Tatewaki Kuno Intro Arc

The Tatewaki Kuno Intro Arc is the second story arc covered in the Ranma ½ manga. This story arc was included in Volume 1 of both the Shonen Sunday and Viz Media publications.

Plot Overview in Brief
After being introduced to the Tendos and being allowed to live with them at the Tendo Dojo, Genma tells Ranma that's going to attend the local High School with Nabiki and Akane. When he and Akane get there Ranma sees how every morning the male students try to defeat Akane in order to show they're worthy of her, and so she'll go on a date with them. Ranma eventually interferes and ends up becoming a rival of Tatewaki Kuno, also the engagement between Akane and Ranma is revealed to other students.

During the second fight between Kuno and Ranma, they both fall into the swimming pool causing Ranma to turn into his cursed form. At first Akane thinks this means everyone will find out about Ranma's curse, however, Kuno (who was "saved" by Ranma after he, unknowingly, groped her), believes Ranma ran away somehow and used a young woman as his replacement. After being defeated by her as well, Kuno begins to develop feelings for his "pigtailed girl" and gives her a bouquet.

Ranma begins to have nightmares about Kuno declaring his love for the pigtailed girl/Ranma himself. Meanwhile, in order to get some money from Kuno, Nabiki begins taking photographs of Akane and Ranma in his cursed form. Despite trying to avoid Kuno, Ranma ends up being found by Kuno in his female form and Ranma thinks that Kuno may have finally put two-and-two together. However, Kuno thinks it's just another trick by Ranma and hugs his pigtailed girl. Nabiki then comes and pours some hot water onto Ranma turning him back, but Kuno still thinks it's just a trick.

Then Ranma and Kuno fight again and, despite being distracted by the pictures taken by Nabiki falling out of Kuno's clothes during the start of the fight, Ranma eventually wins. However, Ranma did sustain some injuries and is taken to see Dr. Tofu (who Akane and Ranma had met on the way to Furinkan High School on Ranma's first day attending) by Akane. Dr. Tofu quickly heals Ranma's wounds, but before he leaves Dr. Tofu manages to pat Ranma on the back which, after some time elapses, causes Ranma to be unable to move temporally. So Ranma has a piggy-back from Akane, while Ranma (who was turned into his cursed form by Akane so he'd be willing to accept the piggy-back) thinks about what Dr. Tofu said earlier about Akane actually being a nice girl.

Major Events

 * Ranma begins to attend Furinkan High School.
 * Tatewaki Kuno becomes Ranma's rival.
 * Kuno falls in love with Ranma's cursed form, but doesn't realise it's Ranma.

Characters Introduced in Order of Appearance

 * Betty
 * Tofu Ono
 * Tatewaki Kuno