Chapter Text
Amidst the fallout of the usual lunchtime rush, a lone human toiling over a book bound with pages of research sits at a table for two with a drink by their side. A dip pen sits, slightly agitated, within their grasp. It occasionally clinks against a stained inkwell that is also sitting on the table.
This human was you– one of many troubled writers in Inazuma. You ruffle the corner of a blank page in your diary between your fingertips, urgently attempting and failing to start recording what today's happenings might bring. It didn't have to be perfect, it was just the beginning– precursors to a draft– but it was still hard starting alone.
Taking a delicate sip of tonyu, you trace fingers over the plain, pale pages– and begin
[ Initial Meeting, Background
Oni: Yōkai Native to Inazuma. ]
Despite their integration into human society, oni have not been documented extensively well within recent centuries. Not that it was much of their fault, you thought– despite the sheer size and might of these folk, they weren't oft lacking in honour and respect. The few times oni of the modern day where sighted, they would rarely ever be hostile, instead lowering their red horns and tucking away their tusked fangs behind gently smiling lips.
Still– these times were few and were, unbeknownst to you, going to be even fewer with today's subject of attention.
Speaking of the demon, the café door swings wide open with a loud Thud! and a ruckus of a man's voice resounds from behind.
"Oi, oi!! There you are!"
The source of the voice is none other than Arataki Itto. He struts into view, alabaster hair trailing behind him.
"Ah," you exhale, "hello! I'm glad you could make it, Itto."
Your back straightens some within his presence. Itto provides you with a soft pat on the shoulder before flashing some of his large teeth in a grin, and sits down in the empty chair opposite your viewing. The wood labours an audible creak.
"Course! What? I wasn't about to bail on you, that's not what I'm about," the man expounds in a quieter tone. You chuckle as he sits extremely casually (and incorrectly) on his wooden throne, slinging an arm over the back and looking like he's about to throw his legs up on the table but never committing to it.
He itches his cheek. "Sorry I was late."
You brush a hand over your own cheek, mirroring his slight nervousness. "Eheh– no, it's fine, it wasn't like I wasn't expecting it."
"Hey," he pouts, "I got caught up. Literally–" the oni raises his clawed hands and waves them about as he tells his tale. "Get this, the kids down in Hanamizaka wanted to play ring toss, yeah? Only problem was the targets they were usin'- old, wooden pegs that'd probably turn to dust if you breathed on 'em wrong–"
Itto catches himself sliding off topic and clears his throat briefly.
"Ah- yeah, so I let them use my horns as targets instead, ehe."
You stare at the man in disbelief, but you let it settle. Itto starts up again.
"But more than half of them kept complaining that it wasn't fair… said I move too much- or something."
He presses his elbow onto the table and leans his face into one hand, voice slightly muffled because of his squished cheek.
"It's not my fault that their aiming might just be bad…" he mumbles.
You huff a smile. Itto the big friendly oni had been on your radar for quite a while. He couldn't not be, in honesty– the man was bold and brash and remarkably easy to get along with if you returned his enthusiasm. That wasn't exactly an experience you were well-versed in, though. The man had been but a strange, handsome anomaly to you up until very recently, when he replied very exuberantly to a specific request you had posted on one of Inazuma City's bulletin boards.
Itto's eyes meet yours again. "Ah- yeah, so that's why I'm late. Little rascals really wanted to keep me, ahah," he laughs.
"But I'm yours, now. Aaaalll yours– for this thing I'm so excited to hear about!"
Ah. Yes. Itto's ever-verdant personality wasn't the reason for this rendezvous.
"Right! Yes, yes. I have notes for this."
You lightly tap the bottom of your diary against the table to compile any stray pages and notes inside, clearing your throat in the process.
"As you know, I've been trying to gather information on modern-day yōkai to compile in some sort of written and illustrated format. 'Observations of Modern Oni' is the chapter you'll be featured in."
You smile at him, hoping that he's following along. He grins. "Naturally," the man glows. You continue.
"I just want to take notes on and write about stuff like your biology and capabilities, as well as document any customs oni may have. So that means we'll be working together for a while."
The man nods along, still smiling. Your fingers find themselves gliding across the diary's paper and begin fiddling with the first passage written within Itto's section.
"I'm… not a professional scholar by any means, and I won't be able to pay you for your time at the moment… but… I hope this can at least help your kind a little. I mean, both of us– but with you and how I've seen Inazumans treat you."
You carefully look back up to the oni's face. Itto's smile sombers a little. He forces a quiet laugh.
"Ahah– so you've noticed, ah…"
His crimson eyes drift away for a moment, and he taps the table a few times.
"Yeah, uh… thanks for that," his focus resumes, and he smiles widely again.
"But, hey– this meeting's not just for all that wordy stuff, right?"
You close your diary slowly.
"Uh, I guess–"
"Great!" Itto interjects, "Cause I. Am. Starving. Whatcha got there??" he chants.
The large man leans in, eyes dilated and focused on the drink present on your side of the table.
"Hm? Oh! Sorry about that, ahah… maybe I should've waited for you before ordering…" you apologise. His gaze continues to bore into you.
"It's no problemo! You gotta stay hydrated– and hey, it looks good, think I'll have the same."
Itto makes light grabby hands in response to being handed the drinks menu, and he traces one of his claws gently down the page. Quickly, his expression sours.
"Ah… shoot."
"Hm?" you mumble and slurp slightly while taking a sip of the delicious beverage that even Itto will surely–
"That thing's got beans in it."
The straw slides out of your mouth as you gape a little. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah. Soy milk." Itto replies with a frown. Even his pointed ears lower a little as he looks so dejected. This wasn't a good start.
"Sorry, Itto, I didn't know–"
Itto waves his hands around, "Oh! Nonono! It's cool!" he assures, "Aheh- just don't go spilling it…."
Then, he stops to place a hand on his chin. His look of contemplation is almost comical.
"Unless…. That's exactly what you're planning on…"
"What?" you ask, blankly.
"What if you're just trying to get some first-hand experience with oni bean allergies? Huh?? Yeah, that's right, I'm seein' right through your scheme here!"
He points playfully with a devilish grin marked on his face which is, alone, enough to make you sweat slightly. His prosecution, though; it forces some strained panic from your vocal cords.
"No, I-! I wouldn't, I promise, I-"
Itto simply starts laughing. Sharp tusks that frame his mouth push the sides of his lips away as he seems lost in his own jest.
In time, he begins to calm down and itches an eye.
"We are gonna get along just great, hoo…"
He was certainly a weird one.
The man ends up ordering a tea, which you somehow found unexpectedly quaint for someone of his caliber. That being said– he was almost about to order some saké, if not for the price tag attached to it (and your comments such as: "Do you really want to be day-drinking.")
As for food, you both order yakisoba. It was probably for the best that you chose the same, lest you accidentally and unknowingly ordered another something with beans. The oni cheerfully boasts about a legendary dish by the name of 'Way of the Strong' whilst slurping down his noodles– claiming that he'll have to prepare it for you sometime.
The bill is placed on your table. You dig through your belongings to find the correct amount of mora, but Itto seems to be mirroring the exact same action. He holds up a hand to stop you.
"Hey, wait– lemme…" he mumbles, finally taking out a coin pouch that is dwarfed in size by his massive hands.
"I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I let you pay for yourself, huh?"
'Gentleman' and 'Itto' weren't two words you had ever heard together.
Itto opens the pouch and shakes it about, and reveals… an unresounding ten mora residing inside.
"Ah." Itto gapes. Somehow he doesn't seem surprised.
The man looks to you, apologetically, in silence. For once, he's shut up.
"How about I pay? I don't mind, really."
Itto's toothy grin reappears yet again under a more embarrassed filter.
"Thanks. And, uh, sorry," he speaks, "I'll pay you back somehow, I promise."
As much as you stare at him out of pure confusion, Itto doesn't back down. You can practically see the cogs and gears spurring inside his head as he devises a plan.
"I know!!" the oni blurts out, suddenly, shaking the legs of your table as he slams his palms down, “I’ll give my all to your research! You’ll be getting 200– no, what am I saying? 300 percent from me!! You can bet on that," he declares while leaning over yet again and looking very proud of himself.
And you're certain that's another thing you absolutely can't fight him on.
You begin to put away your belongings; thoroughly satisfied with today's meeting. With the two of you so adamant about the project it would most certainly go smoothly– and Itto definitely seemed to be the wonder everybody had described him to be. The man hoists his jacket around his shoulders and smiles brightly, vowing to not keep you waiting a single minute– no, second– the next time you plan to meet, and saunters out of the café with his horns held high.