Chapter Text
In the constant, chaotic world of Ranma and Akane, little did they know change was coming sooner than expected. It’d been a year since the failed wedding and final exams were around the corner. Akane had been applying to several universities and Ranma was undecided. Both Akane and Ranma were generally in high spirits - at least on the surface.
Class was about to start and Akane was flipping through some brochures on select universities. Behind the studious behavior, Akane’s patience was running thin and her insecurities just wouldn’t let up. Several questions were left unanswered since their adventure in China. Did Ranma really reveal his true feelings or did she imagine it? Why couldn’t he just sort out his multi-fiancée problem and choose her already? And why does she feel the need to hide her feelings still? Perhaps the problem lay within her and not him. Her heart swelled as she thought of her hidden feelings for her betrothed but subconsciously shook her head and put the brochures in her bag.
Ranma, a few rows behind Akane, was staring at the window with his elbow on the desk and hand on his chin, thinking, or more accurately, not thinking about much. When he thought no one was looking, he stole a glance at Akane and his palm covered his smile. After all they’ve been through, especially their adventures last year, ensuring she was alive and breathing was a habit he couldn’t shake off.
So what was their status post failed wedding? No change, or so it seemed. For Ranma, he was eager for things in his life to stay constant. For Akane, she craved for change and the chance to move forward. She was preparing for the inevitable. She convinced her father that once she got accepted to a university, she could take on a part-time job and pay for her expenses such as renting her own little apartment. Whether she chose to run the dojo or pursue something else after, she was adamant that she would make that decision herself down the line. After thorough research, Akane decided she’d apply to a handful of schools but her top three were - two in Tokyo and one in Nagasaki.
After school, Ranma and Akane were quietly walking back home when Shampoo, back from a delivery, had intercepted them. Unrelenting and undeterred, Shampoo pedaled her bicycle and stopped Ranma and Akane at their tracks.
From a short distance away, Mousse was behind trying to catch up to Shampoo.
“Hi Ranma, my dearest. Want some ramen? My treat!” Shampoo spoke, her flowing hair blowing against the wind.
“Hmm I am kind of hungry. Free for two?” Ranma thought out loud.
Akane rolled her eyes but kept walking forward. Maybe if this same scenario were to play out, her younger self would have hit Ranma and she would have made an effort for attention.
“Just for you, okay?” Shampoo spoke with a snarky smile.
In the next street ahead, Ukyo appeared suddenly and extended a similar offer.
“Ranma! Come get a warm okonomiyaki. It’s on me” she shouted with glee.
Just as Mousse was about to catch up, Ryoga too came around the corner. Seeing the commotion Kuno and Kodachi also followed.
Akane sighed, and with her head down, made a dash to escape the nonsense.
Ranma, as oblivious as ever, is stopped from following her, held by his classmates and rivals.
“Can you all stop it? I’m going home!” Ranma yelled in anger.
Eventually, the small group dispersed except Ryoga.
“Can I give you one advice?” he beckoned to Ranma.
“Go away!” Ranma yelled with a fist ready to strike.
“Well, you have every reason not to trust my word but even though my heart is set on Akari now, Akane will always be…”
“Shut up!” Ranma snapped.
“Hey, let me finish! My point is, you keep doing this and you’re going to lose Akane for good. A girl like her deserves someone who can treat her better than how you’re treating her now. She’s shown me kindness in more than one occasion so…”
“I said shut up!” lashed Ranma, this time with a swing of his fist.
“Man, I was just giving you some advice. She deserves better and you’re just a fool,” quipped Ryoga before leaving Ranma be.
Ranma was heated now but couldn’t get rid of the words “she deserves better” out of his head. He walked home slowly thinking about Akane.
“She is so sensitive! How is she is the most popular girl in school when she is so uncute!” he muttered to himself. But immediately, the thought of her lifeless body a year ago and then Ryoga’s words made him realize… Ryoga was right. How could a girl as kind-hearted, as beautiful, and as endearing as her choose him - when all he brought to her life was chaos and danger. He thought of the day he fell in love with her and he could pinpoint his heart stirring on the day they met. Since then, he would purposely disturb her and try to be near her and swore to protect her. He didn’t know why teasing her was easier than just telling her that she’s on his mind - like always - and that every flaw of hers that he loved to tease her about was also every thing he loved about her - even her atrocious cooking. He turned green with envy just thinking about Akane, his fiancée, cooking for Shinnosuke. He sighed. ‘Why can’t I just be honest? Was it worth the attention of others if it hurt Akane? It’s not like I was going to ditch her for free food!’
As he reached the front door, he was determined to clear the air - not about his feelings - but about how he wasn’t going to abandon her for a bowl of noodles.
As he removed his shoes, he could hear Akane, Mr Tendo and Kasumi talking about the future.
“I’ve applied to a few schools but the one I’m really eyeing is, Nagasaki,” she spoke with eagerness.
Ranma’s stomach clenched, hearing this from Akane. Ranma sure wasn’t great at geography but he always thought she would be nearby - so he could keep her safe and he could see her every day often. The thought of her being so far away, not to mention the finances of it all, was unbearable.
Akane didn’t actually realize that Ranma was within earshot of their conversation but deep down she knew that today’s latest encounter with everyone had cemented her need to be far from every one and this university was the furthest one! So it came to a surprise when Ranma barged in to give his (unwarranted) two cents.
“Nagasaki? What do they got there, that isn’t here in Tokyo, Akane?” he scoffed.
“Not that it’s any of your business but this school has a great business program for women with some electives for foreign studies,” Akane remarked.
“That’s wonderful, Akane,” Kasumi chimed.
“Yeah, of course they would want a clumsy, uncute, macho tomboy joining their program,” he mocked. A tenth of second later the regret set in and he was expecting some pain to punish his insult.
Instead he noticed a glimmering wet layer forming in Akane’s eyes before she lowered her head and unclenched her fist.
“I’m going to submit my application now,” Akane almost whispered and left the room.
Where the pain came from was Pops in panda form, bonking Ranma hard on the head.
Kasumi and Mr Tendo said nothing but their disappointed faces said everything.
Ranma was an idiot. Maybe Ryoga was right. ‘I don’t deserve her.’ Akane - the hard-working, brave, selfless, breathtakingly beautiful, athletic, sweet, Akane who is also sensitive, hot-tempered, adorably ungraceful and stubborn. For someone who hated losing, he sure made it impossible to win. He just wanted Akane to hit him and for them to bicker and banter.
Upstairs, the tears were flowing and Akane tried her best to remain quiet. This was the last straw. In case Ranma were to come in, she shut her window and closed the curtains. She locked her door and tried to focus on her applications. She faced three realizations. The first was exasperation - she was tired not just of Ranma, her family, and her so-called rivals but also of herself. While those words were uncalled for, she recalled the countless times when she would drive Ranma up the wall with her own stubbornness, teasing and at times violence. Secondly, it was relief. Perhaps the failed wedding was the clearest sign that she wasn’t ready for marriage and neither was Ranma. The last one - was the hardest pill to swallow and it was the possibility that Ranma and her simply weren’t compatible as a couple. She toyed with the idea of breaking off the engagement entirely. When the tears stopped flowing she gave a final sigh and promised herself, she’d get up, grow up and move forward. Ranma was now no more than a classmate who happens to live in her household. With just a few weeks to go for applications and then the final exams, her priority was on her future.