A/N: I'm back guys! Happy Holidays! Please read and review, I'd like some feedback. I feel as if my writing isn't improving much at all lately...

He is just walking down the corridor to the Meditation Room when he hears a gasp followed by muffled conversation and hysterical laughter.

The high-pitched titters of teenage girls, the more matured giggle of a young woman, and above all, the relieved laugh of a young man.

A pain grasps his chest, one all too familiar for his liking. It's his fault. He hurt her, his precious youngest daughter. He couldn't even act normal around the man who took care of her for him, who made her happy just because he knew his daughter had found love in that man.

Yes…Phoenix Wright. There was no use denying it, he loved Maya and Maya loved him.

The two didn't realize it, almost not at all simply because they refused to face it. That strange emotion that made them want to smile, cry, yell and laugh all at the same time. A warmth, but also an ache. They had yet to truly acknowledge this "love".

Haruki sighed.

They would come to realize it soon, he knew that for sure. Call it fatherly instinct. He only hoped everything would work out for them.

Love is a mystery, and sometimes…it's just waiting to stab you in the back.

He turns around and walks back to his room instead. Maybe he needed to talk to someone.

"Maya…" I don't know how to start. After that festive little get-together in her room, Pearls and Sayomi went off to do 'acolyte' duties as they claimed and ran off holding back grins and in Pearls' case, piercing shrieks of pure delight. I could her almost as soon as she left, running to tell her friends.

Soon after, we found ourselves sitting in an awkward silence, knowing she was waiting for me to ask her about her incredible change from yesterday to today.

"Yes?" she answers hesitantly, as if afraid the wrong reaction will trigger something to jump out of her walk-in closet.

"I..uh, about yesterday…No today I mean. I-I mean…" I put my head in my hands. "I don't know what I mean to be honest, just…" I stare straight into her eyes. "How are you able to pick yourself up like that whenever you're broken?"

It's a conversation we've had before and I can see her close her eyes and breathe deeply as she ponders how to respond to this question for the millionth time.

Before she gets the chance to respond however, I interrupt. "Because yesterday you were so different and just before you seemed so much…better. Happier, a thousand times happier."

"I am happier Nick!" she glares at me, irritation clear in her voice and her face. She stands up then sighs, putting a hand to her head as if there's a throbbing pain there. Now that I think about it, there probably is. "Can you please stop worrying about me?"

I can clearly see she's not but I decide aggravating her will just make things worse. "Okay," I relent, "But if you ever need me, please. Talk to me, let me understand." I'm begging her now. "I hate seeing my best friend so down, Maya."

She faces away from again and I hear a soft whisper.

"Honestly, I don't want you seeing me so down. I feel so…pathetic."

"Maya, you're not pathetic. Believe me, you're the strongest person I know. Don't carry the weight of the world by yourself, let me help you."

"I could tell you the same thing."

"…Huh?"

"You always act like the hero Nick. You need to acknowledge whenever you're the victim!"

Her voice is almost a shout now, and it's saddening how much truth is in her words. Suddenly this is directed at me now, she's even pointing her finger like an "Objection!"

"…You're right." There's no use escaping Maya. "But promise me. If you want to help me, let me help you."

She turns around again and beams. "Okay, it's a deal Nick." She comes over to hug me, wrapping her arms around my middle.

"Mr. Wright?"

I stiffen. An acolyte stands in the doorway trying her hardest to show no emotion, a poker stare on her face. I can tell she's slightly unsure of herself though…She won't stop fidgeting.

This is a rather embarrassing situation…

Maya pulls away quickly and says, "Oh hi Mystic Anne! What's up?"

Anne smiles and nods at Maya then addresses me, "Mr. Wright, Mr. Matsudai wants to see you."

Everything stops right there. I look over at Maya and her eyes have gone blank. She's seemingly zoned out because her father's name was mentioned.

The acolyte stares at Maya carefully, probably very confused but I urge her out of the room, "Alright, I'm coming now." I glance back once more at Maya but she just gives me a forced smile and tight little wave.

"I'll be right back." I mouth silently and close the door behind me, following Mystic Anne.

She leads me right to a different room than the one he was staying in before, larger, more 'official-looking.' Something to do with the Elders' I'm guessing.

Anne bows slightly and leaves me alone to face the intimidating door. I knock a few times, and then hear him come to open the door. "Wright," he says simply.

"Uh, hello. You called for me?"

In truth, I want nothing more than to yell at him, point my objection finger right in his face and demand why exactly did he abandon Maya's mother and Mia. I want to demand why exactly he came back. I want to demand him to tell me everything, but where's the likelihood of that happening? I should keep my cool instead.

I admit it; I'm nervous. It's too soon. I'm unprepared. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do.

"Wright, come over here."

I walk over to where he's standing; a closet that looks like it hasn't been used in a while. I peer at it curiously as Mr. Matsudai opens it and starts coughing a bit as the fine layer of dust flies into the air around us.

He rummages through many fine silk traditional Kurain wear for men as well many 'normal' outfits until he picks one up and shows it to me.

It's a dark, dark blue, with an elaborate, shiny light-blue dragon down the left sleeve and ryu, the kanji for dragon on the back in silver. There are inner garments of a calm, snowy white.

I simply stare at it for a while and mumble out, "…Nice yukata."

"Try it on." Mr. Matsudai orders me, and hands me the entire ensemble. I'm speechless until he raises and eyebrow and asks, "You do know how to put on a yukata don't you?"

I'm offended; of course I know how to put on a yukata. It's just…been a while, that's all. The last time I wore a yukata was at my grandmother's birthday.

I find myself being shoved into a large, cold, bathroom. Just me and the yukata, having a staring contest. I don't understand. I thought we were going to talk about Maya's situation and how she's dealing. I was going to give him a serious lecture about Maya's feelings and how fragile she is despite her looks. But now? I'm being forced to try on some clothes?

Sighing, I slip on the yukata, folding and fixing the collar as I go. I tie the obi tightly around my waist and adjust it properly, then slip on the outer garment. I open the door and hope my face doesn't convey exactly how puzzled and irritated I am.

Mr. Matsudai watches me and seems to be appraising me carefully, eyeing the garment up and down to see how it fits. Suddenly, his mouth curves sideways in what I think is a smile. "I knew it would suit you." He says.

"Oh, um thank you very much sir…" Sir? Where'd that come from, ack!

Well, it does seem to please him slightly, being called sir. But we've done enough beating around the bush. I open my mouth to speak when he asks quietly, "How's Maya?"

So he did want to know.

"She's fine, no thanks to you." I snap. I can't help it, I know he cares about Maya because he's her father but it's not like he's done anything caring and fatherly as far as I can see.

The atmosphere is so tense I can feel it when Mr. Matsudai finally speaks up. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Excuse me? You're…sorry?"

He sits down on the edge of his bed quietly and I can almost feel the depressed mood hanging off of him.

"Of course I'm sorry," he says, "First of all, I've left my wife and daughters alone. Then I come back and gatecrash my youngest daughter's life, putting on an act. Finally," he looks up at me, "I'm nothing but rude to the person I owe my thanks to."

I am dumbfounded. What happened to that refined way he spoke? That trace of a Japanese accent? Suddenly he's being so casual, with no more of an accent in his voice than I had in mine.

"I-I didn't help t-that much," I stammer.

Mr. Matsudai rolls his eyes and scoffs. "What a lie, Wright," he says. "You avenged Mia didn't you? And I can't even count the times you've saved Maya's life,"

Oh that's right. I um, forgot? I do a mental facepalm. Couldn't I have had a better reply? But it looks like he's done his research on me...

"Just say 'You're welcome'." Mr. Matsudai gives me a lopsided smile.

I hesitate. "Erm, you're welcome then Mr. Matsudai."

He sighs, exasperated. "Stop calling me that. I changed my name when I married Misty too. So technically, I'm not even a Matsudai anymore. Didn't I tell you to call me Haruki?"

"Oh um…" I struggle at the awkward familiarity calling him by his first name would be.

"Haru then." He shrugs.

A nickname. Even more familiar. I can't handle this.

"Wright, you have to call me something besides Mr. Matsudai. Please."

I bite my lip nervously and Mr. Matsudai- Haruki – Haru- Maya's dad, points at me threateningly and says, "Don't make me call you Nick like she does."

Despite the circumstances, I give up and laugh. "If I call you Haruki you'll have to call me Phoenix."

Haruki smiles a little bit. "It's a deal Phoenix."

A little something there confirmed. Haruki Matsudai is indeed the same Haru that Kouki and Aya from the interlude chapter were talking about. So he knows them? Well, it's to be revealed later on. Also, not everyone will have a Japanese name lol. There are more characters with English names to be revealed later on as well. Please review, much appreciated :3