1:44 PM
District Court
Lobby #3
"Ugh, Nick, you just had some of my water!" hissed Maya. "I paid for this smoothie!"
"Please, Maya," he begged. "I'm really thirsty…"
"Fine, fine," she mumbled, reluctantly letting him sip her strawberry flavored beverage. He drank for nearly 30 seconds before finally handing the cup back to her. It felt noticeably lighter. "Niiiiiiick!"
"I'll buy you another one later," he protested as she glowered with anger. "I just don't feel too well today. It's really hot."
"Ew. Maybe you're coming down with something." Maya wrinkled her nose and thrust the cup back into his hands. "Here, have the rest. I guess you deserve it. You really aced that trial today."
Phoenix grinned and downed the rest of the smoothie. It felt good flowing down his parched throat. "Well, I always knew he was innocent. But thanks, Maya. That makes two I owe today…"
"Huh?"
"Oh, Edgeworth was here earlier. I guess his trial already ended. He gave me some iced tea." He tossed the cup towards the trashcan, but it bounced off the rim. "Oops."
"Mr. Phoenix Wright!" Maya and Phoenix both turned, startled.
"Franziska?!" they exclaimed together, dumbfounded. She was standing in the doorway to Courtroom 4, her arms crossed and the handle of her whip gripped firmly in her hand.
"Littering in a courtroom now? I didn't think even you would sink so low." She motioned her whip hand towards the cup now resting against the opposite wall, but her piercing gaze never left their faces. Maya gulped audibly.
"What're you doing here?" Phoenix asked as he went to pick up his trash.
"I was watching your trial. What is wrong with that?"
"Um… nothing?"
"You did well, I suppose," she said airily, starting to toy with the end of the whip. "Next time, however, you should not be so sure of your luck. We will meet again, in court, Mr. Phoenix Wri—"
She suddenly trailed off. All three of them had felt it: a slight tremor in the earth. Then, suddenly, it was like the ground had come alive. Maya slipped when the floor gave a sudden buck and she grabbed the closest thing to her, which ended up bringing Phoenix down too. The next moment Franziska was beside them.
"Hurry up and get under here!" she shouted, shoving them towards the bench. They scurried beneath it as the building heaved and creaked around them in the earthquake.
"Ahhh!" cried Maya as the vending machine tipped over. "Nick!"
She suddenly felt his arms around her.
"Nick…"
The lights flickered madly, then suddenly dimmed. A moment later the quake subsided, and then one by one the lights came on again. Maya held very still, hardly daring to breathe. They'd never been quite so close before...
After they were sure that the tremors had ceased, all three of them crawled out from beneath the bench. They were a little shaken, but unhurt. Unfortunately, there were shards of glass all over the floor, as well as spilled drinks.
"Watch your step, Maya," warned Phoenix, pointing at her open toed shoes.
"I will, thanks Nick," she replied, curling her toes.
"I… better go check on him…" said Franziska faintly, this time not meeting their eyes. She turned around swiftly and walked out of the lobby, heels clicking loudly against the floor. It took a split second more for Phoenix and Maya to realize who she meant. They looked at each other with matching expressions, guilty for not having remembered Edgeworth.