67 Confidant: Priestess and Judgemen (2/2)

Shaking his head, Axel quickly followed behind her. As he walked into the living room, Axel had to pinch his side to keep himself from bursting into a fit of laughter.

Like children, both Makoto and Sae were sitting down at the table. The sisters wore a giddy expression on their faces.

Makoto was even kicking her legs back and forth as she waved for Axel and said, \”Come on Axel! Hurry up and take a seat!\”

Axel chuckled at her actions as he sat down next to her sister, Sae. The eldest of the niijima sisters looked at him with a small smile.

She offered Axel a quiet apology as she realised that he had prepared enough for all of them, even though it's been a few minutes since the call.

Axel waved her off with a smile as he said, \”No need to apologise. It doesn't take much effort to cook a couple extra portions, after all.\”

The trio ate breakfast in relative silence. After a few minutes, a soft sobbing resounded from Sae. Axel turned to Sae in concern as he lightly wiped away the tears pouring from her face.

Suddenly, Makoto started sobbing as well, leaving Axel both worried and stressed. He was starting to panic when Sae softly grabbed his hand.

Axel turned and was about to ask what's wrong when Sae cut him off as she smiled through her tears and said, \”Don't worry about us. Your cooking… just reminds me of my father.\”

She leaned over the table with a loving smile as she gently wiped away Makoto's tears with her sleeve, \”It's funny, really. Your food is so much better than anything my father could make yet… every bite I eat reminds me of him.\”

Makoto nodded as she silently started eat her food again, tears still pouring down her face. Axel, now knowing that they weren't really sad, collapsed into his chair as his panicked heart started to calm down.

Sae smiled softly at Axel as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, starling him as he jumped in his chair. She chuckled as she whispered, \”That was just a small 'thank you', Axel.\”

\”Ever since my father passed away, I began bottling up my emotions. Makoto was still young then and our mother was too shocked at our fathers passing to function. Someone needed to step up and take care of our family.\”

Sae turned and watched Makoto eat with a loving smile on her face as she continued, \”So that's what I did. I buried my sadness and grit my teeth as I did what I could to raise my sister.\”

With a worried look on his face, Axel gently held Sae's hands, surprising her slightly, as he asked in concern, \”Are you alright?\”

Sae wanted to say she was fine. She wanted to be strong, for both herself and Makoto. But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself keep her mask on as her eyes slowly watered.

Her breathing hitched in her chest as she softly choked out, \”I-I'm… really not alright. With work always taking up my time, I barely ever get to do anything for myself. I… I just want sometime to grieve, since I didn't do it when he passed.\”

Axel nodded to her, \”Well, you could always do it now. Your sister is right there and you don't have work so what better time then the present! I'll just step out for a-\”

Makoto suddenly cut him off as she grabbed his hand and yelled, \”No! You don't need to leave! I'm fine with you being here while we talk! And I'm sure sis doesn't mind, right sis?\”

Just as he was about argue that he would just be intruding on the sisters personal business, Sae looked at him smiled gently as she replied, \”She's right, Axel. I don't mind you being here when we talk.\”

\”Actually, you being here helps me. For some odd reason, I find it much easier to open up about my feelings when your around.\” Said Sae as she looked at Axel with an unnoticeable blush.

Makoto smiled as she excitedly said, \”Same here! Opening up just feels easier with Axel around.\”

Both girls seemed to have spoken telepathically to each other as they nodded and turned towards Axel. Sae's unnoticeable blush became visible as she and Makoto launched a girl's most dreaded weapon at Axel.

The puppy dog eyes.

Dumbfounded, Axel found himself unable to leave the room. Both girls looked up at him with watery eyes and pouted lip, making Axel feel that it would be cruel to reject them.

Especially since Sae was pushing herself to appear cute. However, instead of appearing 'cute', Sae ended up looking very sexy. Her posture seemed to emphasize her curves while she looked up at Axel in an almost sensual manner.

Ignoring the heat gathering in his cheeks, Axel silently gulped and nodded. Both girls faces seemed to brighten as they started talking.

For hours, the sisters reminisced about their father, laughing and crying as they released all their pent up emotions. Neither Makoto nor Sae realised that, at some point, the pair were tightly holding Axel's hands.