After a while of savoring her hot chocolate, Emiko made a proposal to her aunt Misaki: "Let's play a game."
"No, Emiko, I'm tired," exclaimed Misaki.
"Come on, Aunt Misaki, let's play," Emiko insisted, tugging at her aunt's hand.
Misaki couldn't resist Emiko's pleading gaze and finally, albeit reluctantly, agreed to play with her.
Emiko jumped with joy at having convinced her aunt.
"All right, what game do you want to play?" Misaki asked curiously.
Emiko grinned mischievously, and her aunt looked at her with suspicion, wondering what kind of game she had agreed to play.
Emiko and Misaki were on the floor playing Twister. Misaki had a grimace of pain on her face as she awkwardly stretched to maintain her balance. Emiko, on the other hand, twisted around effortlessly, laughing with delight. Misaki was surprised by her niece's flexibility and agility—she seemed to enjoy the game without any trouble. It was as if she had rubber bones, Misaki thought as she watched her.
After a few rounds of Twister, Misaki realized that Emiko had been cheating the whole time. The little girl moved the spinner as she pleased and placed her limbs in impossible positions without breaking a sweat.
"Aha! Caught you, you little cheater! That's why I kept losing," Misaki exclaimed.
Emiko laughed and admitted, "Sorry, Aunt Misaki. I just really wanted to win."
Misaki decided to cheat too in order to win, and Emiko quickly realized her aunt was doing the same.
"Aha! So you're cheating now too, Aunt Misaki. That's not fair," said Emiko.
"Oh really? Don't bite your tongue, young lady. If I recall correctly, you were doing the exact same thing," Misaki replied.
Emiko gave her aunt a defiant look, and Misaki didn't back down, returning the challenging stare. Both stayed silent for a moment, locking eyes, before bursting into laughter.
After a while of playing and laughing together, Misaki collapsed on the floor, exhausted.
"Oh, Emiko, I'm tired. My arms and legs hurt," she said between breaths.
Emiko laughed and said, "Come on, Auntie, let's play another game."
"Another one, Emiko? I'm exhausted. Can't we rest for a bit?" Misaki replied with a tired smile.
Emiko looked at her with boundless energy, hands on her hips. "Come on, Auntie, don't give up so easily! We still have plenty of time to play and have fun together!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Misaki couldn't resist her niece's determination, and despite being tired, decided to keep playing. "Okay then, what do you want to play now?" she asked.
Emiko thought for a moment and then lit up with a mischievous smile. "Let's play hide-and-seek," she proposed.
Misaki was surprised by Emiko's choice, remembering how good she had always been at hiding. Nevertheless, she accepted the challenge, and they began to play.
Misaki closed her eyes and began to count while Emiko rushed off to find a hiding spot. After counting to ten, Misaki started looking all around the house, checking every corner.
After a few minutes, Misaki sighed, wondering if Emiko had found an incredibly difficult place to hide. Determined not to give up, she kept searching until she finally opened the closet and found her niece asleep among the clothes. She chuckled softly and cleared her throat. "Hey, Emiko, wake up—you still haven't taken a bath, you little rascal," Misaki said.
Emiko woke up startled and rubbed her eyes. "Is the game over? I think I fell asleep," she said groggily.
Misaki nodded and replied, "Yes, the game's over. Now it's time for a bath and to get ready for dinner."
Emiko got out of the closet and yawned as she stretched. "Okay, Aunt Misaki. I do feel a little dirty now."
Misaki took her to the bathroom and prepared the tub. While Emiko bathed, Misaki took the chance to tidy up the house after all the fun and games.
After her bath, Emiko put on clean pajamas and sat down to eat dinner with Misaki. They enjoyed a homemade meal together.
Once dinner was done, Misaki took Emiko to her room and tucked her into bed. Emiko asked, "Aunt Misaki, can you give me a goodnight kiss?"
With a smile, Misaki replied, "Goodnight, Emiko. Sweet dreams."
Emiko smiled and got comfortable in bed. "Goodnight, Aunt Misaki. Thank you for taking care of me today," she said before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
Misaki stood in the doorway, watching her niece tenderly before whispering goodnight and turning off the bedroom light.
In the following days, Misaki found it challenging to take care of her energetic and mischievous niece, but she also realized how fun and special it was to spend time together. She learned to keep up with Emiko's pace and find ways to keep her entertained and happy. Although there were still chaotic and messy moments, Misaki discovered that her niece's joy and innocence were far more important than a perfectly tidy house.
One night, when Misaki got home, she found the house, as usual, a mess. Toys were scattered everywhere and Emiko was jumping on the couch.
As soon as Emiko noticed her aunt, she stopped jumping and ran to her.
"Hi, good evening, Aunt Misaki!" Emiko exclaimed excitedly with a big smile. Misaki sighed and greeted her.
"Hello, you little troublemaker. I see you're still a messy kid," Misaki said with a smile. Emiko grinned while scratching her head.
"Can I ask you a favor? Don't call me Aunt, it makes me feel old for some reason," Misaki exclaimed.
Emiko, ignoring her aunt's words, ran through the house laughing and shouting, "Old Aunt Misaki!"
Misaki couldn't help but laugh and decided to chase Emiko around the house. "Wait, what did you just call me? Come here, you little rascal. You're going to pay for that," she exclaimed while running after her.
Emiko hid behind a piece of furniture, giggling. Misaki slowly approached with a playful gleam in her eyes and said, "Got you, little troublemaker. You won't escape now."
She began to tickle Emiko, who burst into laughter and begged her aunt to stop.
After a while, Emiko and her aunt sat on the living room floor and began drawing together. Emiko proudly showed her drawings to Misaki, who admired them. However, in the middle of that tender moment, Misaki noticed the absence of Emiko's mother.
"Emiko, now that I think about it—where's your mom? Why isn't she here with you?" Misaki asked.
Emiko, without a hint of sadness as she drew, replied with a small smile:
"My mom and dad aren't together anymore because she used to yell at him a lot. She told him he was a useless idiot because he didn't earn much money as a writer. Sometimes, my mom said she wished she'd never met my dad."
Her niece's words made Misaki feel a pang in her chest. She was surprised to see Emiko act so indifferent, smiling and doodling colorful drawings on a piece of paper.
"Hey Emiko, how do you get along with your mom?" Misaki asked.
Emiko looked at her aunt and, with a big smile, said, "My mom and I get along fine, Auntie."
Impressed by her niece's strength and bravery despite her difficult family situation, Misaki felt even more motivated to take care of Emiko and make sure she felt loved and valued.
While they continued drawing, Emiko suddenly stood up and said, "Aunt Misaki, I want to show you something."
"What is it?" Misaki asked, curious.
"Wait here, you'll see," exclaimed little Emiko excitedly.
Emiko ran off to find what she wanted to show her aunt. Misaki watched curiously as Emiko pulled out a large box from among her toys.
"Look what my dad bought me," said Emiko, excited.
Misaki looked at the box and exclaimed with a big smile, "Wow, a personal karaoke kit! Your dad gave you a great present, Emiko."
Emiko and Misaki exchanged a mischievous smile. "You're thinking what I'm thinking," said Misaki. Emiko nodded with a grin.
They both started singing at the top of their lungs, filling the house with music and laughter. Even if they weren't the most in-tune singers, they enjoyed every moment together. Each off-key note made Emiko laugh, while Misaki felt free and joyful seeing her niece's beaming smile.
After a while, they sat down to watch a movie, cuddled up and sharing a big bowl of popcorn. As the movie went on, they both laughed loudly.
As night fell, Emiko fell asleep next to her aunt, smiling. Misaki looked at her tenderly and carefully carried her to her room.
Once Emiko was in bed, Misaki sat beside her and gently kissed her forehead.
"I love you so much, little one," she whispered, making sure Emiko felt all the love she had for her.
One day, after leaving university, Misaki got a phone call. She answered and heard her brother's voice on the other end.
"Hi sis, how's it going?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm good. Thanks to what you pay me for taking care of Emiko, I'm doing better at school," Misaki replied.
"I'm glad to hear that. Emiko hasn't stopped talking about how much fun she has with you lately. It's clear you two get along really well," her brother laughed.
Misaki smiled and replied, "It wasn't easy looking after your little devil at first, but over time, I've grown really fond of her."
Her brother smiled and said, "That makes me so happy, Misaki. I'm grateful that you're there for Emiko and that you take care of her. I know it's not easy, but I can't thank you enough. You're an amazing sister and a wonderful aunt to her. I couldn't ask for more."
Hearing her brother's words filled Misaki with warmth. Knowing that her effort and dedication didn't go unnoticed meant the world to her.
"Thank you, brother. Taking care of Emiko has become such a joy for me. I know I can't replace her parents, but I'm happy to be someone important in her life," Misaki said sincerely.
After chatting a bit more, her brother said something important: "Hey, Misaki, sis..."
"What is it?" Misaki asked, curious.
"I forgot to tell you—there's going to be a break from looking after Emiko. She'll be staying with her mom for a while," her brother revealed.
Misaki went silent for a moment, processing the news. She remembered Emiko's words about her mother and felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she hoped Emiko would have a peaceful and happy time with her mom. On the other, she worried about how it might affect the little girl.
After a brief silence, her brother asked, "Are you still there, Misaki?"
She snapped back and replied, "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. Could you repeat what you said?"
He repeated that Emiko would be spending some time with her mom. "I see," Misaki said calmly. "It's good that Emiko gets to spend time with her mother. I hope everything goes well. I'll be here when she returns, ready to keep caring for her."
After hanging up, Misaki stayed quiet, reflecting on the situation. Even if she didn't admit it aloud, she was worried about Emiko and hoped her mother could change and give her a more loving, stable home.
To make use of her free time, Misaki decided to focus on herself and recharge during the week without Emiko. She allowed herself to relax and enjoy quiet moments.
"Finally, I don't have to take care of that little rascal for a while," Misaki joked with a smile as she lay on her sofa. But soon, she realized there was a strange emptiness in the room. Emiko's energetic presence was gone, and Misaki felt a slight unease.
Her thoughts wouldn't leave her alone. She kept wondering how Emiko was doing with her mom. Was she happy? Was she being cared for? Was she receiving the love and attention she deserved? These worries consumed her mind, filling her nights with anxiety and loneliness.
Determined to stay distracted, Misaki tried to keep herself busy with activities. She went for walks, focused on her work and studies. Still, every time she returned home, the feeling of emptiness returned. Misaki couldn't stop worrying about Emiko. She knew she couldn't control what happened at her mother's home, but with all her heart, she wished she could be there to make sure Emiko was safe and happy.