she swears, this is the first time she's seen someone so utterly inept at chopsticks.

It's tempting to poke fun at a guy who relishes in battle but can't even pick up two thin strips of wood. But even she feels bad for him. Poor Ajax, she doesn't have it in her to tease him because he just looks so beyond confused at the pair of sticks in his hands. Internally, she makes a silent oath to refrain from giggling at his expense. ]

This might be a tad difficult to remember keep your thumb in between the two chopsticks and press down on the top one with your index finger.

[ Naturally, showing is better than telling, and Yoimiya resumes the demonstration by effortlessly picking up a piece of meat with her chopsticks. ]

Try to pivot the upper chopstick up and down so it hits the tip of the lower chopstick.

[~~He's a 10 but he can't use chopsticks~~

Oh. You don't move both, you only move one. He can see how the bottom stick doesn't move and she's only pinching the top one down onto the bottom one. He supposes that makes way more sense, but just because he understands it doesn't mean he can put it into practice quite yet.

Ajax tries again, doing his best to do exactly what Yoimiya is showing him to do. But it's still very difficult for him, and when he tries to pick up a piece of meat, the chopsticks seem to twist around it and he drops it almost instantly. At least, he kept the sticks in his hand, but they're not looking too hot...]

...Maybe a fork will have to do. I'll work on using chopsticks...

[His face scrunches, frustration settling in his eyebrows at this new challenge, but he's determined to learn. Maybe just not completely tonight.]

You won't mind if I don't use them all the time tonight, do you?

[Like an old codger who insists that learning to use chopsticks is the only way to enjoy the local gastronomy?]

[ ... Ah. Poor guy just can't seem to get it right. And it's not for a lack of trying, the frustration painting his features says it all, it's evident that he's doing his absolute best to follow her instructions but for whatever reason, the universe keeps getting in the way of this man and chopsticks. ]

Of course not! Don't worry, I'm not like one of those old fuddy duddies who will yet at you like... [ She clears her throat, attempting to her best old!Yoi voice. ] "I can't believe those darn kids from the north don't know how to use chopsticks! Young people these days, all they want is the easy way out with a fork and spoon."

[ Soon, Yoimiya's voice cracks into her usual high-pitched tone and she's immediately laughing. As she passes a fork and a set of tongs Ajax's way, she grabs the attention of a waitress passing by. ]

Excuse me! Could you bring us a bottle of your finest sake and some beer? We're going all out tonight since this guy saved a man from nearly getting eaten by a shark.

[ But if she had to guess, he was probably more interested in fighting the shark than saving that dude but details, details. ]

[Now he's going to wonder if old Inazuman men sound like this. Yoimiya's impression makes him laugh, it's silly and he wasn't expecting that out of her. He's not totally familiar with some of the Inazuman language, so he just imagines some old guy behind him judging him silently in Inazuman for using a fork. He's pale and ginger, old guy, give him a break.

But thank god they do have forks. He takes the one she passes his way, beaming up at the waitress when his good deed is announced. He sure did do that! It was great. Fighting the shark was the best part.

When the waitress leaves, he turns to grin at Yoimiya.]

You really weren't kidding about this dinner. I'm really looking forward to trying the sake from here; I've found that all sorts of places have their own, and I've really come to enjoy it.

[It's not Fire-Water, but he likes himself a drink or two.]

By the way, when do we start cooking the meat? My mouth is practically watering looking at it.

[ Cute... for a man who fought a shark with nothing but his bare hands, he sure looks adorable as he beams up at the waitress. He almost reminds her of a kid looking proud of his accomplishment. Except that he's a tall, ginger kid who just threw hands with a giant shark.

Yeah, this guy is proving that he's her type for sure. ]

Hehe, if you're already drooling now, the table is gonna be soaked once you smell that delicious aroma of cooked meat. Let's get to cooking now so we don't keep your poor stomach waiting.

[ Without further delay, Yoimiya picks up a few karubi with her chopsticks and begins laying them on top of the grill. Immediately, her senses are filled with the delectable scent of the meat's juices streaming across the black grates with a hiss. One whiff is enough to send her to heaven, she can't imagine how much drool Ajax is getting ready to spill. While the beef sizzles, she picks up a piece of kimchi, popping the spicy delicacy into her mouth. ]

Mm, I'm already getting hungry just looking at it. So! There's no set time for grilling the meat. Rare, medium rare, or well done, just cook it to your preferred taste. Once it's finished to your liking, dip it in the restaurant's special soy sauce mix for a flavor that will blow your mind.

[Ajax's eyes follow Yoimiya's chopsticks as they lay the meat on the grill, and as it cooks it smells delectable. He supposes now they can cook the meat to their liking instead of hoping the kitchen would cook it the way they like...so he supposes he sees the value in doing it yourself on the grill at the table. The longer the aroma of the meat lingers in his nostrils, the more he can feel his stomach growling. He hadn't realized he was so hungry...]

Oh, I will. I'm getting hungry smelling it...

[It's tempting to try the side dish, but he doesn't want to spoil his appetite yet with side dishes. The kimchi can wait for a moment for him.]

I could almost eat a piece right off of the plate right now. The bloodier, the better, I'd say.

[It's not good meat without some blood.]

My sentiments exactly! I see the charm of crispy meat but there's something about blood dripping out of the meat that makes it so... mouth-watering.

[ Likewise, Yoimiya can no longer wait either. With her chopsticks in hand, she plucks a cut of meat that's pretty much uncooked off the grill. It's still pink and oozing with blood but there's not an ounce of hesitation in her as she brings it to her mouth, and pulls it right off the bone with her teeth. She makes sure to savor each bite, taking her sweet time to enjoy the rush of blood that graces her tongue. It's clear she's enjoying the raw meat little too much with how happy she sounds while eating. ]

Mm! Delicious.

[ This isn't weird at all. Nope. ]

[Ajax doesn't entirely realize at first that Yoimiya's taken a piece of meat that's clearly not ready to be eaten until it's too late. He looks as she pops it right in her mouth and eats it without restraint, holding up a hand as if he were going to try to stop her and yet...feeling like stopping her is a bad idea. Like she'd bite him and eat his hand, too.]

Ah haha...Yoimiya...

[She was really into that...]

I think you might of taken that off a bit too soon. I'm worried you're going to get sick...

[Can you take meat off that early in Inazuma? Surely it follows the same food safety rules as any meat????????]

Hm?

[ Oops, it's just now dawning on her that she probaby looked a little too into eating that piece of straight bloody meat. Might be wise to start holding back. As tempting as it is to lick it, she figures it's wise to grab a napkin and wipe the small splotches of blood staining her lips. ]

Oh, don't worry about it! I'm used to it. We eat raw fish and raw eggs over here all the time.

[ For his sake, she'll try to be more mindful of how she conducts her eating habits. ]

But I promise I'll be more careful. [ Even if she's gonna miss that sweet, sweet blood sobs. ] So, how do you like your meat cooked?

[Somehow, he's not convinced that eating raw fish and raw eggs here is the same as practically eating raw meat. He's aware that the fish gets flash frozen and that the eggs are handled in a way that makes it so you can eat them that way...]

...Uh, well, I'm a fan of the juicer the better.

[But she just definitely took the award for eating the juiciest meat despite the danger to her health??????]

But as long as it tastes good, I'll really eat it any way it's made. I'm guessing you like yours...rare.

[ Uh oh. He's definitely weirded out. Though he probably hasn't figured her game, she still needs to figure out a way to play this off so he doesn't look too deep into it. Ajax definitely strikes her as someone who has some wit to him. ]

You got that right. I'm like you, juicy meat is the best. There's something about pink meat that's just divine. It's soft, tender, and so easy for me to sink my fangs into it. You get the best flavor out of rare meat when it's nice and bloody...

[ NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THAT AT ALL. ]

Hehe, sorry, sorry! I know I sounded like a complete and total weirdo there. But you know what, I might have pulled it out a little too early. I promise I'll ensure it's a little more well done.

[YOIMIYA YOU ARE NOT MAKING HIM FEEL BETTER ABOUT THIS AT ALL

Ajax is still a bit worried that she might get sick from eating such uncooked meat, but it's probably better to not worry about it now. Not like they can do much about it, and he's not about to suggest she go to the bathroom and "take care of it" or something. He just met her yesterday...

So, he offers a small smile and tries to look a bit happier and not totally weirded out.]

Haha, alright, as long as you promise. Don't hesitate to tell me if you're not feeling well, though.

[And he'll leave it at that. Man, who knew Yoimiya was such an apex predator?

It's then their waiter arrives back with the sake Yoimiya ordered, setting two smaller cups down along with a larger flask for the two of them. Ajax nods to them in appreciation, before taking the flask and pouring some sake into the cup.]

Now here's something I could really go for.

[He drinks it with no issue, all in one gulp, setting it down with satisfaction. The warm sake felt nice on his throat.]

[ Awwww, that's sweet he's so concerned about her... ahem, unusual tastes in meat. She just smiles back at him, trying her best to move on and not draw too much attention to the fact she just straight up ate meat raw.

And thankfully, the waiter bringing their sake is the perfect distraction from Yoimiya being weird. She gives the waiter her thanks and once Ajax has his fill, she pours her own cup. Like a true Inazuman, she doesn't immediately down it, preferring to take small, slow sips to really savor the flavor. Her eyes dart over to Ajax, amused that his cup is already empty. Boy downed that drink so fast that it's impressive. ]

How are you enjoying sake? I know it's not as strong as Fire-Water but it's still pretty good. Not that I'm being biased or anything, hehe.

[ Since the bottle is on her side, she sets her cup down to fill his back up. ]

Honestly, I'm surprised.

[He twirls his cup between his fingers a few times before setting it down and pouring some more sake into it. He's not used to warm alcohol like this, and he has no problem downing it again like it's a shot glass rather than an actual cup that he should be sipping.

It's just...he's used to drinking, so he pours another to let them warm liquid run down the back of his throat.]

The taste is superb, and it really settles nicely in my stomach. Usually, I'm downing shots of Fire-Water quickly, due to how harsh it is...but this is so smooth and welcoming.

[What he doesn't realize that it's so nice that he'll begin to drink too much of it.]

I'm really glad I came to Inazuma. I can't imagine missing out on something like this.

[ It's really amusing to see him downing glass after glass, she's not used to people drinking sake like that. But even though it's different, he describes the taste so perfectly that she can tell he appreciates it like an Inazuman. So! She decides to follow suit, quickly downing another glass of sake along side him. ]

Sounds like you've already fallen in love with our humble island in the ocean.

[ This time, the meat she reaches for is... a bit more cooked. She plucks it with her chopsticks, dips into the sauce, and nibbles. It's not as good without the blood oozing out but she'll be good. For you, Ajax. ]

How long do ya plan on staying in Inazuma?

[Ajax almost forgets there's meat grilling, the scent of it catching his nose and making his mouth water. Since he can't use chopsticks, he gets a hold of a fork and pokes a piece of meat to put it on the little plate in front of him.]

As long as I'm needed. The project is supposed to last quite a while, and until everything is built, I won't be going anywhere.

[Properly stabbing it with his fork now, he eats the juicy meat with a satisfactory smack, before chasing it with another glass of sake. He feels warm, his head light, and happiness fills him as the alcohol begins to take hold.]

Who knows what'll happen after. I might be called back to the motherland, or they may decide that I'm better suited here for the time being. But I wouldn't worry too much about that- we'll have plenty of time to spend together before we need to worry about it.

[ Look at him enjoying the meat with his sacred fork, that has to be the most satisfied smack to grace her ears. Though her body is naturally cold, even she feels a tinge of warmth buzzing in her chest as she watches him eat. He looks like he's on cloud nine while eating, it's hard to believe this is the same man who fought a shark with his bare hands.

After everything that's transpired, it's nice to finally have a peaceful time with him and with any luck, she hopes they'll get to enjoy moments of respite to get to know each other. ]

Busy man with a busy schedule! Buuut I have a good feeling about ya, you look the type of guy who is gonna accomplish many feats in your country..

[ Right on cue, the waiter comes back with the beer she ordered. Yoimiya thanks them for their service before passing him a glass. ]

And if I didn't know any better, I'd say it sounds like you can't get enough of me. So, I take this as a sign I've earned a few more dates out of ya?

[Now that the meat on the grill is really going, he's starting to take off more and more, adding what he takes to keep the line of food coming. He's drinking more sake along with it, and the waiter has to come back with another bottle for him because he's drinking it so quickly...]

At least a few more.

[He sends her a wink, before taking the offered glass and downing that too- like he's just used to drinking alcohol like a maniac.]

But we can figure those out later, since we're still on this one. This place was a great idea, it's really hitting the spot.

[Swooning back and forth, he playfully picks up the discarded chopsticks in his hand and waves the back and forth like he's doing battle, holding them as if the two sticks together formed a sword and he was holding them by the hilt.]

I'll master these, I swear it! Hahahaha, they're much easier to wield like this...

[ At least a few more... score! Yoimiya grins at the wink and immediately downs the glass of beer in a celebratory gulp. Ajax is fun, interesting, and not to mention, drop dead handsome. She certainly feels proud of herself for scoring a few more dates out of this stud muffin.

Now, she's just gotta amp the charm to entice him into her clutches... but for the time being, she's happy to drink and feast with him. Even if that includes drinking the night away because gosh, Yoimiya thought she was a heavy drinker but Ajax is eating her out of house and home. She's never seen someone down shot glass after shot glass of sake then turn around and drink a whole glass of beer. This crazy guy is on a whole new level. ]

Hahaha, goodness Ajax! You just keep downing the alcohol one right after the other. Are all y'all Snezhnayan folks drinking champs?

[ Furthermore, he's picked the chopsticks right back up. Yoimiya is giggling up a storm as she watches him with the sticks in hand, she swears it looks like he's holding them like weapons of mass destruction. ]

Oooh, looks like you're doing it! Maybe you should drink before you use chopsticks.

Hahaha, no I'm nottttt...

[He separates the two chopsticks in his hand, holding one in each hand now instead as he smiles drunkenly back at Yoimiya. With barely any meat in his stomach and a whole lot of sake, it's begun to hit him hard, acting like a happy little kid in a candy store.]

Am I? Let me try again.

[He leans both of his elbows heavily on the table, so that his entire upper body leans towards Yoimiya while he switches his chopsticks to his right hand. Mystically, he manages to hold them properly, pinching them together with little effort as he sways side to side while staring directly at the tip of her nose.

Slowly, he reaches out, and pinches Yoimiya's nose shut with the chopsticks alone, giggling as he does so.]

Hehe, now you have to breathe out of your mouth. Hahahahahaha-!

[ ...

??????????

Yoimiya was just joking when she said he should drink before using chopsticks but good lord, he's... actually holding them properly. She does a double take, unable to comprehend what she's seeing when he suddenly starts pinching them together like a pro. This is the same man from like five minutes ago, right? Right??? He didn't switch himself with a chopsticks expert, right? RIGHT???? ]

Wha...?

[ In the midst of her surprise, she never would have guessed that Ajax would reach over to pinch her nose with chopsticks. ]

Hey! My nose is not a piece of meat! Hahahaha! Oh my goodness Ajax, you are drunk!

[ Thanks to Ajax holding her nose, her voice is beyond nasally. ]

[Her voice sounds so funny to him while he's in this state, trying to hold his giggles back. He squeezes her nose a few times before finally letting go, slumping in his seat as he laughs at her nasally voice and the look on her face when he grabbed her nose. After a moment of a laughing fit, he sits back up and wipes a tear from his eye as he sways back and forth, happy as a clam.]

Ohhhh, hahaha! You...should of seen the look on your faceeee....

[Not denying the drunk allegations, he picks up meat from the plate and drops it on the grill expertly, like he'd been practicing using chopsticks his whole life. The meat sizzles on the grill as he watches it cook, eyes focused on his meat as best he can.]

Now, I'm a hungry drunk. That sake's really good...

[He says as he proceeds to grab his cup to drink more of it. His Snezhnayan body can take it! He definitely won't have a hangover tomorrow.]

[ .........

HOW?????

HOW DOES ALOCHOL SUDDENLY TURN HIM INTO A CHOPSTICKS PRO???????

Yoimiya can't even react to the last squeezes to her nose due to being so stunned at his sudden expertise with the utensils. Was he messing with her the whole time????? So many questions. Suddenly, she's struck with an idea as she pulls her phone out to begin recording him. There's no way she's gonna let this slide and oh boy, she can't wait to see the look on his sober face. ]

Hehe happy to hear you're enjoying it! How are ya liking the meat? Is the sauce like anything you had in Snezhnaya?

[ Just keep talking, Ajax. She'll keep rolling. ]

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he should get get drunk and use chopsticks like a pro by the end of their dinner LOL

👍

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