A new encounter.

The party was just chilling in communal area of the inn, and eating their meal, when of course, Kazuma and Aqua had to ruin the quiet atmosphere. "You useless goddess! I had dibs on that! Give it back!"

"Sorry! You snooze you lose!" Aqua taunted, the food Kazuma had been going for in her mouth as she was chased by him.

"They're at it again, as always," Megumin noted.

"Well, they do say the closest bonds are often forged through conflict," Darkness remarked.

Slam! "Hah, too bad, can't get me now!" Aqua declared, now in the cage... Funny that they had yet to get rid of it.

"Glad you like it in there so much," Kazuma smirked as he locked the cage, making her plan backfire spectacularly. As she begged to be let out, Kazuma began to muse, "I could throw a monster in with her and make them fight..."

"No, anything but that! I'm sorry!" Aqua whined.

"Goddess!?" a voice suddenly asked, and the party paused and turned to see a man in armor and wearing a circlet entering the inn. "I knew it was you! What on earth has happened to you!?" he fretted.

"Um... Who were you again?" Aqua asked, and the man blanched.

"It's me, Kyouya Mitsurugi! You gave me my magic sword, Gram, and sent me to this world!"

"Oh, I did, didn't I?" Aqua brightened up. "Sorry, I just dealt with so many different people, I just needed my memory refreshed!"

"I see," Kyouya replied.

'He must have been sent before me,' Kazuma thought. 'He doesn't look like much though...'

"By the way," Kyouya said, looking at Kazuma, before casually grabbing the bars of the cage, and pulling them apart like they were nothing, and immediately causing Kazuma to drastically reassess his initial assessment. "Explain to me why Aqua-sama is locked in this cage," he glared at Kazuma.

"Er, ah, well, you see..."

...

"Ridiculous! You dragged Aqua-sama here with you when you came to this world!?" Kyouya was ranting at Kazuma one explanation later. "And furthermore, you treat your other two beautiful and extraordinary party members like this!? What is your damage!?"

"I challenge you to spend one week with these bozos and sing the same tune," Kazuma deadpanned.

"In that case, you three can join my party!" Kyouya summarily ignored Kazuma, and extended a hand to the three girls. "You would fit in nicely, I already have a thief and a knight!"

"No thanks!" all three of Kazuma's party members said at once, making Kyouya flinch back.

"Grgh, you won't be rid of me that easily!" With that, he dragged them outside, challenging Kazuma to a duel.