Work Text:
Komachi Onozuka,
Your yearly performance review has been not up to the standards of the Shinigami Transportation System. I understand that we are not in the busiest area, and that there are slow days. But after reviewing my yearly output of judged souls vs. the number you have transported, there is a discrepancy. This is the 30th year in a row you have not met Higan's standards. Please do better. For both of our yearly reviews.
Shiki Eiki Yamaxanadu.
The Ministry of Right and Wrong
Higan
Dearest Lovely Eiki,
I got your yearly letter about not doing the numbers. I get it. The bosses get onto you so you get onto me. But the souls I transport are always calm and never harbor any negative ki. That has to be a good thing? Right? You always have an easy time with the folks I transport. Besides the one year with the flower stuff, things have been going pretty smoothly! I feel like I should get some credit for that. Put a good word in? For me? Because I love you?
Please? I'm sick of getting letters from the STS. Like yeah I know I don't do as good as those guys in the metropolitan areas but we're out in the sticks! Even worse than the sticks! I mean. Not worse but… you know.
Komachi Onozuka
Sanzu River Ferrywoman and STS Union Member
Komachi,
The yearly performance reviews are a bit skewed in favor of those that are supporting the actual populated areas of the country, I agree with you on that. But we still have to hit the goals they set for us. Every year you skirt under the minimal amount. I thought about accepting animal spirits to inflate your numbers, but that's Kutaka's domain. Not mine. I really am trying to help you. But you have to actually shape up a bit. Take things seriously. The rural population that overlaps with our own in Gensokyo is also falling and there's a risk of our jobs becoming automated. I've written a lot of letters to our bigger bosses but I'm usually met with silence.
(Well, Hell has responded but Hell just wants souls. No matter the judgment)
Anyway. We should meet in person to talk about this.
Shiki Eiki Yamaxanadu.
The Ministry of Right and Wrong
Higan
Shikieiki Eiki Bobeiki Foeikibecki Yashechki,
You suggesting a date? I'm blushing as I write this!
Sorry about the big bosses, I don't know what to say about those guys. Plus that Hell Goddess is kinda scary isn't she? Like she has 3 heads or whatever?
Also Kutaka works for you too. Does she get a yearly review? Or do chickens not have to do stuff like that? Whatever. Don't worry I'll shape up next year.
Komachi
Komachi,
Please stop addressing your letters to me in ridiculous manners, and please take this a bit more seriously. You keep saying you'll shape up every year. It's been thirty.
But yes, dealing with my superiors is rather upsetting. It hurts to feel ignored. And I suppose Hecatia Lapislazuli is frightening. I've never seen her in person.
Kutaka gets a review as well but she is lumped into the Animal Spirits category. We are under Humanoid. There's a very large difference, though I may be able to fold Kutaka's work into your own. I'll see.
I do not consider our meeting to be a date. I am requesting that you meet me in my office sometimes this week. You know my schedule.
Shiki Eiki Yamaxanadu
The Ministry of Right and Wrong
Higan
It never took Komachi long to get to Eiki's office. She always made sure to shorten the distance between her and her boss. Even picking up some dango and tea didn't take very long.
Komachi strode into the main office section of the Ministry of Right and Wrong. Nobody really questioned when a Shinigami had business with one of the Yama, especially if they walked in with a sense of purpose.
Eiki's desk was in the far back, papers were piled neatly on the corner of the desk and she worked diligently on a report, her fountain pen scratching against the paper as she wrote.
Komachi set the box of dango and cup of tea down on her desk and placed her hands right on the edge of her desk. "I'm here for my meeting." She said, smiling down at the sitting woman.
Eiki glanced up, then at the food, then at Komachi's chest, then finally focused on her face. "It's good to see you." She deadpanned. "Pull up a seat."
The desk right in front of Eiki's was empty, and Komachi grabbed the chair and spun it around, sitting down and sighing loudly. She had been standing all day, and it felt nice to sit down for a bit. Komachi watched as Eiki took a sip of her tea and opened the box of dango, her eyebrows lifting in mild surprise and the smallest of smiles appearing on her lips.
"You shouldn't have."
"I always do. You know me." Komachi winked and Eiki just shook her head.
Despite the feigned annoyance, Eiki did enjoy the gift. It made her work just a little bit less grueling. And besides, she also got to see Komachi. Which she would never admit was a plus.
Sighing softly and taking a few bites of her food, Eiki opened the first drawer of her desk, taking the letters Komachi had written her out to find the performance review. Komachi leaned over and her eyes widened, as well as her smile.
"You kept my letters?"
Feeling caught off guard, Eiki felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "Yes. I didn't feel it was appropriate to throw them out." Especially since the letters reminded her so much of the other woman, and reading them back made Eiki smile. Which was another thing she would never admit.
Komachi then rose out of her seat and squished Eiki's cheeks, leaning forward and kissing her boss right on the mouth before Eiki could voice any complaints. When Komachi sat back down Eiki stared blankly before sputtering. "What was that for?"
"What? I can't kiss you?
"Not while we are at work!"
Shrugging, Komachi just leaned back in her chair and Eiki rubbed her face. Komachi was a handful on most days, but she really did try to avoid PDA at work. Even if nobody cared.
Eiki shuffled her papers and found the appropriate report, glancing over it before she began her spiel. "As I said in the letter, you haven't met your yearly quota. I had a few ideas on how we could improve this. My first plan was to perhaps look into asking Yukari Yakumo if she could check if Gensokyo's barrier allows for more movement of souls from the outside world. Gensokyo's barrier makes things very difficult for us, despite the area being linked to two different plains of the underworld -"
Before Eiki could continue her analysis, she noticed that Komachi was just staring at her with a tiny smile on her face. Which made Eiki raise an eyebrow.
"What are you smiling about?"
Komachi seemingly snapped out of something, blinking a few times before the smile turned awkward. "Oh uh. I was just thinking about how pretty you were when you talked work."
That made Eiki deadpan. "You weren't listening."
"No."
At least she admitted it. Eiki sighed loudly and just set the report back down on her desk. Then she proceeded to put the letters back in her desk drawer (making sure they were facing up so she could read them). "Well. Do you wish to leave?" She asked, her question making Komachi do a double take.
"You're suggesting we skip work? Who are you?" Komachi's eyes were wide, but she was already getting out of her seat.
Eiki rose as well, tucking in her chair and returning the one that Komachi had taken. "Yes. Now let's go before I change my mind."
An excited noise escaped Komachi and she hugged her boss, kissing her on the cheek. "No takebacks!"
Returning the kiss, Eiki allowed herself to laugh. "No. No takebacks."
The both of them strode out of the Ministry, Eiki's arm tucked within Komachi's. Eiki knew Komachi could be a bad influence, but it was nice to take things at a slower pace sometimes.