Chapter Text
Komachi watched the clouds drift by, lost in thought. She laid comfortably in the reeds and brush that line the Sanzu river. Thoughts passed through her head as easily as the clouds: aimless, carefree, and lazy. The only topic she kept returning to was her boss, Shikieiki, the supreme judge of departed souls.
She knew there was a chance Shiki would discover the (unauthorized) break she’d taken, but it couldn’t be helped. A singular distraction plagued her, slowing her trips down the river whenever it came to mind.
How do I even approach the subject?
Komachi had always enjoyed the time she spent with Shiki. It’s normal for friends to feel that way, she reasoned. As the years passed, she found herself looking forward to Shiki’s company more earnestly than a friend normally would. She tried convincing herself otherwise, but eventually accepted the truth of her situation; She was hopelessly infatuated with the judge of the dead.
She lazily turned a coin over in her hand as she tried to organize her thoughts. She sat up and looked into the river, checking that her hair wasn’t ruined from her rest in the grass.
I’m usually excited to see her, right? Why is it that all I feel is dread, then…
She looked across the river. A bird hopped in the grass, searching for worms. Komachi envied it and the simple life it led, free from the complex problems she faced now. She did not, however, envy the bird’s taste for worms.
“Well, eating worms might not be so bad, right?”
She looked back down at the river and saw another face beside hers in the water. The reflection of a stern, slightly annoyed face stared back at her. Komachi jumped, then immediately turned and prostrated, ready to begin apologizing profusely. The supreme Yama, Shikieiki Yamaxanadu, stood before her. Komachi opened her mouth to speak but was cut off before she had the chance.
“I step out of my office to investigate the delay, and this is what I find? My subordinate is lounging in the reeds and pondering a diet of worms. Tell me, what have I done wrong to deserve such a lazy shinigami?”
“N-Nothing ma’am! You’ve done nothing wrong!”
“Nothing wrong, you say. Then why must I suffer such insolence under my command? Should I not find myself another reaper to serve me? Why do I continue to tolerate such behavior?”
“Because of your limitless generosity, ma’am!”
Komachi looked up at her. Shiki’s face was turned up to the sky, not even looking at Komachi.
She’s really mad this time… I might be here for a while.
Shiki looked down and met her gaze briefly, then looked away.
“Tsk. As long as you understand. Now get back to work,” Shiki said as she stormed off. Komachi stayed like that for several seconds, shaken by the unusually brief lecture. She shook her head, stood up, and began walking back to her boat.
That was a lot shorter than usual… I wonder why?
She climbed into her boat and resumed her duties as the ferryman of the Sanzu River.
Tonk
Two girls sat in the Hakurei Shrine drinking tea. Having taken a long sip, the two loudly set their cups down at once. The shrine maiden spoke first.
"It's a long way from Higan to here. Something important come up?"
Komachi looked down at her tea.
"Well… Yes and no. Maybe not important to Gensokyo, but important to me. I'm here for advice."
Reimu nodded, trying to appear as sagely as possible. She wasn't used to being sought out for her wisdom, and she didn't want to disappoint.
"I can't promise to have all the answers, but I'll do my best. What's on your mind?"
"Well, it's about, umm… Love."
Reimu stopped cold, but regained her composure a moment later.
"I see, I see."
In truth, she was clueless in this department. Nevertheless, she was confident her advice could at least be of some use.
"Well, I think I… Hmmm…"
Komachi turned a coin over in her hand anxiously as she tried forming the sentence.
"I feel sort of… Well, I think I might be… 'interested' in Shikieiki."
There was a long pause.
"... Romantically, that is."
Reimu barely managed to keep a straight face, not letting Komachi see just how shocked she was. She nodded wisely once again.
"Did something go wrong then? I can't imagine you'd come all the way out here if things were going smoothly."
Komachi hung her head sadly.
"I wasn't sure how to get my feelings across to her, or if it was even appropriate for me to feel that way about my boss. So I've been kind of… avoiding the situation."
"How? Don't you have to visit her regularly for work?"
"Well that's the problem. I still report to her, but the anxiety of coming face to face with her… My pace has slowed down. A lot."
Reimu nodded and sipped her tea.
"So that's where the trouble comes in. I take it she doesn't like that very much?"
Komachi looked away, embarrassed to be explaining the situation she's put herself in.
"Yeah. She used to give me long lectures whenever I messed up, but these days she'll just say a few words, scoff, then trudge off. I think I accidentally made her real mad at me."
Reimu frowned, deep in thought.
"Really the best way to handle this is to just talk to her directly."
"Pfft!"
A third voice entered the conversation. A head of blonde hair appeared from under the kotatsu.
“Forgot she was here,” Reimu sighed.
Marisa pulled herself out from under the covers and sat between the two of them.
“Reimu’s out of touch when it comes to these things. Bringing it up to the boss directly will totally kill the mood,” Marisa said confidently. "What you gotta do is impress her. Be flashy, make a scene. Show her how cool and capable you really are!"
“Using your words is never a bad idea, don’t listen to her,” Reimu said, slightly annoyed. She continued, “And ‘out of touch’? As if you’re some master of romance. You’ve got just as much experience as me!”
Marisa waved her hand dismissively.
“I don’t need experience to know what I’m talking about. I’ve got a romantic spirit!”
Komachi looked between the two. She considered talking to Shiki about how she felt, but immediately dismissed the idea.
Too scary. Impress her, though? I think I can do that.
“Thank you, you two! I’ll do my best!”
Komachi rushed out the door, already plotting her next move.
Komachi rowed with ferocity never before seen on the Sanzu River. Her boat carved a path through the twists and turns at a speed far surpassing what could be considered safe.
She’ll be absolutely floored when she sees how fast I’m delivering souls. She might even start bragging about me to the other Yama of the underworld!
Her destination was near and she began to slow down. As she approached, she saw Shikieiki waiting on the riverbank for her arrival. The sight of her caused Komachi to lose focus, and when she came back to her senses, she’d come too close to the shore to slow down in time.
Crap, I’m gonna crash! Quick, emergency maneuvers!
She grabbed her scythe and slammed it down into the water, planting it firmly into the river bed. The boat jerked sharply to the side and then flipped, sending Komachi and a dozen souls splashing into the water. Komachi swam to shore and met with a very bewildered Shikieiki.
“I’m so sorry ma'am, my carelessness cau-”
Shiki raised a hand to stop her.
“There is no need for an apology.”
Her eyes trailed downward at the clothes which clung to Komachi’s body. She tore her gaze away and looked to the side.
“All I request is a normal, consistent pace. Do not strain yourself attempting to fly faster than you need to. And also…”
Shiki glanced back at her. Her eyes drifted towards Komachi’s chest. With great difficulty, she tore her gaze away once again.
“Change your clothes please,” she mumbled before walking away.
Komachi thought she heard her muttering about “sinful thoughts” as she left.
Tonk
Three girls sat in the Hakurei Shrine drinking tea. Met with failure, they regrouped to come up with a new plan for Komachi's feelings to reach Shikieiki. Marisa broke the silence.
"Well that sucks, but judging by her reaction, it wasn't a total loss."
Komachi tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"From what she said, it doesn't sound like she's mad at you. If that lady was mad she woulda torn into you right then and there. Really given you a piece of her mind. Instead she sounded more… concerned."
The silence resumed as the three sat deep in thought. Reimu spoke first.
"Now that we've tried Marisa's foolish idea, we can go with mine, right? Just talk to he-"
The door to the shrine slid open. All three turned to the door as another magician stepped lightly inside.
"Ah, Marisa, there you are. I was looking for you."
She looked around the table at the three faces.
"Komachi, correct? I don't believe we've met. I am Alice Margatroid, a magician of the Forest of Magic, much like Marisa. It's a pleasure to meet you."
She bowed courteously. Komachi stood and bowed back nervously.
"I'm Komachi Onozuka, but I guess you already know that. We're just, ummm, discussing current events in Gensokyo."
Marisa waved from behind her.
"Hey Alice! Komachi's looking for romance advice, so she's consulting with the local love guru."
Alice raised an eyebrow, and Komachi blushed.
"And who might that be?"
"Why me of course," Marisa declared proudly.
Alice sighed as she took a seat with the three.
"As one who has lived far longer than you two, I believe my advice should prove the most effective. What's the situation so far?"
Reimu began her explanation.
"The short version is that Komachi's got feelings for her boss and doesn't know how to get them across to her. This clown," she gestured to Marisa, "told her to be flashy and impress her. That went about as well as you'd expect, so here we are again."
Marisa shrugged.
"My advice was fine, she just totally screwed up. Not that I blame her, it's not easy pulling off the flashy, stylish look successfully."
Komachi looked down at her lap flustered. Alice spoke up.
"Don't worry, it's just a small setback. Your goal is still within reach. My personal suggestion would be to make something for her. People love receiving gifts. You just need to give her something that makes your feelings clear."
Alice spoke with a tone fitting of a long-lived magician, exuding wisdom and experience. Marisa and Komachi were thoroughly convinced. Reimu remained skeptical but decided this plan, at least, couldn't cause harm like the last did. Komachi bowed, thanked the group, then set off with newfound purpose.