Chapter 20. Saturday, July 23

Ranma dreamed… She and Akane had been entered into a martial-arts kissing contest, but she’d missed the part where they explained the rules. They circled each other warily, trying to figure out how to win. Ranma noticed that there was a panel of judges, and there were two scoring categories: speed and technique. But that split just added to her confusion—would she be rewarded for darting in to deliver a kiss quickly, or were the judges looking for something long, slow, and romantic? And as for “technique”… well, Ranma was completely at sea. They continued their wary face-off until she woke with no kisses having been delivered or received by either combatant, wishing her brain had picked a different way to process the previous day’s revelations.

* * *

Akane dreamed… She was back at school with various classmates around her, like any normal day. She wasn’t sure where Ranma-chan was. Her attention was focused on her friends Yuka-chan and Sayuri-chan, and Sayuri asked, “So, Akane-chan, are you actually in love with Ranma-chan?” She sounded a little scandalized.

Akane was feeling flustered and unsure about how to respond when Yuka chimed in, laughing unkindly, and sneering, “We always knew Akane didn’t like boys!”

Akane woke up feeling embarrassed and a little hurt, but those emotions quickly gave way to annoyance. She was sure the real Yuka and Sayuri wouldn’t behave like that; they were always kind and supportive. Well, she was pretty sure they’d be supportive.

This whole situation with Ranma-chan had pushed her into a territory she’d never thought she’d find herself in, but she loved Ranma-chan dearly and it irked her to see the way her brain had twisted it all around. It was still a little early, but she decided to get up anyway, lest her sleeping mind find a way to subject her to new anxiety-based tortures.

It wasn’t really time for breakfast yet, so after she’d sorted herself out in the bathroom, she got dressed in a T-shirt and shorts and went down to the dojo to stretch and do some light training while it was still cool and she wouldn’t get sweaty; she didn’t want to have to shower again before going out shopping.

As she moved, she tried to think of ideas for how Ranma might defeat Cologne. She knew Ranma was quick and agile, but Cologne was tricky and unpredictable—she had a way of turning your own moves against you. It would be so much better if Ranma could just walk away—she didn’t even want the Phoenix Pill—but she had to accept that Ranma’s sense of honor wouldn’t let her do that. So they needed to find a way for her to win while not being hurt badly. Nothing was coming to mind.

Then there was the uncertainty of the timing. Cologne had said she would choose the time and place of the fight, and apparently she had. But all they knew was that it would be “this weekend” and that Cologne would find Ranma. Not knowing where the fight would happen made it hard for her to prepare properly, and “this weekend” was a lot sooner than they’d expected. It was just another of Cologne’s devious tricks to keep Ranma off balance by adding the stress of uncertainty.

Well, Akane could do something about that, or at least provide a compelling performance of stability. The trip to Ikebukuro to get yukatas would be a nice distraction for both of them, and Cologne probably wouldn’t attack them in a shopping neighborhood in another part of Tokyo. (But then again, you could never predict what Cologne would do; that was her nature.)

She was finishing up her exercises when Ranma appeared in the doorway, looking cute in one of her summer dresses, the one with the floral pattern. Akane smiled at her, melting a little inside. Ranma really needed more dresses. Akane remembered how she’d had to twist her arm to get even the ones she had. She’d claimed that she was into “tomboy chic”, but since then she’d mostly left that stuff in the closet, preferring the more overtly feminine options instead. Akane chuckled to herself; Ranma was full of contradictions, but she couldn’t complain about the results.

“We could get you some more dresses while we’re out,” Akane suggested. “Unless, you know, they cramp your fighting style or something,” she added, sticking out her tongue.

“Actually, this dress offers excellent freedom of movement,” Ranma replied with a smirk. “But sure, we can look for some more if it won’t break the bank. I wouldn’t mind having a few more options.”

In her exercise clothes, Akane felt like she was the one rocking “tomboy chic” as they headed to breakfast. Everyone else was already at the table, and there was a nice spread of rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables. Akane was pouring herself some green tea when Nabiki spoke up.

“So, I called Miyu-chan this morning,” she said casually, “it’s her grandparents who run Kimono Yamaguchi, the shop I mentioned yesterday. Her mom will be there going over the books this morning and she’ll be there, too, helping out. She said they’d totally honor the family friend discount I mentioned, so you two should be able to get a really good deal. But she also mentioned another option you could add on top of that.”

“What’s that?” Akane asked, intrigued.

“They could set up an installment payment plan for you,” Nabiki explained. “There’s a down payment and then you pay them directly over time for the rest, and I act as a guarantor. Of course, as is normal practice, the guarantor takes a small commission and there’s a little interest on top, but it’s very modest compared to what a bank would charge. The main advantage is that you won’t have to come up with all the cash right now, which might make things easier for you.”

“I really appreciate that, Nabiki,” Akane said sincerely. “That would make it a lot easier for us.”

“Hey, gotta look after my little sister and her bestie,” Nabiki replied with a smirk. “Just don’t forget to pay on time or it’ll look bad for me.” Nabiki was glad for the chance to make a little more money off the Yamaguchis. She’d been their bookkeeping savior and had been happy to take the praise and profit from that role, but then Miyu-chan’s mother had reconciled with her parents and taken back the task of reviewing their books. So now Nabiki was just a friendly face who could get people a discount and set up payment plans. Easy money.

Breakfast over, Akane dashed up to her room to get changed. She picked out a summer dress from the back of her closet that complemented Ranma’s nicely, and grabbed her postal-account passbook so she could take a bit of money out of savings to supplement her dwindling cash. There was a post office near the station, so it wouldn’t be much of a detour.

Ranma seemed to be bouncing along happily as they headed towards the post office. Akane was once again struck by just how totally, heart-meltingly, adorable she was. She wondered how she could be so carefree when Cologne could leap out from any corner at any moment. But then she saw it: perhaps Ranma was actually doing two things at once, she really was enjoying almost dancing down the street (and maybe also Akane’s appreciation of her display), but it was also, somehow, a disguised martial-arts technique. She watched the way Ranma’s gaze surveyed everything, everywhere as she twirled around without an apparent care in the world. There’s so much going on in that little head of hers, Akane thought, smiling.

The line was short in the post office and soon enough her passbook was updated and she had cash. It was mostly large denomination bills, and she didn’t like carrying quite that much money in any form, but it was what it was. At least the installment-plan option had lowered their outlay a bit.

As they boarded the Seibu Ikebukuro Line train, Ranma seemed to start channeling a sort of bored eight-year-old vibe, hanging on the pole by her seat, swinging around, tilting her head backwards. Yes, Akane thought to herself, She’s actually being super vigilant, she’s surveying the whole carriage once every few seconds. Akane smiled to herself. Ranma was amazing.

“I know what you’re doing,” Akane said as they got off the train.

“What do you mean?” Ranma said innocently. “I’m just excited to be getting yukatas!”

Akane let it go. She knew. Ranma knew she knew.

“We need the west exit… over here,” Akane said, turning to practicalities and leading the way out of Ikebukuro Station. They emerged into the bustling street scene outside Seibu department store. Akane led them past the department store and toward Zoshigaya, a quieter residential neighborhood to the southwest. After about a ten-minute walk, they turned onto the small side street where Kimono Yamaguchi was located.

The mixed-use neighborhood offered a blend of small shops with apartments above, some modern buildings, some older, all modest and functional and comfortable. The sidewalks were narrow, and there were a few vending machines on the corners. The occasional potted plant outside some of the shops added a touch of greenery to the urban scene. Partway down the street, they found that Kimono Yamaguchi itself was a narrow storefront with a traditional sliding glass door and a faded but clean awning. The window display featured a few yukatas on mannequin stands, and a vertical sign with “呉服” (gofuku—kimono) in traditional calligraphy hung outside.

Akane and Ranma looked at each other. If they were going to do this, they’d need to step inside. They hesitated for a moment; Ready for this? the thought echoed between them, unsaid but felt in the character of the moment. Yes. They stepped inside.

“Grandma, customers!” said a girl sitting on a stool close to the entrance. She looked to be about their age, had slightly spiky hair and seemed to be playing a Game-&-Watch. A kindly looking older woman emerged from the back of the shop and shooed the girl away into the rear of the store.

As she left, Akane saw a slight nod from the girl—presumably Nabiki’s friend Miyu—to her grandmother, as if she were saying, These are the girls I told you about.

Fumiko Yamaguchi approached them with a warm smile. “Welcome to Yamaguchi Gofuku-ten,” she said politely. “Are you perhaps the Tendo girls?” She always liked it when she got some younger customers; she feared sometimes that the old traditions might be discarded by the younger generation. The family-friend discount would be worth it if word-of-mouth caused more of these girls’ friends and classmates to come as well.

“You were expecting us?” Akane replied, evading the question.

Yamaguchi-san chuckled lightly. “Miyu-chan mentioned that you two might stop by. Your sister Nabiki-san was a great help to us a couple of years ago, and we’re very happy to repay her kindness.” She paused, then got down to business. “Now, I hear you were looking for yukatas? We have a nice selection this year, and I think we have a number of colors and patterns that would suit you both very well.”

“We were hoping for a sort of matching set,” Ranma-chan said with a grin. “Not identical, but complementary.”

“Of course, of course,” Yamaguchi-san replied. “Please, follow me to the display area.” She led them deeper into the store, where several racks of yukatas stood. There were indeed a variety of colors and patterns, from traditional floral designs to more modern geometric patterns. Yamaguchi-san began pulling out a few options that she thought would suit them, holding them up against each of them to see how they looked. Each comparison was accompanied by a “Hmm” or a “Mmm”. There were also a few “No”s, sometimes accompanied by a shake of her head. The yukata in question was then hung on an empty rack, with the “no”s on one end, and the others arranged in an order that seemed almost random. After a few minutes, she pursed her lips as if considering before making some suggestions.

Yamaguchi-san turned to Ranma. “For you, I think we want cooler colors to complement your complexion. Your hair color is already doing so much to bring out your features, so I think lavenders or violets would be lovely on you. I believe I mentioned that we have the traditional floral patterns, but we have some more modern patterns as well. These,” she said, gesturing to several of the yukatas she’d picked out, are inspired by fireworks. They’re very popular this year. They have a sort of energy to them that I think would suit you well.”

“Maybe I could try these two?” Ranma said hesitantly, pointing to a lavender yukata with a subtle floral pattern and one with blues and violets that did feel energetic in an abstract sort of way, and could, conceivably, be interpreted as fireworks.

“Excellent choices,” Yamaguchi-san said, beaming at her. “I think those will look wonderful on you.” She moved them to a different part of the rack and then turned to Akane. “For you, my dear, I think warmer colors would be best. Your complexion really shines with reds and corals. And I think we can match those same patterns for you as well, so you two will look like a coordinated pair.” She rummaged through the rack and pulled out two yukatas that she thought would suit Akane. “Here we have a red yukata with a floral pattern, very traditional and elegant. And here is one with the firework-inspired pattern, in corals and pinks; very energetic in feel.”

Akane nodded, feeling a little shy but excited. “Thank you, Yamaguchi-san, those look lovely,” she said softly. “I think I’d like to try both of them on.”

“Let’s go into the back and get you both fitted,” Yamaguchi-san said, draping their choices over her arm and leading them to the tatami area at the back of the shop where they could try on the yukatas in privacy.

“Would you like some tea?” Yamaguchi-san asked as they settled in the fitting area. Her offer was part of the ritual expected in a traditional shop. It was hot outside, and a cold drink would be better, but the girls knew that Yamaguchi-san wouldn’t expect them to say yes, anyway; she was just following the formal politeness rules that many of her customers would expect, especially the older ones.

Not to mention that it didn’t even make sense to be drinking or eating while trying on clothes! “No, but thank you for your offer,” Akane replied for both of them. “Let’s just start trying them on.”

Trying on the yukatas turned out to be a bit of a production. Yamaguchi-san and Miyu-san helped the girls get dressed. Once they had put their arms through the sleeves, they learned that there were a number of steps that had to be performed in a very particular order, including closing them up in the right direction (left over right!); ensuring that the seams were in the right places and that the fabric draped properly; adjusting the fit; and tying the obi. Adjusting the collar, in particular, seemed to be an entire art form, tweaking the folds so that it sat just right to show the nape of the neck….

Miyu-san explained some of the finer points of yukata etiquette and fitting as they worked, and, once dressed, taught them how to walk gracefully in a yukata while wearing the traditional geta, a sort of wooden platform shoe that both Akane and Ranma found took a bit of practice to master, even with their martial-arts and balancing skills.

Ranma felt a little self-conscious at first, but as she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t help smiling broadly at her reflection. There was no way you could wear these clothes and not feel special. Akane felt the same way. The yukata made her feel elegant and feminine in a way that her regular clothes never did. She glanced at Ranma, who was looking at least as pleased with her outfit as Akane felt about hers.

But that was just the traditional pattern. Before they could try the firework-themed yukatas, they had to reverse the process, with Miyu showing them how to correctly hang or fold the yukata, obi, and other accessories.

For this go, they were encouraged to do most of the work themselves, and they paid extra attention to the details this time, especially the ones Miyu needed to help them with. It helped a lot that they could take turns watching Miyu help the other adjust her yukata, so at the end of the process, not only did they understand what they needed to do, but also how to help each other.

It also turned out that the more energetic patterns called for a more decorative obi bow style, which, of course, required more complex folding and tying. Miyu demonstrated it on each of them so the other could watch, then coached them through their own attempts until she thought they had it.

Both girls had looked wonderful in the traditional yukatas, but when they saw themselves (and each other) in the firework patterns, they felt a thrill of excitement. The colors were vibrant and lively, and the patterns really seemed to capture both the spirit of a summer festival and the hidden energies of a skilled martial artist.

“Those ones. Definitely.” Miyu said decisively. “They really suit both of you, and you’ll stand out from the crowd. Totally what I’d go with.”

It was actually hard to imagine Miyu in a yukata. She seemed more like the type to wear jeans and a T-shirt to go with her spiky hair. But she certainly knew what she was doing when it came to helping people get dressed and teaching them all the intricate details of ensuring everything looked right. She seemed to exemplify the idea that how someone looks doesn’t always tell their whole story; people have many sides to them and hidden depths as well.

“I’m imagining the two of you with your boyfriends, putting everyone to shame.” Yamaguchi-san said with a chuckle. “I hope they like what you’ve chosen.”

Miyu rolled her eyes. “Not everyone needs a boyfriend, Grandma.”

Fumiko sighed. Her daughter had raised Miyu-chan to have all these “modern” ideas, but where had those ideas gotten her? She was raising her daughter on her own. And she’d had such good prospects, too. Even with customers in the shop, she couldn’t stop herself from responding to Miyu’s comment.

“Well, Miyu-chan,” she started. “It’s all very well to be independent, but it’s not easy making your way in the world without a husband. Just ask your mother about what it’s been like since your father left. Of course, she says she finds being an office lady at a trading company in Shinjuku fulfilling. But it hardly compares to having a proper family. Why she hasn’t done more to find someone else is beyond me.”

“Mom isn’t an OL, grandmother, she’s the Assistant Section Chief of Accounting at Mitsui Bussan. She manages a team of six people,” Miyu replied sharply. “And she’s perfectly happy being single. Dad was a deadbeat. You don’t need a husband to be fulfilled.”

“And I’m right here!” a voice called out from the far back of the shop, where Sachiko Yamaguchi was immersed in trying to figure out exactly how her parents had once again failed to balance their books properly.

Miyu’s response was more pointed than Fumiko had expected. And Sachiko chiming in also threw her. Taking a step back in her head, she also remembered that there were customers here and they shouldn’t be arguing in front of them. Then she decided that dropping this discussion before it got any more heated might reduce the chances of Sachiko getting angry again and cutting off relations like she had two years ago when she’d said perfectly reasonable things about the inappropriateness of divorce.

“Oh, Sachiko-chan,” Fumiko said brightly, trying to change the subject, “Come help these young ladies pick out their accessories. They’ll need geta, obijime cords, and small purses to go with their yukatas.”

Sachiko did not particularly want to be dragged away from the books, but she also worried about what her mother might say to these two girls next if she wasn’t standing right there with them. The store was unlikely to get new customers if these girls told their friends about her mother’s crazy old-fashioned ideas about women. She sighed and stood up, stretching her back and calling out, “All right, all right, I’m coming.”

It took another hour before they were ready to leave. Miyu had shown them how to walk in the sandals, in the dressing room, but they still had to choose ones that went with their yukatas and the other accessories they picked out.

Finally, they were done. Yamaguchi-san rang up the total, applied the family-friend discount, and then factored in the installment plan. Akane and Ranma were pleased to find that the monthly payments would be quite manageable.

As part of the checkout process, when their names were needed for the paperwork, Yamaguchi-san asked, “So it would be Ranma Tendo and Akane Tendo, correct?”

“Actually, it’s Ranma Saotome,” Ranma said, “But we both live at the Tendo dojo.”

Fumiko inwardly rolled her eyes at some of these modern ideas about family, but she wasn’t about to pry further.

“Hey, they’re a perfect pair even if they’re not sisters,” Miyu said, and gave them a knowing wink. “Have fun at the festival!”

And with that, they were finally out into the street, encumbered by large shopping bags full of yukata goodies that Ranma insisted on carrying. Once outside the confines of the shop, she couldn’t quite help herself, “Hey, sis,” she joked, “our boyfriends are going to love us in these outfits!” She felt an urge to keep going, but it was kind of hard to go on another rant about tearing down the patriarchy when you had two huge yukata-laden shopping bags in each hand.

Despite the ludicrous way Ranma was weighed down, Akane still insisted that they stop at the department store by the station so they could buy a couple more dresses. They quickly realized that the bags they already had made trying the new clothes on in the store impractical, but they also knew all Ranma’s sizes, so Akane confidently picked out a few she felt would maximize Ranma’s adorability. Dealing with the bags in the narrow but busy aisles between racks of clothes meant that Ranma couldn’t really get much of a sense of what Akane had found, but she dutifully nodded in approval as Akane presented each one, trusting in her taste. After paying, they ended up with still more bags (which Akane insisted on carrying, to Ranma’s great relief), and they finally headed back into the station and were soon on the train home.

* * *

The girls got home just in time for lunch. Kasumi-oneechan had prepared a simple meal of cold sōmen noodles with tsuyu dipping sauce, garnished with green onions and ginger. It was light and refreshing, perfect for the hot summer day. Ranma and Akane shared all the details of their shopping trip while they ate, and Kasumi (of course) offered to help them get ready for the festival that evening.

As they were finishing up, Kasumi remembered something: “Oh, Ranma-chan! Dr. Tofu called earlier. He wanted to stop by this afternoon. I must admit, it was a bit hard to understand him over the phone with all the background noise, but I think he was trying to say that he wanted to have a friendly chat with you and see how you were managing. Is that all right? I could call him back if it’s a problem.”

Ranma had a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look as she processed Kasumi’s news. Just to see how I’m doing, not to show me an amazing cure he’s found for the Cat’s Tongue technique? Okay. Okay, that’s fine, I can deal with that. She calmed herself down, surprised to realize that she’d been so fixated on Cologne and everything else that she’d completely forgotten that she’d asked Dr. Tofu to figure out a way to cure her of Cologne’s mischief.

She nodded slowly. “It’s okay, Kasumi-oneechan. You told him I’d be here?”

“Yes, I knew you would be back for lunch. I hope that’s okay,” Kasumi replied.

“I think so, Kasumi-oneechan. I wonder what he wants?”

Kasumi wondered, too. She had her suspicions, but Dr. Tofu was right to keep his consultations with Ranma private. They would have to wait and see. She hoped that now that the girls had dealt with some of the confusion in their relationship, they’d be more open with her and let her help them more.

Akane saw Kasumi lost in thought, and guessed that she was thinking about Dr. Tofu. She was still smarting a bit from learning that Nabiki and Kasumi had known what was going on with Ranma for several days, but hadn’t told her. Well, this time she knew something that Kasumi didn’t, and she saw an opportunity for a little good-natured revenge.

“Oh, Kasumi-oneechan,” she said sweetly, interrupting Kasumi’s reverie, “have you ever wondered what those sounds in the background are when Dr. Tofu talks to you on the phone, or why his speech sometimes seems like word salad?”

“Well,” Kasumi allowed, “I do know he can be quite clumsy. And I have wondered about his speech sometimes; I worry that he might have some sort of mild aphasia. But his business seems to be very successful and he clearly helps a lot of people, so clearly whatever is going on with him, it must not be much of an impediment.”

“So you didn’t know he’s only tongue-tied and clumsy around you?” Akane asked.

“Obviously I don’t spy on him to see how he behaves when I’m not around, Akane-chan,” Kasumi replied, a little defensively. “But, no, I never imagined such a thing. It seems very unlikely… and why would he only act that way around me?”

“Well, Kasumi-oneechan, have you ever noticed that some men, when they see a woman they find attractive, become flustered and tongue-tied?” Akane asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I suppose so, but I… I don’t think he… I don’t think Dr. Tofu… I mean I…,” Kasumi stammered, clearly flustered by Akane’s intimation. Could he really…?

“Something to think about, I’d say,” Akane said with a grin.

“Especially as we’re always encouraging you to take the evening off and have some fun.” Ranma added with a wink.

Kasumi somehow managed to turn white with horror and red with embarrassment at the very same time, obviously scandalized. “I could never just ask a man out, Ranma-chan!”

“Well, I suspect that if you wait for him to put the right words in the right order, you might be waiting a while. Perhaps I’ll play matchmaker. It’s the least I can do,” Ranma said with a mischievous grin.

Kasumi regarded Ranma-chan thoughtfully for a moment. Her first instinct was to reject this silly idea out of hand and get on with things as usual. She was fine as she was, and the family needed her. But now that she knew that Dr. Tofu might really be interested in her, she found herself wondering if she should take Ranma-chan’s offer seriously.

She and Dr. Tofu had always gotten along well, and she knew they shared some common interests. Things had been… difficult when they first met, and she had appreciated both his kindness and the way he didn’t talk down to her. Nevertheless, she had been a struggling adolescent then, and he was an adult; she’d never even considered the idea that there could be more between them than the casual friendliness they’d reestablished when he’d moved into the neighborhood.

Now that she knew why he behaved so strangely around her, she found it quite endearing. And Ranma and Akane both seemed so sincere in encouraging her to take more time for herself. She let her imagination run free for a moment, and came to a conclusion: Perhaps a little companionship would do her some good.

Both girls watched Kasumi seem to freeze up while she thought about what they’d told her. Her frustration with Nabiki and annoyance with them had been scary, but they’d never imagined that she could be as unsettled as she looked to be now. They were starting to get a bit worried when Kasumi suddenly started speaking again.

“Well, Ranma-chan, if you must, don’t be too forward,” she admonished. “Don’t you dare say the word ‘date’ or anything like it. I would be open to spending an evening outside the house with someone intelligent and kind, doing something respectable, and if Dr. Tofu is available, well, that would be satisfactory.”

“Kasumi-oneechan… I only want to do it because I care about you, not to stress you out or make you uncomfortable,” Ranma reassured her sincerely. “So, yes, you can trust me.”

Out of Kasumi’s sight, Ranma took Akane’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Way to go, bestie! they both thought.

* * *

After lunch, they took their shopping bags upstairs and unpacked and hung the yukatas up properly. Ranma moved some things around so she could hang hers on a hook on the west wall of her bedroom, and Akane used the hook behind her door. Kasumi had followed them upstairs and admired both yukatas as they were revealed.

“Those are delightful! You two will look wonderful at the festival this evening,” Kasumi said happily, clapping her hands together in delight. “Like you belong together, a matched pair.”

Feeling inspired, Kasumi decided that she would wear her yukata to the festival, too, and, excusing herself, she headed back downstairs while thinking about what else she’d need to do…

When Kasumi had gone, Akane took them back to today’s next challenge. “So, Ranma-chan, are you ready for Dr. Tofu’s visit this afternoon? Are you going to tell him… tell him that you want to stay as you are?”

Ranma sighed. “I think it will be okay. I panicked for a second when Kasumi-oneechan mentioned he was going to come here—what if he’d found a ‘cure’!—but then I realized that Kasumi would have been able to pick up on that, even with his ‘I’m talking to Kasumi!’ thing. So I don’t think it’s that, and I also need to tell him to stop looking. But he must be coming for some reason. I guess we’ll find out when he gets here; I’ll have to play it by ear.”

They spent a bit more time arranging the things they’d bought, and Ranma took advantage of the time to try on the dresses they’d bought.

She hadn’t really been able to get more than a vague sense of what Akane had picked out until now. As she tried each dress, Ranma looked at herself in the mirror, turning to check from different angles and twirling around to see how the dress flowed. Akane’s choices had been excellent. They certainly weren’t the “tomboy chic” Ranma had said she wanted, but they were undeniably cute and feminine, and clearly suited her. She was still wearing one when Dr. Tofu arrived. She thought about changing into something else, but after staring at herself in the mirror for a few seconds, she instead told her reflection, “I am Ranma Saotome, and apparently today, I’m a girly girl.” She laughed as she dashed down the stairs.

She found Akane in the hallway welcoming Dr. Tofu. They’d… strongly encouraged Kasumi to stay out of Dr. Tofu’s sight to avoid any accidents.

Ranma bounded towards them once she reached the bottom step. “Dr. Tofu!” she squealed excitedly, letting herself exude that girly girl energy that her outfit seemed to demand. “It’s so lovely to see you! Shall we go outside to chat? The view of the koi pond from the bench under the maple tree is delightful at this time of day, and the breeze is so refreshing!”

“Oh, uh, absolutely, Ranma-chan,” Dr. Tofu replied, bumping into the doorframe as he stepped outside. “Yes, bench under tree koi,” he continued, nodding enthusiastically. “Refresh breeze good.”

Akane yanked Ranma back for a word as Dr. Tofu stumbled towards the bench. “Hey! Tone it down, okay? We’re trying to get Kasumi a date, not you!” She calmed down a bit, and added, “If you need anything, just yell and we’ll be right there.”

She nodded at Akane, “Got it, Akane-chan. Sorry. I think it’s this dress you got me—it has power! But I can control it.”

“You better!” Akane responded, and they both laughed. But perhaps it was true; Ranma actually was dangerously adorable. She could feel her own brain struggling with the cuteness overload.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tofu had taken a seat on the bench and managed to regain his composure. As she settled on the bench next to him, Ranma resolved to maybe not be quite as amped up as she had been just now.

“So what’s up, Dr. Tofu?” she asked. “We were surprised that you wanted to come to the house.”

“Well, Ranma-chan, when we last saw each other, you were quite anxious,” Dr. Tofu began, “driven by a lot of conflicting feelings, and I suggested that you give yourself permission to explore. It, uh, looks like you’ve done that. You seem… happy?”

“Thank you for your advice, Dr. Tofu. It helped a lot. And those books and articles you gave me about other people taking their own journey of self-discovery helped a bit, too. As you said, my situation wasn’t exactly like theirs, but I found that I had similar feelings and questions. So, yes, I am very happy. It’s like I found something I never knew I needed.”

“You’ve been avoiding hot water, I take it? I warned you how dangerous it could be until the Cat’s Tongue pressure point is undone,” Dr. Tofu said, just to confirm things were as he imagined.

“Yes, I’ve been very careful about that. It’s a bit annoying to only be able to take cold baths and showers, but it’s not really that big a deal. I really don’t need a cure for the pressure point, because I’m managing it just fine.”

Dr. Tofu nodded thoughtfully. He had seen this as a possible outcome, although he hadn’t expected her to be quite as happy about it as she seemed to be. Unfortunately, it also meant that he was going to need to have “the conversation” with her. He didn’t relish it, but he was a professional, a doctor, and it was his responsibility.

He cleared his throat. “So, Ranma-chan,” he began, “I need to tell you about a process. It’s very natural, and nothing to worry about, but you’ve been a girl physically for quite a while now, and you need to know.” He hesitated a moment before continuing, “Um… for all of us, there are natural processes in our bodies. The lining of the intestines, or the surface of our skin, for example, is renewed by cells dying and being replaced and we don’t even notice it happening. It’s just normal.” He stopped again.

“With your current body, Ranma-chan, there is another regular process you need to know about. It’s completely normal, but it might surprise or upset you when it happens if you aren’t expecting it. Uh, by my calculation, it should happen about 23 days after Cologne first struck the Cat’s Tongue point, and, um… like a good warrior, you need to be prepared.” This discussion was turning out to be a lot more awkward than he’d expected. He steeled himself and kept going.

“So… It’s called ‘menstruation’. It’s a natural cycle that happens in people with uteruses—like you have now—and it involves some bleeding from the vagina. It’s nothing to be afraid of, and it usually doesn’t hurt, but you should be prepared for it.”

Dr. Tofu was about halfway through his speech before Ranma realized what he was trying to tell her. It was all so euphemistically described. And the bit about ‘not hurting’? Well, she begged to differ about what menstrual cramps felt like. But it was nice of him to think of it and come to warn her. She should let him off the hook.

“Oh, uh, I had my period already, Dr. Tofu. It was fine. No big deal. There were some cramps, but ibuprofen made it quite manageable,” said Ranma, channeling girl-from-the-tampon-commercial energy.

“That’s… good to hear, Ranma-chan. But I’m a bit confused by the timing. I didn’t think it would have happened yet. But I’m glad that everything went well. And yes, a little bit of discomfort isn’t uncommon.”

“I made the same mistake about the timing, but Akane didn’t. The key thing she realized is that there was no reason that my cycle would be at some specific ‘start’ point when I transformed. She actually figured it out just a couple of days before it happened.”

“Oh, yes, I see. How foolish of me,” Dr. Tofu conceded. “Thank you for clarifying that, Ranma-chan.”

“By the way, talking of pain relief,” Ranma-chan added, “You have experience with acupuncture, don’t you? I mean, I think I saw it mentioned on a sign in your office. I’ve heard that can be good for some kinds of pain.”

“Ah, yes, I do have some training in acupuncture,” Dr. Tofu replied. “It’s a traditional Chinese medicine technique that can be effective for some kinds of pain, including menstrual cramps. If you’re interested, I could show you some points that might help, but I wouldn’t recommend you try using needles on yourself.”

“Oh, no, of course not. I happened to see an acupuncture chart the other day and couldn’t make sense of it. I guess it’s more of a historical curiosity than anything else, and I don’t know if it would even be usable, but, well, I just wanted to understand it a little better, what it treated, and so on. Maybe sometime I could stop by and you could take a look?”

“Certainly, Ranma-chan. I’d be happy to help you understand acupuncture better,” Dr. Tofu replied warmly. “Just let me know when you’d like to come by.” He was glad that the “talk” was over, and appreciated Ranma’s changing the topic. He thought they were nearly done.

“Is there anything else we should talk about?”

“Well, there is one thing, actually…,” Ranma ventured.

Oh, Kamisama, he thought. Please let it not be about sex.

She continued, “It’s about Kasumi-oneechan. She’s been so wonderful, taking care of me through all this, and she works so hard to look after everyone all the time, and… Akane and I… we wanted to give her a night off and a chance to get out of the house and do something for herself. But she says there’s nothing she needs to do. So I was wondering, do you have any ideas for something she could do? Maybe some sort of event she could attend? I think she’s a bit reluctant to go and do something by herself, but if she takes one of us with her, it sort of defeats the point of letting her have some time away from home.”

Dr. Tofu looked surprisingly relieved. “Actually, I do have an idea… There’s a fundraising gala tomorrow evening for the Tokyo Medical Relief Fund, supporting rural clinic access. I’m on the organizing committee, so I really should attend, but… well… these events are always better with a companion who can help make conversation with the donors. It’s at 6:30 p.m. at the Imperial Hotel. If Kasumi-san would consider accompanying me, I think it could be a delightful evening out for her.”

“Oh! Excellent! I’ll tell her,” Ranma said, feeling pleased that she’d been able to help Kasumi-oneechan. She smiled even more when an idea came to her.

“Can I tell you about a technique I developed to handle my menstrual cramps? It’s not acupuncture, but I found it very effective, and I think you might find a use for it, too.”

“Oh, please do tell me about it, Ranma-chan,” Dr. Tofu replied, not excited by the mention of menstruation again, but intrigued nonetheless..

“It’s a visualization and dissociation technique,” Ranma began. “I imagine a faraway ice cave, deep underground, where it’s always cold. Try to imagine it yourself! It’s a distant mountain; the snow is blowing, and the cave is so, so cold. When there is some part of me that is hurting, I place it in the cave and that helps. But—and this is the important part, Dr. Tofu—if I find my emotions getting the better of me, I can also use it to help. I imagine the cold slowing me down, cooling my emotions, sometimes even thinking of myself as being encased within a solid block of ice.”

“Ah…,” said Dr. Tofu, considering the idea. “So it’s a kind of mental imagery technique to help manage pain and emotional distress. That’s quite interesting, Ranma-chan. Visualization can be a powerful tool in pain management. I’m impressed that you came up with that on your own.”

“I think it could manage any emotion, Dr. Tofu,” Ranma said pointedly.

Dr. Tofu looked like he’d just been struck by a thought, and his eyes lit up. “Shall we go inside and see if Kasumi-san would be willing to join me for the gala tomorrow evening?” he asked eagerly.

Ranma nodded encouragingly, and watched as Dr. Tofu stood up very slowly. He seemed to have a glazed expression on his face as if he was thinking deeply, and after a moment he set off at a slow pace towards the house. Climbing the stairs and entering the dining room without tripping or touching the doorframe, he found Kasumi in the kitchen. Speaking almost glacially slowly, he successfully asked her to accompany him to the gala, and she agreed, feeling flattered and a little excited at the prospect of a night out. He then turned to Ranma, who’d followed him into the house, and gave her a grateful nod before departing. Slowly.

* * *

The girls reckoned that they could get about an hour of training in before they’d need to shower and get ready for the festival. They headed to the dojo, glad for the cooling its fans provided. Ranma had an idea she wanted to try: the Girly Girl Secret Disarming Technique, which was inspired by some of the moves she’d been making in the day, from the trip out to get the yukatas to the way she’d pranced down to see Dr. Tofu. It looked harmless and silly, but, like drunken boxing, there was actually far more going on than the surface appearance suggested.

She had Akane hold various weapons in both menacing and casual ways, and she’d approach her, saying something like “Oh, my God, Akane, you just look divine!” and then as she gestured expansively, apparently especially taken by some aspect of Akane’s outfit, she’d execute a swift disarming move. And you couldn’t tell what had just happened. Ranma just stood there holding the weapon and looking apologetic, as if it had all been an accident and she was as confused at the outcome as you were. Akane was impressed. It probably wouldn’t work on Cologne, but she could imagine it being highly effective on Kodachi and deadly for Kuno.

It was uncanny the way Ranma could control your attention by appearing to shift her own attention towards something else in the room. She’d suddenly seem to see something amazing over Akane’s shoulder, or accidentally drop an item and have it roll away, and you’d take your eyes off her for just a moment and then you’d be looking up at her as she apologized profusely, begging you for your forgiveness in case it had somehow been her who’d tripped you up, which, of course, seemed impossible as she couldn’t possibly have been close enough to have caused your fall. Akane was good at falling, it was the first thing you learned to do as a martial artist, after all, but as the number of falls increased, she started to wonder if this was payback for all the things she’d thrown at Ranma when she was channeling Mousse’s fighting style. Akane also quickly learned not to accept Ranma’s apologetic offers to “help her up”, as halfway through, Ranma would suddenly be “distracted” again and let go, leaving Akane to land on her backside again.

Akane broke it down. Speed, precision, fluidity, and misdirection, all built upon an exact map of the world built without even seeming to have looked at it. It was a beautiful style, really, and a testament to the skill of her bestie, but she was glad Ranma was not really trying to hurt her; every fall she’d caused had been calculated to be a bump, not a bruise. Used in earnest, this technique could probably be brutal, all while making it almost seem like the target was responsible for their own misfortune. When the hour was up, they both were ready to catch their breath and take a shower.

“That was pretty amazing, Ranma-chan,” Akane said as they walked back into the main part of the house. “I can tell that you have this… awareness—somehow you know where everything is. It’s like you have eyes in the back of your head.”

“I think it might be a side effect of the Cat’s Tongue point,” Ranma replied thoughtfully. “I have to be constantly aware of my surroundings to avoid hot water, so it’s almost like I’m training all the time. But it’s mostly unconscious; I don’t even know I’m doing it. I think it tires me out a bit by the end of the day, but I guess there are benefits, too.”

“Well, I think we both want to avoid hot water right now,” Akane said as she wiped perspiration from her brow.

* * *

They both took cool showers and then began the involved process of getting ready for the festival. Ranma brought her things into Akane’s room, so they could help each other get dressed. Ranma suggested that they do each other’s makeup, too, and Akane loved the idea. It was a joy for both of them. Akane enjoyed looking closely at Ranma’s face and trying to take that natural beauty and enhance it with subtle touches of color. Ranma, surprisingly, was a natural at it, and Akane loved how cared for she felt as Ranma worked. Once Ranma was done, Akane was amazed at the result: she looked like a princess. Ranma also insisted on helping her with her hair, finding an old curling iron and using it to add some soft curls. Akane felt like a movie star when Ranma was done with her.

And all that came before they put on their yukatas. Getting everything just so required some careful adjustments, but with their practice earlier with Miyu still fresh in their minds, they were able to get them close to perfect. Ranma even managed to tie Akane’s obi in the decorative bow style Miyu had shown them, and Akane was thrilled by how elegant she looked. Ranma looked equally stunning in her own yukata; the firework pattern seemed to capture her energy, and the ways in which her outfit matched up with Akane’s practically screamed their connection to each other. By the time they were finally done, they found themselves standing together in front of Akane’s full-length mirror.

“Look at us,” Ranma breathed with a little bit of awe.

Akane looked. She felt the joyful tears that could so easily come, but she forced them back, knowing they’d spoil all Ranma’s careful work on her makeup. She swallowed hard, almost in awe. This… this was really something.

“You and me,” she said softly, “You and me.”

As they headed into the corridor, they found Kasumi coming out of her own room. She, too, wore a yukata and was looking elegant in a design that featured swirls of little red flowers. “You two look absolutely stunning!” Kasumi exclaimed, beaming at them. “We must get Nabiki to take pictures!”

Nabiki was only too happy to oblige, saying she had “modest rates” for her services. They went out into the garden, where the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over everything. Nabiki directed them to pose in various spots, capturing the beauty of their yukatas against the backdrop of the koi pond and the maple tree. It was almost like a wedding photo shoot, and Nabiki insisted on taking multiple shots of Ranma and Akane holding hands and looking at each other. She also took several group photos with Kasumi standing between or just behind Akane and Ranma, beaming with pride and love. By the time they’d finished, she’d used two rolls of film.

Akane considered trying to drag their fathers out to witness the scene, but she was sure that somehow, despite everything, Genma would say something about “the boy” and spoil the mood. He could see the photographs later and maybe finally get that he had a daughter now, not a son, so she was happy to leave the men in the living room, playing shogi as usual, oblivious to their daughters’ happiness.

Ranma asked Nabiki if she was coming to the festival, too. Nabiki said she certainly wasn’t going to get all dressed up, but maybe she could go. Ranma-chan offered that she thought Miyu-san might be there, and Nabiki perked up a bit at that. “Miyu-chan? Yeah, she’d totally be there. Now I need to go just to find out whether she dressed up or not.”

And so they all set out. The sun had begun to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the residential streets. The clack-clack of their geta on the pavement created a distinctive rhythm as they walked. Other families headed in the same direction; many of them were just wearing regular clothes, but Ranma could see the occasional flash of colorful yukatas ahead of them. The air was still warm but beginning to cool, and the cicadas provided their constant background chorus. As they drew closer to Shakujii Park, they could hear the faint sounds of festival music and see the glow of paper lanterns.

In less than half an hour they’d made the journey from the Tendo dojo to Shakujii Park, where the summer festival was in full swing. The park had been transformed into a bright, effervescent space, teeming with happy people of all ages. Food stalls lined the pathways, there were children playing games together, and the central shrine area was adorned with colorful lanterns and decorations. The scent of grilled yakitori and sweet taiyaki filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and traditional festival music. Akane and Ranma bid farewell to Kasumi and Nabiki, who had both suggested on the way that they explore the festival on their own for a bit. They promised to meet back at the entrance in an hour and a half.

And what a time it was. The festival was everything they’d hoped for and more. They wandered through the stalls, trying various festival foods like takoyaki, yakisoba, and kakigōri (shaved ice). They played games like goldfish scooping and ring toss, winning small prizes they proudly showed off to each other. The atmosphere felt electric, with the sounds of traditional music and the chatter of festival-goers creating a vibrant backdrop. They even watched a traditional dance performance at the shrine stage, where dancers in colorful yukatas moved gracefully to the rhythm of taiko drums. It was only too fitting that a small fireworks display capped off the evening, with bursts of brilliant color lighting up the night sky above the park and the crowd oohing and ahhing.

If every day was like this, Akane thought to herself, it would probably be too much. But you needed some days like this, days where you looked at the world and just felt joy. And sharing it with her bestie made it all the sweeter.

Ranma felt much the same, but intertwined with a poignant realization of how lucky she was. If, in the fight with Cologne at the Nekohanten, she’d achieved her goal, snatched the Phoenix Pill, and taken it out of her misguided sense of duty, she would have none of this. Of course, she… really he… wouldn’t have any idea what he’d missed out on, but what a heart-rending thing to miss. To feel so alive and so aware, connected more strongly and deeply to another person than she’d ever imagined possible. To feel like you belonged. Like you were who you were supposed to be, and to have the world see and accept who you were. Screw duty. This… this whole… everything was what life was about, actually living.

When they met up with Kasumi and Nabiki at the entrance, some stalls were starting to pack up, but others were clearly intending to operate well into the night. Kasumi mentioned that they had run into Dr. Tofu, and she was pleased to see that he seemed to have achieved some mastery over his aphasia; the trick seemed to have something to do with speaking more slowly, at least as far as she could tell. Nabiki teased her about her upcoming “date” but it was very good-natured. Maybe they’d patched things up. All four of them made a final circuit of the festival together, and then headed home, tired but happy.

As they neared the dojo, Nabiki remembered something. “Oh, did you know our fathers have a day out planned for tomorrow, to the beach at Enoshima? They said something about how we couldn’t be ‘sitting around doing nothing’ in this heat.”

In many ways, a day trip to the beach would be nice, but Ranma’s thoughts immediately went to her only viable swimsuit. The one with “BOY” emblazoned across the front. She had vowed to never wear it again. If her father had had the courtesy to clue her in about his plan a little earlier, she could have bought a new one. She and Akane had just been to the department store! She sighed quietly. Whatever. She knew who she was and so did the world. Mostly. Much more importantly, Akane knew who she was now, and they were together, and they’d never allow that to change. She’d wear the stupid suit and try to enjoy the irony.

At the end of the day, as she settled down to sleep, Ranma might have reviewed all the wonderful things that had happened in this amazing day, or worried about the probable confrontation with Cologne tomorrow. But she didn’t. She was asleep in seconds.