Messy drawing of ranma x akane I made, ignore my mistake on the coloring 😔not the best at rendering, shhhhhh
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from France
seen from Japan
seen from China
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Australia
seen from Malaysia
seen from France
seen from Philippines
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
Messy drawing of ranma x akane I made, ignore my mistake on the coloring 😔not the best at rendering, shhhhhh
Upgrades to Patreon with the new "Early Access" tier. The perfect way to reveal some new art I'm very proud of~~ 🌺❤️ 💪🦜
We don't know if this fic will start its release in a month or six, but what's done is already worth sharing, we believe ^-^ Ranma's eyes killed me... And the muscle definition was a challenge I had to fix twice... And then Akane is CUUUUUTE~~ Lovebird Island Patreon post: https://www.patreon.com/CoryalGarden/posts/early-access-art-166961865
aroha - one
fem , adopted reader x ranma
mentions of not belonging , read at your own discretion
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･
"Akane!" You shouted, trying to get ready and dressed quickly for school. You are the adopted sister of the Tendo family. You're not a biological Tendo yourself, but it's been long enough that they consider you their own. Except when it comes to taking over the family dojo. You're a little older than Akane, maybe by some months, but still the same age as her, with less fight. Honestly, you wouldn't have minded not taking over the dojo if it wasn't for the feeling of being excluded in the first place.
You were left at this very dojo when you were young enough to understand that your parents were never coming back. Your mother had passed when you were very young and your father was a cheater who probably messed around with people like your mom and got those other people pregnant. Your grandma on your mom's side took care of you until she passed and entrusted you to this very dojo. At least, the owners of the dojo.
"We're gonna be late!" Akane shouted at you.
Akane and you kind of got along. Better than you and the other two older sisters. You are about 16 now, but when you were "adopted", you were about 6 years old. 10 years later and you were always included in their family, but any time they talked about someone taking over the dojo, you were excluded from those conversations. You weren't of blood relation...
You ran into Akane's back, looking up at her slightly. Even though you were older, she was an inch or two taller. Your parents were both short, you know that from pictures your grandma showed you. "You're a girl... and a panda.." You heard Akane's voice.
You peered around from behind her, looking up at the large panda and the pink pigtailed girl right in front of him. Your "dad" came up behind you both as the older sisters peered from behind him.
"Is this your friend dad?" You heard Kasumi say before turning your head around to see her and Nabiki. Dad shook his head and Kasumi said again, "You sure you don't know him?"
There was some chaos and words, or lack thereof, exchanged between everyone. Ranma. Ranma Saotome. This Ranma guy truly is a girl. Your dad says it was a son that was told about, but Ranma is not a son. Ranma is a pink pigtailed girl.
You sat down, knowing school wasn't going to happen today. There goes good grades...
ـــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـ
Ranma is a boy. Ranma can be a girl. Ranma's dad is a man. Ranma's dad can be a panda. This is all so confusing to you. And to make matters worse, Ranma is supposed to be engaged to one of the sisters. But of course, that doesn't include you. Another exclusion.
Another thing that leaves you out of feeling part of the Tendo family. Even if the thought of being engaged to someone was insane to you. You didn't really like that idea, but you didn't like feeling left out in general.
"No thank you." Akane spoke up, and turned up her nose, crossing her arms.
It brought you back to the conversation. You sat awkwardly. The atmosphere was excluding you. You weren't included in this. Your "dad" had only mentioned his blood related daughters. Not you. Never you.
"What about her?" Ranma's father, where you learned his name was Genma, said, looking over at you.
"Oh, (Y/n)? She's not really my daughter."
Stab.
"She was adopted so she's not of blood relation."
You curled into yourself.
"She can't take over the dojo this way, since she's not actually part of the family."
Words hurt..
You glanced up after taking subtle moves back. Ranma was staring at you. His blue eyes blinked once. "That's kind of mean, don't you think? She's right here and you're talking ill about her." He said, tilting his head and looking at your dad.
"Oh right. I guess I should've waited." Your dad mumbled, scratching his chin. You just stood.
"I get it." You said, brushing off your skirt. "I'm going to school, even if it's a half day."
"Wait, (Y/n), I didn't mean it." Your dad tried to reach for you but you slipped away, wiping your face faster than anyone could tell. Except Ranma noticed. He did have a keen eye for that kind of thing.
ـــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـ
Your day at school was a half day and you had said to the teachers that you were feeling sick earlier but better now. You never took the Tendo name so it made sense they would treat you like that. Still... He didn't have to be so harsh about it.
School went by faster than usual. All you thought about was how much it hurt to be called those things by your adoptive father.
"Hey, (Y/n). Someone is waiting for you at the front gate." A classmate said that brought you out of your daze. You knew school was over for the day. You were just lagging out. Yeah, that was it...
You packed up your bag and headed down the stairs from your classroom. You wondered who was waiting. Maybe your friends were done with their clubs. But when you got down there, a black haired boy with his red shirt stood waiting. Ranma stood waiting.
"Ranma, what are you doing here?" You furrowed your brows and started walking in the direction of your home, the dojo, but with a small detour to the library. You weren't upset at him, he was defending you after all earlier today. You were really mad at your father, or the one who was acting as your father.
"I suppose I asked if I could be the one to pick you up from school." He said calmly.
You walked toward home, but took a right turn and he looked down at you curiously. "I'm heading to the library. So come or don't. Do whatever you want." You grumbled, holding your bag a little tighter.
"Is it true you were adopted? I mean, I guess you don't really look like the rest of them." He looked at you, his head tilting just slightly to get a better look at you, and you just stopped with him stopping in front of you.
"Why?" You asked, trying your best to stay calm. This wasn't his business anyways.
"Hmm... Because the way Mr. Tendo talks about you isn't really any way to talk about someone, regardless if it's a biological kid or not." He nodded to himself. "Besides, Akane said no and my father suggested I be engaged to you." He said suddenly.
"WHAT."
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･
more:
aroha masterlist 𓋼 masterlist 𓋼
read it all here: ao3
❀ next
Ahora Masterlist
☆☆☆
(ˈɑːrɒhə) n. love, compassion, or affectionate
fem! adopted! reader x ranma saotome
☆☆☆
incomplete - slow to update
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･
one ❀ two ❀ three ❀ four ❀ five ❀ six ❀ seven ❀ eight ❀ nine ❀ ten ❀ eleven ❀ twelve ❀ thirteen ❀ fourteen ❀ fifteen ❀ sixteen ❀ seventeen ❀ eighteen ❀ nineteen ❀ twenty ❀
Le Grand Concours de Plage ! Panique, Vagues et Rendez‑Vous !
Fandom : Ranma ½
Relationship : Ranma x Akane
J’espère que ça vous plaira.
Résumé : Akane fixait quelque chose devant elle, totalement figée. Ranma suivit son regard et fronça les sourcils en voyant une estrade qui avait été installée, décorée de guirlandes criardes et de ballons multicolores. et surtout une affiche géante où était inscrit :
« Le grand concours de plage. Premier prix : un rendez-vous avec mademoiselle Akane Tendo. »
Disclaimer : Ranma ½ appartient à Rumiko Takahashi.
AO3
Les journées d’été étaient de plus en plus chaudes dans la ville de Nérima. Chacun cherchait un moyen de se rafraîchir et les familles Saotome et Tendo avaient décidé de passer la journée à la plage.
Chacun vaquait à ses occupations. Nabiki, étendue sur une serviette flambant neuve, profitait du soleil pour parfaire son bronzage. Kasumi buvait une tasse de thé sous le parasol tout en contemplant les vagues. Happosai, étonnamment calme, construisait un château de sable, mais tous le surveillaient, sachant que tôt ou tard, il irait importuner les filles présentes sur la plage. Genma et Soun nageaient sous le regard ahuri des autres baigneurs, stupéfaits de voir un panda dans l’eau. Ranma, transformée en fille, se faisait offrir des glaces avec une aisance déconcertante. Akane, qui avait repéré son petit manège, commençait sérieusement à s’énerver. Elle s’approcha d’un pas rageur, la saisit par l’oreille et l’éloigna du garçon qui s’apprêtait à payer.
« Qu’est-ce qui te prend ! S’exclama Ranma une fois qu’Akane l’eut lâchée.
-Arrête de profiter de la situation ! »
Ranma croisa les bras derrière la tête, l’air faussement innocente.
« J’y peux rien si, quand je suis une fille, j’ai plus de succès que toi. »
Akane dut se retenir de toutes ses forces pour ne pas exploser. Décidément, elle ne comprenait rien.
« Crétin ! S’exclama-t-elle. »
Elle tourna les talons et s’éloigna. La voyant en colère, Ranma décida de la suivre pour tenter d’arranger les choses. Elles avaient parcouru presque la moitié de la plage lorsque Akane s’arrêta net, obligeant Ranma à freiner brusquement pour ne pas lui rentrer dedans.
« Tu pourrais prévenir quand tu t’arrêtes ! Protesta la jeune fille rousse. »
Akane ne répondit pas. Elle fixait quelque chose devant elle, totalement figée. Ranma suivit son regard et fronça les sourcils en voyant une estrade qui avait été installée, décorée de guirlandes criardes et de ballons multicolores. et surtout une affiche géante où était inscrit :
« Le grand concours de plage. Premier prix : un rendez-vous avec mademoiselle Akane Tendo. »
Au centre, une photo d’Akane en maillot de bain trônait en grand format. On aurait dit qu’elle avait été prise quelques minutes plus tôt. Le papier brillait sous le soleil, attirant les regards de tous les passants. Ranma sentit la colère l’envahir. Qu’est-ce que ça voulait dire ?
« Mais qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ! S’exclama Akane, comme si elle avait entendu ses pensées.
-Pas mal, hein ? »
Les deux jeunes filles se retournèrent vers une Nabiki radieuse, son appareil photo encore dans la main.
« C’est toi qui as fait ça ? Demanda Akane.
-Bien sûr. Autant profiter pour que ces vacances soient lucratives.
-Il est hors de question que je participe à ça. »
Soudain, Happosai surgit en soulevant un nuage de sable et se jeta sur Akane.
« Akane-chan ! Je gagnerai le premier prix ! »
Akane le vit avec horreur s’approcher de plus en plus. Ranma l’attrapa au vol et le projeta dans les airs. Kuno, que personne n’attendait, arriva en courant.
« Tendo Akane ! Je gagnerai le premier prix et tu auras l’honneur de sortir avec moi ! »
Ranma l’envoya valser à son tour. Au loin, une voix familière retentit :
« Est-ce que quelqu’un connaît la route pour Okinawa ? »
Ranma soupira. Dès que Ryoga verrait l’estrade et l’affiche, il participerait forcément. À croire que tout le monde s’était donné rendez-vous sur cette plage aujourd’hui. Il ne restait plus qu’une seule solution.
« Je participe aussi ! »
Akane écarquilla les yeux et rougit.
« Ranma, souffla-t-elle. »
Le compte à rebours était désormais lancé. Plus qu’une heure avant le début du concours.
******
Le soleil tapait toujours aussi fort, et la plage semblait vibrer d’excitation à l’idée du concours. Les gens se rassemblaient déjà autour de l’estrade, certains discutant des épreuves, d’autres spéculant sur le mystérieux « rendez-vous avec Akane Tendo ». Akane, elle, aurait préféré disparaître sous le sable.
Ranma, redevenu un garçon, observait la foule avec un mélange de détermination et d’agacement. Il n’allait certainement pas laisser Happosai, Kuno ou Ryoga gagner ce prix. Pas question. Même si il ne l’avouait pas, l’idée qu’Akane puisse sortir avec l’un d’eux lui donnait envie de renverser l’estrade d’un coup de pied.
Akane, elle, tentait de reprendre ses esprits. Son cœur battait un peu trop vite, et elle n’arrivait pas à savoir si c’était la colère, la honte ou autre chose. Elle jeta un coup d’œil à Ranma, qui se tenait les mains sur les hanches, l’air de dire « Je gère. » Ce qui, évidemment, ne la rassurait pas du tout.
« Tu n’es pas obligée de participer, tu sais, murmura Akane, presque inaudible. »
Ranma haussa les épaules.
« Si je ne le fais pas, c’est Kuno qui va gagner. Ou pire, Happosai. Tu veux vraiment ça ? »
Akane blêmit à l’idée d’un rendez-vous avec Happosai. Rien que d’imaginer ses rires lubriques lui donnait des frissons.
« Non ! Évidemment que non. »
Ranma sourit, satisfait. Akane détourna le regard, les joues encore plus rouges. Nabiki arriva à cet instant, un carnet à la main, déjà en train de noter les noms des participants. Elle semblait rayonner comme si elle venait de découvrir une mine d’or.
« Bon, Ranma, je t’inscris. Tu veux participer en fille ou en garçon ? »
Ranma ouvrit la bouche pour répondre, mais Nabiki leva déjà un doigt.
« Non, attends. En fille, tu auras plus de sponsors. Mais en garçon, tu attiras un public plus féminin. Hm… dilemme intéressant. »
Akane soupira.
« Nabiki, tu pourrais arrêter de transformer tout en business ? »
-Impossible, petite sœur. C’est contre ma nature. »
Pendant ce temps, Happosai se glissait entre les jambes des gens pour se rapprocher de l’estrade. Kuno, lui, répétait un discours héroïque en brandissant son bokken. Et Ryoga, perdu comme toujours, marchait droit vers la sortie de la plage. En temps normal, Ranma l’aurait rattrapé pour éviter qu’il ne se perde à nouveau. Mais il se dit que s’il disparaissait quelque part dans la nature, cela ferait un concurrent de moins.
Ranma se tourna vers Akane, plus sérieuse cette fois.
« Écoute, je vais gagner. Alors arrête de t’inquiéter. »
Akane sentit son cœur faire un petit bond. Elle détestait quand Ranma disait ce genre de choses avec autant de confiance. Ça la troublait. Beaucoup trop.
« Fais ce que tu veux, répondit-elle, en essayant de paraître indifférente. »
Mais Ranma avait déjà remarqué le rouge sur ses joues.
Le soleil descendait lentement, teintant la mer d’un reflet doré. Les organisateurs installaient les dernières décorations. La foule se pressait, impatiente. Le concours allait commencer.
Et Ranma, bras croisés, regard déterminé, se tenait prêt.
******
L’heure passa plus vite que prévu. Le soleil descendait lentement, teintant la mer d’un orange éclatant. Les organisateurs du concours s’agitaient autour de l’estrade, ajustant les décorations, testant les micros, et distribuant des numéros aux participants. La foule se massait déjà, impatiente de voir le spectacle.
Ranma s’étirait les bras avec un air sûr de lui. Plusieurs filles sur la plage le regardaient avec un intérêt soudain, ce qui fit lever un sourcil à Akane.
Nabiki arriva, un sourire calculateur aux lèvres.
« Parfait. En garçon, je vais pouvoir vendre des photos avant le début du concours. »
-Nabiki ! Protesta Akane.
-Quoi ? Je rends service à l’économie locale. »
Pendant ce temps, Happosai observait Ranma avec un air contrarié.
« Pourquoi tu n'es pas resté une fille, Ranma ? Tu aurais été parfaite pour la catégorie maillot de bain ! »
Ranma lui donna un coup de pied qui l’envoya s’enfoncer dans un tas de sable. Kuno, lui, se tenait déjà sur l’estrade, brandissant son bokken comme s’il s’agissait d’une cérémonie sacrée.
« Peuple de la plage ! Je suis ici pour conquérir le cœur de la belle Tendo Akane ! »
Ranma leva les yeux au ciel.
« Il commence déjà à m’énerver… »
Ryoga, de son côté, venait d’arriver, affichant un immense sourire aux lèvres. Il était heureux d'avoir trouvé son chemin et ne pas s'être perdu à nouveau.
« Je suis enfin arrivé au concours ! Déclara-t-il fièrement. »
Akane soupira. Ranma se plaça devant elle, plus sérieux qu’à l’habitude.
« Écoute, je vais gagner. Je te le promets. »
Akane sentit son cœur se serrer. Il avait dit ça avec une assurance calme, presque douce. Elle détourna le regard.
« Fais ce que tu veux… »
Mais Ranma avait déjà compris qu’elle était nerveuse.
Un animateur monta sur l’estrade, micro en main.
« Mesdames et messieurs ! Le grand concours de plage va commencer ! Première épreuve : le parcours aquatique ! »
La foule applaudit et les participants se mirent en ligne. Ranma fit craquer ses doigts. Kuno prit une pose dramatique. Ryoga se tourna dans la mauvaise direction. Happosai était prêt à se glisser dans l’eau.
Akane, elle, observait Ranma. Il se tenait droit, concentré, le regard fixé sur la mer. Le vent soulevait légèrement ses cheveux. Il avait l’air vraiment déterminé.
La première épreuve était assez simple : il s’agissait d’une course d’obstacles. Les concurrents devaient courir le long de la plage, continuer dans l’eau, puis revenir le plus vite possible.
Facile, pensa Ranma. Le plus délicat allait être de ne pas se faire éclabousser. Ryoga, lui, déglutit bruyamment et lança un regard inquiet à Akane. S’il se faisait éclabousser et qu’il se transformait en cochon, il aurait énormément à perdre.
Le signal retentit.
« À vos marques… prêts… PARTEZ ! »
Ranma partit en flèche, soulevant un nuage de sable derrière lui. À peine avait‑il fait deux mètres que le sol explosa littéralement sous les pieds des concurrents : des geysers de sable jaillirent, des trous béants s’ouvrirent, et la moitié des participants disparut en poussant des cris ridicules.
Ranma bondit par‑dessus un cratère, Happosai fit un salto improbable, Ryoga esquiva un trou par miracle, et Kuno posa dramatiquement un pied sur un rocher.
Arrivés au bord de l’eau, Kuno et Happosai plongèrent comme deux boulets de canon. Ranma et Ryoga, eux, sautèrent de plateforme en plateforme avec une précision acrobatique, jusqu’à ce qu’une vague monstrueuse surgisse et emporte Ryoga. Quelques secondes plus tard, un petit cochon noir roula sur le sable, les yeux tournant comme des spirales.
Ranma, qui avait évité la vague, continua la course en pestant intérieurement : Ryoga, sérieux…
Puis la mer se souleva comme si un monstre marin allait surgir. Un énorme poulpe jaillit hors de l’eau, ses tentacules métalliques claquant dans l’air comme des fouets électriques saisirent Kuno et Happosai.
« Mais qu’est-ce que c’est ? » fit Akane.
Certains spectateurs poussèrent des cris de surprise, d’autres s’enfuirent.
« C’est un poulpe mécanique, répondit Nabiki. C’est juste pour corser un peu la course. »
Des étincelles jaillirent, la fumée s’échappa, et les tentacules se mirent à tournoyer dans tous les sens. Kuno et Happosai furent catapultés dans les airs, disparaissant dans un arc au‑dessus de la foule.
Puis une vague gigantesque s’abattit sur la plage. Ranma, redevenue une fille, n’eut qu’une fraction de seconde pour réagir. Elle attrapa Akane par la taille, la souleva comme si elle pesait trois plumes, et l’entraîna hors de l’eau. La vague les engloutit, mais Ranma planta ses pieds dans le sable, luttant contre la force de l’eau.
Quand la mer se retira enfin, Ranma ramena Akane sur la plage, trempée mais saine et sauve. Akane, encore sous le choc, s’accrocha à elle une seconde de trop avant de rougir violemment.
« Est-ce que tu vas bien ? Demanda Ranma. »
Akane acquiesça, encore un peu tremblante, mais ses épaules se détendirent.
L’animateur, qui était grimpé sur le seul poteau encore debout de l’estrade, attrapa son micro d’une main tremblante.
« Euh… le concours est officiellement annulé. Merci à tous. Bonne journée. »
Sa voix se perdit dans un grésillement. Ranma se tourna vers Akane, un sourire fatigué mais sincère accroché aux lèvres.
« Au moins, aucun de ces idiots n’a gagné le rendez‑vous. »
Akane rougit. Mais un sourire adoucit son visage, presque malgré elle.
Le soleil se couchait lentement, enveloppant la plage d’une lumière dorée. Le calme revenait, et malgré le chaos, tout le monde était sain et sauf.
C’était une journée typique pour les familles Tendo et Saotome.
Fin
The Great Beach Contest! Panic, Waves, and a Date!
Fandom : Ranma ½
Relationship : Ranma x Akane
I’m sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.
Summary : Akane was staring at something ahead of her, completely frozen. Ranma followed her gaze and frowned when she saw a stage that had been set up, decorated with loud garlands and multicolored balloons. And above all, a giant poster that read :
“The Great Beach Contest. First Prize: A Date with Miss Akane Tendo.”
Disclaimer : Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
AO3
The summer days were growing hotter and hotter in the city of Nerima. Everyone was looking for a way to cool off, and the Saotome and Tendo families had decided to spend the day at the beach.
Everyone went about their own activities. Nabiki, stretched out on a brand‑new towel, enjoyed the sun as she worked on her tan. Kasumi sipped a cup of tea under the parasol while watching the waves. Happosai, surprisingly calm, was building a sandcastle, though everyone kept an eye on him, knowing that sooner or later he would go bother the girls on the beach. Genma and Soun were swimming under the bewildered stares of the other beachgoers, shocked to see a panda in the water. Ranma, in her female form, was being offered ice creams with disconcerting ease. Akane, who had noticed her little act, was starting to get seriously annoyed. She marched over, grabbed her by the ear, and dragged her away from the boy who was about to pay.
“What’s wrong with you ? !” Ranma exclaimed once Akane let go of her.
“Stop taking advantage of the situation !”
Ranma folded her arms behind her head, looking falsely innocent.
“It’s not my fault if, when I’m a girl, I’m more popular than you.”
Akane had to use every ounce of self‑control not to explode.
“Idiot !” She shouted.
She turned on her heel and walked away. Seeing her angry, Ranma decided to follow her to try to fix things. They had crossed almost half the beach when Akane suddenly stopped, forcing Ranma to brake sharply to avoid bumping into her.
“You could warn me when you stop !” The red‑haired girl protested.
Akane did not answer. She was staring at something ahead of her, completely frozen. Ranma followed her gaze and frowned when she saw a stage that had been set up, decorated with loud garlands and multicolored balloons. And above all, a giant poster that read :
“The Great Beach Contest. First Prize: A Date with Miss Akane Tendo.”
In the center, a large photo of Akane in a swimsuit was displayed. It looked as if it had been taken just a few minutes earlier. The glossy paper shone under the sun, catching the eyes of every passerby. Ranma felt anger rising inside her. What was that supposed to mean ?
“What is the meaning of this ? !” Akane exclaimed, as if she had heard Ranma’s thoughts.
“Pretty good, huh ?”
The two girls turned toward a radiant Nabiki, her camera still in hand.
“You did this ?” Akane asked.
“Of course. Might as well make these holidays profitable.”
“There’s no way I’m participating in this.”
Suddenly, Happosai burst out of the sand in a cloud of dust and leapt at Akane.
“Akane‑chan ! I’ll win first prize !”
Akane watched in horror as he got closer and closer. Ranma caught him mid‑air and threw him away. Kuno, whom no one expected, arrived running.
“Tendo Akane ! I shall win first prize, and you will have the honor of going out with me !”
Ranma sent him flying as well. In the distance, a familiar voice echoed:
“Does anyone know the way to Okinawa ?”
Ranma sighed. As soon as Ryoga saw the stage and the poster, he would definitely join the contest. It felt like everyone had decided to gather on this beach today. There was only one solution left.
“I’m entering too !”
Akane’s eyes widened and she blushed.
“Ranma…” she whispered.
The countdown had begun. Only one hour left before the contest started.
******
The sun was still beating down, and the beach seemed to buzz with excitement at the idea of the contest. People were already gathering around the stage, some discussing the upcoming events, others speculating about the mysterious “date with Akane Tendo.” Akane, meanwhile, would have preferred to sink into the sand and disappear.
Ranma, back in his male form, observed the crowd with a mix of determination and annoyance. There was no way he was going to let Happosai, Kuno, or Ryoga win that prize. Absolutely not. Even if he wouldn’t admit it, the thought of Akane going out with any of them made him want to kick the entire stage into the ocean.
Akane was trying to calm herself down. Her heart was beating a little too fast, and she could not tell whether it was anger, embarrassment, or something else. She glanced at Ranma, who stood with his hands on his hips, looking as if he were saying, “I’ve got this.” Which, of course, did not reassure her at all.
“You don’t have to participate, you know,” Akane murmured, barely audible.
Ranma shrugged.
“If I don’t, Kuno will win. Or worse, Happosai. Do you really want that ?”
Akane paled at the thought of a date with Happosai. Just imagining his creepy giggles sent shivers down her spine.
“No ! Of course not.”
Ranma smiled, satisfied. Akane looked away, her cheeks turning even redder. Nabiki arrived at that moment, notebook in hand, already writing down the names of the participants. She looked positively radiant, as if she had just discovered a gold mine.
“Alright, Ranma, I’m signing you up. Do you want to participate as a girl or as a boy ?”
Ranma opened his mouth to answer, but Nabiki raised a finger.
“No, wait. As a girl, you’ll get more sponsors. But as a boy, you’ll attract a more feminine audience. Hm… interesting dilemma.”
Akane sighed.
“Nabiki, could you stop turning everything into business ?”
“Impossible, little sister. It’s against my nature.”
Meanwhile, Happosai was slipping between people’s legs to get closer to the stage. Kuno was rehearsing a heroic speech while brandishing his bokken. And Ryoga, lost as always, was walking straight toward the exit of the beach. Normally, Ranma would have caught him to keep him from getting lost again. But he figured that if Ryoga wandered off into the wilderness, that would be one less competitor.
Ranma turned to Akane, more serious this time.
“Listen, I’m going to win. So stop worrying.”
Akane felt her heart skip a beat. She hated when Ranma said things like that with so much confidence. It unsettled her. Way too much.
“Do whatever you want,” she replied, trying to sound indifferent.
But Ranma had already noticed the blush on her cheeks.
The sun was slowly setting, tinting the sea with a golden glow. The organizers were putting up the last decorations. The crowd was gathering, eager. The contest was about to begin.
And Ranma, arms crossed, eyes determined, stood ready.
******
The hour passed faster than expected. The sun dipped lower, painting the sea in a bright orange. The contest organizers bustled around the stage, adjusting decorations, testing microphones, and handing out numbers to the participants. The crowd was already packed, impatient to see the show.
Ranma stretched his arms with a confident air. Several girls on the beach were suddenly eyeing him with interest, which made Akane raise an eyebrow.
Nabiki arrived, a calculating smile on her lips.
“Perfect. As a boy, I’ll be able to sell photos before the contest starts.”
“Nabiki !” Akane protested.
“What ? I’m supporting the local economy.”
Meanwhile, Happosai was staring at Ranma with a disappointed look.
“Why didn’t you stay a girl, Ranma ? You would’ve been perfect for the swimsuit category !”
Ranma kicked him straight into a pile of sand. Kuno, meanwhile, was already standing on the stage, brandishing his bokken as if it were part of a sacred ceremony.
“People of the beach ! I am here to win the heart of the lovely Tendo Akane !”
Ranma rolled his eyes.
“He’s already getting on my nerves…”
Ryoga, for his part, had finally arrived, wearing a huge smile. He was proud to have found his way and not gotten lost again.
“I finally made it to the contest !” He declared proudly.
Akane sighed. Ranma stepped in front of her, more serious than usual.
“Listen, I’m going to win. I promise.”
Akane felt her heart tighten. He had said it with a calm, almost gentle confidence. She looked away.
“Do whatever you want…”
But Ranma already knew she was nervous.
An announcer climbed onto the stage, microphone in hand.
“Ladies and gentlemen ! The Great Beach Contest is about to begin ! First event: the aquatic obstacle course !”
The crowd applauded and the participants lined up. Ranma cracked his knuckles. Kuno struck a dramatic pose. Ryoga turned in the wrong direction. Happosai was ready to slip into the water.
Akane watched Ranma. He stood straight, focused, eyes fixed on the sea. The wind lifted his hair slightly. He looked truly determined.
The first event was simple : an obstacle race. The contestants had to run along the beach, continue into the water, then return as fast as possible.
Easy, Ranma thought. The tricky part would be avoiding getting splashed. Ryoga gulped loudly and shot a worried look at Akane. If he got splashed and turned into a pig, he’d be in big trouble.
The signal sounded.
“On your marks… get set… GO !”
Ranma shot forward, kicking up a cloud of sand behind him. He had barely run two meters when the ground literally exploded under the contestants’ feet. Geysers of sand burst upward, huge pits opened, and half the participants vanished while screaming in ridiculous ways.
Ranma leapt over a crater, Happosai performed an improbable somersault, Ryoga dodged a hole by sheer miracle, and Kuno dramatically placed one foot on a rock.
At the water’s edge, Kuno and Happosai dove in like cannonballs. Ranma and Ryoga jumped from platform to platform with acrobatic precision, until a monstrous wave surged and swept Ryoga away. Seconds later, a small black pig rolled onto the sand, eyes spinning like spirals.
Ranma, who had avoided the wave, continued the race, grumbling internally : Ryoga, seriously…
Then the sea rose as if a sea monster were about to emerge. A huge octopus burst out of the water, its metallic tentacles snapping through the air like electric whips as it grabbed Kuno and Happosai.
“What is that ?” Akane exclaimed.
Some spectators screamed in surprise, others ran away.
“It’s a mechanical octopus,” Nabiki explained. “Just to spice up the race.”
Sparks flew, smoke puffed out, and the tentacles began spinning wildly. Kuno and Happosai were launched into the air, disappearing in an arc above the crowd.
Then a gigantic wave crashed onto the beach. Ranma, back in her female form, had only a split second to react. She grabbed Akane by the waist, lifted her as if she weighed nothing, and pulled her out of the water. The wave engulfed them, but Ranma dug her feet into the sand, fighting against the force of the water.
When the sea finally retreated, Ranma carried Akane back onto the beach, soaked but safe. Akane, still shaken, clung to her a second too long before blushing furiously.
“Are you okay ?” Ranma asked.
Akane nodded, still trembling a little, but her shoulders relaxed.
The announcer, perched on the only pole still standing on the stage, grabbed his microphone with a trembling hand.
“Uh… the contest is officially canceled. Thank you all. Have a nice day.”
His voice faded into static. Ranma turned to Akane, a tired but sincere smile on her lips.
“At least none of those idiots won the date.”
Akane blushed. But a small smile softened her face, almost against her will.
The sun was slowly setting, bathing the beach in golden light. Calm returned, and despite the chaos, everyone was safe.
It was a typical day for the Tendo and Saotome families.
The end
Ramna doodle
