Chapter 160: New Year is Here?!
"Okay, Raiden, Your proposal, I accept. We will consider it as an advance payment, as you say, and won’t charge you any interest for it. You can consider this as a New Year’s gift from my side." Maple had a smile on her face.
"Thank you, thank you so much!! I will pay back everything soon, I swear. Just wait for a little bit. I will...Wait, did you just say New Year’s?!!" Raiden’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Why, of course? I mean, you only have 3 days left until the New Year, ya know. Did you forget about it??" Maple asked in surprise.
Raiden just laughed at that. He really had forgotten about the New Year. He had been so busy that it completely slipped out of his mind.
Plus, as a hikikomori living alone on a farm. For him, every day was a weekday and a weekend at the same time. So he had forgotten all about the day and the dates while living on the farm for the past few months.
"Of course. I remember. I am not an idiot, you know. Don’t worry, I’ll send you New Year’s gifts for sure."
A smile appeared on Maple’s face after she heard his words. She already guessed his thoughts by the expressions on his face, but did not expose him.
"Then I will be waiting and looking forward to that gift, Raiden. Happy New Year in advance."
After a few more greetings and words, Raiden left the place on his motorcycle, thinking about the New Year.
Unknowingly, it had already been three to four months since he graduated. But these three months felt more like three years to him.
Knowing all the things he went through in the past few months, he felt tired just by thinking about it.
"Well, since it’s a New Year, we need to do something big, guys. Can’t spend a New Year’s while being sad. Let’s go meet Sarah first and pay back the loan. Then we will plan for something big!!"
"Sha!!"
"Woolie!!"
With a nod from his partners, Raiden drove even faster, rushing to Sarah’s shop to hand her the loan payment.
"Phew, I almost thought you wouldn’t be able to make it on time. You gave me quite a scare 5 days ago. I am really glad we were able to do this on time, or we would have lost possession of both the shops next to us."
"What, you don’t believe me?? Your co-founder??? It hurts my heart, you know." Raiden clutched his heart dramatically. While Sarah just gave him a side eye.
"Just stop it. Nobody is watching you here, drama queen. So, about New Year’s, do you have any plans for that??" She sipped a cup of her tea while glancing at him.
"Oh, nothing too big. I am just going to spend my New Year’s with my family and friends. What about you?" Raiden asked casually.
"Me? I’m going back to my home, and I will spend it with my parents. It’s been a while since I’ve been back home. Thought it’s finally time to go and pay them a visit."
A complicated emotion appeared in her eyes as she finished her words.
After her shop had started, she had gotten too busy working for it. Afterwards, she was too busy fighting off bankruptcy and poverty. Finally, she had made it big and was able to take a leave and go visit her parents. She didn’t have any plans for it beforehand, but after watching Raiden interact with his family and how much importance he placed on them, she realised how badly she had neglected hers.
So she wanted to go back and spend as much time as possible with her parents. She knew she only had a few years left. If possible, she wanted to bring them back with her, but there’s a tale for another time.
"That sounds great!! So I guess I’ll see you after New Year’s then??"
"Haha, yes, we will begin working on our shop in earnest after New Year’s. Until then, enjoy yourself, because after that, I won’t give you enough time to do it." Raiden felt a shiver go down her spine as Sarah spoke her words. She sounded like a villain.
"I will keep that in mind, but before that, I needed your help for a little bit. Before New Year’s, I need you to prepare this and that for..." Raidan explained all his requirements in great detail while Sarah sat across from him and noted it all down, giving her input from time to time.
"How exciting! This project sounds very fun! I will take care of everything myself and make sure it’s done before the New Year’s. It’s been a while since I’ve been excited for something." Sarah felt fired up.
"Ahem, are you sure you can handle it? If you can’t, you can give it to your more skilled technician, ya know, someone like..." Raiden’s voice trailed off as he looked at the increasing smile on Sarah’s face, which felt increasingly dangerous to him.
"Kidding, kidding, I was just kidding before!! You are the best person I know for this job!! That’s why I came to you. I know nobody can do it better than you can. Don’t mind my words, haha ha...."
"You little brat! Are you doubting your big sister Sarah’s capability? Did you forget how many PhDs I have?! How skilled I am?! Just get out of here. You will receive what you wanted on New Year’s Eve. Now go. Shoo! Don’t disturb me."
Bang!!
Sarah kicked him out of the room before slamming the door on his face.
"That one was on me, I guess. Oh well, I’d better start preparing for the New Year." Raiden patted Woolie in his arms before walking outside to the motorcycle and starting to visit all around the city. There were a lot of preparations he wanted to do.
This New Year’s was going to be perfect, and it was going to be his.
