[Talk - Honoka and Michi]

Honoka stood primly by the large pool table in the center of the room, facing Michi, who lazily tossed and caught a cue ball in one hand.

Michi

You telling me you’ve never played pool before??

Honoka

Um… yeah? It’s not that weird.

Michi

Hey Tim, listen to this, can you believe she’s never played pool?

Timaeus

Um– well, I mean, pool tables aren’t as common nowadays I guess… I’m not sure I’ve ever actually played–

Michi

What’s she carrying that pool stick around for, then?

Honoka scoffed, brandishing her cane in his face like a disgruntled schoolteacher.

Honoka

I already told you, this is not a pool stick!! It’s a hickory dancing cane specially ordered from Germany–

Michi looked back and forth between the cane and the pool sticks hanging on the wall, scratching his neck and keeping up the ruse perfectly.

Michi

You sure you didn’t grab it from over there? There’s an empty spot…

Honoka

What–

Michi

Just needs some chalk on it!

He grabbed a chalk cube and managed to squeak off a little green powder on the tip of Honoka’s cane. As soon as she realized what was happening, though, she thwacked him on the shoulder vociferously.

Honoka

Don’t touch th– It’s in your hand!! You have it in your hand right there!!!

Michi

Huh? What? Where’d that come from?!

Michi reacted with mock surprise to the pool stick in his hand– that he’d pilfered from the rack on the wall while she wasn’t watching. This was funny and all, but Honoka seemed genuinely worked up about it… she was probably just worn out and not at her most observant.

Timaeus

Uh– Michi, why don’t you just leave her alone? We’ve all had a really stressful day…

Michi

Huh? But she’s funny when she’s mad.

Honoka

Hmph!!!