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Ukyo hummed to herself cheerfully as she continued onwards along the familiar trail that led to the familiarity of home, having finally finished a long day of delivering to hungry customers. It wasn't easy balancing a part time job outside school and running it independently, but she made it work and she got a good work ethic from it. I mean she was running the family business and her father was proud of her for it. Though he still held a grudge against Genma for stealing their only source of income and forcing him to create a new business, he was pleased she had mended her friendship with Ranma.

She was glad of her friendship with Ranma and their closening bond, but she did crave more from him despite his feelings being purely platonic. But she was content in having Ranma's trust and close companionship regardless of his feelings. But finding a boy who loved and accepted her these days was hard to find, given guts like Ranma were hard to find. But having her little companion made her forget the complexities and stresses of romance, realising she was lonely and simply sought emotional connection.

P-chan relied on her, he needed her, her appreciated her and made her feel fulfilled. Waking up to his cheery little face and happy oinks made her smile. However, she felt guilty at how busy her job and school life made her, worrying that she neglected him. So she tried to balance her life better and make P-chan feel more included in her life. She knew all too well how negative it could impact you when loneliness overwhelmed your life. Instead of leaving him alone in the emptiness of her small flat, Ukyo had decided to bring P-chan along for entertainment so he didn't get bored. The little guy seemed to appreciate the gesture and had eagerly watched from atop his nest.

Carrying P-chan in her arms felt like she was babying him too much and being unfair to him. She noticed how much he enjoyed perching atop her shoulder, how confident he seemed to feel, so she decided to find ways to carry him to mimic this to make it a habit. She had collected a small backpack and placed him inside so his head could poke out of the top. So he could enjoy his surroundings and have some freedom at the same time. P-chan had no issue with his and often dragged it to her before they left the house so she never forget it. Petting him for being helpful so she never made any mistakes before leaving the house.

She enjoyed keeping him as a companion through her daily life, easing both of their loneliness. P-chan not seeming to mind where she took him, keeping close to her at all times. He looked contentedly comfortable with no desire to move. He was a curious little pig and learned a lot from observing people in his everyday life, showing he was more empathetic than he let on. No wonder he got lonely, he just wanted someone to love him and to share his affection with. "You having fun back there P-Chan" Ukyo called in amusement. He could have a better view of the business around them while remaining comfortable and warm without the worry of getting chilly.

Ryoga oinked happily in response to her question, he had never been carried like this before. Without embarrassment of doing something inappropriate while Akane held him against her breasts. Ukyo never patronised him or made him feel emasculated, believing him to be weak or incapable, even in small form she treated him as an equal and always wanted to help him. In a way, it was like having a piggyback (Pun) from a cute girl and he wasn't disrespecting her in any way.

Though he was still desperate to get the cure to his curse, he was frustrated at his weakness he gained via curse. How it impacted his strength as a martial artist, how endangered he was by larger enemies and predators. How he had to rely on others for protection so he wouldn't be harmed. Hell, he was a teenage boy, how on earth was he going to develop a relationship with someone when he was trapped with a curse he had no ability to control.

Ukyo made him feel less ashamed of his curse, though she believed this to be his true form, she had never treated him badly as a man. Yes, they occasionally argued and butted heads but they respected each other and bonded well. They fought well as a team, he helped her out in her shop and she always offered a spare room if he needed it. Ryoga had never experienced a relationship with anyone, given his years of chasing after Ranma and living alone. Dating, speaking to the opposite gender, dealing with attraction, this was all something alien to him. But maybe, with Ukyo, he had a genuine shot of dating.

Ukyo smiled, pleased he was comfortable and enjoying their bonding time together. She couldn't believe how much time had passed since he came into her life as her little roommate. It felt like she had known him for so much longer, a familiarity between them that she couldn't place. He seemed to have no desire to return to Akane, despite previously being owned by her. But she had no issue with adopting P-chan and claiming him as her pet if he was comfortable with her, sometimes the pets chose you instead of the other way around. "Y'know, it's getting kinda cold these days, maybe I should make you a mini scarf" she teased. Though his bandana was adorable, it couldn't be very warm for him. She had never really made clothing for pets, seeing it as a strange and sometimes unnecessary thing, but P-chan had no fur to keep him warm in the cold so he would benefit greatly from it. She had once knitted something for Ranma but he didn't seem to wear it, so she just gave up on doing so as it was a waste of materials. But she would happily spoil P-chan if it made him happy.

Ryoga blushed shyly, he had never been given a gift by a girl before. Especially not from someone he liked, he was rather touched by her generosity. Akane spoiled him with treats, affection and shared her room with him, but she never knitted him anything and simply saw it as a duty as a pet owner. She did love him, but with the same maternal instinct a mother would a child instead of romantic, even in his human form she purely saw him as a friend and nothing more. That was a frustrating feeling to Ryoga, to like a girl so much only to realise he would never have a chance with her. But Ukyo doted on him, she showed him kindness without reason and enjoyed his companionship, hinting to have romantic interest in him. He did often find himself chilly in the lack of protection as a pig when he was in his human form he didn't own many items either.

Ukyo smirked to herself, catching his blush from the corner of her eye. He was a cute little fella, no wonder he was so popular with women. He wasn't a baby piglet, he was just a miniature pig. There were a lot of pig breeds in the world, he may have come from a petit breed. "You all embarrassed now? If I didn't know any better I'd say you had a crush on me hun" she giggled. Having no idea of how true this joke was in reality. Ukyo reached up fondly, tickling Ryoga's face affectionately with her hand. The whole time she petted him, his face was bright red with embarrassment.

Ryoga internally panicked, his mind processing what Ukyo had just said. She was smarter than she was even aware sometimes, hoping she didn't catch onto his cursed form anytime soon. She would cook him alive and eat him for dinner. But more so if she learned of his blossoming crush on her, despite having protected him in pig form. What would she say? What would she do? He had no way of comprehending her reaction. I mean Akane had seen him revert multiple times but never clicked they were one in the same person. I mean she still harboured a one-sided crush for Ranma.

He trusted Ukyo, they had bonded multiple times about their unrequited love and crushes on both martial artists. Soon they came to enjoy one another's company and finding comfort in each others misery. He admired her independence and devotion to Ranma and her friends, despite using manipulation when necessary she had never attempted to harm Akane like her other rivals had. Ukyo had a big heart and simply wanted the boy she loved to notice her, which wasn't unfair to ask. Over time he had been living with Ukyo, he had developed an undeniable fondness for her as well as empathy. He could relate to her personally, they were both lonely souls, making him want to protect her from those who would hurt her.

Ukyo was her happiest when she was cooking and testing new recipes, bonding with her friends and proving her capabilities. She was a passionate person and put her all into everything she did. But she carried an insecurity about her womanhood and femininity, given she was raised as a tomboy and treated differently by girls and guys in their class due to her lack of girliness. Despite the confidence she carried, he could see the glimpse of sadness in her eyes when she wasn't respected or acknowledged as a woman. Ryoga respected women, he treated them fairly and never hurt their feelings. He was against anyone who disrespected women or made them uncomfortable, particularly loathing Kuno for the way he treated Akane and even Ranma's female form. He had no shame and refused to admit his disrespect and harassment of women. Ukyo was an amazing girl who simply needed to find someone to admire and accept her as she was.

Ukyo hummed thoughtfully, rubbing her chin "Guess I got knitting to do, maybe red or green?" she suggested. He often wore a yellow bandana, maybe she could try something new for a change. It was nice to have variety in life. She could use her savings to look at wool and decide on the colour and texture then, using the spare wool to make something for herself later on. Saving money on making clothes for herself meant she could put it towards other things she needed.

Ryoga sighed heavily, realising how close he had come to discovery. Not realising he had been trembling until she deflected the conversation onto another topic. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so flustered by a girl, it was rather embarrassing. He needed to keep a better poker face and not give himself away so easily, reflecting on his actions and being too easy to read. Ukyo simply giggled as she pondered on how funny and awkward the little pig was, a tsundere little piglet.