I'm more interested in the uncle's side of the story than the MC right now. I'm not assuming extra tragic levels or anything. More that either someone convinced him not to take the boy in and he's just super busy as a police officer or the court just outright wouldn't let him. I'm assuming most places don't look favorably on a single man trying to adopt a child. The teacher is different in that he had an organization behind his back while the uncle does not.
