I might not have been considered the top student at Wammy's House, but that did not mean I did not notice my best friend's little infatuation with his so called "enemy." Mello always pretended that he hated Near, but whenever he thought no one was around, I'd catch him peeking through the door to the common room and sighing as he watch Near spend his day in there. He would only stay for about a minute, then he would quickly leave, hoping no one had saw him. I had also seen him get distracted during meal time, gazing across the room. I figured it had been Near who caused this. Whenever I got his attention back and asked him what he was looking at, his face would flush slightly and he'd deny looking at anything. He would just claim he had been lost in thought. It was funny how Mello thought I had no clue as to his feelings, even though I was his best friend.

Mello's birthday was just around the corner, and instead of just giving him the usual chocolate bars and other junk, I decided I would add a little extra something special. I was going to give my best friend what he most desired. There was only one problem, and a rather difficult one at that. I needed another person's cooperation, but how could I possibly achieve that? Not only would the person be difficult to convince, but what I wanted to be done was something no one would readily agree to. At least, not without something to gain. I mean, it certainly was a rather humiliating task.

Finding Near was not a problem. He was in the common as usual, working diligently at one of his many puzzles. Getting him alone was much harder. There was certainly no way I could ask this of him in front of anyone. That would decrease the chances of him ever agreeing, as well as ruin the whole surprise element. All it would take would be one big-mouthed eavesdropper to hear me try to make my deal with Near, and it would be spread like wildfire all over Wammy's. Not only would Mello find out about my plan, but his secret feelings towards Near would soon be recognized. Currently no one could imagine such a thing, but if some one were to be given a reason to look closer, it wouldn't take long to see Mello's most embarrassing secret. I did not wish to torture my best friend with such an awful fate so I had to be careful.

"Hey, Near. Could I talk to you for a moment?" I had to coax him away from the crowded common room and into somewhere more remote without drawing suspicion.

After a few moments of silence, Near asked me why I hadn't spoken yet.

"Well, its not something I want to talk about in front of all of these people." I whispered, being sure that no one but Near could hear me.

"And why is that?"

"I'll explain if you come with me." Silently, Near got up and I lead him out of the room.

I walked through the halls searching for my destination. I knew my room would be too dangerous. Mello could walk in at any moment. I also knew that any of the boys who admired my video game knowledge and vast collections of games could show up, asking me for advice on how to beat a boss or if they could borrow one of my new games. Instead I headed for a room that scarcely had any visitors. It was only the owner of that room that spent any time in it.

I found Near's door and opened it, beckoning Near to enter before me, and the shutting it before moving to sit upon Near's bed. Near sat in the middle of the room and waiting for me to begin.

"How would you like to make a deal?" I asked.

"A deal?" Near looked skeptical and wary.

"Yes a deal, and before I tell you what I want, I'm going to make you an offer that you could never refuse."

"And this offer would be..."

"How would you like this?" I held up a box containing the world's most difficult puzzle. It was completely white, and consisted of 10,000 pieces. Near silently stared up at me, longing evident in his eyes.

"So is it a deal?" I continued.

"It depends on what you want? Will it humiliate me? Will I feel any pain?"

"Well, you certainly will feel embarrassed but not to worry, only one other person will know about this. And as for the pain, well that will be up to you..." I trailed off with a smirk.

"What do I have to do? And who is this other person?"

"Well Near, allow me to explain."