AN: Not mine
In the early afternoon, days later, Harry and Felli were in the outer, rocky section of the Regios. Felli was bleeding off as much nen'i as she could so she could control her efforts. The pink petals of pure nen'i floated like sparkles on the wind.
"You know, no matter how many times I see this, it is always amazing to watch."
Felli's lips quirked upwards. "I'm ready."
Harry nodded.
Felli caused nen'i to flow and gather around her body. After a brief moment, she lifted into the air. Felli lost her control after a few seconds and fell to the ground. "At least I didn't go blasting off this time."
Harry nodded. "Your control is getting better Felli. I'm proud of you."
"I can't even handle half of my power."
Harry shrugged. And before we started, you couldn't handle a tenth of it. Progress is progress, no matter how small it may seem to you."
A dust storm began kicking up outside the Regios. "Shall we go back Felli? Mey-shen is probably getting overwhelmed right now."
"What do you think of my idea?"
"Are you comfortable with it?"
"It might be fun."
Harry nodded. "Alright, but only because it was your idea."
Felli nodded.
Nina frowned. Felli hadn't given any indication she was skipping practice today. When Harley tried to justify the situation, she ignored him, focusing instead on the gap that was still between her and Layfon.
"That will be all for today."
Sharnid waited until Nina had left. "Newbie. You're spending the afternoon with me. We have the rest of the afternoon off. We need to bond as teammates. I know the best spot to do that. Just come with me." Sharnid overrode all of the younger boy's protests.
Felli was regretting her idea. She couldn't smile around strangers, and the pink outfit was not her favorite. Also, no one seemed to notice who she really was. Café Milla, Bob's restaurant, was busy as usual. Harry had closed the Den for a few hours to prepare for what Bob had wanted to do. She had volunteered to act like one of Bob's maids so that she could be 'rescued' by Harry. They had tipped off the editor of Weekly Look'N and he was there in person. He was going to selected to be the judge for this most recent event in what students were calling the Sugar War. The rivalry was friendly and fun. That and business for both cafés picked up for a few days following the events.
Felli felt a hand on her butt and a familiar voice. "Hey sweetheart, I'd like to order." She turned and saw Sharnid and Fon-fon were at a table behind her.
Felli stared balefully at the pair. Sharnid tried to hold back his laughter after his look of shock faded. Layfon looked very nervous.
Layfon asked over Sharnid's attempts, "Senior Felli, what are you doing here?"
Sharnid couldn't hold it in any longer and started laughing until he couldn't breathe.
When she went into the kitchen, Felli was livid. She sent Harry a message with her nen'i of what happened. She could tell that he wasn't happy with her teammate. He was leaving momentarily. She saw Sharnid and Layfon leave. That was probably for the best.
After she went back to helping customers, Bob stopped her. "Felli, darling. Let's try something different for you." They went into his office. "I know this is just for today sweetheart, but I want to see if something else works better for you. Harry explained to me why it's hard for you to smile. I don't want to put a square peg in a round hole." He held out a black outfit instead of the pink. "I'm thinking attractive, yet aloof and untouchable. What do you think?"
Felli took the outfit and changed.
Harry was wheeling a cart through the streets and had picked up a few people following him, guessing what was going to happen. The friendly rivalry between Bob and Harry always gave people a reason to smile. The free dessert helped thing too. A glint from a rooftop opposite Café Milla caught his eye. Sharnid had a camera. Harry narrowed his eyes. A quick snap had the camera in pieces.
Ignoring the sounds of shock, Harry smiled at the crowd then pushed the cart through the door, causing them to slam open.
"BOB! How dare you steal from me! Come out you coward!"
The patrons of Café Milla were surprised to see Harry Potter calling out the owner of the restaurant. Normally it was the other way around.
Bob had changed his pink attire into a black suit and cape. He had on a black top-hat and a penciled moustache. "So you finally noticed your precious Felli was missing? You will surrender the title of the best dessert shop in the Regios to me or she will remain here forever!"
Harry threw a white glove in Bob's face. "I challenge you, you fiend! When I win, Felli is to be freed from your clutches."
Bob picked up the glove and threw it right back at Harry. "When I win, not only will I take the title, but Felli will work for me!"
Most of the patrons were smiling. Some of the boys were nervous that they had hit on Felli. Even though a lot of the boys found her attractive, it was well known Harry was very protective of his girlfriend. Kalian was watching the happenings from his 'disguise' of sunglasses and a surgical mask.
Harry pointed to the editor of Weekly Look'N. "He shall be our judge!"
"I accept!" The man said happily.
Bob pointed at random person in his shop. "Her as well. There are two prizes. There must be two judges."
The girl squealed in happiness and sat across the table from the editor.
Bob pulled his own dessert tray out. "The winning dish shall be…" Bob pulled a cover from the cart. "Molten chocolate-caramel cake! Each one is a perfect blend of chocolate and caramel, cooked so that the outside is crisp, but once you begin eating it, the inside flows out, melting the ice cream and warming your mouth. They have a white chocolate drizzle and a scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance out the flavors."
Harry scoffed. The cloth over his own cart was pulled away as well. "Your cakes will fall before my crème brûlée tart. A light, flaky pastry is the bed for chocolate hazelnut custard that has been torched to caramelize the surface. Thinly sliced strawberries lay between the custard and the whipped cream hiding the sinful delight."
Two plates were placed on the table in front of each person. Meanwhile Bob and Harry tried to stare each other down without laughing.
All of the patrons watched as the pair sampled the dishes.
Harry's won. Felli rushed into Harry's arms. Bob screamed, "Curses, Foiled again!" He then went to get changed back into his pink attire. One of Bob's maids pushed Harry's cart next to Bob's. Everyone took this as a sign to try the free samples.
Once the editor had finished, he followed Bob, Harry, and Felli back to the office of Café Milla.
The man began, "First I would like to thank you for the chance to interview the both of you. What started this obviously friendly rivalry?"
Bob laughed. "I heard someone say that Harry's desserts were better than mine. Of course, I had to see this myself. When I introduced myself to Harry, he was unaware people were saying anything of the sort. After a rather wonderful conversation over some drinks, we had this idea, at the exact same time, to have a bit of fun and give people a reason to show off their pearly whites. For us, these enjoyable little exchanges have given me a chance to have fun and try different things. A few of my attempts appear on the menu from time to time."
Harry nodded his agreement. "We started what some students are calling the Sugar Wars just as a way for me to have fun in the kitchen while at the same time giving Bob a chance to flex his culinary muscles as well. The customers seem to really enjoy it."
The editor asked, "So who is better?"
Harry and Bob pointed to the other. Harry spoke first. "Bob runs a great café. He keeps his people motivated and keeps the boys who visit in line. I think he only wears the pink to match the maids. I've seen him bodily haul someone twice his size out and throw them halfway across the street for harassing one of the girls. As a chef, Bob is always looking to improve. That is evident in how he runs his café. However, I'm still trying to figure out what spices he uses in his special pasta sauce."
Bob answered smiling. "Harry is just a sweetheart. While I can't deny that Harry has won more than I have, but he told me a long time ago that sweets weren't his business. Harry's desserts are for fun and he makes them as a surprise for his clients. I admire Harry because he tries to personally take care of each person that comes through his doors. I would burn out. I don't know how he does it. That's what my girls are for."
The editor nodded. "So why Café Milla for this challenge instead of the Den?"
Harry smiled. "Well, I didn't think it was fair for it to always happen at the Den. When I approached Bob, he loved the suggestion."
Bob cut in, "But we couldn't figure out a reason for Harry to come here. That's when Felli had a splendid scheme. She's such a great girl."
The editor blinked. "What was Felli's idea?"
Bob spoke up. "Well, the darling girl volunteered to work here for a bit, so Harry could claim he was rescuing her from my 'evil' clutches. Isn't she the best? I even got to get in costume for it. It was fabulous."
Harry continued, "Bob and I will be switching up where the face-offs will happen. That way both sets of clientele have the chance to enjoy the show. In fact, we want some of our customers to submit ideas of what we can do for the challenges, like Felli suggested to us. I'm sure Bob and I can come up with something for the ones we pick."
The editor mused, "Just out of curiosity, what would have happened if Harry lost? How long would Felli be working at Café Milla?"
Bob was aghast. "I wouldn't dare keep Felli and Harry apart. If I won, Harry would have 'stolen her from my evil clutches.' They are the cutest couple I have ever seen. This whole thing was for fun. The only thing serious is our efforts on what we make."
The editor went to stand. "Thank you both for your time. The readers will enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes of the Sugar Wars."
Harry held up his hand. "If I could ask that one more thing be added to the article?"
The editor nodded.
"I need to offer a reward for something."
"Oh?" The editor was confused. This was new.
"You see, I find myself in need of something, and I am willing to offer one of three rewards to whoever brings it to me. The rewards are either: a large chocolate cheesecake, triple layer cake of their favorite flavor, or four dozen triple dipped fondue strawberries."
The editor's eyes widened. "That's some reward. We'll definitely include it. What do you need?"
Harry grinned wolfishly. "Sharnid Elipton has until the Den closes today to apologize to Felli, in front of me, for groping her while she wore the maid outfit earlier today. If he does not, the reward is for his ponytail, freshly cut from his head. It will likely take a group effort. That is why the rewards are so large."
The editor blinked, "Harry, this won't be published until tomorrow."
Harry hummed. "Well, that's just too bad for him isn't it?"
Bob started laughing. "See? This is why I won't keep the two of them apart. Having Harry mad at me would not be a good thing."
The editor chuckled as well. "I did say I would include it."
Felli stared. "See that you do."
When Harry left to re-open the Den, Felli changed out of the maid outfit. Bob stopped her at the door. He pressed a sack into her hands. Inside was the black outfit. "Keep this girlfriend. Harry's jaw was practically on the floor when he saw you in it." He winked at her. "You might need it if we redo this little game. If not, well, I'm sure you'll get some use out of it with a different game."
Felli walked away with a blush.
Once she had stashed the bag where Kalian would never find it, Felli was walking through town when she heard Mey-shen and her friends.
"Come on you guys I can't do this job alone. Everything will be fine." came from Mifi.
"I don't know…"
"It sounds creepy."
"Meyshi, Nari, I need help for this story."
Felli now saw Mifi looking like she was begging.
"Mey-shen. Is everything alright?"
Mey-shen turned and saw Felli. "Senior Felli! It's nice to see you. Mifi wants us to help for an article for Weekly Look'N."
Mifi saw the chance to bolster her chances. "Felli! Will you come and help out?"
Felli blinked. "I have already helped with a story today. It was enjoyable."
Mifi smiled. "You can help me out too. It will be loads of fun."
"Why did Naruki say it would be creepy?"
"Because she's a fraidy-cat. Ow! Nari, that hurt." Mifi turned to Felli. "You'll help us won't you?"
Felli thought over Harry's schedule. After the Den closed, he was going to be doing some hand-to hand training with Gorneo and the monkey. She nodded. "As long as it doesn't take too long."
After the sun had set, Felli followed Mifi, Mey-shen, and Naruki into a dark building.
Naruki spoke up, "So where have you taken us?"
"This is the old Alchemy Department research building. Years ago, an experiment went wrong. People were seriously hurt. Some even died. People say that ghosts roam the halls. I'm here to investigate the claims and take some pictures before it gets torn down."
After an attempt from Naruki to back out, Mifi led the four girls deeper into the building.
The quartet wandered the halls, eventually finding a lab and an abandoned classroom. Mifi began taking pictures of the lab while Mey-shen broke out the sandwiches she had made.
Felli commented, "These are good. I can see why Harry picked you Mey-shen."
"Thank you Felli."
Felli frowned as the trio of girls talked about what they were doing and how their long-held dreams were coming true.
A scream sounded from the lab, and the girls ran in.
There was no sign of Mifi.
After a heartbeat, Felli dodged an attack of a sticky, rope-like substance. Mey-Shen and Naruki were carried away.
Felli began running, but was cut off when something fell from above and landed in front of her.
The beast had four legs, a clubbed tail, six eyes, and smelled horrible.
Felli scrambled for her DITE.
Vanse jumped from the side, cutting the tail off. The green blood caused the floor to bubble.
The creature's mouth opened, dripping green saliva. It had a longue tongue that waved in the air.
Vanse grabbed Felli and began running. Once they were a few rooms away, Vanse looked at the shorter girl. "What are you doing here?"
Felli answered with another question. "What was that thing?"
Vanse checked the hall. "Thirty years ago, there was a project where they attempted to create an artificial life form to battle Contaminoids. It was called the Guardian Project. It didn't succeed and the building was shut down. Your brother asked me to check the building one last time before it was going to be demolished. That thing was not here when I checked last time. Are you here alone?"
Felli shook her head. "I came here with some friends. They were taken by that thing."
"Why weren't you using your nen'i? You would have detected it."
Felli narrowed her eyes. "There wasn't supposed to be anything here. I was about to use my DITE when you came in."
Vanse scoffed. "Use it. Call for backup and find your friends." He hefted his weapon. "I'm going hunting.
Felli sent her pins off searching. The girls were unconscious, in the basement. She found Harry walking back from sparring and Nina and Fon-fon were cleaning.
"I need your help! Come quickly." As the three ran, or in Harry's case apparated, Felli explained the situation. "Vanse is having problems. Hurry."
Felli felt Harry's energy enter the building. Vanse was knocked into a wall, his DITE out of reach.
Felli looked down then flared her nen'i. The beast took notice of her as she ran. As she climbed the stairs after drawing its attention, she thought back to the exercise with Harry. As it stood on the landing in front of her, she threw as much nen'i as she could and lifted the Guardian into the air. It slammed into the ceiling. Suddenly the petals floating around her sharpened into needles and pinned the beast to the rock, holding it high off the ground.
Emerald green pins dug into its skin, holding it in place. Harry stood at the entryway to the basement, staff extended.
"Blast the ceiling Felli!"
More pointed shapes flew into the rock, causing a chain of explosions.
The creature, still pinned in place, fell along with a large volume of rock. Felli stopped using her powers, knowing what was coming next.
Vanse had recovered his sword and finished the job. Harry cut down the unconscious trio and levitated them out of the building.
With an ambulance at the outside of the building, they were able to revive Mey-shen, Naruki, and Mifi. As Vanse read the trio the riot act, Nina and Layfon came running up. They saw Felli caged in Harry's arms. Nina joined in the hug.
"Felli! Don't scare me like that. I told you not to do anything crazy."
Harry reassured the frantic captain. "Nina, Felli is fine."
Nina hugged the pair tighter. "Thank goodness. I was so worried."
Felli's muffled voice was heard, "I told you I was fine."
Layfon chuckled. "We just needed to see for ourselves."
Once Nina was assured of the girl's safety, she left, presumably to go back to Engineering to clean.
Harry, Felli, and Layfon were all walking back in the same direction.
"I envy those girls Harry. They are following their dreams. I don't even know what mine are. Do I even have a path?"
Layfon spoke up. "I'm sure you'll find one."
Harry pulled his girlfriend closer. "If you let me, I'll walk along with you."
Layfon glanced over at the pair and saw a small smile on Felli's face. The girl immediately turned angry. "You saw that didn't you?"
When Layfon tried to deny it, Felli drove her heel into the boy's shin followed up by a toe to the opposite leg. Harry winced. Layfon might be bleeding from that. The former Heaven's Blade limped away from the pair. Who knew a petite girl could scare one of the fiercest fighters with the threat of a boot to the shin?
Felli steered Harry back to his apartment. "That was hard Harry. Very hard. That thing was so wrong and unnatural. Something about it was worse than when I felt Contaminoids. Can I stay with you tonight? Please? I don't want to be alone."
Harry smiled. "If you want to Felli, sure. Make sure your brother doesn't go crazy about it."
"I only use nen'i, not work miracles."
As Felli changed into some of Harry's clothes and slipped into his bed, she realized that her boyfriend's bed and worn shirt were far more comfortable than her own nighttime bedding and clothes. Although the warmth may just have been because of two people under the same set of covers. Felli relaxed as Harry's arms pulled her back against his chest. She let everything bad that she had experienced that day just slip away, replaced by comfort. She fell quickly into the land of dreams.
"That is just what I witnessed Kalian. Harry's DITE had nen'i pins and he could use them. He held the protectoid in place while Felli made sections of the ceiling explode. It doesn't make sense."
Kalian looked out the window. "Since the match for the captains, I have had a suspicion, although it should be impossible. It is clear that Harry can use both augmenting and external ballistic kei. I saw Gorneo float to the ground, something like that is only in the realms of powerful Nen'i Operators. Harry was the only one who could have done it. Both Harley Sutton's readings and your observations validate the impossibility."
Vanse frowned. "But a person can't use kei and nen'i! It is one or the other."
Kalian regarded Vanse with a stare. "Harry flaunts the rules often enough. Why should this be any different? For all we know, wherever he is from, they found a way to make it so people could use both."
Vanse had an idea. "Could that be why normal Nen'i Operators can't sense him?"
Kalian nodded slowly. "That is my thought on the matter."
Vanse sat on the desk in shock. "Who or what is Harry Potter?"
Kalian turned to the man. "A powerful asset in need of careful handling."
Vanse raised an eyebrow. "I would also say terrifying if we stood against him."
Kalian, remembering the brief, involuntary excursion outside the Regios, merely said "Indeed."
The next morning, an unfamiliar alarm woke Felli. When an arm not her own hit the clock to turn it off, she remembered where she was. Felli pulled Harry's arm back in place around her. "It's warm. Don't move."
She could feel Harry's chuckle against her back. "I have to get up Felli."
"No you don't."
Felli could hear the smile in Harry's voice. "Oh? Why is that?"
"Because I said so."
"So the fact that I will be getting deliveries and Mey-shen is going to be showing up in under an hour is irrelevant."
Felli rolled onto her back and looked up at Harry. "Are you really going to get out of a warm, comfortable bed you are sharing with your girlfriend any sooner than you have to?"
Harry smirked, "When you put it like that…"
Felli rolled back against Harry and pulled the blanket up over the pair. "Good. Now we have at least twenty more minutes of cuddle time."
Fifteen minutes later, there was a pounding on Harry's door. Felli grit her teeth.
When Harry left the bed, Felli narrowed her eyes. She hissed out, "Kalian."
Harry was putting on his glasses as he walked to the door. Kalian and all of his secretaries were at the door. Harry was only in a shirt and pajama pants.
Kalian looked frantic. "Harry! This morning, Felli didn't come to breakfast. I checked her room and she was gone. She never gets up this early. I think something might have happened. I need your help to search for her."
Harry blinked. "I'll get dressed and look for her. I've got a few ideas where she might be."
Kalian nodded. "Where should I look?"
Harry shook his head. "Well… The water purification tanks are where she usually is if she needs time alone. She also goes to the outlying areas of the city if she needs to bleed off some nen'i energy."
Kalian nodded. He hadn't checked there. "I'll be back as soon as I check there."
Once Kalian had left, Harry started making breakfast. Felli padded into the kitchen. "Stupid brother." She hugged Harry from behind. "I want more cuddles."
Kalian made it to the bottom of the steps before he froze. A Military Arts uniform had been draped over the back of the couch. A female Military Arts uniform. His eyes widened. Harry had been cheating on his sister. He would have the evidence he needed to break the two up. He always knew Harry was a lying, cheating, scumbag.
Kalian went back up the steps and kicked the door in. "Harry! I…" Kalian's words died in his throat as he saw his baby sister. The sight of his dear, sweet Felli, clad only in a long shirt obviously belonging to Harry, hair tousled, and embracing the scumbag while he cooked breakfast was too much. Kalian snapped. An observer could hear his sanity shattering. Only three words from his thoughts could be articulated. "You! Her! DIE!"
Kalian jumped at Harry, but was tackled by his secretaries. Even with the weight of the five girls on him, he pulled himself along the floor. His eyes shone with the fires of vengeance.
Felli stepped away from Harry. "What do you want Kalian?"
"I'll save you from him Felli. He will pay for what he did to you. He took advantage of you."
Felli narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Kalian was almost to the kitchen. "He stole your innocence! He took your virtue! He has defiled you!"
Felli stepped on her brother's hand. "You are wrong. I was the one who asked to spend the night with Harry last night. He didn't do anything that I didn't want. It felt absolutely amazing."
Kalian's mind fractured further and the man became visibly unhinged. "But Felli…"
Harry shook his head. "After what happened last night, Felli didn't want to be alone. Nothing along the lines of what you are thinking happened. We only slept Kalian. Nothing else happened."
Felli continued. "Go away brother. You cut off our cuddle time." Harry's comment filtered its way through her brain. "What do you think we were doing?"
Harry leaned over and whispered in her ear.
Felli immediately blushed and her eyes widened. She then kicked Kalian square in the forehead. The Student Council President and his living restraints slid backwards on the floor.
"Kalian I…" Pink wisps of nen'i were floating in the air. Felli let out a huff. "Not that it is any of your business, but Harry and I have never done that. Even if we had, it isn't your decision to make. Go away Kalian."
Kalian had gone limp. Whether from shock of the situation or head trauma was unknown. His secretaries took the President away, but not before all grinning and winking at Felli.
Felli went and hugged Harry again. "Finish making breakfast Harry."
Sharnid was having a good day. After a lively night with a cute girl, how could he not have a good day today? After getting dressed for the day, he left his dorm room with a cocky grin on his face.
He was walking to class when a group of girls rounded a corner. They were reading the latest edition of Weekly Look'N. He had passed them when one girl let out a gasp.
"You! Hey you! You're Sharnid Elipton aren't you?"
Sharnid turned and smiled. It was good to be him. The girls always threw themselves at him. They looked positively hungry. It was definitely good to be him today. "Yes ladies, indeed I am! How can I help such pretty women today?"
One girl pulled a pair of scissors from her purse. "Don't move. You have something we need."
Sharnid's eyes widened as he backed away. A girl with a sharp object saying that he had something they needed? That had only happened once and he still had the scars. No thank you. When the girls advanced, he took off running. What could they want?
Sharnid quickly lost the girls by using his sniper skills and was hiding in a tree. The group of girls was below him.
"We only get the reward if it is freshly cut off him girls. Fan out and find him."
Sharnid blanched and covered his groin. What girl wanted his manhood freshly cut off? What's more, she offered a reward?
Using his stealth, Sharnid got on a mostly empty railcar. Mifi and Naruki were the only ones riding the same car. Mifi, reading the other articles in Weekly Look'N glanced up and saw the ponytailed boy. "You're certainly brave coming out in public. Naruki catch him!"
Sharnid dodged and the rope wrapped around a pole instead. "What do you mean?"
Naruki smiled. "You mean you haven't heard?"
Mifi's smile was positively evil. "Don't tell him. It's better this way. Just hold still Sharnid, it won't hurt. Just a little snip."
Now the boy was worried. What was going on? While the pair advanced, the railcar ground to a halt. Sharnid took the opportunity and took off running.
As he made his way to classes, there were several groups of people on the lookout for someone. Given how his morning had gone, he was correct in thinking they were looking for him. He knew the look in Dinn's eye. The entire 10th Platoon was doing grid searches.
While hiding behind a tree, Sharnid spotted Harley with an armful of blueprints. He pulled the shorter boy behind the tree.
Capping his hand over Harley's mouth Sharnid whispered out, "Harley I need your help!"
Harley nodded. "Sure Sharnid, what's wrong?"
"Something weird is going on." The sniper explained some of the day's happenings.
Harley could tell this was serious. "I'll see what I can find out. Wait here."
Harley hadn't even gone ten steps before he was surrounded by a group of people, both General Education students and Military Artists alike.
"You're part of the 17th Platoon, aren't you?"
Harley nodded, wondering where this was going.
"Can you tell us where to find Sharnid?"
"What's going on?"
The Military Arts student huffed. "He ticked off the wrong person." An open magazine was thrust into his hands and a finger pointed to the final paragraph on the page. As Harley read it his eyes widened. Harry put a reward out on Sharnid's ponytail?! Every resident of Zuellni with a sweet tooth would be gunning for him. Suddenly, Harley had an idea. An evil, awful, self-serving idea. He could sell part of the reward for enough money to make a lot of DITEs.
"If I tell you where I saw him last, can I have a cut of the reward?"
The group nodded as one.
"I saw him hiding in the 17th Platoon's locker room about ten minutes ago."
The group took off at a run, leaving Harley holding the magazine.
Harley walked back to the tree where Sharnid was hiding.
"Did you find out what was going on?"
Harley nodded and handed Sharnid the magazine. "Read this."
As Sharnid quickly perused the article. Harley maneuvered behind the boy. He pulled a blank sword DITE out of his bag. He would have to be fast.
Sharnid heard the telltale sound of a DITE being restored and dodged out of reflex. Harley was holding a sword where his head had been. Sharnid realized that his teammate had been corrupted and took off.
When he finished the article his eyes widened and jaw dropped. He had forgotten about groping Felli. He also had forgotten that her boyfriend was strong, used kei in a freaky way, took down very strong opponents with ease, and was protective of his girlfriend. Harry had, for all intents and purposes, recruited almost all of the Regios in this mission of revenge. He did it without having to get his own hands dirty. Sharnid realized that the only person able to help him would be President Loss. He didn't like Harry anyway.
Sharnid made his way through the trees. He saw the President's window open. He jumped through it. Upon entering, he saw the man laid out on the couch with a bag of ice over a large bruise. One of the President's assistants looked up. "Can we help you?"
Sharnid saw a copy of Weekly Look'N in the hands of one of the girls. He started backing away. "Never mind. I'll come back later."
Having dodged the tackle attempts by the other assistants, Sharnid jumped out the window.
As he saw different colored nen'i terminal pins searching, Sharnid knew it was only a matter of time before he was caught. He had to get away from the Academy. He was getting tired. Nina was right. He did have to work on stamina.
After hanging onto the back of a railcar and sneaking through alleyways, Sharnid saw Harry arranging the patio furniture of his outdoor dining area.
Sharnid fell to the ground, panting. "Call them off Harry! I'm sorry! I'll do whatever you want, just make this stop!"
Harry just kept pulling the chairs down off the tables. "I'm not the one you have to apologize to Sharnid. I just have to see it. Apologize to Felli, in front of me, and this all goes away."
Sharnid's face fell. Felli was likely at the Academy. He rolled out of instinct. Mey-shen was holding a pair of scissors.
Sharnid blurted out, "You work here! Why would you want the reward?"
Mey-shen fretted. "Mifi, Nari, and I decided to share if one of us could get your ponytail."
The commotion had drawn the attention of onlookers. Many people had noticed exactly who was in front of Harry. A few people began approaching.
Sharnid gasped out, "So all I have to do is apologize to Felli and this all stops?"
Harry nodded. "It has to be in front of me. And she has to accept your apology."
Sharnid took off as more people advanced.
Harry grinned as Felli walked out of the café. "Make sure to tell people on campus what is going on. Lunch deliveries should be quite a show."
Felli nodded and walked off towards school. It was nice watching the payback for what he had done to her yesterday. Harry was such a good boyfriend.
When lunch rolled around, people were once more on the search for Sharnid. The boy hadn't showed up to class.
Dinn and the 10th Platoon circled Felli. They had won the draw. All the others were guarding other approach vectors. Fello had told people that if Sharnid was able to make a sufficient apology to her in front of Harry, then the reward would be cancelled. Nen'i terminal pins flew through the air like a multi-colored snowstorm. Once Harry began walking towards Felli, people tensed. Now was the best time, but no one could see the sniper.
A voice rang over the loudspeakers. It was Sharnid. "Felli Loss, I am truly sorry for what I have done. I was being a hormonally driven idiot. I should not have taken advantage of you. Greatly have I suffered for my actions. I throw myself at your mercy Felli. I beg, no, I plead for your forgiveness. What must I do to gain it? You can ask anything of me. Just make this stop! Please!"
Felli pulled out her nen'i terminal and broadcast a message. Everyone could hear it. "Sharnid. I believe Harry said to say that in person. I will not accept an apology broadcast over the loudspeaker."
The manhole cover within the protective circle flew into the air. Sharnid emerged and repeated everything as fast as he could possibly talk. His voice was hoarse. His shirt was torn, singed, and the entire back was missing. He was also missing his boots. The charred cuff of one sock hung on one leg, and the other was caked in a rather noxious brown and green substance. One pant leg was gone, the other shredded. He was covered in some rather foul smelling substances. They looked disgusting. It also looked like he had been beaten, burned, possibly electrocuted, drug behind something for some time, and ropes hung off his weary form. Only the boy's ponytail was untouched.
Just as everyone went to tackle the sniper, Felli said, "I accept your apology."
Sharnid broke down in tears thanking the girl. He tried to kiss her boots, but she stepped away from his rather grimy form. He kept repeating his thanks.
Everyone looking to profit from the sharpshooter's stupidity groaned. Harry's voice rang out. "Everyone who took part in the Sharnid ponytail hunt, please form a line. It will be worth your while."
A line of people formed and Harry began handing out little wooden coins. Once people saw what they were for, they perked up. Each one was redeemable for one free dessert. On the opposite side was a reminder that there was a limited number per day, so if they were gone for the day, it may not be able to be redeemed when they wanted it. It appeared that Harry still wanted to thank them for their efforts. While no one had won the prize, they still got something out of it.
Sharnid shakily stood. In front of him were President Loss' secretaries. "Mr. Elipton. President Loss desires to speak with you regarding your molestation of his little sister."
Sharnid hung his head. He thought he had gotten out of the fire. It looked like now he had to walk across the coals it left behind. He limped along behind the girls. It was a bad day to be him.
