The tea was getting cold, abandoned on the desk where Simon Blackquill was sitting behind.

Even though his face seemed unmoved by Athena's speech before she ran away, he couldn't stop looking at a photograph now.

Metis, Athena, Ponco, and himself. Like a family.

He covered Metis' face with his thumb, feeling heaviness in the chest.

Back then, Athena was just a child and he swore to protect her from all evil since his mentor died.

Metis was like his own mother sometimes. He felt so much respect for her that it could be seen as veneration. Such a strong woman…

In the first trial, his heart was screaming in pain, because he never killed his mentor. His pride and ethics could never accept that judgment. But little Athena Cykes was begging the court for his freedom. That made him be assured that it was the right thing to do.

He loved Cykes family more than himself.

Metis was his mentor and Athena was a little treasure.

Out of jail, he never thought about his feelings for that little girl who turned up to be a beautiful young woman.

He was older than her, so it was expected that he would be more mature.

Athena's widget said she loved him and it was like a great "TAKE THAT" statement in a court, and as so, it needed some analysis.

He drank the rest of his coffee.


Apollo Justice entered his room, leaving a file of evidence on the table after a hard day investigating an old man's case. He turned on the lights and an immediate scream came out of his mouth.

– WHAT!? A-Athena! What are you doing? You gave me a hell of a fright... Hm!? What happened?

His tone suddenly was softer, since Athena was sitting on the sofa had her face in her hands. Instead of a happy face, her widget had nothing but light blue suspension points.

– Hey, hey. Come on, Athena.

Apollo sat beside her and held her shoulder. She didn't react.

– Now you are really worrying me. Please. What happened?

Athena swallowed her silent cry and started talking with a choked voice.

– I said something terrible to Simon. – Apollo kept listening. He should let her speak. – I didn't mean it. I was so confused and scared. S-so I... I said something I didn't really want to. Widget said that, listening to some conclusion I heard in my heart, that even I can't recognize it now. So I ran away and oh… I am SO embarrassed.

– Hm. Gotcha. – Apollo seemed calmer than before. As if her story wasn't a big deal. Even so, he respected her feelings. – So... did you explain yourself?

– NO! I RAN AWAY! – she made a dramatic and known expression, with her head back and holding her hands. – Oh my god. I am so... SO embarrassed.

– STUPID WIDGET – her device turned red, giving signs that she was recovering her usual self. Apollo couldn't help but smile gently.

– It's alive again. Your widget.

– Oh, that's right. I had an inexplicable hysteric moment, so it went down for a while. – Apollo had a strange grin as if he knew exactly how to help her. – What are you hiding, Apollo?

– So, what are you waiting for, lawyer? It's time to present him with some evidence.

– Pardon? – she blinked, confused. – I- Still not following…

– Oh, dear Athena. This is a lawyer's world. And Blackquill is a prosecutor. All we believe in are evidence. And your widget's malfunction made you say what you referred to as terrible.

– Y-You are right! Do you think he is going to believe that?

– It is the truth, isn't it? You never said that. It was your widget. And as accurate it can be, it is still technology. Maybe you had some noise in your own heart. Don't you think so?

– Y-yeah... totally. Maybe it didn't say it the way I really wanted to. Maybe I do love Simon, but as an old broth- Did I say it out loud!?

– ...

They starred at each other in dead silence. Hers, in pure shame, and his, wishing he didn't hear that as he was starting to blush himself.

– ...

– THANK YOU, APOLLO. I'VE GOTTA GO. BYE. CIAO. HASTA. BEIJO. DANKE SCHÖN.

Apollo watched Athena get up in a rush and then swing through the door. He smiled again as she disappeared.

– So that's what this is about, right?

– ALRIGHT, WIDGET! We're going to solve this! Tomorrow. YEAH!


Athena was punching the air in her room, in a commemorative way, full of energy. Widget was following the hype.

That's it.

Simon will forgive me.

Thank you, Apollo.

This misunderstanding will end.

Heartbeats

And everything can go back to normal.

Heartbeats

So why do I feel like something is still wrong?

Simon…

And if you felt the same…?

WHOA. What are you thinking, Athena? That's not even possible! Fermalo! Stop it. Haha… you silly girl. Simon is a mature man. He would never look at me that way…

Heartbeats

– Why would he… right? Afterall… He thinks I am still a child… – she concluded with a misty look on her face.