Aya Mizushima was a native of Riverview. She lived in a small house near the river. She eventually lost her job as a chef due to an argument with her boss. Her funds bottomed out, and she asked her sister Kaleigh if she could move in with her and her newlywed husband Zack. She lived with the Runnings for years. When Zack died of illness, Aya helped Kaleigh through her difficult pregnancy. When Kaleigh died five years later in a fire, Aya raised her niece Amare like her own daughter.