Puella Magi - Memento Mori (PMMM quest)

[X] Ask Arianne for a ride.
-[X] Talk on the way.
--[X] Make good on your promise to Mariko and Arianne and explain the curse
---[X] Ask Mariko to tell Ariane what she saw when you introduced to Jocelyn
---[X] For years no one was capable of noticing you
---[X] You found a way to fight it only after your Wish
---[X] You don't know how, why or who made it
---[X] Note that other girls know already, because they happened to see it in action in the school

"Alright, I guess that settles it then," you announce with an affirmative nod. "Although, once again, sorry for the confusion about my schedule. I didn't mean to make it more complicated than it had to be."

"Aww, don't be like that!" Ariane reassures you with a happy smile adorning her face. "I got two sleepovers out of the deal, so it's all good! Besides, trips are meant to be enjoyed in peace, so don't sweat it!"

You're quite doubtful whether the trip's going to be enjoyable in the fun sense. Though you're hopeful about everything going fine, there's just so much baggage riding on this one that you'll probably spent most of the weekend crying. You'd rather not think of yourself as a crybaby, but this is one issue you know is going to get to you.

You're coming, Kimiko.

Yet for now, you put your utmost effort into not betraying the thoughts and emotions you're going through, and instead smile at Ariane. "Yeah, I'll- we'll try," you correct yourself, and throw an apologetic glance at Mariko. Come to think of it, there's also something else that you really need to talk about. "Uh, and Ariane?"

"Hmm, yes?" the girl says.

"Would you mind dropping me and Mariko over at us?" you ask, rubbing the back of your neck nervously. It only now occurs to you that you should probably try to avoid that habit. It makes you look suspicious even if there's nothing sleazy going on! "You know, if it isn't too much of a hassle?"

"Oh, of course!" Ariane exclaims and twirls around to look over everyone. "Does anyone else need a ride back home? There's room for everyone!"

Please no.

"Uh, I-I'd like that, thank you?" Kishi raises her hand, soon followed by Ami.

"I would appreciate it, thank you. It is getting very late, after all."

Well, maybe you can ask to be dropped off last? Ami's house is the closest from here if you remember correctly, so you'd just have to suggest Kishi be dropped before Mariko and you. This should be an easy piece!

"Oh, would you look at the timing!" Ariane announces as the dark car pulls over to the yard of the Girard family. "Come on, everyone climb on!"

As soon as you get into the car, you're very visible presented by another hurdle to explaining your curse to Ariane and Mariko: the former's aide. The one on shift today is the purple-haired woman, who greets your group with stoic professionalism. You don't really mind either one of them, per se…

"Okay, where does everyone live?" Ariane asks.

...But telling them feels so much more terrifying than with your friends. You don't think you've had a proper conversation with them before, though they're exempt from your curse. Are they even aware of magic? She would hear the conversation all the same, and even with telepathy sshe would be able to tell something's going on.

The car begins to move, and you draw in a deep breath in between the low-key chatter among the people in the car. You're going to need to know this before anything.

'A-Ariane?' you reach out through telepathy. 'Does your aide… Does she know about magic?'

'Hmm? No, we haven't told her yet,' Ariane answers you. 'Father has said we'll be bringing miss Celia into the fold later, but we haven't talked about the aides. Why?'

...Why must life be so difficult?

What do you do?

[] Write-in the plan.

===

Oh hey, a background character ruins everything

[X] Telepathy to Ariane
-[X] There is something I wanted to talk with you and Mariko. But it's personal, so I wouldn't be comfortable to share it in her presence even if she was in the know...
--[X] Can you stop by my place for the talk?

You close your eyes for a moment to gather your thoughts. Why is it that things always get more complicated than you intend them to? Can't you just open up about your secrets to your friends in peace and without anything getting in the way? If only you could get a vacation from this sort of thing. You could just spend your time having fun with your friends.

Maybe you could ask Yuujin to take you to her dimension? A day at a beach sounds so tempting right now.

'Earth to Tamiko?' Ariane's telepathic voice shatters that train of thought, and pulls you back to the real world.

'Ah, sorry, I got a little carried away there,' you apologize sheepishly, cracking a small smile at the same time. 'But uh, yeah, there's... something I really need to talk with you and Mariko. It's kind of important due to, well, everything.'

You glance at the dark-haired girl, who's leaning against the darkened window with a bored expression on her face. You shake your head slightly.

'Though at the same time, it's something very personal. I-I don't really feel comfortable sharing it in her presence, even if she was in the know about magic,' your smile becomes ever so wider, though this time it's more pleading than before. "So uh, could you stop by my place for the talk, please? I promise it won't take long!'

'Well, sure?' Ariane says, her tone much more concerned than before. 'I'll tell it to her when we're there, okay?'

'Okay!'

The rest of the trip passes uneventfully in comparison. Ami's the first one to drop off after giving her address to Ariane, as you suspected, followed by Kishi being left at the doorstep of her home. The aide doesn't question it when Ariane tells her that she and Mariko would both be going over at yours.

Granted, the woman doesn't seem too enthusiastic about the idea, even if she hides it very well underneath the mask of professionalism she wears.

Mariko seems to grow quite apprehensive when she realizes that Ariane's following you inside. Yet, at the same time there's a hint of curiosity in her expression, as well as anticipation. She probably knows that you're about to make good on your promise from earlier, and she's no longer sure whether she actually wants to hear it.

You let it be for now, and lead your friends inside instead. When you open the door, your uncle is already there to greet you, though he seems to be surprised by the presence of Ariane.

"Hi uncle! Just uh, could we have a minute? It's kind of important."

He seems to understand, and lets you go to your room. You sit down on your bed, while Mariko withdraws to lean against the walls in a corner of your rooms. Ariane's attention seems to be more focused on the neatly made futon on the floor, and the sports bag next to it. She's probably looking over Mariko's current living conditions here.

"I guess this is when you explain what happened with Jocelyn back there?" Mariko asks you after a drawn out period of silence.

"Huh, something happened?" Ariane asks.

"Yeah, you hadn't arrived yet," you explain in a low voice. "Just... Listen to me, please." Here goes nothing.

What do you do?

[] Write-in the explanation (and the hugs).

===

This explanation to Ariane especially was honestly long overdue.