The Fable
Imagination Man
I think it's pretty good, Prez.
Yeah, kind of heartwarming.
I like how the wheelchair girl is standing up.
That kind of thing is so touching.
Do you know someone like this?
No. Just happened to draw it.
Even so, that girl standing up from the wheelchair is so great.
Your notebook sketches are better than on the tablet.
Hello. Octopus. Can I help you?
I'm going to scan this one.
- Oh, thanks. - What?
Oh...
I see.
That was the Taihei Police.
They found Kainuma drowned.
What?
They suspect he fell off a cliff and died.
They're probably going to do an autopsy...
Jeez, it's cold.
Finally.
Sorry, I kept you waiting.
Yeah, since yesterday.
Don't get mad, Tsutomu.
This is a different car than yesterday.
Yeah. You said a cheap, ordinary car was better, right?
Since I made you wait a whole day,
as a token of apology, you can have it for 500,000.
It was involved in a crime too, huh?
Of course.
But there's a year left before inspection,
just need to swap registration, and it's fine.
Well, I'm only going to need it for a month...
Where are you planning to go in this car?
If it's for a drive, take me with you.
Uh... No, actually...
They found Kainuma drowned.
That's proof you left, moron.
I thought I told you to bury him. What did you hear me tell you?
T-To bury him...
So, you did hear me.
But, in that situation... Where's Mr. Utsubo?
Get in. I'll hear what you have to say.
Don't be afraid. Get in.
We'll just chat.
His habit of disappearing would just cause trouble later.
For me and for Hina.
Three years ago, he disappeared like that too.
What's more, he approached me and tried to get info on the gang out of me?
If you hadn't done this, I would have.
You want to become a hitman like Sato, right?
Don't.
I've got a lot of experience in this business.
But that guy's the cream of the crop.
Physically, mentally, and most of all, his incredible intuition,
are genius-level.
If there were an assassin world championship,
he'd win gold for sure.
Just like his nickname Fable... He's a legend.
Give this to Sato for me.
It's a letter from Hina.
The girl in the wheelchair...
Okay, I'm going to disappear.
What about Isaki's bag? There's about six million in it.
You can have it. For your troubles today.
I've got the 20 million Utsubo had in cash.
Anything more is just dead weight.
How can you call money dead weight?
It just is. I can't put it in a bank.
Send my regards to Sato and his scary sister.
Okay...
- What is it? - You seem a little down today.
Hey Ask me why, would you
It's that Suzuki
He faked tossing a grenade, and pointed a gun at my head
The difference in your experience came out.
That's what he said.
It still ticks me off when I'm reminded of it.
Oh...
Am I boring you?
What would you have done?
Suzuki made a show of pulling out the pin
using a rock.
When you really want to toss a grenade,
a pro doesn't make a show of pulling the pin.
If he does, it's 70% likely a fake.
The other 30%, you can figure out by the smell.
There you go again with that smell stuff
Oh...
I get it, I get it.
But hearing it from you is even more annoying.
Oh, I'm so ticked off.
Hey, you asked.
That's good.
But I think I'll let it simmer a little longer.
So, how's your back?
I've never been hurt like this before.
I didn't think I'd be so restricted with someone to protect...
I've learned something.
I'm glad you've learned, but you need to review your failures.
Hina knows who you are now.
That's because Utsubo told her.
That darn Utsubo. He told me that he hadn't told her.
And I wore a mask too.
But when I heard them arguing in the woods, I knew I'd been exposed.
I wonder what look you had when you heard that.
My look?
Yeah, your expression
Your resting face is basically expressionless.
If the house next door blew up, your expression wouldn't change.
You never get surprised, right?
Oh, that's no problem.
I'm telling you, that is a problem.
If you're going to hide your true identity and live an ordinary life,
you need to show emotion like an ordinary person.
I see.
Show emotion like an ordinary person, huh?
That does make sense.
Then, what would you do if the house next door blew up?
What? Me? I can do it.
Huh? What? What was that noise?
How's that? I even spoke.
Okay, what if your identity was exposed?
What?
Hmm...
"Hmm"? This kind of acting is important. A pro needs to be able to.
But, when Suzuki showed up here,
you beat him up expressionlessly.
Yeah... That's why I'm going to change that.
See, even you...
Okay, the house next door explodes
Oh dear
Your identity's been exposed.
That's hopeless.
- No good, huh? - It makes me want to drink.
Excuse me.
Hi, Kuro.
What's going on? Sounds like you're having fun.
I can't help it...
Here. It's from the wheelchair girl.
Mr. Suzuki gave it to me to give to you.
From Hina? What's it say? Show me.
Uh, like I said on the phone, this is Isaki's money.
This is around six million.
What do you want to do with it?
Suzuki said he was giving it to you, Kuro, right? Just take it.
No way. I mean you two should take this.
Aren't you yakuza? You need to be more greedy with money.
Instead of telling us,
you need to be more crafty and quietly slip it into your pocket
That's just what everybody thinks we're like.
Captain's always telling me,
because we are yakuza, we need to deal with money properly.
Is that so?
Then let's do this.
- I'll take it all. - Okay.
You did a whole lot for us this time, Kuro,
from getting me a car and driving and stuff.
No problem. Please, let me help you out with anything anytime
As a token of thanks, here.
What? Uh, this isn't...
Just take it. What a pain.
Why not have some oden, Kuro?
What? Can I?
By the way, I'll buy that white car.
Huh? Uh...
No, you shouldn't take it.
It's wrapped up in crime.
My blood's all over the seat.
Blood doesn't come out no matter how much you clean it.
I don't want to leave that stuff around.
You say it's wrapped up in crime,
but you can still drive it around on the road, right?
Yeah, but...
I mean, I can't just give it to you on my own.
I need to tell Captain.
Sato, huh? He wants that Lexus?
Because he got injured in the back?
And the Hakosuka went over a cliff?
This doesn't make any sense over the phone.
Give me the details later.
You did call a tow truck to get the Hakosuka, right?
Got it. Then bring me the key.
Okay, give him the Lexus for free.
I'll handle the rest of the loan.
Yeah, I don't mind.
We took it as collateral for gambling debts anyway.
It didn't cost us anything.
I owe Sato a favor anyway for that Kojima thing.
Now we'll be even.
Do as he wishes.
That's what he said.
Free, huh?
That's Captain for you. He's so generous.
I'll switch the registration to my civilian buddy,
so you'll be able to drive it normally in about a week.
Thanks for that, Kuro.
Okay, I've got work to do.
Nii-san, that's what's so awesome about you.
What is?
Sato, look.
That's pretty good.
Misaki, send the file over to the client.
Sato, now you'll get paid 1,000 yen an hour.
Really? A 1,000-yen man, huh?
By the way, do you want to learn how to send files?
You're no good with computers, right?
More like I can't stand them.
You're a real pro though, Misaki.
No, I wouldn't go that far.
No, you're a pro.
These two, they get along well together.
Better yet, they should be a couple.
Captain, here.
It's the Hakosuka key.
Thanks.
How's the paperwork for Sato's Lexus going?
The original owner's disappeared,
so we need power of attorney and all that.
But we've offered to handle the rest of the loan,
so it'll work out.
That's fine. Take care of it.
So, where's my Hakosuka now?
Not to worry. I had it properly scrapped.
Scrapped? You mean... It's been smashed?
Yes. I said, "Right now," and they went smash
Made sure with my own eyes.
Wait... hold on here a second.
I don't think I quite understand here.
What's wrong?
So... why'd you bring me the key?
You told me to bring you the key, so I brought it.
What door am I supposed to open with it? What engine can I start with it?
I was willing to pay for Sato's Lexus
because I thought I was getting the Hakosuka back.
I'm sorry It fell off a cliff, so I thought you wanted it destroyed.
That's a precious priceless car to me You're supposed to get it repaired
I apologize I'll pay for the Lexus myself.
You better believe you are, you moron
You pay for it and take care of everything else yourself
and deliver it to Sato
Y-Yes, sir
First you leap from a bridge and break your leg.
Then you scrap my car without even asking.
You need to start using your head more
I'm sorry
Damn, I'm so ticked off. Give me your face so I can smash it
Captain
Prez, I've got to go to my other job now.
Oh, right.
I'll make sure I pay you for your overtime.
You can go too, Sato. Thanks for cleaning.
Sure.
What happened with Kai was so sudden, the work's piling up...
Well, it can't be helped.
Goodbye. I'm going now.
Sato, let's leave together.
You two, do you have plans for Christmas?
I've got some Jackal shows to catch up on.
I was thinking of taking a shift that night.
You did the same thing last year.
I feel so pathetic with nothing but couples everywhere...
Single two years straight, huh?
Would you please not say that so seriously?
Then how about this year, we have a fun Christmas party?
Things have gotten dark around here with what happened to Kai,
let's wash that all away.
Then let's invite Yoko too.
Your sister, she likes to drink, right?
Yeah. Alcohol's her staple food.
Okay, I'll ask Yoko.
Make sure you tell her. I can hardly wait
A Christmas party, huh? I don't have a good read on Sato yet...
But Misaki seems vaguely interested in Sato.
This is a great chance to hook them up.
They'd make a great couple.
A Christmas party?
Sure. I've got nothing better to do anyway.
Say, your boss likes to drink, doesn't he?
Yeah, he's a heavy drinker.
Then let's have the party here. This'll be the place
We'll drink We'll drink like mad
We'll drink until his boss passes out
I mean... I mean, I've got nothing to do
It feels pathetic to spend Christmas alone? Why?
This is my first Christmas party.
I'm kind of excited about it.
Merry Jackal
Wow It's Jackal It's Jackal
Jackal, it's not Christmas yet.
That's right
I know that.
That's why there's no presents yet.
Aw, that's so lame.
We've got presents
Here are presents for the good boys and girls
Yay
- Here. - Mmm?
Actually, there's a present for you too, Jackal.
What? Even though I'm Santa, I get one?
Yes
What? It's awfully light and thin though.
I'll open it
The show will continue next year Congratulations
Tune in for A Weekday Named Love, Osaka Chapter
Awesome. Jackal's doing great.
Captain, Osaka's pretty fun.
- Prez. - Yeah?
How's that kid doing?
What kid?
You know, the crybaby.
Oh, him.
Is he okay?
Yeah...
He draws nice pictures.
Look.
- That's nice. - Isn't it?
Please burn this letter.
After you left,
I asked Suzuki for some time to write this before going to the police.
You were worried about me because of that accident four years ago.
But I am grateful from my heart.
It all started because I was raised overprotected
and ran away from home in a fit of rebellion.
It was a result of my naiveté.
In my life where misunderstanding bred misunderstanding,
I did hold a grudge against you, Sato.
But now that I know everything, I have nothing but appreciation for you.
If you hadn't shown up on the day of the accident,
I would have been sold into prostitution at 16.
There are a lot of things I don't want to remember,
but those are my fault.
I do have one favor to ask you.
In six months, I'll be walking on my own.
I'm sure of it.
It's not prayer. I'll form an image.
The flow of blood in my veins, the nerves and muscles...
Six months from now, it'll be summer.
I want you to imagine me walking a little.
When your imagination and my reality overlap,
it'll be like we're together again. I look forward to that.
The little memory I want you to have of me
is of me standing properly.
Goodbye.
Take care. Hinako.
P.S. Dear Sister,
I'm sorry for scaring you.
She thinks I'm some kind of weak little lady?
What's with that? Didn't she have anything else to say?
Well... we did only meet that one time.
Translated by: Brian Athey