The Fable (ザ・ファブル)

The Fable

Mountaineer Man

- This one's a little small. -

Be careful! That's a venomous snake.

- -

The knife handle...

Whoa! All that was inside?

That's why it's not a very strong knife construction.

But it does have a useful design.

You're harvesting its poison?

What'll you do with it?

I'll use this poison on the bear.

How will you do that, Nii-san?

Won't the poison kill the bear?

This much won't kill a bear. It's too little.

Just some pain and swelling for a few days.

They're not weak like humans.

Wow. Is that right?

For the bear's sake, it has to be taught

that messing with humans will only cause it pain.

- -

Another snake dissection... The third one.

- At last, I think I'm used to it. -

But part of me still isn't.

However, I do know that snake meat is delicious.

And viper...

...is especially tasty!

I was wearing a short skirt last time too.

Kawai's type likes whatever the fad is.

They like designer goods and are concerned about looks.

I want Kawai to like me even more.

I want to send his heart fluttering and make him all mine.

And I want to drink with him and watch him crawl because he can't walk.

I want to talk with you

when you're so drunk that you can't form words.

I want to hear you speak

when I can't understand what you're saying.

Stare at me with glazed and sleepy eyes.

You see... I can't help it. I've got nothing to do.

- It's getting dark. -

Yeah.

- -

I wonder if the bear will show up.

Well, it's best if it doesn't show up.

But it's better...

if we prepare for how to deal with it if it does show up.

Huh?

Is this because...

I ate viper meat?

People believe that bears are nocturnal, but they are also...

Nii-san's telling me about bears, but I'm here with a woodie.

I'm sorry, Nii-san. You're preparing to fight a bear, but I'm...

I've got a massive woodie!

- -

- It's been a while, bartender. - Kawai.

You're early today. The first, in fact.

Yeah, well...

Today is game day.

Game day?

I'm meeting that girl.

You know, the one I talked to the other day here, Yoko.

Oh... her.

She's top-class, being from Tokyo and all.

Yeah, she is cute...

I'll get her to a hotel tonight and get it on with her.

So, come on, bartender, back me up.

Oh, I see...

That girl, huh?

I won't make you look bad.

In fact, I could date a girl like that for quite a while.

Mm...

How come I'm so darn alpha?

Such a burden.

Kawai.

Lots of luck.

The way a bear attacks is pretty simple.

It tackles you and overwhelms you with its strength.

It swings its arms using its claws as weapons and...

- What's wrong? - Well, uh...

We'll be facing off against a bear, but that viper gave me a raging hard-on.

I could never say that!

Nii-san, aren't you afraid of bears?

Bears? Why? Are you afraid of them?

Yeah! Bears are bad news.

They could kill you.

But I've got a woodie.

Don't worry.

There's one thing that all bears don't understand.

Humans are smarter than them.

I understand that logic.

But in a fight, they've got the advantage in power, weight, and skill.

Just relax. If you're nervous, you'll get stiff.

I know. A part of me is very stiff.

Hmm?

The scent of an animal.

- I think it's here. -

Can't we use the campfire?

Don't animals hate fire?

Unfortunately, a flame the size of a campfire won't scare a bear.

Why are you crouched over?

Well, I, uh...

Anyone who eats that much viper gets like that.

Don't worry about it.

I'm sorry!

He could totally tell!

Do just what I tell you.

We'll teach it to fear humans in six seconds.

Okay!

- -

Oh.

Yoko, over here.

Okay.

I can sense it...

Tonight is going to be a wild one.

Did you wait long?

I just got here.

Liar! You've been scheming here for a whole hour.

Anyway... A man and a woman,

deceiving one another, in a night of flirtatious drinking.

Stepping into the ring tonight at Bar Buffalo are these two.

Neither of them are ordinary customers.

This is Yuki Kawai, the Muhammad Ali of Buffalo.

He is by far the number-one heartbreaker at this bar.

His footwork when hitting on women is lighter than a butterfly's.

I've seen countless women cry over him at this bar.

He floats like a butterfly from woman to woman,

penetrating each with his "stinger."

In the other corner is the mysterious beauty Yoko,

who recently moved here.

She is one of the hottest-looking women to have ever visited Buffalo.

But she has an allure that goes beyond just looks.

And she uses it to grip men's hearts like a vise.

I love drinking, but I can't hold my liquor.

So I'm sorry if I get drunk and do or say weird things tonight.

I'm afraid if I don't tell you that ahead of time...

Don't worry.

There it is! She's drawn first blood.

Okay, bartender. The usual.

The usual?

Bartender, can you make a vodka-based sweet but strong drink?

Oh, a lady-killer cocktail, eh?

When I ask for "the usual," give us that.

And make mine light on the vodka.

The usual. Got it.

Very well. Since I promised, I'll serve it.

However, we need to keep this fair, Kawai.

That's right. You both get the same amount of vodka.

This is delicious.

The starting bell has rung in Kawai vs. Yoko.

It's about to begin.

Keep on your guard.

Yuki Kawai. He looks about 24 or 25.

A high-end watch, a designer shirt, faintly sweet cologne,

snowboarding, and jet skiing.

A shallow warrior whose whole life is dedicated to getting laid.

What a splendid toy.

What's the matter?

When you stare like that, it makes me blush.

I'm not staring.

Oh, Yoko. I totally get why you're entranced by me.

The way you get flustered is just so cute.

Are you just as shy when in bed?

Do you like having the lights off?

Sorry, but I always keep the lights on, even if the power is out.

I want you under the lights so I can imprint you on my mind.

After you get drunk tonight, Yoko, we're going to a love hotel.

Eh? Oh, don't stare like that. You're making me blush.

This is payback for earlier.

- Eh! Oh, you. -

These two are truly flirt masters.

They start with some jabs to measure each other up.

The truth is, I wanted to call you even sooner.

But my brother hasn't been well.

Ah. You mean your weak and sickly brother you told me about before?

Yes.

So...

...is your brother all right?

Yes.

Yesterday, he went to the mountains where the air is better.

Oh, I've heard about those convalescent homes.

That's right. It's given me a little break too.

I couldn't help wanting to get a little drunk tonight.

Ah, don't you worry! Get drunk. I'll see you home.

Just the part about him going to the mountains is true.

No sight of that bear.

Maybe it went somewhere else.

No. It's even closer than before.

Can't you smell the animal scent?

No.

I don't smell it at all.

Yuki, do you like going to the mountains and doing outdoor stuff?

I love going camping. I've even got a barbecue set.

And I've always got a tent and sleeping bag at the ready.

The outdoors is just the place for a man to get in touch with his true nature.

Really? I didn't expect you to like the outdoors.

How come? I'm a guy who absolutely loves barbecuing.

Meat grilled outdoors is really delicious, isn't it?