Disclaimer – I don't own any of this… simple as that.

Summary – one-shot. Rika considers her relationship with Mr. Terada.

Dedicated to a friend of mine who loved a teacher and was burned. May Rika's love life be less painful.

Simple Truth

There is very little in her life that is easy, simple. Except, perhaps, anything related to Home Ec. class.

It wasn't to say, however, that life was hard. She was a good student and had caring friends that swore to support her no matter what. She had sworn the same thing in return, after all.

It was the secret.

Secrets such as hers were messy and, if revealed to early or with miss-information, could easily be seen as worse than it really is.

Mr. Terada, her only love and greatest secret... her teacher. He'd never kissed her or made advances. Yet the mere fact that he still went on 'dates' (picnics) with her and encouraged her love… while sincerely returning it… could cost the wonderful man his job if anyone found out.

It was Rika's greatest fear.

If she wanted, she could pull away and tell him that it was for the sake of his job. It was just… she couldn't. Her heart was his and knew that. He'd been startled and uncertain at first, but now… she had his in return.

They were in love. Genuine love… that was the hurtful, painful, frightening, simple truth that so many others would wish to deny.

Fin

Rika is an incredibly mature being and is, personality wise, the complete opposite of my friend.My friend is perky hyper, and prone to telling every one of her friends what it is in her life that makes her happy.I wish that her love hadn't been so thoroughly rejected after he strung her along for so long. It was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced to see her come to school in tears because of him. She met him in Junior High (Middle School) and, now that we're in High school, she's been banned from going back to see him. He initiated that. I didn't know how to comfort her and that hurts. I seriously wanted him to be hit by a bus for leading her on and then basically ripping her sensitive soul to shreds.

Fortunately for Rika, her Mr. Terada loves her in return. Anywho… this wasn't exactly meant to have any point further than examining a few of Rika's thoughts on her situation.