The group sat around the kotatsu as the fire crackled nearby. Darkness gazed out the window at the falling snow, as the sun slowly set across the horizon. They periodically took small sips of hot tea, as Darkness suddenly broke the silence.

"This Raemis girl… I can't quite get a good read on her,"

Megumin groaned, her head buried in her arms as she enjoyed the protection the kotatsu provided from the icy cold of a winter night. "She's so hard to predict," She replied as she looked up at Darkness.

"One minute she's all bubbly and the next I'm fearing for my life,"

"What should we do about her?" Kazuma asked as he worked on his newest "invention", scribbling a basic sketch of something that resembled a space heater. "She honestly terrifies me… but I can't quite seem to dislike her…"

Both girls turned to Kazuma, both giving him a blank stare.

"Maybe we should check on her," Megumin suggested, picking her head up and eating a sweet from a dish at the center of the heated table. "It's been a while since she went to the guest room,"

"I'll do it," Kazuma sighed as he began to get up. "I should probably bring her some firewood anyway,"

"No!" Both girls exclaimed, standing up before Kazuma could.

"Huh?"

"I-I mean she tried to hurt you!" Megumin explained.

"A-And I should go anyway, it's my fault she tried to attack you… I think…" Darkness added.

"A-Alright, but be careful Darkness, don't get aroused like usual," Kazuma relented as he and Megumin sat back down. Darkness walked over to the fireplace, grabbing a few logs from a neat pile that sat next to it.

"Kazuma was worried about me," Darkness thought to herself self with a small blush on her face as she walked down the hall to Raemis' room.

The blonde knocked on the door softly. "Rameis, I brought some wood for the fireplace," she called, awaiting a response. The door cracked open slightly, obscuring most of the demon. From what Darkness could see, she could see her face had dried tears on her cheeks, her eyes slightly bloodshot.

"T-Thank you," Raemis stuttered as she took the firewood from Darkness' arms, Darkness trying her hardest not to flinch as she approached her. The demon closed the door softly.

"Y-you're welcome,"

Darkness stood there, staring at the door as she pondered her next move.

"Raemis," Darkness called, as close to the door as she could so Raemis could hear. "Are you alright?"

There was a period of silence as Darkness awaited an answer. She wondered if she should turn back, but she stopped herself when she heard Raemis' reply.

"D-Do I scare you, Darkness?"

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"N-No,"

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"I scare you differently from I do to Kazuma, don't I?"

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"Yes…"

Kazuma continued working on his blueprints, scribbling tidbits and notes on the side as he fleshed out his ideas. His train of thought was suddenly derailed when he heard a voice call out to him.

"Kazuma, Kazuma,"

"Yes I'm Kazuma,"

"Are you worried?" asked as she scooted closer to Kazuma's right.

"Worried about what?" Kazuma replied, not looking up from his work.

"Darkness,"

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"Yes," Kazuma put down his pen and looked up to Megumin, who had now scooted close enough to touch shoulders with him. "I wish that perverted crusader would keep herself out of danger for once!"

"Kazuma," Megumin called as she slipped her hand onto his clenched right fist. "You always worry about Darkness a lot. You're always so antsy when Darkness has to leave the house for a time,"

"It happens more than I would like,"

"Kazuma… would you worry about me like that?"

Kazuma let his hands relax as Megumin's fingers started to interlace with his.

"Of course I would,"

Megumin looked away as she giggled, her cheeks becoming a slight pink.

"H-Hey! Don't laugh!"

Megumin looked back and clung to his arm.

"Even if I'm a useless mage?"

Kauzma blushed as Megumin clung tighter to his arm.

"You're not useless, Megumin,"

"...Thank you,"

She leaned her head against his shoulder, enjoying the moment as they both gazed into the fireplace. The cold winter night couldn't compete against the warmth of their embrace.

Darkness sat against the bedroom door, embracing her legs as she continued her conversation with Raemis.

"I'm sorry, Darkness,"

"What are you apologizing for?"

"Scaring you,"

"I'm sure you're trying your hardest not too,"

The two sat in silence for a moment, both unsure of what to say.

"By leaving the Demon King's side, I thought I could stop instilling fear in people. But all I've done so far is instill fear," Raemis whispered.

Darkness opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She was unsure how to respond to such a statement.

"How about you go on a quest with us?" Darkness suggested. "By fighting alongside us, I'm sure that Kazuma and the others will see you're nothing to fear,"

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"What about you, Darkness?"

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"I'll stop fearing you the day Kazuma makes a decision,"

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"Does Megumin scare you too?"

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"Y-yes,"

Darkness walked into the living room after her bath wearing her pink nightgown. She noticed Kazuma sitting alone on the couch, laying out what remained of her armor on the coffee table, the kotatsu pushed to the side. The crusader walked over and sat down beside him, sitting to his left.

"Kazuma, it's late, you should get some rest,"

"I'll go to bed after I finish repairing your armor,"

The fire crackled as Kazuma opened his toolbox, starting to fix the dents in her gauntlet. Darkness gazed at Kazuma as he focused on his work.

"Where's Megumin?"

"She went to bed a few minutes ago,"

"I see…"

The two sat in silence as Kazuma continued to work on various pieces of her armor, the only sounds being the soft sounds of the fireplace and various clangs of metal hitting each other.

"I wish you wouldn't be so reckless, it's a pain to do this every time,"

"Sorry Kazuma…"

"It's whatever,"

Darkness shuffled closer, her hand leading as it inched across the sofa, closer to Kazuma's body.

"Kazuma…"

"Yes, I'm Kazuma,"

"Do you not like this? Being able to sit together, like this?"

"I-,"

"Alone?"

Kazuma paused, processing what Darkness was trying to imply.

"Do you like it when we're alone like this?"

Kazuma was petrified, able to find the words to respond.

"A bit…"

Darkness smiled, gazing at Kazuma as he tried to avoid her eyes by staring at her breastplate. He began to polish the armor with a rag as Darkness began to analyze his work.

"K-K-Kazuma!" Darkness stumbled out, her face growing red as she pulled on Kazuma's arm. "Y-Y-You don't have to focus on my breasts like that!"

"Don't say it like that!" Kazuma exclaimed. "Don't make this weird!"

Darkness continued to stare, feeling a bit strange about watching Kazuma rub his hands all over something that matched the shape of her chest. She started to imagine it was her instead of her armor, Kazuma's hands all over her breasts. Rubbing and squeezing and gro-

"Darkness,"

"Ah!" Darkness exclaimed in shock, jumping slightly. "Y-Y-Yes Kazuma?"

Kazuma gave her a judgmental stare before beginning to speak.

"I can't repair some of the armor that broke in half, so you'll have to take it in to someone more qualified than me,"

"I-I see,"

Kazuma set down the shiny, freshly repaired and polished breastplate and began working on one of her arm braces. Darkness leaned over to observe his work, images of Kazuma's hands still fresh on her mind.

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"Kazuma," Darkness paused as she gathered her thoughts. "Do you like being alone with Megumin too?"

"..."

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Darkness couldn't stop feeling a sudden feeling of dread in her stomach. She tried to compose herself as Kazuma looked up and turned to make eye contact with her, terrified as Kazuma opened his mouth to speak.

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"I do,"