……Akari and the others had returned to their childhood home.

It was a large, single-story wooden house. The kind of structure you could find anywhere in the countryside.

……When they opened the front door, a pungent stench hit them in the face. And then……

"Squeak, squeak!" "Grrr, grrr!" "Woof, woof, woof!"

……What reached their ears were the cries of animals. No, to both Akari’s and Nanaeko’s ears, they sounded like 【screams】 in agony. "......" They had left this place in the summer.

It had been six months since they returned, yet the interior hadn't changed a single bit.

The dog's bark was so loud and agonizing that their eardrums felt like they might burst. The air reeked of ammonia.

……And the walls and floor were filthy with feces and urine. It was obvious this wasn't an environment fit for human habitation.

"......She's still doing it... even after we reported it to animal control!"

When Akari and the others had left the house, they had anonymously reported the conditions inside to the local public health authority.

They had no idea what happened after they walked out that door.

......But looking at the fact that nothing had changed, they realized their report had gone entirely unnoticed.

Akari didn't even bother to take off her shoes, walking straight into the genkan and heading deep inside. "…………"

What Akari and the others saw were animal cages scattered all over the place.

Newspapers had been laid out on the floors of these enclosures, where dogs were crammed in tightly together.

The dogs were emaciated, their eyes bloodshot, barking like maniacs.

……It was obvious that no love or care was being given to them.

Just listening to their cries made Akari's heart ache with pain.

Let me out! The dogs were silently demanding it, fiercely. "…………Cruel."

For Nanako, who loved animals, this environment was nothing less than hell itself.

Unlike themselves, who had somewhere to run to, the dogs here had no way of escaping.

And they were being forced to give birth to children without love. "…………"

Nanako tried to run toward the animals. But Akari grabbed her hand. "Akari-chan……!"

"You can't, Onii-san. There's nothing we can do for these kids now……" "But……"

“...I know what Big Sis feels. But... we’re just kids. We can’t do anything.”

Nanako understood perfectly well what Akari was trying to say.

Nanako looked again and again at the dogs crying inside their cages.

“...No, it’s hopeless. I need to call the police...” Just then—

“Huh, is that you guys? Did y’all leave?”

From the back of the room, a man poked his head out.

His face was beet red from alcohol...

“...Long time no see... Dad.”

He was Akari’s and the others’ current father.