Before I could even open my mouth, she was already halfway to the door.
"Wait, I talked to the doctor. He thinks I'm just… giving up. That's why I feel so weak lately."
Her fingers paused just inches from the doorknob, trembling slightly before curling into a loose fist.
"No...."
She quietly came back to my bedside and sat down gently.
"Don't say that." her lips quivered, and I saw the first tear slip down her cheek. "Your father and I will be heartbroken."
Her hands found her sleeves, fingers digging in a desperate attempt to hold the emotion in.
"I know you're tired. I know this year has been… hard," she went on. "But there's still hope. There is. You just don't know everything yet."
I just stared at her, trying to fill my eyes with as much sadness and hopelessness as I could fake. The empty look of someone barely holding on to life.
She covered her mouth, and started sobbing.
"I… it's okay, Aunt Ellie. You don't have to pretend. Living like this… it's just too exhausting."
Tears brimmed and overflowed from her eyes as she held onto my hand, afraid of losing me completely.
"Just wait a bit longer, alright? There's this rumor going around… about a 50 floor tower that showed up a year ago. They say there's a relic inside , a flower that can heal anything."
I kept my face blank, but deep down, I knew it was too good to be true.
"And Father? …Does he believe it too?"
The confidence in her expression slipped, just a little.
"He's put up a one-billion bounty. Whoever brings it back gets the full amount. That's how badly he wants you healed."
"There's still hope. So please… hang on a little longer."
I almost laughed when she mentioned the bounty.
That flower was more about benefiting the company than saving me — and I would be lucky if that guy even put me first.
In the three years Axel was stuck in the hospital, that jerk never once showed his face.
Pushing that thought aside, I turned my attention back to the present.
"Aunt Ellie… I'm thirsty," I whispered, letting my voice sound a little weak. "Could you… help me drink?"
A soft white glow lit up her eyes , proof that my ability had kicked in. As far as I knew, I was the only one who could see it.
"Okay,"
She picked up the cup and gently brought the straw to my lips.
After taking a drink, I took a moment to fake steadying my breathing.
"Sorry My head… Could you maybe… rub my forehead a little?"
Again, she didn't hesitate. She set the spoon down and gently touched my face, rubbing slow, comforting circles on my temples.
This was another test. I wasn't just asking for comfort—I was stacking effects. Layering commands. Watching if the influence deepened with repeated exposure.
And so far? It was working.
She didn't ask any questions, since every request was normal.
Tricking her into kissing me would have to wait. Unlike Claire, I couldn't afford to make a mistake with her.
If it failed and she didn't come back, then everything would be over.
"Thank you. Could you… hold my hand for a bit? It helps. Makes me feel safe."
She squeezed it . I couldn't really feel her touch, but just having her this close—those soft lips, that tight blouse, the way her ample chest subtly moved with each breath, was more than enough to enjoy.
While she sat quietly, her phone rang. She answered with her free hand, never letting go of mine.
By the time the call ended, she looked very uneasy.
"Axel, I'm sorry… but I have to go. Something important came up."
"Can you stay a little longer?" I asked, letting my ability sink into every word.
"I'm sorry,"
It failed. That meant she was under enough stress to break free from my ability.
"It's alright. Aunt Ellie… will you come see me every day from now on?"
This time, her eyes lit up, and a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Of course. I'll come. Every single day,"
Before she left, I ordered her to bring me a mirror so I could see my face.
I still remembered what Axel looked like, but I wanted to get a sense of my current condition.
What greeted me in the mirror was a thin young man with brown hair and green eyes. My face wasn't particularly handsome, but it wasn't ugly either.
Another day passed, and I spent most of it sleeping and daydreaming about anime scenarios — stuff that only happens in fiction, like having a harem or a woman actually apologizing for being wrong.
Click!
The sound of the door opening was like music to my ears, and I hurriedly checked to see who it was.