When Emi woke she was laying in her borrowed bed. She knew she didn't fall asleep there as she stayed up all night waiting for Andrew to appear again through the door so she could welcome him home. She finally had a glimpse of the burden he carried and wanted to be there for him as much as she could. As she pulled herself out of her duvet and stretched her stiff muscles she made her way up the stairs to the living space. The smell of food lured her into the open kitchen where the back of Andrew met her. She was excited to see him again though his disappearance hadn't been for long. Set at the table was Granny Izuka with a faint smile cast across her face as she watched Andrew hard at work. His overall demeanour hadn't changed but he felt more approachable unlike when he didn't care about those around him at the care home. He turned around with two plates in his hand and placed them down.

"This is my 3rd attempt so bon appetit." Granny Izuka's face changed as soon as the plate set down and she gulped trying to find the words to speak only for them to be caught in her tongue. Andrew was expressionless, waiting for a reaction but he expressed an air of proudness at his creation. Emi took a seat next to Granny Izuka curious as to what exactly Andrew had made, was it an egg sandwich or toast. What lay before could only be described as an abomination to cooking culture and society. The bread was burnt with a dark texture that wasn't thought possible. The side of eggs hadn't been mixed properly and liquid poured out from many pores of which chickens would look horrified to see what became of their friend. It was all put together with the thought of design but it only emphasised the dire situation they were in. The scent which was so alluring wasn't this meal but a cake baked the previous night by Granny Izuka to welcome the both of them into her home, her family. Looking back at the plate the food gave off a ghastly face as it begged to be put out of its misery. No amount of herbs and spices could fix whatever lay before them. The expectant look on Andrew's face made it worse. Emi turned to look at Granny Izuka who had already resigned herself to her fate. Wait, did he say this was his third attempt? Emi looked at Granny Izuka with pity. She put herself through the pain of eating it not once but twice and now she was about to do it again. She didn't want to hurt Andrew who had become ever so slightly open with them so she summoned her courage and bit into the burnt toast… only to proceed to spit it out.

"Please no more. From now on don't go anywhere near the kitchen!" Emi shouted out only to cover her mouth and sloop back into her seat.

"Is it really that bad?" Andrew asked, concerned at Emi's sudden outburst. It wasn't like her and Andrew knew this through the little amount of time they spent with each other. Both of the victims nodded before Andrew left to mull over where he went wrong. For now they were spared. For now.

A week later
Waking up in bed Andrew walked out of his room half awake and yawning. Just as he opened the door the room filled with a black mist which slowly dissipated to show an explosion which Andrew avoided only to be met by another explosion which he failed to notice.
"Dammit he added more!" Andrew complained aloud. Since Andrew moved in with Karasu his life has been filled with various traps which he had fallen for time and again. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Well Andrew experienced a lot of shame. His first week was spent trying to figure out the correct steps to take to get to the bathroom or the correct order to turn on the lights and the correct posture to relax and sit down. No amount of complaining did him any good and the only response from Karasu was the cryptic "Consider it part of your training." with no further explanation. Andrew was starting to grow used to the traps but more must have been added or replaced making his previous effort null and void. Entering the living space after experiencing two more explosions (Of which are all duds so no harm is done) and a trap door there was a note left behind from Karasu.
"So he's returning to the frontlines again." Under the note was the name and address of someone who could help with his training in the meantime so he could still progress without his support. Eating whatever he could find in the kitchen for breakfast, (After failing to open the fridge door at the correct angle resulting in him activating another trap) he made his way to Granny Inuzuka's home. He had grown used to visiting often and they would play games and, at all costs, make him avoid the kitchen much to his surprise. He was slowly growing fond of the small wooden house which they called home, not that he would admit it. The last time they met she mentioned how she could enrol him and Emi into the ninja school, though technically ninja training starts at 8 years old, as late applicants to avoid joining in the next school year and help them grow accustomed to their class and the unfamiliar environment. For Andrew he wasn't able to go to school in the hidden cloud as when he was about to enrol war was declared and he was drafted into the military so this choice weighed heavily on him having never experienced a school life. Emi was quick to accept much to Andrew's surprise and she was excited to meet new people and make new friends though the thought of a new environment did faze her a bit. Andrew spent the whole of the week weighing up the pros and cons of going to the school and he finally made a decision.
"I'll go but only temporarily. I have terms and won't go unless you at the very least hear me out." Placing down the freshly made sandwiches for lunch Granny Izuka looked at Emi then towards Andrew.
"That's the least I can do." Sitting down, Granny Izuka made herself comfortable before beckoning Andrew to begin giving him her full undivided attention to show she was truly listening.

"This first term will be a test phase, I've never been to school and don't know what to expect. If I want to stay I will, if not then I will continue my independent training until I can learn Ninja techniques from the ninja academy."
"Is that all there is to it?"
"Yes, if I don't want to go I'll just stop."
"I have my own term, If you don't like school you will be homeschooled. You can't live without a basic education. You understand, don't you?"
"I know."
"Then that's all, you'll start school at the start of the week after the next so you can prepare your stuff. Emi you all prepared and the forms have been filled out and submitted so you start after the weekend so tomorrow. "
"Yay." Emi yelled with a gentle smile on her face with crumbs from the sandwiches stuck to her innocent face.

"I can start tomorrow as well." Andrew stated, he felt he didn't need to prepare but mainly he didn't want Emi to go alone. They might be in different classes by a year but even if they were in the same building that would help relax her significantly.
"Not in those shabby clothes you won't. I already bought Emi new clothes and supplies for school so you will get some as well." Andrew was still wearing his Hidden cloud uniform. It had signs of wear and tear from all of his training and although he had clothes provided by the hidden leaf none of them he wanted to wear so he stuck with his uniform the entire time. Andrew just looked at Granny Izuka and knew she wouldn't budge on this so he silently nodded his head then got up to leave. Although he was welcome in their home he felt that he couldn't entirely call it his own yet. Being accepted into a new family took some growing accustomed to. But he had to admit it was a nice feeling having people that cared about you.