Your Maid - Maid!Ouma Oumasai Fanfiction

Chapter 12: Relationship Talk

The next day Ouma came to Saihara's house a little more distressed and quiet. It was a long time since he felt so out of control when it came to his emotions. 

He was usually able to cover everything with a cheerful persona and adjust his moods depending on the situation, but all these new rushing emotions have pushed him flying off the rails mentally. He spent the day mostly cleaning, not saying a word, and occasionally playing with his hair. His only relief was that Shuichi informed him Kaede would be out all day, meaning he won't have to work under her glare.

Whilst cleaning the bedroom he noticed Shuichi deep in thought in his study. 'I should ask him what's troubling him...but after that whole thing with that Miu I don't even know what to say anymore...' he said with a sigh. However, before he got the chance to think, he heard Saihara call his name.

"Hey...Ouma?" He said still in thought. Ouma smiled lightly peering back at Shuichi.

"Saihara-chan you can just call me Kokichi if you want!" Ouma said with a grin. But then noticed the look of contemplation on Saihara's face. There was something serious on his mind, Ouma could tell. 

"Alright...Kokichi, but I have a serious question to ask you." He said with slight worry. He was fiddling with the edges of his sleeve and his lip twitched slightly which caught his eye immediately. Ouma hummed curiously. "Hmmm? What is it?" he said to which Shuichi sighed.

"Do you...Do you think my relationship with Kaede is... healthy?"

Ouma's face immediately turned into shock and the tension inside the room skyrocketed. Why...Why did he have to ask him out of all people? He felt his mouth open for a second but he quickly shut it.

"Why do you ask?" He said resting the broom against the wall and sitting down next to Shuichi.

"I just...I really don't know with her anymore" he sighed clutching his head "My friends had always said she was toxic but Kaede told me they're the toxic ones and it's my fault and I don't know if she's right. On one hand, I feel like I should believe her, we've known each other for so long and she used to be so good to me but after what she did yesterday I don't know if I can fully trust her." he said helplessly clutching at his hair. Ouma just stared and listened to his pain.

"S-She always says it's my fault...and she must be right because these conflicts never would've happened if I didn't bring them up... if I stayed quiet I'd be okay" Shuichi said, his breathing becoming unsteady "If I've just done what I was asked of no questions asked we'd be okay...but it feels like she's asking too much and she's never happy with anything but whenever I bring that up she calls me selfish and tells me how she needs it...Am I just a bad boyfriend? Is it my fault I just-" Shuichi was beginning to cry much too Ouma's shock.

"I just d-don't know a-anymore..."

Ouma hugged Shuichi as the navy haired detective cried. The detective was holding onto his outfit as if it was his anchor. He looked so tired, so tired of the manipulation Kaede was putting him through. Kokichi dropped his persona, the one where he'd brush off everything nonchalantly, where he'd add some silly remark about Akamatsu to relieve the tension. It's not what Saihara needed and despite them knowing each other for a few days he already cared for him more than anything.

Kirumi would often tell him about how a maid's desire is to care for others and to help his clients like his life depended on it. While Kokichi tried his best to follow his mentor's advice, he could never follow through entirely. Work was work, the vigor which his mentor completed her tasks for one of her most important clients, Lady Lundenburg, was absent from his. 

But now he understood. Kirumi was only partially right. While she claimed she acted the same for any other client, she only really felt that way about Celestia. While she definitely cared for the others deeply, Celeste was special and Kirumi would no doubt throw her life away if it meant Celeste was the best she could be. And here he was, having the same panging feeling in his chest.