Melissa:
> I don't think it really has anything to do with Akane wanting boys to
drool
> over her, but I do think that Akane was pretty much used to being the
number
> one girl in many things before Ranma and the fianc駸 showed up.  
There are
 

    And she still is.  The thought that the other girls might be more
beautiful than she is has never came up to her mind.  She either is sure of
herself, or she plain just doesn't care.  Now, she does want to be better
than Shampoo in martial arts, but she's quite aware of her limitations and
it's not a huge deal to her just because Shampoo is better.

    The only time she even cares about her ability in martial arts is if
Ranma is involved.  She is also quite aware that she's never going to beat
Ranma, but she won't turn down an opportunity to try, like the dougi story.

> keeps coming up as inadequate.  As for all of her class mates still
envying
> her, I haven't seen much in the serious other then "Oh, Akane, you are so
> lucky to be engaged to Ranma!"  which doesn't really stem from anything

    There is very little to be seen of school life that didn't involve Ranma
and Akane at the same time, but what little we get to glimpse, Akane is
still the favored girl of Furiken high school.  Even Ranma says, "The
volleyball team has Akane, why would I be interested in watching a pointless
match like that?"

> she's strived to achieve, and your recent comment on her academic
qualities
> (there really isn't even much said about that and I don't think she's ever
> really seemed all that concerned with being number one in her class or
> anything, so, even though I'm sure it means something, I just don't think
> it's enough for her).  Plus, on top of all of the insults she receives
from

    Her classmates were rather surprised when Akane fell asleep in class
because she's supposed to be a role model kind of student.  On a test that
was described as 'really hard' Akane scored in the high 80s (and she
remarked, "I guess that's acceptable").  Of course she is not super genius
smart or anything along those lines but clearly, she maintains a healthy
social and academic life outside of martial arts.

    Your view is skewed by the Anime and possibly fanfiction.  Nowhere in
the Ranma 1/2 manga universe does it paint an Akane that's ever in doubt of
herself... even on things she really should have doubts about (like her
ability to cook, for example).

> he thinks she's cute but no real emotional attachments).  I think that was
a
> very big step for Ranma, and I think a good part of Akane's problem was
that
> she was waiting for some initiative from Ranma.

    It is very obvious to anyone that Ranma is not going to be the one
taking the initiative.  That's why Akane, though she's certainly on the shy
side when a relationship is involved, has always been the initator in the
series.

    And that's why it's all the more unbelievable to see her being so
passive at times, because she is not.

Don
"A Knight must never betray his Master, Archer." Lancer, Unlimited Blade
Works
"My duty is to ensure Rin's ultimate victory.  Loyalty is not required for
this goal." Archer, Unlimited Blade Workos