Chapter-22: A party?

A deafening scream echoed through the Nakiri estate. Even the birds sitting on the trees in the small garden, in fear, flew up into the sky, hurrying to get away from the huge white mansion. But the residents of the estate, all the service staff and security did not even blink an eye, continuing to go about their business. They were already used to this furious growl from the kitchen.

This cry meant that Nakiri Alice was again competing with her faithful dog, Kurokiba Ryo, and once again won the upper hand. This has happened so often that it has already become a habit. Of course, Kurokiba also won, but then his roar was probably even louder than if he lost.

The battle was everything for this guy, literally the meaning of life. Why this seemingly lazy, indifferent, though a little frightening guy became so angry, as soon as he stood near the stove and put on a bandana, no one knew, and they did not particularly seek to find out.

But everyone who has ever witnessed the culinary duel between Alice and Kurokiba, involuntarily admired the thirst for victory and rivalry that burned in this indomitable, dark, mad dog. Although the fear of his growling, burning eyes and rudeness overcame all other feelings, what can I hide here.

- Holy shit! I won't lose! Next time, the victory will be mine! - Kurokiba grinned viciously, looking at Alice, who was grinning rather.

- Yes, yes. - she waved her hand and went up to the guy, grabbing his red bandana with fiery flashes in her hand and tearing it off his black head. - And how many times do I have to tell you, talk to me respectfully and meekly!

- Um, yes, Madam. - as soon as the red cloth flew off the guy's head, he, as if by magic, became lazy, slow and indifferent again. The fire died out in the maroon eyes, the speech became laconic and much softer, and the voice was insinuating and quiet.

- That's better! - Nakiri smiled and returned the bandage to her friend. The girl turned to the three maids who were judging their duel. - Thank you for your help, you can be free.

- We are glad to be of service, Mrs. Nakiri! - They bowed and left the spacious, modernly furnished kitchen.

Alice sighed wearily and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Today, my head was splitting since the morning, even the pills did not help." - Alice thought.

Landing on the nearest chair, Alice leaned on the table and rested her cheek on her hand, watching Kurokiba's unhurried movements. As a loser, he cleared the tables after the fight. However, he was the only one who did it. When Alice lost, she refused to do such work and assigned it to one of the servants.

The girl did not like to lose, although she did not have such a thirst for victory as in the guy. She was well aware of her superiority over the vast majority of students at the academy, which must be why she did not particularly strive to get up, although she did not stand still. But if she had more desire and zeal, she would have become an even more outstanding cook than she is now.

Nakiri looked at her friend thoughtfully. Yes, Kurokiba Ryo was her only friend, although it gave the impression that he was her faithful servant or a chain dog, you can call it in different ways. They met in Scandinavia when they were children. At first it was just a rivalry. It was this that Alice attracted a rabid boy from a port pub, who, despite his young age, earned the respect of formidable sailors with his cooking. Back then, he was almost always in this Berserker mode, so Alice was pleasantly surprised when she saw another side of him. This apathetic sloth was to the girl's liking. Although she also adored mad dog. After endless defeats, Kurokiba was finally able to defeat Alice, and this upset little Nakiri very much, because it meant that everything was over. And the very fact of losing painfully pricked the girl's self-esteem. But to Alice's surprise, Kurokiba agreed to become her "servant" and live with her in her father's mansion. It was then that they became loyal friends and excellent rivals. These eternal duels of theirs did not allow both of them to sit still, moved them forward, motivating and encouraging them.

The blonde's lips stretched into a smile as memories of their first meeting flashed through her head. Then Kurokiba hurt her by being the first to say "no"to her. He spoke rudely, grabbed the girl by the hand, in an attempt to get her out of his pub. Such treatment was a novelty for young Nakiri. It was annoying, but also intriguing.

Also recently, one guy who approached her without any doubt managed to catch the eye and attention of Nakiri Alice. And he didn't do much for it, but that was the point. At first, Alice just wanted to get to know the guy better, maybe somehow make him lose his temper. It was, roughly speaking, a sporting interest. But talking with Hiro, Alice took a liking to him.

Nakiri didn't think that such a stupid thing would ever occur to her. But with Hiro, it was interesting and quite fun for her. Hiro knew how to listen, which was so important to Nakiri. The blonde liked to chat about everything, so she was pleased when she was listened to, even if it was not always interesting to the interlocutor.

"Hiro didn't look like anyone I've talked to before." - Alice thought when she first started to recognize the guy.

Hiro never missed a chance to tease her, to which she always replied, which sometimes put Hiro himself in an awkward position. Every time Alice saw him in this position, she was very happy.

- I'm done, Mistress. - Kurokiba walked over to the table, wiping his hands on a towel.

- Well done, Ryo! - Nakiri nodded approvingly and winced at the wave of headache that rolled over her.

- You look like hell. Are you feeling unwell? - Kurokiba asked, tying a bandana around his right wrist.

- Ryo, is it possible to say such a thing to a girl? - Alice was indignant. The crease between his eyebrows smoothed out. The pain passed as suddenly as it had appeared. Alice let out a sigh of relief and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. - Bring me some water, cold, without gas.

- Yes, Mistress. - Kurokiba went to another table and poured water into a clear glass. When he returned, he handed it to the blonde, who simply put it in front of her. - If you don't need anything, I'll go.

- Wait! - Alice ran her finger along the rim of the glass. - Tell me, what do you think about Hiro?

- Um, nothing! - the guy answered indifferently.

- I told you not to lie to me! - Nakiri shouted, pouting. - It's impossible that you don't think something about my... ahem... friend... - Alice stammered.

- But I really don't care, Mistress. - Kurokiba didn't understand what this conversation was about. Nakiri, pouting and clenching her fists, angrily looked at the guy, with a look demanding to tell everything that was in his head. Realizing that she would not leave him alone, even if he really had nothing to say, Kurokiba turned away and exhaled.

- The average cook who can at least do something. An ordinary guy, of which there are hundreds and thousands, although you have a different opinion, Madam.

- You're wrong, Ryo! - said Alice indignantly. It doesn't make sense, though. Nakiri took a sip from her glass of water. - He's wonderful. I didn't think that I would be interested with such a person. But… - Nakiri looked at Kurokiba with a sly squint. - If you were able to say something about him, it means that you still thought about him.

(Just in case, I'll say no yaoi.)

- I can say this about any of your friends. It doesn't mean that I think about them. - Kurokiba remarked indifferently, looking at his friend.

- Well, you could have admitted that you lied... - Alice muttered and took another sip of cool water

- I have nothing to confess. - Kurokiba turned away.

- Then what did you talk about yesterday? - Alice asked, remembering yesterday's events.

- He asked us to fight sometime. - Kurokiba replied, still continuing to walk towards the exit.

- What?! And you didn't tell me about it?

- You were present at this conversation, so I did not consider it necessary.

- That's what you are! Okay, go already, I'm tired of this conversation! - Alice waved her hand imperiously in the direction of the exit. Kurokiba, without saying anything, walked away.

As soon as the kitchen door closed behind the guy, Alice's face lit up with a satisfied grin. Let him say what he wants, but Alice perfectly saw that Kurokiba sometimes looked at Hiro with a challenge, the first time she saw it was when she told about Erina approving and praising his dish. Of course, all these glances, grins, and so on were so inconspicuous that Alice doubted their reality. But in my heart I hoped that after all, I did not take a lie for the truth, but saw what was really there. Chuckling softly, Alice finished her water and skipped out of the kitchen, intending to call someone.

…

Kurokiba went into his room and immediately went to a large gray closet. He fished out a white T-shirt and black sweatpants and threw them on the bed. His fingers unhurriedly undid the buttons on his white shirt, and his eyes stared somewhere into the void.

"What would this conversation be about?"

Before that, the Madam had never asked him so persistently about someone, so now Kurokiba was slightly surprised.

What did he think of Hiro? This guy seems to have become a good friend for the Madam. Nakiri laughs next to him and has fun. Hiro was just a friend of his Madam, and although Nakiri spent some time with him, he did not seek to make friends with him.

Why would he even do that? If he says that he is not interested in Hiro at all, then it is an outright lie. Although Kurakiba had not witnessed Hiro's cooking, he could tell that Hiro had many culinary talents.

Since the day of Hiro's entry, Ryo constantly had thoughts of challenging Hiro to a duel, but did not know how to do it. And yesterday's conversation, in which he was called, further fueled his flame of rivalry towards Hiro.

The guy put on sweatpants and a T-shirt and went to the training hall, driving away unwanted and unnecessary thoughts far away.

...

Hiro was leaving the classroom when suddenly his phone rang.

- Soma, Megumi, you go, I'll come up later! - After saying goodbye to everyone, Hiro looked at the phone.

- Who could it be? - Hiro asked himself. - Oh, Sakura! I haven't seen her for a long time.

- Sakura, hi! I'm glad to hear from you! How are you feeling?

- Hi, Hiro! I'm also glad, everything is fine with me! - mentally adding "Especially after that massage..." - You're not busy, are you?

- No, I just got free, so I'm all ears! - Hiro said.

- Okay, can we go for a walk? - Sakura asked, but her face was incredibly red at the moment, not just from thoughts.

- I'm just in favor, and where are you now? - Hiro asked.

- Now I'm at school, I have one more lesson left and I'm free! - Sakura replied.

- Okay, what's the name of your school, and I'll be right there. - Hiro asked.

- My school is called "Seirin". - Sakura replied.

- Oh, unexpectedly! - Hiro exclaimed, and everyone looked at him strangely.

- Hiro, is something wrong? - Sakura asked after hearing his answer.

- No, everything is just fine, but let me ask you, do you have a basketball team at your school? - Hiro asked, just in case.

- Yes, how do you know? Are you familiar with them? - Sakura asked.

- Yes, what is interesting is that I met some of them right after I met you! - Hiro said with a smile, being already at the exit of the building.

- Wow, then I'll wait for you here! - Sakura said, and the bell rang, meaning that the lesson had begun.

- Good! - Hiro said and ended the conversation.

"This information was a little unexpected, but it's quite interesting!" - with these thoughts, Hiro headed for the school.

…

There were various types of sounds coming from the Seirin school gym: whistles, squeaks, knocks, etc.

When Hiro entered the gym, he found that the team was in the middle of training. Without distracting them from their training and without attracting attention to himself, Hiro sat on a bench and watched their actions. While I was watching them, I decided to write to Sakura that I was waiting for her in the gym, since her lesson was not over yet.

He didn't stay unnoticed for a long time, as Kuroko noticed him, and then everyone else turned in Hiro's direction.

- What the fuck are you doing here? - Kagami shouted.

- Hello, everyone! How is the preparation for the competition going? - Hiro asked.

- Hello! What are you doing here? Don't you have a study right now? - Riko asked, also ignoring Kagami's shout.

- My studies are over, so I came here to say hello, maybe I can play! - Hiro replied. – Or should I leave?

- No, it's all right, your appearance surprised us a little, that's all! - said the captain.

- Don't ignore me! Hiro, do you think I've forgotten about my loss? - growled Kagami. – I challenge you to a rematch.

- As you want, but let's do it a little later, since you have a training session now! Am I right Coach-san? - Hiro said, looking at Riko with a smile.

- That's right! - the girl said with a smile, everyone who saw this smile involuntarily shuddered.

There was a whistle and all the players returned to training, which was suspended, and the culprit was talking to the coach at that moment.

- Well, how is the preparation for the tournament going? And when will it even start? - Hiro asked, watching Kuroko's legendary broadcast.

- Everything is going well and thanks to your intervention, everyone has started to train even harder! - Riko replied and looked at Hiro reproachfully.

- Is that a bad thing? - Hiro asked.

- Yes! Now they began to pay less and less attention to rest, if they did not stop resting at all!

- I see, but what can I do? - Hiro asked.

- You have to distract them from training! Tomorrow is just a day off, but I am more than sure that they will train! - Riko replied and looked at Hiro. – You're not busy tomorrow, are you?

- I'm busy until the evening, so we can have a party! - Hiro replied, but after glancing at Riko's gaze, he quickly replied – Don't worry, no alcohol! Plus, you can keep an eye on them, if you want, of course.

- But where? - Riko asked, completely oblivious to the training process. Everyone watching the conversation was stunned by the behavior of their coach.

- You can do it at my house. I'll just call some more of my friends! - Hiro suggested, remembering his lonely house, which was bought for a couple of days.

- Great idea, then tomorrow night at your place, don't forget to send me the address! - holding out a piece of paper with a number, Rico said.

- Hmm, good! - Hiro agreed, although he could have said it now.

Riko brought the whistle to her mouth and blew hard on it, which meant that the training was over.

- Rico, what's wrong? - Kagami asked loudly, clearly not moved away from the previous conversation with Hiro

- Nothing has happened yet. And what makes you think that something should happen? Yes, and ev...

- Rico! Can you already explain why you decided to interrupt the training? - Hyuga interrupted the girl. - We actually have more training sessions planned for today. He looked warily in Hiro's direction.

- A? - The coach turned to the" four-eyed " Hyuga - Oh, yes, that's right. Anyway, I decided to give you a little rest. After all, you have already trained without a break. Rest is also important.

- Mmm, Rico. - Kuroko drawled, carefully looking at the girl - Is that why you gathered us together?

- Yes. - the girl answered with an important nod - And I have already found a rest for you. We're all going to a party tomorrow! - Riko exclaimed, raising her hand to the "sky" with a protruding index finger. All the players of Seirin, with attentive eyes, traced the path from the pointing finger to the ceiling where he pointed. After a second, finding nothing interesting in the ceiling, their eyes returned to the girl.

- What? - the coach asked in surprise.

- Riko - san, who are we going to see? And for how long? - Tetsuya, who was standing next to Hiro, asked.

-Hah, we're all going for two or three hours..... - Riko put her hands on her hips and looked at us with a smug look. - To visit Hiro!

- To Hiro?!?

- And about what? - someone decided to clarify.

- Mmm... - Riko turned around and looked in the direction of Hiro, saying with a look " Not a word about rest!".

- ... - Hiro paused for a moment and answered. – I bought the company, so I decided to celebrate the successful conclusion of the negotiations…

While Hiro was talking, he thought of inviting Yaeko and her sister, as well as Rossweiss.

Everyone else was thinking about something else at that moment:

"Bought a company?!"

Just when they wanted to ask him something, Hiro's phone rang.

- I'm sorry now! - Hiro said and headed out of the gym.

Looking at the number, he realized who it was.

- Alice, hi, is something wrong? - Hiro asked.

- Hi Hiro, nothing happened! I just wanted to ask, did you really challenge Ryo to a duel? - Alice asked, at this moment, thinking about the result of the duel between them.

- Yes! - Hiro answered briefly, then continued. - By the way, we have a meeting tomorrow, right?

- Yeah! - Alice answered cheerfully.

- I would like to start our date a little earlier. - Hiro said, thinking about making snacks.

- Okay, but why such a hurry, can't you wait already? - Alice asked teasingly.

- Everything is exactly as you say! I can't wait to meet you. - Hiro replied with the same teasing tone. - Isn't someone waiting for this? - Hiro said with sadness in his voice.

- I'm also looking forward to it with impatience! But seriously, why is it so early? Do you really have another meeting after it?

- That's all right, but it's bigger, bigger. I was forced to throw a party today, so I need more time to create it. - Hiro replied.

- Okay, but I hope that I am also on the guest list? - Alice asked.

- Hmm, let's see... - pausing, Hiro continued. – I think one or two more can be invited, hehe.

- Great, hehe, then I'll take another Re and you will arrange a duel after or during the party! It's just perfect! - Alice said.

- Yes, it's good, but we need to find suitable judges! - Hiro replied.

- So be it, I'm ready to become a judge! - Alice said, playing along with Hiro.

- Okay, but we need two more! I have one in mind, so I need to find another one! - Hiro said, thinking of inviting Erina and Hisako.

- There is a member of the ten in your dorm, so let him judge, and who is the third one? - Alice asked.

- You'll find out tomorrow! - Hiro said with a smile.

- I can't wait! - Alice replied, thinking: "Tomorrow will be one of the best days of my life!"

- Then see you tomorrow! - Hiro said.

- Aha! - After that, they ended the conversation, but when Hiro wanted to return, someone called out to him.

- Hiro! - Sakura called out.

- Hi, Sakura! Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends. Do you know anyone there?

- Yes, I know their coach – Rika Ida.

- Oh, interesting. How did you meet her? - Hiro asked as he opened the door to the gym.

- She is my classmate, but because of the upcoming competitions, she constantly leaves the last lessons. - Sakura said.

- Oh, Riko turns out to be a truant? - Hiro said with a smile, and so that Riko could hear him.

When Hiro returned, everyone was still confused about what Hiro had told them, even Riko herself.

- What?! I'm not ... - I wanted to be outraged, but when I noticed a friend behind Hiro's back, I realized what was wrong. - Sakura-chan, why did you tell him everything? And how do you know him? - Riko asked, and the others also became interested, and they have forgotten about the last topic for now.

- This is not a very interesting story, so do you all agree to come to the party tomorrow? Sakura, you are also invited! - Hiro said.

- Yes, we all agree! - Riko said for everyone, everyone looked at Sakura.

- Me too! - Sakura replied.

- That's good now we can play! - Hiro said, picking up the ball from the floor and throwing it into the ring, which perfectly entered the ring.

…

- We played well, we should have played again sometime! - Hiro said, saying goodbye to everyone. - By the way, I forgot to say that almost all the snacks will be prepared by Totsuki's students, so you can not worry about the quality.

- Great! - Kagami exclaimed, looking forward to tomorrow's snacks, and he was not alone in these thoughts.

- Goodbye! - Sakura said goodbye and followed Hiro.

- Well, where should we go, or go home? - Hiro asked, since it was already evening.

- I'm sorry, but I need to go home – Sakura replied sadly.

- It's okay, you'll come tomorrow! - Hiro said and walked Sakura to her house.

- Yes, of course!

…

After saying goodbye to Sakura, Hiro began calling everyone he wanted to invite, except for his roommates.

The first person he called was Yaeko, she was a little shocked, but in the end she agreed, and said that she would talk to her sister about this.

The second person he called was Rossweiss, who agreed without further ado, and volunteered to help with the preparation.

After Rossweiss, his choice fell on Hisako, since he did not have Erina's number. How lucky he was that Erina had a free 1 hour in her schedule, just before going to bed, but when Hisako heard the reason for the invitation, she immediately went to Erina herself.

…

- Erina-sama, Hiro invited you to a party that will be held at his house, he also asked you to judge his duel with Ryo! - Hisako said in one breath after she entered the room.

Erina, slightly taken aback by her friend's behavior, quickly came to her senses and said.

- Okay, but who else will judge the match between them? - Erina asked, although she subconsciously knew one potential judge.

- Apart from you, Nakiri Alice will be present there, as well as a member of the elite ten-No. 7 (I forgot his name… Satoshi Ishiki?)

- Well, contact him and tell him that I agree.

- It will be executed! - Hisako said and ran out of the room.

- Hiro, Erina-sama, I agree to attend your party!

- Thank you for the good news to Hisako! - Hiro replied with a smile.

…

"The matter remains for a small one!" - thought Hiro, going to the hostel.

- Hello everyone, I have a suggestion for you! - Hiro said as he entered the kitchen, but there were only a couple of people there: Soma, Megumi and Yuki.

- What's the matter, Hiro? - Yuki asked.

- Let's all get together first, I don't want to explain the same thing many times! - Hiro said and went to call everyone.

- So I have a suggestion for you! Do you want to earn extra money? - Hiro asked, since he wanted to ask some people to help him with cooking, but since everyone could be busy, inviting them as a side job was the way out of this situation. (Nonsense to be honest, since these are his friends.)

- What's the matter? Tell us directly, and we'll tell you later! - Ryoko said, to which the others nodded.

- Well, recently I was given the task to arrange a party, so I need your help, but since you could be busy, you can think of it as a side job, and those who do not want to, then I invite you as guests tomorrow to my house. - Hiro replied, and waited for an answer. – And yes, tomorrow I have a culinary duel, then Isshiki-senpai would like you to become a judge. Hiro added.

- I don't mind, but I won't accept the money, since you are my friend! - Isshiki replied.

- Me too! How did you even think of such a thing? - Yuki asked.

- I'm sorry, Hiro, but I can't come because I haven't decided on the dish for the fight with Mito yet.

- Okay, but since the party will be in the evening, by then maybe you will think of something, and then if you are not tired, you will join us.

- Yes!

- Okay, now we can have dinner! - Megumi said.

- By the way, I forgot to tell you, Soma lost to me, and now he's been cooking us breakfast for a whole month, hehe! - Hiro said, and began to laugh, after which the others also began to laugh.