Two weeks had passed since the intense fight with Akane, and Shampoo's reputation had skyrocketed. She walked through the school halls, her confident stride unmistakable. Whispers followed her wherever she went—"She's the strongest girl in the school!" and "The queen of the school." It didn't take long for Shampoo to rise to the top, with her fierce demeanor and impressive strength making her a force to be reckoned with.
The boys in the school watched her with admiration (and fear), no longer just enamored with her beauty, but also respecting her power. The girls, too, began to look at her differently. While some admired her confidence, others tried to keep their distance, wary of the force she had become.
Shampoo couldn't help but enjoy the attention, though she didn't let it get to her head. She still had her sights set on Ranma, of course, but part of her felt a strange sense of pride in how she had become the center of attention, more so than Akane had ever been.
At lunch, Shampoo sat at the same table with Sayuri and Yuka, who had become her new friends. They giggled as they chatted, watching the boys from a distance, their eyes filled with admiration for Shampoo. She had become their leader of sorts, the one who commanded respect and attention effortlessly.
"That guy from the gym," Yuka said, nudging Shampoo. "Ryoga, was it? He's been looking at you again today. What's going on with that?"
Shampoo blinked, her expression unreadable for a moment. "Ryoga? Hmph, Pig-boy," she muttered, waving a hand dismissively, though a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips. He looks at me like I'm some puzzle he can't solve, she thought, though she'd never say it aloud. She wasn't sure why it bothered her, but part of her felt oddly drawn to him.
Sayuri, ever the gossip, leaned in, her voice lowered. "You know, there are rumors going around that he has a crush on you. Ever thought about it?"
Shampoo raised an eyebrow, her playful smile never faltering. "Why would Pig-boy like Shampoo?" she replied, her voice teasing. "Shampoo is too strong for him."
But deep down, Shampoo wondered if it was true. Ryoga had been acting strange around her, and that made her curious in a way she wasn't used to. It wasn't like her to second-guess herself, but the more she thought about him, the more she couldn't shake the feeling that he might be... different from the other boys.
Meanwhile, Ryoga had been keeping his distance from Shampoo. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. He was still bothered by the way she'd teased him earlier, and how she seemed to effortlessly move between her cold, distant attitude and her playful, unpredictable nature. Despite his internal struggles, he couldn't stop thinking about her, a nagging feeling creeping in every time he saw her from afar.
The next day at school, as Shampoo walked through the hallway with her usual confident air, she caught sight of Ryoga leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. He didn't say anything to her, but his eyes were fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
For a moment, Shampoo paused, her gaze meeting his, and she smirked. "Pig-boy," she said, walking past him with her usual nonchalance.
But Ryoga didn't move. He stood there, his gaze following her as she walked by, his thoughts swirling. What is it about her?
The bell for the passing period rang, and as students rushed from one class to the next, Shampoo caught sight of Ryoga from across the hall. She flashed him a mischievous smile, one that she knew would catch his attention. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched him pause for a moment, as if unsure of how to react.
Ryoga's expression shifted between confusion and frustration as he walked past her, not acknowledging her smile but feeling the weight of her gaze lingering on him. Shampoo was unpredictable, and that only made her more intriguing. He couldn't deny that part of him was curious about her, despite how much he wanted to avoid it.
As soon as he left the hallway, he overheard a group of boys talking excitedly. "Hey, Ryoga, is it true you and Shampoo are a thing?" one of the boys asked, giving him a knowing smirk.
Ryoga froze, his frustration mounting. "No! We're not a thing!" he snapped, walking faster, eager to escape the conversation.
Before Ryoga could make it out of the school gates, he found himself face-to-face with Kuno, who was standing in front of the school, his expression one of determination. "Ryoga!" Kuno shouted, his voice booming. "You're a disgrace to all men! How dare you be near Shampoo! I challenge you to a fight! The battle for her affections begins now!"
Ryoga's eyes narrowed as he stared at Kuno. He had no interest in fighting over Shampoo with someone like Kuno, but the challenge had already been made, and he wasn't going to back down. He gave Kuno a sidelong glance, his irritation clear. "I'm not in the mood for this, Kuno. I don't care about Shampoo that way, but if you want a fight, I'll give you one."
Without a word, Ryoga walked away, hoping to leave Kuno behind. But Kuno, not one to be easily discouraged, quickly followed him, determined to prove his superiority. "You can't just walk away from a challenge, Ryoga!" Kuno shouted, his voice full of pride.
Ryoga gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. He turned sharply, his fist landing squarely in Kuno's stomach with a force that sent Kuno stumbling backward, gasping for air. "I told you to stop following me," Ryoga muttered under his breath, his annoyance evident.
The boys who had gathered around to watch cheered, amazed at the sight. "Did you see that?" one of them shouted. "Ryoga's the strongest boy in the school, you know!"
Another boy chimed in, his voice excited. "He even beat Shampoo in a fight before! I bet he can take down Kuno easily!"
Ryoga, breathing heavily from the fight, shot them all a look of irritation. "That's enough," he said coldly, turning and walking away again, this time not even glancing back at Kuno or the crowd.
As he walked off, Ryoga couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. The boys' cheers echoed in his head, but they didn't make him feel triumphant. Why do they care so much? he wondered. And more than that, he couldn't shake the thought of Shampoo's smile earlier. What was it about her that had gotten under his skin?
Shampoo's footsteps got faster as she quickly followed Ryoga, calling out with a playful smirk, "Pig-boy!" Her voice carried through the air, laced with both teasing and a hint of challenge.
Ryoga paused for a moment, his shoulders tensing, but he didn't turn around. He knew who it was without even needing to look. Shampoo, he thought, sighing inwardly. What now?
Shampoo caught up to him, her pace quick and determined. She leaned in slightly, a mischievous grin still on her face. "Pig-boy!" she repeated, this time a little louder. "You beat Kuno. Not bad for a pig."
Ryoga stiffened at her words, but he didn't show much emotion outwardly. "I'm not a pig," he muttered, his frustration evident in his tone, though he didn't face her.
Shampoo narrowed her eyes playfully, stepping in front of him to block his path. "What's the matter, Pig-boy? Are you mad?" she teased, folding her arms over her chest.
Ryoga's eyes flickered with annoyance, but he refused to engage further. "I don't have time for this," he grumbled, trying to step around her.
But Shampoo was persistent. She stepped to the side, keeping herself in front of him, not allowing him to walk past. "You look mad, Pig-boy. Is it because you don't like when I call you that?"
Ryoga's patience was thinning quickly. "What do you want, Shampoo?" he snapped, his eyes now meeting hers, the tension between them thickening.
Shampoo smirked, her hands on her hips as she looked him up and down. "Maybe... maybe I like seeing you mad. It makes you interesting, Pig-boy," she teased, her tone light and playful, though there was a spark of something deeper in her eyes.
Ryoga couldn't understand why Shampoo had such an effect on him. She was so unpredictable, so bold—he couldn't shake the feeling that she was always one step ahead of him. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying to maintain his composure. "Why are you so... infuriating?" he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to her.
Shampoo, hearing his words, tilted her head slightly, her grin widening. "Infuriating? I think you like it, Pig-boy." Her eyes gleamed with teasing delight. "Maybe you don't want to admit it, but you're starting to care."
Ryoga's face flushed, though he tried to hide it by looking away. Why does she always have to say things like that? he thought, gritting his teeth in frustration.
Shampoo didn't give him a chance to respond. Instead, she gave him a sly wink and stepped aside, allowing him to continue walking. "You're lucky I don't feel like bothering you more today. But next time, Pig-boy..." She paused for a moment, letting her words hang in the air. "...Maybe I'll make it more interesting."
Ryoga, not knowing how to respond, walked away quickly, his face still red from their exchange. Why is she always like that? he wondered. And why does it bother me so much?
Shampoo watched him walk off with a satisfied smile, knowing she'd gotten under his skin once again. "Pig-boy... So cute when he's frustrated," she muttered to herself, before turning back toward the school with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
As Shampoo walked home, her steps were light and filled with confidence, the usual spring in her step. Her thoughts were on the small victory she'd just had with Ryoga, and she couldn't help but smile at how easily she had teased him. It had become a bit of a game, one that she was quite enjoying.
However, as she reflected on the exchange, a thought struck her suddenly. "Pig-boy... So cute when he's frustrated." The words echoed in her mind, and she stopped mid-step, blinking in realization.
Did Shampoo really say that? Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she thought about her careless comment. Cute? she repeated mentally. Since when did Shampoo think about Ryoga?
She placed a hand on her forehead, feeling an unfamiliar rush of heat spreading across her face. No! It's just... slip of the tongue! That's all it was! she tried to convince herself, but it didn't make her feel any less embarrassed.
Shampoo shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. What's wrong with me? I'm just messing with him, that's all. There's no reason to—
But even as she tried to dismiss it, a part of her couldn't help but replay the way Ryoga had reacted to her saying he cared: how he'd looked flustered, how he couldn't seem to shake her off, and how his frustration had made her feel... something.
She sighed deeply, glancing up at the sky as if searching for an answer. This is getting ridiculous, she thought, but then she quickly tried to convince herself. It's just that Shampoo like getting under his skin. Nothing more.
Still, the blush didn't fade, and the unease lingered. It was an odd feeling for Shampoo, who was usually so certain about everything—especially when it came to Ryoga. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this way, and it made her a bit uncomfortable.
Shampoo grumbled to herself, frustrated. She needed to shake this off. I'm just messing with him. Nothing more. But even as she told herself that, she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than she was willing to admit.