Shampoo was scrubbing the counter at the Cat Café, working diligently as she often did. Cologne, ever the schemer, had been watching her for a while, tapping her cane rhythmically against the floor. The old woman seemed amused by something, a plan brewing in her mind.
"Shampoo," Cologne began, her voice cutting through the quiet of the café, "I've got news for you. You're going to a new school next week."
Shampoo froze mid-swipe, looking up at her great-grandmother. "What?" she asked, not sure she'd heard correctly. "Shampoo no want go to school! Too boring."
Cologne's smile was patient but sly. "You're going. It'll do you good. You've spent too much time working here. You need to broaden your horizons."
Shampoo looked uncertain. She enjoyed the quiet life of the café, and the thought of being surrounded by strangers was intimidating. "But why school?" she muttered. "Shampoo not know these people. They no like Shampoo."
Cologne didn't seem to share the same hesitation. "You'll be fine. Trust me. This will be a good opportunity for you to learn new things and meet new people. And who knows? You might make a few friends."
Shampoo was still uneasy, but Cologne's determination was not to be argued with. The matter was decided.
The following Monday, Shampoo stood at the gates of her new high school, staring at the large, imposing structure in front of her. Cologne, ever confident, marched ahead without a second thought, while Shampoo trailed behind, her mind racing.
As they walked onto the school grounds, the sounds of students chatting and laughing abruptly stopped. Shampoo glanced up in confusion, sensing the sudden shift in energy. She could feel the weight of hundreds of eyes on her, some curious, some openly stunned. It was as if the air had thickened, and the entire school had just collectively paused.
Shampoo's steps faltered for a moment. The attention was overwhelming. She could hear whispers ripple through the crowd, but she couldn't make out the words. Cologne, noticing her granddaughter's discomfort, gave a knowing smile but didn't say a word.
"This way," Cologne said, leading Shampoo through the courtyard. As they passed by, groups of boys were openly gawking at Shampoo's beauty. Their eyes widened, and their jaws dropped. Some even stumbled over their words.
Shampoo stood out in the sea of uniformed students. Her appearance, a striking mix of Amazonian grace and foreign allure, caught everyone's attention. Her sharp eyes, the vibrant purple hair, and the delicate but confident way she carried herself made it clear that she was not like the other girls.
Some of the students couldn't help but stare. A few of the boys tried to approach her, murmuring among themselves about how "different" she looked. Shampoo, uncomfortable but not easily shaken, simply ignored them and continued walking with Cologne.
They reached the main office, and after a brief exchange with the staff, Shampoo was handed her schedule. Cologne gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Remember, you're here to learn. Don't get distracted by the noise," she advised.
Shampoo nodded but didn't respond, her mind still swirling with the unfamiliarity of the situation.
The school gates loomed ahead, bustling with students chatting and rushing to class, but when Shampoo and Cologne walked through them, everything seemed to slow down. The students froze, taking in Shampoo's vibrant purple hair, exotic appearance, and the confident yet mysterious air she carried with her. They stared in awe, even whispering to each other, but Shampoo ignored them, her eyes fixed ahead as she followed Cologne into the school.
Cologne looked over at Shampoo, the playful gleam in her eyes matching the soft grin on her face. "Remember, Shampoo, this is an important step. This is your chance to show them what you're capable of. Make a good impression."
Shampoo nodded, but her nervousness was starting to bubble beneath the surface. She wasn't used to this much attention, even if she had experienced it before. She glanced at her great-grandmother. Focus, Shampoo, she thought. You're here for a reason.
As they entered the building, Cologne led Shampoo through the corridors, and the murmurs began again. The boys whispered eagerly, already taken by Shampoo's appearance, while some of the girls looked at her with curiosity. Despite being new, Shampoo was already the talk of the school.
In the classroom, Ranma and Akane sat side by side, their conversation cutting off abruptly as the door swung open.
"Everyone, we have a new student today. Please give her a warm welcome," the teacher announced with a smile.
Shampoo entered the room, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar faces, but her gaze landed on two familiar ones. Ranma and Akane sat at the front, and Shampoo couldn't help but smile inwardly.
"Ni hao... my name is Shampoo," she said in slightly broken Japanese, giving a polite bow. The accent was thick, and some of the words were slurred, but her effort was sincere.
Ranma's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened in disbelief. No way... He had hoped he wouldn't run into her again, but here she was, right in his class. Shampoo, the girl he'd faced countless times before. His mind began to race with thoughts of all their past encounters—every time she had come after him, trying to marry him or fight him. He could barely process it before Akane's voice cut through the silence.
Akane's smile faltered as she glanced at Shampoo. She recognized her immediately, and the simmering frustration that had been building for months bubbled to the surface. Why is she here? Akane thought, clenching her fists under the desk. I've had enough of her showing up uninvited...
Shampoo's eyes briefly met Akane's. She saw the tension there but couldn't care less. She was used to being met with jealousy. After all, she was the one everyone always seemed to talk about. I won't let her stop me, Shampoo thought, giving Akane a slight, almost teasing smirk.
"Shampoo, you can sit next to Ranma," the teacher said, giving a small nod to the seat beside him. The class was still silent, staring in awe at the new girl.
Shampoo's feet moved almost mechanically, as though guided by some invisible force, her eyes never leaving Ranma's frozen face. She took her seat next to him, noticing his awkward posture, and for a brief moment, she let a grin slip across her face.
Ranma shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly trying not to make eye contact. Why does she have to sit next to me? he thought desperately. This is going to be a nightmare.
Akane, sitting just behind them, gritted her teeth, feeling a strange mixture of annoyance and jealousy. She watched as Shampoo took her seat and could practically feel the tension radiating from Ranma. I can't believe she's back.
Shampoo, as if sensing Akane's discomfort, couldn't help but tease a little. "Ni hao, Ranma," she said sweetly, making sure to emphasize his name in a way that only she could. Her playful tone rang in his ears, making him shift again, though he was careful not to show too much reaction. Just get through the day, Ranma.
The lesson began, but the atmosphere was far from normal. Ranma couldn't stop glancing at Shampoo out of the corner of his eye, while Akane's gaze was focused on the two of them. Shampoo's presence filled the room with an electric tension, and every student in the class seemed to be aware of it. The boys whispered and tried to sneak peeks at her, their attention divided between her exotic beauty and her foreign charm.
During the break, a few boys gathered outside the classroom, already talking excitedly about Shampoo. Some whispered about her odd accent, others about her pretty face. She's cute, one of them murmured. I bet we can get her attention.
Shampoo overheard snippets of their conversation, and though she pretended to ignore it, she couldn't help but feel a little smug. This is too easy, she thought.
But as soon as a couple of the boys tried to approach her, they were met with a sudden, fierce glare. Shampoo stood tall, hands on her hips, her posture demanding respect. The boys hesitated, then quickly retreated, unwilling to face her wrath.
As the school day wound down, Kuno, who had been silently observing from the back, finally stood up, his usual flair making a dramatic entrance. "Ah! A new beauty enters our school! Shampoo, my dear! I, Kuno, shall claim your heart!" he declared.
Shampoo's eyes narrowed. This one's trouble, she thought, already sizing him up. She was used to attention, but Kuno was an entirely different kind of fool.
Before she could respond, Ranma—who had been trying to ignore everything—finally snapped. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.
Akane couldn't hold back a laugh, though her expression was tinged with jealousy. Is this what I have to look forward to now? she thought bitterly. Another guy going after Shampoo…