Episode 6: “Akane’s Lost Love… These Things Happen, You know”

In a nutshell, this episode is about Akane’s unrequited love for Dr. Tofu, a family physician who is madly in love with her oldest sister Kasumi. However, as rejection often does, heartbreak leads to inner reflection for Akane, as she futilely tries to connect the person she is with who conventions tell her she should be as a woman, always falling short of Kasumi. The episode takes off with Akane and Ranma sitting in Dr. Tofu’s office as a result of Ranma taking a softball to the face, compliments of Akane. Unknowingly making a crack that Ranma’s injury looks like Akane’s work, Akane instantly starts defending her self, thoroughly ashamed of the strength that makes her a formidable opponent on the battlefield but less then successful when it comes to love. Before we know it, Ranma and Akane are at each other throats, both throwing out their usual quips. However, in front of Dr. Tofu, Akane is hurt more then usual when Ranma accuses her of being an aggressive tomboy. In the midst of their fight, Kasumi walks in, and like a typical mother, comes with a plate of candies. Seeing the usually collected Dr. Tofu stumble in Kasumi’s presence, Akane leaves the office completely defeated. Ranma noticing Akane’s reaction follows her, finding her near a pond, where she is sadly skipping pebbles. The pebbles become increasingly bigger until she is throwing huge boulders in a scene that serves both to indicate her bizarre strength and distinguish her even further from the delicate Kasumi. Eventually cheering up Akane, (although not without a punch to the face) Ranma is treated by Akane to lunch. However, as Akane eats burger after burger, Ranma, in his immature manner teases Akane for her big appetite, to which a hurt Akane confesses, “So I’m not all dainty and delicate like Kasumi,” for the first time acknowledging that she is not conventionally feminine like her sister. Preceded by a flashback of Akane at Dr. Tofu’s office, where Dr. Tofu asserts, “Akane if you put all your time into practicing kenpo you'll never have the time to get married,” it is made clear that Akane, despite her tough exterior, is insecure about her tomboyish demeanor. Unlike Ranma, whose devotion to martial arts is not only respected but essential to carry on The Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, Akane’s devotion seems to always put her femininity and consequently her ability to attract the opposite sex in question. In a following episode, entitled "True Confessions, a Girls Hair is her Life!" Akane gets mixed up in one of Ranma's fights, resulting in her long hair being cropped short. After the initial shock, Akane reveals that she only grew her hair long so that she can be like Kasumi, in the hopes that this would gain Dr. Tofu's affection. However, with the aid and immaturity of Ranma to keep her distracted, Akane inevitably gets over these insecurities, the cutting of her hair symbolizing her acceptance of her differences.