CHAPTER - 29: An old and new friend.

After saying goodbye to Erina, Alice immediately started calling Hiro, to which the guy quickly replied.

- Yeah, Alice do you have any new questions? - Hiro asked with a barely audible chuckle.

- No, I'm not about that, - the girl muttered softly, - first of all, I would like to apologize for my grandfather's actions! - after these words, Alice fell silent, waiting for the guy's answer.

- There is no fault of yours in what happened, so there is no need for your apologies, - hearing Hiro's answer, Alice was immediately delighted, - and the one who should apologize is me, I hope you are not offended by me? - Hiro asked half-jokingly.

- Of course not, but you're owed! - I immediately expressed my demands.

- No problem, just tell me what you want? - Hiro easily agreed to her statement.

- We'll discuss this a little later, - Alice said, smiling slyly, but then continued, - well, since we've sorted this out, we'll move on to the second one, you said you'd be hosting a live broadcast today, can I join this event?

- Easily, if, of course, your grandfather lets you go, since at this time little girls go to bed! - the guy joked with a laugh.

- Hey, - Alice was indignant, who did not like this joke, - don't worry, this is my problem! - the girl said in a mysterious tone, hearing which, Hiro immediately regretted his words.

- Then I'll see you tonight! - Hiro said goodbye.

- See you later! - Alice replied, putting the phone in her pocket.

- Well, I should go get dressed up, since I have to go to a meeting with Erina soon! - Alice muttered as she got into the company car.

…

Hiro, who had just spoken to Alice, was in a good mood. After the culinary duel, he went to a book publishing house that he had recently acquired.

The purpose of the arrival was the promise that Hiro made to Minako a couple of days ago. He promised to hand over several books he had written, but since Hiro didn't do it yesterday, he decided not to waste time and do it now.

…

Alice returned back to her residence, where there was no one except the maids, and even they did not allow themselves to talk to her for no reason.

- I wonder where Ryo-kun is? I wanted to ask him if he wanted to come to Hiro's house with me. - Alice was talking to herself as she went up to her room on the second floor.

Immediately after the girl entered her room, she went towards a separate room, which turned out to be a dressing room. After spending a couple of minutes there, Alice finally came out of the dressing room.

- I think it will do! - Alice said, admiring her reflection in the mirror. The girl was dressed in light blue jeans and a green blouse, as well as white sneakers.

Alice was about to call Erina and clarify the meeting place, when suddenly the phone in her hands rang, - wow, why did she manage to call me? - Alice asked herself, when I saw the one who called her.

- Hey, Momo-chan, why are you calling? - Alice asked, sitting down on a chair in front of the mirror.

- Alice, I'm so glad to hear from you, - a woman's voice rang out, - we haven't seen each other for so long, maybe we'll meet today? - Momoi asked, acting more energetic than she had in the morning.

- But you're busy with club business right now! - Alice objected.

- Today one of the members of the main team was injured, so the coach let everyone rest, but warned that those who leave will have double loads tomorrow, but since I am not a playing member of the team, the coach let me rest, although he looked a little annoyed! - Momoi made up a tall tale, because she couldn't tell the truth. As soon as the girl remembered the events of this morning, she couldn't help but sigh.

- It wasn't because of you that the guy got hurt, was it? - Alice asked, hearing a heavy sigh from Momoi.

- How did you know? - the pink-haired girl exclaimed, - did you follow me? - Momoi asked, turning around.

- No, you just read like an open book, - Alice explained easily, - so what happened anyway? - out of curiosity, the girl asked.

- If we meet, you'll know everything right away! - Momoi laid the bait.

- But I have things to do today, unless... - Alice pondered.

- Well, so, are you going or not, otherwise I do not know when I will get such a chance! - Momoi continued to persuade her friend.

– Okay, then we'll meet in xxx in an hour! - Alice gave up.

- It is noticed, I will be on the spot exactly on time! - Momoi exclaimed.

After the girls said goodbye, Alice began to think about how to persuade Erina to go to a meeting at which another person would be present

In the end, Alice didn't come up with anything, so she decided to tell the truth.

…

In another house, but no less luxurious, a young girl was going to a rather important meeting. This could be said, judging by the painstaking actions of the girl. Now Erina was choosing what to wear to this meeting.

Finally, the search ended on a certain type of clothing, namely red trousers, white sneakers and a gray-white jumper.

At that moment, Erina heard her phone ring.

- Oh, Alice, are you ready yet? - Erina asked, taking the call.

- Yes, but there are some reasons that we need to discuss! - Alice began calmly.

- What are they?

- A couple of minutes ago, my old friend called me, - Alice began from afar, - so she wants to meet today, since she has free time.

- Do I know her? - Erina asked seriously, because she didn't want to spend time with an unknown person, especially when she decided to establish a relationship with an acquaintance.

- Well, you saw each other a couple of times, but you didn't have time to get acquainted those times!

- Okay - the girl easily agreed, - so, where will we meet?

...

After a couple of tens of minutes, the car drove up to the entrance to the park, where the friends decided to meet.

At the first meeting, Alice hugged Momoi as a greeting, and then introduced her cousin.

- Erina, nice to meet you, my name is Momoi Satsuki, you can call me by my first name, or you can call me formally! - Satsuki said with a smile.

- I'm glad to meet you too, Momoi, I hope we'll get along, - Erina said with a smile, - Alice told me here that you did something this morning, will you tell me?

Hearing the question of a new friend, Satsuki looked indignantly at Alice, who watched her reaction with a grin.

- Hey!!! - Satsuki exclaimed with displeasure, after which everyone laughed together.

- So what happened anyway? - Alice asked, trying to get an answer from her friend.

- In short, I didn't get enough sleep because of what I was absent-minded from the very morning, - Satsuki began the story while walking along the alley, - All the lessons, we can say that I tried with the last of my strength not to fall asleep, which I managed with great difficulty. The most interesting thing started when we got ready for training. I went to fill the containers with water so that after the loads, I could give it to the students. After I came back, a box of bottles fell out of my hands and they rolled around the playground where the players of the first team were engaged, so the guy suddenly slipped on one of them and pulled his leg, and then, you know, the coach let me rest under the pretext of the rest of the whole team, but the whole I left the team to study. Ha ha! - Satsuki laughed, which was supported by both listeners.

- By the way, why didn't you get enough sleep, if it's not a secret? - Erina asked.

- It's your friend's fault, -Satsuki snorted, - but it's also indirectly related to why I wanted to meet you.

- You mean Hiro? - Alice asked, which Arina was also interested in, - but how is he involved in this?

- That's right, it's all about last night! As usual, I returned after the next meeting of the club members on the weekend and analyzed their progress in some aspects. After finishing my business, I decided to take a little rest by watching a live broadcast. - after this fat hint, the cousins understood what it was about, but only looked at Satsuki with a knowing smile, but still asked.

- Are you, by any chance, talking about the live broadcast of Minano-san?

- You're as perceptive as ever, Alice, - Momoi quipped, - when I first started watching, Minano-sano announced the judges of the culinary duel, but after that, no less interesting things began. The game she was playing dragged me so much that I didn't notice how the morning came, so I didn't get enough sleep, but that's not the most important thing, where did my Tetsu-kun come from?

- Oh, now I understand why you wanted to meet so much, - Alice laughed, - as far as I know, Hiro-kun met him a couple of days before this party, but during this time he managed to play with his team, you know what school he entered? - Alice asked, testing the girl's knowledge.

– Yes, of course, - Satsuki said with stars in her eyes, which amused the cousins, - he entered Seirin High School, where there is also a basketball team. Not as strong as we would like, but it's more interesting, because his most important goal is to win the rest of the Generation of Miracles!!!

Alice regretted starting the topic about it, but she knew that as soon as the conversation turns to basketball or her boyfriend, Satsuki immediately has a different personality.

Erina, in turn, despite the fact that she almost did not participate in the conversation, she was not dissatisfied with the company of her friend Alice, since the conversation indirectly concerned topics of interest to her.

- Yes, yes, - Alice confirmed listlessly, - so, the main players of the team and Hiro, were divided into two teams. I must say right away that Kuroko and Hiro played in different teams, and Hiro's team won a big victory, I am a witness to that! - Alice said exaggeratedly, then remembered something interesting.

This fact surprised not only Erina, but also Satsuki, although she assumed that he was a talented basketball player, but defeating a team that included a member of the generation of miracles was quite another.

- It's impressive, it's even interesting what he can do besides that! - Erina, who had been silent before, suddenly spoke out.

"What did you do to Erin?" - Alice thought when she found out that her cousin was showing interest in Hiro, - "Although this is not surprising! But this time, I won't lose to you!" - Alice was inspired by internal speeches, and restored her former mood.

- Yeah, - Satsuki agreed, - but Tetsu-kun is still better than him!

- Well, I don't agree with the second one, Hiro is better! - Alice immediately objected.

- Until proven, I don't care what is said! - Satsuki didn't give up, which caused everyone to laugh.

- Okay, but what do you say to that, - Alice asked after she stopped laughing, - Tetsuya showed me this after the match, and also admitted that he couldn't do it! - Alice said with a victorious grin, showing the video.

This video captured the moment when Hiro hit the ball into the ring ten times, with his back to him, and even with his eyes closed.

- The one who shot this video clearly does not know how to own a camera, - Erina expressed her opinion, watching Hiro's accurate throws, - who shot it?

Hearing the question, Alice looked at Satsuki with a triumphant smile, who in turn quickly realized that the matter was connected with her lover.

- So what if he can't! We are all not without a flaw! - she began to defend her beloved Satsuki. Erina, hearing Momoi defending Kuroko, also understood everything, looked at Satsuki with the same smile as Alice's.

During such cheerful and sometimes provocative conversations, the walk in the park continued, when suddenly Alice remembered something.

- By the way, do you remember that girl who was the referee of the duel?

- And? That cutie who was sitting next to Tetsu-kun? Wasn't her name Shoko?

- Exactly! She turned out to be a big fan of the Generation of Miracles! - Alice spoke out, remembering with what eyes she looked at the guy, that there was some resentment lurking in her.

- Yes, Shoko has been looking at Kuroko with such sincerity and disbelief for the whole time that I can't even believe that such a thing is even possible! - Erina also spoke out.

- And I was wondering why during the judging she kept looking in the direction of Tetsu-kun. Does he know about it? - Satsuki asked.

- No, he didn't notice it, and Shoko didn't have the courage to come up herself! - Alice said, shaking her head.

- Seriously, how can you not notice this! I will have to tell everyone at the meeting, I hope Dai-chan will be happy and will not be angry at me for the incident yesterday! - Momoi spoke out emotionally, giving away the victim.

– Well, you really try, - laughing, Alice supported her friend, - I hope he hasn't completely fainted, and will cherish his little fan.

- We will, hopefully, by the way, could you send me that video with Hiro? - Momoi asked.

- Me too? - Erina asked immediately. The girl couldn't muster the courage to ask about it, especially from Alice.

- No problem! - Alice agreed easily.

After uploading the video, Satsuki suddenly asked, - Can we go for a snack, just haven't eaten since morning?

- Well, I just know a great cafe nearby with this place! What do you think, Erina?

- I don't mind! - Erina agreed, because because of the excitement before the meeting, she could not eat anything.

After Erina also agreed, Alice took them to a cafe.

At that moment, when they were about to go to the restaurant, suddenly a girl approached them with a request.