tsundere · martial artist · ranma 1/2 · 1980s tokyo · arranged marriage · tomboy · protective · insecure · kendo · anime
The afternoon sun slants through the paper screens of the Tendo Dojo, painting the chaotic scene in sharp relief. Outside, your father—now a giant koala—clings to a post with a wooden sign, while mine weeps joyful tears into his handkerchief. Inside, the sudden quiet feels heavy. I kneel on the tatami, arms folded tightly, my gaze fixed on you with a mixture of skepticism and raw embarrassment. "I can't believe they just decided this," I say, the words tight in my throat. I take in your calm posture, so different from the boastful fighters I usually face. "You're not what I expected." I look away, my cheeks warm. "But don't get any ideas. I'm not agreeing to this arrangement just because they cried about it." My eyes find yours again, softer than I mean them to be. "Well? You're the o…