Chapter-26: Punishment?

In the lamp-lit room, where there used to be a joyful hum, now only the sound of forks and knives clattering on plates is heard. The sounds came from a couple of tables that stood by the windows. The people who were sitting behind them had just finished their meal and started evaluating the dishes. Most of them have already expressed their opinion. There is the last judge whose opinion will be decisive, who will be the winner and who will be the loser. A small group watched the whole performance from the side.

- Okay, now it's my turn to evaluate the dishes of the two of you. To be honest, I'm amazed, but there can only be one winner, so I don't want to waste time, so let's get right to the most important thing. - Erina said in a stately tone.

- In fact, your dishes have their own charm, but as the owner of the divine language, completely different spaces are open to me. The Kurokiba dish, which at first glance has no drawbacks, feels different for me - it's as if I swam with tuna on the sea of milk. - Erina retold her vision, which surprised some people a little, including people from the live broadcast. Many people knew that the girl's words aimed at evaluating food were always full of contempt and arrogance, but now it sounded like praise. What made many experts believe that a young man named Kurokiba Ryo really cooked a dish with amazing taste. While the group was making sense of the words they had just said, the girl moved on to another dish.

- As for Hiro-kun's dish, even I don't have enough words to describe its taste. This taste is too new... I've never tasted this before, so I give my vote for Hiro's dish. - Erina announced her decision after a moment's hesitation.

- Attention! In this unofficial culinary duel, Ichijo Hiroto won with a score of 3:2! Let's congratulate him on his victory! - After Erina's words, Isshika's solemn voice was suddenly heard. - Now let's find out what the losing side will do!

After voicing the last words, everyone's attention was focused on Hiro, who did not know how to react to this.

- Ahem... ahem, actually I do not know, since we have not discussed this point before! - Hiro said, looking at Isshiki and the other judges. - Therefore, we can forget about this part, especially since this duel was not official, so that the execution of the punishment of the losing side can be considered invalid! - Hiro said, finding a way out of their situation.

- Hiro won't do that! Although it doesn't mean anything to you, but according to the old tradition of the academy, everyone who loses should have a chance to lighten the burden of losing a little, so by telling the opponent to forget about this duel, thereby you show disrespect to the opponent. For this, in some more serious cases, it is punishable by an exception! - Isshiki said with a calm face but a serious tone.

Thanks to the live broadcast, these words also stuck deep in the hearts of those watching, also one old man proudly nodded at the words of this student.

After listening to Isshiki's thoughtful monologue, Hiro realized that this is more serious than just cooking. So, after thinking a little, Hiro said.

- It's really serious, but I can't help myself. Give me a couple of days and I'll come up with a punishment for him.

- Well, I hope Kurokiba agrees with this decision? - Erina asked.

– Uh-huh! - answered Ryo lazily, however, he had shades of disagreement in his eyes, but the decision of the judges could not be challenged, and he understood it like no one else.

- Well, since the case is closed, then let's continue to have fun! - Hiro said with a smile, but soon added. - What are we going to do?

Hearing Hiro's question, they couldn't help but laugh.

- Is it possible to continue playing games? - Minano asked, but soon continued. – Do you have any games with a plot? Since these games, although good, but they quickly get bored! - the girl made her request. In fact, she could have fallen through the ground now because of embarrassment, but she was really interested, moreover, at the moment when her viewers were watching the tournament, almost the entire chat was filled with requests about story games. Everyone at this moment was thinking: "After all, if games of this genre are so good, then the plot ones should not lag behind them, right?"

- Yes, there is actually a couple, but if you want to broadcast it, then in order to avoid spoilers, you have to turn it off! - Warning Minano, Hiro said, but seeing the confrontation in the girl's eyes, he said. – I can give you one game, but I'm afraid your subscribers won't like the condition!

- What condition? - Alice asked ahead of Minano, interested in the new game, although she understood that she could play at any time.

- It's easy, or rather you don't even have to do anything! It's just that this game will never appear on sale! - Hiro said with a smile.

- Mmm, are you sure? How can you be sure that your friends will go for it? - Minano asked, not giving up on the idea. Who in their right mind would refuse individual content, in times of fierce struggle for attention.

- I'm completely sure! I'll just say that it's not suitable for sale, and that's it, it's done! - all the words Hiro said were filled with lies from beginning to end. Everyone who heard Hiro's words was so shocked that for a few minutes there was utter silence in the room.

- Well, so do you agree? - Breaking the veil of silence, Hiro asked.

- That demon personality of his again! - Yuki exclaimed.

- We'll probably go to the dorm! It's already dark outside, so we should call a taxi! - Megumi supported her friend.

- Moreover, I have to go to classes tomorrow! - I don't know why, but Rico didn't want to stay here at all.

- Why hurry? Some of you may stay! There are several free and spacious rooms in this house! - Hiro said with an angelic smile.

- I think I'll go home! My parents will be worried if I suddenly stay at a guy's for the night! - With each word, Sakura's face gradually resembled a ripe tomato.

- Well, parents do not need to be disturbed once again! - Hiro replied, seemingly oblivious to the girl's embarrassment.

- Who else is going home? We will order a taxi for everyone at once! I'm not chasing you, as they say: "In a tight space, but no offense!" – Addressing everyone, Hiro said.

Erina was the first to raise her hand and say.

- I've already called a driver for myself, so Hisako and I are leaving! Yaeko-san, Minako-san, aren't you on your way with us? - Erina asked with a gentle smile. The girl wanted to add Minano to this list, but noticing the unfolding events, she abandoned this idea. From the outside, it looked like a show of respect for the older generation, but no one knew that Erina wanted to ask about future releases of their companies.

Since Erina came a little later than the others, naturally she missed all the conversations about the fact that now their companies are completely owned by Hiro, therefore, the girl was in the dark.

- Thank you for your concern, but we are not on the way, since our houses are located in the opposite direction from the academy, so we will probably also go home by taxi, so we have two more cars! - Yaeko replied, unaware of the hidden meaning. But Erina was not upset at all, since the first thing she did when meeting was to exchange contacts.

- Good! Then we'll go! It was nice to meet you! - Erina said. - Let's go Hisako!

Hisako said goodbye and followed Erina out.

- Well, okay, it's a little inconvenient to ask everyone, so raise your hands to those who remain! - Hiro expressed his proposal.

After these words, there were more hands than Hiro expected. The number of those who stayed included all the guys from the dorm, a couple of people from the basketball group, Alice and, respectively, Ryo, as well as Minano.

Within twenty minutes, those who wanted to return home left. Meanwhile, Hiro remembered something, so he asked.

- By the way, Minano-san, since you stayed, do you agree with the rules?

- Yes, I talked to the audience, and they easily agreed! - Minano replied.

- Well, let's go to the room on the second floor, it is also equipped with everything you need! In the meantime, you install all the necessary equipment, and I'll bring you the game. Agreed? - Hiro asked.

- Yes! - the girl answered easily.

When everyone noticed that Hiro was gone, everyone continued to play the remaining games.

- For some reason, I was wondering what kind of game Hiro would give her! - Kagami suddenly spoke up.

- Don't worry, you can find out at any time, firstly, go to the live broadcast of Minano-san, and secondly, go up to the second floor and watch live! - Alice said, who won the guy with extraordinary ease, so Kagami, unable to bear the burden of defeat, still went after Hiro.

- Hey Ryo, don't you want to recoup? - Alice asked, who had just lost a whipping toy.

Ryo, hearing the girl's question, remained speechless, and calmly sat down next to her.

- I wonder if Alice-san had participated in the tournament, would I have won? - Kuroko, who was also playing on the nearby sofa, muttered.

...

Meanwhile, on the second floor.

- I see you have everything ready! Here's the game, enjoy it, I hope your viewers like it, but don't stay up late! - Hiro said, holding out a box with the name MAFIA I.

- Okay, I think I'll play for an hour! - Minano said, unaware that she would spend much more time.

…

The next day.

As usual, Hiro, without contradicting his newfound habits, got up early and went for a run. While jogging, he ran into a convenience store, and bought all sorts of things in order to cook breakfast.

While Hiro was out of the house, the other temporary residents began to wake up.

After yesterday's games, everyone was a little sluggish, but the most sluggish among all was Minano, who had no idea how much she was mistaken yesterday. In fact, the same picture is happening in many homes now.

A certain pink-haired girl in the depths of her soul harbored a grudge against the creator of this game.

- Have a nice day! - Hiro said, waving to all those who got into the taxi. It was early in the morning, so some school students got up early and went to their homes to change clothes.

- And now we can go, how good it is that I bought a house near the academy! - the guy expressed his opinion.

- Yes! - sounded from all sides.

…

Now, at the entrance gate, a group of students were going to their lessons.

- Okay, we'll meet after school at Soma's culinary duel. Isshiki said, which everyone enthusiastically agreed with.