Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 129: Final Tokyo Moments – Saying Goodbye to Chaos

Chapter 129: Final Tokyo Moments – Saying Goodbye to Chaos

"Boarding Passes, Baggage, and a Grandmother with a Megaphone."

They almost made it to the airport in peace.

Almost.

Ava had been lulled into a false sense of security by the peaceful cab ride, her hand laced with Ryan’s, the streets of Tokyo sliding by in a soft blur of morning light and cherry blossom petals.

They were relaxed. Content. Post-onsen glowy. The kind of couple who looked like they had their lives together.

Until they reached the departure hall at Haneda Airport.

And saw her.

"Why is Mei holding a megaphone?" Ava asked, already bracing herself.

Ryan squinted. "...Why is Harold wearing a sash that says ’Father of the Bride—Probably’?"

Mei spotted them and waved enthusiastically. "You’re late!"

"We’re early," Ava muttered.

"To you, maybe," Mei said, striding over in a tailored linen suit that looked far too fresh for 6:00 a.m. "But I’ve been here since dawn, finalizing your flight press kit."

"Our what?"

Ryan leaned in. "Don’t ask."

Too late.

Mei produced a glossy trifold brochure titled ’Love at 30,000 Feet – The Ava & Ryan Engagement Journey’, complete with flight facts, Tokyo highlights, and a QR code linking to an AI-generated slideshow of their trip. Set to "Can’t Help Falling in Love." In Japanese.

Ava blinked. "You made a slideshow?"

"I had time between the cake tastings and calligraphy class," Mei said, as if that explained anything.

Harold shuffled over, holding two very pink neck pillows shaped like foxes. "I got these on sale!"

Ryan accepted his with the deadpan grace of a man who’d fully given up. "Thanks, Harold. Just what I needed to scream ’romantically unhinged tourist’ at immigration."

Ava looked around.

A full crowd of summit participants had somehow gathered. People were snapping photos. Chloe from the tea shop was on a video call holding up banner prototypes. Madam Hoshino even gave them a silent nod from near the ANA lounge, like a matchmaking godmother blessing their travel plans.

Ava closed her eyes.

"This is our villain origin story," she muttered.

Ryan kissed her cheek. "You love it."

"I really, really do," she admitted.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Ava climbed onto one of their luggage trunks, cupped her hands to her mouth, and shouted—

"WE’RE NOT MARRIED YET!"

Gasps. Laughter. A champagne cork popped somewhere behind them.

Mei clutched her chest. "But you’re engaged, right?!"

Ava looked at Ryan.

He raised his brows, smiling like a man who had zero regrets.

She smirked. "Maybe."

The crowd howled.

And with that, Ava Lee grabbed her fiancé’s hand, blew a kiss to Tokyo, and marched toward the boarding gate like she owned the world.

Because chaos loved her.

And she’d learned to love it back.

---

Haneda Airport – Chaos, Sponsored by Mei

They should’ve known it wasn’t over.

Just when Ava thought the press slideshow, personalized boarding passes, and fox-shaped neck pillows were the peak of Mei’s airport ambush—

The surprise wedding photo shoot began.

"Stand here," Mei ordered, pulling out a portable light ring from a tote bag like a magician unveiling a sword. "Now smile like you’re five seconds from eloping!"

Ava blinked. "We’re flying to Seoul. For work."

"Love is work," Mei snapped, adjusting Ava’s hair. "Now tilt your head and pretend you’ve never considered punching a reporter."

Ryan, who had been trying (and failing) to disappear behind a luggage trolley, was suddenly roped into a full pose: hands on Ava’s waist, cheek pressed to hers, soft smile.

The flash went off.

"That one’s going on the limited edition tea tins!" Harold called, holding a clipboard with alarming confidence.

"Tea tins?!" Ava shrieked.

"We’re testing new packaging for the spring line!" Mei beamed. "Matcha Marriage—Infused with Commitment."

Ryan leaned in. "Can I sue for brand infringement?"

"Only if you promise not to smile like that," Mei said, pinching his cheek with disturbingly affectionate force.

Just then, a summit staffer wheeled over customized suitcases. One had Ava’s initials stamped in gold. The other had "Future Groom" embroidered across the front with tiny sakura petals.

Ava turned to Ryan, deadpan. "Do you want to run?"

Ryan nodded solemnly. "I’ve already picked three escape routes."

Too late.

Mei clapped her hands and whipped out a portable speaker.

Music blasted. Wedding march. On kazoo.

A nearby toddler began clapping. A flight attendant waved politely from the check-in counter. Madam Hoshino raised an eyebrow and walked away silently—but not without snapping a photo first.

Ava buried her face in Ryan’s chest. "This is a fever dream."

Ryan held her closer. "It’s a very branded fever dream."

Harold handed them boarding passes wrapped in miniature scrolls. "I printed your vows on the back for reference."

"We don’t have vows—!"

"You might," Mei interjected.

And then—

"Final boarding call for flight JL901 to Seoul."

Ava exhaled. "Freedom."

Ryan grabbed her hand.

Mei shouted behind them, "If you two elope mid-air, I want video!"

Ava called back, "Only if you promise not to make a teacup collection out of it!"

"No promises!" Mei cackled.

---

Later – Somewhere Over the East China Sea

Ava pressed her forehead against the window, watching the clouds drift like spun sugar below the plane. The fasten seatbelt sign had just blinked off. The in-flight meal cart was still two rows away. And Ryan?

Ryan was stretched out beside her in business class, long legs crossed, fox-shaped neck pillow firmly in place, sipping green tea like a man who absolutely knew he’d won the life lottery.

"You know," he said, nudging her knee with his, "technically we’re above international airspace right now."

Ava raised a brow. "Is that your segue into mile-high flirting?"

"Did it work?"

She looked him over: tousled hair, relaxed grin, one button undone more than necessary. "Unfortunately."

He leaned closer. "I’m just saying... we’ve sealed every part of this engagement except for the in-flight intimacy milestone."

Ava snorted. "Is that a real milestone?"

"Ask Mei. She probably has a graph."

Ava pretended to consider. "What’s in it for me?"

Ryan’s voice dropped, teasing. "Thirty-six minutes of uninterrupted lavatory chaos, followed by free sake and my undivided devotion."

"You already have to devote yourself to me," she said sweetly.

He grinned. "I want to."

She tried to stay composed, but the way he said that—low and certain, with a warmth that melted behind her ribs—nearly undid her.

Instead of answering, she shifted in her seat, letting her thigh press deliberately against his.

Ryan went still.

"You’re impossible," he muttered.

"You love it."

She leaned in, brushing her lips lightly against his ear. "We could put the blanket over our laps, recline the seats, and make this the most romantic in-flight entertainment ever recorded."

His inhale was audible.

"But," she added, pulling back just as slowly, "you’ll have to behave until dessert service."

He looked personally victimized. "You’re cruel."

"I’m engaging," she corrected, reaching for the airline dessert menu like nothing had happened. "In-flight pudding or fruit tart?"

Ryan blinked. "You really expect me to choose dessert right now?"

She smirked, handing him the menu. "You’re going to need your strength, fiancé."

He stared at her like she was the most dangerously beautiful thing to ever threaten his self-control.

And just when he thought he could recover, Ava reclined her seat, turned toward him, and murmured—

"Wake me up before landing. And maybe I’ll let you help me change into something more... Seoul-appropriate."

Ryan groaned and buried his face in his pillow.

"Cruel," he repeated.

Ava closed her eyes, smiling against the window. "You love it."

And somewhere between Tokyo and Seoul, high above the clouds, the matchmaker queen and her utterly undone fiancé shared one last moment of blissful, teasing peace—before chaos found them again.

---

Twenty-One Minutes Into the Flight

Just as Ava began to drift off—blanket over her lap, ring glinting faintly in the cabin light, Ryan’s hand resting on her thigh like a promise—her phone buzzed.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

She cracked one eye open.

MEI (10:47 AM):

You’re trending in Korea!

MEI (10:48 AM):

#SkyFiancés #TokyoEngagement #MatchaMarriage

Over 200k views already!

MEI (10:48 AM):

Also—made a teaser reel for Seoul sponsors. Added dramatic filter. You both look very glossy.

Ava stared at her screen, groggy and mildly horrified.

Then she noticed the corner of the display: Connected to JL901 Wi-Fi. Premium Plan: Gifted by "Grandma Mei."

She let out a groan. "Oh god. She bought me in-flight Wi-Fi."

Ryan blinked awake beside her. "She what?"

"She sponsored my signal. She premeditated a midair update."

Ryan sat up, rubbing his face. "She’s unstoppable. She’s literally got cloud coverage."

Ava held up her phone wordlessly.

Ryan squinted. "#SkyFiancés? She made that up, didn’t she?"

"Of course she did," Ava muttered. "She probably trademarked it already."

As if summoned, another buzz.

MEI (10:49 AM):

PS. Don’t worry—I told the Seoul matchmakers you’re "open to creative ceremonies."

Love you both! Byeeee!

Ryan flopped back against the seat with a groan. "We’re doomed."

Ava leaned into his side, smirking. "Should’ve taken the sleeper train."

"She’d still find us. With banners."

A pause.

Ava grinned. "You still love me?"

Ryan smiled tiredly and kissed her temple. "Even in HD. Midair. Viral."

They stayed like that, tangled in heat and humor, somewhere over the East China Sea—halfway to Seoul, halfway to another beautiful disaster.

But together?

They were ready for anything.