Chapter Text
Edgeworth had sat at the viewer's bench, a more private one on the other side of the public as a family member of his, Franziska, is participating in the National Gymnastics Competition. He wouldn't miss it for the world. He tapped his foot on the ground, Praying and hoping that Franziska would be able to score it later on.
The other people around him were noisy in particular, all cheering and having fun and supporting their family. It's okay, Miles and Franziska only had one another and they will support each other through it all.
The horns started blasting and playing rhythms, indicating that it was about to start.
"LADIESS AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL GYMNASTICS COMPETITIONS 2024, IM YOUR HOST, JIMKOM HOS !!!"
"THE LINEUP WOULD START AS SHOWN AT THE SCREEN THERE, TAKE A LOOK PEOPLE"
Miles looked to the wide screen that displayed the turns, one, two, three, four, five. fifth. Franziska is on the fifth turn.
" ARE YOU READY? NOW, PRESENTING, GRACE MICHELLE FROM PHILIPPINES!"
The performances stunned Miles Edgeworth, but some of them weren't that good enough to be able to include mistakes. Deep breaths Miles, He's sure Franziska could do it.
"NEXT UP. FRANZISKA VON KARMA FROM GERMANY!!"
Miles heart thumped. Franziska entered the area with a wide smile, unfitting on her face, almost evil. Miles laughs from a thought, that dead man's genes definitely didn't survive.
Franziska took a deep breath and started her routine full of confidence and with precision. She was also able to land on that hard move that she kept ranting to Miles about. When the music was over and Franziska posed still perfectly, like an evil swan, taking the breath out of other's lungs.
The crowd was silent, all gaped at her performance.
Miles put his index and thumb to his lips, blew and let out a loud whistle, and clapped. The crowd broke away from their stance and clapped along. Miles let out an evil genuine proud smile, stunning several people since he was tight lipped from the start. Franziska got off the stage and Miles sat back down.
"W-whats her name again?!?!??!!! "
" I think it was Franziska"
His ears perked up at the mention of his sister's name beside him, holding the Japanifornia flag.
"I-i think I'm in love...Trucy!! don't you have a magic trick where you could pull out her number out of thin air???" Maya shook Trucy's body.
"What?? no silly" Trucy giggled and nudged her with an elbow
"Holy shit that was an angel down there i need her"
"Psst hey, wasn't she representing Germany? The family member is beside us..." Pearl interrupted Maya.
"Crap um— "
"NOW NEXT UP, IS PHOENIX WRIGHT FROM JAPANIFORNIA!!!!!!"
Wait. what. Miles stared at ...him? Could a man participate in gymnastics? All the previous turns were womens and this new discovery, a man in gymnastics. His body sat up straight. Looking at the man.
Phoenix walked out with a proud smile and confident struts forward.
"Q-QUICK PEARLY RECORD IT"
"I AM I AM! HEY NICK!!!!"
"DADDY!!!"
All three of them waved at Phoenix vigorously and that of course caught Phoenix's attention and he waved back, with a particularly genuine, charming smile.
ba-dump.
Miles Edgeworth had felt as if that man had waved to him. This wasn't good. It's already known to him that he came out openly to Franziska and himself that he indeed was into men. But this was a dangerous man, really charming.
When Phoenix readied his starting stance, it already punched the breath out of Miles. If he were to start his performance, Miles would be dead. And the grim reaper was now pointing the scythe on his neck. Each move that Phoenix made was precise, full with fervour and power, but at times, it's also very elegant and charming. Miles couldn't afford to blink, he needs this tattooed into his brain. Miles was completely enamoured, with all the moves that Franziska said herself that was hard to achieve, he also did it.
Finally, it was Phoenix closure for his performance with a rather simple pose, hands out open to the side, just like a bird soaring, just like a Phoenix.
This performance had Miles Edgeworth's cheeks flushed, breathing heavily and feeling exhilarated.
The crowd was also silent, astonished by his performance. Miles breaks the silence to himself.
"Phoenix..Wright..."
The crowd goes wild and claps their hands for Phoenix Wright as he bows.
...
Pearls, who was recording the video, sat on the side that was nearer to Miles. Upon the silence, She heard this man muttering Nick's name. 'huh?' Pearls had her fair share of failed ships. Since love was complex, but now that she was a teenager, she gets how love could be different and come in many different forms. And this one, beside her. She grins devilishly, is a form of it.
Pearls tried recording Miles face just for a while, disguising and pretending she was recording the crowd. Got the picture! Now she knows what to do next.
Maya, Trucy, Pearls , Edgeworth. That's how the seating arrangements in columns look like.. Pearls thinks, ' Nick should be sitting here soon, and i would want for him to sit beside maroon man.
"Pstt! Trucy! can you and Maya scoot more over there, i have a plan, I'll tell you back at home later"
Trucy raised her eyebrows, "Okay, but one kinder bar later"
"Okay okay fine" Pearls moved to the side, leaving a wide gap between her and Edgeworth.
...
"Brüder." Franziska came and was about to sit on Edgeworth's right side. But the teenager suddenly puts her bag there. Franziska raised her eyebrows.
Franziska sits on the left side, "How did i do?"
"Perfect." Miles shrugged
"Of course, Von Karma is always perfect"
"We've been known." And that receives a flick to the arms from Franziska.
...
"Hey girls!" Phoenix came, and at that perfect moment, Pearls removed her bag. "Nick!! sit here!!" She patted the seat.
Ba-dump.
"????" Edgeworth's face has gone red, and that doesn't escape Franziska.
"Hey fool is it what i think it is."
Miles glared at Franziska.
"Childish" Franziska laughed and crossed her arms.
"Daddy that was awesome! more amazing than my magic tricks." Trucy beamed at her father.
"Dear, your magic tricks are the most amazing thing in the world."
Miles froze. Wait. "Daddy?". This man beside him was straight and also married with...Three daughter? Miles sighed. Franziska again noticed this and heard the other's convo and was able to make the same the deduction, she grabbed her bottle.
"Hey you know Trucy, Maybe if you make Nick perform at your magic show, maybe it'll gain more customers!" Maya giggled along with Trucy.
"Maya, I'll be overworked to death."
Maya giggled and then immediately went into serious mode. "Phoenix. psst. do you know that german gymnast from earlier?"
"Oh Franz—" Maya clasped his mouth with her hands. Franziska's ears perked.
"SHHH!!! but yes her. i want her number. I'm in love."
gulp.
gulp.
cough????
"Franziska?! are you okay? Here, a tissue." Miles patted the back of his coughing sister.
"So you want me to ask her number? oh okay?"
"AFTER—her cute coughing fit." Maya warned Phoenix while the two teenagers in the middle watched their convo in awe.
....
Franziska was back to normal now and is focused watching the other's gymnast show, focused on their tactics and moves and mistakes. like a hawk.
Phoenix decided maybe now it was the perfect time to ask for her number, through the man beside him.
Phoenix tapped his shoulder to get his attention.
Miles finally looked to his side, after having his heart thumping like crazy and not being able to look at Phoenix despite even hearing him breathing.
"Ja?"
"Oh, can you? English?"
"Forgive me, Yes i can. What is it?"
"Sorry if this is personal, but my friend, *he points to Maya, who is waving to Miles*. She wants um, your friend's(?) number."
"Ah. mein sister." That had caught him offguard. maybe this was also an opportunity to ask Phoenix for his number.
"I'll ask her first." Miles nodded.
...
"Franzy, can i give your number out?"
"A man? no."
"It's a girl."
"Give it to her."
Miles' eyes widened and blinked , of course, this was her sister. He turns back to Phoenix and gives Franziska's number to Maya.
He wants to say it. He also wants to ask for Phoenix Wright's number. And Pearls knew this.
Think pearly! think.
She knows! Over the years of being with Nick, there's one tactic she learnt. How to convince Nick to buy something. And buying the man in maroon, is exactly what pearls needed Nick to do.
"Psst hey Nick? weird question but, do you feel lonely at home?"
Miles' ears were perked up.
"Wha-? What? what's up with the sudden question?Of course I don't, i have Trucy and you guys! Why would i get lonely?"
"I mean, lonely as in romantically, Nick. You haven't had a partner in years."
Maya and Trucy also caught up to Pearl's plan and joined in.
"Yeah! and while Larry's getting a new girlfriend every 80 minutes." Maya crunched on popcorn.
"You know daddy, it would be nice too if i have another parental figure, another new mom or dad."
"H-hey now why are we getting sentimental..?"
Pearls gestured for Phoenix to come down since she has something to whisper to him.
Miles couldn't hear it and was guilty for eavesdropping, he shifted and crossed his arms across his chest, looking at the performance.
"Pst! Nick. Didn't you have a type in guys yeah?"
"Uh—? yeah?"
Pearls withdrawn and whispered to Trucy and Maya next.
"Psst! That guy beside Nick is literally his type, how do we tell Nick that?"
Maya withdrawn and grinned and patted the girl's head. "I'll do it."
Maya then gestures to Phoenix to get closer for her to whisper.
"The man of your dreams is beside you, you dipshit"
.
They withdrew and Phoenix looked at Maya, the girls, incredulously. He looked slowly, to the man beside him and took in all his features in one quick look.
Stern eyes pairs with a furrowed eyebrow, handsome face with beautiful grey eyes, well defined body shape paired with soft hair that frames his face perfectly.
Phoenix looks back to the girl's. and let the fact sink in, that... the man of his dreams was indeed beside him??!!!
Maya mouthed, Go get him!
Trucy cheered and mouthed, Go!!!
Pearls nudged Phoenix softly.
...
"H-hey?"
Miles looked to his side. Although his face is serious, all he wants to do is burst his heart out, how could this man in front of him...be so.....
"yes?"
"Can i...have your number?"
A pause.
Who is it for this time. Miles raised an eyebrow.
"I-... "
— a ring. "ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE TO RETURN BACK AS WE WILL EVALUATE THE RESULTS"