Thermopyle wrote:

The occasional huge feets of strength on Akane's part don't
really mean anything with respect to how she compares to the others.

Why not?  Most of the situations they've had to face involve various
tricks and techniques more than sheer, unaided power.  Akane could have
positioned herself such that Ranma couldn't get a good grip, so even if
Ranma does have superior raw power, it wouldn't be enough in this case.

This doesn't really apply, since it's stated directly in the story that
Akane believes she's stronger than Ranma.  Being a martial artist, even if
she doubts her own abilities because of Ranma, she would be able to
recognize that Ranma is in a position where his greater strength is useless,
because he can't apply it.

Another factor: Ranma could be out-powering Akane with strength boosted
by his chi, coming from his pride.  Finding outthat Akane has used his
words and actions to justify suicide can't be good for his ego (and
thus, remove the emotion which powered the chi which powered his
strength)...unless it's an alternate Ranma who really does want Akane
dead, in which case Ranma wouldn't be doing anything more than putting
on a show anyway.  Akane, OTOH, has much determination here...

There are a few scenes where a huge feat of strength is performed where
there IS an aura shown, or scenes where Ranma is particularly determined and
an aura flares about him, but that wasn't the case when the situation with
the umbrella happened.  Neither Ranma nor Akane was showing an aura at that
point, so it seems reasonable to conclude that their feelings, either pride
or determination or anger, weren't boosting thier strength.

Also, the scenes where Akane was able to use a huge amount of strength were
usually when she was mad, which doesn't seem to be the case in this story,
so explaining away  her greater strength by saying she was determined (which
doesn't fit her as well as anger does) to die, while Ranma was weaker than
normal because he either didn't care enough to really try to save her or was
too depressed at the thought of her death doesn't really work (at least for
me).

Now, if you did include the bit about Ranma not having the leverage to apply
his strength, or do something to indicate that Ranma wasn't trying as hard
as he could, then it would seem more believable than simply stating (even if
it's Akane's opinion and nothing more) that she was stronger than him.

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