[The next day rolls around as Kazuma strikes a pose, donning a new attire. A gold-trimmed green mantle, white shirt, pants, and leather boots. He stands in front of the three girls as they look at him in surprise.]

Megumin: "Kazuma looks like a real adventurer now don'tcha think?"

Aqua: "Yeah, his track suit didn't go with the fantasy world vibe at all!"

[Darkness turns to Aqua.]

Darkness: "What fantasy world?"

Aqua: "N-nothing! Anyway where's (Y/N)?"

Kazuma: "Not sure, I think he was also getting himself something, probably basking in all of the money he earned.." [He says that last part with annoyance.]

[Suddenly the doors to the guild open as the four of them turn to see you, donning your new attire as they also look in in surprise.]

Kazuma: "Damn.. definitely looks like it costed a bit.."

Megumin: "Woah! (Y/N) looks amazing in his new attire! I almost couldn't tell it was him!"

Darkness: "Indeed."

[You walk over to the four of them and smile.]

(Y/N): "Sorry I took so long, the order took a little longer to complete then I thought it would."

[Darkness softly smiles.]

Darkness: "Well, at least you're here with us now."

[You look and nod at her as Kazuma speaks up.]

Kazuma: "Sweet! Now that you're all here I can show off the new skill I got."

[He shoots out his right hand, supporting it with his other hand.]

Kazuma: "Sure its basic but its magic! As for my outfit, I call it the magical swordsman without a shield look."

Aqua: "At least you don't look like a creeper anymore..."

[You turn to her, snickering a bit.]

(Y/N): "Nah, he still does."

[You both chuckle between each other as Kazuma growls in annoyance. Megumin speaking up.]

Megumin: "Lets take out new gear on a kill quest!" [She starts to rub up against her staff like a weirdo again.] "We should pick one with lots of small fry monsters so I can test out the magic power of my gorgeous new staff!~"

Darkness: "No wait! We should go after strong monsters! Oh yes.. massive and brutal!"

Aqua: "No, we should all go on a quest with a huge payout, after paying my tab I need cash to buy a meal!"

(Y/N): "How are none of us on the same page..."

Kazuma: "Here's my two cents.. its mating season for the giant toads right? Well I heard there's a bunch of them just outside of town-"

[Aqua and Megumin step forward in protest.]

Aqua & Megumin: "No way no frogs!"

(Y/N): "Yeah.. that's not really a good idea after the last time man.."

[Darkness looks at you in confusion.]

Darkness: "Why not?"

[You turn to her, rubbing the back of your head as Megumin and Aqua shake Kazuma around, trying to convince him not to.]

(Y/N): "They're still traumatized after the last time we fought them, remember when we first met I told you they got swallowed and covered in frog slime?"

[She grabs onto your shoulders with a determined look on her face.]

Darkness: "I fail to see the problem!"

[You nervously look away.]

(Y/N): "Yeah I figured you wouldn't.."

[Her face goes red as she gently shakes you.]

Darkness: H-hey! What's that supposed to mean!?"

Aqua: "Konosuba!"

[You and your party are looking at the quest board, not really seeing any easy quests to take on.]

(Y/N): "Why are there so many harder quests?"

[Darkness grabs your shoulder as she points to one with a giant monster and a bunch of skulls on them.]

Darkness: "(Y/N) look! We should do that one! It's a quest to kill a horrific beat called black fang!"

Kazuma: "Oh hell no!

(Y/N): "Yeah that seems a bit.. much. Even for my skills.."

[Darkness looks down disappointed as Kazuma gets better look at the board.]

Kazuma: "What's going on around here? (Y/N)'s right, all of the quests are super hard!"

[Luna walks up to your party.]

Luna: "I am sorry about that. Unfortunately one of the Devil Kings top generals took up residence somewhere outside town. Because of that all the weaker monsters in the area have gone into hiding.. so there won't be an easy quest for a while."

[Kazuma slumps his shoulders.]

Kazuma: "Craaapp..."

*Timeskip*

[Night fills the sky as you, Kazuma, and Aqua have returned to the stables as she messes with a flower on a small table that you guys bought, a small candle also illuminating the area.]

Aqua: "Honestly, I don't care if he is a top general, if he's undead I could handle him easy.]

[Kazuma speaks up, laying on his side with his head in his hand.]

Kazuma: "I'll be damned if we're gonna wait here a month till a bunch of knights and badasses come from the capital."

(Y/N): "Well what else can we really do? Fighting him directly would most likely be a death sentence."

[He cranes his head to look at you.]

Kazuma: "Well we're gonna run out of money well before then so its best if we try something."

[Aqua spins around, showing off the flower that she made.]

Aqua: "Look at what I made! Isn't it beautiful! I think I can make a fortune selling these!"

[She crawls over to you and puts the flower in your hair, giggling to herself and sitting next to you as Kazuma looks on in annoyance.]

Kazuma's Thoughts: "Still waiting to start my adventure.."

*Timeskip*

[You and Darkness have decided to finally spend some time and train together, mostly because she has to leave for home soon. You both are walking around on the outskirts of town, trying to find suitable, open spot, in the mean time she decided to strike up some conversation.]

Darkness: "So, what sparked your interest in me? I don't really see you express as much of an interest in the others as you do for me."

[She turns to you, questioningly, you simply blush a bit and turn your head away a bit.]

(Y/N): "Well.. it's because of how similar our kit is.. we both wield swords and are meant to be on the front line."

[She inspects you a bit then smiles, turning her head forward once more.]

Darkness: "I see."

[She then turns her head again, now looking at you with a lustful look.]

Darkness: "However don't think I haven't seen how you stare at me~ So hungrily, like you want to take a piece of me! I musn't give in! I must stand strong!~"

[She starts to get into her own head again as you have to calm her down.]

(Y/N): "H-hey! I'm not Kazuma where I go around gawking at women all the time! I just tend to stare off in space and maybe sometimes you're in my line of sight is all..."

[She softly chuckles to herself, resting a hand on her chest.]

Darkness: "Fair enough, though I must say I don't mind the stares one bit~"

[You groan in embarrassment as you both continue on, eventually stumbling across a clearing.]

(Y/N): "Alright, this should do nicely!"

[You walk forward and observe the area.]

*Darkness's POV*

[The wind blows over you, making your hair flutter, making you look majestic as she gets lost in the sight for a bit.]

Darkness's Thoughts: "Wow.. never thought he'd look this good.."

[She rests her hand on her chest.]

Darkness's Thoughts: "He just has a sort of charm to him that not even Kazuma has.."

[She softly smiles to herself and sighs.]

Darkness: "I don't really understand him.. but I certainly wouldn't mind getting to."

*Regular POV*

[You spin around to see her looking at you, confused you wave a hand as she breaks out of her trance.]

(Y/N): "You alright?"

Darkness: "Y-yes.. I'm alright. So, what did you want to teach me?"

*Scene Change*

[You and Darkness are standing side by side, you holding your headtaker out.]

(Y/N): "Okay, so I'll just teach you some basic swinging tech that I've learnt."

[You run forward a but and swing at a log that you set up, chopping it in half. You move out of the way and gesture for her to try, she does but ends up losing her balance and falling on her face. You walk over and help her up.]

(Y/N): "Maybe lets try something else.."

[You both stand in front of each other, holding your swords out and staring each other down. You go in for a swing as she blocks it, she goes in for one herself but misses. You finally swing your sword once more and accidentally knock hers out of her hand as it land son the ground. You look at her as she looks at you with a lewd expression.]

Darkness: "You've unarmed me~" [She spreads her arms out dramatically and takes a step toward you.]

Darkness: "Now you may do with me as you see fit! I won't oppose!"

[You simply sigh as you walk over and grab her sword, handing it back to her.]

*Scene Change*

[You've decided to hand her your sword in an attempt to see if it could help her at all.]

(Y/N): "Alright, see that log over there?"

[You gesture over to the stump you used before, now with a new log on it.]

(Y/N): "Try swinging at it."

[She looks at you and nods, she rushes forward toward the log and swings, only for her to hit nothing. You sigh as she walks back toward you in embarrassment, but you hear a large cracking sound from affar as you look up and see a tree toppling over in the distance, you and Darkness looking at it in surprise.]

*Scene Change*

[You both have decided to call it there for the day, laying in the grass next to each other as you take in the evening breeze. It's quiet for a while until Darkness speaks up.]

Darkness: "I'm sorry that I'm not the easiest person to work with.."

[You turn your head to look at her and give her a soft smile.]

(Y/N): "Darkness, its fine, really. Even if we didn't get much done today, I still had fun."

[You face back up to the sky as Darkness blushes and turns her head to you.]

Darkness: "R-really?"

[You turn your head back to her, meeting her gaze and flashing her a smile once again.]

(Y/N): "Yeah. Certainly a lot more fun to hang out with then Kazuma or Aqua."

[You both face back up to the sky again as she continues to blush, her surprise now replaced with a smile of its own.]

Darkness: "Thank you.. you are quite nice to be around as well.."

*Timeskip*

[After you and Darkness laid in the clearing for a while you decided to head back, some small talk along the way but nothing too big, just taking in each others company and the days events. You eventually walk her to the gate to see her off, she only takes a few steps forward then stops, turning back to you.]

Darkness: "I had a very fun time training with you today, I look forward to when we can do it again."

(Y/N): "I can say the same.."

[You both look at each other for a moment until she walks up to you, and does one of the last things you expected.

.

.

.

.

She plants a kiss on your cheek.]

[You're taken back in surprise, putting your hand up to the cheek she kissed as she softly chuckles to herself from your reaction, resting a hand on her chest.]

Darkness: "Think of that as a thank you."

[She takes a step back.]

Darkness: "I will hopefully will only be out for a short time, maybe a few days. I look forward to seeing you again when I return."

[She gives a small bow as she turns around and walks off.]

[You watch her walk off as you're stunned still from what she did, your hand still stuck where it was as a goofy smile starts to form on your face, softly laughing to yourself, thinking that maybe.. this life isn't as bad as you thought it would be.]

[To Be Continued...]