Author's Note: I'm really sorry that I've not uploaded in a while. I just can't start the chapter since I can't think of how to start it. And for the people who are disappointed in this story. I want to apologize since this is just the very first story I've ever written, so sorry to disappoint you. And here is the new chapter! Pls tell me on how I can improve the story, so I can help relieve your Aqua x Kazuma ship xD

Chapter 7: Misunderstandings?

*Chatter, Chatter, Chatter,*

*Points at me*

"Wh-Who are you!?"

Megumin shouted, holding her new and improved staff….

Where did she even hide that?

"…..Huh?"

What the hell?

An hour ago

"Hey, hey look at that couple!" By Girl A…..

"Awwww, they're so cute!" By Girl B…

"But their masks are a little weird.." By Girl C…

…Shit.. We're getting everybody's attention! Kusou~ This is embarrassing! Good thing we have our masks on, or this would have been more embarrassing..

*Grumble~*

"Kazuma-san~, let's eat~~" Aqua said, still holding my hand.

Agh! I wish I had her "don't care about anything but food" personality! I'm the only one getting embarrassed here, and here she is just waiting for the food..

"I haven't seen any food booths, so you need to wait." I said, a little bit irritated.

"Hurry up~" Aqua cries.

Tch! I wish she would at least appreciate it when I treat her to food.

I looked at her for a while.

"Ugh~~~" Aqua said weakly.

I can tell that she's super hungry even with her mask on.

*sign* I did promise myself that I'd make it up to her. So I'll quickly look for a food booth now.

And after all that effort, we finally got to the area of food booths!

Aqua let's go of my hand, then runs like a little kid.

"Kazuma! Kazuma! (Yes again, I'm Kazuma)" Aqua said excitingly, while pointing at a Cotton Candy booth.

Hahhh. She's really just like a kid…. I chuckle at myself for bringing her here, in this parallel world.

"Huhuhu~ Huhuhu~" I hear her battle cry.

*Cringe!* I ready my money bag for battle.

As we enter the area, we instantly smell our expensive feast. We both take our masks off, so we could enjoy this fattening area.

And as I look at Aqua…..

"*drool* Ohhhh.."

She's getting ready…

I grip my money bag… If I spend food for the both of us, then it's really game-over for me! I don't think I should spend that much money… But..

"Finally food~!"

I smile….

I don't break my promises.

" Okay Aqua, pick your first round."

Hmmm. I don't want her to know that I'm treating her….. So I'll go with this one..

"I talked to owners. They said that you can eat as much as you want, since they want to repay what you did for the town."

This is really gonna make me cry..

"So pick anything you want."

*sobs*

"Really!? Then!" She runs off to the takoyaki stall.

"Hey! Hey! Is it true that everything's for free for me!?" She asked the owner..

"E-Eh?"

The owner looked at me dumbfounded….

I close my eyes and nod, doing my best to not cry.

"Ahhh. Yes, Aqua-san you can pick anything you want for free!" The owner said happily..

"Hehehe! Of course! I'm the great goddess of Axis Sect!"

You cocky~ goddess~ You better be thankful that I'm not gonna make you mad today..

Aqua then grabs a pack of takoyaki and she bows her head.

"Arigato!" She said before running to the other stalls.

Ehh? Her smile seems to be forced.

"Ahhh Kazuma-san?"

Yes, yes I know. I'll pay.

"Sorry for the trouble."

I smile apologetically.

"Is she your girlfriend now?"

...Eh?

"How do you say that?" I ask surprised.

"You've changed your attitude towards her. Usually, you've already hit her by now. Her attitude doesn't make you angry anymore and you're even willing to spend your money for her."

Well... I just wanted to make up to her.. That's the sole reason...right?

"Ahh! Well I better get going now. Thanks for the food!"

"Ah! Thank you for your purchase! Goodluck with your date!" She said wavingly.

Normally this statement would make me disgusted. But…..it seems to have the opposite effect.

Owner POV

"He even forgets to buy food for himself."

So people do change for the person they love dear.

I giggle at the thought.

15 minutes later...

Kazuma POV

Oyyy, oyyy I really want to roll on the floor crying! Aqua has now bought from 7 different stalls and she is not showing any signs of stopping. And besides...

"Ohhhh! Umaiiiii! I'm saving you for later!"

She's not even eating it all!

Kusooo! It's like I just wasted my money for nothing!

*Grumble*

I really feel like crying.. *sob*

*giggle*

Eh?...

"Here you go, Kazuma." With a gentle smile in her face, she hands me the bag where she left her unfinished foods.

"Huh? How did y-"

Wait a minute...

"I already knew from the start. *giggle* You really are a hikiNEET. You always lie to me. Here-"

She takes out the pack of takoyaki she was eating earlier.

"Please eat, I'm already full so it's okay."

I feel my heartbeat going up...

I take the takoyaki out of her hands. I could only stare at her, as I say the only question I can ask.

"What gave it away?"

"Hmm. Ever since in the takoyaki stand. I've noticed you closing your eyes and nod at the owners, with a face almost ready to cry."

Naniiiiii!? *munch* *munch*

"You made me go through all that embarrassment and effort."

I'm not angry….. I'm just a little sad, of the outcome. I was planning on surprising her after the festival. I thought that she would even love the surprise. This sucks…*munch* *munch*

Aqua POV

"Is something wrong? Are you not hungry after-all?"

He's making a disappointed look on his face.

"You look a little….sad"

"Is that so?" He asked, still munching on my leftovers.

If he's not going to say anything, then I'm just going to ask him.

"Kazuma…"

Let's have a little bit of tension.

"*still munching* Hmm?"

"Why did you just let me take any food I want?" I asked him seriously.

It just doesn't make sense…

Firstly, he's super sensitive about his money…..Second, he would have already hit me by now, because of my uncontrollable hunger.

And lastly….

"*munch* *munch*"

He's always happy when he's eating, he even makes me jealous of his food…

Was he planning something?

" *munching* I was planning on treating you, to eat anything you want." He said with a little hint of sadness in his voice.

…Eh?

"I wanted to surprise you, so….." I sense a little bit of anger in his words.

"So?" I feel my heartbeat going up.

"So…..I can make it up to you… And I've failed… *munch*" A sad face formed in his face.

He….what?..

I feel butterflies sprouting from my stomach..

A mix of joy, happiness and embarrassment fill my heart..

I can't help showing these emotions…. Oh no, it's…..

It's happening again….

*hic* *hic*

Kazuma POV

Hahhhhh…. Now I feel full.. I clap my hands to remove the leftover crumbs from my hands.

"Are you sure you're full-"

*hic* *hic*

I stare at the crying blue haired girl in front of me.

This girl who's always a prideful, tough, and happy go lucky, is crying again.

I look at the countless tears flowing down her face.

Those tears…..

I… hate them.

I reach out to her, hold her face, and I gently wiped the thing I hate about her.

"*hic* *hic* *hic*"

And no matter how many times I wipe her tears off, they just form again and again…

I wanted to make it up to her, and then I made her cry again…

*hic* *hic*

She then proceeds to hold my hand, not caring about her surroundings… Not caring about the countless stares surrounding us. And eventually…..I did too.

"Please…..stop crying.." I pleaded her.

And finally, after all those tears. A smile finally formed in her face.

"How can I not cry in this situation? I can't suppress this happiness right now. *hic*" She tried her best to not stutter in her sentence.

Her beautiful sky blue eyes, gazes into my green emeralds. I feel my heart beat going up.

*gulp*

I summon my courage, as I hold her other hand, gripping it lightly.

"You won't look beautiful, if you just keep crying." I joked at her.

She also grips back.

"Mouuuu~ you're a hikiNEET, so don't say cool lines like that. You're already out of character." With the last of her tears gone, she rubs her face in my hand.

"Like you're the one to talk." I sign in relief, to see her back.

"*giggle* I really wander why you don't have a girlfriend or friends in that world."

"What was that?" She was mumbling about something.

"Nandemonai!"She was finally back to her original bubbly self.

'Now that's the Aqua I know'

But I have a bad feeling..

I then finally remember the situation we're in. A hint of horror and shock fills my face, as I slightly turn my head around.

*chatter* *chatter*

"Ohhhhh~ Look at that sweet couple! They're so cute!"

"That guy sure is the worst, making a beautiful girl like her cry though."

"Damn you! You're so ugly, but you have a girlfriend as beautiful as her!"

That last statement was pretty harsh. And as I turn around to Aqua, I see her already wearing her mask, giving me the thumbs up.

I grin a little, I also wore my mask and gave her the thumbs up. After having a good laugh at each other's idiocy. We look at our Round 2, the game booths.

"Now that we're full and ready. Let's have some fun!" I said with excitement.

"Yes!" A hint of eagerness in her voice.

Yeah….this festival isn't over yet…. A smile forms in my covered face, I walk forward.

After 5 seconds.

"Where the hell is she!?"

Man, just after 5 seconds we're both lost again. We got that wonderful mood going on earlier and then it leads to this!?

After searching for at least 5 seconds I finally saw her again.

"What is wrong with he-!"

Aqua hasn't even left the area I've left her in.

A guy is blocking her.

"Come on~ Hang out with us! And take off that ridiculous mask! Show us your pretty face!" The guy took her mask off.

"Get off me! Give that back!" Aqua struggles to get out of the guy's grip on her hand. I can see her face showing a little bit of pain, from the guy's grip on her hand.

"Hehe! If you agree to hang ou-!"

Not wanting to see more, I brushed his grip out of her arm. I took Aqua's mask from him.

"Hey! What's your problem!?"

I glare at this guy. Controlling myself not too punch him in the face.

"Touch her again, and I'll end your life." Making my tone as angry as possible, I'm even clenching my teeth in anger.

I'm not going to hesitate on this one, if it's a fight he wants, then I'll gladly do it.

The guy shows a little hint of fear in his eyes and carefully ran away, fearing for his life.

"Phew!"

That was the first time I felt that angry actually. I look at Aqua, with a surprised look on her face.

I held and checked her hand "Are you hurt? He had a strong grip on you."

A slight blush forms, Aqua just shakes her head, unable to speak.

"Hahh. If you had just followed me, then all of this shouldn't have happened." I gave her a sign.

She finally speaks, "Oh yeah! I should be angry!" She then made a face with a pout.

"Hey, why are you the one getting mad?" I gently asked her.

"Think of the reason why! You hikiNEET!" with real life anger in her voice.

I sign, okay….think!

Before getting lost I walked forward not knowing Aqua didn't follow me. I think of a reason why... Before, I made sure she doesn't get lost by holding her-Ah!

I looked at her pouting face again.

"Pfft! Hahaha!" My urge to laugh completely bursts.

For real!?

"Why are you laughing!?" She shouts at me.

Not wanting to make her anger worse, I just smile at her.

"Wh-what are you smiling at?" A hint of embarrassment in her voice.

Seriously, you're too cute!

"Okay, I'm sorry pls forgive me." Saying that, I placed the mask on her.

I stare at her. Her face already forming a crimson blush.

"So-sorry for what?" She faces away from me.

I smile at myself for being with this girl.

I feel so lucky right now. So that's why I have great luck in my stats. My life in this parallel world isn't so bad after all.

I took her hand and gripped lightly, as I slowly and gently took her to the game stalls. I put my toad mask on.

I again receive a lot of stares at our path.

Everyone would surely misunderstand that we're a couple.

I look at Aqua, dropping her face from all the embarrassment she's receiving. Instead of just hiding her face to protect her identity and to hide her status. She's somehow ok for the others to see who she's going with.

It's like she does want them to misunderstand...

...Even for me, holding her hand seems so…natural

…A smile formed yet again in my face.

'I think I'm in love with this goddess after all.'

And END!

Sorry for the super late update guys! xDD I'm planning to change the POV's thoughts after a day or so. I just really wanted to upload a new chapter. I wanted to make an embarrassed Aqua this time, but the next chapter will be Kazuma's tsunderism! Pls review if there's something wrong about the chapter or tell me if I'm improving little by little xD. This is my first story so, sorry for the readers who I irritated because of my rookie mistakes! Well peace out home dog! See you in the next chapter!