Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 109: Chaos at the Omiai

Chapter 109: Chaos at the Omiai

The moment Ava stepped back into the open-air pavilion, she knew she was in trouble.

The traditional omiai matchmaking event had already taken a turn for the absurd, and she hadn’t even sat down yet.

The sun cast a warm golden glow over Hamarikyu Gardens, the light filtering through the delicate cherry blossoms. The soft rustling of leaves blended with the gentle murmur of polite conversations, punctuated by the occasional tsk of a disapproving elder. Ornate tatami mats were laid out in precise, symmetrical rows, each one a designated matchmaking station where potential couples were to meet and be carefully evaluated by their matchmaker.

Ava eyed the situation with growing horror.

It wasn’t just the clients who were being assessed—the matchmakers themselves were under intense scrutiny.

Several elderly matriarchs, dressed in regal kimono, sat on elevated platforms at the far end of the pavilion, observing the matches with hawk-like intensity. It was like being judged by an elite council of love grandmasters, each of them capable of destroying careers with a single raised eyebrow.

Ryan, standing beside her, whistled low. "Wow. So this is where matchmaking stops being fun and turns into a corporate merger."

Ava rubbed her temples. "This is worse than I thought."

And then she saw it.

Across the pavilion, Julian Ashcroft sat comfortably, smirking as he charmed an elderly matchmaker into nodding along with whatever nonsense he was selling. Ethan stood nearby, hands in his pockets, looking bored out of his mind.

Great. Just great.

She did not have time for Julian’s smugness today.

Instead, she turned her attention back to her assigned clients, Kenji and Rika, who were sitting across from each other in far less tense silence than before.

Kenji, the ever-rigid engineer, sat with perfect posture, looking less stiff than he had earlier, while Rika, the bubbly pastry chef, had a slight smirk on her face.

Ava caught the tail end of their conversation as she approached.

"So, you’re telling me you’ll only eat strawberry shortcake from a specific bakery?" Rika asked, an eyebrow raised.

Kenji nodded solemnly. "Yes. The balance of sweetness and texture is critical. I have yet to find a bakery that meets my standard."

Rika’s smirk deepened. "Challenge accepted."

Kenji adjusted his glasses. "You are welcome to try."

Ava blinked. Hold on. Was that... flirting?

Ryan, who had followed her over, let out a soft chuckle. "Huh. Looks like someone’s finally loosening up."

Ava leaned down, lowering her voice. "This is the same man who said spontaneity was inefficient."

Ryan smirked. "Guess he just needed the right kind of spontaneity."

Ava shook her head. Maybe she wasn’t doomed after all.

Everything was going great.

And then?

Everything went to hell.

---

One moment, Ava was basking in the tiny success of her couple actually bonding, and the next, a group of elderly matchmakers were herding Ryan toward the tatami stage like a prized stallion.

Ava turned just in time to see Ryan being seated gracefully onto a floor cushion in the middle of a traditional tea ceremony setup.

With a beautiful young woman in an elegant kimono kneeling in front of him.

Pouring him tea.

Ava froze.

"What—what is happening?!" she hissed, her voice nearly breaking.

Mei, standing nearby, let out a delighted cackle. "Oh, I like this turn of events."

Harold sipped his tea dramatically. "The plot thickens."

Ryan, looking equal parts confused and amused, accepted the delicate tea cup from the woman. He glanced toward Ava, his lips twitching.

"Apparently, I’m in an omiai ceremony now."

Ava’s brain broke.

An elderly matchmaker patted her shoulder reassuringly. "He is a fine young man! Very polite. Good posture. A fine choice for a husband."

Ava let out a horrified squeak.

"EXCUSE ME?! HE IS ALREADY ENGAGED."

The matchmakers gasped in horror.

One clutched her chest. "To who?"

Ryan, ever the menace, tilted his head, smirking.

Ava, seething, stabbed a finger toward her chest. "TO ME."

The matchmakers turned, inspecting her like she was a horse up for auction.

One of them finally nodded. "Fiery spirit. Good balance for a husband like him."

Ryan snorted.

Ava whirled on him, her eyes blazing. "You are NOT enjoying this."

Ryan took a slow sip of his tea. "I mean..."

Ava growled. She was going to kill him.

The poor girl performing the tea ceremony looked equally mortified. "I—I apologize! I did not realize—"

Ava forced a tight-lipped smile. "No, no, it’s not your fault. Just that someone—" She shot a glare at Ryan. "—has a habit of accidentally flirting with entire countries."

Ryan grinned. "Can’t help it. I’m irresistible."

Ava dragged him up from the cushion by the wrist. "We are leaving."

Ryan allowed himself to be pulled away, but not before winking at the matchmakers.

"I appreciate the consideration, ladies. But my fiancée would murder me."

The grandmothers nodded in approval.

"A wise man," one said.

Ryan laughed. Ava wanted to die.

---

By the time the chaos finally settled down, the sun had begun to set, casting the gardens in a warm, golden glow.

Ava and Ryan found themselves walking toward the koi pond, a moment of peace after the disaster of the day.

Ava still looked mildly traumatized.

Ryan, however, looked obnoxiously pleased with himself.

"So," he said casually. "Are you going to admit you were jealous?"

Ava scoffed. "Of what? A tea ceremony?"

Ryan leaned down, his voice low and teasing. "You know I only want one matchmaker, right?"

Ava rolled her eyes, but her heart did a dumb little flutter anyway.

Ryan tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a second too long.

"All of this," he said, gesturing toward the pavilion, "the traditions, the formulas, the numbers—it’s important. But it’s not what makes love real."

Ava looked at him, her usual sarcasm momentarily lost.

Ryan’s gaze was warm, steady.

"Love isn’t about tradition or algorithms," he murmured. "It’s about knowing when you’ve found the right person."

Ava swallowed.

Ryan smirked. "And lucky for you—I’m very confident in my instincts."

Ava shoved him. "Ugh. You ruined the moment."

Ryan caught her wrist, pulling her flush against him. "I don’t know," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "I think the moment’s just getting started."

Ava’s breath hitched.

She glared. "You are such a menace."

Ryan’s grin turned wickedly slow. "And yet, you love me."

Ava sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, yes."

Ryan leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to the corner of her lips. "Good. Because this menace is all yours."

Ava groaned. "I hate you."

Ryan kissed her again. "Liar."

And damn him—he was right.

—

Ava had barely recovered from the tea ceremony debacle when Ryan decided to push his luck further.

The soft evening breeze carried the distant chatter of matchmakers and hopeful couples still engaged in quiet discussions. The golden light from the lanterns reflected off the koi pond, casting shimmering ripples over the water. It would have been the perfect, peaceful setting—if not for the infuriating man beside her.

Ryan, hands in his pockets, strolled beside her without a care in the world. He had the audacity to look smug.

Ava narrowed her eyes.

"You are entirely too pleased with yourself."

Ryan smirked, tilting his head in amusement. "Well, can you blame me? I survived an impromptu omiai, got complimented by several very powerful grandmothers, and I didn’t even have to bribe them into liking me."

Ava groaned. "They were setting you up with someone else, you idiot."

Ryan nodded, completely unfazed. "Yeah, but I passed the test with flying colors. Think about it. If they approved of me that quickly, then that just proves I’m an excellent husband candidate."

Ava crossed her arms. "Fiancé. Not husband."

Ryan gave her a slow, knowing grin. "Yet."

Ava flushed, hating how easily that one word sent a very warm, very dangerous feeling straight through her chest.

She scoffed, attempting to deflect. "Don’t get cocky. They liked you because you’re ridiculously polite, not because you’re actually qualified."

Ryan arched a brow. "Not qualified? Excuse me? Who is the one who wakes you up with fresh coffee every morning?"

Ava pursed her lips. Damn it.

Ryan stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Who keeps you from murdering Julian on a daily basis?"

Ava huffed. "That’s self-preservation on your part."

Ryan grinned. "And who," he murmured, "knows exactly how to make you melt whenever he wants?"

Ava’s breath hitched as he brushed a knuckle along her jawline, his touch light but deliberate.

"Cheating," she muttered, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.

Ryan leaned in just a little closer, his lips a fraction away from hers. "You love it."

Ava stared at him, her pulse stupidly erratic.

The problem wasn’t that he was wrong.

The problem was he knew he was right.

And he was fully prepared to use that knowledge against her.

She needed a counterattack.

"You do realize," she said, her tone deceptively casual, "that I could have left you there, right?"

Ryan blinked. "Huh?"

Ava smirked, crossing her arms. "I could have just let you sit through the whole matchmaking process. Maybe let them pick your new wife while I sat back and enjoyed the show."

Ryan narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn’t have."

Ava grinned, slow and devious. "You sure about that?"

Ryan’s entire demeanor shifted.

He immediately grabbed her waist, pulling her flush against him.

Ava yelped, her hands pressing against his chest as he locked her in place.

Ryan tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, Matchmaker. That sounds like jealousy."

Ava sputtered. "It was not—"

"Admit it."

"I—"

Ryan dipped his head, lips hovering dangerously close to hers. "Say it, Ava. You were jealous."

Ava’s heart pounded.

She would never give him the satisfaction.

...Right?

Ryan’s fingers tightened slightly on her waist, his warm breath ghosting over her lips.

"You know," he murmured, "you could just admit you like having me all to yourself."

Ava’s brain short-circuited.

Ryan smirked. "No? Nothing? Silence? Huh. Interesting."

Ava glared. "I hate you."

Ryan laughed, brushing a slow kiss against her temple before releasing her. "Liar."

Ava crossed her arms, still scowling.

Ryan stretched lazily, looking far too smug for her liking. "Anyway. You did save me, so... thanks, I guess."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Don’t get used to it."

Ryan grinned. "Oh, I plan to."

Ava sighed dramatically, but she couldn’t fight her smile.

It was frustratingly easy to be with him like this.

And damn it, she really did love him.

Even when he was a complete menace.

---

By the time they reached the edge of the koi pond, the night had fully settled over the gardens.

The warm glow of lanterns reflected off the water, casting soft golden ripples along the surface.

Ava exhaled, finally letting herself relax.

Ryan, however, was still in full smug mode.

He leaned against the railing, looking at her like she was the most entertaining thing he’d ever seen.

Ava frowned. "What now?"

Ryan’s eyes twinkled. "Nothing. Just thinking."

"That’s dangerous."

Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. "I was just wondering how it feels."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "How what feels?"

Ryan leaned in closer, his voice low and amused.

"To be madly in love with me."

Ava immediately whacked his arm.

Ryan laughed, dodging her second attack as he grabbed her wrist and spun her against him, caging her between his arms.

Ava yelped. "Ryan—"

"Come on," he teased, his lips brushing against her cheek. "You can say it."

Ava glared. "I am going to push you into this pond."

Ryan grinned. "But then who would kiss you senseless later?"

Ava froze.

Ryan’s gaze darkened slightly, his teasing smile shifting into something deeper—something undeniably real.

Ava swallowed.

Ryan’s thumb brushed over her pulse point, his other hand tilting her chin up slightly.

"I mean it," he murmured, soft and serious.

Ava sucked in a slow breath.

She hated how effortless he made this.

How he could turn everything inside her upside down with just a look.

A slow smirk tugged at Ryan’s lips. "Still not jealous, huh?"

Ava scowled. "I take it back. I am pushing you into the pond."

Ryan laughed, finally releasing her, but not before stealing a lingering kiss against the corner of her mouth.

"Next time, just admit you like keeping me to yourself."

Ava huffed. "I’ll admit it when you stop being a smug idiot."

Ryan smirked. "Guess I’ll be waiting forever, then."

Ava groaned.

This man was going to be the death of her.

And the worst part?

She absolutely loved it.