Ranma and his group of characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
5
That night, Ranma's dreams were taken over by Akane and Shampoo in scandalously dressed outfits, but his dreams weren't as kind as the projection. Every time he looked at either girl, Akane would call him a jerk and either kick him away or use a mallet to launch him far away. When Ranma awoke, he felt swore, almost as if each attack rendered in his dream caused him physical harm.
"It isn't masochism. You aren't enjoying pain. Do you think you deserve it or is that just your relationship? I think we should look into this more."
From the darkness a rectangular light could be seen. It was bright white for a moment, before he could see himself, like a movie screen playing home videos. Images of his interactions with Akane were shown. It went over everything as if it were an episode of an anime series and he could see it all. Their good times, which were few and far between, the bad times, which were more frequent with all the arguing, and the violent, each and every instance Akane hit him. It played out chronologically, starting with their first meeting. It showed their scrimmage in the dojo, then the fateful encounter in the bathroom. Everytime Akane struck Ranma in the playback, Ranma in the present would flinch then rub the spot that was struck.
"Quite a temper this one has. But it looks like you egg her on as well. It does seem to play in your favor sometimes too, as you use it to your advantage as well. What about the other one?"
The room darkened again, before the video reel started up again, this time his history with Shampoo. This reel was much shorter than the other one, and involved a lot less pain.
"How interesting. In your attempt to avoid the topic of your fiancees, you avoided the one who is the most serious about it. I guess it makes sense. The others allowed you to ignore the topic. Poor Shampoo, she really is desperate for your attention. Not that I'm excusing her behavior of course. So why is it that you are so against making your decision?
This time the monitor showed scenes of Ranma. Scenes in his battles or arguing against his rivals and his father. Each time expressing a desire of his.
"So you say you do not have time for a fiance because you are trying to get stronger and cure your ailment. You do realize that those things are not mutually exclusive. You can have a fiance and still accomplish your goals. Actually, one of your fiances has already helped you out to achieve that end.
"Who is that?"
"You're telling me you do not know the answer to that question? One of your betrothed has already provided you with a teacher, one that has taught you some of your most powerful moves. An instructor who has vast amounts to teach to the right person. While the other doesn't really have anything to offer. There is a "teacher", but he is not willing to actually share his secrets. I feel if that is truly your end goal, the choice of suitor to help you achieve that is simple.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Are you really that dense?"
The screen darkened again, and this time it showed his tutelage under Cologne and the techniques he was able to learn from her or because of her.
"Not only would you get a great teacher, you would have the perfect sparring partner. She's strong and fast and though she does not learn as fast as you, she is quick to pick up techniques too. You two could easily help each other grow and learn. In this case, you are in the very unique position of being able to have your cake and eat it too."
"Cake?"
"I mean here, look at the different training the two do."
Images of Akane breaking stacks of bricks played over and over again, that or her jogging around the neighborhood.
Then the images changed and Shampoo was seen in intense training courses with Cologne. He saw her mastering the same techniques that Cologne taught him.
"Shampoo doesn't know those."
"Are you sure?"
Ranma stayed silent, he really didn't know the training that Shampoo did on her own.
The man sighed. "Look, you want to become a strong martial artist, you have two finances left to choose from, one can provide you a teacher the other provides you with a dojo. But is teaching what you want to do? It seems like you want to learn and challenge, if that is the case you are heading in the wrong direction.
"But…"
"But you were promised to her first. I don't think that matters much as your father promised you to someone else after that, actually multiple someones, but that's besides the point. But she's the one you care about the most? Your feelings there are complicated, but it seems that because you've spent the most time with her you are the most comfortable with her. I can tell you that you have very strong physiological reactions to the other one too. I believe that your annoyance stems from her being the most serious about being your fiance and your objections to the whole thing. I believe that if you didn't fight it or her so hard, you would actually get along best with her. She does trust you more than the other.
"How do you know so much?"
"It's my job to know. I help people who are stuck."
"Then why don't you just tell me what to do."
"It's your decision to make, all I can do is show you where you have been."
"So you can't show me what will happen in the future?"
"Not precisely. I can show you the future based on the past, but people can change and so it will not be exact. Is it really that difficult to choose?"
"Can you show me anyway?"