Chapter 354: Single and Ready to Mingle
Harper’s enthusiasm followed them all the way downstairs.
They had barely made it to the dining hall when they ran into Hiro.
“Good morning!” he greeted everyone with a polite bow before turning his attention to Harper.
“Everything has been set up the way you wanted.”
“Eeeeek!” Harper squealed and immediately raised her hand for a high five, which Hiro casually returned.
“Okay, okay… um… so we’ll just grab some breakfast, check on my buddy Jaime, then we’ll head over there. Okidoki?”
Hiro chuckled and shook his head.
“All right. I’m heading out for a bit too, but I promise I’ll be back by noon.”
Nick, who had been listening to the exchange, finally cut in.
“Um, excuse me. Just in case you two haven’t noticed, we’re standing right here. Care to
include us in the conversation?”
Harper rolled her eyes at him.
“Awww, poor baby. But nope! You’ll find out later, okay? So stop being so dramatic.”
Maya and Damien exchanged a look but wisely kept their mouths shut. It was far too early in the morning to get dragged into their banter.
Harper’s attention returned to Hiro as curiosity got the better of her. She leaned closer and
lowered her voice.
“Are you going to see Emi?”
Hiro nodded before glancing cautiously from side to side, then brought a finger to his lips.
“Shh! Keep your voice down. Someone might…”
“Tsss!” Harper straightened. “It’s not like I said it out loud.”
She gave
him a knowing look before pointing a finger at him.
“And maybe it’s time you started thinking about how you’re going to tell your dad.”
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Chapter 54 Single and Ready to Mingle
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Hiro didn’t even get the chance to respond before a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Tell me what?”
Harper and Hiro exchanged a wide–eyed look.
They turned toward Ken’s study, where Ken and Aiko had just emerged and were walking toward them.
Everyone straightened and greeted the two older men.
Harper, however, suddenly looked far too cheerful.
“Ahehehe… Uncle Aiko! You’re here!”
Ken’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at his daughter.
“Why are you suddenly acting like you have something to hide?”
“What?!” Harper’s voice jumped an entire pitch as she whipped toward him. “Dad! Did you know accusing someone without evidence is a crime? I can sue you for defamation!”
Ken let out a disbelieving huff.
“Ha! I’d like to see you try!”
Unfortunately for Harper, her attempt to divert the conversation failed miserably.
Aiko turned back to his son.
“Hiro. What is it you wanted to tell me?”
Hiro immediately tensed. He rubbed the back of his head, suddenly looking far less composed than usual.
“Um… I… uh…”
Harper’s eyes darted between father and son. Seeing Hiro struggle, she quickly jumped in to
save him.
“Oh! Um… Uncle Aiko, as you probably already know, Ashcroft and I are together now.”
She stepped beside Nick and wrapped both hands around his arm.
“Which means the marriage arrangement between Hiro and me is no longer valid. And that
means…”
She glanced at Hiro before flashing Aiko an overly bright smile.
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& Chapter 354 Soogle and Ready to Mingle
“Hiro is officially single and ready to mingle!”
Hiro’s eyes widened, but Harper barreled on before he could stop her.
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“And he just wanted to tell you that he’s ready to go out there and, you know…” She made a vague gesture with her hand. “Mingle.”
Hiro immediately choked on his own breath and broke into a coughing fit.
Somehow, Harper had only managed to make the situation worse.
Aiko stared at his son, visibly taken aback. Then his expression hardened.
“Don’t you have any shame? You’re a grown man, and you’re letting a woman speak for you?”
Hiro bowed his head.
“Gomen’nasai, otōsan.” (I’m sorry, father.)
Whatever tension had formed between father and son broke when Ken suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Aiko, I actually think it’s a good idea. It’s about time your son went out and found you a daughter–in–law. Someone sweet, loving, and proper.”
He gave Harper a pointed glance before looking back at Hiro.
“Your son is far too nice for my daughter. She’s a handful. Let someone else deal with the
chaos.”
Nick choke back a laugh, disguising it with a cough as he tried desperately to keep a straight face. Aiko, meanwhile, gave a firm nod of agreement, while Hiro couldn’t help laughing
outright.
Harper’s mouth fell open.
“What’s so funny?!”
She smacked Hiro on the arm before whipping around toward her father.
“Dad! What exactly are you trying to say?” Her offended gaze immediately shifted to Aiko.” And Uncle Aiko? You’re agreeing with him too?!”
Ken simply pointed at her.
“See? A handful.”
He completely ignored his daughter’s offended gasp and turned his attention to Maya.
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Maya smiled gently and nodded.
“I’m holding up well, Uncle Ken. Thank you for asking. And yourself?”
Ken’s expression softened into a genuine smile.
“Oh, I’m good. I’m good. Have you had breakfast yet?”
“Not yet. We were just heading to the dining hall.”
Harper looked between the two of them before clearing her throat.
“Um, excuse me, Dad. Just in case you didn’t notice, your daughter is standing right here. Care to include me in the conversation?”
Nick’s eyebrows shot up.
He slowly turned toward her, immediately recognizing his own words being thrown back almost exactly as he had said them.
Harper caught his look and gave him a smug little smile.
Ken, however, barely spared her a glance.
“How could I possibly miss you? Your mouth is so loud I could hear you from inside my study.”
Harper’s mouth dropped open.
“Dad!”
She stomped her foot and pouted.
“That’s…”
Ken simply waved her off before she could finish and turned his attention to Nick.
“Ashcroft.”
The smugness vanished from Nick’s face in an instant.
He straightened so quickly he might as well have been a soldier snapping to attention.
“Sir. Good morning.”
Ken regarded him for a moment.
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NICK Visibly swallowed.
“Um… yes. Of course. Absolutely, sir. Whenever you’re free.”
“Dad…” Harper warned, already suspicious of where this was going.
Ken didn’t even look at her as he started toward the dining hall, with Aiko following beside him.
The moment the two older men disappeared from sight, Harper and Hiro visibly relaxed.
Hiro released a long breath.
“That was close!”
A flicker of guilt crossed Harper’s face, but it disappeared just as quickly.
“Well, close isn’t the same as caught, so… you’re welcome!”
Hiro stared at her, momentarily speechless.
But after years of knowing Harper, he should have expected nothing less. He simply shook
his head.
“I’ll go ahead. See you guys later.”
He turned to leave and had already taken several steps, putting some distance between them, when Maya suddenly called after him.
“Hiro! Wait!”
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.