Ryoga's eyes wandered around Shampoo's room as he waited, his curiosity piqued. His gaze landed on a framed picture on the wall, one that he hadn't noticed before. It depicted a beautiful woman with long, purple hair. The resemblance to Shampoo was striking—almost identical. Beside her stood a man with white hair and piercing red eyes. He was holding two baby girls in his arms, their expressions peaceful, innocent.
The woman was sitting on a chair, a gentle smile on her face as she held a young girl—about six years old—on her lap. The girl, with long purple hair and wide, innocent eyes, was unmistakably Shampoo. Ryoga stared at the picture for a moment, silently taking in the scene.
It was a rare glimpse into Shampoo's past, something he hadn't expected to see. He wondered about the people in the picture, the ones Shampoo had never spoken much about. Her parents, perhaps? Or family members who had meant a lot to her? Ryoga couldn't help but feel a little envious of how peaceful the moment seemed, so different from the chaotic and often teasing nature of his interactions with Shampoo.
As his thoughts continued to wander, he couldn't shake the feeling that Shampoo's life was more complicated than he realized, hidden behind her playful attitude and the teasing that often defined their encounters. She wasn't just the girl who annoyed him or made his life more difficult—she was someone with a deep connection to family and a past that shaped her.
Ryoga's mind raced as he considered how much he didn't know about her and what it might mean for their future.
Shampoo moved quickly between the cafe's kitchen and the front, trying to keep up with the busy rush of customers. Her movements were smooth and practiced, but the exhaustion was starting to set in. She'd been running back and forth for what felt like hours—taking orders, bringing out food, and making sure everything was in place. As always, she did it with a smile, but deep down, the weight of the long hours was starting to wear her down.
The constant buzz of the cafe, the chatter of customers, the clinking of plates and cups, and the rhythm of her own footsteps became almost automatic as she moved from one task to the next. Yet, even with all the noise and motion around her, Shampoo's mind kept drifting back to Ryoga.
The memory of his face when she brought him into her room, his confusion, and how she had found herself acting oddly around him, lingered in her thoughts. She couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, but she didn't know what. Shampoo had always been confident, always teased him, but lately, it felt different. She found herself thinking about him even when she didn't want to.
"Focus, Shampoo," she muttered to herself as she set another tray down. The café wasn't the place for distractions, but she couldn't help it.
As the evening progressed, the energy in the café picked up. The laughter of customers and the clattering of dishes seemed to blur into the background as Shampoo worked tirelessly to keep things running smoothly. Despite her fatigue, she couldn't help but notice the odd tug in her chest every time she passed the spot where Ryoga had been earlier. She hoped that by the time her shift ended, she could sort through these strange feelings.
Shampoo entered her room after finishing her shift at the cafe, her feet aching from the long day. She immediately looked over to the bed, where Ryoga, still stuck in his pig form, was sitting quietly.
"Ryoga! Shampoo finished her shift!" Shampoo called out, her voice filled with excitement and a little bit of exhaustion. She stepped closer to him, smiling warmly, completely unaware of how Ryoga was feeling.
The small black pig flinched at her sudden entrance and the way she used his name, but since he couldn't speak in his current form, he merely let out a soft grunt, his eyes wide in surprise. He wanted to respond, but all he could do was sit there, a little embarrassed.
"Shampoo is getting you out of pig form soon!" she continued, already moving around the room. She went to the door, "Cologne is boiling water now. Shampoo will get it in a minute," she said, her excitement still clear as she tidied up a few things on the shelf.
Ryoga's eyes followed her every movement, but he couldn't say a word. He had no idea how Shampoo was so full of energy despite the long day. It made him feel even more helpless in his pig form, but at the same time, it was oddly comforting. Watching her move about with such determination made him forget, for a moment, that he was stuck like this.
Shampoo suddenly stopped and turned to look at him, a bright smile on her face. "Wait for Shampoo, okay? Just a little longer!" she said, her tone warm but determined. She then walked back to the door and peeked out to see if the water was ready.
Ryoga remained where he was, sitting on the bed, trying to relax. But deep inside, he couldn't stop thinking about the way Shampoo had been so cheerful and caring. It was... different from how she usually acted when they were in public. He felt a strange warmth in his chest, though he had no way of expressing it.
Shampoo returned a few moments later with the hot water in hand, still oblivious to the effect her kindness had on Ryoga. "Here we go, Pig-boy!" she said cheerfully, preparing to change him back. As she did, Ryoga felt a sense of relief wash over him, but there was still something tugging at his heart. It wasn't just about being freed from his pig form; it was something else entirely. Something that, for the first time, he wasn't sure how to handle.
As Shampoo poured the hot water onto the small pig, the steam quickly clouded the air, hiding Ryoga's transformation. The sound of his body growing, shifting, and reshaping was masked by the steam, which only heightened the anticipation. Shampoo didn't realize how much the transformation would affect her.
As the steam slowly cleared, Shampoo blinked and looked up. Her eyes widened in surprise. Standing in front of her was Ryoga, now back to his human form—except he wasn't wearing a shirt.
Shampoo froze, her face turning a deep shade of red. She hadn't expected this, and the sight of Ryoga standing there, his bare chest exposed, caught her completely off guard. She quickly averted her gaze, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Pig—Ryoga!" Shampoo stammered, her voice unsteady as she tried to maintain her composure. She had never seen him like this before, and it was making her feel strangely flustered. She looked anywhere but at him, focusing on the floor, the walls—anything to distract herself from the sudden surge of emotions she couldn't quite name.
Ryoga, on the other hand, stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do. He was still a little disoriented from the transformation, and the way Shampoo had reacted made him feel more self-conscious than he'd ever been. He scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Uh, sorry," Ryoga mumbled, his voice awkward as he tried to cover himself up, but Shampoo was still avoiding his gaze, clearly flustered. "I didn't think you'd..."
Shampoo cleared her throat, quickly turning her back to him, trying to regain her composure. "Shampoo doesn't need to see Pig-boy without shirt," she muttered under her breath, even though she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed herself.
Trying to shake off the awkward moment, Shampoo said, "Shampoo go get you something to wear," and hurried out of the room before she said something that might make it worse.
As she left, Ryoga exhaled deeply, still standing there with a flushed face. He had no idea why the situation felt so strange, but something in the air between them had shifted. And though neither of them would admit it, they both knew it wasn't just because of the awkwardness of the moment.
Shampoo quickly rummaged through the closet, her hands shaking slightly as she pulled out a random shirt for Ryoga. But her thoughts kept drifting back to the moment when the steam cleared and she saw him—his toned abs, the muscles in his chest, and his overall build. She hadn't expected to see him like that, and it left her with a strange feeling she couldn't quite place.
Her mind kept replaying the scene over and over. His bare chest, the way his muscles flexed when he moved—it made her heart beat a little faster. Why am I thinking about this? Shampoo thought, trying to shake it off. He's just a friend... Just Ryoga...
But her cheeks flushed even more as the thoughts continued to circle. She tried to focus on finding the shirt, telling herself to calm down. It wasn't like she had never seen a guy without a shirt before, but there was something different about Ryoga. Something about the way he looked, and how it made her feel, that was making her feel... off balance.
Finally, Shampoo found a shirt that would fit him. She quickly grabbed it and turned to head back to her room, her mind still clouded with the image of Ryoga's body.
Shampoo just needs to focus. She reminded herself, but her heart wouldn't slow down. She shook her head as if to clear it, but the thoughts lingered.
When she returned to the room, Shampoo immediately handed Ryoga the shirt, trying to act casual despite how much her face was flushed. "Here," she said quickly, avoiding eye contact. "Shampoo found something for you to wear."
Ryoga took the shirt from her, still feeling awkward. He was relieved that Shampoo had turned around so he could put it on without further embarrassment. As he slipped the shirt over his head, he could feel the weight of the moment. Why did that feel so weird? he wondered, feeling just as confused.
Shampoo stood at a distance, fidgeting nervously. She couldn't help but steal a glance at him, only to quickly look away when he caught her gaze.
"Thanks, Shampoo," Ryoga said, his voice a little quieter than usual. He wasn't sure why he felt so awkward now, but he couldn't deny that something between them had changed. Something subtle, but definitely different.
Shampoo just nodded, trying to hide her own flustered expression. "Shampoo should get back to work. Cologne is waiting for Shampoo," she said quickly, trying to avoid the silence that hung in the air.
"Yeah, I'll head out soon," Ryoga replied, trying to act casual as well.
But both of them knew—neither of them would forget the moment anytime soon.