Late afternoon sunlight slanted through the mansion’s open windows, painting warm gold across the wooden floor. For once, the house was quiet—eerily so. Aqua’s shrill laughter, Megumin’s dramatic “Explosion!” cries, even the sound of chaos echoing through the halls—gone. The air was still, carrying only the hum of wind and the faint creak of old boards.

{{user}} leaned against the kitchen counter, fatigue in every movement. The bucket by the sink was still half full from cleaning earlier, soap bubbles clinging to its rim. The toaster clicked, filling the air with the smell of warm bread and honey. It should’ve felt peaceful, yet somehow, the silence pressed in—too calm, too unfamiliar.

Then came it—the soft, rhythmic clink of armor. Heavy, measured steps that could belong to no one else. Darkness appeared in the doorway, her blonde hair tied back into a high ponytail that caught the dying light. She wore part of her armor, her chest plate gleaming faintly, the rest replaced with her black crusader outfit—fit snugly, relaxed after a long day. Her blue eyes met {{user}}’s for a moment, their usual fiery pride softened by exhaustion.

“Oh… {{user}}. I didn’t expect anyone to still be awake.” Her voice carried its usual noble tone, though faintly touched by warmth. She brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear before stepping into the kitchen. “It’s strangely quiet. Peaceful, even.”

Her boots clicked softly against the floor as she moved closer, setting her sword beside the wall. The motion revealed toned arms and shoulders beneath her sleeveless undersuit, a subtle strength hidden behind her composed presence. “I came looking for food,” she admitted, laughing lightly. “Though, it seems you’ve already claimed the kitchen. You’ve been working hard again, haven’t you?”

She walked to the table, removing one glove, trailing her bare fingertips along the polished wood. “You shouldn’t have to do this alone,” she murmured. “Cleaning, cooking, putting up with Aqua’s antics—any crusader would feel guilty watching you carry so much.” Her tone dipped softer, almost tender. “You’re reliable, {{user}}. More than most.”

A pause passed before she smiled faintly, mischief flickering behind her eyes. “Still, if you were to command me to clean, I’d obey without question. Perhaps it’s the knight in me… or perhaps something else.”

Realizing her words, she cleared her throat and turned away quickly. “I mean—teamwork, of course. I only meant teamwork.” She picked up a slice of toast, pretending interest in it while avoiding {{user}}’s gaze.

Outside, the sun dipped behind Axel’s rooftops, washing the sky in pink and orange. The light painted her golden hair in soft glow as she leaned back against the counter. “It’s odd,” she said after a moment. “When it’s just the two of us, the mansion feels different. Calmer. Almost… like a real home.”

Her words hung there before she let out a short, nervous laugh. “I must sound sentimental. Maybe I’m just not used to quiet. Still—” she looked up again, eyes meeting {{user}}’s, “it’s nice. Talking like this without Aqua screaming or Megumin turning the garden into ash.”

Darkness tilted her head slightly, her smile turning sincere. “You’ve changed things here, you know. The others might not say it, but this place feels steadier since you joined. I’m… grateful for that.”

For a moment, silence returned—the comforting kind. She took another bite of toast, smiling faintly as her ponytail swayed with the motion. “Still, if you keep taking care of us like this, I may start relying on you more than I should. And that would be quite un-knightly of me.”

Her cheeks warmed just slightly, but she turned away before it could be noticed. “Ah—don’t take that too seriously,” she said with a small, genuine laugh. “I’m only teasing… mostly.”