Kairaishi Mushroom Arc

The Kairaishi Mushroom Arc is the 24th story arc covered in the Ranma ½ manga, spanning two chapters. This arc was included in volume 11 of the  and volume 10 of the Viz Media tankōbon.

Plot Summary
A Chinese delivery man sells Shampoo a Kairaishi Mushroom. The mushroom has the ability to give command to the person that eats it. Shampoo makes pork buns from it and offer it to Ranma, intending for him to hug her every time she snaps her fingers. However, while she says the command Tatewaki Kuno sneezes, making that the trigger for the command instead. Kuno and the rest of the school has a misunderstanding as Ranma hugs everyone that sneezes without control. Back at the dojo, Akane has also come down with a cold, and finds herself alone with Ranma. She grows paranoid as his sudden hugging leads her to believe that he intends to assault her.

Akane, not believing that Ranma is under the effect of the mushroom, attacks Ranma to prevent him from getting close. She finally believes his story when she finds him and Shampoo sharing a bathtub. Shampoo then feeds Akane the mushroom and commands her to hug everyone who is not Ranma, including Ryoga who happened to show up at that moment. This command lets her see the potency of the spell. Before things can get out of hand, Ranma feeds Shampoo one of her own dumplings and commands her to go home. Akane and Ranma then barricade themselves to prevent any more unwanted visitors. The mushroom's effect soon fades.

Major Events

 * No major events occurred in this arc.

Changes in anime

 * Arc starts with Shampoo already finishing buns with Kairaishi Mushroom.
 * Shampoo gives pork buns to Ranma during lunch break, not during the duel.
 * Neither Kuno or Ryoga are part of the story.
 * Akane watching romantic movie with friends is anime exclusive.
 * In anime version we see how Akane got cold. She's mad because she saw Ranma hug Shampoo and accidentally walk into manhole.
 * In anime version Akane doesn't think Ranma wants to take advantage of her, neither TV or her sisters don't suggest it could happen.
 * In fact her fever gets worse and Ranma must take care of her.
 * Right before Shampoo shows up they share one semi-romantic hug. And when Ranma says he doesn't want to hug her she gets actually sad.
 * Ranma protects Akane from eating Shampoo's shu-mai.
 * Rather than barricading the house, the story ends with Ranma and Akane with fearing to eat any steamed buns or shu-mai.

Characters Introduced

 * No characters debuted in this arc.