Magitech - Mahora: Friendly rivalry. [Episode 141827]

“Hi, I’m Fuu,” the blonde in glasses introduced herself with polite elegance.   “I’m fourteen years old and looking forward to joining the archery club here.   My aura affinity is air.”

“Hi, I’m Umi,” introduced the blue-tressed, junior-miss super-model.   “I’m also fourteen years old and I hope to join the fencing club.   By the way, my aura code is water.”

“… uh …” the littlest of the quartet backed away uncertainly.

“Psst!   Don’t be shy now, Kiddo,” Umi encouraged.

“Well, alright!” the red-haired girl bounced back. “I’m Hikaru.   I have a fire aura and I’m fourteen as well.   My folks run a kendo dojo so I’m hoping to…”

“No way! — A little shrimp like you? — When I saw that baby face I thought she should have been in elementary school for sure. — Oh, like we can talk, Sis. — What’s with these under-aged transfer students lately, you’re all weird. — Chisame! …”

Hikaru fumed, but the babble broke off as the gaggle turned to glare at one of their number, a girl with round glasses who was doing her best to vanish behind her laptop and pretend she hadn’t said anything.

“Ahem,” Negi coughed.   “And I guess our last new student needs no introduction.”

“Does that mean I can sit down now?” Ranma asked hopefully.

“Ah hah ha,” Negi nervously disagreed, “no.   I don’t think so.”

“Right,” Ranma sighed.   “Ah, whatevah.   Hey!   I’m Ranma Saotome, aged sixteen, ya know, the ‘Boy From Another Dimension’ and all.   I really have no idea what I’m doing here since I’m not a magician or not’ing.   I’d join a martial arts club, but none of you are in my league.”

“Ranma!!!” reverberated three insulted girls.   “You jerk!”

“Oh, come on, you know it’s so…”

“So, I take it you four know each other,” Negi interrupted.

“That’s right,” Hikaru agreed proudly, “I’m Ranma’s wife!”

“… I'm his girlfriend,” Fuu echoed in disagreement.

“… I am his fiancé,” Umi contradicted also.

“He’s three timing them all!” unisonned the gaggle of girls in gasping shock.

“It seems you’re quite the player, eh, Mr. Saotome,” Shizuna-sensie observed slyly.

“It’s not like that,” Ranma sighed.   “It’s not like that at all…”

“Oh, I see,” a befuddled Negi mussed.   “… ah.   No, actually, no, I don’t…”

“It’s alright,” Shizuna stated.   “Girls!   Settle down and stop glaring at Mr. Saotome like that.”   She sighed.   “This was bound to come out sooner or later, so let me explain.   You see girls, although he can’t use magic himself, Ranma’s aura strength is well above even the most elite student at the Mahora Psychic Academy.   Upon investigation we found that his unique bloodline is of the highest calibre.   Should one of… –ah– should any lucky girl bear his child, it could be a magician of unmatchable power.”

“In other words,” Negi summarised, “they’re not after him, per se, but his magnificent D.N.A..   Man, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that kind of thing for a few years.”

“Uh, right…” Shizuna perspired.

“That isn’t so!” Hikaru protested.   “I don’t care about that, alright!   I’m different from those two.   I really l-l-l… like Ranma a lot.”

“How does that make you any different?” Umi protested.   “I’m from an up-and-coming Onmyo family trying to bolster our reputation.   Meanwhile, Fuu here is trying to rebuild her family’s reputation.   And your family’s dojo isn’t doing so well lately either, Hikaru.   We’re all after the same thing.”

“No!” Hikaru protested, “look, my family might want that, alright, but I… I really care about Ranma!”

“Once again,” Fuu added, “how does that make you any different?   We all think that he’s –ah– not so bad.”

“Fuu’s right,” Umi agreed.   “She’s so hot for Ranma her aura burns.”

“Wha…” Fuu protested with a fierce blush.   “Don’t say such indecent things in public!”

“Such passion,” Umi repeated, “I tell you, it’s hot, hot, hot!”

“Oh, really?   Anyway, look who’s talking.   You want him too!”

“Well, there’s no denying it.”

“No!” Hikaru protested.   “Ranma and I are husband and wife!   When we met as children he promised!   It was lll… we liked each other at first sight okay, and   and…”

“Yes, yes, we kn– uh oh!,” stated Umi as her look turned to one of panic.   “Blue Ice Barrier!”

“Emerald Wind Shield!” Fuu added as she raised her own guard.

“Oh, crap!” Ranma understated.

“… and Ranma is the most important thing in the world to me!” Hikaru cried as her fire aura flared up.   “I’m going to make him my wife!”

Flames erupted across the front of the room in a roaring conflagration of raging primal furry, only to die down immediately as an embarrassed Hikaru realised her mistake.   “… Uh! … Opps.   I meant, ‘I’m going to be his wife!’”

“Never mind that, Hikaru!” Fuu yelled, “look at what you did!   The room’s a mess.”

“Ranma’s a mess,” Umi agreed.   “Again.   It’s amazing he can survive this kind of treatment.”

“Oh, I lost control of my aura again, didn’t I?” Hikaru cried.   “I’m sowwy!”

“Awe,” Umi sighed, “who can stay mad at you?”

“Oh, yes,” Fuu agreed, “you’re just too cute.”

Hikaru sniffled adorably.   “Weally?”

“Yes, really, Hikaru,” Fuu reassured her, “you’re like our sweet little sister.”

“So cute,” Umi agreed as they rushed to embrace their adorable rival.

“When will the hurting ever end?” Ranma croaked from under foot.

And what, he wondered as he finally passed out, was the uniform committee thinking when they made high-heeled slippers part of the standard dress code.