Now, it was a well known fact that, every once in a while, kids would have to talk to their parents about important or even embarrassing things. Sunny Flare was no exception to this rule, and while there may have once been a time when she and her Mother had great hardships in being open with one another, they were, for the most part, a lot more comfortable speaking to each other nowadays. However, given the somewhat worried look on Sunny's face right now, it was obvious to anyone that, while she was willing to speak to her Mother, that wasn't going to make it any more pleasant an experience, or at least that's how she suspected it would go. Standing in the doorway, the Crystal Prep girl looked upon her Mother, Abacus Cinch, the former Principal of that very school, who was currently sitting in her favourite armchair by the fire, clad in a simple blue bathrobe and slippers. She had a small cup of tea, which she took occasional sips from as she read a newspaper. But she only truly noticed her daughter's presence when the latter cleared her throat, gaining her elder's attention.
"Ah, Sunny. How are you?"
The girl smiled to this, taking a step into the room.
"I'm fine, Mom, thanks for asking."
But while Cinch would never have considered herself to be the most aware of parents, even she could detect that her daughter had something on her mind, as evidenced by the way she stood there, as well as the continual look of worry.
"Is something wrong?"
After a question like that, there was no delaying this matter, and Sunny knew it. She entered the room in earnest, taking a seat on a large and comfortable sofa opposite where her Mother was sitting. As soon as she was upon it, she took a few deep breaths, before looking her lone parent right in the eye.
"Mom...I...I have something to tell you."
Immediately, the older woman set her book aside, as well as her tea-cup, before leaning forward, giving her child her full attention.
"Alright...I'm listening."
Sighing, Sunny looked down to her hands, where she had been twiddling her thumbs for some time now.
"For a few months, I've...I've been thinking about something. Something I didn't really pay much attention to at first. But then, one day, my friends and I were having a conversation about stuff. Stuff like...well...dates and the like."
She glanced upwards.
"I think you were there at the school that day?"
Cinch nodded, remembering that.
"I recall. Go on."
And go on she did.
"Well...since that talk, I...I've been thinking more and more about something that I haven't really been able to get out of my head. Something about me...well...something different about me that I didn't really consider all that much before."
She looked away.
"At first, I figured I must just be imagining things, but then I started realising it every single day. So..."
Slowly, her eyes once more met her Mother's.
"...I think it's time I told you that...well...I think I'm...asexual."
A silence passed between the two, with her Mother looking like she was both surprised and confused at the same time. Sunny, for her part, seemed to be incredibly nervous, as though terrified as what her Mother would say. Cinch, after a short while of this, let out a sigh, raising a hand and adjusting her glasses slightly. When she finally spoke, it was with a voice far calmer and more thoughtful than Sunny was expecting.
"I see. If I might surprise you by saying this...I was wondering if this is something I was going to have to talk to you about."
Hearing that, Sunny's eyes widened.
"You...you knew?!"
Cinch shook her head.
"Not exactly. But, I suspected. Sometimes I would watch you and your friends, and while they may have shown interest in others, you never seemed to yourself."
Sunny looked to the ground again.
"Yeah...I guess I've always been like that. Whenever I look at some good-looking guy or girl, I just...feel nothing. A buff guy at the gym, all those pretty girls you'd see walking along the beach. None of them. All the kinds of stuff my friends and other people get excited over, that just...just never gets that way for me. I've never had any interest, any desire for...you know...that stuff."
Cinch nodded.
"Well...I'm glad you felt you were able to come to me abut this."
Holding herself, Sunny seemed, of all things, ashamed right now.
"I can't even imagine what you think of me right now."
Slowly, Cinch frowned.
"You think I'd look down on you for this?"
Sunny turned to her, uncertain.
"Well...I don't..."
But Cinch raised a hand, stopping her.
"Let me make one thing perfectly clear, my girl. You realising this about yourself is in no way a bad thing. If you have no desires of that nature, then that it simply the way it is. You are not a terrible person for being that way, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and if anyone were to tell you otherwise, then they are the ones who have the problem! Despite what society may believe, you are under no obligation to have those feelings."
Naturally, Sunny was rather taken aback by the passionate way her Mother had spoken.
"I...Well...I wasn't expecting you to say that."
Then, in a somewhat uncharacteristic display, Cinch raised an eyebrow and gained a slight smirk.
"Well, you know what they say...like Mother, like daughter."
It only took an instant for Sunny to understand those words.
"You mean...you?!"
The other woman nodded.
"Quite. Like you, I myself never had that much interest in, as you say, physical aspects. As long as we’re being open about this, I was actually about your age when I realised my own asexuality. In fact, if I'm being honest..."
She hesitated, but only for a moment.
"...the night you were conceived was the only time I had ever...well..."
Immediately, a blush came to Sunny, and she looked away while scratching the back of her head.
"Oh...I see."
Leaning back into her chair, Cinch took her tea-cup and had herself a small slurp of it.
"Although, I do trust that you won't divulge that particular titbit of information to your cohorts?"
Sunny's head snapped back in her direction.
"Oh, trust me, I don't think either of us wants that!"
Together, the two laughed, and as a result of that, much of the tension of the previous situation began to lift. When the laughter died down, however, Sunny began to stare at her Mother for a time, her expression soft and thoughtful. Then, after a while, a smile came to her, and she got out of her chair. Walking up to her parent, she gave an unexpected hug, which naturally took Cinch by surprise. It took a while, but eventually, the older woman reciprocated, returning the hug and holding her daughter close.
"Thanks, Mom....I appreciate this."
Sighing, Abacus herself also smiled.
"You're quite welcome, my dear."
Soon afterwards, the two parted, still smiling to one another. But, seconds afterwards, Sunny tilted her head, looking to her Mother with curiosity.
"So...seriously? You and Dad only did it the one time?"
Sighing again, Cinch nodded.
"Yes, that's right. Although, even if I do say so myself..."
Looking away, that same smirk from before returned to her.
"...it was quite a night."
Grimacing slightly, Sunny looked away, muttering under her breath so her Mother couldn't hear.
"Yeah, I know...I read the book."
"Hmm?" Cinch enquired.
"Oh! Nothing!"
