"Come on kid, get up," Cathy said while knocking on Netto's door.
"Oh please don't make me get up, not yet…" Netto groaned.
"Come on, today all you have to do is look nice do what the man tells you too and then you're home free."
"And tonight?" Netto asked, sensing an underlying threat to the words.
Cathy sighed, "We go to a ball in honor of the pageant."
Netto shoved his face into his pillow and didn't come out for a few more minutes just to express silently his opinion on what he was just told.
When he finally did come out Cathy patted his shoulder and gave him a small grin, "Don't worry, at least the beginning of the day won't be too hard."
Cathy was right, the day was uneventful at most and Rockman had to keep on yelling at Netto mentally in order to keep him awake.
"Boring," Netto yawned as they went back to the hotel.
Neil nodded, "No kidding, I was almost asleep at my PET."
Netto smirked, "I'm amazed I didn't fall asleep."
"Me too," Enzan and Laika said together.
"Well kids, day two isn't over. We already predicted this," Cathy said warningly. "We're all going to the ball tonight," she said matter of factly. This earned her a groan from Netto but everyone else nodded. "That's where our hacker may attack tonight. There's a judges table where the crown worn by the winner this year will be on showcase, I expect something to be there but we can't be certain until we get there. Till then, suck it up, and I expect you four to meet us here in about an hour."
"An hour?" Netto asked.
"Yeah, you want to rest don't you?" Cathy asked.
Netto gave her a grin and nodded, "Thank you…" Rockman said softly.
"Is Netto a little testy?" Blues asked.
"A little?" Rockman scoffed. "Ha, understatement of the year," he said and left the main computer to go into his PET.
Netto trotted upstairs behind Cathy, "Think we can catch whoever this is tonight?" Netto asked.
Cathy grinned at him, "One can only hope!"
Netto laughed and they disappeared into their own rooms. Netto flopped onto his bed and gazed at the ceiling, "Wow today was boring," he said matter of factly.
Rockman nodded, "No kidding. I thought you were going to fall asleep no matter what I did."
Netto laughed, "Aw, I was trying," he said to his navi.
Rockman smirked, "I know but I swear you still dropped off for a few minutes there."
Netto shrugged, "Ah well, hopefully tonight we can end it."
"Don't get too hopeful it might be a trap like last time," Rockman pointed out.
Netto made a face, "I hope not, I kinda want a break and you know maybe catch Dr. Cunningham and the virus."
Rockman nodded, "I know," he sighed.
Back at the hotel where Manabe and Yui were staying Manabe was typing furiously on a laptop and Yui was running back and forth around the room answering phone calls, bringing Manabe papers that were being faxed and every once in awhile, falling over.
"Um, Manabe-san, it's Haseyawa-san on your cell phone?" Yui asked with her hand over the receiver.
Manabe held out her hand while still typing on the computer with one. She put the phone to her ear, "Yes?" she asked.
"I heard you want to get your hands on a signal breech paper," he said with a laugh.
Manabe sighed, "In New Amsterdam, can you help me?" she asked.
"Can you give me a sample?"
Manabe eyed the computers from Sharro and Jawaii, "I think we can provide you with something," she said.
"Hmmm… I don't know, this seems pretty tough," Haseyawa said in a drawl.
Manabe sighed, "Can you, or can't you do it?" she asked.
"Dinner and a movie?" he asked.
"Dinner and… we'll see," Manabe said with a smile playing on her lips.
"You've got yourself a deal, how much time do I have?" he asked.
"I'd ask for it as soon as possible."
"Two days it is!" he said cheerfully. "I'll call you when you get back in Electopia."
"All right, thank you," she said.
"No problem, I owe you one anyway," he said with a laugh.
"Then why am I having dinner with you?" Manabe asked.
"Because of my charm, wit and wonderful demeanor. See you," he said and hung up.
Manabe sighed and hung up as well. "Now we can just search for the virus," she murmured.
"Manabe-san?" Yui asked.
"Yes?" Manabe replied.
"There's a call for you on your cell phone again," Yui said while pointing to the ringing device at Manabe's foot.
Manabe sighed and picked it up, "Two days, huh?" she sighed.
Netto looked at the dress. It wasn't bad in its own right it's just that it was… a dress. The garment was a pale blue color with sleeves that went all the way down his arms and pointed at the base of his middle finger. The over sleeves and the skirt were made of a very fine pale blue chiffon that reached all the way to the floor. The bodice was embroidered with silver and lavender and it stopped at his upper chest where the sleeves and bodice were connected with a semi see through, shimmer fabric that fastened at his neck. "It's not bad," Cathy said while eyeing her simple, renaissance-esque dress.
"It's a dress," Netto said flatly.
"Oh well," Cathy sighed, "Like I said before, suck it up and put it on."
Netto sighed and went into the bathroom to wrestle into the dress. The skirt got entangled around his legs but he managed to get it on after a few minutes of struggle. He came back out and Cathy grinned, "Well, at least you look good."
Netto stuck his tongue elegantly at her, "Thank you," he said.
Cathy laughed out loud and handed him his PET, "Come on kid, let's go there thinking it'll be over tonight."
"Yeah!" Netto cheered and put on simple silver dancing slippers before following Cathy down to the lobby where the other four boys were waiting.
Just as the night before, Enzan and Andrew stared openly while Neil grinned at them both and Laika gave no notice except for a tiny red tinge on his cheeks. "I hate dresses," Netto muttered.
Laika gave him a small grin, "Ah well, it'll all be over soon."
Netto nodded, "Yeup," he said.
Neil strode up to Cathy and even though she was easily four inches taller then him he bowed and offered her his arm in a goofy manner, "Milady?"
Cathy laughed out loud, "Oh you're such a little brat," she teased.
Neil smiled as she took his arm in jest and they walked out of the hotel together.
Netto rolled his eyes, "Ha, cute," he said sarcastically.
Enzan shrugged, "Well, we are here to work," he said softly.
Netto nodded, "Yeah, I know. Let's go."
Laika and Enzan went out in front and Netto came up in the rear with Andrew. "Shy?" he teased.
Andrew blushed, "Kinda," he admitted.
Netto smiled at him, "Don't worry about it, we'll be in and out in no time. Just think of it as going to work."
Andrew looked Netto up and down and his blush deepened, "Yeah…" he said so softly that Netto had to strain to hear his voice.
"Are you all right?" Netto asked.
Andrew nodded, "Thanks for listening to my writing last night," he said suddenly after a long pause.
Netto grinned, "No problem, it was really nice."
Andrew gave Netto a small grin and averted his eyes back to the ground.
/What's up with him/ Netto asked Rockman.
/No idea…/ Rockman answered.
They arrived at the building five minutes later. The first thing Netto did was hide behind Enzan to make sure no one would see him and possibly ask him to dance. "I never pictured you to be anti-social," Enzan teased him.
"Ha ha," Netto said dryly. "Really funny."
Laika merely sighed but decided that it was in his best interest not to intervene.
"Hikaru?" Andrew asked.
"Yeah?" Netto replied.
"Aren't you going to dance?"
Netto snorted, "Not likely. I can't dance, nor do I particularly want to."
"Oh," Andrew said softly and edged away quietly.
"Netto," Rockman said softly.
"What?" Netto hissed. "I am not dancing."
Rockman sighed and decided to leave his irritable operator alone for the time being.
"Are you all right?" Enzan asked Netto.
Netto gave him a look that said 'Do I look okay?'
"Sorry," Enzan muttered under his breath.
"Netto, I think those are judges," Laika said while nodding at a woman and a man headed their way.
"So?" Netto asked, crossing his arms.
Enzan and Laika rolled their eyes and merely watched the unfolding drama.
"Hello dear," the woman said in a cheery voice.
"Hi," Netto said flatly.
The woman faltered a bit but the man plunged into the dead conversation, "So, how are you my dear?"
"Fine," Netto said simply trying his damndest to keep his answers one word.
The man wasn't giving up as easily as his comrade, "May I ask your reasons for competing?"
Netto blinked, there was a curve ball. /Uh…/
/Well say something/ Rockman urged.
/I'm a undercover agent who's really a boy and just doing this to pass the time while we're looking for a lunatic scientist/ Netto snapped.
/I'm not talking to you right now/ Rockman said slowly and cut off their mental link.
Netto sighed, "Because," he said slowly.
Enzan and Laika just both stared at him openly at this point.
A small grin passed over the man's face. "Good answer," he whispered as they moved on.
"Really?" Enzan asked.
"Shut up," Netto said quietly so the retreating judges couldn't hear.
It took all of Laika's self control to not laugh out loud. "Maybe you should… do something to avoid that again," he suggested with the barest hint of amusement in his voice.
Netto glared at him, "Like what?" he snapped.
Laika figured his best tactical decision was to back off at that point. Netto on the other hand could tell he was starting to get a little annoying so he walked away over to a secluded corner where he could simmer without pissing anyone off. Except maybe Rockman, but they would talk again soon, eventually.
Netto sighed/I hate this./
/What/ Rockman asked.
/Waiting/ Netto said sulkily.
/So that's what you're upset about/ Rockman said.
Netto blinked/Yeah, what did you think I was upset about./
/Never mind/ Rockman said. /You were awfully snappish to Andrew./
/I'm not dancing/ Netto muttered.
Rockman laughed/All right, fair enough. I thought the dress was bugging you./
/It is bugging me/ Netto replied. /But sitting here like targets is even more annoying./
Rockman nodded/That it is./
The twin's conversation was interrupted by Andrew walking over and blushing madly. "Hey," he said while avoiding Netto's eyes.
Netto nodded, "Hi," he said. "So, find out anything yet?"
"What?" Andrew asked.
Netto gave him an odd stare, "The mission?" he asked.
"Oh!" Andrew said. "R-right. Neil said that he hasn't found anything yet but he's keeping his eyes out."
"Darn it," Netto sighed. "I was kind of hoping something would happen."
"Don't like waiting?" Andrew guessed with a small smile.
Netto made a face while Rockman said, "Bingo."
Just then Jade cleared her throat. "O-oh, right… Hikaru?"
"Yeah?" Netto asked.
Andrew began to turn several more shades of red, "W-would…" he took in a deep breath and said, "Would you dance with me?" really quickly.
Netto was caught off guard, "What?" he asked.
"I…well…" Andrew's nerve finally failed him. "Never mind," he said quietly and turned around.
Netto frowned, "Wait… I was just wondering what you said."
/You didn't hear that/
/He said it so quickly…/
"Would you like to dance with me, Hikaru?" Andrew said slowly.
It was Netto's turn to blush a bright cherry red. "I…" /What do I say/ he asked.
/Well… uhhh… one dance couldn't hurt. I mean he really did try hard to ask…/
Andrew could feel the tension in the air grow during the silence.
Netto blinked, then sighed. "All right…" he said apprehensively.
Andrew's face brightened. "Really?"
Netto nodded, "Sure, but only once."
"You don't like to dance?" Andrew asked.
Netto shook his head, "Not like this."
Andrew smiled as they walked towards the dance floor. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"I'm not good," Netto pointed out.
Andrew shrugged, "It's all right, I'm not either."
Netto and Andrew both laughed and proceeded to dance together, badly.
"Is that… Netto-san?" Blues asked.
Enzan looked out at the dance floor. "Oh my god…" he muttered.
"What?" Laika asked.
"He's actually dancing… with Andrew…" Enzan said slowly.
Laika glanced at him, "Well it does let them talk to other people. I'm not quite sure that's what was in mind but…" He looked at Enzan's face and something dawned on him, "Why, jealous?"
"What?" Enzan yelped. "N-no! I'm not… what in the hell gave you that idea?"
Laika lifted a glass of punch to his lips, "I just pulled it out of thin air," he said sarcastically.
Enzan glared at the minty haired boy. "Laika…" he growled.
"Enzan, I'm sorry but at this point it's damn obvious," Laika said bluntly. "I've noticed it, your navi has, my navi has hell everyone has but Netto and Rockman because by some magic they can remain oblivious to everything they want to until it's said outright to them."
Enzan's glare intensified, "Are you saying that I…" he blushed, "like him?"
Laika raised his eyebrows and sipped his punch, "I don't know, do you?"
Enzan opened and closed his mouth then without another word stalked away.
"Laika-san…" Searchman said slowly. "That was kind of mean."
Laika shrugged, "It was beginning to annoy me."
"Laika-san you're…" Searchman looked for the right word, "amazing."
"Thank you," Laika said. "I was going for that."
Searchman rolled his eyes but decided then wasn't the time to argue with his operator.