Thinking about "A very dear and indispensable friend" again.
He really had. no need to say it like that. Edgeworths original response of "Friend? Well... in a sense, yes." is, honestly, a perfectly fitting response. The question of "what are Wright and Edgeworth to each other" is a pretty damn loaded one, especially at this point in their timeline. They haven't exactly gotten much time to get to know each other in their adult lives, and even when they were friends they only knew each other for a few months before they spent 15 years apart. Most of their interactions since have been on opposite sides of a court room.
Are they friends? Are they more? Less? Are they something else entirely? It's hard to say. And well, the person asking this is Iris, a complete stranger to Miles as well as a literal murder suspect. He has every reason to be cagey around her, especially considering her mysterious history with Phoenix. The answer is vague and somewhat impersonal, but not inaccurate and pretty appropriate considering the circumstances.
But in the PC version? Dear and Indispensable? Are you kidding me? That is more emotional honesty in a single line then we see from this fucker in most of the franchise.
I re-emphasize, Iris is a stranger who Miles is only talking to because he promised Phoenix he'd take care of her. The only reason he has any trust in her is because Phoenix trusts her and he trusts Phoenix (or at least, trusts his judgement). He has no reason to answer her so frankly, so tenderly; and under most circumstances I don't think he would. Cards close to the chest and whatnot. He could easily just brush it off, saying he's a coworker, an old friend, a colleague, etc.
BUT. But. Phoenix almost died yesterday. Miles flew halfway across the world to help him, knowing nothing but the fact that his life was in jeopardy. A horrifying reminder of Phoenix's mortality if there ever was one. We don't know what was said in that hospital room, but we know that Phoenix pressed his attorney's badge and magatama into Miles' hands. Tangible, weighty, inarguable proof of the amount of trust Phoenix has in him is burning a hole in Miles' pocket. Despite everything, Phoenix trusts him, enough to put another persons life in his hands. And well, fuck, Miles feels the same, doesn't he? He wouldn't drop everything to help Phoenix if he didn't trust the man with everything he has.
He may not know who Iris is, but he knows that she and Phoenix have some amount of affection for each other. Iris is another "victim" of Phoenix's naive trusting and forgiving nature. Phoenix has many, many reasons not to trust Iris, but inexplicably, he does. Iris cares deeply for Phoenix too, but is afraid of hurting him again, not thinking she's deserving of his grace. Knowing all this... well, Iris isn't that much of a stranger to Miles, is she?
So, when she asks "Who is Phoenix Wright to you?", he answers with honesty he rarely allows himself.
"He means a lot to me."
