Funny how life works, huh? I ended up going into Lazy Mode (tm) anyway. My bad.

A while passed. A month, nearly two, but he finally got what he asked for. An official package from the Ministry of Right and Wrong came at his doorstep and he put it behind the counter until the evening when he faked closing for Reimu to be able to come without fear of being recognised and learn a little about brewing coffee. Curry was to come soon, but not right now. Today was the day she'd be officially employed.

At around 9:30pm, the lady clad in red and white came in, making the bell ring softly, and her shoulders fell as she took a deep breath.
"So, what's it gonna be today Boss?"

"Today is a little more special than you think Reimu."
He picked up the package and put it on the counter.
"If I'm not wrong, then this is your uniform."

The maiden blinked a few times as the owner opened the cardboard box with a pair of scissors. Turns out he was right, but there was something she really did not expect to be part of the uniform on top of it.

"Glasses?"
She picked them up.
"Why are there glasses?"

"A while ago, I learned that something as simple as glasses can hide someone's identity really well. Put them on and go in the attic, I think there's an old mirror there. You'll also be able to change up there, see if the uniform fits."

Reimu nodded and grabbed the box of cloth with the second pair of eyes back on top of it. When she reached the attic and set the box down, she lookd around for the mirror her mentor told her about. After a single minute of searching and almost panicking over her inability of finding something as simple as a mirror, she found it and put it on the matress that was there for some reason. She fumbled around a bit with the glasses before putting them in front of her eyes. It felt uncomfortable on her ears, but when she looked at her reflexion, she saw what Boss meant. She really did look somewhat different and guessed that with the clothing change, it'd be even better, so she got to that.

A pair of black, somewhat loose jeans, a light gray long sleeved button-up shirt and a dirty green apron. She put them on, aside from the apron since that was for the cooking, obviously, and looked at herself once more. She looked somewhat different, again, but it was still recognisable as her. And when she put the glasses on as well, she looked like her own sibling. It was so strange, almost surreal. She knew that it was her image in the mirror, but it didn't look exactly like her. That way, at least, she wouldn't be regognised, she guessed as she made her way back down.

"Ah, you're done. You look good. Does it suit you?"

"I'm not used to pants but I'm glad that they don't make my hips stand out for perverts as much as skirts honestly and the glasses are... Not too comfortable. It's great otherwise."

"Ah, you'll get used to it."
The man used to wearing glasses looked Reimu up and down.
"There's still something. Mind taking your ribbon off?"

The employee was a little confused but obliged, making her employer nod with approval.

"Perfect. That ribbon is really recognisable, so yeah."

She nodded in understanding.
"I put my clothes in the box for now, is that alright?"

The man nodded back.
"I'm going to go buy some cigarettes, you can walk around to get used to the outfit for now. Hell, feel free to leave the café and explore, I won't be outside for long after all."

Reimu wasn't sure about this. Going outside dressed like this was still a no from her for now, but she guesses she could spend a bit of time waling around in the establishment and brewing some more to get a bit more experience. So, for the next half hour, she was just doing what she got used to doing for the past two months: walk around to get familiar with the place, though she focused on the attic now after the almost-an-incident, and make some coffee for herself. After Sojiro came back, they would just chat about culture, society, technology and people they know. They were still getting to know each other after all.

"Oh, now that I think about it, will you come to the Flower Viewing Festival in a week? I know that you're not too into these kinds of things, but at least to see what the people I tell you about look like."

"How can you be so sure that they'll be there?"

"Everyone in Gensokyo comes for the sight, the people or at least the sake, so..."

"Everyone?"
Sojiro had a strange look of interest all of a sudden.

"I don't think I've ever met someone who doesn't go to these, no."
It wasn't her place to ask.

The mature man began stroking his chin, deep in thought.

"Alright then. Oh, look at the time... I'll have to close up for real very soon. You can go in either outfit, but if you go in this one, try not to fly and do look like a normal human please."

"I'm... Not ready to go out like this yet, sorry."

The man nodded in understanding.
"Go change back then."

She nodded back and went back up into the attic. It still felt a little akward to have to change mid-day in her boss' attic, but she managed. And when she put her usual outfit on and moved in it again, she realised just how much of a pain it was. Too complex, goes everywhere, and now she had to conciously avoid tripping whereas she usually didn't notice her attempts at that. The work outfit was much more comfortable, much more simple and it didn't even show skin at every possible attempt. Seriously, who designed this thing? A pervert? Oh well, here's food for thought sh'll keep to dinner, but right now she has to go home to eat said went down the stairs, said goodbye to Sojiro and left, flying silently through the night.

When she arrived at the shrine, she found something she didn't want to see. Marisa was here, speed walking in countless circles with a look of worry, but mainly just Marisa being here and turning quickly, looking up at random times. Whatever she was waiting for, it seemed to fly.

"Don't be waiting for me, please... I just want to have a calm and quick dinner..."

When the witch saw her, her face lit up for a second with pure, unrestrained joy and relief before going back to it's usual smug confidence as if nothing happened.
"Hey there Reimu! What took you so long, ze? Got a boyfriend now~?"

Her smirk and accusation would have normally irritated Reimu but since she just came back from Leblanc's, she was much more calm than usual and merely sighed softly.
"What do you want?"

Marisa blinked a few times, almost owlishly. It was probably at how the maiden didn't even bother to furrow her brows when she'd normally have an urge to slap her across the face.
"Well, I just wanted to come see my best friend, ze." The witch pressed on those words hard. "But I couldn't find you and decided to wait for your lazy butt to wake up. But you weren't asleep, so... Yeah, ze."

Of course she'd leave the worry part out out of pride.

"Well, I was just coming back from some extermination. Wasn't hard or tiring at all. Now I was just planning on having dinner."

"Mind if I join, ze?"

"Yeah."

While her words were the usual ones, the lack of spite shocked Marisa once more.
"Woah, you good over there?"

"I'm prefectly fine. How about you?"
That held a little sarcasm. Reimu wasn't in the mood to try doing such things right now, she just wanted to eat, so she walked inside of the Hakurei shrine while talking, knowing that Marisa would follow. She knew that she wouldn't leave to let her eat in peace, she never did.

"Ha ha, funny Reimu, ze. No but seriously, you usually want to cause mass genocide at the mere sight of my pretty mug but right now, you don't even look that irritated."

"I can get used to your antics, you know? It's only normal."

"Why didn't you get used to them in the few years prior then, ze?"

"It can take a while, depending on the person."
She began to taka a look through the kitchen closets. What to eat...

"Still, your while was a few years long, ze. That's a bit too long, don't you think so?"

"I dunno. I don't meet many people who are used to your bullshit like me."

"Woah, watch out or you might have to wash your mouth with soap, ze."
Her smirk grew a lot.

"Yeah, whatever mom. What do you want to eat?"

Marisa blinked. She minded her coming over at first but now she asked her what she wanted to eat? So she basically invited her to eat with her? That's... Very much unlike her.
"Who are you and what have you done to Reimu, ze?"

The maiden turned around and raised an eyebrow while shooting the witch with a glare. One softer than usual, but one nonetheless.
"Really?"

"Hey, in my defense you're never like this, ze."

Reimu merely sighed out of annoyance.
"Tell me what you want to eat then tell me about how I'm an alien and how you found out please."

Marisa couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Okay, okay, ze. Whatchu got miss?"

Reimu took a slice of meat and some crackers and turned around to go to the stove while waving towards the kitchen closet, basically telling Marisa to just go look in there for herself. She eyed the other girl for a second before shrugging and going to go look for something to eat. While there wasn't much in there, there was still food, which was more than usually was in there. She was so stunned by that that she didn't even think to "borrow" some of that food.

"Wow, you're packed this time, ze."

"Thank you."

"That's not the answer I want and you know it. Are you getting a lot of donations lately?"

"Maybe."

Marisa frowned. She was used to vague, neutral toned conversation killers from the other one, but this time she wanted to know more. But she couldn't considering the state Reimu was in. She couldn't play off of her emotions like usual because she was too calm right now.

Her train of thought was stopped by the sound and smell of sizzling meat, making her realise just how hungry she was, so she placed her thoughts away for later and legitemately looked for something to eat. She ended up settling on a lot of vegetables, mainly mushrooms, that she put in one big pan to fry them. As their meals cooked, they shared crackers to satiate their hunger for now.

"So anyway, I guess you're not going to tell me where you were earlier?"

"Exterminating, told you already."

"... Alright then."
Marisa was a little annoyed that her friend wouldn't trust her enough to tell her where she really was, she knew Reimu for long enough and well enough to tell when she's lying, but she was well aware that this friendship could easily be one-sided for good reasons so she didn't hold it again Reimu and let that topic go. Instead, they just waited silently for a bit.

Reimu was, strangely enough, the first one to speak up.

"You know, it feels good to not eat alone for once."

Marisa looked at the other girl as if she just... Well, considering the amount of stuff she could see that she was used to, there was not much she could use for that analogy.
"Uh... What do you mean?"

"I always eat alone. Not tonight apparently."

"I come by sometimes."

"I never took the time to like your company. By the way, thanks, would have probably gone nuts with loneliness if not for you."

"Woah... Are you sure you're feeling well?"

Reimu glared at Marisa, her cheek a soft red.
"I embarrass myself with an honest 'thank you' and this is what I get? Geez."

"Okay, okay, sorry. I'm just really not used to you being like that."

Reimu sighed, shaking her head, and turned around to check her cooking. Her steak was done now, fully coocked on both sides, so she took out a plate, along with a second one for Marisa, and put her dinner in her own plate. When the witch managed to get a good look at Reimu's face without her seeing her back, she saw her smiling. Reimu was happy in her presence. This was unprecedented. Wherever she went, whatever she did and whatever was done to her, it really changed her. And while she couldn't bring herself to accept that as good, a part of her, deep inside, told her that it was great news. Her being able to look past what Marisa usually did and enjoy her company was great news. But it was tuned out by the blaring "this isn't normal" alarms.

"And I'm not used to you not putting that annoying 'ze' at the end of almost every sentence of yours. Guess you were doing intentionnally."

Marisa cursed at her incompetence.
"I don't see what you're talking about, ze."

Reimu couldn't hold back a snort.
"Alright, alright. I'll be in the main room if you wanna come eat with me."

Marisa looked back at Reimu. This really was a wierd thing.

Reimu was happy.

While it was strange, it wasn't not welcome. Marisa really considered Reimu her best friend and it made her smile that she was happy, a few of her alarms turning off. She got her food, put it in her own plate before realising that there was too much but shrugging it off, and joined Reimu.

"I made a bit too much. Sorry about that, ze."

Reimu shrugged.
"Guess I know what's for lunch tommorow then."

Marisa shrugged back and sat in front of the maiden to eat. Dinner was silent, but they were still enjoying each other's company. Reimu realised that it was enjoyable for the first time and Marisa wasn't being yelled at for once. It felt great.

"Guess happiness is in the small things."

"Huh?"

Reimu looked up from her food and at Marisa who blushed softly since she thought out loud.

"Oh, it's nothing, don't worry about it, ze."

Thankfully for the witch, she only whispered it, so she wouldn't have to embarrass herself too much.

Dinner ended peacefully, Marisa's confusion completely forgotten.

Wholesome dinner scene is wholesome and warms my heart. I updated the summary for one more detail: I know little about Touhou and what I know I learned from fanfics so it's probably biased.

Anyway, farewell, my subjects.

Your Saltyness.