I’m Maya, working as an office worker. I’m single with no kids of my own, but I do have someone I adore as if he were my very own: my nephew Ruki! He’s my brother’s son and just started first grade. Every time I visit, he greets me with a big smile and says, “Aunt Maya, let’s play!” so I go see him about once a month. It’s almost like fan activity for me… Since he can stay up later now, we even get to hang out together until 11:00 at night. Seeing how happy Ruki gets is my ultimate comfort.
My nephew Ruki is my absolute favorite. He’s always so excited whenever I visit, and now that he’s in elementary school, he stays up until 11:00 PM for me. Rubbing his sleepy eyes just to stay by my side—his devotion is beyond adorable.
Visiting him once a month is the absolute best form of comfort for me. My brother and his wife Hozumi always welcome me with open arms. I was always thinking about what I could do next time to make him happy. Back then, I had no idea that my actions were actually being a burden to my brother’s family.