Ranma of St. Bacchus, Chapter 25
by Chaos Orchid
"Know yourself, so that you know when you're being psychologically attacked!"
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Assaults of Fear and Lust
Aw, man! 'Ran' thought. Having amnesia already had her questioning her ability to remember things. And (she) wasn't receiving any assurance from (her) subconscious. How good of a student had (she) been?
But it was a challenge. If (she) could view it as a martial arts challenge, (she) was certain (she) could win it! (she) only needed to find the right technique! But Which!?
'Ran' turned to the teacher and began to 'recite', "...The Meiji period had gairaigo comin', I mean, coming, coming into–"
Matsushida's pointer whacked down on her desk again; this time closer to the pigtailed girl! "Turn! Face the audience! Begin again! Start with 'During'! And keep your voice high!"
The redhead tried not to frown. This would weaken (her) technique. But (she) turned to face the class. Of other* girls. Girls in makeup the same as her*. Girls who would also be soon facing the same challenge. (She) was the first; (she) was in the most difficult position; (she) was the one who had the fewest clues to winning; (she) was the one the teacher was most interested in making an example of! The teacher's intent was punishment for her* and then the others*. And Matsushida had a reputation of being an expert in psychological warfare.
'Ran' felt (her) defenses crumble; (she) became more and more aware of each and every lashes-enhanced eye was on her, of the murmurs that ran between her* comrades. (She) began: "...The Meiji, no, 'During' was my first clue: During the Meiji period foreign words came into our language. Gairaigo words…" (she) was already not reciting exactly and some of the girls (she) was reading knew it! The redhead focused on those that seemed to have the better memories.
"Start over!" Matsushida demanded. And – slowly and pausing – 'Ran' did. (She) strung the words closer to the original text. But the further into the paragraph (she) went, the worse the memories of those (she) was depending on became. (She) was made to restart sentences several times. (She) even had to repeat something (she) hadn't said in (her?) effected burikko – cute, coy – voice. Or if (her) tomboy words or grammar had slipped in.
In the end Matsushida had to dismiss (her) two-thirds of the way through the long paragraph. And that was only because the teacher had to punish the rest of the class with the same method. Still, 'Ran' felt (she) hadn't lost. In fact, (she) felt like something of a heroine, setting an encouraging example for her* sister victims! (She) proudly stepped off the platform as the teacher called on Koko to recite.
As (she) sat down at (her) desk – no seiza, this time – and looked eyes-forward, (she) saw Matsushida giving her a brief glare. This only pleased 'Ran' more!
Everybody had to remain quiet (only murmurs escaped reprimands from the teacher) while those that had chased after the naked boy were brought forward to recite parts of the same paragraph over and over. Those that hadn't yet been anxiously looked at the wall clock, praying to whatever passing kami to speed it up! Noa was one of those. And she didn't believe in kami.
It was only after the fourth period bell rang and Matsushida-sensei had to leave for her next class that the girls could start to unstress as they, too, left. It was only then that 'Ran' found out what the punishment really was. "You brave!" Noa praised her dormmate. Others agreed. "I hate public speaking!" , "Yeah, me, too." , "Me and the majority!" , "People would rather do just about anything else!" , "I would go to a dentist first!" , "I would rather stand on a roof – and I hate heights!" …
'Ran' learned to be more wary of Matsushida. Knowing (she) wasn't afraid of public performances, the Mistress of Psychological Warfare would be looking for other ways to defeat (her). To wound (her) mentally!
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Homeroom 1-F had to walk to the Art and Entertainment Annex, abbreviated to the Bientā. 'Ran' learned more things along the way as the girls talked.
At the private St. Hebereke school, fifth period was a chance for the faculty advisors of the different clubs to attract new students as members. There was a fierce competition between the teachers; their ranking and commission was judged by how many club members they had. Kasumi-san was the current first-place winner. (In fact her after-school-hours English Club no longer accepted new members, it was so full.)
"Today we art," Noa explained the girl 18cm, 7" shorter than her.
'Ran''s mind wanted to stay on Matsushida's strategy, but (she) could turn up (her) nose, "Another useless class?! Can't they do that in the stupid charm school class?"
"It requires charm to appreciate the finer things in life," Mami said and left no doubt that she considered herself to be one of those finer people.
Or 'things', as Koko thought of her, "It's one of the ways we're being groomed to be groomed, as in a bride to a groom. The school's non-standard teaching methods is why our families are spending the outrageous tuition fee!"
Ikko approved of the arrangement, of course, "It's a proper investment. When we marry into a family within the network of financial and social power in Japan, the keiretsu, we will be set for life and our birth family will benefit from the connections! It's like we're in the Heian period!"
Noa didn't approve, "No marry for love !?(!)"
"You will certainly have to, Westerner," Mami practically sneered. "An impure, foreign halfling-child will never be considered to be truly Japanese." Again she was bringing up how she looked more classically Japanese than the others.
'Ran' cried, "What has that got to do with art! " The conversation had veered off into areas the pigtailed girl was very uncomfortable with. Very. They were weak points Matsushida could attack if she found out about them!
Koko told her, "It's an elitist thing. It's a mostly safe topic to talk about at parties. And you know how we Japanese love to avoid even a hint of conflict."
"That doesn't feel like me(?)" the redhead now wondered if (she) not only wasn't able to be a real girl but to be really Japanese.
"You can still insult people's taste," Mami said. "That's why we should know about art."
Koko said, "We must know how to pretend we have taste."
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The art room looked like an art room, not that 'Ran' remembered the stereotype. Pictures and charts covered the walls. Some seemed like they were made by teen amateurs. Or younger. (Those by 'Picasso' whoever had 'Ran' feeling confident (she) could do better.) Cupboards and drawers were above and below countertops. Large pads of paper rested on easels; a box of colored pencils were sitting on the stools before them. The stools had numbers and the teacher counted and told the students to sit by the order they came into the room. 'Ran' had made sure (she) was last(!)
But Fujishima-sensei knew that trick and had arranged the stools more or less randomly. More or less; 'Ran' had to be on the one closest to the teacher's platform. Only, here, it wasn't in the front but in the room's far corner. There was no desk on it.
The woman in a short smock, half-frame glasses and rainbow highlights stepped onto the platform, "Today, I had planned on inspiring you with examples of modern art!" And she gestured to the reproductions on the walls. "I believe them to be a fascinating entry way to those of you who have not developed your artistic talents." Her smile flickered.
And went out, "Instead, you are doing a life study."
"Not a still life," more than one of the girls groaned. "Boring!"
"No, it's an écorché."
"An anatomy class?" , "With a live model!?(!)" , "Is it a nude model!?(!)" , "Get real!" , "Right. The school's not going to hire a male model." , "One of us? Count me out!" , "Have Ran strip!" , "Yes, let's see Ran naked!" , "She has no modesty!" , "I hear she likes to be nude!" , "Model for us, Ran!"
Fujishima put a hand to her head, hoping she wouldn't be getting a migraine. While everybody else gaggled, she said to herself, "Where is that idiot?"
"Sensei, the Ladies of Hebe the Curly Haired, I was but briefly detained by the security engendered by Kodachi's presence in your establishment. But they had only to verify that I am, in truth, the Blue Thunder of Fūrinkan, the Rising Star of the high school fencing world!..."
'Ran' hadn't turned around to look at the source of this – to (her) – annoying voice that talked in an wordy, upper-class dialect not (her) own. (She) had no memory of what (she) was like before (she) came to this school, but (she) was sure (she) hadn't been this big of a bragger. He had to be a poser.
(She) hadn't turned, but just about every other* girl had. And the pigtailed girl's trained senses felt all their hearts thump harder in their bosoms! Her own heart wanted to join in! No, no, no! (She) had had enough to eat! (She) didn't have to go to the Reservoir! There was no reason their emotions should be effecting (her) own!
Other than (her) being surrounded girls overcome by their boy-hunger(!) After being kept separated from any teen male, here was an example(!) On a subconscious level, 'Ran' could relate it to dreaming about food and waking up to find prey available! (She) just had to take up the chase and go in for the kill! Not pursuing put (her) on edge.
The pigtailed girl only stayed on edge. The number of the competition for the prey was nowhere near the amount that had caused (her) to lust after Ryōga. It would have helped (her) if the disgust and panic (she) hadn't been dimmed by the treatment in the infirmary. Even so, the amount of blood leaving (her) brain wasn't enough to rob (her) of whatever common sense (she) had.
Maybe. (she) did open her warm thighs away from her warmer, accursed sex. The redhead was the only girl there in a knee skirt, and (she) hadn't had enough female experience not to flap her hem to bring cooler air in.
The boy's timing was only slightly off as his view was briefly captured by the sight. The bare footed "...Kunō, Lord of Nerima!" stepped onto the platform. He was dressed in a blue uwa-gi jacket and black hakama pants. He wore no juban shirt. He was bare underneath; his muscular pecs showed. At least his bosom area. His male nipples remained covered. His sleeves extended below his elbows, but no further. His lower arms and hands gave evidence of constant exercise. 'Ran' had to question the idea that he was a poser.
"There is report of the invasion of your ladies' private sanctuary by a thoroughly brazen pervert who subjected your innocent sensibilities to his 'streaking', to use the colloquial term."
'Ran' felt hearts slow. Even Mami's, sitting next to her. And yet, she murmured, "At least he's as handsome as Mami is beautiful." 'Ran' dared to hope (she) would soon break free of any interest in the guy. (She) muttered, "Keep talkin', you long-winded idiot."
And he did, "...The man was no man! I stand before you a true man! The very model of a samurai gentleman! As such, I am perfect for your life study, Honored Ladies." And he drew his wooden sword and took the starting stance of a kendō match. "régard moi!"
It was a disappointment to many in the class, "He's not getting nude?" , "No CFNM?" , "If this is an anatomy study…" , "We want to see him nude!"
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NOTE:
Public speaking is feared more than death itself. It sounds crazy, but that's what people say. Is there any truth to this? Certainly the vast majority of people rank fear of public speaking as number one – 75% according to some studies. Ran(ma) is brave enough not only not to fear death, but greater fears. S/He still has fears, though.
In S05E09, "Me is Kuno's Daddy, Me is", Tatewaki's memories are shown of the mistreatment he received as a child at the hands of his father. In S09E01, "Dear Daddy... Love, Kodachi!" we learn their father has a very different attitude towards his daughter. That is the reason Fūrinkan is set up and run very differently from St. Hebereke. Kodachi has greater control of her school.
BTW, In Japanese Hebereke can be written "Hebe the Curly Haired". Hebe was the Olympian goddess of the cups that held the ambrosia that maintained youth. Dionysos (the Roman Bacchus) was the god of wine, sort of the ambrosia of mortals. Hebereke in "Ranma ½" is written to mean drunk to the point of being reckless. That is why St. Hebereke can be Westernized as St. Bacchus.