The Fable (ザ・ファブル)

The Fable

Lies and Falsehoods

Huh?

- -Are you going out?

I'm going to the women's club meeting.

What is it this time?

They want to install rubber mats underneath the safety swings.

What a joke, huh?

They say kids are so protected from injury nowadays,

that not only do they trip and fall easily,

they injure their faces.

Are you kidding me?

They say they have no sense of balance.

That's probably because they always play video games inside.

So they end up with no strength in their arms.

When they fall, their arms can't hold their weight.

But that can be solved by building muscle, right?

Yes, they can build muscles.

But what about a spirit and mind raised in an overprotective environment?

Those can't be strengthened quickly like muscles.

That's what we take advantage of.

I'm back.

Welcome back.

Sato, come here for a minute.

Yes?

Say, you know Santa Claus, right?

No, I'm not an acquaintance.

I've never met him either.

That's okay. I haven't either.

Christmas is coming up soon, right?

I was thinking of having you do the illustrations for a Christmas flyer.

A Christmas flyer?

That's right.

Remember the pictures you drew for that animal petting event?

The person running that,

they said they want the same kind of art

on the flyer for the Christmas event they're having.

You can draw whatever you like, like Santa or reindeer.

Reindeer? I've never seen those.

Don't worry about that kind of thing.

Just try it, Sato.

It's Christmas, you know.

You looked forward to it as a kid, right?

You'd get a present by your bed when you woke up in the morning, right?

Mm...

-No? Oh, right. Of course not. -

Don't worry about it.

That's right. Each family is different.

If you want my drawings, then I'd be glad to do it.

Okay, Prez. Tell him.

All right! If this goes well, I'll give you a 100-yen-an-hour raise.

So, up to 1,000 yen?

-That's right. -1,000 yen an hour! Here, have a seat.

That moron, Sato.

The art for a Christmas flyer?

He doesn't deserve that!

First, I'd like to see pictures of Santa.

That makes sense. Just do a search.

- - Tonight, on your way home,

I'll use my Kenpo to put you in the hospital.

With you gone, I can start peeping on Misaki again.

I can steal her key too.

Can you take care of this, Misaki?

It's an order we got by fax.

Looks like a business card for a talent agency or something.

Oh. Okay. I'll put together three styles to choose from.

Good, thanks.

So, this guy's Santa, huh?

Red, white, and black.

A Brazilian coral snake, huh?

That idiot Sato, he passes through this park on his way home.

There's hardly anyone around at this time. It's perfect.

I bought MMA gloves

so I don't hurt my hands when I punch him as hard as I can.

I changed clothes and put on a hat and mask,

so he'll never know it's me.

It'll just be a random beating.

He's here!

-Did you catch a cold, Kainuma? -

Hmm...

This is tough.

Every year, on the night of Christ's birthday,

this old guy has a deer with a shiny nose pull his sled

as he voluntarily goes around handing out presents to kids.

But why? What's up with that?

Is that young man still working with you, Prez?

Yeah.

At first, I wanted to see if he had the will to do it,

so I had him clean the office and stuff.

But he never once made a sour face.

In fact, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

That's great.

Now, I've got him doing illustrations.

He's not any good, but his drawings have character.

They're like a child's drawings.

They're so innocent and pure.

And they're heartwarming too.

Really? I'd like to see one.

Actually, I've got one. I carry it in my wallet.

Here.

That's Shozo Hamanoya.

He said it took him all night to draw that.

He said, "Before I knew it, it was morning."

Before I knew it, it was morning...

Right?

I bet that boy is really enjoying himself now.

Huh? Why do you say that?

Look at this.

See this smile?

Hamanoya wasn't smiling on the cover of his album.

My memories of Santa?

Yeah. I'd like to know about that old guy Santa.

What for?

Um...

Did this Santa guy come to your house?

He sure did, every year.

When I woke up in the morning, there'd be a present by my bed.

It would say, "From Santa Claus."

But to tell the truth,

by the time I was five years old, I knew who Santa really was.

Since I had a good memory, I was pretty smart too.

But I still pretended to believe in Santa.

I'm pretty sure my mom realized that I was pretending though.

But we spent Christmas both pretending not to know.

What did you get as presents?

When I was 10, for my last Christmas, I got a teddy bear.

I was an only child, after all.

Apparently, I would go to bed holding it.

But it was burnt in the fire too.

Hey, what'd you make me remember my parents for?

I've already got a good memory, so why did you make me do that?

All I did was ask you about Santa.

What about you? What are your memories of Santa?

I don't even remember what my parents looked like.

When I was aware of myself, Boss was raising me.

I only learned about Christmas and Santa after I was a lot older.

In fact, I believed Santa was some kind of strange old man.

That's rough too.

When you found a present by your bed in the morning,

did that make you happy?

Of course it made me happy.

I'd think, "I wonder if Santa will come again this year."

Parents pretend to be Santa to grant their kids' wishes.

Kids pretend to believe in Santa to grant their parents' wishes.

It's such a fairytale family game.

I loved my mom and dad.

Why you! Who said you could leave, you jerk!

I just thought I should go.

You made me remember! What good does that do me?

Drink!

Drink with me!

Then I'll have soda water.

There isn't any! Drink alcohol!

Octopus

I can't really tell the difference between the two.

Well, there does seem to be a little difference between them.

Did these... uh... take you a long time to draw again?

Yeah. I didn't sleep a wink.

I didn't sleep a wink.

I didn't sleep a wink.

- - Why... Why did you ask him that?

I was... just curious.

Say, Sato.

Why don't you

relax a little more and have fun drawing these?

"Have fun"?

That's right.

That's what makes your drawings so appealing.

All right.

I'll be off now to make a quick delivery.

Take care.

I'm counting on you.

"Have fun"...

"I didn't sleep a wink."

Prez!

-"I didn't sleep a wink." - Oh, cut it out.

Taihei Detective Agency

Yes?

I'm from Octopus.

I have delivery of business cards.

Please check the name and address on the business cards.

Huh?

Hmm?

Do you know him?

Kind of.

Not exactly.

So you're the one who was kicked by Hina's brother.

Yes.

Hina, get him some coffee.

The name and address are fine.

You sure do work fast.