I really like how your dividing this up. And there's a sort of a natural feel for all the characters and the reactions. Keep it up! I can't wait to see what you have next!

This is great! I really like your take on the characters, especially Simon, so far. The nuances feel natural, and even though being in prison in seven years can definitely take a huge emotional and psychological toil on anyone, I personally think he wouldn't feel so lost and empty when he's free. Startled and disarrayed, sure, but knowing that the true culprit has been captured removes so much off of his shoulder and is something that can be put to rest; so I appreciate how you portray him the way he is post-imprisonment.

I also have a headcanon that he's biracial. Interesting explanation you have there. Looking forward to future installments.

Ooh, this is such a lovely story. I love the dynamic between Simon and Athena, so reading this is wonderful. I look forward to more in the future!

Looking forward to reading more of this. Thanks very much for posting it.

"Even though he could normally stare down the devil in court..." One of the best fragments of this chapter, in my opinion. Niiiice.

Right off the bat, I think you're handling the date-time-place thing quite well! I'm not normally a fan of that in fics. This is how you've decided to script the story, though, so I think it will be fine. I guess it has the potential to feel a little...cheap? somehow - allowing for easy time skips and whatnot - but like I said, you're making it work

I think you match Simon's inner thoughts and voice well. I was having a bit of trouble doing that in my own story, and I'm jealous of your ability to make that flow here. The background you've given him is interesting, and it definitely makes sense in-world.

I think a bit more transition between their meeting in the office and their sushi date would have been nice, but otherwise this was a really good start. :) Looking forward to more!

Oh trust me, I adopt a similar headcanon that Blackquill is probably half-Japanese and half-English (although my origins of that is different, yours make a ton of sense and is perfectly valid). I also think Athena is part Japanese too, because Metis definitely screams Japanese. But maybe she married a white guy or something and has this red-headed, blue-eyed baby that is Athena

Being Asian myself, I always like to incorporate some diverse ethnicities with the localization because wow, Los Angeles is so varied. xD It's unavoidable IMO.

On the fic though, I really like the progression here. How familiar and distant Athena and Simon are to one another. It'll be interesting to see them develop their relationship again!

From what I've read on the ideas behind the character-design, Aura was designed as a 'Western beauty' as a contrast to Metis as a 'Japanese ideal of a beutiful woman'.

But who knows, the ethnicity of the characters can be kinda vague since the different language version of the game etc.
Although US (or whatever country AA takes place in) seems to have a large Japanese population anyway.
I always assumed Simon just decided he wanted to be a samurai and went for it.

But since we don't know, we can all make our own headcanon.
I really like the idea that Aura moved to take care of teenage-Simon, though.

So this is going to just be a rolling set of comments as I read, pardon me -

Is it called 'Prosecutions Office' or 'Prosecutor's Office'? Just a question.

But ahhhh, your Athena steamrolling dialogue-more-like-monologue is really well done! I love how it sounds. It feels just like her. And poor girl, getting nothing from her paycheque. (Kudos to Simon for his sharp logic.)

"Do you genmaicha?" - going to take a stab and suggest a 'have' somewhere there.
By the way, the Japanese restaurant not run by Japanese thing? Screams familiar to me, haha.

Again, the way that it's written does feel like it has Simon's kind of precision in the way that I could see him thinking. The '... dare-he-think-it... friend' part really got me. And it's nice to see that he's also aware of social conduct (the last scene had me thinking this), because I do think that a lot of the absolutely ridiculous stuff that he does is to build up that image for himself, and it's easy to get lost into thinking that he's another weirdo. I really don't think he is, and this scene helps to put that in perspective.

Anyway, I loved it! I'm excited to see where it goes. Good luck with exams (:

I loved this chapter! I also really like the headcanon of the Blackquills being half Japanese and half English - it makes a lot of sense and I may just adopt it as a headcanon, myself. Can't wait to read more!

Awww, so cute. I think you capture Blackquill's voice really well - ellipses, "hmphs," and all. Him catching his reflection in the champagne flute was a nice moment. I'll be interested to see how he "transforms" over the course of the fic.

Also, I think your characterization of Athena is great, too, even if the story isn't from her perspective. Just as perky and happy as always, with the touch of emotionalism we saw in the games.

Wow, this is a really neat! Great cykesquill :3
You write everyone very in-character.
Can't wait 'till you update!

I like this start, pretty well written. Tell me something though, how come you picked this title? I know what it means, I'm just wondering though. :)

Also, Athena/Simon FTW!

HI IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG TIME but I just finished DD today and I'm so glad to see you writing for it! I'm reading and writing this in class right now - see what this game does for my education! - but Simon definitely has a spot in my heart now too. (I'm still ecstatic that Edgeworth returned, however. I think he still wins for me... for now.)

Loving your Simon so far - even the narrative description seems to fit his thoughts as well.

(Maybe I'll get back into writing eventually... I'm starting with journaling first, so we'll see. I've missed you!)

I can't wait to read more!

Awesome! I love AthenaXBlackquill, it's really nice. I can definitely see it happening!

Apollo, don't light those! The eldest has to always light them. Well, that's the philosophy in my family! Disregarding family rules, Apollo should not light them. Phoenix has to, because he is the most sensible and he won't get stage fright like Apollo when he had to use the Luminol in Case 2 of AJ! XD

I'm surprised that Blackquill was even there, I would never have thought he would've participated in such mundane activities! Well, he is free now. I guess he would've wanted to enjoy his first new year. And see his friends.

Really awesome story so far, update soon!