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Azusa had, for the longest time, the most wondrous, cutest dreams. Dreams of her watching over a kingdom, beloved as a princess, just like in the movies. Adoring subjects would shower her with love, praise, and all the cute things she could ever want, and she'd care for them all in return.
However, one particular branch of these dreams stood out unlike the rest. Azusa, the princess of the ice, had many a faceless individual working for her. The castle staff were enthusiastic to see her life be perfect. And yet, it was the head maid and head butler who stood out, being recurring subjects of her dreams.
The maid, in spite of the lack of distinguishing features, was adorable. Her figure was petite, although that may just be from Azusa's particular height advantage. Her eyes held no colour, but there was passion in them, honour, in spite of her supposedly difficult origins. And every action she took, she took with the utmost care for her princess.
The butler, equally as vague, was still noticeably a girl. Strong, charming, inherently cute through her boyish charms. Maybe a tad stubborn, but appreciative of Azusa's tastes. After all, the butler could appreciate the maid as much as Azusa did, and on a less personal note, took great care of the royal menagerie.
Azusa knew she was a lesbian. After all, girls were simply so cute! So, when the dreams had the maid and butler both go to take care of their princess behind closed doors, it was hardly a surprise. And, in fact, the princess wished to return the favour…
Only to wake up before she could.
♡♡♡♡
Azusa Shiratori woke up in her bedroom, in her cutest dragon themed pyjamas, with her new blanket, Martine, swarmed by plushies as per usual. Her heart ached over the dream she had, yet again, been unable to see through to the end. It was so unfair!
The rest of her body ached in equal measure. This, however, was the ache that came from a large amount of exercise the day before. Muscles healing as she needed time to rest and recover, like any smart martial artist.
After all, she only just had the biggest Martial Arts Ice Skating match of her life, one she lost, the day before. The Charlotte Cup was done, finished, never to be competed in again. The pig that turned into a boy wasn't hers.
Maybe that was for the best. Azusa didn't really want a human boy around like she did a piglet. She already had to deal with one pretty boy enough, and not one that gave the best impression to those who knew him. A boy who, luckily, didn't win his ‘prizes’ either. In losing Charlotte, at least those girls were safe.
… Safe at that moment, at least. The poor red haired girl… That whole situation was so gross, so… So… Uncute, that Azusa should've done something. She was simply too blinded by victory, though. Too prideful to let herself lose. Too excited for a piglet. Too much of a stupid girl, like Mikado always said.
It was a shame, too. The red haired girl was so cute, in both forms. Azusa wasn't blind, she could compare Ranma Saotome's bodies just as much as she could with Charlotte's. The problem was that Ranma was absolutely hiding behind something, some kind of heavy mask that stopped her from just being cute all the time. It must be tough, turning into a boy.
And Akane Tendou, that tomboy who Azusa challenged in the first place? Well, tomboys were cute in their own, amazing ways! That cute haircut, the cute outfits, the cute way she just swung Ranma around like a shopping bag on occasion. Maybe Azusa was just the tiniest bit smitten.
But Akane seemed so weird about Ranma… Did she even like girls? The way the pair had acted while Ranma was redheaded was far more romantic than most of what happened with black hair Ranma. Maybe… No, Azusa shouldn't guess what people are or what people like, even if they are cute.
The chances were that Azusa would never see those opponents again. That she'd simply imagine small what-ifs over her crushes from far away, not even the same school. But Azusa could dream. And in last night's dream, while still very indistinct, the maid and butler had a braid and bob cut respectively. They would for every dream to come.
♡♡♡♡
It had been a while since that morning after, a long while. Azusa didn't bother checking exactly, it wasn't worth looking back on her failure like that. It wasn't worth counting the days since she truly started yearning. Especially not when…
“And The Golden Pair are having complications, yet again!” The announcer had roared over the speakers as Azusa and Mikado glided across the ice, “Can you feel that tension in the air, that chill in your bones?”
It wasn't Azusa's fault her partner was yet again thinking with his lips and not his brain. Their opponents were a cute couple from Seisyun High School, a dashing boy and a darling girl. That, of course, meant the only thing on Mikado’s mind were thoughts Azusa was glad she didn't have access to.
“You don't have to keep pushing in front, you know?” Azusa poked her partner as she was yet again shoved to the back, “Azusa can lead perfectly fine…”
“I'm just giving the crowd what they wish to see, stupid girl,” Mikado whispered through his smile, “The women love me, we can win on presentation alone.”
“No we can't, it's a knockout competi-” Unfortunately, Azusa's complaints were cut off by her being grabbed and flung in an attempt to initiate the Couple Crusher attack on their opponents, “TELL AZUSA WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO THROW HER, MEANIE!”
Azusa grabbed the boy of the opposing pair by the ankles, like they always rehearsed after an attack like that. And she held on. And she kept holding on. And Mikado never showed up to initiate the literal rest of the attack, letting her face get dragged across the ice.
“Oh, is Sanzenin about to claim his first kiss in months?” The announcer answered Azusa's question of where her partner was before she could even ask it.
The brunette looked up to see her awful partner getting kneed in the crotch for what had to have been the nineteenth time since the Charlotte Cup. You'd think he'd learn to protect that area after the first time… Fair to say, it was a hard enough hit to incapacitate him.
Azusa had no more reason to be holding this boy's ankles. This wasn't even something she wanted, only another chance for her pervy partner to score another date. Letting go of her opponent's ankles, Azusa let herself slowly slide to a stop with no momentum to keep her going, face down on the ice.
“And that's another loss for the so-called Golden Pair!” The crowds roared at the announcement, “Maybe they should just settle for bronze before they become worth only aluminium!”
♡♡♡♡
“What do you mean it's all Azusa's fault!?” The girl yelled, her voice echoing through the empty ice rink lobby, “You threw her without warning!”
“I must've warned you, and you simply didn't listen!” Mikado screeched back, pointing a finger at the truly innocent girl, “You never pay attention, if you did, we could've won!”
Azusa wanted to slap the jerk. “Pay attention to what? You, failing to get lucky!?”
“I wouldn't have failed if you warned me she was about to do that! She was too shy, otherwise, I suppose.”
Azusa felt like she was talking to a big, awful, not cute brick wall. Whatever anyone saw in him that could be remotely charming? It was completely absent here. A gross, dirty pile of uncute things in a human boy's shape.
“Why? Why can't you just date like a normal person and leave it out of competitions, at least?” Azusa pleaded, “Leave Azusa out of it, at least?”
“Oh, you know what happens when I try to woo girls like a ‘normal person’,” The boy spat out venomously, “And you still refuse to listen to reason and admit you like me! So you made me like this, you stupid, childish girl!”
There were a million ways Azusa had been injured across her years of Martial Arts Skating, before and during her time at Kolkhoz High, that didn't compare to the vile gut punch of the memories Mikado had induced. Memories she had repressed for the sake of keeping her scholarship alongside Mikado. Memories that currently were making her practically taste stomach acid.
“And by the way,” Mikado added before he walked out the door, “Stop talking in third person like that! No one finds it cute, it's just embarrassing!”
Slam, the door was shut.
This was a common enough occurrence that Azusa could count the seconds until she could safely leave behind him. Thirty long seconds where Azusa could only mull on those words. Thirty seconds where she really was the worst person on earth. The least cute.
When she could finally safely leave, it left Azusa to keep thinking. Thinking of how stupid it was to reject that stupid advance from Mikado when they first met, because now he goes after more than just her. Stupid to be scarred from life enough that speaking in third person was more comfortable. Stupid to think she was cute. Stupid to let her crushes go.
For all her dreams of royalty, of a loyal, loving life, Azusa was a silly, stupid, childish girl. She knew that, and it stopped her from pausing at every little thing she could take. Finding cute things was hard when she didn't feel cute.
“Mrrrrrrroooowww…”
Or, perhaps, not that hard. The sound of a cat in pain, already owned or not, was not something Azusa could let happen as she sat idly by. The sound came echoing from a narrow alley nearby, so Azusa ducked in there to find-
Red haired Ranma Saotome. Still super cute, still a subject of Azusa's yearning, Ranma Saotome, meowing like a cat with her left foot caught in a storm drain. She kept pulling at it, as if it would simply come loose, but that kind of thing could lead to a very uncute trip to the hospital.
“Ranma?” Azusa approached, concerned, “Ranma, what happened?”
“Hiiiiisssssssss!” The redhead took notice of the brunette with a strange look in her eyes. Fear and confusion, through cat-like slit pupils.
Upon a better inspection, while this was Ranma's body, it wasn't Ranma in control. Ranma, for one, could probably still speak like a human. So, if it walks like a cat and talks like a cat, then presumably…
“Ah, Renee!” Azusa could name a cat, that was easy, “Does Renee want Azusa to help?”
There was still a look of confusion in the catgirl's eyes, and slight fear, but her new name was greeted with a light “Mrrp?”
“Azusa can help, just be a calm kitty, Renee,” Kneeling down, Azusa gently grabbed the caught ankle and helped guide it out, “There you go, good kitty.”
The catgirl took a moment to jump away from the drain she'd been stuck in, wincing as she landed on her sore left foot. Then, lowering to all fours but limping with that foot, she made her way up close to Azusa again, closely inspecting her saviour’s face. Then, in a moment that short-circuited Azusa's brain, the cat sharing her crush’s body purred while trying to lean in to Azusa.
“... If Renee is still hurting, Azusa can take her home for rest,” The brunette tried to keep her head on as straight as her poor sapphic heart could handle, “Azusa lives very close, so it could be very comfy for you to just sit.”
Azusa could only assume the little chirp her hopefully new friend made was an affirmative one.
“Um… Good kitty, cute kitty,” Azusa assured as she got up to lead the way home, “Good girl, Renee.”
♡♡♡♡
Ranma, in all honesty, had no clue where the fuck he woke up when he did. That was pretty normal during any nekoken incidents, though. The cat liked to wander, there was not much Ranma could do about that.
The thing is, Ranma was very clearly indoors, which usually meant the cat stuck around the Tendou household that particular outing. This would make the question of where Ranma was easy, normally.
Except none of the rooms at the Tendou home came with bright pink walls.
Now, as per usual, Ranma was waking up comfortably curled up in someone's lap. This only really meant Akane, being the cat's designated ‘safe human’, apparently, not that it said anything about Ranma's feelings or whatever. There was a problem there, too, though, as Akane was too much of an uncute tomboy to wear something as frilly as the dress Ranma was loafing on top of.
“Oh, Renee?” An oddly familiar voice said as Ranma stirred, “Is the kitty waking up?”
“Who the… Renee…?” Ranma got up off the lap and looked at the speaker, a girl who was familiar… The ice skater! “A-Azusa!?”
“Ah, you have your body back! Hello, Ranma!” The brunette giggled as she put the hairbrush she was holding to the side, “You have a very polite and cute cat!”
“What am I doing here!?” The redhead looked around the bedroom in confusion. The cat rarely trusted people that much, especially not quickly.
“Renee got your ankle stuck and Azusa helped her out,” Cleaning some of the tangled hair off of the brush, Azusa smiled, “She was needing rest, so Azusa let her stay here and brushed her while she slept!”
“You named my brain cat!?” Ranma only then noticed how loose his usual braid was, “You mESSED WITH MY HAIR!?”
“It's just a loose braid, less stress on your scalp!” Azusa pointed at her vanity in the corner of the room, “It's not cute to damage yourself.”
Standing up, flinching as his left foot hit the floor, Ranma went to look at the mirror. It really wasn't that much of a difference, technically. But his red hair was braided together gently, with a white bow at the end. She looked pretty…
“The bow is named Edwige!” Azusa cheered as Ranma stared at herself in the mirror, “It's so very cute! Perfect for a cute girl…”
“W-wait, I'm not- You know I'm a boy, right?” Ranma never exactly showed Azusa his curse, but-
“Yes, you turn into one, but you're still a cute girl either way!”
Ranma's heart fluttered for a brief moment, and he hated thinking about what that could mean. It was… Probably just the curse being weird, or Re- the cat liking Azusa. Anything at all. Because Ranma was a man.
“I… I should go home now, thanks for watching Renee,” Ranma braced himself to leap out Azusa's open windows to escape, “Maybe see you around.”
Azusa called something out at him, but he was already gone. Jumping across Nerima and the Tokyo skyline, Ranma had to think about how not to hurt his ankle with each leap. At least it stopped him from thinking about being called a cute girl.
♡♡♡♡
“Where were you!?” Akane was genuinely concerned about Ranma's limping, “And what happened?”
“I dunno, Re- The cat got hurt, ended up somewhere,” Ranma was as dismissive about his injuries as ever, “No big deal.”
Akane, as always with the nekoken, was worried the whole day when Ranma disappeared. Normally, though, the cat would come back to her instead of Ranma piloting. Only Akane could calm the nekoken… Only…
Having focused first on the redhead’s limp, Akane could now see the looser plait with a bow Ranma's hair as opposed to the usual tight pigtail. “What happened to your hair?”
Ranma paused, hand reaching back to feel her own hair. Then, in a moment that shocked Akane, he giggled. Softly, daintily, girlishly giggled. He seemed surprised as well, a blush on her face.
“... The bow is named Edward or Edwige or something. It's cute,” The redhead whispered, “I… I think I kinda like it.”
The extremely cute girl that appeared before Akane's eyes then refocused back into Ranma, man amongst men, and awkwardly walked off without a word. Ugh, stupid Jusenkyo curse making Akane think the girl version of Ranma was the attractive version!
Regardless, Akane had some clues now. The cat went somewhere where cute things got French names…
Flashbacks to an ice rink filled Akane's thoughts.
♡♡♡♡
Exams, and really school as a whole, really wasn't cute. Especially since Azusa's Ritalin prescription had run out, not that it did much good, and then her teachers didn't believe her inability to focus because of how much she did focus when medicated… It all was a mess she couldn't get out of.
Really, though, why did she have to do the highest level maths as part of her sports scholarship? What did trigonometry have to do with ice skating? It felt like a system stacked against Azusa, especially because Mikado never complained about classes. Jerk.
Her books were clunky and heavier than even she was used to carrying, the uniform was gross and strict, and more than a few people just didn't like talking to Azusa because of how she spoke. She couldn't even wear her skates.
Azusa was mentally exhausted over studying before school that morning for a maths test later in the afternoon, but, the moment she entered the gates of Kolkhoz High…
“Azusa Shiratori!” A very cute girl from another school was there to push Azusa against the wall, despite being a bit shorter than the skater.
“Akane? What are you doing here?” Azusa couldn't help but blush at being pushed against the wall by her more tomboyish crush.
“You should know!” The blue haired girl insisted, “How did you get my cat to like you?”
“Your… Oh, Renee?” That kind of possessiveness over a partner was so cute, “Azusa only helped her and brushed her! She's a very cute cat. You have a very cute girlfriend…”
Akane sighed dreamily. “Yeah, I do… W-wait, Ranma's a boy! You should know that! And you named the cat!?”
“... Really? Ranma's a boy? Azusa has her doubts,” More than just doubts, in fact, she was sure of it, “Aren't you a lesbian, too?”
Azusa was no longer held against the wall as Akane got heavily flustered. “I AM NOT- Wait, ‘too’?”
Well, when in Rome… Azusa used the moment of vulnerability to slip right past Akane's defences, reversing their positions. It was as simple as leaning against the wall from there, looking gently down at the increasingly blushing blue haired tomboy.
“Girls are cute!” Azusa said simply, “And Azusa knows you like cute things, don't you, cute tomboy?”
Akane turned incapable of saying anything coherent, flustered out of her mind. Having her brain broken like that was probably a little too far on Azusa's part, but if Akane was just going to deny that she had at least some attraction to the same gender, then that had to be ended pretty fast given she was engaged to a girl.
However, Azusa realised how far this could go, given her skating partner, so she simply let Akane go. The blue haired girl had a fascinating, adorable look in her eyes, before she smacked herself in the face and ran away. Hopefully she wouldn't be too late for her school.
♡♡♡♡
The maid, in that night's dream, gave a catlike smile to Princess Azusa, as she went to work on the brunette's long and curly hair. It was delicate work, sure, but the maid was grateful for the care her princess gave her. It was care and affection returned in droves.
The butler noticed a smudge in Azusa's delicate make-up, so in reaching to fix it, had to slightly pin her down. She was so gentle, yet still slightly embarrassed by it as she fawned over the princess. Such a flustered mess for someone so strong.
And yet, when it was done, Azusa found herself alone. Her head maid and butler's things were there, somehow, but the shallow, nondescript, imitation humans weren't. They needed faces beyond the braid and bob cut.
So Azusa started projecting faces on them. Two familiar faces.
♡♡♡♡
“... ‘Kane? ‘Kane, hey, whatcha staring at?” Ranma waved his hand in front of Akane's face a few times, “I don't have anything weird on my face, do I?”
Ranma had noticed his fiancee watching him all day, it was slightly concerning. She looked deep in thought, and almost strained. Whatever puzzle she was trying to piece together was not an easy one, and it seemed pretty Ranma centric. Was he the problem? Was there something wrong with his black hair?
“N-no, it's just… Ugh…” Akane splashed Ranma with the glass of water that was beside her, “See! It's so much easier now, it has to be the curse!”
Wiping the water off his face, Ranma did notice it was at least easier to breathe, but that couldn't have been what Akane meant. “What's easier, staring at my boobs?”
“Y- I mean, no, idiot! Your curse just makes me like your girl form better!” The tomboy said illogically, “It has to be the curse!”
“Well, I do like being in girl form more, anyway, which I'm pretty sure is just the curse anyway,” Ranma said as if it'd help Akane, “So it's not too weird for you to think I look good, I guess.”
“But it is! And you're a boy, so… So…” Akane seemed frustrated with herself, frustrated enough to punch a wall, “UGH! Stupid cute girls!”
“Wait, girls? Like, more than just me?”
○●○●○
One hundred foes in two minutes. Azusa knew it wasn't herself getting sloppy on the ice, not when she was always top of her game in her solo practice. No, out of both members of the Increasingly Less Precious Metal Pair, it was obvious who wasn't pulling their weight.
“That was 78 to 22 knockouts, Shiratori in the lead,” The school-provided coach looked at the tally on his clipboard, “What gives, Sanzenin?”
The boy in question wasn't focused at all, having leaned himself against the walls of the rink and chatting up an onlooking girl. The mere repeat of his ‘Prince Charming’ act was near sickening. How many times did Azusa have to watch this jerk go through the motions?
Azusa fully shoulder bashed Mikado away. “Coach is trying to talk to you!” As her partner went flying across the ice, she stopped where he'd been standing. “Azusa is so sorry about that, Tsubame. You can do better.”
The girl just scoffed as she walked away. So much for trying to be helpful. At least Azusa could say she tried to warn her, she'd been trying to do that more lately.
“What was that for, stupid girl!?” Mikado snuck up on Azusa for the exact same attack in return, “Do you have to ruin everything?”
Sliding and crashing awkwardly into a pile of fallen opponents, Azusa dusted herself off and picked herself up quickly. “Didn't you hear? Azusa knocked out the most in practice, you're the one doing things wrong!”
“Hmph, you must be mistaken,” Mikado combed through his hair as he made his way to the exit of the rink, “After all, I don't get distracted like you do. You'd throw a competition for a piece of confetti.”
“Azusa would not!” Dashing to the exit herself, the brunette quickly found herself tripped up by Mikado’s outstretched leg.
“Look at that, she's distracted by the rink itself,” Mikado mocked the girl on the floor, “I'm afraid you can't name and take this sacred place home, stupid g-”
A sweep kick knocked down the jerk, making him fall to the ice with a thud while Azusa used the momentum to get up. “Call Azusa a mean thing one more time, she dares you!”
Walking off and away from the ice, Azusa did quickly grab Mikado’s comb out of his hand. She'd have to disinfect it heavily when she got home, but it was too cute for that jerk. She was going to name it something cute like Natacha, and hope the creep wouldn't have any other combs to boost his ego with.
“Coach, Azusa needs to leave early,” The brunette said as she slipped her skates off, “She needs a mental health break, this kind of stress isn't cute.”
♡♡♡♡
Placing a newly washed comb deep within the recesses of her drawer, Azusa sighed. Leaving for home early really had been a must, otherwise she would've crashed and burned right there on the rink. Instead, she could fully embrace what her and her therapist had been calling ‘dragon time’.
Step one of dragon time was to gather all of her softest things in one place, which naturally led to her bed being smothered by plushies, pillows, and blankets. Step two was putting on comfy pyjamas, of which she preferred dragon print ones for the thematic element. Step three was curl up with the soft treasure hoard and relax.
She was only done with step two when there was a tapping at her bedroom window. Perched on the windowsill was a very cute red haired girl, posed like a cat with a white bow held in her mouth, a prized catch. Ranma, or more likely, her and Akane's cat, was scratching at the window to get in.
“Hello Renee!” Azusa opened the window, not quite expecting it when her guest climbed through, “Are you here to visit Azusa?”
“Mrrrp!” Renee chirped happily as she crawled through, placing down the bow as she jumped onto the small uncovered section of Azusa's bed. She then happily loafed on the bed, looking expectantly at the brunette.
“You didn't have to return Edwige to Azusa,” The skater giggled, sitting with her pile of plushies, “It looked cute on you, you can keep it.”
The catgirl's eyes lit up for a moment, then pawed at the bow, pushing it towards Azusa. Then, Renee made her way over to Azusa's lap and climbed into it without asking. Just as Azusa remembered from the Charlotte Cup, her redhead was bizarrely lightweight.
Maybe Renee would be okay being a part of dragon time. It would be calm, sure, but some cats like calm, right? Renee was calm last time, as she was now, and it wouldn't be too much of a disruption if Ranma woke up before Azusa was ready…
“You're a really good kitty, Renee,” Azusa calmly started to undo the redone tight braid, ready to fix it back into the loose plait again, “... You are a girl, right? Azusa isn't doing something wrong by calling you and Ranma girls?”
Renee purred, which was probably the closest she could do to saying yes at the moment. However, that might not be enough… Azusa had to have a plan for when Ranma woke up and dragon time was over.
♡♡♡♡
“Just like Azusa said, you make such a cute girl!”
Ranma was trying to retrace the steps of how she got here, wearing what had to be the girliest, frilliest dress she'd ever seen, and feeling like a cute girl while doing so.
He had woken up again after Ren- THE CAT. The cat took him to Azusa's home, and he woke up there. Azusa was in a dragon onesie for some reason. Ranma could feel the comfy loose braid again, looked in the mirror, and felt cute. Then she was asked if she wanted to feel more cute, and she kinda hazily said yes, and suddenly…
Well, it was a bit big given that Azusa was taller than her, but the borrowed dress made Ranma feel like some kind of dress up doll. Azusa called it ‘otome’ fashion, then mentioned a newer, emerging fashion style like it, but it didn't all really register to the far too distracted Ranma.
The skirt of the dress twirled perfectly just below her knees, the slightly puffy sleeves gave her an innocent look, she felt like a proper, innocent maiden. Azusa even did the redhead’s natural make-up, and it didn't feel odd, or demeaning, or anything. Ranma was a girl…
A camera snapped, and Azusa giggled. “You are such a cute girl, Azusa had to keep something to remember this! That dress should look good on you in your other form, too.”
“On… On my other form?” Nothing looked good on black haired Ranma, in her opinion. He was a handsome boy objectively, but she just didn't feel right looking at herself like that…
“It should be big enough for the extra height, and you would be so cute!” Azusa insisted.
Ranma… Cute girl in either form… She… That wasn't…
“... Gotta go Azusa but thanks bye you're cute too sorry ‘bout Renee!” Ranma had yet again fled out the window. It was hard enough to hold her thoughts together just being called a girl at all, but being called a cute girl by arguably the expert on cute things…
○●○●○
Akane was going to get a fucking nosebleed. Why did Ranma have to look like… have to be, even…
“Such a cute girl…” The blue haired girl mumbled to herself as the dolled up redhead walked through the entrance, giving Akane a full show of the outfit Azusa must've loaned.
Ranma looked down to apparently realise that no, the cute pastel blue dress was not a red silk shirt and pants. The redhead’s face started to match her- His- Their hair. That flustered look on their face was just too adorable, although it was turning into panic by the second.
“‘Kane, I can explain, I-”
Ranma didn't get a chance to explain before hot water was poured on them in a rush. “Boy! Your mother is coming, go get changed!”
… If Akane had to imagine what a goddess of beauty may look like, the appearance would be that of a tall, black haired girl with a loose plait. Her natural make-up did everything to make her just as pretty as the redhead she could be…
“OH NO, YOUR TRUE FORM'S BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER GIRL!” Genma flew into a panic as he ran out elsewhere. Ranma, however, looked simply shocked.
“... I haven't been cursed again, though?” Ranma looked at Akane with confusion, “I… I look like a girl right now? Not weird?”
“Do you want to try getting married again?” Akane's hands couldn't cover her mouth fast enough.
“I- Uh- Huh- I- You- Whuh!?” Ranma posed her hands up in that adorable shocked pose she did, “B-b-but what about- I look like- You deserve-”
Both the black and blue haired girls looked at each other with this odd rush of adoration and confusion, and knew exactly who to either blame or ask for help from. Akane might be aiming to do both. She'd need advice on how to get things that made Ranma look like a princess in either form.
♡♡♡♡
“Mrs Shiratori, I'm just concerned for your daughter's ability to keep skating at the level we want to see from her,” The principal could be heard from inside his office, “You've seen her more recent scores, we can't promote such poor results.”
“Oh, please! It's not Azusa's fault, you should know that!” Azusa's mum responded, “Look at her solo matches! My daughter is being weighed down by that Sanzenin boy, and you know it! If anyone should be at risk, it should-”
“We aren't here to talk about his performance, we're here to talk about your daughter and her scholarship.”
Azusa, sitting just outside the office, wasn't surprised by the principal’s insistence. Mikado got away with everything, and the dumb thing was that he didn't even need his scholarship. His family basically paid for everything, anyway. He wasn't at risk of getting kicked out.
The argument inside continued with all the familiar plot beats. Azusa knew this song and dance. Caring more about the combined skills of skaters, her attention issues, her way of speaking, recommending a therapist despite her already seeing one. It was all old to Azusa by now, even though she was only ever allowed to stay outside during these meetings. The office was too cluttered and distracting, after all.
“Please, skating is one of my daughter's passions, you can't just take this away from her,” Azusa hated hearing her mum plead, “Can't you find her another skating partner?”
“Kolkhoz High is the only place in Tokyo that offers an ice skating scholarship, Mrs Shiratori, and we can't have our image tarnished by the student's inability to work together. You must understand, this is for the school's, and thus Azusa's, benefit.”
Azusa wished she could just pick a new partner. If that was possible, she would have ditched Mikado the moment they first met, when he… And then…
… Uncute memories. Those were very uncute. And even when, afterwards, Azusa made her preference towards other girls clear, Mikado had the gall to say that he'd prove no other girl shared that preference… And he got worse… And… Well, Ranma and Akane happened. And Azusa never told her parents any of this.
But, the Golden Pair had to stick together for the sake of Azusa's schooling. Skating, for a while after what her father did to her and her mum, was all Azusa had left. And she could have gone to any school, sure, but this was the one that'd let her pursue that passion, even if it was pricey.
Some little thought planted itself in Azusa's head, the memory that Furinkan High was on the list of schools she could have gone to and her mum and step-dad could afford easily. She could've been at the same school as her two crushes the whole time… And still do skating outside of school…
“Alright, Azusa, I'm done,” The much clearer voice of Azusa's mum got her out of that thought spiral, “Come on, let's get out of here.”
“... Sorry Azusa's not a good student…” The apology was unnecessary, Azusa knew that, but she felt like she had to.
“Well, I'm sorry your principal is a dick that doesn't get you,” The woman's darker brown ringlets framed the cheeky smirk on her face, “Come on, let's get out of here. It's not cute enough here for my tastes.”
♡♡♡♡
“Azzy! You have friends here to see you!” Azusa's step-dad called out from downstairs.
As much as Azusa liked her step-dad's silly English nickname for her, having it called out in front of friends she wasn't expecting was slightly embarrassing. Only slightly, though. It was cute and funny, and that felt just right for her.
Dashing down the stairs in her casual pink long sleeve and heart embroidered denim shorts, Azusa wondered who it'd be. She hadn't made any plans, that's for sure, and Mikado was known not to be a friend whenever he showed up to run through some manoeuvre plans…
“You know, I swear I've seen my little Azzy in a dress just like that one,” Maybe it was more embarrassing now, “You girls also like that kinda fashion?”
“O-oh, I'm…” Azusa could now see black haired Ranma through the door, next to Akane, wearing the dress she accidentally took home, “I'm thinking of getting into it more…”
“And I'm encouraging h- her,” Akane chuckled a little, “But we know Azusa's an expert, so-”
“Ranma, Akane! Come in!” Azusa cheered, albeit a little flustered, “What are you doing here?”
The black haired girl (who was just so cute!) shyly kicked her feet. “We, uh, wanted to talk to you about some stuff. Just fashion stuff, though, nothing bad.”
“And the, um… Thing we talked about when I visited your school…” The blue haired girl found it harder to make eye contact.
Azusa didn't want her poor, sapphic heart to get easily attached to the idea of the two girls she was literally dreaming of coming here to sweep her off her feet. But a girl can hope. A girl can hope so, soooooo bad.
“Well then, come with Azusa!” She grabbed both of the guests' hands and pulled them upstairs, “Thanks for welcoming them, papa!”
The man smiled and waved as he quickly left Azusa's sight. With two cute girls in tow, she didn't give a damn what was in her way. They didn't seem to have that much trouble being rushed up the stairs, anyway.
“So…” Azusa closed her bedroom door behind her after pushing Ranma and Akane in, “What can widdle ol’ Azusa do for you?”
There wasn't a response immediately, though, as both other girls were looking at the hands they'd been dragged by and blushing. Azusa could understand, though. As a martial artist of any kind, skating or not, someone else being so strong was either really hot, really scary, or both.
Ranma was the first one to come to focus. “U-um… I want to keep being a cute girl, maybe. A-and I liked dressing up with you. And ‘Kane thinks I'm cute like this, so…”
“I'm just here to learn how to make her more pretty,” Akane admitted, “And… Maybe ask some questions about how to handle being a… a lesbian…”
Oh. Ohhhhh, Azusa had helped them realise things. Well, Azusa kind of knew that the girls really didn't know, but not that she was what helped them work it out. Calling Ranma a girl, cornering Akane against a wall… So they weren't only cute normally, but in a way…
They were kind of Azusa's fault. Which meant they were Azusa's. She couldn't fumble this now, not anymore.
“Azusa would love to help Ranma feel cute, in either form!” She smiled, “You can be Azusa and Akane's dress up doll!”
The way that the girl with the braid turned all blushy was adorable, and the girl with the bob cut had to agree. After all, Azusa and Akane were staring at Ranma with the same look of awe.
♡♡♡♡
Akane saw her beautiful fiancee beaming at herself in the mirror. This was dress number three, and although in her redhead for comfort reasons, she looked just as beautiful the whole way through. Akane was starting to think it wasn't Jusenkyo’s fault anymore.
“And with the petticoats, you can get even more spin!” Azusa pointed out, “How does that feel, Ranma?”
The almost giddy way Ranma spun around was the cutest thing Akane had ever seen. “I feel like a princess in this!” The shortest girl there giggled.
“We're going to have to go clothes shopping for you,” Akane said, still mesmerised, “Otome and lolita fashion just aren't for me, so I don't have any dresses you can borrow…”
“Oh, but you're a very cute tomboy, so maybe…” Azusa ruffled through her wardrobe as Akane started to feel a lot of things, being called that, “Aha! Azusa has some things!”
Akane found herself getting pulled off her seat on Azusa's bed and towards the wardrobe, swapping places with Ranma. Azusa was really close to her face, and Akane really wished she was closer, just for a moment. For very normal reasons.
“Okay, so here you go!” Azusa said simply, handing over some folded clothes before turning around to not look, as she did with Ranma earlier. It was an awkward feeling, getting changed in a room with girls who liked girls… But Akane was one, too. This was going to have to be the norm. She could get past this.
“... Azusa, this is a pair of plain shorts,” Akane asked once she started to put stuff on, “I thought this was from your wardrobe.”
“Azusa can look like whatever she wants, and sometimes she wants to look cute and princely,” The brunette responded, “But only sometimes, not as often as being more girly.”
That made sense, but… “People treat me weird whenever I try to be anything but girly…”
“Those people are dumb, because…” Azusa twirled around and gasped at the sight of the fully dressed up Akane, “This looks so cute on you, it's perfect! Like a Prince Charming!”
Looking into the mirror, Akane did feel cute. Handsome, even. Still a girl, but a handsome, dapper girl. Ruffled sleeves on the button up shirt, a light blue vest with silver trim and detail, culotte shorts which felt slightly funny but really worked with the whole look.
“Woah…” Ranma was looking very intently, just as Akane had been to her earlier, “I… You look… I just… Girlfriend?”
Akane couldn't help but laugh at her equally as dolled up, yet far more femininely clothed, counterpart. “Yes, dummy. Girlfriend. Fiancee, even,”
“Aww, look at you two! Azusa thinks you're both so cute, like a matching set,” There was joy to the skater's voice, but also something else, “Um… Can Azusa hug you both? This was so fun, and Azusa thinks you're both really pretty, and…”
Ranma outstretched her arms. “C’mere, then!”
Unlike every time Shampoo glomped Ranma, Akane wasn't upset when Azusa did it. In fact, she was almost more jealous of Ranma. So, in the name of fairness, the cute and dapper looking tomboy joined in on the hug, all three going into a fit of giggles.
♡♡♡♡
Azusa's dream that night was strange. There was no butler, and there was no maid that Azusa recognised. No, the one wearing the simple, but still cute, uniform of the head maid was Azusa herself.
She stood in what must've been the castle's shared bedroom for the prince and princess. A handsome young woman with an adorable blue bob cut hairstyle, and a precious and delicate lady who's braided black hair shimmered red as the sun hit it. Both only wearing their underwear.
Azusa, as expected of her position as maid, got to assist in dressing the pair. Despite the contact while helping lace up the princess's dress, and despite being up close while buttoning up the prince's coat, there was this inherent boundary that came from being of another class to them…
The royals adored her, sure, but not as a lover. How could they? They were stunning, picturesque goddesses, while Azusa was simply, plainly cute. And as far as cute things went, Azusa only had one potential route for love like this.
Cackling within the otherwise unused castle dungeons, a demonic force awaited, an aspiring usurper and despot should he be let free. He wickedly combed through his hair as Azusa approached unwilling and desperate. This was not for her sake. This was what was left for her. This was the cruel and hideous fate she was likely to be going towards. It was either solitude, or fall again into the grasp of this monster on ice…
♡♡♡♡
Azusa woke from the dream turned nightmare with a start. It had started almost sweet, and yet, the separation of her from her crushes was a threat she had not considered. The visions of Mikado as punishment had been. Azusa couldn't sleep the rest of the night, no matter how many plushies she held on to.
♡♡♡♡
“Something’s up with Ranchan and Akane,” Ukyo said after dealing out the cards, picking up her deck, “More than usual. They've were actin’ all… I dunno, weird at school today.”
“I have not seen anything like that,” Shampoo smirked at her deck, “Airen has used the nekoken twice due to seeing me trying to spy, but not much else weird.”
Kodachi didn't seem happy with her cards. “Wait, is this Lord Ranma, or that red haired harlot?”
“They're the same, remember?” Ukyo answered, despite that fact never sticking in the gymnast's head, “Anyway, Ranchan was going as a girl, but they were all extra lovey dovey. There's gotta be some spell or potion or something going on, cos I ain't ready to think they're perfect husband and wife material.”
“I could always check it out,” Ryoga mentioned offhandedly, “If it's really that much of a concern. Someone will have to drop me off at the dojo, though.”
“Unfair that piglets get to go in for free…” Shampoo complained, “Now play your card!”
“Oh, uh…” Ryoga placed down a +4 immediately, “Yellow. I don't have any reds.”
Kodachi looked like she would implode any second as she picked up her extra four Uno cards. Game night was always like this.
♡♡♡♡
“Oh, P-chan!” Akane cheered as the piglet wandered into her room, “I've been wondering where you were!”
“I haven't,” Ranma spoke oddly softly for his birth form, hidden behind a changing curtain that'd been set up, “I saw him last week, looking for a way to Manhattan from the shopping district.”
If he wasn't in pig form, Ryoga would have gone to fight that black haired bastard right then and there. However, he was on a recon mission, and thus had to act the part. Getting snuggled up next to Akane's chest was simply a benefit of the job.
… Except Akane had this weird shirt on. One of those white dress shirts with a ruffle on the chest, the kind that made Ryoga think of French royalty, or pirates. The fabric got in Ryoga's piggy face and was not really all that comfortable for him.
“You could've at least brought him home, dummy!” The blue haired girl admonished, “Ugh, such a silly doll.”
Ranma actually sounded kind of flustered by that strange nickname. “I- What- Well, he hates me, so I couldn't. Y-yeah. I'm not silly…”
“Oh, but you are a doll, cutie?” Akane teased.
“... W-well, as if you aren't, ‘Prince Charming’!” Ranma retorted.
Akane flushed pink as she put Ryoga on the floor. “That's a different thing and you know it!”
“It really isn't! Admit it, you liked Azusa treating you like a dress up doll just as much as I did!”
… Azusa? Azusa Shiratori? Brown curly hair, pink clothes, ice skates, occasionally glowing red eyes, kleptomaniac Azusa Shiratori? Founder of the Charlotte Cup and cause of some of Ryoga's greatest humiliation?
“Well, I'm not the one pre-planning my outfit for meeting with her tomorrow,” Akane debated, “So it’s different!”
… Oh. Oh fuck. Azusa had somehow claimed both Ranma and Akane as cute things she owned. They must've been under some kind of mind control to belong to her, or something. Ryoga hadn't seen a collar on Akane, at least, so that was g-
There was a single pink choker necklace visible on the vanity. Ryoga assumed that the unseen Ranma must've been wearing a different one, then. Just like the collar that'd been placed on him.
“Not all of us have an easy to access wardrobe in the mornings,” Ranma sounded like he would've been pouting, “So sorry I have to take my time before then.”
How long had this corruption been in motion? How much damage to his manhood had Ranma faced? How much of Akane's innocence had been corrupted? And, may all things good forbid, how long had they been going by some arbitrarily chosen French names!?
“Y-you… You could stay in my room for the night, so you can get dressed here in the morning?” Akane offered, and that was all it took for Ryoga to decide enough is enough. He and the others would have to strike fast, and he knew when, where, and who.
… As long as he could meet Shampoo at the rendezvous point to share his info, at the front door to the Tendou house.
♡♡♡♡
Azusa loved Harajuku, even on a normal day, in spite of and because of its many cute distractions. However, today was somehow even better, her walking in-between a redheaded princess and a blue haired prince, both dressed appropriately.
“I never even looked in some of those clothes sections before!” Akane swung her bag around as if it didn't contain a good few kilos worth of clothes, “I mean, I never thought to check the men's section for women's clothes, why would I?”
“The day I can walk into the women's section with black hair and zero judgement is the day I die happy,” Ranma muttered to herself, “Also, I swear I knew one of those other customers from a French dinner party somewhere. I still get nightmares about those mouths…”
“Both sections always have good stuff, that's why Azusa checks it all!” The brunette guided her two crushes a few steps further before stopping, “Wait, you go to French dinner parties?”
“Only for that month…” The poor redhead looked horrified at her own memories, “Never again. Never. Again.”
“AZUSA SHIRATORI, PREPARE TO DIE!”
The boy who turned into Charlotte the piglet was the loudest interruption, but he wasn't the only one. Three girls were also suddenly blocking the path: A brunette who had a lot of cute spatulas in a bandoleer, a purple haired girl with cute bell hair accessories, and a black haired girl who's leotard might’ve distracted Azusa in two ways, cute and gay.
“Ryoga, what are you doing?” Akane said, grabbing the attention of the makeshift blockade.
The confusion on the boy's face was evident. “A-Akane, I've come to free you from her stupid, stealing grasp! And Ranma, but he doesn't seem to be here… Oh, but we can help you, Miss.”
“Sure, pal. Sure.” Ranma deadpanned at the boy who fell for her completely accidental disguise, although she was looking more anxious by the second.
“Ranchan's right there, idiot,” The spatula wielder pointed out, “How is that not obvious?”
“The false Ranma, yes, but not Lord Ranma!” Pretty leotard lady proclaimed.
“Why do you look like a doll, Airen?” Cat bell accessories girl glomped the increasingly distressed looking redhead, “That is not good as a future husband.”
… Did Ranma and Akane have to deal with people like this on the regular? Especially if Ranma was being regarded as husband material… No wonder Azusa hadn't seen them properly since that skating match. She was just another obstacle…
“Now that ain't fair, I think he looks adorable,” Spatula girl tried to pull Ranma away, “Maybe this is what happens when he's taught by Kasumi for our marriage, he goes domestic.”
“Give me the location of Lord Ranma, you ignorant hussie!” Leotard lady seemed less pretty as she tugged the redhead in her direction, “I know you have hidden him from me!”
“Akane, let's go while they're distracted!” The boy who turned to Charlotte forcefully grabbed Akane's wrist and tried to pull her away.
This did not read well to Azusa, not well at all. Not while her crushes were being touched and harassed over things that should be for actual love instead. It was gross, familiar, and as an unfortunate expert on the subject, very uncute.
What Azusa wasn't an expert on was the nature of those cursed by Jusenkyo, particularly how water was almost magnetically attracted to them, hence why the sudden sun-shower was oddly inconvenient timing. Azusa's attention got split as the cold water caused two separate transformations, with Ranma already a redhead.
“Ry- P-chan!?” Akane screamed out as she suddenly held the piglet in her hands.
“AAAAHHHHHH!” Ranma screamed out as an adorable cat clung to her face.
“... Y'know, ‘Dachi, how about we go?” Spatula girl grabbed leotard lady by the arm, “Before things get messy?”
“But where did our colleagues g- WAH!” The gymnast was dragged away before she could stick around any longer.
“Ryoga, you… You idiot!” As cute as the piglet was, Azusa fully agreed with Akane's decision to punt him into the stratosphere. The blue haired girl was absolutely fuming with anger. As for Ranma?
“Mrrrrrrroooowowowwww…” Renee fell to all fours as she switched in. The cat that was once a purple haired girl scampered away with her tail between her legs.
“I… I can't believe any of them! Ugh!” Akane ran to pick up the cat-brained redhead before turning back towards Azusa, “Sorry, we might need to go…”
Azusa tried hiding how crushed she felt, but it was still extremely obvious in her face and tone. “I-it's okay, Azusa understands, you can go home.”
“Want to join us?”
The question shocked Azusa a little, but it was genuine. The girls she had been crushing on, dreaming of, even though one of them was temporarily controlled by a cat… They were offering for her to come over.
The answer was obvious. “Yes! Azusa would love to!”
♡♡♡♡
“Renee is so much more playful with you,” Azusa pointed out as she sat on Akane's bed, “She only ever relaxes and sleeps around Azusa.”
“Maybe it's just because my first instinct about her was to get cat toys? I don't know,” Akane waved the cat teaser around above Renee's head a bit more, “Ranma is always so active, so I figured her cat would be, too.”
It was more and more normal every time, seeing Ranma's body acting like a cat. Still, Akane couldn't help but giggle at the sight of the redhead batting around a cat toy. Such great martial arts skill being used to gently bap a feather on string was almost enough to distract herself from the revelation about her ‘pet pig’...
“She might see Azusa as the calm friend, then,” The brunette theorised, “Because the first thing Azusa did was get Renee to a calm spot.”
“I wonder why she liked you so quickly, anyway,” Akane sighed, “I… I like to think she only trusted me because Ranma had a crush on me…”
“Oh… So her liking Azusa would mean…”
There was no real way to answer that. Especially not when it almost sounded like Azusa had a crush on Ranma… Not that Akane didn't, at least slightly, possibly, maybe, have feelings towards both the skater and her fiancee at once. Akane wasn't any better.
Renee, having noticed a severe lack of enthusiasm in playtime from her blue haired owner, decided to make a move. Happily moving to the spot on the bed between Azusa and Akane, the catgirl bapped both of the humans’ hands towards each other, practically forcing them to be held before holding the hands down with a paw. Renee seemed so proud.
Akane and Azusa both got extremely flustered.
“... Would… Would you be upset with a second girlfriend, Prince Charming?”
If it were possible for humans to spontaneously combust from overwhelming thought, then Akane would have been gone several time in a matter of seconds
♡♡♡♡
Ranma woke up in the middle of the night, having been changed into a loaned pair of Akane's pyjamas, curled up at the end of Akane's bed. The tomboy in question was fast asleep, with her arms positioned as if she had been hugging something, despite the lack of plushie or pillow.
The redhead didn't remember much past Shampoo turning into a cat, so that explained the day flying by into night. Hopefully Azusa wasn't too put off by the whole thing. Ranma's… Group, to put it lightly, could be rough.
Getting up slowly so as not to wake Akane, Ranma was about to go to sleep on the floor instead, out of habit of being a boy in a girl's room. However, a noise could be heard coming from downstairs that wasn't all that common at this time: A girl crying in the downstairs bathroom.
Once she headed down to investigate, Ranma made sure to knock quietly before opening the door. Inside, Azusa was crying to herself in the mirror, wearing a borrowed pair of pyjama pants and a light, slightly see through, under singlet, the pyjama shirt discarded to the floor. The brunette's torso was covered in healed scars, many older than others.
“... Azusa? What's up?” Ranma's voice slightly startled the crying girl, and while it looked like the redhead was about to get glomped, it never came as Azusa just sat there, primed to pounce but never moving.
“... It's dumb. Azusa is dumb. It was just a dream…” The brunette mumbled through tears.
Ranma had about two seconds to stop herself from sounding emotionally constipated. “Ah, yeah, dreams. They sure can suck,” Great job, Saotome, “You can talk about it, if you want. Not that you have to, but, uh… I'm here for you.”
To prove her point, Ranma sat cross-legged on the bathroom tile, looking intently at the taller girl. After a flash of feelings crossed Azusa's face, she carefully sat down too, a little apprehensive.
“... So, and Azusa can't control this, but Azusa has been dreaming about you and Akane,” The brunette looked down, slightly ashamed, “A lot. Ever since you beat Azusa, actually…”
“Oh, damn, I… I hope we aren't too bad in the dreams or something,” Ranma rubbed the back of her neck, “I sometimes get nightmares of things that have beaten me, or got close, so I get-”
“No, they're… They're romantic dreams,” Azusa admitted, “Dreams where Azusa gets to… To be with you two. And it's normally super innocent, but after those people harassed you both, and Akane hugging Azusa in her sleep…”
The brunette sniffled for a moment, clutching herself protectively around the stomach.
“... Azusa had a nightmare where she couldn't control her body. And it made her hurt you, like Azusa h-had been hurt, and…” Words quickly failed the brunette, and Ranma had no fucking clue what to do with the implied information. So, she didn't do anything to address the nightmare directly.
“I know you wouldn't hurt me unless I stole something from you, so how about this,” Ranma stood up and offered a hand to Azusa, “You can always just ask, and I'll give you permission or not. Doesn't hafta be for everything, but, y'know, if you wanna make sure I'm cool with anything. And I'll ask you back, okay?”
Azusa looked up at Ranma, slightly panicked, but she held onto the offered hand like a lifeline as she stood up. “... Azusa would like that.”
“Cool, it's a plan, then,” Ranma tried to give the same bright smile Akane always gave, although it came off a bit more cheeky and playful, “Are you okay to head to bed again?”
“... Yes, Azusa is.”
♡♡♡♡
“Can Azusa keep hugging you?”
The red haired girl being used like an emotional support plushie, getting hugged while sitting in Azusa's lap, hadn't stopped blushing since starting. “Yeah, I'm happy to stay like this.”
“And you better stay there!” Akane said jokingly, “I'd like hugs with the two princesses, if that's awright, especially seeing as you're on my bed!”
“Azusa does plan to stay!” Even though nothing had been confirmed about the three of them, it almost felt like it had, “Perhaps, someday, poor widdle Azusa's prince will come and join with cuddle time!”
Akane stuck her tongue out, making both Ranma and Azusa giggle a little. This was nice. Azusa could live with this, even though she would rather the confirmation… But if she could keep Ranma and Akane as her friends, that'd be safer, and easier…
“... I really like this,” Ranma purred, “I wish we could do this more. It's a shame your school's so far, ‘Zusa.”
“Yeah, it'd be nice to have both of my girlfriends at the same school…” Akane sighed as she sat down.
Both Azusa and Ranma looked at the cute tomboy in a moment of shock. Neither were exactly comprehensible, the shorter girl due to being completely surprised, the taller girl due to her heart racing a mile a minute.
“... I thought I said yes to having two girlfriends yesterday, at least to… Oh,” Akane blushed as she realised her mistake, “I… I didn't properly, and Renee was in control so Ranma didn't hear…”
Now that all three girls were pretty much out of commission due to the nature of what was talked about, the reality of it all really started to settle in for Azusa. She, right now, could have two cute girlfriends, all for the price of one question, and she'd even get a cat thrown in for free.
“... Ranma? Are you okay having two girlfriends?” Azusa asked hesitantly, attempting to unwrap her arms from the hug…
Only for Ranma to basically force the hug to continue by holding Azusa's arms in place. “Y- Yes, but- I- Me!? You want me as a girlfriend!? Both of you!? Even though…”
“You're a pretty girl? Yes,” Akane said, pushing through all her previously repressed feelings, “So… Girlfriends.”
“Girlfriends…” Ranma seemed happy, if still a bit shocked at the possibility.
“Azusa's girlfriends!” The brunette squeezed the redhead in her arms, then got practically tackled by the blue haired girl into a three person cuddle pile.
A thought, in that moment, lodged itself into Azusa's mind. In spite of the scholarship, in spite of competitive skating being encouraged at Kolkhoz High… Suddenly, Azusa had a lot less reasons to worry about staying there, and a lot more encouraging her to transfer to Furinkan.
She had to talk to her parents about something.
♡♡♡♡
“Stupid girl, where were you!?” Mikado had interrupted Azusa's casual skating session at the public rink after school, “You missed training today!”
“Oh, Azusa isn't staying at Kolkhoz, she quit,” There was this smug look on her face, “For Azusa's mental health and education's sake. Bad school environments are really not cute.”
Mikado looked offended. Good. “What do you mean? You can't just quit! What about us?”
“Azusa can skate outside of school, and can't afford to stay if she doesn't do the scholarship. Azusa really isn't interested in the scholarship, though,” She began to skate towards the exit, away from the pervert, “And there is no us, never has been outside of being forced together.”
“Y-you can't just deny me! You're stupid if you think anyone will ever like you alone!” He was getting desperate, hardly bothering to maintain his charming facade.
“Actually, you're the stupid one there. Azusa has girlfriends, ones who already want to stay far away from you,” The brunette slid to a halt before ice turned to floor, “So, Azusa isn't stupid. There is no Golden Pair. Not anymore. Never again.”
“You can't be serious. I need your skating skills, and you're getting distracted and leaving!?”
“Yep! Good luck!” Azusa walked off the ice, ignoring the jerk who was yelling out a string of duel challenges and incredibly awful insults, “Azusa knows you need it!”
And she simply moved on with her life. Cutting out the gross, hurtful parts felt so freeing, especially knowing there was support from everyone good she knew. Azusa, princess of the ice on her own right, was not letting herself be brought down by awful creatures.
… Say, there was a really cute bag that Azusa recognised as Mikado’s, filled with school stuff that Azusa wouldn't want to keep, that was currently unattended. Additionally, there was a conveniently placed bin by the exit to put all the uncute school stuff. It'd sure be a shame if…
“Gaultier!” Azusa called out, already unzipping the main pocket of her cute new bag.
♡♡♡♡
“Akane! My pigtailed girl! How I've waited for you!”
“Oh fuck, I forgot about Kuno…” Ranma muttered under her breath while walking towards the gates.
“I wish I was that lucky,” Akane spoke through gritted teeth, “Ugh, boys…”
Through the powers of the relaxed school uniform policy, both girls were trying out something casual enough not to be an inconvenience. Akane still could be dapper with just a neat enough button up shirt and pants. Ranma made the bold move towards a red blouse and a black knee-length pleated skirt.
“My fair maidens, you mustn't change yourselves for me,” Kuno continued, blocking the path, “Although, I do appreciate the effort to embrace femininity, dear pigtailed goddess. Akane? You could improve in that regard.”
“Oh, you little-” Before Akane could even think to throw a punch, a shadow flew from overhead, revealing the aerial brunette on pink roller-skates just before she plowed her knees into Kuno's face, bowling him over. Her pink bell bottom pants, white dress shirt, and pink glittery vest, all made her look a lot more roller disco than roller derby.
“Ranma! Akane!” Azusa cheered, “Is that a good first impression for Azusa's first day at Furinkan? She hopes that boy wasn't important...”
Akane looked absolutely starstruck. “He wasn't. Isn't. Whatever. You did great.”
“He's a creep, anyway,” Ranma added, “This school's gonna love you just for that, I bet.”
“Great!” Azusa cheered, offering a hand out to both her cute girlfriends, “So, are Azusa's prince and princess going to show her around? She wants to know all the cutest places and people!”
Ranma and Akane both grabbed on to a hand, the taller girl in skates now positioned in the middle of them. Azusa skated right over Kuno, leaving wheel marks on his face and taking the newly christened Virgile the bokken.
♡♡♡♡
Azusa dreamt of being a princess, of being adored by millions just for being cute, but those weren't the happiest part of her dreams anymore.
The kingdom was ruled by two princesses and a prince, all three girls a strong ruler in their own rights, but better together. The love and adoration they shared was far more personal, all on the equal ground these things should be.
When one needed affection, the others would be asked. When the dreams turned sour, Azusa could file them away as something impossible. Everything was at peace in a way it hadn't been since Azusa couldn't remember.
Azusa had two girlfriends, and occasionally a pet cat she got to name, and they were cute, and they were hers.