Shampoo walked home that evening with an innocent smile on her face, greeting the people she passed as she made her way down the street. Her steps were light, her head held high. To the casual observer, she was just another cheerful girl, content with the world around her. But in her mind, things were much more complicated.
Akane… she thought, her smile never faltering as she walked. The girl who thinks she's the best, always stealing attention and getting all the praise. She's not even that strong. Shampoo's smile widened as she thought of the rivalry that was beginning to form between them. She won't be a problem for long.
Her gaze drifted towards the school, a small, mischievous glint in her eyes. Shampoo had always gotten what she wanted. And right now, she wanted something very specific: Ranma.
Ranma... the name echoed in her mind as she pictured him, with that arrogant smile and the way he looked at her. He had no interest in her, at least not yet. But Shampoo was patient, and she knew exactly how to win him over. I'll make him fall for me. I'll make him forget all about Akane.
She thought back to their interactions, remembering the way Ranma had looked at her earlier that day. There had been something there—something she could exploit. She could see the way he seemed distracted by her presence, the way his gaze lingered a little too long.
But Akane… Shampoo's thoughts shifted again, and her eyes narrowed. She's the obstacle. If I want Ranma, I'll need to get rid of her somehow. She's always so close to him. Always in his way.
An idea began to form in Shampoo's mind, something sneaky. Make her angry. Make her jealous. She had seen the way Akane reacted when Shampoo got attention, how easily Akane's temper flared. It would be easy to push her buttons.
Shampoo's lips curled into a sly grin. I can make her think Ranma's interested in me. I'll flirt, I'll tease, and I'll take every chance to get under her skin. And once she's angry enough, Ranma will see it. He'll see who truly deserves his attention.
She let out a soft chuckle to herself as she continued down the street, the plan beginning to take shape in her mind. She would make Akane's life difficult, make her question everything. And through all of it, Ranma would be there—watching, seeing Shampoo for the woman she truly was.
As she neared the cat cafe, her steps slowed, and her thoughts turned back to Ryoga. He's an obstacle too. Ryoga seemed to have feelings for Akane, but Shampoo didn't see him as a threat. I can deal with him later. He'll be useful for making Akane more frustrated.
Shampoo arrived at the cafe and entered, where Cologne was waiting for her, watching her closely.
"How was your day, Shampoo?" Cologne asked, her voice calm but with an underlying curiosity.
Shampoo's innocent smile returned as she slid into a seat at the table. "It was good. Lots of new friends. Some boys staring at me too." She giggled, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "But I think it's time to make things more interesting. Akane can't stay in the way forever."
Cologne raised an eyebrow. "I see. Be careful, Shampoo. You can't let your emotions cloud your judgment. Akane is no fool, and neither is Ranma. They're both stronger than they appear."
Shampoo's grin widened, a sharp edge to it. "I know. But I'm better. I'll make them see that. I'll make Ranma see that I'm the one he's meant to be with. And Akane will be out of the picture. Trust me, Grandma. I have this under control."
Cologne sighed, though there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Just don't let your pride blind you, Shampoo. You might find things don't always go as planned."
Shampoo leaned back in her chair, her thoughts already far ahead of her. Ryoga… Akane… you won't stand in my way for long.
The morning sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow across the room. Shampoo had already woken up early—she was never one to waste time. Today, she had a plan, and it was important that everything went just as she imagined. She quickly got dressed in her school uniform, the fabric neat and crisp, and styled her hair into the familiar purple pigtails. The style was a signature look for her, and it always got attention.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Today's going to be fun, she thought to herself. She had agreed to walk with Sayuri and Yuka—two of Akane's classmates—to school. It was all part of her plan. By walking with them, Shampoo would make sure Akane saw her surrounded by other girls. She knew Akane could be a bit possessive, especially when it came to Ranma. Shampoo was going to use that to her advantage.
She grabbed her bag and quickly made her way downstairs, where Cologne was preparing tea. The elderly woman didn't say much, only offering a small nod of approval as Shampoo left the house. "Be careful, Shampoo. You don't want to start a war you can't finish."
Shampoo's grin widened. "Don't worry, Grandma. I've got everything under control."
At school, Shampoo found Sayuri and Yuka waiting outside the gates, chatting excitedly as they looked up at her. Shampoo's presence instantly drew the attention of the nearby boys, but she kept her focus on the two girls in front of her.
"Good morning!" Shampoo greeted them, her voice cheerful, but with a hint of something more calculated beneath the surface. "Shampoo walk with you today."
Sayuri and Yuka looked delighted. "Of course, Shampoo! We're happy you're joining us," Yuka said, beaming.
Shampoo linked arms with them, intentionally positioning herself so she was in the middle, drawing attention from everyone around them. As they walked, Shampoo made sure to laugh a little louder than necessary, tossing her hair and glancing at Akane whenever she could. The plan was simple: make sure Akane saw her walking with other girls. Make her wonder why Ranma's attention seemed to shift so easily.
When they reached the school gates, Shampoo spotted Akane not far away, standing with Ranma. Her eyes twinkled with a mixture of amusement and challenge. Akane had caught sight of her and immediately looked irritated.
Just as I thought. Shampoo kept her smile bright, though she knew Akane would be fuming inside. Akane was used to being the center of attention, especially when it came to Ranma. But now Shampoo was taking that place, even if it was just for a moment.
"Ni hao, Akane!" Shampoo called out cheerfully as she continued walking with Sayuri and Yuka, making sure to lean a little closer to them as they passed by. "I'm walking with new friends today. Maybe you should try it sometime."
Akane's frown deepened, her fists clenching at her sides. Shampoo could see her irritation building, just like she had planned. But the best part was yet to come.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. As Shampoo walked into the classroom, she noticed Ranma glancing in her direction. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Shampoo felt a small thrill of victory. Ranma's gaze lingered just a little too long, and Shampoo knew she had his attention.
Akane, who was sitting next to Ranma, noticed immediately and stiffened. She glanced between the two, her jaw set with frustration. Shampoo couldn't help but smirk inwardly. This is just the beginning.
As Shampoo took her seat, she saw Akane's eyes narrow at her, but Shampoo ignored her. Instead, she casually flipped her hair over her shoulder and glanced at Ranma. She knew Akane would be watching. She would be the one to feel the pressure.
The rest of the day would be full of opportunities for Shampoo to continue her little game. She'd flirt, she'd tease, and she'd make sure to always keep Ranma's attention just on the edge of Akane's reach.
Let the games begin. Shampoo smiled to herself as she sat back in her chair, ready to watch Akane's jealousy grow.
me, and Shampoo was ready to play the game until the very end.