Chapter 11: So our second date, huh?

Kazuma's POV

The 2 of us were lying down in my bed, holding each other. No better time than now, I suppose.

"Megumin?"

"Yes, Kazuma?"

"Thank you."

For all she calls me easy, her face is awfully hot right now.

"R-really? For what?"

"I mean, without you, who would've killed Beldia's minions? Or the destroyer? Or all the other things you exploded, not to mention the devil king's magic barrier."

"I… I thought you always said that I was useless."

"I mean, for a while, that's what I'd thought you were."

"I see…"

"But now? You've done way too much to be called useless. Just look at your adventurer's card! For everything that you've done for me and the party, thank you."

There we go. Wait, I can feel something wet and hot on my-

"Megumin? Are you crying?"

"S-shut up."

"I l-love you. Megumin."

"I love you too, Kazuma."

That shop sure is something, isn't it?

Megumin's POV

"Remind me, Kazuma, why are we heading to Wiz's shop?"

"I'm returning this ring. It's supposed to grant you all of your wishes."

"Really? Wait, this is Wiz we're talking about-"

"The catch is that you have to grant them yourself. The ring just makes you act on all of your desires-"

"WHAT?!"

I patted myself all over and couldn't find anything wrong.

"You didn't… You know."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Even a magic item has its limits, although I'll have you know, I have 0 desire to take advantage of a sleeping girl."

"I-I guess that that's true. Sorry about that."

"It's fine. Plus, it's not perfect, easy-min."

"Huh?! What do you mean?"

"You started crying after a few compliments."

Does he not realize what those meant to me?

"You realize that all of us are compliment starved?! On top of that, you literally contradicted my worst fear! You know what that was? It was that you just kept me around out of obligation! Because I was helpless otherwise! But after everything that happened in the past year, on top of last night, I can't help but let that go now."

"Huh. That's… good."

"What do you mean, that's good? I just poured my heart out to you and-"

"Look, I don't have any experience with this, ok? You're the first person here I've been… this close with!"

I chuckled to myself for a few seconds.

"You know, I was wondering where your uncomposed side went."

"Oh, shut up!"

After a while, we finally reached the shop.

"Oh, Kazuma! Did you finally use the product I gave you a while back?"

"You know it!"

"How'd it go?"

"I'd say it went pretty well."

"Well, that's fantastic! How do you think it'll sell?"

"It'll probably be pretty popular with people who're trying to confess, or something. The hard part is convincing them to buy it and put it on."

"Alright. See you later!"

The 2 of us walked out of Wiz's store, not acknowledging the fact that we were holding hands.

"Hey, Kazuma?"

"I'm Kazuma."

"Are we going to do my daily or what?"

"Where do you want to do it?"

"Well, I was thinking, why don't we head back to that dullahan's castle? Y'know, for old time's sake."

"Your call."

It feels kinda nostalgic coming back here.

"It's been a while."

"Yeah. Remember that fight with the dullahan?"

"How could I not? That's when I taught everyone soccer, no?"

"Yeah! And I blew up all of that dullahan's minions!"

"Welp, let's get on with this."

After I chanted and blew off my explosion, there was a rumbling sound as a part of the roof slid off.

"Damn! That was way more powerful than any of your old explosions! Still, the shockwave hit me pretty hard and you kicked up a lot of ash. 89 points."

"Haahh~ Come on, Kazuma… What do I have to do to get over 90 points~"

"Remember that explosion after the first trip to the village?"

"Come on! Do I have to do that again?"

"Not necessarily. Just something that matches its awesomeness."

"Can you-"

"Up you go."

It's nice and comfy up here~

"Kazuma?"

"Yes, I'm Kazuma."

"Do you want to go out on a date?"

"Huh?!"

"W-well, our last one didn't really go as planned, so…"

"U-uh, yeah. Sure."

He's so flustered right now!

"Easyzuma."

"Hey! You were blushing too!"

"That's because you're touching my butt again!"

"O-oh. Sorry about that."

"I'm just kidding, you're not, although you are pushing me further and further up your back."

"You should know that I always do that by now. I'm not going to try to hide what I've already told you."

"I should've known."

"So, where do you want to go?"

"I remember a place that we were at a while ago. I'll take us there tomorrow."

"Where?"

"It's a surprise."

Kazuma's POV

It's been a while, and we're pretty far out of Axel…

"Hey, Megumin? Are you sure that this is safe?"

"Yep! We've been along this path before, and this time, we're at a much higher level."

God, I had to wake up early just to do this. I wonder why Megumin wanted to- wait. Is that…

"There you go!"

My jaw dropped as we stood before the old castle.

"W-wow. Megumin, you really… You really outdid yourself."

"Of course I did. Now, it's time to blow it up!"

When she let off her explosion, it blew a hole straight into the castle. A portion of the roof flew off and a part of the wall crumbled and fell. The rush of wind, the smell of ash, the sheer power of the explosion…

"100 points. Great job, Megumin, although we should head back."

"But of course I got a full score, for I am Megumin! The greatest mage of the crimson demons and master of explosions!"

"If you're such a master of explosions, why don't you get up?"

"Ahh! No! Come on, Kazuma!"

"Up you go."

It's kinda hard to carry both Megumin and the picnic basket. Guess we'll just head off to that pond more slowly today.

"We're here, Megumin!"

I drain touched Megumin some mana so she could walk around, albeit shakily.

"So our second date, huh? You didn't pack alcohol, now did you?"

"Nah. Just some sandwiches and juice I prepared last night."

"That's unfortunate. I was hoping to settle the score with alcohol once and for all!"

"You sound just like how Yunyun does whenever she challenges you."

"What do you mean by that?"

'You'll never win-"

"Shut up! How could I, the most powerful of the crimson demons, lose to a mere beverage?"

"You've already blacked out both times you tried to drink."

"Argh… Shut up!"

"Besides, I don't want this date to go the same way as our first as a couple."

"I suppose… Hey! That wouldn't happen!"

"And why not?"

"..."

That girl is far too stubborn for her own good. Maybe I should tell her about that perk I gave her...