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Phoenix was a little surprised when Edgeworth invited him to his house.
A week had passed after the Sprockets’ wedding. The judge had reminded them of a certain promise of having lunch together, so Phoenix, Edgeworth, Maya, Ema, Pearl, Trucy, Larry, Athena, the judge himself, and even his grandchild had ended up at Eldoon’s, eating – of course – salty noodles.
“Why your house?” Phoenix asked the man seated in front of him.
“No particular reason.” His childhood friend spoke in a low voice as he finished eating. “There’s something I want to give you, and I didn’t want to bring it here.”
“Oh. Okay, I’m free.”
It was Saturday. Trucy was going to Kurain Village with Pearl and Maya, and he didn’t have new clients for now. So after lunch, Phoenix hugged his daughter, said goodbye to their friends, and reached the chief prosecutor’s red sports car.
I can’t believe he’s still driving it.
Edgeworth didn’t talk. He drove home in silence, walked to his house in silence, and opened the front door in silence. Phoenix had lots of questions, but he decided not to voice them for now.
The house was clean and comfortable. They walked to the living room and the prosecutor picked something – flowers? – from the table.
“So,” Phoenix said “what’s going on?”
Edgeworth looked at him, a light shade of red on his cheeks. It had been a while since Phoenix had seen him so uneasy. He stretched his arm toward the attorney and gave him what it really looked like a bouquet. “This,” he murmured. “I-It’s the gift for you.”
Phoenix took the bunch of flowers, speechless. “These are...” He stopped, trying to figure out what was on his hands. “…Roses. Red roses.”
Edgeworth smirked. His shyness vanished for a moment. “Apparently, roses are one of the three kind of flowers you can recognize.”
“Yeah.” Phoenix smirked back. “You know you’re not much better at it.”
Edgeworth widened his arms like he used to do in court. “Indeed. However, unlike you, I’m trying to improve.”
Phoenix looked at the roses again. They were about twenty, fresh and beautiful. He moved his nose closer.
They smell so good!
“Well… thank you.”
“Anytime, Wright.”
To be honest, he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t even know what to think. Edgeworth had a timid smile on his face. What was this gift for?
Red roses…
They weren’t what you usually gave to a friend. Phoenix didn’t know anything about flowers, but he was pretty confident about it. A bouquet of red roses was something a person usually gave to their lover.
Phoenix swallowed.
Something was off. And Edgeworth… seemed unaware of that?
Perhaps he doesn’t realize the meaning of his gift. I’m pretty sure he knows nothing about rose color meanings, after all. Maybe he’s just trying to be nice after the last trial.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.” Phoenix tried to sound comforting. “I-It’s a wonderful bouquet, Edgeworth.”
“Is it what you asked for?”
What?!
Phoenix didn’t get what he was talking about.
Apparently, Edgeworth noticed his expression. “During the trial, Wright. We talked about flowers.”
“Oh, do you mean…?”
“Let it go, Mr. Edgeworth. It’s clear you don’t know much about flowers. It’s not like you have anyone you’d actually give any to, after all. But maybe you should study up on them, just in case the opportunity presents itself.”
Phoenix was shocked. If his friend was giving him flowers because of what he had said during the trial, that was absolutely astounding. Edgeworth was… What was he doing? Flirting? Asking him on a date? Trying to confess his love?
Objection! It can’t be that, Phoenix. It’s Edgeworth we’re talking about!
“Would you like a cup of tea, Wright?”
Phoenix came back to Earth. “Ah. Y-Yes, thanks.”
Edgeworth’s shy smile was back. “You can wait on the couch. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Um, okay.”
It was surreal.
Phoenix sat on the elegant couch, very similar to the one in the chief prosecutor’s office. He looked at the roses on his lap and couldn’t help but keep pondering over what was happening.
Think, Phoenix. Think.
First of all, Edgeworth had invited him to his own home. Then he had given him a bouquet of red roses. He had also assumed Phoenix wanted it.
There was only a logical explanation. But it was so… un-Edgeworthy. It didn’t make sense at all.
“The tea, Wright.”
Phoenix stopped again his train of thoughts. Edgeworth put a tray on the coffee table in front of the couch, then he sat by his friend’s side and picked his cup. The defense attorney put the bouquet aside and took a sip of his hot drink too.
“You didn’t answer,” Edgeworth said, peeking at him while drinking.
“A-About what?”
The prosecutor gazed athim. “Wright, you know I’m not good at this kind of things. Stop mocking me.”
Phoenix blinked. “I’m not mocking you, Edgeworth. I’m just, erm, not sure what’s going on. Do you know the meaning of red roses?”
Edgeworth lowered his cup. “Wright, who do you think I am? I might be not so informed about flowers, but I do know how to get information about every matter, thank you very much.”
The attorney rubbed the back of his head. “O-Oh, yeah. I know that. So, well, you… you gave me red roses.”
“Yes.”
“That means you lo-” Phoenix stopped. “You like me. I mean, not only as a friend, but...”
Edgeworth adjusted his glasses and looked the other man in the eye. “Wright, don’t worry. We’re safe here. I know that you’ve always wanted to keep our relationship a secret, and believe me, I do appreciate your discretion, but now we’re alone in my house. We don’t have to pretend to be only friends like we do in public.”
Phoenix blinked again.
What?!
He had been looking for an explanation about Edgeworth’s odd behavior, but now the situation was even worse.
“Wright.” His friend avoided his gaze, uncomfortable. “I-If you think I’m going too far, please tell me. I know you’ve been serious during the last months, and we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“Edgeworth…” Phoenix put his empty cup on the table. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I got what you were trying to say. Are you asking me on a date?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Stop it, Wright. You know we are already dating.”
Phoenix’s mouth opened in surprise.
It was a joke.
It had to be.
But Edgeworth wasn’t the kind of person who liked jokes, especially if they involved his own feelings.
What. Is. Happening.
“No, I don’t know,” Phoenix said. “I really don’t understand what you’re talking about. Are you alright? Are you the real Miles Edgeworth? Because now I’m feeling like the hero of a sci-fi story who travels to other dimensions and timelines and nobody shares his memories and– Ugh, I guess the Sprockets’ case is giving me nightmares.”
Edgeworth pushed his glasses up with his finger. “That case was a week ago, Wright. And yes, I am the real Miles Edgeworth.” He put the empty cup on the table too, then he sighed. “Have you ever had amnesia?”
“Hm, yes,” Phoenix answered. “About ten years ago, during a recess in the courtroom. A guy hit me with a fire extinguisher.”
“A fire extinguisher?”
“Yeah. He turned out to be the real murderer. Not very surprising, I guess.”
“Definitely not. I wonder if something similar has happened recently. Do you have a headache now?”
Phoenix rubbed his temples. “Not really. I remember everything about the last few days, so to be honest I’m pretty much fine.”
Edgeworth crossed his arms. “However, if our memories don’t match, I’m still afraid you might have some kind of amnesia. The only logic solution is checking it.” He beat a finger on his opposite arm, lost in thoughts. His cheeks got a little red. “I-I’ll tell you everything I remember about us, and you’ll tell me what you remember. If you agree.”
“Yeah, that would be great.” Phoenix chuckled. “Honestly, I’m finding the idea of us dating pretty hard to believe. I mean, I’m wondering why you’d be claiming to be my boyfriend, because it’s the most astounding thing I’ve ever heard!”
Edgeworth avoided his gaze. “Why would you think so?” he murmured.
“Huh? Because you’re Miles Edgeworth, of course. The man who doesn’t believe in the power of love. The man who doesn’t want to get married.”
“What does my opinion on marriage have anything to do with my feelings?!” The prosecutor looked at him again. “Also, logic and evidence are the only important things in court, so I don’t trust the so-called power of love as an appropriate topic during a trial. Certainly, I’m not surprised you kept talking about that during the case.” A smirk appeared on his face as he met his friend’s gaze. “And I’m not surprised you found the true culprit. You’re Phoenix Wright, after all.”
Phoenix grinned. “I remember that part,” he said. “But I still don’t get how we ended up as a lovey-dovey couple.”
Edgeworth blushed again. “W-We’re not like that!”
I know I shouldn’t tease him now, but I can’t help it. He’s so cute when he’s embarrassed!
“W-We didn’t get together during the Sprockets’ trial,” he said, grabbing his arm. “Everything started about last Christmas, after the end of the cases involving the Phantom.”
WHAT?! “What?!”
“You don’t remember the Phantom?”
“Of course I remember!” The defense attorney leaned his back on the couch. “But it was in December, so…”
“Our first date was on December 28th. Today it’s September 30th. We’ve dated for nine months.”
Nine months?! How could I not remember that?
“Edgeworth, I really don’t know anything about it. Have we ever… kissed? Or been… erm, more intimate?”
If possible, his friend’s face became redder. “N-No, we haven’t got so far yet. You clearly weren’t ready.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened. “I wasn’t ready?!”
“Y-Yes. You’ve never made a, ah, a move in that sense, so I’ve kept waiting. B-But it’s not a problem. If you don’t feel comfortable, I understand. To be honest, I’m glad you didn’t rush. You know I do care about our relationship and–” Edgeworth stopped, his gaze dropped to the floor. “No, you don’t. My apologies.”
“Hey.” Phoenix put a hand on his shoulder. “Since I can’t remember, please tell me more. I need to know what’s going on. I don’t remember kissing you, and I remember everything else you said, so our memories match for now. Anything else?”
Edgeworth seemed to relax a bit. He took a breath. “We shared a futon in Khura’in.”
Oh?
Phoenix stroked his own chin. “Y-Yeah, I remember that too. We were in a room with a bunch of strangers, though. It wasn’t exactly romantic.”
“I’ve never said such a thing. However, you hugged me in your sleep.”
Phoenix felt his cheeks warming. He raised his arm to rub his spiky hair. “Um, right. Sorry about that, my life was in danger and I kept thinking about the trial and the revolution, so when I felt asleep I probably needed someone and, well…”
“I’m not complaining, Wright. Unfortunately, you used to do it when we were kids too.”
“Really? I don’t remember.”
“Of course you don’t. You were asleep.”
Phoenix chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it makes sense.” He stroked his chin again with his thumb, thinking. “By the way, I didn’t hug you on purpose in Khura’in. I slept close to you because we know each other and you’re not comfortable around strangers. I did it as a friend.”
“I see,” Edgeworth murmured. “However, you also helped me to have a shower with the faucet in the kitchen.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened. “That’s because I wanted to help you! I wasn’t flirting; I did that as a friend too!”
The prosecutor blushed again. “Y-You washed my back.”
“T-That’s what friends do, Edgeworth! I think…”
“You think?”
Phoenix felt cornered like he was in court.
Geez, why does Edgeworth always make me sweat like that?
“H-Hold it!” Like every time during a trial, he suddenly realized how to turn everything upside down. “Edgeworth, that night in Khura’in was an unusual situation, and you were complaining about our accommodations. I don’t usually share a bed with you or help you take a shower, so this is hardly decisive evidence of our relationship!” He pointed a finger toward him.
“Objection!” Edgeworth slammed the coffee table with his right hand. “Everything makes sense if you assume that we were already in a relationship at the time, Wright.”
“Objection! Why do you claim that? Have we ever held hands?”
“O-Of course not! We’re trying to keep it secret. We can’t hold hands in public!”
Phoenix blinked. “Wait… no sex, no kisses, no holding hands? What?! Have we at least talked about our feelings?”
“W-Well...” His friend clenched his fist, uncomfortable. “Not explicitly, but-”
“Not explicitly?” The defense attorney felt confident. “Edgeworth, tell me the truth. Have you ever confessed your feelings to me?”
He hasn’t, obviously. I couldn’t forget something like that!
“Th-That would be too embarrassing, Wright.”
“So you haven’t. And I guess I haven’t confessed anything romantic either.”
Edgeworth groaned. “But our dates...”
“Our dates?”
“Yes, dates, Wright. That’s what romantic dinners together are.”
Phoenix paused. Finally, they found the part where their memories diverged. He really didn’t remember any romantic dinner with Edgeworth. Unless he meant…
No… it can’t be…
“Edgeworth, tell me about our first date.”
“Alright.” The prosecutor took a deep breath. “It was on December 28th. We were together at Trucy’s magic show in Wonder Bar. After the end of the show, she went to a sleepover with her friends, so you asked me to have dinner together. We chose a little restaurant in the same street. The food wasn’t particularly good, but we still enjoyed the night.” He paused, looking at the empty cups. “I-I wasn’t sure about your true intentions, but suddenly you told me you were very glad to be there with me, and…” He stopped again, crossing his arms. “Th-The way you were looking at me reminded me of the Steel Samurai in episode 42, when he goes on a date with the Pink Princess and they walk near the cherry-trees holding hands. So I, ah, I started to pay attention to every single detail I could use as evidence to explain what that dinner together meant to you.”
“Wait, why didn’t you just ask?”
Edgeworth blushed. “Th-That would have been—”
“Too embarrassing, I guess.”
The prosecutor didn’t reply.
Phoenix sighed. “Still, that’s odd. You’re not the kind of man who accepts something without decisive evidence, Edgeworth.”
“I know,” he said, his voice lower. “Actually, I thought there was.”
“Huh? And what was it?”
“I paid.” Edgeworth’s gray eyes met Phoenix’s. “I decided dinner was on me to let you know that I also considered it a date. I didn’t say it out loud, but I did tell you I wanted to see you again the following week. You had no objection.”
Phoenix rubbed the back of his head. “O-Oh, about paying…” He chuckled to hide his anxiety. “Actually, after we ended the dark age of the law, you kept telling me you owed me a favor, and you didn’t listen to me when I told you that you had already done so much for me, so I let you pay because…” He stopped, trying to phrase it in the best way. “I didn’t want you to feel like you had to repay me anymore.”
“I see. But you paid the following week, and several times in the last nine months.”
Phoenix nodded. “Yeah, I guess that’s just what I’m used to do with friends, you know. I did it for Larry when I was in college, and then for Maya…” He shrugged. “To be honest, I offered so many beers and burgers in the last fifteen years that sometimes I forget that my friends can pay too.”
The prosecutor pushed his glasses up again, apparently lost in his thoughts. He didn’t say anything, his empty gaze on the coffee table in front of him.
Edgeworth… What’s on your mind?
Finally, the man spoke. “Fine. I suppose we’ve solved this case, then. It was only an unforgivable misunderstanding on my part. I… I am deeply sorry I assumed you had romantic feelings for me.” He grabbed his arm, looking away. “H-However, what is important is you don’t have amnesia. I-I’m glad you’re fine, Wright.”
Edgeworth…
“No,” Phoenix said, his eyebrow frowning. “That is not everything important. What about your feelings?”
“That is none of your business.”
Phoenix clenched his fists. “Edgeworth!” He leaned closer to him. “Of course it’s my business! I’ve just broken your heart!”
The other man didn’t move, his eyes now looking at the floor. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?” Phoenix felt suddenly mad. “Stop, Edgeworth! Do you think I met you yesterday? Do you think I can’t see how you’re really feeling now?!”
The defense attorney took a deep breath. He could do this. He had dealt with tons of plot twists in court; he could face one in his personal life.
I have to. For myself… and for him.
He placed his hand on his friend’s. “Edgeworth, please. Listen to me.”
The prosecutor blinked in surprise, but he didn’t remove his hand.
Phoenix looked at him. “Don’t hide the truth from me. Please. I thought you trusted me.”
Edgeworth swallowed. “…I do.”
The attorney smiled. “Good. Now let me explain. It’s true that when we hung out together I didn’t think we were dating, but… It doesn’t necessarily mean I didn’t like you in that way or that, er, I didn’t want to date you. Okay?”
Edgeworth frowned. “What do you mean? I thought I was just the man who doesn’t believe in the power of love to you.”
Phoenix held the hand under his own. “Yeah, and that’s why I’ve never told you how I feel. What I meant is… you were right. That day, after the Phantom’s case, I did look at you like the Steel Samurai looked at the Pink Princess in episode 42. And I probably did so all the other times I met you, too.” He squeezed Edgeworth’s hand. “The only reason I’m disappointed right now is… apparently, I’ve dated the greatest man on Earth for nine entire months, and I didn’t even know.”
The prosecutor’s face turned the same color of his jacket. “O-Objection! Th-That was hardly dating; you weren’t even aware of the development in our relationship. A-And I’m not, I mean…” He paused. “Y-You’re not that bad yourself.”
Phoenix blinked. “Not that bad?”
“Nngh…!”
Edgeworth had the same expression he had showed during the Sprockets’ wedding when a drunk Larry had told him “You’ll never find a girlfriend if you keep wearing those gay clothes”. Phoenix shook his head. Now it wasn’t the right moment to think about Larry.
“W-Wright…” Edgeworth’s voice caught his attention again. It was a whisper. “A-Actually, you’re rather… gorgeous.”
God. If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up.
“Th-Thank you.” Phoenix smiled. “Now, can you close your eyes?”
“What? Why?”
He squeezed his hand again. “Do you trust me?”
The prosecutor’s cheeks were still a dark shade of pink. “I-I do.” Slowly, he did what the attorney said.
Phoenix gulped. He let go of the other man’s hand and cupped his face. Closing his own eyes, he leaned forward.
Edgeworth’s lips were warm and soft like he had always imagined. No, actually, they were warmer and softer. Reality was better than his fantasy.
The prosecutor opened his eyes. “Wright…”
Phoenix smiled, his hands still cupping Edgeworth’s cheeks. “I’m in love with you. And I’d love to date you.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. And you won’t have to wait for me to be ready. I think I’ve wanted to kiss you since our first trial.”
“Oh?” Edgeworth raised an eyebrow. “But I was prosecuting Maya…”
The defense attorney chuckled. “That wasn’t our first trial. I meant the class trial.”
Edgeworth blushed.
Wow. He’s adorable.
“When we were nine…?”
“Yeah. Your skin looked so soft. I just wanted to do this.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips on Edgeworth’s cheek. “Thank you for saving me, Miles.”
Their eyes met, their noses were almost touching. “If anyone should say thanks, it’s me. You saved my life.”
Phoenix shook his head again. “That’s not what you should say now. This is my turn to thank you, and I don’t want to hear anything about what you owe me.” He took both Edgeworth’s – Miles’ – hands on his own. “Let’s start again. Thank you for saving me, Miles.”
“I… well…” He looked at their hands. “A-Anytime, Phoenix.”
“Good.”
He kissed him again, softly. He was definitely ready to do anything Miles wanted. He was ready to receive awkward invitations to his house, he was ready to be by his side whenever he needed him. He was ready to receive red roses like the ones that had started this whole ridiculous but memorable scene.
Anytime.