Notes

Before you called out to the lounging miko, she said in a voice that betrayed nothing but a bit of laziness: "Oh you're up, huh?" She half muttered without even looking in your direction. "Your old clothes are hanging out on the clothesline... but honestly they're a little ripped up."

You rubbed your chin, finding stubble growing out already and realized you must have been out for since yesterday. The memories of that desperation came flooding back into your mind, along with the relief of seeing the small (compared to you) girl who saved your hide.

You opened your mouth after clearing your throat. "I just wanted to say thank you... Really, I didn't think I was getting out of that one. Not to mention you taking care of me personally..." Reimu perked up at that, as she got onto her feet and turned to face you

Her placid nonchalance seemed a little more forced somehow, as she walked up a few steps to you and sighed, "Listen. Don't think it was anything personal, okay? You're an important source of income, even if you are a damn fool wondering off to wilds like that..." You thought she was going to keep lecturing you, but instead she motioned to the table. "Look, just sit down. You look like pale death and keep swaying all the damn time! I'll put on some tea for you and get a bit of food in you."

You were in no state to refuse the offer after all, so you sat down at the small dark wooden table that has clearly been in use for many, many years with how scratched up and worn it was. You watched the miko dressed in a modest summer uniform light the stove and get a kettle to a boil over a fire lit in the belly of an earthen stove, and sighed inwardly. You didn't like making trouble for someone, much less a young woman living her own life.

You were kind of curious to figure out how she found you, but honestly you didn't care right now as it WAS her job to do this kind of thing, after all. You kept quiet as she brought out a tray with your tea cup; it had some ice in it to cool it down, as well as a small plate of rice crackers. You felt awkward but still thanked her and apologized for imposing. She shook her head as she sat down opposite of you. "Don't worry about it," she said. "It was your money that bought those snacks, after all." She gave out a thin smile, as if amused by some joke only she knew.

You two didn't chat much after that brief exchange, letting the time whittle away as you realized you were hungrier than you thought and ate your portion of the snack with relish. By the time you were done, you realized with a bit of jet lag that the sun seemed to be dipping closer to the horizon. You were really out longer than you thought!

You stood up, still a bit unsteady, but better now after you had gotten some food in you and into your body which had been working overtime to replace your lost blood. "Thank you for everything, but I really can't impose any longer... I'll have to get moving now if I want to make it back home before dark."

Reimu gulped down the last sip of her tea and an odd expression started to flash across her face before dying down like it didn't even happen. She spoke up, the mask of nonchalance was more clearly more strained. "Y-You... You're in no condition to take such a long walk. you know? You're only human!" She regained her composure before continuing. "I'll have to insist that you spend the night here. The guest room you woke up in is free and it's no issue to make dinner for two people. I consider it an investment! That's all..." She hastily added as she left.

In any case, you were secretly dreading a walk back in the state you were in and you didn't really have a reason to refuse your savior, even if it was about money to her, so you agreed and apologized in advance for imposing. You brought your ripped up clothes in off the line before the night fell, and before you knew it dinner was already being prepared.

Reimu looked at you with a bit of antsy concern as you started to eat, but didn't say anything as she ate in small bites. Not wanting dinner to be in complete silence you spoke up, which seemed to make the ever increasingly antsy miko jump slightly. "Thank you again," you said in earnest, "The dinner is rather delicious and the miso soup is perfect!". Her chest puffed up in pride as she took in the compliment and let it get entirely to her head "Of course! I mostly cook for myself and my guests, so i'm rather good at it, you know?"

You gave a polite smile at her openly bragging words and chatted about this and that; anything you could grasp at, like those other guests she mentioned and whatnot. Dinner was soon over, and at Reimu's insistence you bathed first as she took your clothes to wash them. You felt a bit embarrassed letting her handle your underwear, even if it was just so she could wash it in the morning, but other than that the night passed uneventfully and you soon drifted off to sleep.