~~~~~ EPISODE 1: CAFÉ THERAPY ~~~~~

This is the very same story that I submitted a few weeks ago under the same title. I deleted that story to be integrated in this series, so you can enjoy the same goodness here without the despair of me having deleted the one-shot. Enjoy the chapter and tell me what you think about it by the end of this chapter. Also, details of a chapter are placed before the story proper line.

SETTING: September 26, 2027; 10:00 PM (one year after the end of Apollo Justice Ace Attorney)

POINT-OF-VIEW: Apollo Justice

*** STORY PROPER ***

Soft music played in the background – bossa nova and jazz blended into a smooth song eager to cool the mind and spirit of the people dropping by the evening café. The week ended with a drizzle, a melancholic mood in a part of town, where a week's fruitful work could be celebrated with a few drinks and some nice rest and relaxation. Even the piano accompaniment with the music soothed the souls of the people lucky enough to drop by at the fortunate hour. The small café was reputable for its relaxing ambience, to get away from the lively and noisy area of the city, where most youthful and adventurous people would hang out and spend the night away. Met by a knot of regulars, the café served drinks – five percent alcohol at the strongest – that ensured that customers would not become too tipsy or drunk. Exotic never-seen-before drinks were a plus.

Among the regulars was a young attorney named Apollo. He had no definite family name, but he was given the oddly mounted surname of Justice when he was in law school. He trashed his previous surname for vague reasons, though it was for his best. His first year as a defense attorney was met with praise and a fair share of criticism. Until now, nobody ever found out his winning secret – save for a select few, the people whom he felt confident to share privy.

In a corner, where the lights were well-lit unlike the rest of the room dimmed to conform to the atmosphere, Apollo picked up the newspaper and began reading through details of the latest case, in which he was the defense attorney of a businessman accused of murder. The murder cases were cleared, though the businessman had to commit corruption to save himself – that would be a different case, one whom Apollo would have little bearing on the matter. He felt pleased and overjoyed for exposing numerous dirty tactics by the prosecutor. The next column did indicate the prosecutor being levied a heavy fine for his actions in the courtroom for that case. The jurists were smart enough to figure out Apollo's accusations.

He sat alone at a table for two, accompanied by the music and a glass of Winter Rosetta, a café-special mildly alcoholic iced coffee containing coffee granules and some fragments from an edible plant. Apollo was used to the solo time, the free space where he could get away from it all just for a short while. The seclusion was a stress-reliever, with no one to be worried about – for Trucy and his mentor, the famed Phoenix Wright (who, by the way was about to be reinstated with his attorney's badge after almost eight years), were off on a family vacation (which Apollo politely refused to join). Actually Apollo did want to join in the family fun, but he was facing some personal issues – one that involved a romantic liaison with a detective in the Police Department.

Somehow, the thoughts that disturbed Apollo whenever he had to face this issue seemed to cloud his mind whenever he entered the café. He did gain a number of friends and acquaintances in this little shop (once, an old man requested Apollo to review the will he crafted, only to find out that the contents might have been fabricated and tampered). He had no choice but in order to preserve their good names in their respective professions, Apollo had to sever the ties. He certainly felt guilty after that when he saw her walk away – gracefully yet sadly. A month had passed since then and there were no contacts ever since. He could still hear the cries of retribution, but Apollo resolved to keep these matters behind and not let get in the way of what he believed in.

Almost lost in thought as he entered the sports column – wondering if the local football team might have made it big time after suffering three months of continuous losses – Apollo went back to his senses when he heard the wind chime ring. As a regular, he found it to be highly unusual since not so many people would go in or out at this time whenever the café music beckoned to slow them down. A little tempted, he turned his head slightly and caught the glimpse of a woman dressed in corporate attire. While this wasn't a piquing interest for some, Apollo took his chances to investigate the newcomer closely. She entered the café as she tucked her expandable umbrella away in her sidebag and ordered something in the café menu. When she finished it, she retrieved her order marker (so that the attendants would know where she was seated) and proceeded to search for an empty spot where she could sit down idly. The woman did find one on an empty table next to Apollo's.

The defense attorney feigned interest as he went back to poring the news details on the newspaper. In reality, he was suddenly interested in his woman. As she came closer, Apollo could make out the physical details. It hit him quite suddenly that she had a lot of physical semblances to his ex-girlfriend, though there were some noticeable differences: this woman had long ravenous black wavy hair tied to a ponytail by a complex-looking lip, had some sort of laidback attitude and an easygoing personality judging from the rather excited face, and had a good posture despite her seemingly uncomfortable heels, which Apollo initially judged that the woman wasn't very accustomed to. He tried to make it out if she was a businessperson – but one glancing look at her attire made Apollo think otherwise. He caught sight of what seemed to be a familiar looking badge tucked on the left collar of her executive robes. It was a prosecutor's badge.

Knowing this, he fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. "Of all places, why is a prosecutor here in the café? Shouldn't she be in the High Prosecutors Office – where the prosecutors usually hang out or keep themselves wallowed in work?" Apollo was also aware that he was still donning his badge on his left collar. "No worries. As long as I can keep my collar out of sight, she won't recognize I'm a defense attorney."

There really wasn't anything else interesting to read, but Apollo had to keep his stance. Sometimes, Apollo couldn't really help it but know more about this interesting prosecutor. He slowly put down his newspaper and took a drink from the Winter Rosetta, though he was actually eyeing the prosecutor's movements. Judging from her expression and the labored breathing (Apollo had to use his perceiving ability), it seemed as if she wasn't actually waiting for anyone – though other people in the café might have thought otherwise. She was pressing buttons on her cell phone – presumably trying to contact someone, though Apollo was quite sure she was just fidgeting her phone around. These actions deemed to be strange.

"Still, I know better than to indulge myself into her private matter, no matter how awkward it is…" Apollo tried his best to be uninterested. He went back into his newspaper and searched for a different topic to read. Eventually, he conceded as he put down the newspaper. Looking away from an intelligent-looking beautiful lady was not an easy thing to do for Apollo. He had encountered numerous ladies with such visage but he experienced that new feeling regarding this stranger. "It's as if she wants to talk to me… But should I approach her?"

"Is this seat taken?"

Apollo almost jumped in surprise when he heard someone nearby him. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he did not notice the lady in the table next time actually stand beside his. Her smile was charming – despite being a prosecutor having to deal with hardened criminals. He fumbled for any words to say in a gentlemanly manner.

"N-No," he stammered. He could feel the horns on his hair droop down.

"Do you mind if I take it?" asked the lady.

Apollo smiled – though he hardly called it a polite one out of embarrassment. "No, the seat's all yours."

"Thank you."

Like a couple on their first date, there was some awkward silence between the two of them. People would then be wondering why a defense attorney and a prosecutor would be sitting in the same table – under a brightly illuminated area nonetheless. Perhaps some business-related matters that didn't do much for the public. The people were here in the café to mellow out and purge the week's stress and frustrations.

The lady's drink came – a glass of Winter Rosetta, the same as Apollo's.

"First time here?" Apollo asked her.

The lady nodded curtly. "I've heard about this side of town from the higher-ups, so I decided to swing by."

"Higher-ups," Apollo noted her dialogue. He fixed his interest on the prosecutor's badge. "So… uhh, you're a prosecutor, right?"

She took a sip of her Winter Rosetta before turning to Apollo. "Yep," she replied jovially though there was a tone that made her feel like a schoolchild. "I just became a prosecutor a few months ago. I have yet to try a case." For the sake of it, she took another sip of her iced coffee. "What's your name?"

"Apollo," Apollo introduced himself as he let out a hand for the lady to shake. "Apollo Justice. Yours?"

"Kay. Kay Faraday," the prosecutor introduced herself as she shook the defense attorney's hand. "Among the people in our department, you're quite famous. I heard you made some ruckus in court this week."

Apollo chuckled, though he felt as if he were slightly insulted. "Ruckus?"

"It's not really what you think," Kay justified, smiling bashfully. "We also had problems with him – regarding his dirty tricks in prosecuting. The chief prosecutor was planning to release her ire on him after the trial. Sounds like he's got the poison effective in him. Good job."

While Apollo thanked her for the praise, he also thought of the feeling of being congratulated by a newbie prosecutor. There was a very unusual feeling on it, but he relished the praise. After all, the prosecutor in that trial was indeed fined a hefty sum – either that or stripped off his prosecutorial badge. There were speculations, though, that he would face charges of obstruction of justice. Why they came to that conclusion remained unknown.

"Anyway, I don't like to talk about work for now," Kay said.

"Is there something wrong?" Apollo inquired.

The prosecutor sighed as she placed her elbows on the varnished table. She placed her chin on her hands of her raised arms. "I find this place to be relaxing – unlike the loud noise that the people in the office make."

"Do you not like the work environment there?"

Kay felt the needed to be not completely honest, but she could not suffice a white lie either. "How should I put this?" She closed her eyes and thought of the answer she could extract from her mind. "A few months as a prosecutor and I still need to adjust. I'm usually someone who wants to be quiet – in my own way."

Apollo nodded. If this were some sort of employment interview, she would have scored negative points on this one.

"Don't you usually work in a law office?" Kay inquired.

The tide shifted from Kay to Apollo. He wondered if he could trust this woman into divulging some information. Maybe she wasn't here for leisure after all – maybe she was here in some undercover operation, probably trying to get Apollo to talk. There was no complete assurance that this sweet-talking lady, who worked on opposite terms with Apollo, could benefit from Apollo's silence.

"I thought you didn't want to talk about work," Apollo recalled Kay's words. He had to say it in a manner that did not pique her suspicion, if indeed she was working undercover.

"Sorry," she replied apologetically – Apollo found this genuine. "I'm… a bit of a haywire lately."

Personal matters would do in this conversation. Even so, Apollo had to keep his guard up and watch what he said.

"Something's bothering you?" The attorney asked.

Kay frowned. A small sip of her Winter Rosetta seemed to make her feel better. Absorbing the ambience and the harmonious melody of the slow music eased her senses, though she did not feel completely comfortable. "It's really nothing, Apollo. Personal as it seems, I'm quite frustrated on what the kind of career path I've taken."

Apollo could relate to that. "I think we're similar on opposite terms – though I can't really say than I'm frustrated with my job."

"My late father was a prosecutor himself," Kay continued. "When he died, he left… a lot of mess in his office."

"So let me guess," Apollo cut in. He seemed a little rude to be doing that – but Kay's expression told him otherwise. Kay must have had a thing for people who want to cut in conversations. "You proceeded to finish what your father started?"

"Yes and no," Kay answered. "It was… almost eight years ago when my father died. The mess was cleared in a short time – but I highly doubt if being a prosecutor to finish what my father started was the right thing for me in the first place."

It was like cross-examining a witness all over again – this time, up close and personal without the supervision of the judge and the wary eye of the prosecutor.

"So, uhh…" Apollo scratched the back of his head, "if you weren't a prosecutor, what would you be then?"

It was at this point when Kay flashed a mischievous smile, something that Apollo didn't want to find out the answer to his own question.

"I think I can trust you on this one," Kay said. "It's a funny thing – but if I weren't a prosecutor, I'd be a professional thief."

For real, Apollo flinched in his seat. "A… thief?"

Kay laughed heartily. "Don't take it seriously, Apollo." She joined her hands together and leaned forward. "It has something to do with my past. But what I really mean is that if I weren't a prosecutor, I'd be a thief out to capture the truth."

The defense attorney nodded, a wonder coming over to his mind, "She sounds like Trucy… so dedicated yet sometimes delusional."

"Ever heard of the Yatagarasu?"

Apollo shook his head, half-wondering if this Yatagarasu was another exotic drink from Jamaica and on the must-have list of the café.

Kay was eager for Apollo to know a little bit about the Yatagarasu, but she became disappointed when the latter showed very little interest. A change of topic would be necessary. "Oh well, I guess there's no point…"

Silence reigned between the two of them again, while letting the mood of the evening and a much slower and mellower music play around with their minds. The light overhead them dimmed – the café attendant must have noticed that Apollo was not reading the newspaper, he had set it aside. Some brimming warmness permeated the atmosphere, keeping comfortable the two conversing lawyers.

"Are you into music?" Kay asked.

Apollo sensed that she was taken aback by what she said. He decided to go with the flow. "Yeah," he answered.

"What's your ideal music?"

"Classical," Apollo said smartly, "though I'm also into the Gavinners."

When he mentioned the ultra-hit rock band, the Gavinners, Kay's eyes lit up. "Y-You are?" She squealed.

Apollo laughed. "I was into it because I faced their lead vocalist in the courtroom."

Kay's jaws dropped. "Y-You must have been so lucky…"

"It's not like that," said Apollo. "Apparently, my assistant's practically swooning over the band, she came home one night with the Gavinners last music album, 'Show on the Road.' She insisted that we play the music – but she turned up the volume so loud, her father got annoyed."

Kay laughed heartily. "I must say that the Gavinners did themselves good. I thought they disbanded after one of their members was charged of murder."

"I was the defense attorney, and I was the one who pointed out that fact," Apollo flaunted.

The prosecutor covered her mouth to keep her from gasping. When she recovered, she said, "If we were to face each other in court tomorrow, I'd lose to you quickly."

Apollo felt embarrassed. "Experience doesn't really matter… Only the evidence can prove anything."

"So… where's your evidence that you were the one who pointed out that he was the killer for that case?" Kay teased.

Apollo mumbled. "No evidence to present at this time," he mumbled. "You could check the Records Room if you have time."

She giggled. "I guess you'll have to be guilty as charged."

"That album remains to be the best – for me, anyway."

Kay affirmed. "'Guilty As Charged'… I really love that album – especially their songs, 'Guilty Love,' 'My Boyfriend is the Prosecution's Witness,' 'Love with No Chance of Parole,' 'Thirteen Years Hard Time for Love'…" The list went on and on and on, but she proved Apollo that she was a die-hard Gavinners fan.

Apollo knew he might be in for a long night listening to Kay's endless rambling about any trivia she could come up about the Gavinners. But he was still proud that he actually met and confronted their lead singer – his courtroom rival and, yet, his personal friend. Two years senior, Klavier Gavin was a solid and dedicated prosecutor who always set his eyes for the truth.

"Where could their lead singer be right now?" Kay asked with a wondrous expression.

Apollo shrugged. "Even after a year, I think Klavier's still studying abroad in Zheng Fa… something to do with jurisprudence and international legal studies." He smiled as he turned to the wall and juggled his thoughts. "I kinda envy him right now… he's somewhere trying to reach greater heights – while I'm here in the city, doing what I can to scrap for a living."

"What's your style of music?" Apollo asked her. "Aside from the Gavinners, that is…"

"Classical as well, though more of the contemporary period," Kay answered. "But if you like modern, then maybe alternative and mellow will do."

"Just like this music?"

Kay closed her eyes to listen to the smooth and soothing lyrics. The song had just finished the refrain, which seemed an octave higher than the verses. She opened her eyes after a few seconds. "Just like that," Kay said romantically. "'Starlight Sonata' is quite tearful, though it's a cup of tea for me."

Apollo rested his arms on the table. "You sure are something into romance…"

Kay batted an eyelash. "Oh… I used to have those fantasies – usually from movies… but I'm not into movies."

"Frustrated romance perhaps?"

The prosecutor's mouth hung open for a few seconds. "I dunno… maybe I'm not really into that kind of thing… Hey! Are you trying to…"

Apollo leaned back on the chair. "No, no, no…" he told Kay hastily and improvised wildly for his reason. "It's just a matter of perception." He cleared his throat. "Damn… she must be rubbing off me. Way for me to drive a nail in my own coffin."

"I noticed something," Kay told Apollo. "What's that you're wearing in your left wrist?"

The defense attorney looked at his left wrist and spotted the special bracelet. His bracelet was made of a special alloy that exhibited unusual properties. Whenever he performed a cross-examination of a witness, Apollo had to be attentive of both the witness's testimony and the bracelet in his wrist. Often, a witness would employ a subconscious act that affected their testimony. While it was not a contradiction of sorts, these actions that unnerve the witness often lead to Apollo in perceiving some hidden information based on these actions. In the first place, he could detect if a witness was having these subconscious acts when his bracelet would expand and contract considerably.

"Oh, this?" Apollo held up his bracelet for Kay to see properly. "It's a special bracelet handed to me by my mother… That's all I know about it, but… I think it's some sort of memento."

"A memento that your mother left?"

Apollo put down his arm. "Y-Yeah…" He took a deep breath. "I was orphaned at a young age when my parents got divorced. I… have never known how my mother or father looked like. But all I got from my mother – according to Mr. Wright – is this bracelet. Somehow, it's been some sort of reminder for me."

"A reminder?" Kay asked curiously.

Apollo frowned. "One of these days, I'll find my biological mother – because I have a lot of questions to ask her."

"So who brought you up?"

He took a sip from his Winter Rosetta. "I was given the surname of Justice when I started law school. It was my foster father's idea and he was a former circuit court judge. At the age of twenty-two, I became a full-fledged lawyer."

Kay was taken aback. "That's quite young. Although I do know of someone who became a lawyer at the age of thirteen."

Apollo recalled a vague detail about it as Phoenix Wright told him of the many people he met during his legal career. "The famed von Karma, correct?"

"You must really know your people," Kay complimented.

Apollo chuckled bashfully. "I do get to know some tricks from Mr. Wright himself."

Kay displayed some surprise. "Mr. Wright? You mean… Phoenix Wright?"

"Yeah," said Apollo. "He's been my mentor for two years now, though I'm quite capable of getting up to the task. You could imagine my kind of excitement when I heard that he would be reinstated back to the profession." He felt some sort of suspicion towards Kay. "W-What do you know about Mr. Wright?"

"You wanna know who mentored me to become a prosecutor?"

Though Apollo didn't want to know, he pushed it. "Who?"

Kay giggled. "Miles Edgeworth."

The name caught Apollo off-guard and his mouth hung open in utter amazement. "Of all the prosecutors I want to face in a courtroom someday – it would be Miles Edgeworth. It's been a dream of mine…" Indeed, he would have a hat off for Kay. Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth were fierce rivals in the courtroom, though Wright admitted that there was also a level of friendship between the both of them. Their tutees, Apollo mused, would they end up the same?

"You know what? Given the circumstances, I think I'd love to face-off against you in the courtroom someday." Kay openly admitted.

Apollo smiled. "Then be my guest. Although I'd love to do nothing more than find the truth."

"Just as lawyers should do…"

"Yeah."

The music had shifted from the slow and mellowing music to a slightly quicker one, this time an alternative genre. It was a love song performed by a popular band from years ago but the song still made its way through time. Kay sang to the first verse while Apollo continued to calm his senses, but he was secretly smitten by her wonderful voice.

"You have a wonderful voice," Apollo complimented.

Kay giggled hard. In the dimness of the café, she was slightly grateful that Apollo didn't see her blush. "You think so?"

"Maybe… you might just sway me in the courtroom with that tone of yours," Apollo teased, causing to Kay to blush harder to a point that she had to turn away. "But no matter… I won't let my guard down in case we would face each other."

This provoked some great sense of interest to Kay. "I think I like you."

Apollo chuckled, though he could have been more embarrassed than he thought. "Don't say that. We've only met."

The prosecutor sighed. "I know, I know… I get carried away quite easily, but no matter."

"You just need to focus," Apollo reassured her. "I'm taking your compliment."

Their conversation had been quite remarkable and enjoyable in that single evening that they lost track of time in the middle of the mental swaying. In the café, people who would come to drown out the sorrows and the pains were given enough time to heal themselves. That's why the name of the café stood up to its reputation – Café Therapy. For Apollo, it was a healing process he so desperately needed – the immense pressure of the court case he had been working on for the past two weeks, doubled with the efforts of putting himself together after willfully breaking his romantic relationship, and the regret of not having to spend the much-needed vacation with Phoenix Wright and his adopted daughter. For Kay, it was simply to get away from the noise and stress of the twenty-four hour non-stop action in the High Prosecutor's office.

When Apollo and Kay checked their times, it was already close to midnight. The café would be closing in a few minutes.

"I think we should head out," Kay suggested.

Apollo nodded, his smile fading a little. "Yeah, but to be honest, I'm really enjoying this night that I'm willing to drink down another Winter Rosetta… and another round of conversation with you."

"What makes me so interesting?"

He would have to trust his bracelet on this one. "You're so innocent, I find it strange."

Kay put a palm to her chest. "Me? Strange."

Apollo decided to give it some thought, but he wasn't going to take back his word. "I'm not really sure what I mean… but I think you're not like any of the other prosecutors I know. You've got potential." He paused. "And seriously…" he leaned forward, "I'd love nothing else hereon than facing you in the courtroom."

Kay leaned forward as well as she rested her arms on the table. "I'd love nothing else than to see you squirm against an amateur prosecutor."

"It's a date."

"It is."

Only after a few seconds later did Apollo notice how close their faces were to each other. He had to lean back and flush whatever blood protested to rush to his cheeks. Despite this, Apollo's thoughts were in continuous motion. "I'm not sure how to react to this… but up close, Kay is really drop-down head-to-toe gorgeous."

As soon as they chugged down the last of their Winter Rosetta, the attorney and the prosecutor stood up from their table and walked across the café to the front door. Café Therapy finished playing its last song for the day before the café attendant in her night's shift announced via a microphone somewhere that the café was about to close. Apollo and Kay were among the first ones to leave before an exodus of satisfied customers exited the café and went on about their directions.

Apollo was always in a dilemma when he wanted to be a gentleman. Even in law school, he had a bit of trouble keeping his manners in check – not out of rowdiness but out of clumsiness. At a young age, he was popular among the ladies because of his laid-back attitude and the signature horns of his hair. Even with his newfound seriousness as he went through law school, his hair still stood out that he was dubbed "antenna man" for a short while before Apollo confronted the person who created the moniker. Needless to say, Apollo never harbored any ill-will to anyone and was generally friendly.

But in front of Kay, a stranger slash prosecutor whom he happened to meet during a secluded peaceful session, he seemed to be tested. "What would I do this situation?" Kay was looking around, perhaps a taxi to take her home.

"Should I get you a cab?" Apollo asked. Only a second later did he realize he made a novice mistake.

Kay took it gently. "You're sweet, Apollo."

Apollo laughed bashfully as he moved to the street and hailed an incoming cab. "The cab's all yours, milady," Apollo said to Kay as he made a gentlemanly bow. Kay laughed.

"Thanks." She was about to clamber into the taxi when she told Apollo. "Where do you live?"

It turned out that their homes were near each other's and the taxi would bring them down a similar road. The taxi would stop them in Kay's home first – and Apollo was there to lead her home. The drive through town would involve going through scenery of the metropolis and down the national highway before taking a quick turnaround then to the community where the both of them lived.

While inside the cab (the both of them sat on the back seat), the two of them continued their conversation – albeit in a low voice so that they wouldn't distract the kind cab driver's direction (the driver was thoughtful to close the shutter behind him and not intrude on his passengers' matters). Apollo and Kay, hours ago, were strangers. But they shared a similar profession, similar tastes, similar preferences, and similar ideas.

What seemed to be an hour later – though it took only twenty minutes before the cab pulled up at the destination – the two of them stepped out of the cab (for the memorable evening, Apollo paid for the fare). Midnight was always met with silence in their community, and Apollo would take the rest of his trip alone through the streets.

"So this is your home," Apollo told Kay when they stopped at the front of her home. Her home was a finely constructed two-story home. "It's impressive – much more compared to mine."

"Maybe I'll invite you in some time," Kay responded, to which Apollo nodded. Kay reached for something in her handbag. She took out a cellphone and gave it to Apollo. "I'm not really one to do this – but let me be honest with you." Apollo listened attentively. "Though you're a defense attorney and I'm a prosecuting attorney, I don't see any kind of boundary that can come between us and… I think it'll be interesting if I got to know you a little more."

Apollo was taken aback by the sudden revelation, but he accepted it straightforwardly with no enigma behind his expression. He understood what Kay meant when she gave her cellphone to Apollo. Apollo dialed in his cellphone number to add a contact. "I think the same way," he told her as he returned her phone. Maybe it was time for him to keep his life straight after the week's worth of frustrations.

Kay smiled. "This is… sayonara for the time being." She stepped forward to her gate as she took out her keys from her handbag.

"Goodnight Kay," bade Apollo.

"Goodnight Apollo," Kay bade back. She was about to enter the gate to her home when she turned around and went back. "I think you also deserve this for the company." She moved forward swiftly and made a quick peck to his cheek. "Goodnight, again." After a wink and leaving Apollo more surprised and speechless, she clambered through her gate and closed it.

"I'm not sure on what to make out of this seemingly random encounter," Apollo mused as he walked down the quiet and peaceful streets of his neighborhood to his home. "While I'm still speechless on what Kay did earlier, I think she'll be a formidable opponent in the courtroom. Outside our professional boundaries, I think there's still a lot for us to learn what it means to live the way we want to do. I don't question this kind of miracle."

It just so happened that a week later after their one-night meeting, the two of them were set to face each other in the courtroom. It would be Kay's first case as a prosecutor and Miles Edgeworth, her mentor, would be watching as a spectator. In that case, the two were performing very well – to an extent where a lot of testimony and evidence piled up such that it had to take a secret collaboration between them to unearth some new information. Nevertheless, the case was resolved the next day, Apollo being the victor. Outside the courthouse, Apollo did have the chance to meet the renowned Edgeworth, and the maroon-coat genius-dubbed prosecutor even openly admitted that he was interested to look for a day when he would take his hand on facing Apollo Justice in court.

In-between cases, when they wanted to get away from the urban life, they would meet in the same café and sit in the same table – the table where they first met. Conversations were livelier, laughter was more relieving, and stories became a vital part of their memories – all with a drink of Winter Rosetta or the new must-try drinks of the café and the delightful soothing ambience with the accompanying pacifying music. It so happened that while their mentors found out (soon enough) whom their students have been communicating with, the two lawyers were always bound to their professionalism.

Despite the growing rivalry as the two of them faced each other in more cases into the future, their friendship bloomed more just like the case of their tutelages. Apollo could only wonder if some budding yet forbidden-to-an-extent romance with Kay Faraday might be the leverage he needed in his life. In the same way, Kay mused if she might just need the kind of edge her life needed by meeting such a dashing attorney, even though she believed him to be a close rival. Their destinies and thoughts could be answered or entertained, but only time would tell.

*** END OF EPISODE ***

Chapter Notes: The name of the drink "Winter Rosetta" is purely fictional. The name just struck into my mind while I was clearing out my cabinet containing high school mementos. When I opened my old history book (just for old times' sake), the page featured the Rosetta Stone and - it just hit me. If a similar drink exists, I'd like to try that out for myself - of course, with the low alcoholic content. That said, I don't claim to be an expert on liquor, since I'm not a bartender anyway.

The songs mentioned in this story actually exist in the Ace Attorney universe. If you play "Apollo Justice Ace Attorney," you'll come across these songs which Klavier mentions (though he doesn't sing them, of course). The exception here is "Starlight Sonata," which is just a random title that popped into my head as I went along the paragraph. It's probably a fictional song to reflect the mood and the quietness of the night and possibly my mood when I wrote the story.

I personally thought that this story was a little too rushed - this story was completed in three days with very little planning, impromptu thoughts, and bad-time work (11 PM to 1:30 AM). There were a few edited details compared to the one that I submitted as "Café Therapy."

I hope this was a good opening chapter for the Justice and Faraday chronicles despite the seemingly rushed end-of-chapter. Nevertheless, I'd like to thank those who will read and review this chapter. Should you have some nice ideas and situation suggestions, you can leave them along with your review or you can send me a PM. I'll entertain your ideas. Until then, thanks Ace Attorney fans! And more chapters to come!

PowerZone