After a long moment, Akane nods tightly. "Yeah," she says softly. "I'm-- really glad, I think, that my dad never... did anything Mr Saotome did. Even if Ranma is stupid and ridiculous and a pervert and the worst--" She lets out a shaky breath. "And the best fighter I know. And the most honorable. And... a really good person when he's not terrible. And... probably my best friend, not that you can ever tell him that."

Her eyes don't move from Connie's face. How funny, she thinks, that here of all places she'd found the friend she'd wanted Ranma to be, back when she thought Ranma was a girl too.

Her mouth opens to say-- something. She's not sure. But what comes out instead is a song:

"Dreading the school bell, we can't help but worry
Classmates behind me, we can't help but hurry
They'll catch their breath and then, they'll say:
'Good-Mor-ni-ng!'"