Kazuma tied a makeshift split around Darkness' leg, who was sitting up to allow him better access.

"There, that should be fine until we find Aqua," Kazuma said softly, tying the last cloth around Darkness' leg.

"Thank you Kazuma, you've saved me once again," Darkness replied, winsing at the slight pain.

"How are we gonna get back with Darkness like this…" Megumin pondered, collecting the crusader's sword and various parts of her armor that had fallen or broken off during the fight. Megumin had been given some energy from Kazuma with drain touch, allowing her to move around without much trouble.

"We can let her hold onto our shoulders and walk back that way?" Kazuma stated in a questioning tone, helping Darkness up onto her right foot as Megumin cradled the cracked chest plate.

"No, that would be too slow, it's getting dark and if we get ambushed in this situation…" Megumin replied, a hand to her chin as she tried to think of other ways to get back as she let Darkness grab onto her too.

"Y-you can leave me here I'll be fine," Darkness panted as her cheeks turned red with arousal.

Kazuma crouched down in front of her with his back faced towards her. "Come on, get on my back, I'll carry you,"

"A-are you sure?" Darkness stumbled out as Megumin began to lower her down.

"Yes! Now get on before I actually leave you here!" Kazuma yelled as she bashfully climbed onto his back. She held on tight as Kazuma stood up, clinging to his neck as hard as she could without hurting him.

"I-I hope I'm not too heavy…" Darkness stumped out as Kazuma began to walk.

"For some reason, you feel really light!" Kazuma replied as Darkness sighed in relief. "It must be that overflowing energy Raemis gave me!"

Tears began to swell as Darkness' face burned a bright red in embarrassment. "It's because my armor fell off, not anything else, okay!?" Darkness cried. Kazuma chuckled to himself as Darkness hit his back with her fists lightly.

.

.

.

.

"It's kind of strange to be walking back without you carrying me, Kazuma,"

"Yeah, are you jealous of Darkness of something?"

"No!...

.

.

.

.

yes…"

"Forgive me Megumin, but let me be carried just this once,"

"Finnnneee,"

Darkness chuckled before sighing and squeezing Kazuma a little tighter, burying her face into his neck. It had been a while since Kazuma last held her like this. The last time being when Darkness first began to see Kazuma in a different light. Kazuma felt his face grow a little warmer as he felt Darkness' body press against him, especially a certain area…

"You're holding him too tight,"

"I'll hold him as tight as I want too,"

Aqua hovered a hand over Darkness' leg, slowly repairing her leg. They were laying on the couch as the fire crackled on the cold winter night, keeping the party warm as they all watched the crusader's leg heal.

"Thank you, Aqua,"

"You're welcome, after all, I'm healing you for the first time for something this severe,"

"I'm just relieved that it was me and not Kazuma for once,"

"Don't say things like that!" Kazuma interjected.

"I would much prefer I am injured instead of you, Kazuma. After all, I swore to be your shield…"

The two stared at each other for a moment, looking deep into each other's eyes.

"Hey, what about me!" Megumin exclaimed, breaking the pair's eye contact.

"Megumin, you know I would do the same for you,"

"T-thanks"

"Okay, it's all done!" Aqua chirped, the light fading from her hands. "How's it feel?" she asked as Darkness gently lowered her foot onto the ground.

"It feels strange, but good! Thank you Aqua,"

"Now about this Raemis girl…"

The party split to get some sleep after calming down a pissed off Aqua, shouting something about "if her damn heroes did their job". Kazuma walked back to his bedroom from his bath, one much needed after the day he had. He arrived at his room to hear two voices from inside his room shouting through his door.

He opened his bedroom door to be met with Megumin and Darkness, standing in his room arguing in their usual night wear.

"What do you think you're gonna do against Raemis if she shows up, risk killing Kazuma too with an explosion!?"

"How are you gonna protect him if you're not even in armor!? You saw what she can do even if you're wearing it!"

"You can't expect me to wear that pile of scrap metal it's become, I'll wear it when Kazuma fixes it in the morning!"

"Ahem," Kazuma cleared his throat, grabbing the attention of the bickering girls.

"Oh! K-Kazuma!" The bickering girls replied simultaneously.

"Look, I am way too tired for this, so whatever this is you two can figure it out," Kazuma groaned as he jumped into bed, slipping under the covers.

Both girls looked at each other, and sat down on the bed.

"Kazuma, Kazuma," Megumin called.

"Yes I'm Kazuma,"

"Who do you want to watch over you tonight? In case she shows up…"

Kazuma sprang up, he looked at the two stare at him with baited breath. "Whoever it is, they should watch over me by spooning with me,"

"Be serious, Kazuma," Darkness replied, "We just wanna keep you safe,"

Kazuma pondered for a moment, this might very well be the hardest question he'd ever had to answer.

"Why not just the both of you?"

"Huh?"

"There's no reason you two can't share the bed while I sleep on the floor,"

"Kazuma, we can't make you sleep on the floor," Darkness replied.

"It'll be fine, I'll just grab a spare blanket and pillow-"

"There's no reason you can't sleep on the bed with us," Megumin interjected, crossing her arms.

"Megumin, you can't possibly be suggesting we-"

"Don't pretend like you came here and didn't want to share a bed with Kazuma,"

"W-Well I-"

"Don't you wanna join me girls?" Kazuma said in a deep voice, smirking with an overconfident look, causing the two to cringe.

"On second thought, Raemis probably isn't coming today,"

"Yes, I agree,"

"Goodnight!" the two said simultaneously, exiting the room, leaving Kazuma all alone.

Kazuma stared at the bedroom door before laying back down.

"DAMN IT AGGGGHHHHHHHH!"

"Breakfast at home is always nice," Aqua happily sighed. The party had decided on eating at home today, preparing some simple eggs and bread to eat.

"I must admit, an excuse to eat together in the privacy of our own home is always nice to have," Darkness admitted, taking a sip of some freshly prepared warm tea. "Kazuma, can you pass me the salt?"

"Oh, sure" Kazuma replied as he reached for the salt grinder, only to be interpreted by a knock on the door. "It's early for someone to be visiting, who could that be?"

Kazuma got up from the table after handing Darkness the salt. He opened the door, only to fall back onto his bottom in shock.

"Who is it, Kazuma?" Megumin asked, getting up to see why he fell, only to scream in fear. Darkness and Aqua rushed to the two, trying to find out who could've caused such a reaction. Darkness looked at the doorway, being made face to face with…

Raemis.