Mayonaka no Oyatsu

Fuji Azuma is the proudest uncle imaginable, utterly devoted to his nephew Taira, who is eight years his junior. When the opportunity arises to spend two uninterrupted weeks together, Fuji is overjoyed, cherishing every moment with the boy he adores so deeply. However, the idyllic visit takes an unexpected turn at its conclusion when Fuji learns that Taira and his mother are relocating overseas. The bittersweet farewell culminates in a surprising parting kiss from the young boy, accompanied by a solemn vow: Taira promises not to return until he has grown taller than his beloved uncle. Four years pass before that childhood pledge is finally put to the test. Taira reappears, no longer the small boy Fuji remembers, having returned specifically to fulfill the promise he made on the day they parted ways. Now faced with a dramatically changed nephew standing before him, Fuji must navigate the complicated shift in their dynamic. What began as an innocent bond between a doting uncle and his young nephew has evolved into something far more complex, forcing Fuji to confront the reality of Taira’s growth and the true weight behind those parting words.