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Kasumi was preparing breakfast when she heard a loud thud coming from upstairs, and immediately went back to cooking, she knew that was either Ranma and Genma fighting, Ranma and Happosai fighting, or Akane beating Happosai up for going inside her room. Either way, she just kept cooking. Upstairs, Ranma was following Happosai around with a broomstick, trying to hit him again and again, but failing. Behind him, Akane, running with her wooden sword and trying to hit him as well, until they both reached him and beat him up.
They realized they should already go eat breakfast if they wanted to get to school early, and quickly changed to their uniforms, going downstairs and waiting for Kasumi. Minutes later, they received their meals and ate them as fast as they could, going outside and walking towards their school, followed by Nabiki, who left the house minutes after them. They arrived in record time and went to their classroom, waiting for their friends to show up. Suddenly, Shampoo's laugh and bicycle were heard through the halls and Ranma quickly hid behind Akane, the purple-haired girl opened the door and screamed Ranma's name.
-Shampoo, you know people who aren't students can't come inside right? —Akane spoke, crossing her arms
-Oh shut up Akane, Shampoo only delivering food for husband!
-I don't want it, thank you —Ranma spoke from behind Akane, holding onto her waist to not lose balance
-Ranma? —She said, leaving the ramen on a table— What you doing behind Akane?
-Doesn't matter, I don't want your ramen, give it to someone else please —He said with a nervous smile
-But Shampoo cooked it just for you! —She tried giving him a spoonful of it
-Don't! —He dodged the spoon by holding tighter onto Akane
-Hum? —Shampoo looked at the scene and examined it— Akane, aren't you gonna hit husband? —She asked, genuinely confused
-Why would I? He's only trying not to eat your ramen —She replied, putting her arm on top of Ranma's shoulder
-What this mean, Ranma —She asked, crossing her arms as well
-Isn't it obvious? —He answered, standing up next to Akane— Of course I'll be close to my fiancée —He held her waist slightly, still not touching her completely, but enough for Shampoo to get mad
-What!? —She screamed— But you future husband of Shampoo!
-I always told you I wasn't, didn't I? —He held Akane closer to him
-Aagh! —She grabbed her bicycle and jumped out of the window mad
-Wow, she was really pissed —Akane said, seeing through the window how Shampoo left the school
-Serves her right, I've been telling her to leave me alone forever
-You didn't have to hold me by my waist, did you? —She asked, hiding a smile
-Ah, well I... I wanted it to, to be believable so... I, umm, you're not mad, are you? —He stuttered, smiling nervously while playing with his fingers
-I'm not, her face when being angry was funny —She held her chest, her heart was pounding fast
-Well, ummm, I... I'll go to my seat... —Ranma was visibly red, and quickly hid himself by stumping his head on top of his table
Akane giggled and then sat down in her seat, there were only three or four classmates with them and neither were their friends, so no one would tease them. Or at least that's what they thought. The rumours started spreading around school until it reached both Kuno's ears and their friends, so now they had a new problem.
When lunch arrived, they were going to go eat at the rooftop, but were stopped by Kuno, who didn't let them go outside of the classroom, both with their bentos in their hands.
-Stop right there! Saotome Ranma! —He screamed, pointing his kendo sword at him— Rumours has it that you called Tendou Akane your fiancée! Is it true!?
-Ah, yeah —He said, nonchalantly, Akane grabbed something from her bag and gave it to Kuno— It's been a month since we accepted the arrangement
-Here, Kuno-Senpai —She gave him a photo card Nabiki made, from when they told the family about it— If you excuse us, we want to eat
Kuno was practically paralyzed, he couldn't move, Ranma and Akane walked past him and went to the rooftop, their classmates swear Kuno turned into stone. Akane and Ranma arrived at the rooftop and sat down in a quiet place, eating their bentos while talking about their future exams, and what they would do once they were second-years. Until Ranma mentioned something else.
-I can't really forget his face, Kuno-Senpai looked funny, don't you think, Akane? —He said while still eating
-Well, he sure didn't see it coming —She said and laughed a little— Oh, by the way, Ranma
-Hum?
-Do you want to practice in the dojo after doing homework? —She said, while drinking a soda
-Oh, yeah! It's been a while since we had a spar —He was done eating, standing up and helping Akane
-Don't hold back, you hear me? —She said, with a bright smile
-I would never —He replied, and they both went back to their class
They both arrived just in time, at the end of lunch break, and sat down on their seats, waiting for their teacher to come through the door. After a couple of hours, they finally got out of school. When they arrived home, they had tea and then did their homework, Ranma with a lot of Akane's help, and once they were done, they prepared to go to the dojo. They practiced for hours, until it was almost dinner time and Nabiki called them to go take a bath before eating. Akane was the first one, took her twenty minutes, and Ranma was the second, it took him thirty minutes, he didn't want to get out of the bath.
-Ranma! Get out already! Dinner's almost ready! —He heard through the door, it was Akane's voice
-Yeah, yeah, coming —He said, sad
The whole family enjoyed Kasumi's cooking, and were chatting with each other, with a little fight over food here and there, between Genma, Happosai and Ranma. When they were done, he surprised everyone by saying he would wash the dishes, so they could all go. Akane stayed with him, helping and talking with him.
-Ranma —She said suddenly
-What? —He replied, while cleaning the last plate
-Why did you suddenly accept the arrangement? —She asked, when he gave her the plate, he froze— We aren't really dating...
-Well... —He was a little red— I, uuuhhh... Ummm —He didn't know what to say
-Ranma —Akane's voice made him tremble, and his cheeks were bright red and burning— I know you love me, but I don't understand
-I... I... —His whole face was red now— Well, I... Uh, ummm... —He closed his eyes, with them still closed, he spoke— I guess I just wanted an excuse to be closer to you...
-Oh Ranma —She touched his shoulder, and he jumped— Oh my god, your face looks like a tomato —She giggled
-You're the same! —He said, covering his face with his arms
-So, does that mean... —She held his hand— It's not 'fake dating' anymore, right? —She smiled
-Well, uhhh... —He hid his face by burying it in Akane's neck— Yes...
-Haha! Took you long enough, dummy —She hugged him and Ranma's body tensed a little, but he returned the hug
They went to sleep shortly after. The next morning, they arrived at school holding hands.