The sunlight filtered through Ayaka's sheer curtains, casting soft golden hues across the wooden floor.
Outside, the hum of a waking city was distant, muted by the early hour but inside the apartment, something electric was brewing.
The kind of anticipation that tingled under the skin, like a secret trying to break free.
Ayaka stood in the kitchen in a soft, oversized sweater, his sweater and poured tea into a row of mismatched mugs, her hands just a little shaky.
Behind her, Akihiko was leaning lazily against the counter, sipping coffee like nothing in the world could shake him.
He hadn't stopped smiling since she'd said yes.
And this morning, that same smile kept pulling at the corners of his mouth whenever their eyes met.
It wasn't smug.
It wasn't teasing.
It was completely, stupidly in love.
"They're going to tease us to death." she murmured, watching steam curl from the mugs.
Akihiko took another sip. "Probably."
His eyes softened as he moved behind her, resting a hand gently on her waist. "At least your brothers already knew."
Ayaka swallowed, nodding.
Her heart thudded nervously.
It wasn't that she had doubts she didn't.
She just wanted this moment, this memory, to be right.
By the time the first knock came on the door, Ayaka had smoothed her hair and taken a steadying breath.
Kei and Kai had arrived early, of course Kai barging in with pastries and Kei rolling his eyes but carrying extra cushions for the floor.
They said nothing about the fact that
Akihiko was very clearly already here.
Kai merely winked.
Kei gave a subtle thumbs-up.
Akihiko looked smug.
Soon, the doorbell chimed again and then again.
Within ten minutes, the apartment was filled with the sound of laughter, footsteps, and familiar voices.
Everyone had come.
Toru entered first, holding a tray of takoyaki and loudly announcing, "The party can start now that I'm here!"
Yuki and Kaito followed, arms full of gift bags even though she didn't know what the occasion was yet. "Just in case it's something! You're mysterious lately, Ayaka."
Haruto and Keiko arrived next Haruto carrying a bottle of wine like a trophy and Keiko juggling her tablet and phone, always halfway working.
She paused long enough to hug Ayaka with surprising warmth before adding, "This better be good. I canceled a meeting."
Kazumi sauntered after, already bickering about who had worse fashion taste.
"Honestly, I bet she's just going to announce a new book." Kazumi muttered, flopping dramatically onto the couch. "Watch it's another murder mystery and I'm the tragic third lead again."
Kaito rolled his eyes. "You are always the tragic third lead."
And then Makoto arrived.
Ayaka's breath caught when she opened the door to him.
He was wearing a soft navy sweater and dark jeans, hair tousled just enough to look effortless.
He held a paper bag of Ayaka's favorite cream puffs and offered it with a grin.
"Thought I'd sweeten the mood, just in case this gathering is actually a public roast." he said gently.
Ayaka smiled, her chest tight. "Thanks for coming."
He looked into her eyes for a beat, then gave a quiet nod and stepped inside.
Takeshi was last, already live-tweeting from the hallway.
"Ayaka summoned all of us like the final boss. If she says 'I have an announcement.' I'm jumping out the window."
-----
Everyone settled in the living room, cushions scattered around the coffee table, snacks and tea being passed around like currency.
The laughter was loud, the teasing louder.
Ayaka and Akihiko sat together on the couch.
Close.
Too close for anyone not to notice.
Keiko leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "You've been quiet this whole time, Ayaka. Spill."
"Yeah!" Kazumi added. "You didn't make us gather on a Sunday for nothing. This better be good."
Ayaka exchanged a glance with Akihiko, who gave a small, reassuring nod.
She inhaled.
"Okay." she said, standing up.
The room quieted instantly.
"I know this might seem sudden. Or maybe not sudden at all, depending on how closely you've all been watching us. But last night… something happened. Something important."
She looked down, almost shy now, but her hand reached back finding Akihiko's without even looking.
"We're engaged."
Silence.
For a breathless moment, no one spoke.
Then chaos erupted.
"WHAT?!!!" Yuki shrieked, nearly launching her cup of tea.
"OH MY GOD!!! I KNEW IT!!!" Keiko gasped, already pulling out her phone.
"WAIT!!! WAIT!!! YOU'RE NOT JOKING RIGHT???!!!" Kazumi shouted. "YOU MEAN REAL ENGAGED???!!!!"
Toru let out a triumphant bark of laughter. "I knew it! You were asking me so many weird things at work Akihiko!"
Takeshi froze mid-sip of tea. "Hold on. This ruins the entire slow-burn fanfic I've been writing-"
Kaito and Haruto both raised their glasses with wide grins. "ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!" Kaito said.
Kei and Kai didn't react.
Instead, they exchanged a high five.
Makoto… said nothing.
Ayaka turned to look at him.
He met her eyes.
And smiled.
It wasn't forced.
It wasn't hollow.
"I'm happy for you!" he said sincerely. "He's a lucky man."
Akihiko stood slowly beside Ayaka and bowed slightly in Makoto's direction.
"Thank you." he said softly.
Makoto nodded once.
Yuki was already crying.
"I swear, if I'm not maid of honor, I'm suing."
Keiko wiped at the corners of her eyes, pretending she had something in them. "When's the wedding? What's the theme? Can I coordinate the dress code?"
Haruto sighed. "Can we at least drink first?"
Later, after the chaos settled into warm chatter and food, Kei stood with a glass in hand.
"I want to make a toast." he said, clearing his throat. "To Akihiko."
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
Kei smirked. "For surviving three months of absolute sibling hazing. From mop trials to bookshelf boot camp."
Kai raised his glass. "You passed the tests. You've earned our sister's hand...and our occasional, reluctant respect."
Ayaka groaned and buried her face in Akihiko's shoulder.
But Akihiko raised his glass. "It was worth it... Every second."
The room laughed.
They clinked their glasses.
Sipped.
Smiled.
And for a long, perfect moment, the room was full of love...
In every form.
Friendship.
Family.
Forgiveness.
Romance.
Even the quiet kind of love—the unspoken, unrequited kind—had a place there.
And Makoto's smile proved it.
------
Later that night...
As the guests trickled out with hugs and goodbyes, Ayaka stood by the door with Akihiko's hand wrapped around hers.
"Think we did okay?" she asked softly.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "We didn't just survive. We made a memory."
She looked up at him. "You still think I'm worth all that trouble?"
His smile was slow.
Devastating.
"I'd do it again. Twice as hard just to hear you say yes."
And in the soft light of their shared future, with the scent of tea and laughter still lingering in the air, Ayaka leaned into the man she would marry and finally, finally felt complete.
-----
Once the engagement announcement passed, the planning officially took hold.
It began with a cake.
A simple cake tasting appointment that Ayaka foolishly believed would be uneventful.
Instead, Toru had somehow invited himself,
Kazumi was loudly rating each flavor like it was a Michelin audition, and Keiko brought printed spreadsheets comparing wedding cake symbolism by flavor.
Akihiko?
He was calmly feeding her a bite of chocolate ganache while watching the chaos unfold with the amusement of a man who had known this would happen all along.
Ayaka narrowed her eyes at him. "You did this on purpose."
Akihiko wiped a crumb from her lower lip with his thumb, his gaze lingering. "You'll thank me when the photos turn out chaotic but iconic."
She swatted his hand away, blushing. "You're crazy..."
He leaned in, voice low. "You said 'yes' anyway."
Yuki declared herself Head of the Bridal Force and arrived at Ayaka's door with a clipboard, mood boards, and a terrifying level of determination.
Keiko took over logistics. "No, you cannot get married barefoot in a field. We are not doing an indie music video. Ayaka, look me in the eye."
Kazumi and Kaito somehow became co-heads of Aesthetic Oversight, and now there were multiple group chats named things like #PastelVineyardVibes and #FloralsButMakeItSexual.
Makoto offered to help with the music playlist and venue arrangements, insisting he was fine and proving it by mocking Akihiko at least twice a day. "Don't worry, Nakamura, I'll make sure you don't accidentally walk down the aisle to a funeral hymn."
Akihiko just sipped his coffee. "Wouldn't be out of character for me."
Even Takeshi was invested, threatening to leak spoilers from Ayaka's upcoming novel unless he got to approve the final dress reveal. "For artistic integrity, Ayaka."
But the worst offenders were, of course her brothers.
Kei and Kai refused to be sidelined.
"We're in charge of security." Kai declared. "No wedding crashers. No photographers with bad lenses. No drunk uncles."
"We don't have drunk uncles..." Ayaka said dryly.
Kai grinned. "We'll make sure it stays that way."
Kei was calmer but just as persistent. "You're not walking alone down the aisle. We're doing it together. Both of us."
Ayaka blinked. "Like flanking me?"
"Exactly." they said in unison.
Akihiko was unfazed. "That's fair. I've had to survive both of them for months. Let them have their moment."
Ayaka blinked at him. "Do you… actually like my brothers now?"
Akihiko looked thoughtful. "I respect their methods. They raised you well."
Kei sniffed. "That almost sounded like praise."
Kai elbowed him. "Quick, someone write it down!"
Then the Dress Fiasco came...
The dress fitting day was a mess...
Ayaka had insisted on going alone.
That lasted about five minutes until the entire friend group plus her brothers somehow showed up "accidentally" at the boutique.
Yuki burst into tears at the first reveal.
Takeshi tried to rate each gown dramatically like a fashion critic.
Makoto, shockingly quiet, handed her a mirror with a gentle smile. "That one makes you glow."
Kazumi screamed. "SHE'S RADIATING. SHE'S A SUN GODDESS."
Akihiko wasn't allowed to see the dress yet but later that night, he held her tighter than usual as they lay in bed.
"Did you find the one?" he murmured against her shoulder.
She smiled. "I think so."
"Does it have sparkles?"
"Maybe."
"Slit up the leg?"
"You ask lots of questions, don't you?"
He laughed quietly. "I already know you'll look perfect because it's you."
------
Between chaos and checklists, there were quieter moments.
Late-night ramen dinners where they debated napkin colors.
Sunday mornings curled up on the couch, pretending they weren't both buried under vendor emails.
Akihiko sketching diagrams of table arrangements on the back of receipts.
Ayaka scribbling vows into the margins of her manuscript notebook, biting her lip.
Once, she caught him staring at her during a break in their planning.
"What?" she asked.
He reached out, brushing her hair back.
"Just thinking about how lucky I am." he said simply.
And Then…
One night, with the city lights twinkling outside their apartment window and the scent of jasmine in the air, Ayaka stood quietly in the living room, holding a small velvet box.
Inside was a silver wedding band, simple and elegant, engraved with a single line:
"Always, even in silence."
Akihiko stepped beside her, his own matching box in hand.
She looked up at him.
"You ready?" she whispered.
His smile was soft. "I've been ready since the moment you threw a pillow at me for stealing your side of the couch."
Ayaka laughed.
And in that moment, surrounded by chaos and people who loved them too loudly and too well, they were still, somehow, exactly where they were meant to be.