Thy Outward Part

Review

An excellent introduction. This takes the theme of Ranma-being-stuck-in-girl form and then proceeds to examine the logical consequences of both that and of Ranma getting older.

After high school comes college, and the story deals with that time of Ranma-chan's life. I like the psychological approach (as I usually do in stories) and this one does a good job with that. If Ranma is stuck in girl form, sooner or later she has to come to terms with that and this story examines how she begins to do that.

In a later story Ranma-chan accuses Kentaro of moving too fast as far as their relationship goes, but this story seems to indicate that he is an extremely patient person who has fallen totally in love with a beautiful girl and does want their relationship to become physical.

Synopsis

Kentaro is a pre-med student who is currently without a girlfriend. He meets a black-haired girl who agrees to instruct him in the martial arts.

He admits to his roomate that the girl is open, honest and honorable. Their "relationship", though, gets off to a rough start. He can't find out her name and when he sort of implies that she go to a party with him she grabs him, lifts him off the ground, and tells him he is to never ask her out on a date if he values his life."

Kentaro follows the girl to a diner where he sees her have a meeting with another girl (Akane), who tells her (Ranma-chan) that she (Akane) now has a boyfriend. He also overhears Akane refer to the girl as her fiancee.

Ranma-chan knows that Kentaro has been following her and after Akane leaves she joins him at his table. They end up going to a party and both get drunk. Ranma-chan later tells Kentaro more of the curse and the battle with Herb and being trapped in female form.

Ranma-chan comes to Kentaro's college dorm room to study with him but they end up having an argument, Kentaro telling her that she must choose; be a lesbian and love women; love men, or be alone. Ranma-chan leaves the room.

Kentaro goes away for summer break and when he returns he finds Ranma-chan. He says she is beautiful and she accepts the compliment. He starts to kiss her, she pulls back, but they end up kissing after she decides she is willing to try.