Here's Ranma (chapter)

Here's Ranma (らんまが来た, Ranma ga kita) is the first chapter in the first volume of the Ranma ½ manga and is the first chapter in the Introduction Arc.

Soun Tendo receives a postcard from his long time friend Genma Saotome telling him that he and his son Ranma are coming to see him, much to Soun's delight. But little does Soun know Genma and Ranma have a big surprise in store for him and his family.

At the Tendo Household
Mr. Tendo receives a postcard from his long time friend Saotome telling him that he'll be bringing Ranma from China to see them. This news brings Mr. Tendo to tears, after he has finished crying he calls Kasumi and Nabiki.

Meanwhile a young girl is running along and shouts that she's home and changes from her jogging clothes into a Karate gi and breaks some wood on some bricks into several pieces. Nabiki then appears and upon seeing the wreckage that had just be created she says it's no wonder that the boys think that Akane is weird. Akane responds by saying that not everybody thinks the world revolves around boys. This leads Nabiki to say that she won't be interested in what's happening and begins to walk off.

In the Family Room
Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi are all in the Family room as it is starting to rain. Soun begins to explain that one of them will become the Fiancée to the son of one of his closest friends. Soun also explains that the boy's name is Ranma Saotome and that by marrying him the Tendo family legacy would be secure and the training center can continue.

Akane is very shocked and angered by hearing this and demands why they don't have any say in this. Kasumi agrees with this saying that they've never actually met Ranma. Soun replies by saying that this is easily sorted and holds up a picture which he's had in his hand.

Meanwhile...
A young girl running in the rain is seen being chased by a very large Panda. The girl dodges the Panda's attacks and tells the Panda to cut it out while kicking it in the face, forcing the Panda to fly backwards. The Panda stands back up on it's hind legs, unharmed from the powerful kick, the sight of a Panda surprises the multiple people on the street witnessing the fight.

The Panda throws multiple punches at the girl, who in turn dodges everyone of them and grabs the Panda by one of it's paws and throws it over her head. As she does this the girl screams at the Panda saying that it sucks that he chose her a Fiancée without even asking her. With the Panda seeming out cold the girl tells the Panda to suck on that and that she is going back to China; she then turns around and begins to walk away. Behind her the Panda rises gets up again and picks up a road sign that had fallen over in the fight. The Panda then hits the girl in the back of the head with the sign and knocks her out, the Panda then carries the girl on its Shoulder and begins walking off. The crowd that witnessed the fight begin commenting about the size of the Panda, much to the Panda's annoyance who then growls at the crowd who in turn walk away.

Back at the Tendo House
Soun has explains to his daughters that Ranma and his father have just been on a training voyage, and that they have both recently crossed into China; which impresses Nabiki. After listening to what their father has to say Nabiki and Kasumi begin asking him questions, with Nabiki asking if Ranma's cute while Kasumi asks how old he is as she finds younger men boring, while this is going on Akane is pouting and saying to herself what's so great about walking to China.

Kasumi and Nabiki then ask in unison what kind of guy Ranma is. Soun clears his throat and says that he doesn't know as he as never met Ranma, much to Nabiki's disbelief. Suddenly a person shouting outside gets everyone's attention, resulting in the believing it to be Ranma and his father Soun and Nabiki running to greet them. While Kasumi fixes up her hair and hopes Ranma is older, with Akane saying to herself how depressing boys are. When Kaumi and Akane get to the porch they see Nabiki and Soun running back towards them followed by the Panda and girl who were seen fighting each other earlier. Upon the sight of the Panda Kasumi asks if this is Soun's friend, while Nabiki sarcastically shouts that a Pandas coming to visit them happens all the time.

After gaining a little contemplation Soun asks the girl if she is who he thinks she is. To which the girl replies and says that she is Ranma Saotome and is sorry about this mess. Soun then hugs Ranma but quickly realises that there is something wrong. Nabiki then pokes Ranma's breast, much to Ranma's annoyance, Nabiki then says that this "boy" is a she.

A Little Later
Soun can be seen to be lying on the floor in his bed crying at the realisation that Ranma is a girl. Kasumi is making some medicine for Soun while Nabiki begins shouting at him for not double checking that Ranma was actually a boy. Soun angrily replies that his friend told him he had a son, which Nabiki responds to by grabbing Ranma's breasts and asking Soun if he sees a son here; while Ranma says that she wishes Nabiki would stop doing that.

In the Practice Hall
Akane then stands up and introduces herself to Ranma, Akane then asks if she and Ranma can be friends and if Ranma will join her in the practice hall. When they reach the practice hall Akane asks Ranma is she knows any Karate, to which Ranma replies by saying she knows a little. Akane then asks if she can have a little match with Ranma and reassures her that she'll not hurt Ranma, with this in mind Ranma agrees. Akanes then begins to attack Ranma with a furry of kicks and punches, all of which Ranma avoids with ease.

Akane gets very annoyed with Ranma dodging all her attacks so decides that her next punch will be for real. Akane then throws her final punch, however Ranma jumps into the air and dodges the attack with ease once again resulting in Akane punching a massive hole in the practice hall's wall. Ranma then lands behind Akane and pokes her in the back of the head, the two of them then laugh for a bit and Akane then says that Ranma's pretty good and starts walking off, not before saying to Ranma that she's glad that she's a girl as she would hate to lose to a boy. Ranma doesn't reply but gives a slightly concerned look as Akane walks away. The Panda is then seen in the Bathroom taking a hot bath.

After the Fight
Soun is then seen in the family room again sat across from another man, both of them crying while looking at each other. Nabiki thens walks into the kitchen and asks Kasumi who the old guy is, to which Kasumi replies that she has no idea who he is. Kasumi then shouts to Ranma, who is sat on the porch, Kasumi asks if Ranma would like a bath, Ranma refuses at first but Kasumi persists and Ranma agrees tht she'll have a bath. Ranma then goes to the bathroom and throws a tub of cold water over herself and begins asking herself what she should do now.

Meanwhile, Nabiki tells Akane that her bath is ready. Akane then quickly runs up to the bathroom and undresses, while a person with Ranma's hair style is talking to themselves saying that they better come out as they are since their all going to find out sooner or later. The person in the bath then decides to get out. As the person gets out of the bath Akane slides opens the door to the bath/shower room, with nothing but a towel, and the look each other up and down. Akane then shuts the door, much to the confusion to the man who just came out of the bath at what just happened, Akane then gets changed back into her clothes and shuts the other door to the bathroom.

After standing quietly outside the door for a few seconds, Akane screams at the top of her voice and runs back to the porch. Akane then picks up the large boulder on the top of the fountain in the garden and says that she'll use it to drown the man in the bathtub. Nabiki asks what the boulder is for and Akane says it's for the pervert in the bathroom. This leads Nabiki to ask why she just doesn't kill them with her bare hands to which Akane responds by saying that she's scared, Kasumi then begins saying to herself how odd that is as Ranma was just in the bathroom. The girls then turn to see a man standing next to them and they ask him who he is. The man then replies that he is Ranma Saotome and is sorry for this mess.

Cast in Order of Appearance

 * Soun Tendo (debut)
 * Kasumi Tendo (debut)
 * Nabiki Tendo (debut)
 * Akane Tendo (debut)
 * Ranma Saotome (female, debut)
 * Genma Saotome (panda, debut)
 * Genma Saotome (human, debut)
 * Ranma Saotome (male, debut)

Quotes

 * What's so great about walking to China? - Akane Tendo after hearing about Ranma's exploits during his training voyage.
 * Ranma Saotome. Sorry 'bout this. - Ranma Saotome introducing him/herself to others.
 * I'm Akane.... You wanna be friends? - Akane Tendo asking if Ranma (while in female form) is they can be friends.
 * Well, I'm just glad you're a girl. - Akane Tendo to the female Ranma Saotome after losing the sparring match.

Trivia

 * The postage stamp and the postcard, sent from Genma to Soun informing him that they were coming, both featured pandas on them.
 * Genma is shown sitting in a hot bath while a panda (he should have changed back into human form when he came in contact with the hot water).
 * Kasumi acts much more outspoken and emotional in this chapter than later in the manga.
 * The manga clearly shows Akane looking down at Ranma when she walks in on him coming out of the bathtub.