"A date? You… You want to go on a date with me?" Chris sat there looking stunned.

"That's right," he said sounding smug. "That's the favor I want from you."

"You can't!" Darkness yelled slamming a fist down on the table.

Both Kazuma and Chris turned to stare at her. Darkness's face began to redden and she squirmed in her seat.

"I… I mean you can't ask something like that when you obviously have ulterior motives. I think it's obvious what you are really after, Kazuma."

"Hey! Don't make me sound like some sort of creep. I'm not the kind of guy who would try and take advantage of a girl."

"No, you're the kind of guy who would steal a girl's panties and wave them in the air while screaming at the top of his lungs," Chris said with a smirk.

"Th… That's totally not my fault! You know how Steal works! I have absolutely no control over what I get when I use it."

"Well, that's true, but you do have control of how you react afterwards. You also wanted to see me undress in front of you."

"That was your idea! I would have never asked you for that!"

Chris rolled her eyes. "Yes, I was the one who suggested it. But oh, how I had to twist your arm to agree."

Kazuma's cheeks blushed and his hands started to nervously open and close. "You're twisting things. I'm just a regular guy who likes pretty girls. Are you really going to blame me for that? There is no way I would ever try and take advantage of a girl. That's not the kind of guy I am."

"Didn't you admit to peeking on Megumin's and my panties while we were asleep?" Darkness asked.

"You did that?" Chris asked in surprise. "And who is Megumin?"

"A fourteen-year-old archwizard who has just joined our party," Darkness said.

Chris grinned at Kazuma. "Do you look up the skirt of every sleeping girl you meet? Or is that only for party members?"

"It's not what it sounds like!" Kazuma wailed.

"Well, it sounds like you love looking at girls' panties."

Kazuma paused and thought about it. "Okay, I guess that's true. But come on, it's not that bad is it?" He pointed at Darkness. "I mean you're friends with her and she can't go five minutes without saying how much she likes being abused. Compared to her I'm perfectly normal."

"So cruel!" Darkness gasped and shuddered.

"See?! See?!"

Chris sighed. "You do have sort of a point."

"Ah!" Darkness gave another joyous cry.

Kazuma shook his head. "Look, Chris. I really like you! I've never been on a date with a girl. I think you're special and different from every other girl I've met since coming here." You're actually sane, he thought.

Now it was Chris's cheeks that turned bright red. "Th… Thank you, Kazuma. No one's ever said that to me before. I… I'm not really confident in my beauty."

"Is that because of your flat chest?"

"Ack!" Chris slapped both hands over her chest.

"You don't need to worry!" Kazuma said with kindness. "I mean normally I wouldn't be interested, but you're so great I honestly don't mind. I mean sure, every guy loves boobs, and the bigger the better. Normally a flat chest would be a deal breaker. I might even feel a little sorry for you. But you're just amazing and nice, I honestly don't mind it! I'll totally make an exception for you!"

"…" Chris was just staring back at him with her hands still planted on her chest.

Darkness coughed into her hand. "Kazuma, what you just said was very inappropriate."

"Huh?" He twisted in his chair. "You're calling me inappropriate? Do you actually listen to some of the things that come out of your mouth?"

"Kazuma! You're being rude! This is the body Chris was born with! You need to be more considerate of her feelings! It's not her fault she doesn't have a womanly form."

"Kkkk," Chris began making choking noises.

"You okay?" Kazuma jumped out of his seat and hurried to her side. He began slapping her back to help her breathe. "Please just ignore what Darkness said, she never thinks about other people's feelings." He stopped smacking her back when she waved him off.

"D… Don't worry about it. Listen, Kazuma, I think you're very sweet, but I really don't think we should go on a date. It would be inappropriate."

"Huh? Why? Do you already have someone you like?" He sat back down.

"Ah, no, that's not it."

"Are you not attracted to me?"

She got an incredibly adorable look of embarrassment and began pressing her index fingers together. "N… No, I think you're very cute."

He sighed happily. "Sempai thinks I'm cute."

"I think you're cute too," Darkness mumbled beneath her breath.

"So, what's the problem?" Kazuma asked.

"Well, you see, it just wouldn't be proper since you're a human and I'm a g- grrk."

"Huh?"

Chris began waving her hands about. "I… I mean, I'm not sure I would be a good match for you. I'm not what you think."

Kazuma paused and looked at her closely.

His intense stare was causing Chris to begin to fidget. "Kazuma?"

"I think I get it; you're not an ordinary human girl are you?"

She scratched at her cheek. "Ah, well…"

He suddenly reached across the table and clasped her hands in his. "I don't care about that! Just look around. There are elves, dwarves, cat girls, dog girls, fox girls, and all sorts of other races. It doesn't matter to me if you're something other than human! Please go on a date with me, Chris!"

She gulped and hesitated. "You're very kind and sweet. But I'm still not sure it's a good idea."

He continued to hold her soft hands in his and stare intently at her face. A smile blossomed across his lips. "I think I've figured out the truth."

"Y… You have?"

"You're part dog girl aren't you?"

Chris blinked. "What?" She looked confused.

"I mean you admitted you're not human, and you gave me the puppy dog eyes before, so that's got to be it, right?"

"Ah, Kazuma? I think you have the wrong idea about me."

"Do you have a tail?"

"What?"

"I mean you obviously don't have dog ears. I don't know how genetics work or what percentage dog person you are. But do you have a cute little tail? Can I see you wag it? Just a bit?"

"Uh…"

Darkness coughed into her hand. "Kazuma, that is very inappropriate to ask to see a person's tail." Her face began to blush. "I.. If th… that is what interests you I can offer to let you see m… my naked behind.

"Pass," he said instantly. "You've got a great body, but you would definitely say stuff that would weird me out and ruin things."

"So dismissive and cruel!" She gasped.

"See?! Like that! You'd say something like that! The only way I'd ever want to see you naked was if you were gagged!"

Her face went completely red. "I knew it. I bet you've been thinking that every time you lay eyes on me haven't you, Kazuma? What a beast you are! Thinking about me naked, tied up, and unable to cry out for help! What kind of perverted and wicked things have you inflict on me? Tell me if you dare!"

"And this is why I would rather be with Chris even if she's flat as a board! At least she doesn't freak me out every time she opens her mouth!"

"Gee, Kazuma, thanks." Chris said in a flat voice.

He smiled back at her completely missing her tone. "You're welcome. It's because you're such a great person I don't mind you not having boobs. I mean I don't even mind that scar on your face."

"What? What about my scar?"

"Oh, it's fine, I don't mind it. I mean most girls would be really self-conscious about a scar on their face. I admire all your self-confidence despite it."

"So… so you think my scar is ugly? That is ruins my face?"

"Of course not. I would never ask an ugly girl for a date. You're still really cute in spite of it."

"…"

"So, will you go out with me?"

"You know, Kazuma. I think I can understand why you've never been on a date before."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"Never mind," she sighed.

"So, will you?"

She gave another despondent sigh. "I did promise you a favor, so if this is what you really want then yes, I'll go on a date with you."

"Yes! That's awesome!"

"BUT," she cut in. "It'll have to wait. I'm actually just passing through Axel. I have work to take care of so I'm leaving the city tonight."

"What?!"

She smiled for him. "I promise the next time I'm in town we'll have that date, okay?"

He looked disappointed, but nodded. "Well you do seem awfully busy, and I know how much Thieves are in demand. Do you swear we'll have that date the next time I see you?"

She nodded and held up her right hand. "I swear it in the name of the goddess Eris."

"Well, okay I guess."

"So until then, work hard on becoming a great Adventurer and take care of you teammates, okay?"

"Yeah, I will."

She scratched her cheek. "And maybe learn how to be a little more polite to women?"

"What do you mean? I'm always polite."

Chris and Darkness both stared at him.

"What?"