Marrying Zarc has always been one of the certainties Ray had never doubted in her life.

Even through the biggest fight and the dullest moments of their relationship (it wasn't always a relationship, though, she and Zarc had started with awkward smiles and shy hellos exchanged in their first Junior Youth Maiami Championship, after all) Ray knew that she will end up with Zarc. They've been with each other for so long that it was difficult to imagine a life without one another. No matter how much Father try to convince her that Zarc didn't deserve her, Ray never budge because she was so sure that only Zarc would ever deserve her.

(And besides, if it were up to Father, no one will ever deserve her)

So as Zarc held up a black velvet box with a silver ring held inside (no diamonds or jewels, they're Pro Duelists and soon to be researchers, it just seemed so wasteful) Ray kicked him behind the knees just so he would kneel in front of her.

"Okay, say the words."

"Akaba Ray, I can't imagine my life without you. I want to wake up to your drooling face and have your horrible coffees in the morning. Will you marry me?" There was a glint of mischief in reflected in Zarc's golden eyes and Ray could feel her heart swelling. This was it. This would be her whole life.

"My coffees are not horrible you jerk." Ray took the ring and examined it. Zarc laughed as he got on his feet and put the ring on Ray's finger. "Yuuto would disagree. I think he almost died when he tasted your homemade blend. So, it's a yes, right?"

Ray rolled her eyes before she tackled Zarc onto the ground, earning the other's grunt. His solid vision dragons growled, but Zarc waved his hand in dismissal. "Easy guys, this will be a common occurrence. My wife is feisty as hell." Ray laughed as she scooted over until she was facing her best friend. "I love you, you crazy asshole." Ray kissed him, and Zarc flipped them over until Ray was the one on the ground. "And I, you, my dearest dearest Ray."

And they both laughed. It felt so oddly right to have each other in their arms, after all.

Reira was the first notice.

"Ray, what is that in your finger?" Obviously it brought attention to the silvery band encircling Ray's left ring finger and Ray had tried her best to maintain a smile she always have for Reira as she showed him the simple accessory. "It's a ring, you see? Zarc just proposed to me today!"

The entire table shifted with reactions. Reira went over to her, hugging and congratulating her with a beaming smile that could rival the sun's own. She was always the closest to Reira out of her many siblings, though she loved them all the same. Serena turned a handful of cash to Rin, who smiled and thanked her twin with a sly smile. She turned to Ray and gave her a grateful thumb up. But those were the lighter reactions.

Mother gave her an appraising cold look before she took out her tablet to find information about Zarc and how he would affect the future of Akaba family. Reiji was silent in his seat, expression unreadable as he chided Reira on proper table manner. Reiji never looked at Ray directly, tormented by the silly notion that his existence was what caused Hiiragi Shunko, Ray's mother, to divorce their Father. Ray never blamed him, because it was Father's fault and not Reiji's, but still Reiji refused to meet her eyes no matter what Ray did.

But Ray was more interested on Father's reaction above all else.

Father knew Zarc (really, it's hard to find anyone who lives in Maiami and not know Zarc. His freaking face is plastered all over the town, after all) for quite some time and Ray knew that Father didn't think too much of him. Haoryuu (as Father would address him, totally refusing to use Zarc's preferred name because it sounded so silly) was the eldest son of his friend and co-worker Sakaki Yuushou. He was a Pro Duelist, the current King of Duels, even, who was always seen chilling in the real solid vision rooms with his materialized dragons. Father thought him as a violent man whose tendency to be ruthless in duels to be alarming.

It wasn't that Ray didn't understand Father's fears, though, because Ray too was a Pro Duelist. She had gone up against Zarc several times since their Junior Youth days and she knew that Zarc was only ruthless when he was cornered and had no other choice. Ray didn't like it, but she once had a talk with her best friend and Zarc had been trying to reign in his violent tendencies for a more entertaining duel.

As long as Ray was around, Zarc would never cross the line and Ray knew that was precisely why Zarc had asked her to marry him.

"Ray…" her Father began, voice solemn but not calm. "Are you sure about this? I mean, Haoryuu is—"

"Father," Ray cut him with a smile, as she often did now that she was an adult. "I know that you don't have the best impression of him. But I really cannot see myself marrying anyone else but Zarc. I am almost 25, don't you think it's high time for me to get married?" Ray flicked a glance towards Mother, who then decided to chime her own two cents. "She's right, darling, maybe we can invite Haoryuu-kun for some family dinners and gala. I was told that he recently applied himself to Solid Vision Research program. I think he and Ray would be a great match."

Quite suddenly, Rin's phone rang with a cheery song and Mother had scolded her for bringing her phone to the dinner table. But Rin handed the phone to Reira, who then handed it to Ray, meekly as she bowed her head and apologize to Mother. Ray took the phone and pressed the answer button.

"Hel—"

"WHAT'S THIS I HEARD ABOUT YOU AND ZARC?! AKABA RAY YOU COME HERE THIS INSTANT OR I SWEAR I—congrats sis! Heard from Yuuya, he said—Yuuto said Zarc-nii was so happy he uploaded a video on DuelTube—HOW DID HE ASK YOU? DID HE TAKE YOU TO DINNER FIRST?!—even came to pick Yuuya up from theater rehearsal all red and—congrats Ray-nee!"

The entire Akaba family fell silent while the Hiiragis ramble to the phone. Serena and Rin shared a look before laughing out loud. Ray couldn't help herself, she followed them suit.

But Reiji's expression just tightened, he stared long and hard at his own plate before eventually excusing himself. Reira immediately followed after him. Mother had a utterly jealous look as Father's expression softened at his former wife's antics. Ray sighed.

She loved her family, she never doubted that, but it never made her blind to the fact that her family was very very (messed up) complicated.