Ray initially didn't trust Shouta. He still needed to keep his head down, and if this guy's rumored Navy connections were even partially true, they should keep their distance. So when the Rookie Judge called for people to join him in song, he stayed back, refraining from the metaphorical and literal spotlight, despite the suggestion from the Captain otherwise. However, once he started berating the crowd for cowardice, something in what he said resounded with Ray. Hiding wasn't his forte after all, and he was infinitely better at getting into trouble than avoiding it. Why should he hide? Ray decided to show him up by hopping on stage and singing a jovial tune. He felt pretty swell bringing some life back into the seemingly dead tavern. Once he finished, he joined his companions who had crowded around the Rookie Judge. Now that the tavern had a bit of rowdy spirit again, he was in the mood to drink and snagged a pair of drinks from the bar, handing one to Luro.

Ray decided that Shouta definitely had a way about him that commanded respect, if not fear, something he could see even through Shouta's drunken stance. The things he said about his resistance to injury prompted Ray to laugh. However, the way he said them, Ray noticed, caused him to stifle his coming jibe on empty boasting. He wasn't sure about getting his name out into the world, but more money from well paying jobs could definitely be useful, not to mention the connections they would foster were the need to flee arise. He would go with whatever the captain said regardless; he could go either way.