iris

...Birthday.

That's right, your birthday!

Yes, birthday!

Today's my birthday! Uncle.

So the fairy from the stories is here, to celebrate your birthday.

Stories... fairy. New friend?

Um... yes, yes, yes!

Hello...

Jurian, might hurt... dangerous.

Can't meet.

Oh, Jurian!

He's done a runner.

You didn't frighten him, did you?

It wasn't me that scared him off.

(Why haven't I seen any more of the orphanage's children?)

(Are the two of them the only ones here?)

Jurian, listen now.

Open up the door, okay?

Leave him be for a while.

You'll only make him more nervous at this rate.

Sorry... I think it's been too long since he's seen a stranger.

He's not usually like this... he's good.

Meet a fairy from the stories. Celebrate a birthday together.

Raymond, was that really Jurian's wish?

I'll be frank, I've noticed how he avoided you the whole time.

Keeping a distance on purpose, even denying contact.

He... fears you.

No!

No he doesn't!

Chop-chop!

Agh... I'm sorry. I mean...

Jurian's just a bit...

Uncomfortable.

I haven't spent time with him in a long while, too, so...

(It seems I'm right.)

(The one longing for a fairytale here is Raymond, not Jurian.)

You know liars are bad people, and bad people get banished from fairytale worlds.

I'm not, I'm not!

If you don't want this story to end like that...

Is it just the two of you here? Where are the rest of the children?

Be honest this time.

*sigh*...

If you must ask.

It was years and years ago, I only adopted a child out of a moment of softheartedness.

But after that... well, more and more children came in, and before I even knew it, my place became an orphanage.

I didn't realize... my home would get so run-down over time, though. The state it's in now...

With so many years gone by, most of the children have left. Jurian's the only one who's stayed here.

You've seen—how he is.

Oh, I think that's the cake people come to deliver.

Just hang around a while longer, just until we're done celebrating. Please, I'm begging you!

You're such professionals, honestly, I can pay you extra! You have my thanks a million times!

How overboard.

What are we, actors for hire from some flimsy Victorian theater? I hardly think we have hourly rates.

They're all such lovers of the exquisite craft that makes up those stories—and yet they don't believe the fairytale happening right in their faces.

The more elaborate stories are always married to reality in some form. It comes in clear indicators, like signs on emergency exits, the kinds of things that make people jump for joy as if they've been redeemed.

But fairytales are too free, freeform to the point you might want to pray for something, but wouldn't even know how to start going about it.

That's why grown-ups don't believe. What they're after is help that comes with a clear price tag, anywhere, anytime.

But children will believe, because fairytales are the friends that accompany them. Even in the gloomy vales, there's no fear they're alone.

That said, haven't you realized?

Raymond is the one who's truly hoping for a fairy.

Him? You can tell he doesn't believe in fairytales from a mile away.

'Fairies' always bring miracles, after all. The fact he doesn't credit fairytales hardly matters.

As long as Jurian can believe, as long as he can have 'a perfect birthday'...

He'll accept it.

Sounds like he's using us.

I'll tail him.

Just don't do anything rash, Bena.

What about you?

I'll take a look around. If we're going to construct a fairytale dreamland, we need to feel things out, think them through, know them top to bottom.

And need I say, this is quite real. The child isn't feigning it. I can't just toss this aside.

If Raymond does intend on doing anything bad...

I'll be punishing him.

Chop-chop!

You really can't just hang on one moment?

We're in a hurry to get rich, us brothers.

Fork it over. Whatcha got this time?

Wait.

Just this much.

Oh, yeah!

Quiet!

What? Scared your dumb boy's going to find out?

What's it matter if he does? Just do him in, job's done.

And my money?

Here.

You really are...

A bunch of terrible children.

The hell are you?!

By the looks of things, plenty of children did once live here.

Almost all the rooms have been turned into child's bedrooms, and the place is littered with child-sized odds and ends.

It's odd though... Jurian's room is so far away from all the rest of them.

It's not even on the same floor.

But it is very close to Raymond's.

Oh?

Is this a group photo of them all?

One... two...

Thirteen children.

And Jurian's absent?

Hmm, hmm~♪ Why do we always travel so far flung, out from the city, through village old and young~♪

No soul to answer, no soul to care, the shepherds leave the beasts in the wild to fare~♪

Don't shed a tear now, don't let it hurt...