I’m Suzu, 35. My husband Kenji, also 35, and I got married in our early twenties, and we’re still really close. We have a daughter, Aira, who’s in fifth grade. The three of us are a happy, tight-knit family, enjoying every day together.
Recently, my husband found a new hobby. I always knew he used to play basketball when he was a kid, but lately he’s joined a local adult team. It’s a little lonely having less family time, but seeing him so happy makes it worth it. Both Aira and I cheer him on wholeheartedly.
Kenji practices twice a week for two hours, and he never misses a session. Because of the pandemic, there haven’t been many games, but this will be his first official match in over a year since joining the team. He’s full of energy and determination.
The only problem is… that day happens to be Aira’s birthday. But Aira, who’s always been her dad’s biggest fan, smiled and said, “It’s okay, we can celebrate at dinner that night. You should go to your game and the afterparty too.”