Chapter 4: Going to Enzan's

Upon arriving at Enzan's majestic estate, Netto just had to stare in awe. Damn, that's HUGE, he thought. He rang the doorbell, only to be greeted by a very unhappy voice coming from the intercom.

"Look, if you're selling girl scout cookies, I already-"

"ENZAN! It's me, Netto! Open the damn door, will ya?" Netto screamed.

"What are you doing here, Netto-kun? Can't you see that I'm a bit busy?"

"A bit? Just open the door, will ya? I have something that you might be interested in."

"What do you have that could possibly interest me?"

Netto knew Enzan wasn't in the mood for joking around with. He immediately flashed the paper to the camera. Enzan, without saying another word, opened the gate and unlocked the door.

"Netto... how did you... where... when..." Enzan greeted Netto at the door.

"Would you believe me if I told you?" Netto joked.

"Not really, but thank you soooooooo much Netto! I can't tell you how long I've been looking for this blasted piece of paper!"

"Hey!! But in all cases, I can tell; what little black hair you had is gone."

Enzan blushed a bit but invited Netto into his house. He couldn't possibly not have let Netto back out into that snowstorm.

"So, what was that piece of paper for?" asked Netto.

"Nothing, really," Enzan replied.

"So I see. Well, if it was really nothing, why did you suddenly become all happy when I gave it to you?"

Enzan thought for a bit, knowing he couldn't argue anymore with Netto. Or could he? In all cases, he had eyes that were just too cute to argue with. Did I just think what I think I thought? Enzan thought.

"Fine. This paper is a contract between my company and another company. I bought a failing company, so now they must oblige by my rules and whatnot. It shows them my superiority upon them. Happy now?"

"I see, Mister Superior. Well, I should get going now. Bye Enzan."

"Wait, Netto-kun... do you... perhaps... w... want to stay a bit? You know, since it's really stormy outside and whatnot?"

"I suppose... but I'd have to call my mom first."

"Please do, Netto-kun."

Why does he keep calling me Netto-kun? Doesn't he usually call me Hikari or idiot? Well, it doesn't matter; he sounds cute calling me that instead, Netto thought. Wait, did I really think that? No way in hell...

Oh yes you did think that, a voice in Netto's head claimed.

"NO I DIDN'T!!!" Netto yelled.

Rockman, Blues and Enzan all stared at him with amusement.

Netto smiled sheepishly and blushed. "S... sorry. Hehehe..." The other three shrugged and let Netto call his mother.

Netto called him mom and informed her about his staying at Enzan's place. She was more than happy at the idea, insisting that Enzan could use a friend like him. Netto blushed at what she said before saying goodbye.

"Yeah, she let me stay. So, Enzan..." started Netto, "whatcha up to?"

"Oh me? Nothing really, just finishing up some paperwork. Are you hungry or anything? We could order out-"

"Yeah! Oh, and, there's no need to order out. I'm a bit handy in the kitchen, if I do say so myself."

"Well, if you really say so. It's this way... follow me."

Enzan led Netto into his gourmet kitchen. Netto's whole house could fit in it, and his house isn't even that small! Netto stared in awe for a while before being snapped back into reality by Enzan.

"Uhh, Netto, we're here."

"Right right right. Let me get started. Umm... mind helping me find where everything is?"

Enzan took a few minutes explaining to Netto where everything was before he got started cooking.

"So, what do you want to eat?" asked Netto.

"Umm, anything is fine, as a matter of fact," replied Enzan.

"So I see. Is curry okay?"

"Well, I've never had curry before, but be my guest."

"NEVER had curry? What the hell? Why? What have you been eating all these years?"

"You know, the usual. Coffee, sandwiches, the usual."

"The usual?! Sit down, Enzan. You NEED to taste what REAL food tastes like."

"Bossing me in my own house, I see?" Enzan chuckled.

Netto stuck his tongue out and began to cook. Things really started cooking now. All Enzan could see was a blur moving around in his kitchen, but whatever that blur was making smelled really savory.

All he could do for now was wait, watch and smell.

"All done! Here ya go!" Netto smiled happily. He gave himself and Enzan a plate of curry, rice and meat and poured them both a glass of milk to ease the spiciness.

Netto ate his meal like a monster, grabbing more servings of curry and rice after finishing the last serving. Enzan wasn't even halfway done with his first serving yet.

"What, is it not good, Enzan?" asked Netto.

"No, no. It's delicious. Really. But how could you eat that much and still retain a small, sexy frame?" replied Enzan. What a mistake he had just made.

He blushed furiously after realizing what he had done and looked down at his plate of curry before Netto could see his blush. Netto didn't miss what he had just said and choked.

"What did you just say Enzan? Did you just call me sexy?" Netto too blushed, but Enzan was too embarrassed to look at Netto. Why am I blushing? Netto thought.

"N... no. I d... didn't. I meant to say small."

"But you did say small..."

"No, I said small and skinny!" Enzan became even redder.

"No, you said small and sexy."

"What I meant w... was small and skinny..."

"Whatever."

Enzan then slammed his fists on the table and yelled at Netto. "I did mean small and skinny, okay?!"

"Okay okay, Enzan. Sorry, jeez."

The rest of the dinner lasted in utter silence. After dinner was finished, Netto offered to clean up, but Enzan denied the offer since it was his house, and Netto was the guest. Before Netto could say anything further, Enzan grabbed all the tablewares and placed them in the dishwasher.

"Too late, Netto," Enzan smiled and stuck his tongue out at Netto. He wasn't angry at Netto anymore since it wasn't his fault for saying sexy. Or was it?

"No fair, you left me with no choice!" Netto said. "Well, I guess I should go for now. It's almost 9 PM. Goodbye En-"

"Netto-kun, wait... why d... don't you sl... sleep over for tonight? You can't possibly walk out in that snowstorm like this at this time of night."

"I suppose you are right, but couldn't you call for a ride for me or something, if you don't mind my asking?"

Enzan was quiet for a bit, knowing that Netto was right. He really wanted Netto to stay over though and decided that lying was the only way he could make him. He wouldn't take a chance at having Netto freeze to death while walking home.

"M... my limo is under maintenance. Yeah! All of them are, actually. As you can see, the temperatures are really low, which froze the fuel lines within the engine and burst, so they need to be fixed. I'm sorry, Netto, but don't I think you should walk in weather like this."

Netto sighed. "Fine, Enzan. You know, you sound a lot like my mother. Let me notify her of the plan, then." He then laughed before calling his mother.

His mother hesitated at the idea at first because he had school the next day, but she eventually let him, as long as he finished all his homework and be a polite guest.

He thanked and bid his farewell to Haruka and hung up.

Enzan smiled. "I'll go set up a room for you. You can wait in the living room over there until I get back." He was excited as this was the first time anyone stayed over with him, but it wasn't just anyone... it was Netto.

"Enzan... do you have any spare clothing for school tomorrow? I sort of came a bit unprepared since I hadn't planned on staying over here for the night," Netto asked after he had gotten himself adjusted to his room for the night.

"I think I do. Let me go check," Enzan replied, heading back into his room to search for clothes for Netto. About fifteen minutes later, he went back into the room he let Netto stay in.

"Uhh, here Netto. I know they're a bit loose, but they should be fine since you're not that much smaller than me anyway." He blushed a bit.

"Thanks Enzan." Netto too blushed a bit. "Oh and Enzan, could you... perhaps... help me with my homework?"

"I was going to finish up some paperwork, but okay."

"Netto-kun, I told you to do your homework by yourself! You won't learn that way..." Rockman whispered to Netto.

"Shut up, Rockman! How am I supposed to do these stupid math problems if I don't know how?" he shot back at Rockman quietly.

"Well, maybe if you had stayed awake in class for a minute or two then..."

"It's okay, Rockman, I'll help Netto with his homework," said Enzan.

"But I thought you had some paperwork to do." said Netto.

"I said I'd help, okay? Now let me see that..."

Why is he being so nice to me all of a sudden? Netto thought. He wasn't quite as friendly to me before today... Maybe... nahhh.

"So you see, you have to do the same things for each side of the equation, otherwise your answer will come out totally wrong. Cancel one side of the variables and solve. That's it," Enzan said.

"Ohhhhh now I get it. That's all? Thanks a bunch Enzan!" said Netto, happily.

"You're welcome." Enzan smiled at Netto. He looked way too cute when he was happy. At the thought of that, he blushed even more.

Netto was able to finish his mathematics homework without further assistance, and pretty soon he was falling asleep. It was already 10 PM, and he needed to go to school tomorrow.

Netto went into the bathroom to change into the pajamas Enzan had loaned him, and when he came out, a blush flashed on Enzan's face.

"Enzan, what's a tomato doing on your face?!" Netto asked surprised.

The "tomato" became "riper." "It's not a tomato! Anyway, I must continue my paperwork. Night Netto," he replied.

"Okay. Thanks again, Enzan. Good night!" Netto slowly and softly said, feeling a little warm around his cheeks.

"Good night, Netto," Enzan replied. The blush remained on his face as he turned off the lights and closed the door behind him.

Netto couldn't fall asleep though, even though he was really sleepy. Too many thoughts roamed his mind.

I noticed Enzan blushing quite a bit recently... why? Could it be... nahh. It couldn't be, could it? Why is he all of a sudden asking me to stay over? It's not like my house was that far away. I know it was snowing really hard, but by the tone of his voice, it was as if he had WANTED me to stay over. Well, for some reason, I WANT to stay over too... Hmm... and he acted so nicely around me. Could it be that he's finally opening up to me? That could be it, but it sure seems to me he's opening up quite fast. Was that his true self? Maybe being a jerk was only a false identity of his? What if... nah. He's my friend and all, but it can't be more than that, can it? He's just a friend. Argh! Why do I keep thinking about Enzan!? These thoughts are giving me a headache... maybe I should try to sleep now. But no, I can't. No matter how much I try to forget, I just can't. Because... because...

… Because I think I like him...