A rich girl looking for confidence

Nabiki was having trouble finding customers because focus in the school had shifted so drastically over the past few weeks. Kids who were getting bullied had moved up the social ranks, a pair of bookworms became the athletics all-stars and one of the most popular couples in school, the girl everyone thought was a bimbo had started a career as an idol, the new boy in school had becoming quite popular with the girls in school, and a girl that had been overlooked before was now getting all kinds of attention because of her gorgeous hair.

Ranko's ego took a beating over the next few days. Ranko told herself to just be patient. If Nabiki's book could do all of this to her life, then that meant she could undo it. For now, she just had to get used to looking at a face in the mirror that she barely recognized and living a life she wasn't used to. A life where she'd always been a girl meant less fighting, which was both nice and disheartening because it meant no one thought of her as a challenge anymore. It also meant she was less of a celebrity around school because she wasn't impressing anyone by being the dorky looking weakling she actually was.

Meanwhile, Ranko was slowly fading into the background in her own life. For the first time ever, people were issuing challenges and becoming rivals with other people instead of her. Without any gossip about fiances or rivals, her classmates only talked to her to share beauty tips. Different shampoos to get her frizzy hair under control, places to get contact lenses to replace her glasses, lip gloss to draw attention away from her large front teeth. She was getting fed up with the constant girly talk, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. She still had martial arts skills, but she didn't have the strength or the coordination to back them up.

When Nabiki called her in for yet another appointment, she didn't know what else there was left to lose. The customer this time was a girl who had on the uniform for a very expensive and prestigious all-girl's school. She was made up very nicely, but carried herself in a way that showed she had no confidence. And then she spoke and Ranko caught a glimpse of her braces. She offered a large sum of money to be self-assured and strong willed and to get rid of her braces, all before Nabiki had even quoted her a price. She was scribbling down the transaction in moments and gladly accepted the large stack of cash.

Ranko opened her mouth to speak, but it was like the breath was pulled right out from her lungs. She started to stammer and mumble and suddenly couldn't find the nerve to say anything. She was filled with worries that she'd anger the rich girl and that Nabiki could do something to make it worse if she made her angry. The fire was extinguished in Ranko and she suddenly found herself doubting and second guessing everything. This was only fair, right? She was being paid and she agreed to this.. Maybe this is what she deserved for all those times she was a big jerk and caused all that trouble.

Ranko shrank back in her seat, her posture completely changing to match her meek demeanor. She had trouble looking the rich girl in the eye, but she could tell that she was feeling similar, but opposite effects. The rich girl sat up more straight and carried herself with more of a relaxed and self-assured posture. She raised a hand to her mouth and smiled, flashing a set of straight, shiny teeth. Ranko trembled and ran her tongue along her own teeth, feeling the braces now occupying her mouth.