Saihara's POV:

"I can't believe this! How could you do this to me Uncle?!" I screamed annoyed on the way back from picking Kokichi up. He was in the back seat clearly uncomfortable from this.

"What did you want me to do Shuichi? Lock him up inside all day? He's a grown adult who is perfectly capable of making his own decisions" My Uncle argued.

"But he was sick, you know how weak his immune system and lungs are- I told you that this morning and yet you still chose to ignore me!" I called out frustrated pulling over to our apartment.

I turned back to Kokichi, "can you go inside real quick? I need a talk with my Uncle, alone" I told him tiredly. He took the opportunity and left giving my Uncle a sympathetic look.

"Sending away your child?" My Uncle joked coldly, "you don't know what you're talking about" I told him fed up.

"I don't know? Shuichi I'm telling you this for your own good, but you need to stop what you're doing alright?" My Uncle said.

"Stop what? Protecting my fiance from my clearly delusional Uncle?" I asked.

"You're being overprotective of him, do you know how shocked he was when I let him go outside? He even compared his time to house arrest! Shuichi don't you realize what you're doing?" He asked.

"I'm keeping him safe" I told him, "no, you're being overprotective. The power dynamic in your relationship needs to be fixed alright? Ouma is a grown ass adult who can make his own decisions, however thanks to his medical problems and depression during the first year in your relationship you had to be the protector.

"Because Ouma couldn't have a job you become the main provider, that worked for the time but Ouma isn't how he was back then. While his health will never be perfect he can clearly act on his own will and work, but you won't let him." My Uncle scolded.

I groaned frustrated "He's getting himself into unnecessary danger! He could have died when he snuck out-"

"If he had to sneak out of his own home then something is clearly wrong. Those are his friends Shuichi, and you're keeping him away from them, he's stuck inside of a house all day and blocked away from any other human contact.

"Sooner or later he's going to realize how overbearing you're becoming and when that happens mark my words he will leave you. You need to change now and make amends if you want to salvage your relationship" my Uncle pleaded.

"He's fine, I have the DICE situation under control he shouldn't help" I told him but I felt my confidence leaving.

"You don't need him? The brilliant criminal mastermind who to my recollection had you fooled the entire phantom thief case? Why the hell wouldn't you want such a tactiful leader working with you Shuichi?" My Uncle reminded.

"Because I can't let him get hurt again! I can't...he nearly died in my arms, and you're telling me I'm being overprotective?! I just want him to stay alive and by my side is that too much to ask?!" I screamed.

"If you're taking away his freedom, then yes. I warned you Shuichi, I warned you."

♤~♡~◇~♧

He doesn't know what he's talking about...I assured myself as I walked back into the apartment. Ko was on the couch watching TV turning his head to face me.

'What happened?' He asked, "nothing honey, you should go rest you still had a fever this morning" I told him gently.

'Please don't get mad at him, he had good intentions Shu' Kokichi reasoned , "those intentions don't help in this situation...look I just don't want to see him for a while alright?" I told him. Kokichi looked at me intensly.

'But your Uncle is like my family now too. You know I grew up on the streets, but before that I had a prostitute for a mother and neither of us even knew who my father was.

'I wonder if that man grew to have his own family, never knowing about me...'

...

'My mother didn't even bother trying to take care of me, that was my older sister Mio. I could have been dying on the floor and she would ask for water. Mio had to care for me since the day I was born, but she was just a teenager. She couldn't handle my Mom. So she ran away.

'You know what happened after that. I ran away. My Mother...she just accepted me leaving without a second thought. Never tried to get me to come back home...

'It doesn't matter because after that I found Chiasa. And that's when I found my real family.

'You don't understand, you probably never will. But I didn't have parents, I had a gang of siblings for a family, and the luck of some strangers kindness.

'But your Uncle, who actually cares about you is...well I hadn't felt that kind of unconditional love since I met Chiasa. He feels like he's a part of my family. So don't get mad at him!' He pushed.

"Kokichi-"

'Just...if you're going to blame anyone...then just blame me...' Kokichi begged before sighing.

...his childhood...was a cruel one...wasn't it...?

"Let's...let's just have dinner..." I told him. His eyes widened as he seemed hurt by my response before sighing and nodding.

We...we managed through a quiet and tense day.

But...this will be worth it...right?