For the past month, I have been writing and rewriting this for the sake of posting this year's start. The plot and story were heavily inspired by the amazing fanfic The Adventures of Guykane by ThrashJazz and Tendo All-Boys School of Anything Goes Martial Arts by ClericalError87 from Ao3, which I highly recommend.
I would appreciate it if you would comment your opinion and hold back on giving me criticism. This is basically my first fanfic, so I hope you will treat me kindly, and if you don't like it, you can politely go.
I'm not a fan of the original Ranma series, and I was fueled on writing thanks to the remake that came out this October, so I'm glad that I could call myself a fan!
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No time for pleasantries, I'm bringing Ranma back from China.
Lots of love, Saotome Genma.
Tendou Suon repeatedly reread the postcard more times than necessary to double-check its content to ensure he understood. As the reality of the message sank in, tears began to well up in his eyes in just a few seconds, as they quickly started to stream down his cheeks. He stared at the postcard, gripping its edges with trembling hands, crumpling the paper in his grasp.
With a shaking and excited voice, he squeezes out, "R-Ranma? She's coming here?" which barely contains his excitement for the arrival of his friend's daughter.
"Oh, how I've w-w-waited for this day!"
Wasting no more time, he quickly rushed back inside his home to call out for his three sons. Upon entering, he hurriedly dashed around the house, frantically searching for them, starting with his eldest son, who was in the kitchen preparing their lunch.
"Katsumi!"
The sudden shout of his name from his father almost made Katsumi, the eldest son of the Tendou children, drop the ladle into the pot holding the miso soup for their breakfast.
Quickly managing to catch the ladle just in time before it could nearly sink into the pot, he looked at his father with a curious expression at the sudden outburst. "What is it, Father?" the eldest son asked as he continued stirring the contents in the pot.
Suon beamed at his eldest child, "Katsumi, double today's lunch because we'll be having guests soon!" Realizing he had spoken a little too loudly, prompting Katsumi to give him a small, disapproving look that contrasted with his usual calm and tranquil demeanor.
Katsumi then turned his head around to continue focusing on preparing their lunch. "Father, please don't yell so loudly, especially in the morning. You're going to disturb the neighbors," he gently scolded without raising his voice, as he returned to his calm and gentle self.
Suon shivered slightly at his eldest child's scolding, simply nodded, and replied, "Yes, yes. We're having a family meeting soon, so please make breakfast quickly, okay?" With that, he hurried off to find his middle and youngest child, which wasn't difficult since they usually stayed in their room. He first went to his middle child's bedroom as he climbed up the stairs to their bedrooms.
He slammed the door open without knocking, startling Naoki, the middle child of the Tendou sons, who had been reading his magazine on his bed while eating his blueberry-flavor popsicle.
"Naoki!"
Despite being surprised at his father bursting into his room unexpectedly, he maintained his trained facial expressions and gave his father his usual expressionless and bored tone, "What? Is breakfast ready already?" He asked his father, who was panting and catching his breath while having the biggest grin he had ever seen on his face, which was weirding him out.
"No time to explain—just hurry up and go downstairs! We're having a family meeting!" cried Suon as he scurried off once again, leaving his second son confused by his sudden outburst and declaration.
Just around the corner was his youngest son's bedroom, which, just like he did with Naoki, Suon swung open the door without knocking, expecting to find his youngest child doing his daily studying. "Akane! Come downstairs immediately!" he called, only to find an empty room with no sign of his son anywhere.
His youngest sometimes went to train at their dojo early in the morning, but he had just finished his usual Sunday cleanup there, and Akane hadn't shown up or given any indication that he had been at the dojo. So here Suon stood at the door of his youngest son's room, wearing a confused expression.
"Eh? He's not here?" he muttered quietly, racking his brain to figure out where his youngest child could be. He didn't have time to play hide and seek; he needed to gather his sons for a family meeting after they all finished the nutritious breakfast that Katsumi had prepared for them by now.
As he considered the possible whereabouts of his youngest, Naoki passed by his father on his way downstairs. "He's probably still out on his jog," the middle child said casually, continuing to eat his popsicle.
"Oh right," he thought, recalling that Akane would jog very early in the morning, long before any of his brothers or he had woken up even on a school day. It made him a little proud of how disciplined and well-trained his youngest child was in the ways of the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts.
"While I'm glad that at least one of my sons is pursuing martial arts at our family school, this is an important matter that I need all of you to hear!" he huffed, frowning disapprovingly as he followed his second child downstairs. There, he found his eldest son, Katsumi, setting out the bowls, plates, and cups each for one of them for breakfast on the table in the washitsu.
Naoki rolled his eyes at their father's antics before looking up at the sky and noticing the darkening clouds. "Well, since the weather forecast said it's going to rain soon, he'll probably be back before Katsumi finishes making breakfast," Naoki remarked.
Just a few blocks from the Tendou dojo, a teenager no older than sixteen was jogging around the neighborhood. Sweat dripped from his skin as his dark blue hair gently swayed in the wind of his jog. Noticing the darkening clouds signaling an approaching rain, he quickened up his pace to return home to finish the last of his morning workout before the rain started to pour.
Upon reaching the gates, he quickly yelled, "I'm home!" and hurried to his room, changing out of his jogging attire into his white karate gi before rushing outside to the back of their dojo. He began to set out some heavy bricks for the final exercise of his morning workout. He had acquired the bricks from a nearby construction site, where they were unused. With the permission of the construction workers, he managed to obtain a few bricks after several hours of negotiations, with his older brother assisting him in the discussions.
As soon as he got the pile of bricks out, he swiftly stacked them up before crushing the pile with his fist crashing down.
Akane looked down at the crushed pile of bricks, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a relaxed smile. "Ah, that felt good," he said, enjoying the cool breeze signaling the upcoming rain.
Just then, a familiar voice belonging to one of his brothers called out from behind. "There you go again, Akane." Naoki suddenly appeared behind the dojo, looking at his younger brother, who had just returned from his morning jog and finished his workout.
Akane turned with a grin. "Oh, Naoki, is breakfast ready?" he asked, looking at his older brother, who rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, and seeing you do this every day really explains why you can't get a girlfriend. Your head is always full of martial arts," Naoki teased.
Akane's grin quickly turned into a scowl at his brother's teasing. "Hey! Don't compare me to those brainless meatheads, Naoki!" he huffed, turning away to focus on the crushed pile of bricks he had smashed.
"Besides, why should I care about what others think of me?" he continued, crossing his arms.
Naoki sighed, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth at his brother's antics. "Yeah, yeah. By the way, Dad wants us inside. We're having a family meeting."
Akane raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted by the mention of the meeting. "A family meeting? What's it about this time?" he asked before his eyes widened in realization. "Is this about how I almost got suspended that time?! I told Dad it was Kuno's fault—" He was about to continue rambling when Naoki interrupted him.
"I don't think so, little bro," Naoki said, cutting him off with his smirk still on. "I have a feeling we're going to have some interesting guests over for lunch."
Akane frowned slightly, his curiosity piqued at the mention of guests coming over to their house. "Guests? Some of Dad's friends?" he asked his older brother, who merely shrugged in response.
"Maybe, but I don't think that's the only surprise we'll be having..." Replied Naoki as he began to walk back inside their home followed by his younger brother. As the two Tendou brothers entered the house, a droplet of rain began to fall, one by one, until it quickly turned into a heavy downpour. Akane couldn't help but look out at the storm, wondering what kind of surprise their father had in store for them today.
Little did they know, just across the neighborhood, that their town was witnessing quite a sight.
A short, red-haired—or perhaps pink-haired—girl with sparkling azure blue eyes and a buxom figure, despite her petite stature, was sprinting barefoot through the streets. Clutched in one hand was a massive travel pack nearly half her size, and in the other, a pair of martial arts shoes, their laces dangling wildly. Behind her, a giant panda chased down the redhead with surprising speed that belittled its size as the rain continued to fall onto the town.
A few hours earlier, before the rain began, the scene had been much calmer. Somewhere around Nerima, two martial artists had been wandering through the town of Furinkan—a teenage boy who looked no older than sixteen and a middle-aged man, likely in his late fifties. The older man walked around the town's shops with a calm yet serious expression, while his companion seemed far less patient, his gaze flickering to every shopfront and street corner they passed.
It had been quite a while since they'd last been back, and it almost seemed like the place had changed during their time away in China. That trip, as it turned out, was also the cause of their current predicament.
"Pops are we there yet?" Ranma grumbled, seemingly for at least the thousandth time since they'd arrived back in Japan and at least a whole month since they'd acquired their curse. He adjusted the weight of the travel pack on his shoulders. His tone carried the unmistakable frustration of someone dragged along against his will.
Genma, trying his best to ignore both the question and the thought of their newly acquired curse, peered down at an old, crumpled map. The paper had grown worn and yellowed with age, its edges torn, but it still faintly displayed a route to his house—drawn, no doubt, by his old friend years ago. Genma squinted at the scribbled lines, his brow furrowing in frustration.
"Almost there, I think..." he muttered, glancing left, then right, before returning his gaze to the map with an expression of pure confusion.
Ranma scoffed loudly, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, sure, Pops," he drawled sarcastically, his patience wearing dangerously thin. "You're lookin' at that map like it's got the secrets of the universe or somethin'. Are you even sure this thing isn't older than you?"
Genma shot his son a glare but said nothing, choosing instead to frown more intently at the map. It was a poor excuse for navigation, Ranma thought, though it did remind him of some of the half-baked maps his old friend used to make back in junior high to try to get himself not getting lost.
"It's been a while since I last went to his place, and the neighborhood and town have changed drastically since the last time Nodoka and I were here," Genma muttered, offering a weak excuse for why they were currently wandering aimlessly. Ranma could only stare at his father in disbelief, his patience wearing thin.
"Can't we just go back home to Ma?" Ranma grumbled, shifting the weight of the pack slung over his shoulder. "Why do we have to go to your friend's house first when we could just head straight back?"
"Quiet, boy," Genma snapped, puffing out his chest in a feigned display of authority. "As martial artists, it's customary to greet other martial artists first as a sign of respect and friendship after completing a training expedition. It shows discipline and tradition."
Ranma scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "Tch. Yeah, yeah—tradition, discipline—whatever. We just got back to Japan after all that hell in China. You really think we couldn't put this off? Ma's probably finishing whipping up some food for us right now, and all I want is to eat something warm and finally sleep on an actual bed." His voice trailed off wistfully, his mind conjuring up images of a steaming hot meal and the comfort of a proper mattress—something he hadn't experienced in months.
"Oh, it seems you've gotten weak, huh?" Genma taunted, as he looked back to see his son glaring daggers at him.
"Shut it, Pops," Ranma shot back, his tone sharper than he intended. He kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, fists clenched tightly at his sides. "It's been a while since I last saw Ma, that's all..." His voice softened slightly as he trailed off, though the lingering frustration still simmered beneath the surface. He tried not to let it show, but there was an undeniable tightness in his chest at the thought of seeing his mother again—of finally going home after all these months of hardship.
The silence between them grew heavier as the clouds started to darken, looming ominously over the town. A fresh gust of wind swept through, rustling leaves and bringing with it the faint chill of the impending storm.
Genma couldn't help but wonder if returning to Nodoka had been a mistake. Originally, his plan was to settle down for a while, allowing Ranma to experience a semblance of normal life by attending middle school in the area while they prepared for their next training expedition. But things had shifted drastically since the mother-son reunion. Nodoka, who hadn't seen her son for the entirety of his childhood, had nearly burst with joy the moment she witnessed his presence alone when they arrived at her doorsteps.
Ranma had improved significantly, from housework and martial arts, whether due to puberty, his new living conditions, or the love and warmth from his mother that he had missed throughout his childhood. She had become so attached that she rarely let him out of her sight, a level of closeness that would've made most adolescent boys going through puberty squirm. But Ranma never complained, instead eagerly helping her with chores, cooking meals, or simply spending time at her side, like a child eager to please.
Genma frowned as he recalled those peaceful moments. They were a far cry from the life they had led for years—endless training in harsh conditions, sleeping under the stars, living off whatever they could find, and moving Ranma school to school as they continued to travel for Ranma's training. It was a life that had hardened Ranma into the martial artist he was, but it had also stripped him of the comfort and care most children experienced. Genma could see the changes in his son, not just physically, as puberty added new strength and definition to his form, but emotionally as well. It began to create a small appreciation in Ranma of the stability of having a real home.
And therein lay Genma's greatest concern: what happens when they leave again? Could he truly tear Ranma away from this life—away from Nodoka—once more? Of course, he can; he's Ranma's father and also his teacher. Ranma is the heir of their school and would inherit the many techniques of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and possibly teach them to his future students one day. But even so, his son had clearly grown attached, and while Genma would never admit it out loud, he, too, had missed his wife's warmth, her cooking, and her steady presence. The nights spent sleeping in a proper bed instead of a cold, damp tent had been luxurious by their standards. It was enough to make him momentarily forget the promise, the contract, he had made with Nodoka all those years ago: to take Ranma away and forge him into a man amongst men, the greatest martial artist, no matter the cost.
But ever since the curse—the dreadful accident in Jusenkyo—Genma had been plagued by doubt and regret. It had been his foolishness, after all, that led them to that cursed training ground. The moment he fell into that spring and transformed into a giant panda, Ranma's fate was sealed, as well as he, too, fell into one of the cursed springs. His son's newfound curse, that of transforming into a girl upon contact with cold water, was a problem they couldn't escape. And if Nodoka knew...
Genma shivered, though it wasn't from the growing chill in the air. He had sent that last ill-advised letter informing Nodoka of their "condition," and now the weight of that decision hung over him like an executioner's blade. What would she say if she found out they were back? Would she force them to commit seppuku as their honor demanded, starting with him? The thought alone made him break into a cold sweat. He couldn't let that happen. Not to him nor to Ranma.
"But seriously, are we even there yet?!" Ranma groaned, his tone dripping with irritation. "We've been walking for like an hour. Are you sure we aren't lost?"
Genma paused, a sheepish look crossing his face as he scratched the back of his head. "… Actually, yes."
Ranma's brow shot up, his suspicion sharpening. "Really?"
"Yes!" Genma replied quickly, a little too quickly. "The town may have changed, but the neighborhood looks just like I remember it when I was last here."
Ranma sighed in relief, shifting the weight of the large pack slung across his shoulder. "Good, because it's starting to rain, and I do not want to go meeting your old martial arts buddy looking like a soggy chick." He gestured to the darkening sky above, where thick, heavy clouds loomed over them almost looking ominously threatening to rain.
As they walked in silence once again, the only sound was the steady rhythm of their footsteps against the pavement. Suddenly, Genma came to a halt, causing Ranma to almost bump into him.
Ranma eye's narrow looking at his father suspiciously, "Pops, were you lying when you said you finally knew where we were going?" Ranma asked, frustration evident in his voice, though he was careful not to sound too angry as they were bystanders around.
Genma hesitated, his eyes darting nervously before he slowly turned to face his son. His expression was more serious than usual, a rare moment of tension seeping through his usually carefree demeanor.
"Ranma…" he began, his voice quieter than usual. "I know it's a little late, but there's something I need to tell you before we reach my old friend's house."
Ranma blinked, his irritation faltering as he felt a knot form in his stomach. "And what is it?" he asked, though something deep in his gut told him he wasn't going to like the answer.
Genma's eyes flickered to the ground for a moment as if gathering his thoughts before he continued, "Well, the thing is… a long time ago, my friend Tendou and I made a promise to each other as we headed our separate ways."
Ranma's brow furrowed, and a strange feeling of unease settled over him. His instincts were telling him that whatever came next was something he wouldn't be able to brush off easily. "And that is…?" he pressed, his voice laced with a touch of anxiety.
"When the two of us finally got married and had children of our own, we decided to unite our two schools' styles of Anything Goes Martial Arts," Genma began, his voice carrying an odd mix of nostalgia and gravity.
Ranma let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. A hint of relief suddenly graced his features, the knot in his stomach loosening. "Oh, that's great—" he started, his tone lighter as he thought the explanation would end there.
But before he could finish, Genma cut him off, his next words soft, almost in a whisper. "By marrying our children to each other."
The words hung heavy in the air, sinking into Ranma's ears like weights. He stiffened, his relief evaporating in an instant. For all the years of training, the sharp instincts he'd honed, there were some things he wished he hadn't heard. And this—this was definitely one of them.
Ranma blinked, unsure if he'd misheard, though his gut told him otherwise. "Wait… what?" he managed to choke out, his voice edged with disbelief.
A heavy silence enveloped the father and son as dark clouds loomed ominously above them. Ranma stared at his father, hoping that what he had heard was just a joke. However, he knew his father well, and deep down, he understood this wasn't one of the typical pranks that he played on him.
In a moment of instinct, Ranma did the first thing that came to his mind: he ran.
As people began to open up their umbrellas and rushing to find shelter when the heavy downpour started, nothing could have shocked them more than witnessing two men running down the street with one of the men transformed into a short, buxom redhead, while the other turned into a giant panda that chased after her as the rain continued to fall. Yes, it was another typical day for Nerima.
Back at the Tendous, things weren't exactly going well either.
"Fiance?!" Akane yelled in shock.
Suon calmly stared at Akane's outburst as his youngest son stood there, flabbergasted by the sudden news their father had just shared as he knew Akane would protest about this.
Suon then smiled, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he looked at each of his three sons. "Yes, the daughter of an old friend of mine. Her name is Saotome Ranma," he announced, showing them the postcard excitedly.
Naoki raised an eyebrow at that. "Ranma? Isn't that a boy's name?" he questioned, looking at their father with confusion.
Suon gave a casual shrug, "Yes, I suppose so, but Ranma could also be used as a female given name. Some names are unisex, like Akane's name." he pointed out with a playful smile.
Akane huffed, crossing his arms and glancing away, "Way to rub it in, Dad," he muttered under his breath, annoyed at his father's sudden jab.
His playful smile faded, replaced by a stern expression as he looked at each of his three children with uncharacteristic seriousness. "If one of you boys were to marry her and carry on the dojo, the Tendou family legacy of Anything Goes Martial Arts would be secured."
"Wait a minute, Daddy!" Akane burst out, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Don't we have a say in who we marry?! This is ridiculous!"
Katsumi nodded in agreement with his younger brother. "Akane is right, Father. We've never even met this Ranma before." He glanced at his father, concern evident in his expression as he processed the suddenness of the decision.
Soun's smile faltered slightly, a sweatdrop appearing on his forehead. "I'm sure the Saotome daughter would be a fine young woman," he said, trying to reassure his eldest and youngest. "After all, she practices martial arts and has been on training expeditions around the world with her father."
"Around the world?!" Akane exclaimed, his eyes wide in complete shock.
Suon nodded, a slight smile on his face as he recalled the letter. "Yes, recently, in my friend's letters, they mentioned crossing into China and just returning."
Naoki whistled, impressed. "Wow, China!"
Akane crossed his arms, unimpressed at the news. "Hmph, what's so great about going to China and traveling around the world?"
Naoki smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Sheesh, you're just jealous that Ranma-chan has done a lot more traveling than you, little brother," he teased, leaning back with a smug look.
"I am not jealous, Naoki!" Akane snapped, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment as he glared at his older brother.
Ignoring his younger brother's bickering, Katsumi slightly frowned. "How old is she, though? Younger people bore me," he remarked, a hint of disinterest in his tone.
Naoki immediately perked up at the question, leaning forward on the table, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Oh yeah! What kind of girl is she?" Naoki asked eagerly.
Suon paused, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "Well... I have no idea.
The room fell silent for a moment before Naoki broke the silence with disbelief. "No idea? Seriously?"
Suon raised his hands defensively. "I mean, I haven't met her myself yet, so—"
"Wait, what?!" Akane interrupted, practically shouting. "You're telling us you haven't even met this girl, and you're already planning to marry us off to her?! The poor girl probably doesn't even want an arranged marriage!"
"And also, Father, how would you possibly know that Ranma is a girl or not?" Katsumi questioned, his voice rising with suspicion.
Suon froze, clearly caught off guard by the incoming question. "N-now, hold on, boys—" he stammered, his confident demeanor faltering.
"There's no way we're getting married to a girl we don't even know!" Akane practically shouted, his patience snapping.
"Well, that can be fixed by getting to know each other—" Suon tried to reason, but Akane immediately cut him off, his glare intensifying as he flinched at the intensity of his youngest son's gaze.
"No way, Daddy! I'm not doing this!" Akane snapped, his arms crossed and stance resolute. He glared at his father, clearly unwilling to bend or entertain the idea
Naoki simply sneered at his brother bringing his arms and crossing them behind his head. "Come on, Akane. Maybe this way you'll finally find yourself a girlfriend?" he teased, a mischievous grin on his face. "I mean, this Ranma does practice martial arts like you."
Naoki's teasing only added more fuel to the fire as Akane's scowl deepened. "I don't need a girlfriend, Naoki!" he snapped, his irritation clear.
"Oh, so you want a boyfriend? I never knew this is how you wanted to come out—" Naoki continued his teasing, finding amusement in his younger brother's reaction to his every teasing.
Akane's face turned red, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'm not coming out, and I'm not even interested in guys in the slightest!" he shot back, his voice rising with frustration.
Naoki raised an eyebrow, still grinning. "Eh, are you sure you're not into guys? We'll always accept you, though."
Akane's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Naoki, you—" he began, his voice shaking with anger and embarrassment, but Naoki just laughed, clearly enjoying his younger brother's reaction.
Suon sighed heavily as he watched his youngest and middle sons bicker while his eldest calmly poured tea for him and his two younger brothers. As grateful as he was to have three sons, he felt uncertain about the prospect of marrying one of them off to his friend's child, especially if they discovered that Ranma was actually a boy, which he desperately hoped was not the case.
True, Saotome had not explicitly stated in any of his letters whether he had a son or a daughter; he only mentioned that his child was named Ranma. The name and kanji were predominantly associated with males, but Suon had heard of girls having similarly masculine names and kanji. However, to be fair, Suon had not directly told Saotome in any of his letters that all of his children were boys either.
He sincerely hoped that Ranma was, indeed, a biological girl so that he could fulfill his promise to Saotome of reuniting the two schools and carrying out the Anything Goes Martial Arts Techniques.
"There's no way I'm accepting and allowing this to happen to us!" Akane's voice cracked with frustration, his fists still clenched tightly.
Just then, a series of frantic screams echoed from a distance, growing louder and more urgent, pulling everyone's attention.
"That must be them!" Suon said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Oh, I wonder what she looks like?" Naoki mused aloud, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Suon, quick to act, rushed to the doorstep of the genkan almost immediately. Naoki followed closely, his pace just behind eager to catch a glimpse. Katsumi and Akane, though, were slower to move, taking cautious steps toward the door, still unsure about what was to come but still curious about who their guests were.
Akane couldn't suppress a low grumble of frustration, his thoughts consumed by the unfairness of the arranged marriage their father had thrust upon them. Why should I—or any of us—be forced into something like this? he thought bitterly. His mind wandered to the girl, Ranma, who surely wouldn't want this fate any more than he did. The whole situation felt like a burden none of them had asked for.
But before Katsumi and Akane reached their doorstep to get a good look at their new guests, Suon and Naoki, who had reached the doorstep first, suddenly turned and came rushing back inside, their faces a mixture of surprise, shock, and disbelief.
There stood a giant panda lumbering toward them, a young girl slung over its broad shoulder like a sack of rice as she continued to yell and struggle from the panda's iron grip.
Immediately, all three of the Tendou brothers gathered behind their father, eyes wide with confusion, shock, and fear as they stared at the giant panda coming inside their home.
"Dad, is this panda really your friend?" Katsumi asked, his voice laced with confusion as he tried to comprehend the situation.
Suon, still standing frozen in place, shook his head frantically, his eyes never leaving the animal coming into his home so casually. He seemed utterly stunned, unable to process the absurdity of the moment.
Naoki, less willing to let it slide, pointed an accusatory finger at the panda. "Then how come this panda just randomly waltzed into our house!"
They then notice the girl, who was slung over the panda's shoulder, began kicking her legs wildly, her arms flailing in all directions even harder as though she were fighting for her life, which she probably is. "Put me down, you old oaf! You're scaring them!" she shrieked, her voice piercing through their home.
The panda, seemingly unbothered by her furious protests, trudged forward before unceremoniously plopping her down in front of Soun and his three sons. The girl stumbled slightly as she landed on her feet, brushing her drenched pink hair out of her face with an exasperated sigh while she gave the panda a quick glare before returning her attention to the Tendous.
With a hesitant expression, he leaned in toward the girl, who smiled nervously as she looked up at the towering figures due to her short stature. "Are you... perhaps Ranma?" he asked hesitantly.
The girl—now clearly visible as short, pink-haired, and dressed in her usual martial arts attire far too loose for her small frame—looked up with an awkward grimace. Her cheeks flushed red as she scratched at her damp hair nervously. "Uh... I'm... Saotome Ranma," she mumbled reluctantly, barely meeting their astonished gazes. "Sorry 'bout this…" Her voice trailed off shyly, her embarrassment as clear as her slightly soaked covered clothes.
Suon gaped at the young girl, clearly unable to believe his eyes at her presence. "And... you're a girl..." He scanned the short redhead up and down repeatedly, almost as if he were making sure she was the real girl his friend had promised as she stood before him and not some sort of imposter.
Behind him, peeking over his father's shoulder, Naoki couldn't help but let out a low whistle, earning the redhead's attention and further deepening her growing discomfort. "Woah," he said, his wide-eyed stare fixed on her. "So Ranma is actually a she? I really thought Ranma was supposed to be a guy."
The redhead—Ranma—visibly squirmed under the weight of their collective stares, her expression shifting into a mix of embarrassment and irritation. Before she could snap back, a loud smack echoed through the room as Katsumi, lightly struck his younger brother on the back of the head.
"Naoki, don't be rude," Katsumi said firmly, though his tone was soft and patient, as always. He flashed his usual calm and welcoming smile at the redhead and the looming panda, who still stood silently behind her. Katsumi's demeanor remained unfazed despite their sudden and bizarre entrance. "She's our guest, after all."
Ranma shifted her weight awkwardly, her shoulders hunched as she tried to find words to explain herself. "Er… well… the thing is, I—"
Before she could get another word out, Soun suddenly surged forward, grabbing her in an overwhelming bear hug that completely lifted her off the ground. The redhead's eyes widened in alarm, her arms pinned to her sides as Soun began to sob dramatically into her shoulder, tears streaming down his face.
"Oh, I'm so glad my prayers have been answered!" Soun wailed, his booming voice echoing through the room. "Saotome's child really is a girl! Welcome to the family!" He clutched Ranma even tighter, as though afraid she might disappear if he let go.
"E-eh…?" Ranma stammered, her voice barely inaudible over Soun's dramatic sobbing, discomfort evident as she squirmed in his grip.
"I've been waiting for this moment since I got your father's postcard this morning!" Soun continued, completely ignoring her protests, his tears flowing freely like a waterfall.
"U-um..."
Akane, standing nearby, quickly noticed the visible distress on Ranma's face and decided to step in. "Daddy, stop that! You're scaring the poor girl!" he said sharply, stepping forward with a frown. He reached out, trying to intervene his father assaulted on the poor girl.
But before Akane could do anything, the redhead snapped her head up, her eyes flashing with irritation, which caused Akane to flinch slightly at her sudden glare. "Who are you calling a girl—woah!" Her words were cut off as Soun, seemingly oblivious, started ushering her toward the washitsu with surprising enthusiasm.
"Come, come, come this way, Ranma!" Soun said, gently but firmly pushing her along. "You must be starving after all that traveling, right?"
"Wait—hold on!" Ranma protested, her voice a mix of frustration and confusion as she stumbled slightly. "I'm not hungry! And I'm not—"
"Katsumi has just finished cooking lunch, and believe me, his cooking is absolutely divine!" Soun interjected enthusiastically, his tone dripping with pride from his eldest son's culinary skills.
"Oh, um... Thanks? But seriously, I—" Ranma attempted to respond, only to be cut off once again.
"And after that," Soun continued without missing a beat, "I'll let one of my sons show you around the house and dojo since you're still new here. It'll help you get familiar with your surroundings."
"..."
Ranma opened her mouth, seemingly ready to voice another protest, but at that moment, she sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping in defeat. The redhead gave up the fight, allowing herself to be guided along like a doll in the hands of the Tendou patriarch.
However, Akane, who had been watching the exchange with growing irritation, finally took action on his father's behavior. "Dad, stop pushing her! You're probably making her uncomfortable," he snapped as he placed a hand on his father's shoulder to halt his actions on forcibly pushing the redhead.
Soun blinked in surprise at his son's sudden intervention. "O-oh! I'm sorry," he mumbled, stepping back sheepishly.
Ranma glanced at Akane, offering a small, appreciative nod before brushing herself off. "Thanks," she muttered under her breath, clearly relieved to have a moment to herself.
Soun bounced right back into the conversation, but maintained a bit of distance to ensure the redhead felt comfortable. "You should really have a snack though! After returning from China, you must be exhausted from that journey."
Katsumi, who had been observing the exchange with his usual calm demeanor, added with a warm smile, "There's tea, rice crackers, and some onigiri I prepared earlier. Despite what Father claimed, lunch isn't quite ready yet, but feel free to have a snack and rest for a bit."
Ranma hesitated for a moment before quickly nodding, "…Okay. Thank you." she shyly replied at their hospitality.
As Suon guided the redhead girl to the washitsu of their home, Akane and his older brothers silently followed them. He couldn't help but stare at the small redhead back, who would soon be either their future sister-in-law or fiance, as she looked nervously around while trying to comprehend her surroundings. It didn't help his own nervousness that the panda seems to be following them.
"By the way, Ranma-san, where's your father?" Katsumi asked suddenly, breaking the silence with a calm but curious tone.
Ranma stiffened slightly, her nervousness briefly replaced by a flicker of hesitation. "Well… let's just say…" She paused, glancing over her shoulder at the panda following them. Her lips twitched as though suppressing a grimace. "He'll be here sooner or later," she muttered vaguely, her voice dripping with reluctance.
"What kind of father lets their daughter travel all the way here alone with just a pet?" Akane quipped, his tone laced with incredulity.
Soun gave a slight hum as he looked off into the distance from nostalgia. "Ah, Saotome has always been quite the self-sufficiency, you know. I'm sure he has his reasons." He nodded, not noticing the panda nodding along with him.
"Heh, that's for sure…" Ranma muttered under her breath, a flash of bitterness crossing her face. Memories of grueling training sessions and absurdly dangerous exercises her father had subjected her to came rushing back. Her lips curled into a faint scowl, but she said nothing more.
The faint tinkling of a wind chime echoed through the air as they stepped into the washitsu. Soun quickly ushered Ranma into a seat at the low table, the panda lumbered over and plopped itself on the tatami mat beside her. She cast it a wary glance, muttering under her breath, "You'd better not eat my share." The panda gave a low grunt as if to reassure her, though its presence still drew curious stares from the Tendou brothers.
Naoki, leaning casually on the balls of his palms, couldn't help but comment. "So… about that panda," he began, his tone laced with curiosity as he stared between the girl and the panda beside her. "Is it really your pet or…?"
Ranma's expression soured immediately, and she shot the panda a sharp glare. "You could say that," she replied tersely, clearly unwilling to elaborate further.
There were rice crackers, and neatly arranged onigiri had been set out to welcome their guests. Naoki and Akane exchanged curious glances as they sat across from the redhead and the panda. While Katsumi poured tea with a warm smile, the Tendou patriarch seemed blissfully unaware of the awkward air between the redhead and panda and their condition.
"So, Ranma-san," Soun began, his voice full of warmth, "I hope the journey wasn't too exhausting. Please, help yourself to some snacks."
Ranma blinked, her gaze shifting from the snacks to Soun, then to the brothers watching her intently. "Ah… thanks," she mumbled, reaching out for a rice cracker as the panda beside her began to casually sip the tea, much to the Tendou brothers' astonishment.
"Er, does your panda have any specific preferences when it comes to food or water?" Katsumi asked, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity as he watched the panda's unbothered behavior.
"Nah, he mostly eats the same stuff my old man and I do," Ranma responded nonchalantly, brushing off the question. "Why do ya ask?"
"Oh, just curiosity, that's all," Katsumi replied with a sheepish smile, glancing at his brothers, who were equally bewildered by the sight of the panda sipping tea like a regular guest.
"Well then, Ranma, I'd like you to meet my three sons," Soun announced proudly, gesturing toward the young men seated across from the redhead and the panda.
"This is my eldest son, Katsumi, 19 years old," he began, motioning toward the composed young man on his right. Katsumi gave a polite nod and smiled.
"My second son, Naoki, 17 years old," he continued, motioning to the slightly unkempt hair and relaxed posture of the boy beside Katsumi as he flashed a casual grin and gave a lazy wave to Ranma.
"And lastly, my youngest, Akane, 16 years old," Soun finished with a nod toward the quiet boy who displayed mild awkwardness at the whole situation and gave a curt nod.
Ranma shifted uncomfortably in her seat, clearly overwhelmed by the introductions. "Uh…" she stammered, her cheeks tinged with pink. Before she could gather her thoughts, the panda sitting beside her abruptly raised a paw and lightly smacked her on the back of the head, as if prompting her to speak. The sudden action startled her, causing a vein to pop in her forehead, and Ranma retaliated by delivering a swift punch to the panda's side. To everyone's amazement, the punch barely fazed the panda, though it did elicit a sound from the panda that was akin to a groan.
The redhead glanced around the room, realizing that all eyes were on her. She quickly bowed her head in an attempt to regain her composure. "Once again, my name is Saotome Ranma. I'm 16 years old. Nice to meet you…"
Before she could finish, Soun interrupted with an enthusiastic clap of his hands. "Wonderful! Now, Ranma-chan, please choose any of my sons to be your husband!"
"What?!" Ranma's head snapped up, her face now in disbelief as she stared at Soun in absolute shock.
Akane shot up from his seat, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Dad! Are you still going on about that?!"
"But of course!" Soun replied matter-of-factly. "One of you three will eventually inherit the dojo, and combining the Anything Goes Martial Arts techniques with Ranma-chan's school will ensure the future of our family's legacy!"
"That's not the point!" Akane retorted, his voice rising in exasperation. "We can't just decide something like that without asking her opinion! Besides, this isn't the feudal era, Dad!"
Soun, unbothered by his son's protest, calmly replied, "Nevertheless, this is a promise between Saotome and me—a promise to unite our two schools of Anything Goes Martial Arts."
"We still can't do that!" Akane snapped, slamming his hands on the table. "You're treating her like some prize to be handed out!"
Before the argument could escalate further, the sound of a loud slam on the table echoed through the room. All heads turned to the source, where the short redhead sat glaring at them, her hands flat on the table and her blue eyes blazing with irritation.
"Can I please have a say in this now?" Ranma interjected sharply, her voice cutting through the tension. "Listen, I'm not marrying anyone! If I ever get married, it's going to be to someone I like, not because of some dumb arrangement. Besides, I don't even know any of you—except for my old man knowing you, sir."
Soun, undeterred, folded his arms and replied with a grin, "That can be easily fixed by getting to know my sons."
Ranma's irritated expression quickly shifted to one of nervousness that didn't go unnoticed by Akane as he observed her as she hesitate, her voice trailing off. "I hate to break it to you, sir, but I'm actually a—" She was cut off by the loud rumble of her stomach, the sound echoing through the room.
Katsumi, noticing the shift in the atmosphere, smiled gently at the redhead. "I think it's high time for lunch to be ready," he said, his voice calm and reassuring as he began to stand.
Ranma blushed, clearly embarrassed by her stomach's betrayal.
"Er… thank you," Ranma mumbled, feeling her face heat up.
Soun then raised a curious eyebrow. "So, Ranma, will Saotome be joining us for lunch? And, um... what about your panda?" He gestured toward the panda, who was still sipping tea calmly, as though it were part of the normal conversation.
Ranma turned her gaze toward the panda, who had been quietly observing the exchange. She sighed, her irritation returning as she crossed her arms. "Don't sweat it. You can give my old man's share to the panda. He'll probably be stuffed by the time he gets here," she muttered underneath her breath as she glared at the beast beside her.
Katsumi raised an eyebrow, confused by the strange exchange at play, but nodded in acknowledgment. "Alright," he said, still slightly perplexed by the situation. "I'll make sure there's enough for everyone."
While Katsumi headed to the kitchen to prepare the food for lunch, Akane noticed the redhead sitting across from him, nervously fidgeting in her seat. "Hey," Akane began with a gentle smile, "after lunch, I can show you around the house while you wait for your father."
Ranma hesitated for a moment, looking uncertain. "Er, it's okay. I don't really mind..." she replied, her voice trailing off.
"Nonsense," Akane insisted, his smile widening. "You're our guest, so as the hosts, we should at least try to entertain you." His tone was light and friendly, trying to ease her discomfort.
Ranma glanced up at him as she gave him a reluctant but appreciative smile. "Well... okay. Thanks."
As the two teenagers exchanged words, Naoki couldn't help but sneer at the interaction. "Wow, Akane. Already making your move to charm her? That's a pretty bold move, little brother."
"Shut it, Naoki!" Akane snapped, which caused both teens' cheeks to flush as Akane whirled around to glare at his older brother. "I'm not trying to put the moves on her! I'm just showing her around the house!"
"Sure, sure," Naoki teased with a sly grin. "Who knew spring had finally come for our little Akane."
"Naoki!" Akane growled, his face burning with embarrassment as he clenched his fists in frustration.
Before their bickering could escalate any further, Katsumi emerged from the kitchen, carrying a large pot. "Lunch is being served, so would you two please keep it down?" he said, setting the pot down at the table with practiced ease immediately defusing the tension between his two younger brothers.
"Oh, are we having sukiyaki?" Soun asked, perking up at the sight of the pot.
"Yup," Katsumi replied with a nod. "I hope you and your panda friend like it, Ranma."
Ranma glanced at the pot, the rich smell making her stomach growl softly. She smiled, giving the older Tendou brother a thumbs-up. "Don't worry. I like any type of food," she said cheerfully.
The panda sitting right next to her gave an approving grunt, clearly just as eager to dig in as everyone else.
Naoki smirked, leaning in his younger brother as he jabbed his shoulder to his side. "Well, at least she's easy to please, huh? Akane, maybe you should take notes. You might actually have a chance if you learn to cook like Katsumi even though you suck as hell at cooking."
"Knock it off, Naoki!" Akane hissed, his face flushing red again.
As Katsumi disappeared into the kitchen again to grab the plates, bowls, and chopsticks for each of the people sitting at the table, the two brothers continued their bickering. Ranma couldn't help but feel a little flustered as she was forced to listen to their constant back-and-forth about her like she wasn't even there, to begin with.
Not long after, the eldest of the Tendou brothers reappeared, balancing the plates, bowls, and chopsticks carefully as he made his way to the table. As the brunette placed each bowl, plate, and set of chopsticks in front of the people seated around the table, but as soon as he reached Ranma, he leaned in slightly and whispered, his tone apologetic, "I'm sorry about them," as he set down the plate, bowl, and chopsticks meant for her.
Ranma glanced up at him, her lips curving into a faint grin. "It's okay," she replied casually. "I'm used to bickering and arguing at the dinner table. Back on the road, my old man would always take away my side dishes, and we'd have to fight back to back just to eat. It was basically a form of training, but I'm sure it was just a disguise so my pops could have an excuse to eat my share of the meal."
Katsumi's eyebrows raised in surprise. "That must have been tough," he commented, a note of sympathy in his voice.
Ranma shrugged, her expression returning to its usual calm. "Well, it's the life of a martial artist, after all," she said matter-of-factly, as though the explanation alone should make sense.
Katsumi chuckled lightly. "I guess you're right. But still, you and Mr. Saotome could stand to learn some manners."
Ranma snorted, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Tough luck," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "My old man would just argue back, saying, 'If you don't want me to take it, then don't leave it out in front of me!'" She mimicked her father's gruff voice, which, for some odd reason, caused the panda to elicit a sharp smack on her head from the large panda sitting at the table. Ranma flinched, glaring at the culprit.
"Oh, shut it, furball!" she snapped, crossing her arms and giving the panda a defiant look. "You know I'm right!"
Katsumi could only stare at the bizarre scene before muffling a chuckle at the sight of the fiery redhead arguing with the seemingly smug panda. The absurdity of the situation was almost too much to process, but he managed to compose himself before drawing too much attention.
With a soft sigh and a faint smile still lingering on his lips, Katsumi returned to his original seat beside his brother. The Tendo family, along with their two guests, began to dig into the lunch Katsumi had thoughtfully prepared.
