Their father was not the victim,Taifu Toneido. He was Uendo Toneido the first. So their crime was NOT patricide.

While I still think that 6-4 has no relevance plot-wise, I have changed my view on it not being completely meaningless.

I think this is part of a problem that began in DD: the cast of three playable lawyers is too big. It wasn't as big of an issue in DD, though. Since Athena was a newcomer, the plot could focus on her integration into the main cast. But there were criticisms for her stealing the show and Phoenix regressing to his trilogy self.

I think this issue is why Athena got a filler case and was left out of the finale of SoJ - there wasn't a way to work in the three lawyers with the Khura'in cast. But 6-4 was significant in her development. 6-4's purpose is to give Athena a new motivation, since she had already accomplished her goal in DD. That's why the defendant is somebody she doesn't know. Her previous client was Juniper, somebody she trusts. But now she has to defend somebody she isn't familiar with, and having no investigation means she has to build that trust in the trial.

So she takes on the case, and makes her usual mistakes. But Simon appears and tells her that she has a duty as a lawyer. Of all the characters to tell her this, Simon is the best given his samurai motif.

In the closing monologue, Athena has inherited the same passion for law that Phoenix, Apollo, and Simon have, as well as the sense of duty that Simon taught her. At the end of 3-5, Phoenix found the reason why he continues to defend people. Likewise, Athena has found her own in this case.

I just wish it was relevant to the main plot. Perhaps the defendant could be from Khura'in and Nahyuta was sent to track them down, but Simon and Athena throw a wrench in that plan by acquitting them. This person then appears on 6-5.

I see a lot of people complaining about how this case is filler and how it contributes literally nothing to the plot. Screw that, that's the reason I love it so much! I love its odd positioning and I like its simplicity and that it has nothing to do with the main plotline. It's a very nice, humorous breather after the dullness of 6-3! I actually appreciate the simplistic mystery and the low stakes. At worst, Blackquill loses his favourite soba shop. That's it.

The fast pacing of this case is great too! I like how they quickly move on from witnesses and testimonies, like the old AAs. I counted- there are nine testimonies in this case, which is more than 6-3. The humour is very enjoyable too, with Blackquill, Athena and Nahyuta (occasionally) having a nice dynamic. Uendo is also a great and fun witness and I'm happy he takes up a good chunk of the case. Also, unlike everyone else, I really like Bucky and it's nice that he occasionally intervenes to help out. It's a nice touch, despite him being three sheets to the wind 90% of the time.

Of course, not everything here is perfect- I don't like Geiru or her motive, nor he "balloon" jokes (which feel like they belong in DR, which is how shitty they are). Nahyuta is also overly antagonistic here to the point of it not even being entertaining. It just makes me want to hate him even more. But other than that, I really do love this case. There's a reason it's my second favourite SoJ case, after all!