A MATCHMAKER IN TOKYO - Part 3
(It is early the next morning. In Akane’s bedroom, Aisa is fast asleep, while Akane is getting
dressed for school. There is a thump as one of Akane's shoes falls to te floor, and Aisa is woken
up.)
AISA: (groggily) Wuh... Wuh...
AKANE: It’s OK. Go back to sleep.
AISA: (shuts eyes agreeably) What are you doing?
AKANE: I’m getting ready for school. (pauses) You know, the torture parents put you through five
days a week?
AISA: Unh. School. (opens one eye curiously) Furinkan?
AKANE: Last time I checked.
AISA: Well...enjoy yourself. (snuggles deeper into blanket)
AKANE: Hey, wait a sec. I just had an idea. Why don't you come along with us?
AISA: Me? School? (snorts) You gotta be kidding.
AKANE: But why not? It's going to get boring staying here at home, and who knows? You just might
have fun.
AISA: (shakes head vigorously) No way. Uh-uh. The day Aisa Valenzuela voluntarily goes to school
during her summer vacation is the day- [Wait a minute. Both she and Ranma will be there. I can't
afford to lose any opportunities that might present themsleves! Oh no...]
AKANE: The day...
AISA: (tears flowing down cheeks) The day I never thought I'd live to see.
AKANE: Aw, cheer up. It'll be fine, I promise! (runs out the door, then sticks head back in) I'm
going to tell Kasumi to pack another lunch. You're going to have to wear a uniform, so in the
meantime you can borrow one of mine. (disappears)
(Aisa rolls out of bed with a groan. She darts a poisonous look at the empty doorway.)
AISA: Feh. I sure hope you realize the sacrifice I'm making for your sakes. School in the
summer...!
(Every one else is busy eating around the dinner table.)
RANMA: (gobbling up rice) So Aisa's going to school with us?
AKANE: Don't be such a pig. Yes. Do you have a problem with that?
RANMA: No, me?
AISA: Well I do.
(They look up. She's standing with her arms folded and she's glaring at them darkly. The hem
of the uniform falls down to her ankles.)
AKANE: O...K. It's a little long. I guess you're a little...
RANMA: Short.
AKANE: -er.
AISA: (bristling) It's petite and don't rub it in!!!
AKANE: Not to worry. I'll have it fixed in a jiffy. (brings out pins and needles with a
flourish, kneels down and starts pinning the hem up)
AISA: (sweats heavily) Uh... Maybe we should leave it for later... Perhaps Kasumi- OW!!!
AKANE: What?
AISA: You stuck a needle in me!
AKANE: Well if you would stop figeting-
AISA: I'm not fidgeting, I'm breathing!
AKANE: Keep quiet, then. I can't concentrate.
(Aisa crosses her arms huffily and taps her feet impatiently.)
AKANE: There! All done.
KASUMI: Oh my.
(Aisa looks down with dread. Her eyes bulge. It's worse than she thought. The hem has been sewn
with uneven, jagged stitches, and the front is longer than the back.)
RANMA: Wow, Akane. It looks absolutely...awful.
AKANE: Shut up, Ranma!
RANMA: Ha! Looks like something a third grader would do.
AKANE: Ranma... (her aura starts to build up)
AISA: [Oh no, they're going to fight!] Stop it, you two!
NABIKI: (rises from table) Yeah, we're going to be late.
AKANE: (glares one last time at Ranma, then grabs Aisa's hand as she runs out the door) Come on.
AISA: (panting) Do we...really have to...run?
(They stop for a second as Aisa pauses to catch her breath. They see Ranma sprint by on the
fence.)
AISA: Does he really have to do that?!
(Aisa and Akane have arrived at Furinkan High School are by the lockers when the bell rings.)
AKANE: Drat! Come on, we gotta go.
AISA: Uh, you go on ahead. I have to use the comfort room.
AKANE: You sure? You might get lost.
AISA: Oh no.
AKANE: Well you better hurry or you're going to be late! (runs off with a wave)
AISA: (watches her go) Heh, heh, now to act on my plan. She was in such a hurry she left her
locker open. Just as I'd hoped! (takes out a rose from her schoolbag and carefully places it on
top of Akane's books. Then she pulls out a pad of stationery and a pen.) Hmmm...what should the
love note say? (starts to write) "Dear Akane, your beauty eclipses the sun. This rose is but
a shadow compared to you." That should do the trick! Signed, Martial Artist. It would be just
like Ranma not to give his name, but the pseudonym is so obvious Akane'll have no trouble
guessing who it's from. (giggles ecstatically) This is perfect! Everything is going according
to plan.
(Back in the hall ten minutes later, Aisa is holding a pail of water in each hand. She is wearing
a very disgruntled expression on her face.)
AISA: (grumbles) Life is so unfair.
(Cafeteria at lunchtime.)
RANMA: Oh hi, Aisa! Hiroshi, Daisuke, meet Aisa Valenzela. She's a student-guest at the Tendo
dojo.
HIROSHI & DAISUKE: Hi.
AISA: Nice to meet you. (when they shake hands, she pulls them over, whispers) Follow me. Money
will be involved if you wish.
(The two exchange startled glances, then get up from the table in unison.)
RANMA: Hey! Where are you two going?
AISA: Oh, they said they'd show me around campus. It'll only take a minute. Why don't you go eat
with Akane in the meantime?
(They walk a few paces away then huddle together.)
HIROSHI: What's this about?
AISA: I have a plan to get Ranma and Akane together, and you two are going to help me!
DAISUKE: Count us out. Ranma's our friend, but it would be so unfair if he hogged all the girls.
AISA: That's too bad. Will this change your mind? (shows them wallet filled with bills)
(Their eyes bulge out of their sockets in disbelief.)
HIROSHI & DAISUKE: Whoa! Deal.
(They shake hands eagerly.)
AISA: All right. The plan is this. After class the two of you will bring Ranma here and have a
little chat with him about Akane.
HIROSHI: But how would we know what to say?
AISA: (eyes glint) Leave it to me.
(Meanwhile...)
RANMA: (comes up behind Akane and covers her eyes) Boo! Hey, what's that you're reading?
(snatches the piece of paper from her hands and peers at it) Is it a "luv" letter?
AKANE: (flushes) Shut up, Ranma! (grabs it back, she gets up and stalks away huffily)
RANMA: (puzzled) What did I do?
YUKA: ......
SAYURI: ......
AKANE: Ooooh. It's a good thing Ranma didn't read that letter. He would have teased me no end
about it. A rose? Poetic language? I would have thought Kuno had learned his lesson by now.
And honestly! The conceit of signing it "martial artist"! (takes out pen and paper) It's about
time I gave him a piece of my mind...
It's after class and Aisa is waiting at the appointed place.)
AISA: (hiding in the bushes) Heh. I'm glad Mr. Saotome just leaves these lying about. (pats
blank wooden signs and paintbrushes) Now where are those boys...
(Voices come closer.)
AISA: Well it's about time!
RANMA: Hey, what's the deal with you guys taking me out here?
DAISUKE: (laughs nervously) Bad choice of words.
HIROSHI: Th-The truth is... (spots Aisa, sighs in relief, starts reading the signs she's
holding up) Ranma, don't you think it's time you leveled with us? How far have you really gone
with Akane?
RANMA: (snorts) Haven't we had this conversation countless of times already? I told you,
nothing's happened between us!
DAISUKE: Like we'd believe that. A cute, popular girl like her. How could you let her slip from
your fingers?
RANMA: What that tomboy! I'm not the least bit interested!
HIROSHI: Come off it!
RANMA: I'm serious! Who would want a violent tomboy like her?
DAISUKE: I would. (covers mouth with hands) Yikes!!!
RANMA: (roars) WHAT???
HIROSHI: You're a moron, Ranma.
RANMA: (turns to him with clawed fists) You say something?!
HIROSHI: (starts reading very fast) A m-moron because y-you know s-sooner or later someone's
going to steal her from you and a-all your martial arts ability won't win her back.
(Ranma backs off, and he exhales in relief, wiping his damp forehead.)
DAISUKE: Yeah, why don't you be honest for once and tell her how you feel?
RANMA: It's not that easy you know! What if...what if... (appears to talk to himself) Sure I've
seen her naked a few times, almost kissed her on a number of occasions-
HIROSHI: (jumps up) You WHAT?! You've seen her naked?
DAISUKE: Did you get pictures, at least? More, more!
(A loud sound, like a clearing of a throat seems to come from the bushes.)
DAISUKE: Er, maybe later. (starts reading again) The question you have to ask yourself is: are
you really happy now?
RANMA: (gives it serious thought) I don't know. What do you guys think?
(Just then, Aisa feels a tap on her shoulder. She finds herself face-to-face with Nabiki.)
AISA: Huh? Uh-oh!
(Speechless without the signs, Hiroshi and Daisuke look at each other and shrug.)
RANMA: You know what? You guys are absolutely right! I'm going to her right now!
(They nod vigorously, and he leaves with a determined look on his face.)
AISA: Yes!!! (turns to Nabiki) Will you wait a sec? I've just got to see this!
(Before Nabiki can protest, she bounds out and rushes to the classroom, where she picks her
schoolbag up where she left it. She's about to leave when she suddenly she notices an envelope
on top of one of the desks.)
AISA: What's this? (She picks it up and her eyes widen.) "To the Martial Artist"! It's from
Akane! I've got to give it to Ranma!
(She runs all the way to the Tendo dojo, her eyes shining with excitement.)
AISA: Everything's coming together! I'm so happy!!! Huh?
(She spots someone hunched over near the entrance, looking miserable.)
AISA: (eyes narrow) I should have known his newfound confidence wouldn't last longer than five
minutes. No matter! (She approaches Ranma.) Hi, Ranma! Akane told me to give this to you.
RANMA: She did? (opens the envelope and reads the letter) "Give up, will you? I've already got
someone I like." (The letter falls from his numb fingertips. Aisa faints.) What?! Who?!
(rushes into the house)
AISA: Must be...wrong letter... (faints again)
(Inside her bedroom, Akane is doing her homework.)
AKANE: (hears thudding footsteps) Hmmm?
(Ranma bursts in.)
RANMA: I demand to know the meaning of this!
AKANE: What the heck are you talking about?!
RANMA: This letter! (waves is around) I demand to know who you like!
AKANE: (starts to glow red) So you're reading my letters now!!!
(She punts him out the window.)
(In Nabiki's bedroom, Aisa and Nabiki watch out the window as Ranma's figure disappears
into the distance.)
NABIKI: (turns to her) Now...let's get back to business.
(
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