Lunch break had arrived, and the once calm hallway outside the classroom was now filled with the bustling chatter of students. For most, it was a time to relax and enjoy the midday break, but for Shampoo, it was an entirely different experience.
As soon as the bell rang, the girls from her class had surrounded her, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and interest. Shampoo stood in the middle of the circle, still adjusting to the attention but doing her best to maintain her poise. She had become the center of attention almost instantly, a mix of admiration and intrigue swirling around her.
"Shampoo, you're so cool! I love your hair!" One of the girls gushed, running her fingers through her own shorter, dark locks, wishing for the same long, flowing purple strands.
Another girl added, "You have such a unique style. Do you want to hang out with us after school?"
Shampoo felt a warm sense of pride bubble inside her. This is easy, she thought, but then, her attention was drawn to two familiar faces approaching from the edge of the crowd.
Sayuri and Yuka, two of Akane's closest friends, pushed through the throng of girls with smiles on their faces. They had noticed Shampoo from the very first moment she walked into the classroom.
"Hi, Shampoo! I'm Sayuri, and this is Yuka," Sayuri said brightly, extending a hand to Shampoo. "We've heard so much about you! You're so popular already, huh?"
Yuka nodded enthusiastically, her smile wide. "Akane's been telling us all about you! It's great to finally meet you."
Shampoo tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. They know Akane, she thought, but her face remained composed. She took Sayuri's hand and gave a gentle bow. "Ni hao... I am Shampoo. You are friends with Akane?"
"Yes, we are," Yuka replied, giving her a knowing look. "We've been friends with Akane for a long time. She talks about you sometimes, though not always in the nicest way…"
Shampoo's expression remained neutral, but her posture stiffened. Akane, she thought with a smirk. She never likes me around.
"Ah, don't worry!" Sayuri interrupted, sensing the slight tension. "Akane's just protective, but I'm sure you'll get along. We should all hang out more! Maybe we can go shopping after school?"
The group of girls surrounding Shampoo grew even more enthusiastic, agreeing to the suggestion. Shampoo, never one to turn down an opportunity to gain more admirers, smiled warmly. "Yes, I like shopping," she said, her voice as sweet as ever.
But in the back of the crowd, Akane watched, a bitter feeling rising in her chest. She didn't like how easily Shampoo had slipped into their group, how quickly everyone seemed to be fawning over her. Akane had worked hard to establish her place here, and now, Shampoo's sudden popularity seemed like an affront to everything she had worked for. She clenched her fists at her sides.
Across the schoolyard, Ryoga was sitting alone under a tree, his head buried in his arms. He didn't want to be here. He had been feeling out of sorts lately, his emotions all tangled up. Out of all people, why is Shampoo here?! he thought with frustration. Why does she have to show up now?
Ryoga had always struggled with his feelings for Akane. Every time he saw her, his heart raced, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy when she was around Ranma. Akane's mine, he thought, his grip tightening on his bag. I won't let that idiot Ranma get to her.
But now, Shampoo's presence only made everything worse. What's she doing here, trying to take over everything? Ryoga thought bitterly, watching her as she chatted with Akane's friends and drawing even more attention. She's always so confident, so sure of herself, and I can't stand it.
The anger boiled in him. She doesn't belong here. This is my chance to get closer to Akane, not hers. Ryoga stood up abruptly, his fists clenched, his gaze fixed on Shampoo. But before he could take another step, he heard the bell signaling the end of lunch. The students began to shuffle back to class, and Shampoo's group of admirers dispersed.
Back in the lunch crowd, Shampoo was beginning to grow a bit uncomfortable with the attention. She was used to being admired, but there was something about this group of girls that felt... different. They seemed so eager, almost desperate for her approval, and Shampoo wasn't sure how she felt about that.
As she glanced over at Ranma, who was sitting with Akane across the courtyard, she caught his eye for just a moment. He looked... angry, but that wasn't anything new. He was always angry when she was around. But this time, something was different. Was it jealousy? She couldn't tell.
She found herself smiling as her thoughts drifted to the way he glared at her in class. Ranma's so cute when he's frustrated.
Akane was still watching the scene from across the yard, and when she saw Shampoo glance over at Ranma, the knot in her stomach tightened. Why is she always looking at him? she wondered, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. What is she trying to prove?
Shampoo's eyes had met hers for a brief second, and Akane felt the heat rise to her face. She knew the look Shampoo had given her wasn't meant to be friendly. She's trying to get under my skin... Akane thought, but she quickly shook it off, deciding that she wasn't going to let Shampoo get the best of her.
Meanwhile, as the group of girls finally dispersed to head to their respective lunch tables, Shampoo's gaze lingered on Ranma and Akane. She couldn't help herself—there was something about the way they interacted that intrigued her. The tension between them was palpable, and it made Shampoo curious.
Maybe there's more to this than I thought, she mused with a sly smile. This could be fun.
As she turned to leave, Sayuri and Yuka followed, still talking excitedly about the plans for later. Shampoo couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Things are going exactly how I want them.