Lies and Apologies on a Day That Isn't April Fool's

April 1st. I thought note would be overflowing with April Fool's articles, but there were surprisingly few, which caught me off guard.

I once heard that it was 'a day when only monks are allowed to lie,' but that seems to be a myth. (Is it because they don't usually lie? Something about it being special?)

For me, April 1st is the day to eat Poisson d'avril (which means 'April fish').
In old France, April 1st was New Year's Day. As a remnant of that, a game spread where people would 'give fake gifts or strange presents' to tease those who got the New Year wrong.
It is said that this transformed into the modern-day custom of giving fish-shaped sweets.

I woke up early this morning and baked small fish-shaped pies in the kitchen.
The smell of butter slowly spread and mingled with the morning air.
Since it is April Fool's Day, I wish I could say they are 'zero calories,' but I ate these high-calorie treats for breakfast, and then,
'By the way, tomorrow is Poisson d'ab-dab day, right?'
(What on earth is 'ab-dab'!)
I packed some in a container for the colleague who said that.
It was a rainy morning, but it felt refreshing.

And then, I remembered something else.
It's about a lie I told.
Last December, when 'Sake and Him' finished its second part, I loudly declared, 'I will resume in April.'
I feel like I mentioned it in my essays a few times after that.
However, there is no longer any prospect of resuming in April.
There is only one reason. 'The Vinyl Umbrella I Love So Much' won't end.
I already have the manuscript finished up to episode 22 on hand.
As I write, I still can't see the end.
I feel like the characters have started moving on their own.

So, resuming in April will probably turn out to be a lie.
An unpredictable, accidental lie.
'Sake and Him' is already finished and waiting for its turn.
In episode 13, the protagonist is cherry blossom viewing.
I was waiting for the cherry blossom season, but I ended up being overtaken by it.
I have embodied the saying, 'If you talk about next year, the demons will laugh.'

Someone wrote to me saying they are 'looking forward to' the continuation of Sake and Him.

I hope it won't be a lie.

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout

*The photo is the 'Poisson d'avril' I delivered to my colleague.
Every year, I forget to prepare the eyes, so it ends up looking a bit scary.
More of a monster fish than a fish? The red circle on the left is supposed to be the eye.