Page 367

She looked at Shizuko's stiff smile, nodded as if she understood, closed the door, and changed into a brand new dress.

I went downstairs, and sure enough, my father, whom I hadn't seen for years, was home.

He sat on the sofa in the living room, a few photos in his hand and several open envelopes scattered on the coffee table. His already somewhat unfamiliar face was filled with worry.

The mother sat across the coffee table from the father, arms crossed, staring intently at him with a sharp gaze and upturned eyes that conveyed a strong sense of power, radiating an air of impatience.

Maya Uesugi couldn't remember the last time she had seen her parents together. The atmosphere was completely different from what she had imagined, like a fish bone that hadn't been removed properly, giving her an unexpected sense of danger.

"Father, Mother," she said timidly in a low voice.

Minami Uesugi turned her head and saw Maya Uesugi. Her expression softened a bit, and she beckoned to her: "Maya, come here. Have you decided where to go tonight?"

Uesugi Tomoya stuffed the photo back into the envelope, looked up at his daughter, and paused for a moment: "She really does look like that woman."

"Is that what the old man said?" Uesugi Minami asked.

"We can't trace the other party's origins. The entire Japanese, no, the whole of Asia, and even the United States, all living presidents are calling to put pressure on us. The consequences of the Uesugi family's collapse are something neither of us can afford."

Uesugi Tomoya stood up and casually picked up his suit jacket, which was tossed on the sofa: "And these photos and documents, if they get out, none of us will be able to clear our names."

"Ha, as if no one has caught you red-handed," Uesugi Minami sneered.

"That's enough, now is not the time to argue."

"After this, things will be the same as before; we won't interfere with each other."

"No matter what, you are still her mother."

"Isn't your father just as filthy?"

In the chilly atmosphere, Uesugi Maya followed her parents out of the house and got into the black car waiting by the roadside, not daring to say a word.

Before she could decide where she wanted to go, the car had already started and was driving along the street toward Tokyo Tower.

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant. Under bright lights, only two people sat in the central seats, with elegant piano music playing in the air.

Accompanied by his parents, he walked over, but the two people made no attempt to get up and greet him.

The man casually carried a can of cola in one hand. Uesugi Maya had a natural affinity for him. She stared at his face as she walked closer, and only after her parents greeted her politely did she look away and turn to the woman beside her.

With her straight, long black hair, delicate, fair face, and well-proportioned features, she exudes a cool and aloof aura; she is undoubtedly a beauty.

Will I be this beautiful when I grow up?

Maya Uesugi suddenly understood; her father meant that she and he were very similar, so—

The moment she realized her parents had abandoned her, the woman shot her a cold look, and her pink lips uttered extremely cruel words:

"You have been abandoned by your parents. All the effort you put in before was just an illusion."

"A-Ye".

Takahashi Makoto turned away with a reproachful look, his voice tinged with helplessness: "These cruel things can wait until she's a little older."

Neither of them gave Uesugi's parents any face, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

Maya Uesugi reached out and grabbed her mother's clothes, looking up at her in an attempt to get a negative answer, but her mother betrayed her expectations.

“We don’t want to give up on this child either, but you’ve been too domineering,” Uesugi Minami said, trying to save face. “I believe someone like you would take good care of this child; she does look a lot like your wife.”

"Did you hear that? Making unrealistic expectations will only cause you pain," Uesugi Maya warned her younger self.

"You're being too cold today."

Makoto Takahashi stood up, walked to young Maya Uesugi, slowly knelt down, and gently stroked her head:

"You're on summer vacation now, right? Would you like to spend it with us? It's better than staying home all alone."

He had promised Uesugi Maya that he would respect her own wishes.

Young Maya Uesugi instinctively looked up to seek her parents' opinion, only to be caught off guard by their expectant looks that urged her to agree quickly.

Some wishes may never come true.

She nodded with a gloomy expression, released her grip on her mother's clothes, and forced back her tears as she accepted reality.

"The paperwork is all here. Starting today, this child will be adopted by the Takahashi family."

Makoto Takahashi picked up young Maya Uesugi, sat back in his chair, let her sit on his lap, and pushed the documents on the table to Tomoya Uesugi.

"Tsk, pervert." Uesugi Maya glanced at Takahashi Makoto with annoyance.

"I only decided to adopt her because she looks a lot like you, since you don't plan to have children anyway." Takahashi Makoto used this as an excuse to prove that he wasn't a pervert.

Young Uesugi Maya sat on his lap, her hands obediently placed on her knees, watching expressionlessly as her parents signed the adoption documents and left her behind.

Just like when they occasionally come home, they don't even look back at me.

"Alright, now there's only one last item left."

Makoto Takahashi waved to young Maya Uesugi to get her attention and said in a gentle tone, "I'll change your name to [Ai], and as for the surname—"

“Takahashi,” Maya Uesugi said.

“Takahashi isn’t cute at all. Takanashi or Kobayakawa, which one do you like?” Takahashi Makoto asked the little girl sitting upright on his lap.

"casual."

"Then let's have Kobayakawa. You don't look too happy. Would you like something sweet? It will make you feel much better."

"Kobayakawa, I'll remember that."

Kobayakawa Ai muttered her new name to herself, her gaze still fixed on the restaurant entrance, hoping her parents would suddenly regret their decision.

It wasn't until after dinner and leaving the restaurant that Ai Kobayakawa finally gave up her unrealistic fantasies.

“It’s just a summer vacation. I can bring you back when you start school,” Makoto Takahashi comforted her.

“But they won’t come to pick you up anymore,” Maya Uesugi added.

"Ah Ye, you're being way too sarcastic today."

"You're vulgar today too."

"No, no matter what, I could never..."

Despite the noisy atmosphere, this place felt surprisingly warm, Kobayakawa Ai thought to herself as she got into the back seat of the car with the two of them.

The vehicle turned onto the ramp and sped along the highway.

Kobayakawa Ai remained silent, wondering where she would be taken and what her new home would be like. Suddenly, she missed her maid, Shizuko.

"Isn't the surname Kobayakawa refreshing? The pronunciation is also cute." Makoto Takahashi was still explaining to Maya Uesugi how good his taste was.

"boring."

“You once said you wanted to take my surname.”

"That's not true," Uesugi Maya vehemently denied.

Amidst the casual conversation, the sound of raindrops gradually blended in, and then a torrential downpour began. Kobayakawa Ai drifted off to sleep.

I vaguely felt myself being picked up, and a warm breath enveloped my body.

She opened her eyes groggily. The night was clear, the stars were twinkling, and the kind face in front of her made her unconsciously reach out and hug her neck.

I've never felt this way before—a hug, closeness, a warmth my parents never gave me.

Uesugi Maya coldly watched the scene of Takahashi Makoto doting on her, slowly grinding her teeth, feeling quite uncomfortable.

Why did she get nothing when she was in elementary school?

"This will be your new home from now on."

Under the oppressive gaze of Uesugi Maya, Takahashi Makoto put Kobayakawa Ai down, letting her familiarize herself with her surroundings:

"The manor is very large. If you are not familiar with it, please avoid wandering around. If you want to go somewhere, you can tell the maid or come directly to me."

“Okay.” Kobayakawa Ai looked around. The manor was much larger than her own villa, but it didn’t feel deserted at all.

"I'll take you to choose a room you like." Takahashi Makoto took her hand and led her through the door.

"I'm going back."

Maya Uesugi crossed her arms and went upstairs. The sound of her black round-toed leather shoes clattering on the stairs made the temperature drop by two degrees.

Her attitude towards his younger self was a hundred times colder than Makoto Takahashi had imagined.

Ai Kobayakawa clearly realized that Maya Uesugi didn't like her, and she didn't like this woman who shared the same name as her either.

Following Makoto Takahashi to the third floor, I silently memorized where to find him. When it came time to choose a room, a beautiful blonde woman walked towards me.

"Chengjun~ What is this?"

Yuki Tatsumi smiled, her eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Ai Kobayakawa: "Saya seemed really angry just now, was it because of her?"

She and Uesugi Maya grew up together, so she naturally knew what Uesugi Maya looked like when she was a child.

"Hello, I'm Ai Kobayakawa." Ai Kobayakawa extended her hand gracefully.

"What an adorable child."

Yuki Tachibana turned to look at Reiko Kashima, who was following behind her, and asked with a smile, "You agree, right, Reiko?"

"Hmm." Kashima Reiko nodded calmly.

With concerned gazes fixed on her, Ai Kobayakawa suddenly felt uncomfortable. She had never been paid so much attention before, and those eyes were full of affection.

"Come here, let Mommy give you a hug."

Yuki Tachibana, seemingly oblivious to his own seniority, extended his hands to Ai Kobayakawa: "Makoto-kun, let her sleep with me tonight."

"Okay, I'll tell you the details tomorrow."

Makoto Takahashi handed the adoption papers to Reiko Kashima and walked towards the study: "I'll go finish the homework that Yoru left me first."

Epilogue: The Fantastic Journey of Hell Girl (The End)

"Xiao Ai, your bicycle has arrived!"

Hearing Hanakawa Kaori's energetic voice drifting in from outside the window, Takahashi Makoto stood up from the dining table, chewing on his tamagoyaki as he walked to the open window.

In the late July morning light, Hanakawa Kaori's petite shadow was cast on the lawn.

She pushed a brand-new bicycle, a cool breeze blew from the woods, her black pigtails fluttered, and the fresh scent in the air made it feel like a beautiful early summer day.