Iris got off the taxi that took her from the station to the university. She offered her thanks and paid the fare. Luckily, the small allowance she was given from the temple had built up quite nicely over the years. Iris was hardly a big spender, so she could afford things like cab fare should the need arise.

She turned toward the entrance only to be greeted by a sight grander than anything she could have imagined. It had been quite some time since she had been to a large city, and so a place like a university - essentially a community inside a larger community - felt like a completely foreign concept. She crossed the threshold into the actual campus and looked on with amazement at the various buildings, plantlife, and of course, the people.

Having spent as much time as she did in the rural mountains, removed from everyday conveniences, it was both a sight to behold and a source of stress. Suddenly, she was not sure she would be able to blend in and do what she came here to do. Just watching the college students bustling about on campus was enough to make her question whether she understood human interaction at all.

No. No, let's just get this over with, and then it no longer matters. I can leave the campus and go back to being just me… just me.

Iris had been taught to focus on the well-being of those around her, though she could admit it came on many occasions at the cost of herself. She knew such focus to the point that she neglected herself was an imbalance, but there always seemed to be a level of guilt that came when focusing on herself. After all, she was given the chance at a happy life of service in the temple while her sister was living miserably with the jeweler's family. It was excuse-making for her sister, but it's how she felt.

As she approached the student union, she began to feel tension. She was not sure what to expect of this "Phoenix Wright," other than the fact that her sister had given him the nickname "Feenie" and said he was way too exuberant with his feelings. How should she approach this? Maybe it would be good to go behind a tree and consider…

"Dahlia! There you are! Look! It's me!"

Her thoughts were broken by a pointy-haired man jumping nearly half a meter in the air and running toward her. Whatever half-formed plan was in her head was certainly not going to happen now.

Phoenix had evidently tired himself out on the almost Olympic-class sprint he broke into, because he panted out his greeting. "Hello… Dahlia… what a… pleasure… to see… you…"

Iris tried in vain to stifle a giggle. This guy was so unlike Dahlia that she must have been fighting back an aneurysm when dealing with him.

"Well, hello again, Feenie. I take it you're having a good day?"

"Of course! This was the day that I was going to see you again. I'm glad you're here. I was talking to my friend Larry yesterday and he didn't believe we had met so I showed him your necklace!" He pulled the necklace out from under his clothes, still around his neck. "I've started showing it to all my friends. It's got such a great story behind it!"

Iris winced, not just from being overwhelmed. She suddenly realized why Dahlia thought it wouldn't be as simple as asking for it back. Still, she came all this way and had to try.

"Well about that… Feenie, I was hoping that you would give it back to me."

"What?! No way! This is precious to me now. It is a reminder of the great day in which our lives crossed paths."

"I see, but you see, I -" Iris's explanation was interrupted by Phoenix grabbing her hand. Iris had never held hands with someone who wasn't a parental figure before. She began to blush.

"I know we talked about going for lunch," Phoenix said, "so I spent the last couple days trying all the restaurants in the building. I think I've found the best dish on campus and I'd love to hear what you think of it."

He was so earnest in his manner of speaking that Iris was taken aback. He went through that much effort for this date? Iris was not used to people going so far out of their way on her behalf. "O-okay," she finally stammered out as they began to walk.

As they entered the main dining area, she saw at least 20 restaurant vendors around, from set restaurant spaces to food carts to buffets. Putting aside the completely overwhelming setup of this marketplace of food, Iris could hardly believe Phoenix had been able to go through all these places in just three days. Did he buy multiple dishes off every menu?

Finally they settled on a ramen cart that had no wheels on it just outside the door that led to the back dining space.

"The students here love this food so much the vendor pulled the wheels off and took up permanent residence. I guess he and the school have a working agreement," Phoenix said.

"Really? It must be good-tasting then."

Phoenix paid for two bowls of ramen with chicken broth and they went to a nearby table. "I love outdoor eating because this building leads a gentle breeze through. It keeps the space cool."

Iris was impressed by how much he had spent thinking about this. She dug in and gave the noodles a taste, running it through the egg yolk she broke on the way to the table. "Oh my! This is incredible!" she said, genuinely impressed at the flavor that came from the noodles and the broth.

"I knew you'd enjoy it! I'm so glad I came around here to scout the food."

"I hope you didn't put yourself through too much trouble for me. It's not worth it to stress yourself out just to please me."

"What?! Of course it is! You showed so much care for me it's only right that I show the same in return."

Iris was starting to feel more than a bit guilty here, both for herself and on behalf of her sister. This guy had no idea how little thought was paid toward him in that first meeting.

"I mean, even if you may believe that, it's irresponsible to put yourself through so much stress for me," said the girl literally trying to help her sister cover up a murder. "You shouldn't put so much of yourself into making me happy."

Phoenix sensed she was uncomfortable with receiving affection, so he put her hands in his and tried to reassure her. "Every person deserves love, and if the people in our lives who matter aren't providing it… well, that just isn't right. I believe in the people closest to me, and I want to make them happy. That includes you now as much as anyone, maybe even moreso."

For the second time today, Phoenix had made Iris turn beet red. She felt a level of value she had never felt before, but she also knew it really wasn't directed at her specifically. Suddenly the challenge was not getting the necklace; it was how she was going to do so without hurting this incredibly kind soul.

For the time being, following through and being affectionate was what would have to take priority. "Well, I'm deeply flattered," she ran her hand up and down his forearm. "I guess I'll have to make sure it stays balanced. After all, Feenie, someone as sweet as you deserves to be cared for as well."

Now it was Phoenix's turn to feel embarrassed. He certainly wasn't used to receiving this kind of care from even his friends. "Well, gee, thanks Dahlia. This sounds like the start of a great relationship."

"Er, Feenie, if I could ask. How would I even put this… I'd actually like to request that you call me by another name."

In truth, being called Dahlia was a strange experience for her, and it added to her guilt.

Phoenix thought a moment and said, "Oh yeah, I guess you gave me a nickname the first day we met. I should come up with one for you… How about Dollie?"

Iris thought for a bit. It didn't register as uncomfortable the way her sister's full name did. "Yes, I'd like that."