Prologue.

During the time kazuma and his group moved to the mansion they had, kazuma was saving the money he was doing by making some business with Vanir. He was planning to save his money for the inevitable debts his useless goddess partner will summon after spending all his money in booze.

Because of the lack of quests, the crew stayed in at home, aqua spend all day mumbling about how she wasn´t been treated like a goddess, megumin went to their parents' house until afternoon and darkness was practicing his sword technique.

After seeing that she was some kind of clumsy and not hitting any target kazuma went outside the place to see her training.

"need any help?" asks kazuma to the lame aim crusader.

"no, I know I can do it kazuma, just watch. I will not give up until I hit a single target"

"Ok, mind if I stay?"

"That´s pretty odd coming from you kazuma… You becoming interested on my skill as a crusader?" Spoke darkness as she starts to worry.

"How rude can your mouth be?" says kazuma a little bit annoyed "I just passed by since there´s nothing to do because of the lack of quests"

Darkness still confused just smile and apologize to his companion, "sorry If I was rude at you, want to see what I´m capable of?"

"I´m dying for it" says kazuma as he smirks at darkness clumsiness attacks.

Kazuma and darkness spend half of the day together, aqua joined for a moment and they even had lunch together. As aqua left, kazuma watched darkness trying to hit a single target failing over and over again. Then darkness just stopped and rest next to kazuma.

"Say kazuma, why did you still let me be in your party?" she sadly spoke to kazuma "I can´t even do my duty as a crusader, I can´t protect anyone"

"Oi, oi calm down, You don´t have to be so negative. Still, you were the one who wanted to join our terrible party"

As kazuma talks to darkness, he feels a Little sad about his partner being depressed.

"We should be the ones thanking you by not running away from us, you saved me more than the useless goddess at least" giggles kazuma

"No, I´d be the one thanking you by giving me an opportunity knowing that I´m much of a trouble" reply darkness smiling at kazuma.

Kazuma´s heart just stopped for a second. "Wait, this pervert masochist crusader is really thanking me… She must be terribly depressed. I can´t stand see her with that sad eyes" Speaks kazuma to himself in his mind.

"Well, I´m not a sword master but I can try to help you if you wish…" Darkness shocked interrupts kazuma "You really mean it?''

Obviously surprised, darkness nods and let Kazuma lead the way.

"Ok first of all, you had to get rid of any of your naughty thoughts before you fight anyone"

Darkness blushed a little but understood what Kazuma wanted.

"Now you have to stay still in this stance" spoke Kazuma as he stands behind darkness helping to her stance.

Kazuma realize he was so close to darkness almost hugging her, he blushes and quickly stand back.

"O…ok now try it darkness" shout Kazuma.

Darkness move his sword with all the strength she had using all the momentum of his body to inflict some damage on the target. She still missed.

Darkness with a bittersweet says "I´m a lost cause Kazuma"

"Oi, just because you don´t get it once doesn´t mean you can´t do it" shouted Kazuma trying to make her gain some confidence.

Aqua see both of them from inside the mansion wondering why Kazuma was being so loud. As she opens the window, she overheard what Kazuma was screaming.

"Come on darkness I know you can do it, have faith in what i say to you and more importantly" as Kazuma spoke to darkness, both darkness and aqua open wide their eyes "Have faith in you, I know you can do it much better than this"

Darkness repeat his stance and with so determined eyes, she swings his sword cutting the first target. "COME ON DARKNESS YOU GOT IT; I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT DAMMIT" shouted Kazuma to keep encouraging her.

Darkness fiercely swung his sword piercing all the targets. As she realizes she has defeated al his targets, turns to Kazuma impressed and spoke to him "Kazuma I finally did it".

She run towards to Kazuma and hugged him, Kazuma feeling not awkward or uncomfortable, he begins to turn red.

They stayed like that for a couple of minutes. "you´re too close…" say Kazuma with a trembling voice almost unherdable. "Thank you Kazuma, you´re the first one who encouraged me this much, can we stay like this for a while?" ask darkness.

Because of his past life as a hikikomori, Kazuma couldn´t respond darkness, he just stood like that until darkness let him go. When the sun begins to hide, darkness let Kazuma and by seeing him so blushed and embarrassed she blushes too and apologize to Kazuma.

"S…sorry I. Kazuma…" stuttered darkness "W..we should go inside".

They left before the sunlight was totally gone, megumin arrived not so much time ago and since she bought some sweets in the way back home, they had some dinner. Darkness went to the bathroom cause of all the sweating by the exercise and Kazuma stayed helping aqua and megumin.

As they have their dinner, the sun was totally gone and the stars began to shine while megumin talked about his trip and about how komekko was happy to see her again. Once everyone finished and cleaned the dishes, each one went to rest.

Kazuma still thinking of that embrace darkness gave to him, was reached by aqua at his door.

"Nee kazuma, what were you doing with darkness while ago?"

Kazuma reply to aqua as he gets red as a tomato "Eh? I don´t know what you´re talking about, I was just helping darkness to practice his attacks"

"But you two were close to each other *giggles* I didn´t know you such kind of tastes"

"W…wait aqua! You sure are misunderstanding something, I can explain everything and…"

"Hi, hi kazuma I won't tell anyone from now, just make sure to not make darkness cry" then aqua leaves giggling.

Just when aqua was gone to her bedroom Darkness appears at his door knocking "K..kazuma… can I…"

"Do as you wish" reply Kazuma trying not to lost his composure.

"I really wanted to thank you for helping me" said Darkness with a soft smile and his cheeks red.

"Oi, oi you don't need to be that polite, I just couldn´t stand you being so sad"

Just after Kazuma's replied darkness, she went in and took Kazuma by his hand and softly asked him "Can you come with me Kazuma?"

Darkness took Kazuma with his eyes closed outside the mansion, when they stopped, she asked Kazuma to take a seat an open his eyes. His vision was filled with stars in a beautiful landscape.

Impressed by what he was watching asked the paladin girl "what are we doing here?"

Darkness replied to him "Whenever I feel sad or depressed, I come here to see the landscape and feel so much better. I return of what you did today I wanted you to delight yourself with the sight"

Kazuma couldn't say a word because of what darkness said to him. "I will always remember this Kazuma, I will protect you with my heart now that I know that I can do it" spoke darkness to him.

Kazuma trying to say something, he said to darkness "You always could, you just needed to have faith in yourself".

Before replying kazuma, darkness asks with shyness to kazuma "N…nee kazuma… c… can I take your h…hand" as she blushes.

"….O….oi…." Stutter kazuma.

Gaining a little of courage, she asked again "C…can I…"

Kazuma just nod as he couldn´t really hide that he was extremely embarrassed.

"Now I have faith in myself thanks to you Kazuma, I want to repay that to you" spoke darkness with a beautiful smile. She stood behind Kazuma and embrace him.

As he was trying to process what was happening at the time and feeling darkness chest pressing his back he suddenly stopped to react.

Kazuma suddenly faint.