Chapter Text
June 24, 9:15 PM
Wright & Co. Law Offices
“And for today’s last, and undeniably most anticipated performance… Everybody give it up for: Callie Catra! With her new single for the upcoming Steel Samurai spinoff, Pink Princess: The Uprising Warrior of the Neo Olde Tokyo!”
The first few notes of the song echo in the empty office walls. Its tune is really similar to the well-known opening theme composed for the series, yet it still manages to add some charm to it. As the silhouette of an idol dressed up in a preppy, painstakingly colorful costume appears on the screen, the audience becomes livelier and reaches its peak with the lights focusing onto the singer. Her costume is designed specifically to remind the viewer of a cat, and her sparkling smile creates a big contrast between the bright stage and the office only lit by the lights coming from the TV screen.
“...Can’t believe you made me wait here for this.” The pink and blue lights emitted from the screen flashes on Phoenix’s slightly disappointed expression, which is not taken well by Maya sitting at the other corner of the couch.
“Hey! You agreed to it, so no turning back now.” She changes her seat and sits in front of the empty spot between the TV and the coffee table. The cat themed idol on the screen turns around and waves the huge crowd surrounding the stage in a cutesy manner, causing an uproar of applause from the audience — including the spirit medium in front of the TV with her light hand clapping.
Yes, it was an agreement, although the fairness of it all was very much open for a discussion. Maya was going to help him clean the office in exchange for Phoenix letting her catch up to the stage event performance of the new Steel Samurai spinoff. Well, since the weather tonight is awful and his romantic life was postponed until… who knows, so Phoenix didn’t have that many other choices either.
“She looks so cool on stage, don’t you think?” Maya asks, tapping onto the screen as the idol on the screen starts dancing. The short videos shown at the background are promotional material for the show, stuff she’s seen multiple times by now.
“I guess she does.” Because of how Phoenix’s response sounds so lack of energy, the spirit medium decides not to poke more fun at him. Normally she wouldn’t shy away from a bantering comeback, but today may not be the best day for it, especially when she remembers why it was so easy for them to agree on the deal in the first place. Still, it feels a little bit disingenuous to not do or say anything either. The crowd arises once again with the camera zooming to the idol.
“Come on Nick, try to cheer up a little bit! See, even the song lyrics say the exact same thing.” Maya continues, moving aside to show the lyrics sliding at the corner of the screen. Not sure if the best thing to fix the defense attorney’s mood is a peppy idol song, however this is the only solution without mentioning why his dates got postponed until further notice in the first place.
The song still sounds fun, but that’s a thought Phoenix would rather keep to himself.
Performance ends with a joyful addition to the choreo, and the lights die down with the idol bowing down to the crowd. This is also the moment a tough knock on the office door can be heard within the room, almost as if whoever was behind it was expecting for the performance to end.
“Did… did you hear that?” Maya asks, trying to get up by the support of her knees but trips over the coffee table with the knock repeating itself louder. After a moment of hesitation on who will answer the door, Phoenix decides to take the turn. It’s not uncommon for some clients to arrive in the ungodly hours of the day, but this one sounds way too impatient. The door opens up to a silhouette, still holding onto the open umbrella in his hands tightly, indicating that he came here in a rush despite the heavy rain outside.
“Can I help you?”
The stranger closes his umbrella in slow, calm motions and takes out a sealed envelope from the raincoat’s pocket — no sender’s address, no signature, no date or anything distinctive to give a clue who sent this letter. It’s just a plain, empty sheet of paper attentively kept away from the rain.
“I’m looking for Mr. Phoenix Wright, this letter is supposed to be delivered by hand to him.”
“That would be me, yes.” The silhouette hands over the envelope with this answer, looking to a spot in the air in order to avoid eye contact with both of the people in front of him. His eyes won by curiosity scans over the silhouette bringing the envelope, Phoenix decides to tear the corner of it after giving another suspicious look.
Inside there’s a letter, written with a neat handwriting and a very clear ask for help. The ask for guidance is as brief as it can get, but it’s the signature left from the sender more shocking than its questionable method of delivery. Hopefully this is not some kind of sick joke, because the stakes are way too high if that’s not some kind of joke played by someone feeling devious. His train of thoughts gets cut off by Maya climbing onto his shoulder and peeking at the content of the letter.
“WHAT?! Camilla Catra?!” Both the stranger and the defense attorney shush loudly for her to keep her voice down, which is followed by the person delivering them the envelope to close the door from his back.
“I know, you two may have questions about the situation’s legitimacy, so let me explain.” The silhouette takes out his raincoat before walking closer to the office’s center. “While I believe her letter should be explaining everything more thoroughly, Ms. Catra sent me on her behalf to deliver her wish before the incident breaks out to the news outlets.”
“May I ask who you are first?”
“Ms. Catra specifically told me not to introduce myself to not make it a bigger deal than it is now, but I can tell you that I’m her… ‘temporary’ manager. So you can trust me.”
(Well that leaves me with more questions than answers.)
Phoenix folds the letter in his hands and puts it on the coffee table. A new ad of a soft drink featuring the idol, who is supposedly the sender of this letter, is playing on the TV left open, adding another layer of absurdity to the whole situation. The most reasonable thing to do in a moment like this is to be even more judgemental, thankfully Maya is on the exact same as well.
“And how is that supposed to make us trust you? You told us almost nothing.” She asks with a stern voice, which surprises the unexpected guest perhaps more than it should.
“I’m not lying! I— okay, this will be going against Ms. Catra’s request, but here’s my business card.” The stranger takes a small card out of his raincoat’s pocket, and passes the card with his name and full job title towards two people standing in front of him.
Theodore Kinsey: Talent scouting and artist management. The last part is written to the card by hand, and somehow both Phoenix and Maya decide not to say a single thing about how sad it looks.
“Now that we have established some sort of trust, can I go on with my explanation?” Theodore folds his arms while a very muffled giggle can be heard from Maya after seeing the card. No wonder the idol has forbidden the ‘temporary’ manager from introducing himself, that’s probably not the first time he has done that and caught some chuckles.
“Her request is really simple, she wants you to represent her manager in the court coming up… in two days. Also she wants to talk with you, face-to-face. Her letter should have details about where she wants to meet up.”
“That… explains why you have the temporary title.”
“Yeah.” Theodore looks away in embarrassment, making the defense attorney somehow feel bad for bringing it up, even though the mention is kind of inevitable. “To think that Ms. Atkins getting arrested for a possible murder charge is the only way I can get a raise… really makes me question everything about work ethics.”
The temporary manager’s eyes drop down as he looks ashamed having to admit this, but his confession turns the other two’s faces sour.
“Oh, dear…”
“So, that’s what you meant when you were talking about it reaching the news outlets.”
“Exactly. When the gossip TV channels get a hold of the story– poof! All the attention is on you, supporting you or not. Usually it’s the second option. This is why she wants you to take over the case, because that’s her own reputation on the line.” Theodore starts putting his coat back, but stops with remembering an important detail that needs to be added.
“Oh, before I forget… When you go to reception tomorrow, don’t mention that you will be there for the incident. I’ve taken care of all the necessary agreements on keeping the investigations confidential. What you only need to do is tell them that you came to discuss the copyright issues, the reception will understand what you’re referring to.” He explains, waving his hand in the air like it’s just an easy trick.
“I don’t like how natural that sentence came out from you.”
“Oh, undercover plans are not something you just cannot be unfamiliar once you’re a part of the entertainment industry, Mr. Wright. Now, if you excuse me.”
With the unexpected guest leaving, the office has returned to its silent state from earlier. It still feels unreal and frankly like a well put out joke, but the only way to tell if it’s real or not is to visit the place written in the letter, and see it in person.
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Court Record - Evidences
Attorney’s Badge:
It's my all-important badge. It shows that I am a defense attorney.
Maya’s Magatama:
Slightly translucent. It radiates softly with a mysterious light.
Talent agency business card:
The handwriting at the end is scuffed and slightly
erased. It’s shown to me by the ‘temporary’ manager as a token of trust.
Obscure business letter:
Sent under the name ‘Carmilla Catra’. It’s asking me to accept a case as the representative.
Court Record - Profiles
Maya Fey (18):
My assistant and a disciple in the Kurain tradition of spirit channeling.
Carmilla “Callie” Catra (18):
My client-to-be. Sent her ‘temporary’ manager on her behalf for a case proposal.
Theodore Kinsey (23): The ‘temporary’ manager for Catra. Left me with more questions than answers.