Chapter Text
“A group of mainly girls and girl-adjacents, going on a week-long trip to stay in a small inn, likely all cuddling up to each other for gentle comfort during something emotionally difficult to deal with alone?” Daiya checked for clarification, “Count me in!”
Her excitement might have been a little too loud, but the classmates all staring at her loud response to Sayuri's proposal should've known she'd leap at the opportunity to witness such pure love between girls. Though, her volume and energy was only something she had since getting her curse, so they could be excused for just a little bit of their stares.
“Excellent!” The dark lord cheered, “Hibari and Kasumi are the ones organising it among our guardians, but I know we all prefer more time to prepare. I, personally, am planning what I may need to unlock my powers there.”
“Do you have a map of the place?” Asami asked from her desk, “I can probably work out where the magic is in it if I get my hands on the right resources.”
“You know how to find magic in the wilderness?” Sayuri's face lit up.
“I said I can work it out,” The red string Asami liked to fidget with slipped through her fingers, “It's basic theory crafting, just give me time and info.”
Daiya's girlfriends (and Miichan) were just the coolest. Sure, not all of The Conspiracy System's theories were right, but just the fact they could see things come together like that was amazing. Daiya was such a lucky girl.
“I'll make sure to pack a camera,” Daiya offered, primarily with yuri purposes in mind, “For sightseeing, of course.”
“Wait, isn't the place Hibari was looking at one with a hot spring?” Piped up the plushie of the group, “I've been looking into waterproof soaps and stuff so I can go swimming, but Dai, wanna join us?”
“It definitely had at least a pool, which most of the pack would need waterproofing for, anyway,” Sayuri confirmed Yuka's memory, “But yes, if there happens to be gender separated hot springs, Daiya could go to the right one without question!”
“M-me? Swimming? With other girls? Wearing… The right clothes… Or even…” Daiya’s face flushed red, but didn't get too bad before an emergency happened.
However: “Asami, your nose!” Hiroko noticed from the sidelines.
“That's a lot of blood!” Hiroshi joined in.
The girl with the red hairclip didn't seem to notice, though, lost in a daydream. “My girlfriend in a swimsuit…”
“I haven't seen the system nosebleed that bad since those two guy gym teachers tripped over each other in front Fu-chan…” Commented Yuka, slightly mortified.
“I d-don't have any swim clothes, though…” Mumbled the very flustered himejoshi, “Or really that much to actually wear out at all besides the basics we went shopping for with Ryoga and Azusa's help.”
“We'll probably need some good hiking gear, if you want to trek through the wild with us,” Sayuri suggested, “And there's a local festival in the town where the inn is, so perhaps a women's yukata would be good for you. I dread thinking of what shallow masculine nightmare you'd dress in without the option.”
It was funny, given that this friend group had hung out at a festival once before Ranma and Akane's arrival. Daiya thought she was a boy then, and she only wore a plain shirt and pants. Everyone knew what she'd wear without the option.
Asami wiped the blood from under her nose before slamming the desk with the same arm in one movement, more likely from Jupiter jumping into the front seat. “WE ARE GOING SHOPPING SO I CAN SHOW MY JULIET OFF!”
Ranma and Akane in the corner both perked up at the declaration, the canine of the pair wagging her tail from the sudden excitement. Both red and blue haired creatures knew what Juliets were, so they were all aboard with helping.
The odd looks from the neurotypical portion of the classroom showed that they all did not.
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“Ya sure you're good with me here?” Ukyo asked, “‘m still pretty new to the group, ya don't hafta take me everywhere.”
Both Hiroko and Hiroshi grabbed her hands and excitedly dragged her further into the shops. “We want you here, though!”
The whole friend group had split off to go looking in different directions for clothes and travel supplies, and Ukyo was surprised she had even been invited. She was basically all set to go if she wanted, though. She didn't exactly have guardians present stopping her from taking a week-long trip, let alone a day out shopping.
Ukyo just never really expected to have more than one friend at a time. She had Ranma when they were both kids, but that boy she remembered was long gone… And she did get along with that one boy in middle school before he started getting weird about Ukyo's gender. But never did she think she'd have a group of 8 (plus however you count the girls who switched who was in control of one body) friends at a time.
“We probably need some better long sleeve shirts,” Hiroko Hatori, always the slightly louder of the two, spoke up clearly, “And we need better neutral swim shirts, I'm not risking us swapping while swimming again.”
“Yeah, that was awkward last time,” Always a little quieter, Hiroshi Hitachiin agreed, “Our grandparents looked like we ruined the whole beach trip…”
“It was still funny that they got us mixed up, though.” Giggled the current girl.
The current boy chuckled too. “They couldn't even tell which was who's grandchild.”
“You two've been at this for a while, huh?” Ukyo really liked both of their laughs, “Still shocked ya wanna have me third-wheeling.”
“”We don't want that, we just want you…” Hiroshi trailed off before stammering, “H-here! We want you here, with us, yep!”
“Your opinion means a lot to us,” Hiroko said with a little bit of blush, “And we can help you get stuff if you need anything!”
“Aww, thanks,” Ukyo didn't trust her own opinion outside of practicality too much, but it was a nice compliment, “Don't really need anything, though. 'm used to travelling places an’ all.”
It was a bit hard to tell if that was the right thing to say, both Hiros looking a little disappointed before Hatori grabbed her part-time doppelganger by the arm. “I think I saw something an aisle or two back. Wait right here, Ukyo!”
The pair of cats scampered away, one pulled by the other. The likelihood that they had actually seen something was high, but Ukyo didn't know for sure until a pair of similar, but different in volume, voices were heard from literally the next aisle over.
“I don't think Martial Arts Flirting is working.”
“What makes it a martial art, anyway?”
“Practice! Which I don't have, and I'm guessing you don't have, and everything's going to shit!”
“Maybe if we were just upfront about it, it would be better.”
“Do you have the confidence to do that? Because I don't.”
“... Good point. But we can't leave her waiting there.”
“I know, I know…”
Ukyo was being flirted with. Ohhhhhhh.
… Oh fuck. Ukyo didn't actually know what to do with flirting. Back when she thought she still had to and could get married to Ranma, the plan was to kinda kick Genma Saotome's ass until Ranma had to marry her, but that never came close to happening. Ukyo hadn't even seen the bald man. But regardless, it meant she had no clue what to do.
Did she like Hiroko and Hiroshi like that? They were both so much cooler than her. They were basically shapeshifters! What was cooler than that!? And they appreciated her cooking so much the last few times they hung out, and didn't mind her awkwardness, and both totally understood her on gender stuff in a way most didn't.
… Maybe, if both Hiros were trying, at least Ukyo could give it a shot. And if it didn't work, well, Ukyo knew the hard way that things change and it's okay. Besides, she already knew the pair's favourite okonomiyaki orders by heart.
“Hey, both of ya, pspspsps,” Ukyo called out jokingly, “C'mon, lemme see what kinda clothes pretty cat-people that'll be travelling with me like ta wear.”
The fact that both Hiros made small excited squeaks in unison despite being one aisle over was pretty damn cute.
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“I think that's a no. Sorry, Ranma,” Yuka looked at the swimwear dolls friend picked out on the hanger, “I know it says ‘BOY’ on it-”
“Girl!” Ranma played her usual game.
“- And I know you like that game, but I don't trust anyone making ironic swimsuits,” The plushie continued, “Besides, does that feel like a good texture to you?”
Ranma gave a small headtilt before reaching her hand out to actually touch the garment hanging up, only to be instantly repulsed. The poor wildcat had to find one of the evil textures eventually, after all.
Unfortunately, Sayuri was too busy to help out her partner and both of the feral creatures digging through the swimwear section. She had a few dilemmas and trials of her own to deal with.
First of all, how was one supposed to find a good quality eyepatch for swimming? Sayuri had risked exposing her evil eye every other time she willingly got in water, but her current preferred patches couldn't withstand rain, let alone the sea or a pool. And she did NOT want to look like a pirate, that was necessary. Pirates aren't Dark Lords.
The second issue was a matter of finding literally anything good in black. Whatever kind of season it was in the fashion world, it dared assault Sayuri's eyes with bright colours that'd better suit Yuka if they weren't on clothes without long sleeves.
And finally… Well, she wanted to surprise Yuka. She had been ducking away here and there to other aisles whenever she was sure no one saw her, trying to quickly find something special as a gift. Unfortunately, her speed was always this lacking, even when her powers hadn't been, so she hardly got far.
Some kind of thank you gift, a massive token of appreciation for all the support in this magic hunting endeavour. Of course, Sayuri would shower her plush with gifts and wonders galore once she got her powers, but she wanted something for that first night they get while at the inn near Ryugenzawa.
“No, Akane, that isn't a chewtoy,” Yuka could be heard slightly giggling at the situation, “It doesn't squeak, it's not a chewtoy.”
“But big stick…” Akane huffed.
Whatever pool noodle or other thingamajig Akane had found, it was a good distraction for Sayuri to sneak off once more. Slipping into the shadows of the bright store, the Dark Lord ran as far and fast as her unathletic legs could take her.
… Straight to the motherload.
It was a good thing Sayuri had brought an extra opaque bag with her, because there was plenty to carry that Yuka would not be allowed to see. Doll would simply have to live with the knowledge that there was a secret present or fifty coming dolls way.
That'd be her own purchase later, but she had to sneak back to the main group soon. They were all planning to regroup with the Hiros and Ukyo at the food court, but Sayuri hadn't even seen much of Dai and-
A blushing mess on the floor, Queen of The Conspiracy System was out of it completely as Daiya blushed, refusing to look at the bag she was holding. Both Ranma and Akane were pawing at the girl with the blue hairclip in concern.
“Huh. Queen's on the ground,” Yuka stated before patting Daiya on the back, “You can't fail now.”
“Pretty…” Queen mumbled, obviously not having been ready to take the super-effective hit that was her girlfriend's choice in swimwear.
“I-I swear it was the most conservative choice!” Daiya panicked, afraid of getting accused of something, “No midriff, long sleeves, knee length pants, I promise!”
“Oh, neat, can you show me where you found it?” The plushie asked, “There's not enough that covers my arms around here.”
… If somewhat conservative, calm and composed Queen was so flustered over her own girlfriend wearing swimwear that showed nothing, what dark magic must've been imbued in them? And was Sayuri immune to her partner wearing something similar?