Three-Leg Scramble

Sukuranburu ni nin sankyaku (スクランブル二人三脚) is the 160th chapter of the manga and the third chapter of the Hot Springs Obstacle Course Race Arc.

Shampoo and Ukyo's arguing is slowing Ranma and Ryoga down, so the two decide to team up together and win. They are doing well until Ryoga overhears Mousse insulting Akane's legs. Ryoga and Mousse begin to fight and before long Akane and Ranma are together as a team.

Continuing from the Previous Chapter
As the race continues, the festival committee officials hear news that there are still six people in the race; which causes a problem as an all-expenses-paid trip to any spring in the world will surely bankrupt the village for at least a year. The Mayor of Zekkyo, however, is much controlled and reassures the other members that, with Zekkyo's many dangerous springs, he'll ensure that there is no way the remaining competitors will win!

Meanwhile, at the alligator hot springs, with Ukyo and Shampoo busy fighting each other, Mousse and Akane manage to regain the lead. Whilst Akane looks back and thinks how Ranma would've won for sure if he just partnered with her, Ranma and Ryoga secretly decide to partner up in order to get away from their current pickering partners.

Ranma and Ryoga's partnership initial seems to work for the better as they quickly overtake Mousse & Akane. Unfortunately, this soon falls apart when Ryoga attacks Mousse to blaming Akane's stumpy legs for their falling behind.

Ploughing Ahead
With his current partner busy fighting yet again, Ranma swiftly snatches up Akane as his new partner and the pair soon run ahead. As they run along, Akane asks Ranma how he can have so little sense of compunction for continually switching partners as it doesn't matter who he wins the race with. In response Ranma informs Akane that he should've partnered with her all along, as she's the one for him.

Cast in Order of Appearance

 * The Mayor of Zekkyo (debut)
 * Shampoo (human)
 * Ranma Saotome (male)
 * Akane Tendo
 * Mousse (human)
 * Ukyo Kuonji
 * Ryoga Hibiki (human)
 * Ranma Saotome (female)
 * Shampoo (cat)
 * Ryoga Hibiki (P-chan)
 * Mousse (duck)