*I would like to say, I know it seems like I'm bagging on Osaka, but I promise I'm not. Furthermore, I would I have nothing against the city or its people, but I'm just trying to build into the story, and I'm sorry if I've offended anyone…

Part 7 – Home Life

The rest of the day for Sasuke went on pretty well, having worked in the shop until closing time, he enjoyed being around his aunt and uncle.

"What a day," Sasuke said as he leaned back against the counter where his aunt was cleaning.

"I've never seen that many people so early in the day," Teyaki said.

"And not to mention we sold out of your desserts within an hour," Uruchi said.

"We could have made a whole lot more," Sasuke said.

"If we had what we needed to make more whipping cream or your buttercream," Teyaki said as he counted the day's takings.

"Thanks for the help with my assignment," Sasuke said.

"You decided on a recipe," Uruchi asked.

"Not yet," Sasuke said, "But I did get some good experience."

"Happy we could help," Teyaki said.

"Think I could borrow the kitchen again tomorrow," Sasuke asked.

"Keep bringing in that many customers, and you can use it whenever you want," Teyaki said.

"Thanks," Sasuke said as he pulled out his phone to check the time, "Wow, it's ten past five. Grandmother will probably be wondering what's keeping me."

"We have to get home," Teyaki said, "See you tomorrow?"

"Yea," Sasuke said as he grabbed his jacket, and walked outside after bidding his aunt and uncle goodbye.

The walk back to his grandmother's house was very uneventful, the sun setting behind the mountains in the distance was a very warming sight.

As he walked through the front door of his grandmother's house, he called out, "Tadaima!"

"Welcome back," Kamibu said, "You've been gone for a while."

"I know," Sasuke said, "We had a very busy day."

"Well, you'll be able to relax now," Kamibu said as she walked into the main room to see him put his jacket up and walk into the room, "You hungry?"

"A little," Sasuke said.

"Good, because I'm about finished," Kamibu said, "Why don't help me set the table?"

"Of course," Sasuke said as he walked into the kitchen to see the dishes his grandmother had made for the two of them.

Tonkatsu with shredded cabbage, rice, and Takuan, "Thank you," Kamibu said as Sasuke took the cutlets and the cabbage to the table.

"You're welcome," Sasuke said as his grandmother brought over the rice and Takuan.

"Anything missing," Kamibu asked.

"Just one more thing," Sasuke said as he walked into the kitchen to retrieve the ponzu sauce.

"You can't forget the ponzu can you," Kamibu asked.

"Not with your Tonkatsu," Sasuke said as he walked over to the table, and placed one shallow bowl in front of Kamibu and one in front of where he would sit.

The two of them both bowed, and spoke, "Itadakimasu," they both said before they began eating.

"You seemed to be a little tired," Kamibu said.

"I spent all day working with uncle and auntie," Sasuke said as he picked up his chopsticks, and began eating, one cutlet of the Tonkatsu with a light dip in the ponzu.

The juicy pork cutlet, the crispy skin, and the citrusy notes from the ponzu were a melody of flavors that made him feel almost seven years old again, back before his family moved to Osaka.

"You had fun," Kamibu asked.

"A lot," Sasuke said, "I got some good experience, and I made some good notes."

"Think you have an idea what you're going to make for your class," Kamibu asked.

"Not yet," Sasuke said, "I still have two weeks, and I'm going to get a lot of feedback when uncle and auntie set up the stall for the new year's festival."

"You'll figure it out eventually," Kamibu said, "I'm sure you will."

"Thanks, grandma," Sasuke said as he continued eating.

As they finished, Kamibu asked, "So, how was it? Just as good as you remember?"

"Very much," Sasuke said as he took the plates, "I'll do the dishes for you, grandma."

"You're going to make some lucky girl very happy one day," Kamibu said as Sasuke walked into the kitchen.

"Thanks," Sasuke said as he walked into the kitchen, and turned on the sink.

"You're going to eat with Sakura tomorrow," Kamibu asked.

"Indeed, I am," Sasuke said, "She invited me to eat ramen."

"Think she'll be able to help you with your assignment," Kamibu asked.

"You know something I don't," Sasuke asked.

"Her school club puts up a food stall every year at the new year's festival," Kamibu said, "And they've done it successfully."

"I'll ask her tomorrow," Sasuke said before realizing, "Wait, how do you know that?"

"I went to last year's festival," Kamibu said, "I saw her working her club's stand, and we talked for a while."

"Ok," Sasuke said.

"We didn't have time to talk before you left," Kamibu said, "How's school going for you?"

"Going pretty well," Sasuke said, "But like you probably heard, I'm trailing Itachi ever so slightly."

"And what about school activities," Kamibu asked.

"I'm top of my class in our school's cooking class," Sasuke said.

"Very top," Kamibu asked.

"I try," Sasuke said, "I've never been able to make a perfect score on anything in that class. I've gotten close on one or two occasions, but never once been completely on top."

"Really," Kamibu asked.

"Yes," Sasuke said, "And every time I've gotten those top grades, the teacher always says the same thing, 'It's very good, Sasuke, but something's missing and I can't put my finger on it'. To this day, I still don't know what that is."

"He's never given you any indication," Kamibu asked.

"Not once," Sasuke said, "I wish he knew because I sure don't."

"And you have no idea what it might be," Kamibu asked.

"Not really," Sasuke said, "But then again, a lot of my cooking has been things that are fast to produce, and mostly desserts."

"Maybe it's time for a different approach," Kamibu said, "Why not slow it down?"

"You mean try recipes that take more time to produce," Sasuke asked.

"Yes," Kamibu said, "Take your time, maybe try something that would take longer to do?"

"The question is what," Sasuke said, "My teacher told me I had to make a dessert."

"Any idea what you can use," Kamibu asked.

"Didn't say I couldn't use liquor," Sasuke said.

"Not a bad idea," Kamibu said, "But think about which one. Liquor can often be fickle. In the meantime, why don't you go finish your homework? I know you only have a few more questions to go."

"Ok, grandma," Sasuke said as he finished the last dish, and went back upstairs.

The last few problems of his math homework were not all that difficult, and as he was starting on his biology homework, the sudden sparkle of the snow off the mountains to the east drew his attention.

He put his homework down, and stepped outside, ignoring the fact that the snow made his socks wet. His next step was to jump onto the balcony, grab hold of the edge of the roof, and haul himself up to enjoy the rest of the sunset.

As he was enjoying the sunset, he heard a voice from below, "Enjoy yourself," he looked down to see his grandmother standing there.

"How'd you know," Sasuke asked.

"A sunset like that," Kamibu asked, "Who could resist? The question is, why are you up there?"

"Always wanted to enjoy the sunset from here," Sasuke said, "Now that I can, I like it. Great view, and it's not impeded by anything."

"I don't suppose they have any views like this back in Osaka," Kamibu asked.

"Nope," Sasuke said, "Unless you go outside the city."

"How do you know that," Kamibu asked.

"I like fresh air," Sasuke said.

"You go up to the area a lot," Kamibu asked.

"No," Sasuke said, "Only a few times."

"Well, the sun just went down," Kamibu said as she pointed to the mountain, "You're not wearing a jacket, and you're in wet socks. Come back in, wash up, and go to bed."

"Yes, grandma," Sasuke said as he jumped onto the balcony, and walked back inside.

He slipped off his socks, grabbed a pair of night clothes and a change of underwear, and walked into the bathroom.

After washing up, and changing into his clothes, he walked back into his father's bedroom and rolled out his futon.

His grandmother wasn't lying when she said she had bought a new futon, it still had the price tag on it, she didn't break the bank when she bought it, but it was a very nice one.

As he drifted off to sleep, Sasuke couldn't help but think: Sakura greeting him, the conversation his grandmother, aunt, and uncle were having, working at the Senbei shop, dinner, and a new futon? Something was going on, but at that moment he couldn't care less.

The next day, the sound of birds outside was the first thing that greeted Sasuke as he awoke, the second greeted him as he walked downstairs: leftover Tonkatsu with eggs and rice.

"Morning," Kamibu said as she saw Sasuke walking downstairs.

"Good morning," Sasuke said as he took his seat at the table.

"Sleep well," Kamibu asked.

"Very well," Sasuke said, "Breakfast looks good."

"Thank you," Kamibu said as she brought over their drinks.

After breakfast, Sasuke went back to doing his homework, the details of the heart and the veins needed to be precise for his biology teacher who was expecting nothing less than an accurate depiction of the heart.

As he was trying to get the veins correct his mind kept thinking back to Sakura, and he realized 'She wants to be a doctor', she could help him.

"Hey, grandma," Sasuke called.

"Yes," Kamibu asked.

"Can you let me know when Sakura gets here," Sasuke asked, "I have a problem with my biology homework I need her help on."

"You're going to ask someone who wants to be a doctor to help with Biology," Kamibu asked.

"Yep," Sasuke said.

"I'll let you know," Kamibu said.

"Thanks," Sasuke said.

Now focused on his separate work, Sasuke pulled out his book to work on the paper of the heart vein's functions, but as he was working on that piece, he heard a knock on the front door, and he heard his grandmother speak, "Sakura, good to see you," she said as Sasuke turned his attention to the door, "I wasn't expecting you until later."

"Hello, Grandma Uchiha," Sakura said, "I'm here early because mom made you a little something."

There was the rustling of a paper bag, and Kamibu said, "Oh, thank you, dear. Why don't you head upstairs? Sasuke needs your help with something."

Sasuke could hear her jogging up the stairs, and very quickly jogged over to the door to open it for her, "Hello," she said as Sasuke opened the door.

"Hello," Sasuke said as he leaned against the doorframe, "You're early."

"I know," Sakura said, "My mom wanted me to bring something to your grandmother."

"That's a lie," Sasuke said as he gave her a small 'got you' point, "I know you too well."

"You got me," Sakura said, "I just wanted to spend more time with you. Your grandmother said you had some work that you needed help with?"

"Oh boy, do I," Sasuke said.

"Shouldn't we be downstairs to cook," Sakura asked.

"You know about that," Sasuke asked.

"I asked your uncle when I saw him yesterday," Sakura said.

"Knew he wouldn't be able to keep a secret," Sasuke said.

"Didn't know it was," Sakura said.

"It's not," Sasuke said, "But I like to mess with you."

"Of course, you do," Sakura said, "So what can I do for you?"

"I have some biology homework to do," Sasuke said, "I have to diagram the heart and veins, and write a paper about the veins' functions."

"Biology of the heart," Sakura asked, "I can do that."

"Shall we get started," Sasuke said.

How is that…