.
Act III ~ Family Reunion
"No… it can't be…" The evening light reflected sorrowfully in Akane's astonished eyes. "Uncle Genma, tell me it isn't true," she pleaded, looking at the man seated to her left at the living room table. He remained motionless—his arms resting behind his back, his eyes lost in the ceiling, as if staring into infinity.
"It's useless, Akane," Nabiki interrupted, the only one who had remained remarkably composed throughout the situation. If she felt pain, or even the slightest concern, she hid it well. "Uncle Genma has been like that for hours. I doubt he'll answer you."
"It's true," added Soun, his expression still serious, though thin streams of tears continued to slide down his cheeks. "The shock must have been too much for Saotome. But…" He turned his sorrowful eyes toward his youngest daughter. "I'm afraid it's all true."
"I can't believe it…" Akane repeated, her eyes growing glassy.
"Be strong, little sister," Kasumi encouraged gently, placing her hand over Akane's and offering her a sad yet warm smile. At the gesture, Akane couldn't stop the tears from welling up in her eyes, nor the painful lump forming in her throat, but she managed to hold back. Though she was unable to say a word, she nodded, trying her best to remain composed.
"Is the diagnosis certain?" Nabiki asked directly, tapping her fingers on the table.
Soun took a moment before responding, then spoke:
"Yes. She confirmed it herself with the doctor today. There's no doubt."
"Is there a cure?" Nabiki asked again, her voice cold as ever, echoing through the room.
Soun crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.
"There are treatments to ease the pain and… to extend her time with us a little longer," he replied, carefully avoiding a certain word. "But beyond that…" He let his answer hang unfinished.
A heavy silence settled around the table. None of the Tendo family members knew how to continue the conversation, each lost in their own thoughts. But once again, it was Nabiki who broke through the stillness:
"How much time does she have left, Dad?"
"Nabiki!" Akane gasped, feeling the question hit her like a blow to the chest.
"What?" Nabiki asked, unbothered, turning to look at her.
"How can you ask something like that?"
"What's wrong with it?" her short-haired sister retorted, her coldness becoming even more evident as she rested her cheek against the palm of her hand and leaned on the table. "We already know the situation is serious, and there's really not much we can do. At the very least, we should know how much time we have before Aunt Saotome passes away."
"How can you—?!"
"Girls," Soun interrupted just as Akane's voice began to rise. "That's enough. I don't think this is…"
But Nabiki didn't let him finish. As if she had grown tired of the discussion, she let out a deep, irritated sigh and, to everyone's surprise, stood up from the table.
"You're right, Dad. That's enough," she declared and started walking toward the stairs leading to the second floor. "I doubt there's anything I can do here. I'm not a doctor; I don't have the knowledge to treat cancer, so my presence here is useless."
"Where are you going?" Akane asked, unable to believe it.
"Where do you think?" her sister replied without even looking back. "To my room. I still have plenty of my own matters to attend to." And without another word or gesture, she disappeared.
Akane immediately stood up.
"Hey! What do you think you're—?!"
"Akane." Kasumi's voice stopped her. "Please, sit down."
"But…!"
Kasumi insisted again with a calm yet firm gaze. After hesitating for a moment, Akane obeyed, sitting back down, torn between anger and sadness.
Another long silence followed, made even more uncomfortable by the absence of one of the family members. However, this time it was Kasumi who spoke, directing her words to Akane:
"Little sister, do you remember when Mom passed away?"
Akane felt the lump in her throat tighten. She nodded with difficulty. She remembered it perfectly. How could she forget? She had been so young. What age had she been? Maybe six or seven, but the memories remained vivid: a gathering just like this, her father's tears, and their mother's compassionate smile as she broke the news. The hospital, the treatment, the moments of improvement and decline, the false hopes, the doctor visits, and the sleepless nights caused by the pain that came with the illness. Then, the inevitable outcome. And after that, the silence that ruled their home for months. Forgetting something like that was impossible.
"Mom left us because of the same illness," Kasumi continued. "And even though we were just kids, we all still miss her to this day," she said, somehow managing to smile again, "Nabiki included."
Akane looked up at her sister, surprised. Kasumi continued, her eyes glistening:
"Nabiki may act like she doesn't care, but I assure you that knowing Aunt Saotome is suffering from the same illness that took Mom doesn't leave any of us indifferent. That's why I ask you not to be mad at her."
Finally, Kasumi placed her hand over Akane's once more. Without saying anything, both of them shared a sad smile, silently acknowledging their pain.
Silence returned, as if everyone needed to gather strength to continue. Emotions were running high. After clearing his throat with difficulty, it was Soun who spoke this time. Though his voice sounded weary, his request was clear:
"Girls," he said, "please, don't say a word about this to Ranma. I don't like the idea of hiding his mother's illness from him," he admitted, "but she herself asked Saotome and me to keep quiet until she could tell him in person. There are still a couple of months left. I ask you to be patient and respect her wishes."
Both sisters nodded. Akane, her heart heavy, glanced at her uncle Genma, who still hadn't moved a muscle. She wondered if he would be able to keep that promise. Then, her thoughts immediately shifted to Ranma, and worry crept over her. How would he take it when he found out? She hated to admit it, but she had far more experience than him when it came to such painful matters. And yet, maybe that would allow her to help and support him when the time came. At the very least, amid all the sadness, that was something comforting.
#
Ryoga, still in his P-Chan form, was just as shocked as the rest. He had overheard the entire conversation by accident while hiding behind a sliding door. He didn't know Ranma's mother very well, but he respected her deeply. The thought of a woman like her going through something like this felt incredibly unfair.
As he silently climbed the steps to the second floor, he wondered if there was anything he could do to help, though he had never faced something like this before. He thought that perhaps the best thing he could do was stay by Akane's side in his pet form, keeping her company so she wouldn't be left alone with her sadness. Maybe after that, he could even try to help Ranma… though that part felt much trickier. Yes, staying by Akane's side was the best thing he could do right now. He was sure of it…
But then, his thoughts were interrupted by a sound coming from Nabiki's room. He stopped, curious and concerned, listening carefully. Then, he let out a soft sigh and kept walking.
It didn't feel right to eavesdrop on a girl crying.
Ranma 1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi