Kara Knows

"Hello love~, I already ate so I'll pass for now. I would love the leftovers for work tomorrow though. And good evening Jun, Sarah and Amelia. Enjoying dinner?" Kara says eyeing each one of you and walks forward to the table.

You gulp down a spoonful of your food and give her a simple nod back.

"On your feet already?" Kara says and puts a hand on your shoulder. Her hand is cold.

"Yeah, I'm feeling better." You respond back with a nervous look.

"Good....A speedy recovery was expected after all, especially under the care of these two." Kara looks to Amelia and Sarah.

The meaning behind that sentence is scrambled. Did she say that to have a double meaning or does she mean that genuinely? No, you're certain she knows....right? Just like Ameko....she knows for sure about everything in this household. You're anxious.

You look to Amelia. She's staying quiet and has put on her perfect smile she always does around Kara. But you can see she is anxious as well. Sarah on the other hand is just herself and is occupied with enjoying the food. You take another deep breath and solidify your resolve. You're going to poke the bear and see where this leads. For Amelia and for your collective sanity.

"Y-yeah, they really helped out with my recovery. I can't thank them enough for....taking such good care of me." You say as bold as you can and smile at Amelia and Sarah in plain view.

Amelia looks away pretending to reach for her glass of milk again.

Kara's hand on your shoulder tighten and her fingers dig into your skin ever so slightly. The terrifying cold aura around her increases and you pray to whatever god there is to help you.

Kara then let's go. "Good. Well done you two. Jun, come with me. I have things I need to discuss with you...."

"What?" You say confused and then correct your response. "Oh- yeah umm sure....Right now?"

"Yes, come along. Ayako! We'll be back soon. Please see to it that the girls get to bed early." Kara gives your mother a wink.

"Ah~ of course darling! Please be careful. Love you~!" Your mother says and does a little wave with her fingers.

"Love you too." Kara responds back.

You stand up and before you know it Kara puts on a jacket and you two were out the door.

....

You sit comfortably in the passengers seat of Kara's car. It's a nice ride she's got. It's nothing too flashy but will definitely turn some heads. She uses her car mainly for work.

Kara hasn't spoken a word since you two have gotten in and you're too afraid to lead the conversation. So you take this time to come up with a plan. You don't think Kara's going to do anything to you but it's better to be safe than sorry, so you decide to text Amelia.

Jun: [Gonna call you. Go on mute and listen in.]

Amelia: [Kay, got it.]

You then call Amelia and after she picks up you slide your phone into your pocket.

"How're you doing?" Kara finally speaks. You see her glance over.

"Pretty good." You say plainly and roll your shoulder.

"I meant 'how you are feeling' as in your thoughts." Kara makes a turn towards the bridge.

"Umm, curious I guess? We've never really had a one on one talk like this before....except that one time." You say remembering the night where you all played eyecatcher and you were stuck with her confronting you about the condoms you bought.

"I suppose you're right....my apologies. I wanted to get to know you better, Jun. But I've been slacking on that front." Kara says and you raise a brow at her.

"Um....same here I guess?" You say not really knowing how to respond. "Oh, where are we going by the way?"

Without looking to you she smiles and keeps her eyes forward. "Just to the city. I want to show you this wonderful coffee shop."

"A coffee shop?" You question if that place was necessary at all for 'discussing things' but you hold your tongue. Instead you reply back, "I'm not much of a coffee drinker though."

"I know." Kara says rather quickly.

Now that I think about it....she really liked coffee didn't she? I often smelled it in her breath.

You say in your head remembering your white haired lover from last reality.

You eye her at the edge of your peripheral vision. Is she....excited? Giddy? You've never seen her like this before. She's completely devoid of her usual sly smile and cold eyes look. She's cheerful if anything.

"Hey Kara?" You say holding your breath. This....is the confrontation. You've got to do it.

"Hmm?" Kara answers.

"Thanks." You simply say.

"Thanks? What for?" She says finally looking over. Her beautiful sapphire eyes flash at you and go right back to the road.

"I- I mean. Thanks for y'know-...." It's harder said than done. You were going to be bold and push on to get the truth but- this is beyond scary. "-everything? I think?" You sound so half assed right there even though it was a safe answer.

"Everything? Ah-....yes, of course. I'm just glad I made it in time." Kara says and your stomach sinks. She means the ambush. Your squeeze your phone.

It's confirmed Kara is in on it with Ameko. This changes everything. And you mean....everything. The cameras. Your encounters with Amelia, Ameko and Sarah. Your wishes and the drawbacks, The Crescent Squad....she knows it all. You put a hand to your mouth and turn away towards the window, speechless.

The car rides along through the large bridge.

How long?

You say inside your head.

How long does this go back? Was it all planned from the beginning? Did it all start when she came through that front door with your mother?

"Jun?....How are you feeling?" Kara asks you again but now with a slight smile to her red lips.

"....There's a lot to process." You say almost in a whisper.

"I understand....it must've been a shock." Kara says with no change in her voice.

You stay quiet and after a second you see Kara glance over to you again in the reflection of the window.

"There is a reason why we're withholding information, trust me." Kara says to you as the car leaves the bridge and heads towards the shopping district.

"No, you don't. You don't understand." You say still looking away from her.

"I don't? Well then, please explai-" She barely gets her response out before you cut her off suddenly.

"-I- I don't know what's going on, Kara. I do, but I don't. I'm being told this and that and then when something happens I realize that I am 2 steps behind....not telling me puts everyone around me in danger. I can take the truth." You turn and look to her. "Trust me. What's there to hide anyways?"

"...." Kara pulls into a parking spot and parks the car. This is a smaller section of the shopping district known for it's quieter atmosphere.

"....." You just stare at Kara as she turns off the car and opens her door.

"You'll get a taste of the truth today then, Jun. Let's see how you handle it." Kara steps out and shuts the door.

You mirror her on your side and get out as well. The truth? So she's going to actually tell you? Well....a taste of it or so she says.

"Come along." She says and walks away not even waiting for you to follow.

You curl your hand into a fist, flexing it and then releasing....you need to stay calm. You want to absorb as much information as you can if she is going to actually talk.

In the slight drizzle of rain below darkening clouds you catch up to Kara.