@UncleBenny That's what I was wondering. Earlier chapters it was kind of ambiguous, but I figure Neko HAS to be a child because cats CANNOT be taught origami. MY interpretation of the events so far is that Neko is Chiyo's foster child or sibling. They're not exactly parent/child but Chiyo clearly has custody.
@gum_rummy ok so I'm glad I'm not the only one that is wondering about this. Like, this isn't a NUKO situation, this is literally either a woman's relationship with a child if the cat acts partially like a cat, or a woman treating a cat like a child.
Oh god what if the end of this series is just this woman in a completely dilapidated place imagining all of this because this is a Japanese manga and it is entirely possible.