Maybe she should leave this life behind? Join the Black Knights permanently, ditch the cover story and get on with what really matters. Helping people. Saving them from injustice. Using her powers in a way that would make the world a better place to live in. She heard the door closing behind her, took note of that arrogant sloth Lelouch standing there. Was that genuine concern or another of his grand performances?

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied, moving to pass him by without even looking him in the eyes. "Enjoy hobnobbing with the wealthy, influential elite. I'm sure you'll fit right in."

But when he spoke again, his voice seemed to drop the concern and the arrogance. It became harder. Colder. More familiar in a way that caught her completely off guard. "You've been through a lot, Q1. Are you sure you wouldn't appreciate an opportunity to recuperate?"

To any other eyes it would seem as though nothing had really happened. To anyone else, they would have seen a pair of coiled fists reach out for Lelouch's arms, only for both of them to be grabbed by one black arm and one white.

"You," she said, stumbling back in disbelief. "That's not - You can't be - But that would mean -"

Sure enough Shirley stepped out of the shadow behind him. Those two - The reason they were away from school so much was because of this? That didn't seem possible! It didn't make sense! Neither of them were the kind of person to do something like this, what possible reason -

"Sad to say," Shirley said, but there was something different to her tone of voice. "You're not the only one whose parent has been killed by Britannian neglect and cruelty."

"What we want is justice," Lelouch continued. "After what we all went through at Narita, we felt you were owed a few answers."

[...]

"As I was about to say," Lelouch ran a finger across his forehead and let his hand linger in front of his face as he spoke. "This experience was traumatic for all of us. Shirley and myself were compelled to relive the final moments we had with a beloved parent before their untimely demise. Furthermore - "

"Furthermore you unknowingly ordered me to kill my own mother," Kallen interrupted. "So you decided it might make everything alright just to come out and say, oh by the way I've been lying to your face for the last few weeks."

"Does it make any difference who we really are, in the end?" Lelouch asked. "No. What matters in the end is this: We are trusting you with the truth, because we feel you understand us a little better than you did before just as we have come to understand you."

"In the end we are all accomplices," C.C. observed. "If we do not protect one another, then who else will? In this world, nobody can ever remain alone no matter how much they might try."

-Lulu's Bizarre Rebellion Chapter 27.5