Billiards - Chapter 7

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Billiards Parlor

Kaoru: Eh~ ... Nono, no matter what you say, using a sword to strike the balls is impossible.

Souma: Hm… Why do you decide that all by yourself? We don’t know until I try it.

Kaoru: That may be true, but what are you gonna do if you accidentally damage the billiards table?

Souma: No need to worry! I’ll avoid it by a hair’s breadth!

Kaoru: No no, you might still end up slicing it. You don’t want to cause trouble for the parlor, right?

Souma: Trouble, huh…?

Kaoru: Yep, yep. The shopkeeper would be sad, I think~

Not only that, if you damaged something it might even turn into a scandal. Like, arrested without warrant for causing property damage~, you know.

If that happened, Hasumi-kun would probably be angry. He might even be so angry that his glasses crack~?

Souma: Guh… Hasumi-dono’s glasses…!?

Kaoru: Right? So won’t you put down that sword? Let’s use normal cues, okay?

Souma: ...Understood. I’ll go pick out a “kyuu”.

Kaoru: Yup, go ahe~ad.

Haa~... I was able to persuade him somehow. Geez, I’m already exhausted…

But I made a promise with Tenkousei-chan. I want her to praise me, so I’ll do my best.

Souma: Hrr~m…

Kaoru: What’s up this time? Souma-kun.

Souma: Even though you told me to just choose whichever, I still don’t know which one to pick, so I’m troubled by that.

Kaoru: Well, I guess asking a layman to “just pick out whichever you like” is a bit unfair.

In any case, we have to decide on one somehow. Souma-kun, can you close your eyes?

Souma: Hmpf, what are you trying to make me do?

Kaoru: You can’t tell which cue is good from what they look like, right? So close your eyes and just choose whichever makes you think “it’s this one”.

Souma: Oh, so you want me to open my mind’s eye and ascertain it that way. Understood.

Closing my eyes, and… Yes, I’ve decided on this one!

Kaoru: Hm~m. A deep red cue, huh. The design is also somewhat Japanese-style, so it suits Souma-kun from “Akatsuki” perfectly.

Souma: Yes, I already find myself getting attached to it ♪

Kaoru: Just choosing a cue took up an insane amount of time…

Now then, it’s finally time for me to teach you how to play.

I’ll leave the complicated terminology and rules for later, so how about you try striking first?

You have to hit the white ball, called “cue ball” with your cue so they’ll bump into a colored ball and make it drop into the pocket. Like this ☆

Souma: Ooh, splendid!

Kaoru: Hehe, I could do this much in my sleep. By the way, hitting the ball with your cue is called making a “shot”. Now, go ahead and try.

Souma: Hold the finger like this… Aim for the cue ball… “Shotto”!

Kaoru: Whoops. You put in too much force, and now the arrangement of the colored balls is all over the place.

Souma: Is it bad when they’re not in arrangement?

Kaoru: Hm~, you see, the rule in billiards is that you should hit the ball with the smallest number first. But now, the ball in front is the one with the number four.

Souma: I see… If I strike the ball now, it won’t be the first one but the fourth ball that’s gonna get hit.

Kaoru: Yeah. Well, there’s techniques you can use in times like this.

Souma: Techniques?

Kaoru: Yeah, the position is… This seems good.

Watch me closely, here I go, shot!

Souma: Wha-...! The white ball jumped over the ball with the number four!?

That movement just now resembled a living thing. I want to learn how to perform that!

Kaoru: Sure, but how about you remember the basics first. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. You won’t be able to do cool techniques right off the bat.

Souma: Yes! In order to master “biriyaado”, I, Kanzaki Souma, will do my best!

- One Hour Later -

Madara: Heey, Kaoru-san! How’s it going over here?

Kaoru: The billiards table we’re using is right next to yours, so there’s no need to use a loud voice like that.

Yeah, it’s not bad. How about you two?

Madara: Mitsuru-san is improving at an amazing speed! Mama is happy to have raised him splendidly….♪

Kaoru: Hmm, I see. ...Hm? What’s up, Tenkousei-chan?

Madara: “How about doing a team battle”? Team Track Club vs. Team Marine Bio Club, huh. That’s a good idea! Both teams have a big gun and a beginner each, so I think it’ll be an interesting match.

Kaoru: If we’re doing a match, I want there to be a prize~. The victor gains the “right to go on a date with Tenkousei-chan” as a present~, or something?

In that case, I’d do my very best ♪

Souma: Hmpf. I completely forgot about it because you were teaching me so kindly, but you really are low…

Kaoru: Errr, wagering a girl isn’t good, yes, yes. I’m taking back what I said. So will you please stop flashing the blade of your sword at me~, it’s scary!

Souma: ...Very well. But even though it was Tenkousei-dono’s request, I feel a bit awkward about forming a “chiimu” with Hakaze-dono.

Kaoru: It’s fine, just leave it to me. I’ll put in a serious effort when it comes to matches and the like. Besides, I can’t look unsightly in front of Tenkousei-chan.

Madara: Hehe, seems the team work over there is bad. In that case we’ll win, Mitsuru-san...☆

Mitsuru: Well, it’s not like we’re good friends or anything like that either…

But, in a match I don’t wanna lose!

Madara: Hahaha! That’s heartening, my heart is leaping! Alriiight, in order to psyche ourselves up, let’s huddle together in a circle!

Mitsuru: Hmmm? Okay, but with just the two of us it’s gonna be a pretty small circle?

Madara: Whoops, you’re right! It’s better with more people!

That said! Kaoru-san, Souma-san! Come over here, we’ll huddle together in a circle!

Kaoru: Eeh, we’re about to fight each other, though~?

Madara: It’s fine, come here, come here ♪ Anzu-san, you too!

An oath! Us idols! Taking our bonds to heart! We swear to fight! Fair and square all the way to the eeeeeend! Hurraaaay ♪