Iris exited the lecture hall on Thursday morning trying to fight back a headache. Of the tasks she had been considering when she volunteered herself to pose as her sister, the class load was not even part of the thought process.

Maybe it was because subliminally she assumed that this was going to be a short task, or maybe it was because she never had even considered attending college, but she was definitely not in the mindset to take on high-level education on a couple days' notice.

She was fortunate that the semester was still pretty early, so it was possible to catch up on the readings. But for Iris, reading had always been a leisure activity that she worked at in her free moments. This felt… overwhelming to be sure, especially since all her classes were higher level, 300-400 classes.

It only made it more frustrating for her that she just knew Dahlia was doing this reading on her own. From what she knew of her sister's habits, reading was how she spent much of her time. She consumed fiction to the point that Iris could not understand how she could take any pleasure in it.

But with her movements limited, there was no telling how many assignments she could send to be graded, or if she even would. Iris had a sinking feeling that the longer she was at the university, the more Dahlia would force her to do these assignments. Her head was swimming just thinking of it.

To add to the stress of it all, Iris also had to get the necklace from her faux-boyfriend, Phoenix Wright. At this point, she had been on campus a week, and he hadn't taken the thing off. They had met three times since their initial meeting at the student union, and there had been no luck getting it.

It wasn't as though the experience of being with Phoenix was bad, necessarily. In fact, his attentiveness and unbridled joy at seeing her each day had really brightened her mood. He looked at her with value and a sense of care that she very rarely got to experience. Sister Bikini, she supposed, would be the closest analogue to the feeling. But for some reason, Phoenix's energy hit her differently.

Even if the energy was directed at her sister, in truth, it was a feeling she hoped was in some way directed at her. It made her feel valued.

Regardless, she had an idea for today. She had told Phoenix that she'd like to try to prepare a lunch for him today. Her income was limited, and as such so were her options, but she figured it wouldn't cost too much to make omelettes for Phoenix and herself.

The day before, she had gathered the ingredients needed to make two, and as she got to the dorm room, she began to get to work. She was glad to have practiced culinary skills at the temple. Soon, the living space was filled with the delightful smell of egg, meat and vegetable coming together.

As the food cooked, Iris felt her mind start to wander. This should put him in a good mood. I know I always feel good after eating a meal someone prepared for me… or watching someone eat a meal I prepare. I do hope he likes this… I hadn't thought to check whether he even likes egg… no, of course he does… it was in the ramen. Why am I overthinking this?

Iris began to go back and forth with herself. Why did it matter so much to her that Phoenix like her cooking? Why was she fretting so much that this needed to go so well? Unfortunately, those questions wouldn't get an answer, as the smell of burning food started to take over.

"OH!"

She hadn't realized how distracted she had become. She was able to stop the entire stove from catching fire, but some of the egg looked dried out and not very presentable. When she had finished up clearing out the unsavory bits, there was enough for one… maybe one and a half omelettes.

"I guess I won't be eating much this lunch…"

Phoenix walked with purpose from his classroom in the art department to his Dollie's dorm room. He couldn't bear to be late on such an important day. It's not often you get invited to a home-cooked meal.

It still kind of amazed Phoenix that Dahlia had committed to him so quickly. He really never had any luck with dating during high school. Truthfully, he had kind of given up on meeting anyone in the immediate future.

Had it not been for Dollie's forward nature in the beginning, he likely would have not ended up on a date. Even if he had an inkling she was interested, the idea that she probably wasn't would have cropped up and prevented him from asking. It was kind of funny; he was always the most mature in his friend group, and yet this skill had eluded him.

Then again, it led to Dollie, so maybe he was better at talking to people romantically than he thought. In any case, he had arrived at the door of the dorm. He knocked and rested his head on his hand, thinking longingly of the woman who had already made such an impact on his life.

Dahlia opened the door and looked somewhat disheveled.

"Oh, Feenie! I didn't realize we were so close to starting. Pardon me, but I haven't even had time to put the cooking utensils into the wash."

"It's okay, Dollie. I don't need a place to look prim and proper, or anything like that… Not that the rest of the space doesn't you understand! I really like what you've done with the place.. Unless this is all the work of your roommate or…"

He was rambling. Luckily, Dahlia stepped in.

"Oh, no. It's all… me. I was able to convince the head of these dorms to give me a single-space for my junior year."

"That's pretty impressive! I know the boys have to share with at least one other person in nearly all situations. You must be pretty important to get such a nice space for yourself."

"It must have taken something… Or rather, it did take something special! But my performance speaks for itself… In school! Yes! In school!"

Phoenix looked over to the food. "Is that an omelette? I love omelettes! You really know how to make a guy feel welcome!"

"I'm glad to hear it! Please, help yourself."

Phoenix began to fill his plate, but then noticed there was barely any left when he was ready to turn away. "Did you already make a plate? There doesn't seem to be much left and I didn't think my portion was that big."

"Oh, no. I burned part of it, so I'm going to just take what you don't finish."

"Absolutely not!"

"I- I'm sorry?"

"I cannot in good conscience let you go hungry while I eat the meal you poured over for so long. Let's split it evenly," he said as he filled two plates with enough omelette to count as about half a portion.

"Are you sure? You have afternoon classes coming up, and that incomplete helping of omelette isn't exactly a lot of food."

"The fact that you made it will go a long way toward giving me that full feeling inside! Besides, it's not incomplete. It's … a mini-omelette!"

As he sat down he heard Dahlia giggle. It made him feel good to know he brightened her mood. "So how are your classes?"

Dahlia sat down. "Honestly? I feel a bit overwhelmed. I thought I was pretty good with reading, but these classes feel like a level beyond anything I could have imagined. I'm starting to get worried I won't be able to keep up!"

"I'm sure you are doing better than your confidence is letting you believe! And if you're really concerned I'd be happy to help you with your work!"

She giggled again. "I appreciate it, but you aren't in literature and have classes in two different areas to focus on. Besides, as much as it worries me, it makes me feel alive, if that makes sense… Please don't concern yourself with my little concerns."

"If it's a concern of yours, then it's not little. I'll be happy to help in any way!"

"Could I have the necklace back, please?"

Phoenix laughed heartily. "Nice try! But this baby isn't leaving my neck." He just realized that she had stopped smiling when she talked about not worrying about her. She must have some confidence issues.

He took a bite of the omelette. It was beyond his wildest dreams. Maybe it was his own mind convincing him, but this had to be one of the tastiest foods he'd ever experienced.

"This… is wonderful! Well, you may be concerned about your skills in the classroom, but your skills in the kitchen are unparalleled."

Dahlia tilted her head. "You must be kidding. I told you about how part of it burned."

"Well maybe it flavored the rest of it because this is amazing. Honestly, I think this size will fill me up. I hope I get to have it again someday."

"Maybe, I have trouble getting the ingredients since it's just me paying for the room…"

"Then let's make this a couples activity!

"How so?"

"I buy the ingredients; you cook the meal. How's that sound?"

For a moment, Dahlia seemed to assess him. Her face went through about five different expressions and kept shifting between him and the floor.

At last, she responded, "I think I'd like that. But I want to be there to pick the ingredients. And in exchange, you can keep me company as I cook. I… I think I'd like your company as I work, instead of being alone with my own thoughts."

Phoenix smiled. "Deal."

Notes:

Turnabout Beginnings took place in April, meaning that Phoenix and Dahlia likely met in August. For the sake of simplicity, I am making the beginning of August the start of the fall semester at Ivy University, and the two met following the first week of the semester.

Also, the whole Dahlia reading like crazy thing was born out of a theory I had that Dahlia likely had to be extremely well-read to be as well-spoken as she was and to be able to seamlessly play roles the way she did. Literature allows you to gain a lot of new perspectives and is usually seen as a means to develop empathy, but in Dahlia's hands, it's a weapon - a tool to figure out how to ideally tug at heartstrings and manipulate.