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The two of them stepped away from the line and strode, side-by-side, through the main avenue of the carnival. Yumi clasped her hands behind her back and nodded with the wisdom of a sage as Jayden promised to be more forward with Fern.[break][break]

Then he posed his own question to her, and she laughed. The melodic sound of her amusement mingled with the noise of the festival.[break][break]

"No, though I've dated here and there, especially while at university," she said. "I've dealt with enough idiot men to smell their bullshit and keep my standards high. No offense, of course, sir."[break][break]

Despite her words, she did not speak as if she cared to have offended him.[break][break]

"Maybe one day I'll meet someone worthwhile, but I don't intend to make an easy match of myself." Her family had already tried that, once.

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The flicker of emotion that crossed Jayden's face was enough to convince Yumi that he did, indeed, have fond feelings for fern delaney. And as Fern's friend, it was her duty to ensure that their partner did treat them. Felt affection for them.[break][break]

All things she did not expect for herself, though.[break][break]

Yumi watched Jayden pay for the balloon before resuming their conversation. "Fern's made of tougher stuff than you think. If they are uncomfortable with their partner's curiosity, that is their problem and they must deal with it maturely."[break][break]

She leveled her dark gaze at Jayden.[break][break]

"Fern is not a mind reader, either. They won't automatically know what you wish to know, and what you don't mind not knowing. Just ask. Don't treat them like a child or yourself like a coward," she said, without a hint of fear for rebuking her superior.

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A Level Tutor may not have been the rarest prize, but it was certainly a useful one. Pleased, Yumi dove once more with her Sharpedo, hoping to find something equally valuable. They took a moment scouring the ocean floor before grabbing something shiny and returning to the surface.[break][break]

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Yumi could understand curiosity, so she accepted Jayden's answer at face value, especially because it made sense in the context of his and Fern's relationship. She still found it strange that a couple wouldn't share more about themselves—and especially their pasts.[break][break]

Then again, she was an over-sharer in a way.[break][break]

"I don't know much about his past either," she admitted, following Jayden to the souvenir booth. "But if I were curious, like you are, then I would ask. There's nothing wrong with being upfront about that sort of thing."[break][break]

Was Jayden shy? The thought occurred to her as she spoke. Such a personality trait seemed odd for an admin of a crime syndicate, but she supposed Jayden had climbed the ranks for other, more pertinent qualities.[break][break]

Yumi's eyes scanned the souvenirs, finding nothing of interest among the knicknacks. They lit up, however, as they fell upon a carnie turning long balloons into vague semblances of Pokémon.[break][break]

"Why don't you buy a balloon Pokémon for Fern?" she suggested, tugging on Jayden's arm to redirect his attention.

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It was official: Jayden stumped Yumi. She wasn't sure if she was interacting with a person with the way he avoided her question, then handed her the plushie, only to walk off. In fact, she had half a mind to walk in the opposite direction, but her curiosity overruled her sense.[break][break]

"You know, that's not exactly the kind of thing a person asks when they want to know a secret about someone. It's public knowledge," she said as she followed Jayden, quick steps bringing her to his side in moments.[break][break]

"I'm surprised you haven't already asked Fern yourself. You've been together for some time now, haven't you?" Not that she was keeping track.[break][break]

As people pressed around them, Yumi paused her line of questioning for a moment to see why so many had gathered there.

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"How Fern and I met?" Yumi echoed, surprised a second time. Why would that interest Jayden, Fern's partner? As a matter of fact, shouldn't he have already learned that information from Fern?[break][break]

Her questions did not matter, though, so she brushed them aside and provided a straightforward, simple answer.[break][break]

"We met helping out at the casino, before it took over. We took care of some unruly patrons, and Fern thought I was funny." Because, in her defense, she was. "Why do you ask?"[break][break]

She watched Jayden select the Seviper from the wall of prizes, unable to help the pleased smile that spread across her face.[break][break]

"Good choice. Seviper is one of my favorites." Briefly, her fingertips brushed the Pokéball of her own snake clipped to her belt.

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Yumi arched an eyebrow at the silence trailing Temp's unfinished comment, but when he shrugged and moved on, so did she. She turned her full attention to the Tauros Riding game and visibly paled.[break][break]

"Definitely not me," she said, laughing despite the mental images running through her head. "I'm going to be thrown flat on my ass within the first fifteen seconds."[break][break]

However, for some reason, she could imagine Temp doggedly staying on.[break][break]

"You go first," Yumi said, smiling her saccharine smile. "I'll take a video for you so you can send it to your husband." Surely Cillian Quinn would find it amusing.

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Yumi blinked at Jayden, taken aback by his apology. It was the last thing she expected to hear from him, considering their little game.[break][break]

"Don't apologize," she said, laughing lightly. "You won fairly. Now, what is something you wish to know about me?"[break][break]

She wasn't afraid to share even personal details with the admin. After all, she shared most things on social media already. Her followers knew about her falling out with her family, her friends, the kind of places she visited.[break][break]

And Jayden being an admin meant he had access to her files. So in her opinion, she had no secrets to keep.

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Yumi handed in the second Clamperl to the organizers of the diving event—Rangers, she supposed, judging by how they paid her for the Pokémon. She didn't need the pocket money, but decided to keep it to treat herself later.[break][break]

Satisfied with the transaction, she returned to the sea for another attempt at collecting treasure.[break][break]

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Yumi recalled her Rapidash as Danny joined her in the underground passage. Mamoru the Gallade, however, remained out, ready to defend them in case of danger. "Ready," she replied with a nod.[break][break]

They followed the winding tunnels for what felt like an eternity, traveling in the direction they remembered seeing the structure. Finally, the ground began sloping upward, leading back to the surface.[break][break]

A clear sky greeted them as they emerged from underground; the sandstorm was gone, either abating into nothing or traveling in a different direction. Yumi breathed a sigh of relief—at least, until she saw the same tracks in the sand from before.[break][break]

"Hey, that Pokémon came here, too," she said, pointing.[break][break]

A strange, alien cry filled the air, startling Yumi. Glancing up, she saw an unfamiliar creature standing amid the wreckage of dilapidated vehicles and buildings.[break][break]

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An Ultra Beast, she realized, just as the Pokémon LUNGED at them. Her Gallade jumped in the way, taking the full force of the blow, before retaliating with PSYBEAM.

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Yumi smirked. "Deal."[break][break]

Unfortunately, the game was just as rigged as any other carnival game. No matter how she aimed, she failed to shoot down a single balloon. After six attempts, the maximum number of shots in a single round, she handed back her plastic gun and turned to Jayden.[break][break]

"Your turn," she said, her smirk gone, replaced by a petulant scowl.

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Yumi shook her head. "My friend is around here somewhere, but I don't have to hang out with him all the time," she replied. "Want to check out what's here?"[break][break]

She scanned their immediate area, seeking some game to play or ride to enjoy. Almost immediately, she spotted the Tauros Riding game just as a teenage girl was flung off the mechanical bull.[break][break]

On the other hand, a Magikarp fishing game stall stood at the opposite side of the boulevard, offering a calmer experience for carnival-goers.[break][break]

"Do you have a preference?" she asked Temp.

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