Warning: this chapter will have 2 things you might want to be aware of.1: I am going to try and give Reimu a character past "haha lazy gal" so she might not be in character with what you're used to.
2: This character might shock some as it is a bit or two kinda dark.
Surprised is an understatement.
Reimu was absolutely stunned at how good Sojiro's curry was and how well it went with his coffee. And, soon enough, she found herself being addicted. Whenever she got a donation, the next moment it was gifted in exchange for coffee. Boss gave her increasingly worried stares since she was spending all of the money she got at his establishment.
After a few day, he made a decision.
"Say, Reimu, since you like being here so much, how about you work for me?"
This was not something Reimu expected to hear that day so she almost spat out her coffee.
"Wh-what? But I'm not qualified at all!"
Sojiro merely shrugged.
"I've had an unqualified teenager help me before. He turned out to be almost as good as me."
Boss had a smile of nostalgia mixed with a bit of pride, maybe even narcissism.
"But why? There aren't too many clients, are there?"
"It's mostly just for the company."
Reimu did not like it. She let out a sigh of frustration and started to think. She did love it here and working here would mean spending her days in this surprisingly wonderful place, but she has responsabilities as a shrine maiden and youkai exterminator. At least she thinks so... Does she really have so many responsibilities? Nobody even comes to her most of the time... Is she really doing a good job?
"Uh... You okay there? I didn't expect to shock you so much."
Reimu came back to her senses to find herself panting, almost hyperventilating.
"O-oh... Sorry, I..."
She failed. Again. She can't succeed. It's why she stopped trying. But she learned to dry her tears long ago.
"Just some bad thoughts."
And she gave her best fake smile.
"If you're having intrusive thoughts then you might need some help. Are there even any therapists here?"
"Ther... Thera-what?"
Need help? Of course. She can't do anything by herself.
"Basically someone who's job it is to help those with mental problems. Listen. Whatever you're thinking, it's not true."
She was back to her hyperventilating befire she stormed out.
"You don't know anything about me!"
The lake is the most peaceful place she knows of. A mirror for the sky, a place where heaven and Earth meet. It's pretty soothing.
Well, as soothing as it could be for Reimu as she tried skipping rocks across the water, causing the only disturbance on the surface. But she couldn't go past a single skip every once in a while.
"I'm useless... Useless and stupid. I can't even skip rocks properly..."
She was mostly shocked and confused. After all, this was the first time in her life that someone saw her not as the "Hakurei Shrine maiden, youkai exterminator and incident resolver", but as Reimu Hakurei, a girl with a bit too much on her shoulders. So you can't really blame her for running away from the unknown. The unknown is scary for anyone.
"It's always at a water source, huh?"
She quickly turned around to see Boss walking towards her at a relaxed pace. A part of her mind wanted to apologise and pour her heart out to the first man who saw her as herself but the other wanted to run away until she fainted from whatever. Just go as far away as possible. But her legs froze and her throat tightened so neither were possible.
"Listen. I'm not here to hear you apologise. In fact, I'm the one who's sorry. I rushed you with no warning and forgot that this is a very different community with a very different way of life, so... My offer still stands if you ever need it, but you can take as long as you need to think about it."
While he looked embarrassed and genuinely sorry, Reimu was almost tearing up. An apology too? This is already too much damnit.
"Why should you be the one saying sorry? I'm the one who ran for no reason."
She threw yet another rock that skipped across the water once as she sighed softly.
"Many people do that. My café ended up as a place for those who ran away blindly to gather strength and courage to go fight later on. It wasn't because of me, but I'd like to help you that way, even if it doesn't mean much to you in the end."
He set a hand on her shoulder and sat down next to her.
"I'm... Not that good at words. But I'm ready to try and help you if needed."
She could just swat his hand away. She could just stay silent and run. But something about Sojiro was... Calming. Soothing. He didn't feel like his café, she realised that it's the contrary. His café feels like him. And it felt like... A father figure. Someone strong she could look up to and rely on. So, instead of running away and risking his dissaproval, she let out a single sob.
"It's... A long story."
"Then I'll listen. You look like you need a bit to recover, so I'll let you be for now. I'll give you a free cup tommorow, how does that sound?"
She nodded.
"See you tommorow then."
Reimu had made up her mind.
"Oh, and I can't even skip a rock once, so good job on that."
And now she was confused and embarrassed again.
That cup felt great. It felt incredible even.
"I'll take the job."
"Are you sure? It might get annoying and hard sometimes."
"I'll handle. I've done worse, believe me."
"If you say so. I'll ask one thing though. I'd like to make you a uniform so I'll need your sizes."
Reimu blinked a bit and sighed. That might get a bit akward.
I am so sorry that this feels rushed and that it is short. I didn't know how to do it otherwise, I don't want to risk going into Lazy Mode (tm) and not update in 4 years and all that. Please, give me tips and criticism on how I tried writing "Anxiety and fear of failure Reimu" and the father/daughter relationship I'm trying to start (it's not romantic you sick idiots).Anyway, farewell, my subjects.Your Saltyness.