Akichi Aya's house was not too far from Uesugi Kazuki's, belonging to the same middle-class neighborhood. The street environment was even slightly better than Uesugi's.
From its appearance alone, the Akichi residence perfectly fit Uesugi Kazuki's stereotype of a middle-class, or even upper-middle-class, Japanese home.
A two-story house with a yard, complete with a garage.
However, the once-thriving landscape plants in the yard had mostly withered, and the yard was mostly filled with wildflowers and weeds.
Relying on his high driving ability (four points), Uesugi Kazuki, who had neither hit anyone nor been hit by anyone along the way, safely parked the black luxury sedan in front of Akichi Aya's yard gate.
He looked back at Akichi Aya's mother lying in the back seat, then glanced at Akichi Aya, who was beside him, draped in his school uniform.
Uesugi Kazuki felt that their current appearance was indeed not suitable for simply getting out of the car.
After all, their outfits would look quite scandalous even at a cosplay convention, let alone walking through such an 'ordinary' middle-class neighborhood street.
So, Uesugi Kazuki asked Akichi Aya,
"Do you have the key to your garage? I'll drive the car into the garage; it'll be more convenient for you two to get out there."
Hearing Uesugi Kazuki's question, Akichi Aya instinctively reached for her school uniform skirt pocket, but her hand found nothing, only her smooth thigh.
Remembering that her school uniform was still at the Happiness Mansion, Akichi Aya turned to Uesugi Kazuki and said,
"Look under the second flowerpot by the door. There should be the garage and house keys there."
"Okay."
Uesugi Kazuki got out of the car, pushed open the slightly ajar yard gate, and walked into the Akichi family's vigorously overgrown yard.
Following the pathway, which was almost covered by weeds, Uesugi Kazuki arrived at the Akichi family's front door, whose mail slot was crammed with various flyers and letters. He looked at the dusty, dirty flowerpots, where the plants that once grew there had long since withered.
After overturning the flowerpot Akichi Aya mentioned, Uesugi Kazuki indeed found the two keys she spoke of underneath it.
He took the keys, walked to the garage, and opened the garage door.
The garage, without a doubt, had no car. In fact, it wasn't just empty of cars; it lacked even the usual household clutter.
It was as empty as a newly delivered shell of a house.
After pulling open the garage door and opening the yard gate as wide as possible,
Uesugi Kazuki returned to the car and drove it into the garage.
When Uesugi Kazuki closed the garage door and turned around, he saw Akichi Aya had already gotten out of the car.
She was now kneeling on the ground, hands pressed to the surface, bowing and looking at him.
After he turned around, Akichi Aya lowered her body, kneeling before Uesugi Kazuki in a standard prostration (Gassho-zukuri) pose.
"Truly! Thank you! I am deeply indebted!"
Seeing Akichi Aya prostrated on the ground, Uesugi Kazuki, who had just seen "something good," first swallowed.
Then he walked in front of Akichi Aya and helped her up.
"I received your thanks. As a Masked Bicycle Rider driven by interest, it was merely a small favor for me; there's no need for this."
After speaking, Uesugi Kazuki walked to the rear car door and said to Akichi Aya, "If you really want to thank me, please open the door for me. I'll take your mother into the house, and then I'll need to dispose of this car."
"Okay!"
As Akichi Aya went to open the door connecting the garage to the house, Uesugi Kazuki pulled open the rear car door and leaned in to hoist Akichi Aya's still-unconscious mother.
Then Uesugi Kazuki discovered three things.
Firstly, it was indeed a bit difficult to lift someone in that posture.
Secondly, the quality of her clothes was truly poor, probably only as good as toilet paper.
Lastly, this woman likely put all the intelligence points she should have had at birth into her charm instead.
After some effort, Uesugi Kazuki finally managed to lift Akichi Aya's mother out of the car.
However, after getting out of the car and seeing Akichi Aya, who had opened the door for him,
Even Uesugi Kazuki, who believed "My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror; all I do is just," couldn't help but blush slightly, his expression a little awkward.
"It's just that the quality of these clothes is too poor; they tear with just a slight touch."
Uesugi Kazuki showed Akichi Aya the torn dress in his hand.
Akichi Aya just said softly as she took the torn dress from Uesugi Kazuki's hand,
"Kazuki-kun, you don't need to explain anything. I trust you."
Uesugi Kazuki, carrying Akichi Aya's mother, entered Akichi Aya's house.
Like the garage, Akichi Aya's home, apart from a thin layer of dust, seemed like a house that had never been lived in since its construction.
There was no furniture, not even proper seating.
However, it couldn't be said that no one had ever lived here. Traces of past life remained in the house.
For instance, in many photo frames hanging on the walls, one could still see Akichi Aya's mother in her youth, a handsome man who was presumably Akichi Aya's father, and a young Akichi Aya smiling brightly at the camera.
Uesugi Kazuki didn't linger on these photos. He followed Akichi Aya, first entering the living room, which was empty except for a large calligraphy scroll with the character "Happiness" written on it.
Then, he ascended to the second floor via a staircase adorned with photos of Akichi Aya, from a baby in swaddling clothes to a middle school student in uniform.
He entered a room where only a futon was spread on the floor. After carefully placing Akichi Aya's mother on the futon,
Uesugi Kazuki turned and left the room without hesitation, then walked downstairs.
Akichi Aya seemed to hear Uesugi Kazuki's footsteps descending the stairs. After covering her unconscious mother with a blanket, she quickly rushed out of the room.
"Kazuki-kun! Where are you going?"
Uesugi Kazuki, who, due to the angle, accidentally saw many "good things" again when he turned around, quickly averted his gaze. To make his gaze appear more natural,
Uesugi Kazuki began looking at the photos hanging on the walls.
"That car can't stay here. I need to dispose of it."
"I'll go with you."
"You're dressed like this... it's not very convenient..."
"Then wait for me to change."
Although she had run away from home, Akichi Aya still had clothes there.
Rushing back to her room, she casually pulled out two pieces of clothing from the wardrobe.
Akichi Aya, not bothering to take off the miko outfit, just tore it off.
Then, she hopped and jumped into a pair of jeans and a hooded jacket.
She darted into the garage, only to find it empty.
Both Uesugi Kazuki and the black luxury sedan had vanished.
A somewhat disappointed Akichi Aya had just turned around, closing the door and looking at the empty living room.
Akichi Aya's mind was a mix of emotions, unsure how to feel.
Just then, Akichi Kiko's scream suddenly echoed from upstairs: "Aya!!!"
Not knowing what was happening, Akichi Aya quickly ran towards the stairs.
As soon as she reached the stairs, Akichi Aya saw her mother, covered in injuries, scrambling down from upstairs.
Then, her mother, as if driven mad, suddenly rushed forward, fiercely embracing Akichi Aya as if afraid she would vanish the next second.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Aya! I'm sorry!"
Akichi Kiko, as if wishing to merge with Akichi Aya, held her tightly and sobbed loudly.
Akichi Aya, held in Akichi Kiko's embrace, was momentarily at a loss.
Then, amidst Akichi Kiko's cries, Akichi Aya's hands, which had nowhere to rest, slowly rose and gently patted Akichi Kiko's back.
With a slightly tearful voice, she said to the loudly wailing Akichi Kiko,
"Mom, please don't cry. When you cry, I want to cry too."