"You wanted to talk to me?" Andrew asked, staring at a figure of a similar height to him, it was a kid his age. All he knew was that someone wanted to talk to him and to meet them at where he usually trains.
"Just wanted to know if you were settling in well." The kid turned around and shone a beaming smile. It was Aozora, the kid who proclaimed he was Andrew's friend.
"So freckles, why am I here?" Andrew had stuff he wanted to do and was turning to leave much to the protests of Aozora.
"Wait, wait, wait! You haven't answered my question." Aozora rushed to block Andrew's retreat so he couldn't preemptively end their conversation.
"Which was?" Andrew gave a sigh and entertained Aozora, promising to stay for a little while so they could talk, perching themselves on some tree stumps.
"How are you settling in? I'm already making lots of friends in the Hyuga clan." The kid flashed a smile once again, he was overly positive and easy to get along with but Andrew wanted to keep his distance between people and the wall he held up was the same one he showed everyone with an exception of Karasu who he felt was strong enough to not leave his life unpromptedly.
"That's good, I'm doing fine." Andrew answered the question with a dull voice devoid of any emotion. It was clear he didn't want to talk. The entire evening was spent listening to Aozora with periodic remarks and responses from Andrew and the night was coming into motion when Aozora determined that it was time to go home.

"This might be the last time I get to see you as I won't be able to get out of the Hyuga clan grounds much, so thanks for this. See you when I see you." Aozora left with a huge smile waving goodbye. He was clearly glad to see his friend one last time so they said their farewells and went their separate ways.

'Rumble' Andrew's stomach gave out in complaint. He hadn't eaten anything all day and the repercussions were finally rearing their head. Fighting through the pain he made his way back to the Uchiha clan's lodgings where he hoped he could find some food to eat.

Andrew opened the door to Granny Izuka's home to be met with the common room lit up with a lantern. Andrew sceptically stepped forward, wary of an earful or a beating due to his sudden disappearance. As he stepped into the room he saw Emi laying face first against the table drooling in her sleep while next to her was Granny Izuka who had one hand to her lips and the other resting on Emi's back. She signalled Andrew to sit with her and he did so.
"Where were you?" Granny Izuka was serious, questioning Andrew about why he just left as suddenly as he did.
"Outside." Andrew replied with a cryptic answer but to his surprise Granny Izuka didn't push the matter further.
"You must be hungry. We made dinner and wrapped up what was left for you." On the centre of the table was Tonkatsu, Emi's favourite. But that didn't explain why she wasn't in bed. It was late and Andrew had left abruptly without even saying goodbye, did that have something to do with it?

Andrew unwrapped the food and started eating.
"We were worried." Granny Izuka looked at Emi before back at Andrew.
"Why?" Andrew couldn't understand their actions. He was a stranger to them, a burden. It would be better to ignore him but she went to all this effort to take care of them. HE couldn't comprehend what exactly she wanted out of their relationship.

"Because your family now. And family care for each other, worry for each other, and most importantly love each other." Granny Izuka wore a fool proof mask but with Andrew's experiences he could see the cracks. She was genuinely worried. She had lost family once and wouldn't survive losing them both now that they were in her life, albeit only for a day but that bond would soon grow. "You never did tell us your name."

"I did, My name is Andrew, formerly of the Le - Clerc supply unit of the hidden cloud." Andrew didn't understand what she meant. Pushing people away and being shunned left him with not much experience in the emotional side of experience as he constantly had to learn to survive since his parents died over a year ago now.

"Not that formal introduction. What's your family name?" Granny Izuka looked Andrew in the eyes and he could only sit there stunned. He never thought about it. Since his parents died he forgot everything. His memories of their faces grew vague as he tried to force himself to remember. The happy times, the sad times, the frustrating times but also the funny times were all gone and all he was left with was the memory of their death which was the only distinct memory of his life growing up he had left.
"I - I - I don't know."Stuttering and wide eyed, Andrew was almost frozen. His feelings had been cut off but right now he could feel a throbbing pain in his chest. Clenching it he repeated himself, "I don't know."
"Come here." Granny Izuka wrapped herself around Andrew holding him tight. "One day you will remember but until that day comes you are my son. So use the name sake of my clan. Call yourself Andrew Uchiha. Lord knows how much you need it." Andrew's breathing calmed and his muscles relaxed. He felt calm, his defences broken. He looked at Emi's peaceful face and then back at Granny Izuka, only one question on his mind.

"Can I feel this happy?" He looked pleading at Granny Izuka for an answer. He felt that he didn't deserve a family after he lost his last one. Everyone despised him calling him a traitor but now he had a friend, though he didn't care to admit it, someone he could someday call a sister and two adults he could truly rely on.
"Yes." That one word was enough to send Andrew's defences crumbling. The tears he could no longer feel burst like a dam. He found a place he could now call home, and for just a moment he wanted time to stop. He wanted to stay in this moment forever.