Okaya stood firm, confronting the bald man with unwavering composure. What a dependable person he was.
Just seeing Okaya there made me feel an overwhelming sense of security.
I could tell my sister felt the same way.
…Maybe that’s why I want to stay by this man’s side forever.
“But-but! Do you have any proof? Any evidence, I mean!” The bald man shouted.
“Where is the damn proof that I’m abusing these animals?”
…What on earth was he talking about?
“I kept ‘em properly inside their cages! It’s just that the cages are a bit small! That alone can’t be called abuse, ya hear me!?” …Seriously, what was he saying?
The dogs locked in the cages were all emaciated. They yipped and barked frantically.
By any reasonable standard, it was obvious that abuse was happening. …Then again, as the bald man said, there was no record of him actually hitting or kicking them.
“Even if I did report animal abuse, they’d just drop the charges! There’s no evidence! No damn proof!” Okaya’s expression turned stern.
Yes, it was true that there was no evidence. But… Akari stood up and pulled out the bag she had brought with her.
“Sure, there’s no evidence you abused the animals… but! The proof that you abused us is right here!”
Akari pulled out her smartphone.
“I started recording before we even came inside!” “Wha— yo, what the hell!”
Akari had kept her phone on and recording, tucked away inside her bag.
Naturally, the audio of the beatings was captured on the file.
“If I can’t press charges for animal abuse, I’ll do it for child abuse! That way, all your other crimes will just unravel one by one, wouldn’t they?”
That would free these unfortunate dogs from this bald man, too.
…And with this man gone, the chains binding them to their past would finally be broken.
“It’s over for you, Baldy…”