Chapter IV: Inquiry

                                    

                                          
One more. There is only one more left. Nona fixed all of her attention on the blue sphere laying atop the pool table. Earth. Our home. The ball was a dark shade of sapphire, with various splotches of emerald dotting its surface area. Wispy white clouds dance on top of it all, painting the perfect picture.

                          
It's far from perfect, actually. As humans, we are hardwired to have faults. It's beyond our control, we just have to put up with it. Natural, as one might say.
                          
Nona flicked her pale blue braid over one shoulder, feeling her palms begin to sweat. She bit her lip.
                          
Why am I so nervous? This isn't the first time I've played billiards, I'm practically an expert.
                          
She glanced up to meet eyes with Oculus, who was acting like he didn't have a single care in the world.
                          
Now I get it. This is the first time I've played with him.
                          
Oculus wasn't very sizable. He was an old man, thin and frail. Nona guessed that he couldn't hurt a fly.
                          
Not physically, at least.
                          
He can hurt me. Can and will. If we were playing poker right now, he would get me to gamble away my entire life. And lose. Lose everything.
                          
If he hadn't made the stakes of this game so low, I wouldn't have agreed in the first place. I mean, come on. Drinks shouldn't be too much of a problem if I lose.
                          
Nona gritted her teeth and tightened her hold on the pool cue.
                          
I won't lose. I have to win this game, even if it's a tight one. Not because I don't want to pay for a couple of cocktails. My pride.
                          
If I get Earth, I'll win. If I don't, he does.
                          
Hell's going to freeze over before I let that happen.
                          
Oculus smirked, his eyebrows raised slightly. Nona resisted the urge to hit him with her pool cue once more.
                          
I'm gonna wipe that shit-eating smirk right off of his face. Just you watch, old man. I'll sink this one.
                          
Ignoring the mocking looks from Oculus, Nona positioned her cue carefully, making precise calculations inside her head.
                          
Once I hit the ball, it will roll forwards at a high speed. Then, it will collide with the ridge, and continue rolling in the opposite direction at a lower acceleration.
                          
Essentially meaning that the ball is going to sink. And I'm going to win.
                          
So Nona hit the ball, biting her lip in anticipation as it rolled.
                          
Mayu was drunk. No- that would be an understatement. Her vision was blurry and spinning in circles, making the room seem like a bad carnival ride. Her head was pounding with a dull headache, one of the worst she's had in a long while. Well, it's got to at least be up on that list, anyway. Mayu rubbed her eyes, trying to regain her senses. As soon as she sat up straight, a sharp pain stabbed at her spine. Damn. How long was I out of it? She glanced at the long row of empty cocktail glasses on the counter in front of her. Must have been a while. How much alcohol was in those?!
                          
The dim lights of Quindecim seemed to pierce at her sensitive retinas, appearing as blinding splotches of white amongst a blue of darkness. Through her haze, Mayu could make out the pale faces of her best friend and the bartender. They were engaged in what seemed to be a thoughtful conversation. Hmph. Chiyuki didn't even bother waking me up!
                          
From her place in a barstool, Mayu noticed a petite figure and an older man over on the other side of the bar. Her eyes lit up. It's Nona! I should go over and say hello!