My name is IF.
How do you pronounce it, you might ask?
It's I.F!
Not IF.
I'm currently 6 years old, according to the nice old lady that takes care of me.
She gave me a roof over my head.
I'll pay her back someday, tenfold!
I think her name was Deco?
She's very nice.
Huh?
Where are my parents?
They're somewhere around the world on business, I guess.
They'll come back someday…
I hope.
I've never actually seen my parents.
Guess they're too busy to take care of me.
That's nice, I suppose.
I really hope they'll come back to get me.
They left me here on this street some years ago, according to the people around this area.
I'm pretty well known.
The people around call me the 'Orphan', whatever that means.
It sounds like a weird title to give anyone...
But whatever, I guess it's pretty cool to have a title.
The demons tend to speak a lot less when I'm around, so I have that going for me.
The demons came in all shapes and sizes, but most of the time they were weird bear-slime things.
The wolf in my left arm tells me to fight them, to protect the people around me.
It's my duty as a Demon Hunter!
I mean, I've got to be a Demon Hunter if I can summon flame from my left arm using the wolf's powers!
Deco always tells me: "Do what you think is right. There's no fault in going your way, especially if you wish to protect others."
I keep these words close to my heart and soul, and they were the words that propelled me forward in life.
Well, I'd best move on to another place to patrol. There isn't too much I can really do around here.
The clothes that Deco gave me fit perfectly on a Demon Hunter like me.
An old blue coat with oversized buttons, one size bigger than me… and a nice black shirt with silver highlights and shorts to go with it.
Some old, raggedy black boots to top it all off.
It could be better, but it works!
I'll make Lady Purple Heart proud of me, and then I'll meet her face-to-face!
Someday!
I'll just have to work for it.
Gamindustri is just so big.
Let's move forward, into the future!
I go by IF. I'm currently 14 years old.
I've been living in an orphanage for the past 6 or so years.
I've also gotten taller. 146cm, according to the measurements on the walls.
Deco had finally passed away in her sleep, after so many years of taking care of me from the start of my life.
After Deco had finally succumbed to her sickness, I learned of the financial difficulties she had gone through just to raise me.
She only had barely enough money for her own day to day living, and most of the money she earned was used on me.
She worked endlessly from day to night to put food on our plates.
Later on, I had found out that Deco had refused to take operations that could've saved her life just to raise me.
I couldn't understand why she had gone to this extent for me, someone who was just a random orphan on the street.
I was unable to comprehend it.
Guilt ran through my veins as I heard of everything that she had done.
She soon could no longer work due to her condition, and had to take a home equity loan from the Basilicom to keep our lives going.
As a result, our home was repossessed by the Basilicom when she died, and I had to move to the Planeptune Day-Care that also functioned as an orphanage.
Today was the day I was to be adopted, apparently.
Lady Purple Heart... why have you done this to me…?
Deco worked her hardest, worked her bloody hardest to make ends meet for both of us…
And this is what you gave to me in the end?
Deco's body was still buried where we lived before.
But I can't even set foot in there any longer.
I can't even pay respects to my… mother…?
All I got was a measly little paper that said that her grave would not be desecrated.
Was this… for real…?
I sat on the floor, crossed my legs and thought.
It was not good to get angry like this.
It was time to judge my current situation.
What kind of person would adopt someone like me?
Would he or she take care of me like Deco did?
I only hoped that they would.
"Ah. IF, your soon-to-be caregiver is here. Do you want to meet him?"
A voice called out to me, a voice that I was all too familiar with.
It was Mina, the Planeptune Day-Care Counsellor.
She was really nice, and always talked to me when I needed it most.
She wore a red coat that greatly reminded me of a teacher of sorts, a white dress and a scholar's hat.
Blue hair and eyes.
Red glasses.
Rather short, about a few centimetres above me.
When we first met, on the day that Deco had left the world…
The day that I stepped into the Orphanage…
She was a truly kind person.
Her 'aura' told me everything I needed to know.
I had the ability to judge others' via a light that surrounded them.
I had to first channel a strange energy that was in my body into my eyes, though.
Mina seemed very interested in it, and asked me how I managed such feats.
I simply told her that it was something natural to me.
She seemed pleased with this answer, and simply told me to make use of my ability.
I found it rather strange that she took notes about it, but who knows what she wrote them for?
Knowing Mina, it was probably for a good cause.
"Oh, alright. Where do I go?"
I replied, unsure of what I was to do.
"Just follow me!"
Mina took my hand, and guided me slowly to the front counter of the Orphanage.
As I was pulled along, I saw a kind-looking old man staring at me.
He wore a white dress shirt and black pants.
White-orange blonde hair that seemed to be greying, orange-red eyes.
His face and hands weren't that wrinkled, but his 'aura' told me everything.
A dark-blue light surrounded his being, signifying that he was rather old… and battle-hardened in some manner.
He was taller than Mina, which wasn't really an accomplishment.
"Ah, is this the one? She seems rather mature for her age."
The old man spoke with a tone that I could not comprehend.
Kind?
Disdainful?
"She's been through quite a bit. How could you tell?"
The Counsellor then inquired with a smile on her face.
"It's in her eyes. Don't tell me you can't see it?"
The old man seemed to understand me just by looking.
Just who was he?
"I know what you mean. Alright, Mr. Coeur. The papers are here, ready for you. All they need now is your signature."
The old man scribbled his signature on the papers, and passed them back to the counsellor.
"It's official then. IF is now under your care, Mr. Coeur."
The two shook hands, and the old man turned to face me.
"My name is Careth Coeur. Nice to meet you, IF."
He stretched out his right arm, seeming to gesture for a handshake.
I took his hand with some hesitation, before shaking it up and down.
As I shook his hand, the old man smiled warmly at me, before speaking once again.
"Alright then, follow me, IF."
It was time for me to have a home again.
"We're here, IF."
A nice, cosy home greeted me.
Orange walls, a multitude of girlish toys scattered about…
Was that a gigantic syringe?
Wait, was he that type of creep?
I'm pretty much screwed, aren't I?
"IF, I get the feeling that you're miffed by the giant syringe. It's my granddaughter's. She wants to be a nurse someday, so I bought her that syringe."
Oh, so that was the reason.
Strange how he read my mind so perfectly.
Wait, if he had a granddaughter, then why was he adopting me?
"Is she dead?"
Mr. Coeur seemed to be startled by this statement.
"No. I'm assuming you're asking this as you're unsure why I adopted you. There's a multitude of reasons, but the main one is that I wanted my granddaughter, Compa to have some company. No pun intended, of course."
I nodded.
"I understand, then. I'll keep your granddaughter company. How old is she?"
Mr. Coeur once again was startled by my question, but he smiled softly.
"Y'know, you really aren't like other kids. Most would say 'But why?', but you agreed and asked me how old she was. To answer your question, she's 13."
Well, she was one year younger than me.
Interesting.
But something about his words confused me.
I tilted my head, before asking:
"Am I that different…?"
Mr. Coeur smiled yet again, and patted my head softly.
"Yeah, IF. It's not a bad thing to be different, of course."
I nodded my head slowly.
"Got it. I have my fair share of questions, so could you answer them?"
Mr. Coeur nodded in agreement.
"If she's your granddaughter… then where's her parents?"
Mr. Coeur's demeanour now changed drastically.
He now gave off an aura of insurmountable sadness.
"They… died."
They died.
Explains quite a bit, to be honest.
I guess I have to reassure him that it's all right, then.
"Mr. Coeur, it's okay. It's long over and done with."
Mr. Coeur's eyes brightened. Guess his depression ended quickly.
He seemed to realize something, and he smiled.
"Ah, IF. No need to call me Mr. Coeur. Call me Careth."
I guess I'd best listen to him then.
"Alright, Careth."
Careth beamed.
"Ah, it's nice to hear someone call me Careth again. My granddaughter always insists on calling me Grandpa. Speaking of which, she's coming back home from school very soon. I think you two will click together very well."
It would be nice to have a friend, I guess.
"I'll see what I can do, Careth."
"Knock!"
A knock was heard from the door.
"Oh, perfect timing!"
Careth turned the door knob, and he pulled the door open.
"Grandpa!"
A cutesy voice ringed out.
I had to admit, it was rather endearing.
I blushed slightly.
Why was I thinking like that about a girl?
"Eh, Grandpa… Who is this?"
The girl walked into the room.
She wore a woolen sweater that looked to be made with care and meticulous effort.
She also wore a red short-skirt.
In accordance with her age, she was also shorter than I was.
It also seemed that Compa noticed me.
Guess it was time for introductions.
I opened my mouth to speak, but…
"Compa! This 'ere is IF, and she'll be living with us from now on."
Careth had beaten me to the punch.
"Is that so? Okay! Hello, IF! My name is Compa, and we're happy to have you here!"
How carefree.
It made me smile a little inside.
I had to return the favor.
How could I not?
"Pleased to meet you, Compa."
I glanced in Careth's direction.
Careth seemed to be very happy, watching our exchange of words.
"Ah… this is the start of something… beautiful."
He now really sounded like an old man.
Guess living here is going to be quite interesting.
"Hmm..." I grinned.
Compa looked at us in confusion.
It was truly a blessing.
I only hoped… that it would last.