A Leotard is a Girl's Burden

Reotādo wa Otome no Noroi (レオタードは乙女の呪い) is the 10th episode in the fifth season of Ranma ½, Martial Mayhem, and the 98th episode overall.

A reluctant Ranma and Akane are recruited by Kodachi to help defend against a trio of wandering male Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnasts who seek to claim three magical treasures that will allow them to make the sport a man's only sport.

Relation to the Previous Episode
None.

Kodachi's Plea
At St. Hebereke's School for Girls a trio of cloaked figures storm past the students before making their way to the gymnastics hall. Once there they challenge Kodachi and the other members to a match of Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics. The overconfident Kodachi accepts the challenge, but soon finds herself outclassed by the cloaked trio.

That evening at the Tendo Dojo, Ranma busily attempts to get Akane to agree to letting him copy her homework, but their argument is interrupted as Akane falls over trying to hit Ranma; prompting him to catch her. This display irritates a still bruised Kodachi, who emerges from the Koi pond with a giant mallet and attempts to strike Akane, with little success.

Sometime later the trio head to Akane's room where she tries to get Kodachi to change out of soaked clothes so that they can be dried. Kodachi, however, retorts that even her clothes dry that tears of humiliation she's shed will never dry until she retrieves the "Sphere of Fury". This intrigues Ranma which leads Kodachi to explain that it's one of three legendary items in Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics and has long been the treasure of their school's gymnastic club. She continues by exclaiming that this humiliation is a test given to her. Hearing this, Ranma rhetorically asks why she doesn't just go for it and proceeds to leave the room, but is stopped by Kodachi and demands he help her as "lovers are meant to share hardships together". Ranma, however, states he has no interest in helping her and shoves Kodachi out of the way. But before he can leave, Kodachi grabs him ankle (bringing him to the floor) and tells Ranma he could disguise himself as a girl; an idea which Ranma is completely against. Seeing that she's getting nowhere fast, and with Akane demanding that pair stop fighting in her room, Kodachi takes her leave through the window (leaving Akane's room covered in rose petals in the process).

Trivia

 * In the sub, Daitokuji says his full name. In the dub he only gives his family name. Later on during the match the referee does call Daitokuji by his full name.
 * This is the second and overall final episode where Erin Fitzgerald voices Kodachi Kuno. Sylvia Zaradic will take over the role for seasons six and seven and Teryl Rothery will be back in the role in the OVA series.