"Maya ... watch out !"

"NICCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK !"

Maya still can't forget the incident, even though it had passed weeks ago. All details of the traumatic event are still vivid in Maya's mind. How the sky was so dark, it was raining heavily, a masked man, laughing out loud, trying to shoot her, but Nick, who always protected her, pushed her aside quickly, then the bullet hit Nick's back ... Then they took Nick with an ambulance ... And the Doctor says Nick's backbone was broken by the shot, and Nick is at risk of paralyzed for the rest of his life ...

Each remember the incident, Maya felt even more angry. Angry that now Nick can't work, angry that every day she must see Nick tormented, while the bastard who causes all of this mess still free out there.

Today, Maya took Nick to doing therapy with Doctor Blackquill again. Actually, Maya really doesn't like to take Nick to the hospital to do therapy with Doctor Blackquill. She couldn't bear to see Nick in pain doing a therapy that seemed very painful. So it is with today. Maya grimaced, wrinkling her face. She was eager to get out of the therapy room right now. She could not bear to hear Nick's scream in pain as his legs were massaged by Doctor Blackquill. Maya squeezed his hand tighter, as if hoping that with squeeze his hand could make Nick's pain disappear. Maya felt anger overwhelm her now.

"Wright-dono, you have to do surgery," Dr. Blackquill said suddenly, causing Maya to wake from her reverie.

"Surgery?" Shrieked Maya.

"Yes, Fey-dono. Spine surgery. This is to repair the damage to his spine. And after the surgery, Wright-dono should be injected three times a day for the spinal cord to re-form. Indeed, this will be very painful. But this is the only way for Wright-dono to recover and be able to walk again as usual."

Maya buried her face in her palm, and sobbed in silence. She didn't have the heart to imagine Nick should be operated on and injected three times a day with a syringe, and every day! No, she can't allow this. The bastard must suffer more than Nick!

I swear I'll find and catch him who makes you suffer like this with my own two hands, Nick. I swear. You protect me. If it was not for you that pushed me aside, I would lie down on that bed, screaming in agony, holding back the excruciating massage. You're sacrifice too much for me, Nick. Now it's time for me to protect you.

Maya then stepped out of the therapy room, unable to see Nick screaming in pain. Maya clenched her fists, her blood boiling with anger. I have to investigate this. I'm gonna catch the guy who makes Nick tortured like this.

"Maya, are you all right? Why are you blushing like that?" Edgeworth suddenly appeared behind her. Maya did not answer immediately, then Edgeworth winced after hearing Nick's scream in pain in the therapy room.

"Poor Wright," murmured Edgeworth. "If only we know who the bastard behind all of this."

"And we'll catch him, Mr. Edgeworth. I want him to pay. Mr. Edgeworth, will you investigate who the bastard behind all of this with me? Better yet if we can catch him together," Maya replied as she clenching her hands.

"Of course, Maya. Let's go."

"Wait a minute, Mr. Edgeworth. I had to said good-bye to Nick." Maya then step in again to the therapy room, grimacing once again after saw Nick's legs now being beaten with iron by Doctor Blackquill.

"Nick, I have to go for a while with Mr. Edgeworth. Are you okay if I leave you for a while?" Maya asked softly.

"Okay, but please don't be too long, Maya," Nick muttered weakly, his eyes still watery with pain.

"No, Nick. I won't be long. Hold the pain, ok?" Maya said again as she kissing Nick's hair, then step out of the therapy room.

Maya and Edgeworth then went to the scene where Nick was shot to protect Maya. They walked around the street, hoping to find clues or evidence to give them the answer who the man behind the black mask was.

"Maya, look! I found something!" shouted Edgeworth after nearly an hour they searched. Maya rushes over to Edgeworth.

"What did you find out Mr. Edgeworth?"

"This. Gun. And a shirt." Edgeworth replied as he holding up a gun and a light blue shirt. There was a hair left in the shirt's collar.

Maya could feel her blood boiling again when she saw the gun holding by Edgeworth. It was the gun that made Nick suffer. It was the gun that made Nick can't work. Maya really wants to destroy that gun right now.

"This must be the gun the bastard used to shoot Nick," Maya mumbled angrily. "Mr. Edgeworth, can we bring this gun and shirt to Detective Gumshoe? Who knew there were fingerprints left on that gun."

Edgeworth nodded. "Come on, we go to Criminals ."

Simultaneously, Maya and Edgeworth went to Criminals Dept. Affair. Upon arriving there, how relieved they are when they immediately meet Detective Gumshoe.

"Hello, pal," Detective Gumshoe said cheerfully. "What makes you come here so early in the morning?"

"Have you heard about Wright, Detective?" Edgeworth asked.

Detective Gumshoe breathed slowly. "Yes. I'm sorry. Sorry I haven't been able to see him. I hope he recovers quickly. But got shot in the back like that..."

"Detective, we found a clue on the street where the bastard shot Nick," Maya interrupted. "See."

Maya then handed him the gun and blue shirt she found with Edgeworth.

"Well, Detective, can you check that there might be a fingerprint on this gun? And do a DNA test to find out who the owner of the hair in this shirt's collar?" asked Maya.

"Sure, sure. I will bring this evidence to the lab for analysis. You two just wait here. Just sit down, Miss. Fey, Mr. Edgeworth," Detective Gumshoe replied, allowing them to sit down.

Maya and Edgeworth sat, and waited for lab results in silence. About two hours later, Detective Gumshoe came back, his face pale with surprise and disbelief.

"So," Maya said impatiently, "How is it, Detective Gumshoe? There's a fingerprint on that gun? Who owns the hair on the shirt?"

Detective Gumshoe took a deep breath. "Yes, Miss. Fey. We found fingerprints on this gun. And we already know who owns a hair on this shirt."

"So who?" asked Edgeworth. "Whose fingerprints and hair is that?"

Detective Gumshoe sighed again. "You will not believe and be surprised."

"Don't too much ado, Detective Gumshoe!" Maya exclaimed, feeling very annoyed now. "Stop sighing and quickly tell me who the bastard has made Nick paralyzed!"

"This fingerprint and hair ... when we found the match ... belongs to by Pearl Fey." Detective Gumshoe whispered softly.

"WHAT? !" exclaimed Edgeworth and Maya. "Pearl? ! But, but…."

"There must be a mistake!" Shouted Maya, still trying to digest this unpleasant information. "Pearl can't do such a thing! And ... and ... I remember perfectly, the one who shot Nick was a man, and his body was pretty tall!"

"Didn't you say he was using a mask, Maya? How could you be so sure he was a man? Can you tell me exactly how the chronology when Wright was shot?" Edgeworth asked sharply.

"Because he's talking! And his voice is very heavy! Obviously, that's a man's voice! We had just walked back to the office after Matt Engarde's trial was over ... Then he stopped us, he meant to shoot me, he pointed his gun at me and said, 'You'll feel what I feel ... lose someone important to you!' Then when he pulled the gun up, Nick pushed me to the left, so he was shot..." Maya replied nervously, still shivering when she recalled the incident.

"Then, did you see anyone else there?" Detective Gumshoe asked again.

Maya shook her head. "No. There's just me, Nick, and that mysterious man. Apollo and Athena then came a few minutes after I yelled for help."

"Apollo and Athena? Wright's disciples? "Edgeworth asked again. "And they came just a few minutes after you yelled for help? Don't you think it's quite suspicious, Maya? It could have been either of them, or both of them who shot Wright!"

Maya glared at Edgeworth. "Don't be silly, . They are Nick's disciples! And they just got back from the market to shop. They have an alibi. We can ask the merchants in the market, they can testify that Apollo and Athena indeed were there."

"Okay, well, sorry then," muttered Edgeworth.

"But, Detective, Mr. Edgeworth, I'm sure there must be a mistake! How could Pearl's fingerprints be in that gun? And remember, the shooter says' I want you to feel what I feel. Losing someone important to you! ' Surely he meant Engarde, and since when did Engarde have a relationship with Pearl? She does not even know who Matt Engarde is!" Maya exclaimed.

"Though I won't believe it either, but the lab results never lie, Miss. Fey, "Detective Gumshoe replied as he shaking his head. "Maybe you should try to talk to Pearl and ask for an explanation from the girl."

Maya gripped her hair, feeling desperate. How could Pearl's fingerprints be in the gun? But the one who shot Nick clearly was a man! But what if it was Pearl who shot Nick? What am I going to do?

Still filled with mind full of indecisiveness, and shock of the information she had received, Maya's phone suddenly rang. Nick called.

"Maya, where are you? Why took you so long?"

"I have a short business with Mr. Edgeworth, Nick," Maya replied quietly.

"My therapy is done, Maya. Pearl's here."

Maya swallowed. "All right, Nick. Me and Mr. Edgeworth will be returning to the hospital soon. How do you feel, Nick? Does Doctor Blackquill torture you enough?"

Nick's chuckled. "At least he didn't tell me to stand up, Maya. Okay, see you at the hospital again."

Maya hung up, confused what to do. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

"Pearly in the hospital, Mr. Edgeworth. Come on, we go back there now. I need an explanation. Do you want to come along, Detective Gumshoe?" Maya asked to Detective Gumshoe.

"Okay. I haven't visited Wright. Hold on, I'll take my coat first," Detective Gumshoe replied, then ran to get his coat.

"Maya, if it's true, that it was Pearl who shot Wright, what would you do?" asked Edgeworth. Maya shook her head firmly.

"I ... I do not know, Mr. Edgeworth! I'm sure there's a mistake! Although I do not understand why Pearl's fingerprints are in the gun and her hair is on the shirt, I believe she didn't do it! She's just a kid, Mr. Edgeworth! Do you believe Pearl did it?" Maya asked, sounding almost crying now.

Edgeworth shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, I do not know, Maya. I'm confused, too," muttered Edgeworth.

Detective Gumshoe came back shortly after. "Let's go. I'm ready," he said as he puts on his coat in a hurry. The three of them walked towards Edgeworth's car to return to Meraktis Hospital.

During the trip, Maya's thoughts flared up. What if it turns out that it was Pearl who did it? How would Nick react if he knew this? Will he forgive Pearl?

Not long after, the three of them arrived at Meraktis Hospital. Hurriedly, Maya got out of Edgeworth's car and ran to the therapy room. There was Apollo, Athena, Doctor Blackquill, Pearl, and Nick playing monopoly on the bed.

"Mystic Maya! Where have you been? We've been waiting for you for hours!" shouted Pearl as she gets up from the bed and hugging Maya. Maya returns her hugs awkwardly.

"Hello, pal! Sorry I just got to see you now," said Detective Gumshoe as he hugged and patted Nick's back. "How are you? You look pretty healthy."

Nick chuckled. "I will always be healthy if there is Maya beside me to take care of me and Pearl who always cheer me up," Nick replied. Maya and Edgeworth exchanged glances in resignation.

"How is Nick's therapy, doctor?" Maya asked to Dr. Blackquill.

"Very good. Though he can't stop shouting, especially after you leave, he's always yelling as if I'm going to cut him into two," replied Doctor Blackquill.

Inevitably, Maya snorted a laugh. Nick raised his eyebrows, his lips pouting.

"How can I not shout, Doctor? My legs are constantly being hit by an iron and your massage is very torturous," Nick replied a little annoyed. Dr. Blackquill grunted a laugh.

"Well, when else can I torture you, right?" teased Doctor Blackquillt, making Nick frown more and the room filled with laughter.

Maya cleared her throat, then said softly, "Pearl? Um ... I want to talk to you, just the two of us, outside. Nick, can I borrow your magatama? Did you bring it?"

Nick raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Certain. I always bring my magatama everywhere. But, why, Maya?" Nick asked confusedly.

"Just give it to me, I really need to borrow it, I'll explain it later," Maya replied. Nick takes his magatama out of his pocket and handed it to Maya.

"Come on, Pearl, we're talking outside. You just continue your game, "Maya mumbled as she led Pearl out of the therapy room. Pearl looked nervous.

"Well, Pearly," Maya said as they were outside the therapy room. Maya turned briefly to the therapy room to make sure no one heard their conversation. "I want to talk to you. About Nick. " Maya continued again while kneeling in front of Pearl so they were at the same height now.

"You finally dated Mr. Nick, Mystic Maya?" Pearl asked, holding her cheek with both hands, trying to tease Maya, but she failed to hide the nervous tone from her voice.

Maya shook her head slowly. "No, I don't want to be joking, Pearly. Look, I want to know, remember the day when Nick was shot? After Matt Engarde's trial?" asked Maya. Pearl nodded nervously.

"Well, I remember, when Nick and I went back to the office, you were suddenly gone. And you came to Engarde's trial. And when I informed you that Nick was shot and taken to the hospital, you did not come right out. Actually, where did you go, Pearly? And why you suddenly had disappeared like that? And don't lie, Pearly, remember I brought Nick's magatama." Maya said as she put her hand on Pearl's shoulder, and stared at the little girl deeply.

"I-I… ... w-w-as go-going… to toilet, M-mystic Maya ..." said Pearl sputtered, and suddenly 5 Psyche Locks appear in front of Maya's eyes.