Crotch is not a dirty word. It's a lovely word that horticulturalists know well and you can say it here.

Don't quite get the layout scheme with steps and raised beds that you're going for. Why not scratch out a simple sketch that you can post to give the idea better. Also, why raised beds? Why not just plant at ground level? Vegetables seem easier in straight lines and square/rectangular spaces, but there are no laws about this. Enjoy one of your last freedoms!

Raised beds for veggies in western WA are a huge boon - both because the indigenous soil can be kind of iffy and because it is very slow to warm up in spring, Raised beds provide a head start over inground planting, as they warm up much faster and earlier and stay warm later in the season. Besides, in a small backyard like the OP's, raised beds can define and add to the aesthetic and offer protection to emerging or delicate plants, while still providing an area of lawn for kid's play, pets, entertaining, etc.

Are you straightening out the curve in the deck left by the pool? I would think that if you did that, you could configure a right angled raised bed in that space. I would also give it some height, so that it rose at least 18" above deck level. In fact, if you are good at carpentry at all, I'd consider incorporating the raised beds as a feature of the deck, including a bench or seating along the deck side.