Rise comes out

A/N: I know I promised you guys this chapter a while ago but after realizing how complicated it could be for a student to tell her parent that she is in a relationship with a teacher, I was planning on backtracking. But like I said, I promised you guys so I can't back out now. The format of this chapter was not initially what I had in mind but I think this format's most suited for what Rise wants to say. Since she can't communicate well (orally), I had to find another way for her to communicate therefore, writing. Yes, it is the only way I see fit for her to say what she wants to say without anyone having to translate for her. Enjoy :)

Today was a very special day. It was the day that Rise would tell her single father about her relationship with her beloved Nana. She was unsure of how to tell him because of her disability. She wanted Nana to be there with her, but felt like it was too much of a burden to drag her girlfriend in family matters. After all, this was between Rise and her father. Not to mention, she felt fearful thinking about how Mr. Matsumoto would react if he found out she was a lesbian and in a relationship with an older woman. This was because Rise was aware that these types of relationships are scandalous and could make Nana lose her job. She didn't want to cause Nana any further trouble by bringing her into it. It was risky business already, but Mr. Matsumoto needed to know his one and only daughter loves Nana to the point that she is even considering living with her after she graduates school.

Rise got out her pen and a notepad and began writing:

Dear Dad,

I am writing this letter to tell you something important. I felt writing this to you would be most suitable.

There's no easy way for me to say this to you. In all honesty, it shouldn't be hard either, but like it or not, it's difficult. Just keep in mind that I love you, no matter what.

For good or ill, I feel you should know about this more than anyone else. One of the main reasons you should know about this is because it concerns your daughter's future.

You have been my dear father for all these years and took care of me all by yourself, even after Mom left.

I am straying here but I wanted to tell you I am lesbian. There are no ifs, buts or maybes about it. No amount of tears or praying or wishing can change that ... why? Because I realized that there was nothing wrong with it. If someone told me the phrase "Love knows no boundaries" 5 years ago, I would have been confused by that statement. As cliché as it sounds it has merit because I have now come to understand that this statement is indeed correct. Yes, that's true. My feelings for my teacher is limitless. It knows no boundaries. I have never felt this way for anyone else before in my short life. Her name is Nana Nishigaki. She teaches Chemistry at Nanamori Middle School. I have adored her ever since I entered that school. She is one of my best friends and one of the few people who could understand my whispers. She has never judged me or mocked me because of my disability. She has always shown me a great amount of respect and kindness and I love her for that. She is truly one in a million, as they say. We've been dating for about five months now; after I had confessed my feelings to her on the summer trip. I don't know if you remember but she was the teacher that came to visit me when I was ill last year. She even spent that day taking care of me even though it was a school day. This was even before we were girlfriends! Just goes to show how caring and wonderful a person she is.

Dad, I understand that this is a lot to digest and I apologize if I have caused you any discomfort but I kindly ask you to understand that there is no blame in this. It is not because of something you did during my childhood so please don't feel guilty. Feelings can't be helped and it is no one's fault. You lavished me with all the care, love and attention any child could have had. I was neither pampered nor neglected. I was neither clung to nor rejected, and I was always treated fairly. I look back on my childhood as a wonderful moment of my life, and always in my memories I see a wonderful man who raised me. You never gave up on me, even after learning about my disability. You tried your best to ensure I had a normal life but Dad, there is something else I need to say. I am considering living with my girlfriend after I graduate middle school. That doesn't mean you will not see me. I will pay you regular visits. I am sure I will miss you a lot but I desire to be with my beloved. I have already told her my intentions. She would willingly accept me with open arms. I am a fairly independent girl and I could manage living with someone who is not my father. I will even get a part time job to support myself because I do not want to burden Nana.

I don't want to sound harsh, but under no circumstances are you to ever act against Nana in any way. This is not her fault. She has never pushed her boundaries with me. When I told her how I felt about her, she told me "I have always felt the same way about you. But I felt that I would be taking advantage of you since I am your teacher." As you can see, my girlfriend had always respected the line between teacher and student from day one but now, we're closer than that. We share such a special bond which is stronger than just a teacher/student relationship. She would be heartbroken if I graduated and left her but she understands that my graduation day must come eventually. She is a selfless person and would put on that "It's all cool" face but I know deep down, she would be hurt. I would feel the same way. Dad, you have no idea how I am dreading the day I graduate, since it means that I might not be able to see Nana after leaving school. This is why I am kindly asking you to please consider my request to move in with Nana after I graduate, which will be in a few months.

With all that said, if you still do not approve of my relationship with Nana, please don't report her to the school for the sake of your daughter. I know society sees these types of relationships as "controversial" but if Nana is found out by the school board, they could fire her and even worse, send her to prison. I would be torn apart to know that my first romantic relationship ended up in such a mess and worst of all, I don't know how I could cope with knowing my beloved is treated so harshly. It would affect me greatly if anything bad like that happens to her. I would much rather all of this fall on me than her. She deserves none of that since it would be unfair to her. You, as an employed man should understand that we can't take away someone's livelihood because of something they were unable to control.

I will leave the next step to you. You can either choose to talk to me or ignore this letter. It's not up to me how you react but I hope you would accept me for who I am. This may be hard on you and I apologize again. I am not being selfish - instead, I am offering you the chance to become re-acquainted with your daughter and get to know more about her. A daughter who cares for you and loves you with all her heart, but who must be able to live her own life.

I will be patiently awaiting your response, but in the end, if you can't love me anymore, I will understand, forgive, but not accept. At the end of the day, I am your daughter and I will always love you no matter what.

Sincerely

Rise.

Rise placed the letter on the coffee table which had newspapers her father read every morning before work. She crept in bed but she was unable to get any rest that night, as she anxiously awaited the sun to rise.

A/N: What did you guys think? Please R&R. It would be much appreciated. Also I wanted to introduce Rise's mother in some way or the other so I wrote that she left them. Are you guys interested in knowing why Rise's mother left? I think it makes sense that Rise sees Nana as someone who could fill that motherless void in her life in a non-weird way of course, seeing as Nana is an older woman. Maybe subconsciously, that's one of the reasons Rise even adores Nana? I have some ideas for those two now ^_^