In Oran’s dad’s point of view

My little brother and I grew up in an orphanage. I don’t remember much before being at that orphanage since I was only 2 when I got there, and my brother was a few months old. My little brother, Reo, was adopted and returned several times after the family realized his complicated medical conditions.

Most of our childhood was spent in orphanages and foster families. Thankfully, our experience wasn’t too bad, though it wasn’t peaceful either. We were often bullied throughout school for being orphans. Once we reached junior high, we got accepted into Pond.

There I met Barwick, a British exchange student who dreamt of being a doctor one day. We became good friends since I wanted to be a doctor too, in order to better help my brother and people like him. But there was something off about Barwick, I could never tell exactly what but he was different. My brother is quieter, he didn’t make many friends. His only friend was the student representative, Takagi. Takagi also felt a bit off. In the end they both came clean and told us they were demons, and that we were as well. Barwick is an Earth Elf and Takagi is a Cambion, half human and half demon (a pond Siren to be exact). This came as a big shock but once they explained everything, everything suddenly made sense. With a little help from Takagi’s dad and some research we were able to figure out our heritage. Our maternal grandfather was a demon and grandmother an angel, a forbidden relationship that would result in the death of both people and any descendants and related persons. Our mother was half elven demon and angel while our dad was a vampire. They sacrificed themselves to save us.

After I graduated, me and Barwick continued to college. Barwick is an elven demon, with healing powers so he wanted to focus on being a family or emergency doctor. I just wanted to help and protect my brother; I wanted to find a cure or someway make him better without having to feed on blood. Why is it that I am normal, but he is not? Angels aren’t meant to mix with other breeds, it creates problems and most children get illnesses or don’t make it at all. I guess I was the lucky one.

While in college I unexpectedly met the love of my life. A human girl, Arella. She was beautiful and intelligent. We both were in the doctor’s program, her focus was on cancer. She did not like me very much at first, but the more I bugged her the more she started to like me.

At this point, Reo never went onto college. He went straight into a small office job, where he and his boss fell in love right away (lucky). When Takagi’s father passed away, he took over at Pond as the principle. Once me, Arella, and Barwick graduated we all went our separate ways, but not quite. We all worked in the hospital just different floors; I worked in the emergency department, Arella a cancer center, and Barwick did pediatric care.

A year into our first jobs, Arella and I had our first child. We named her Ryui Yoshida. I chose the name Ryui because it reminded me of the ryukin goldfish. I always loved fish growing up, such fascinating and free creatures.

Two years after Ryui was born, trouble arose. Takagi warned that the demonic army was on my tail and investigating me. Another demon, probably someone just passing by, noticed me and could tell right away I wasn’t exactly full demon, angel, or human and reported me to the demonic army. At this point Arella had just announced she was pregnant again.

It hurt, but I had to run away. I didn’t want her or my children to be at risk. I wrote her letter explaining everything and wrote the name I wanted for our son, Orando for the oranda goldfish. I spent some time in hiding before I placed a protective energy shield over my family and surrendered myself to the demonic army.

Dear Arella, my love.

Our time together has been so short, but it has been the best years of my life.

I kept secrets from you. Big secrets that I wish I told you sooner, but I thought if I told you… everything would fall apart.
It ended up falling apart anyways, so I guess it didn’t matter.

Today was my last day with you.
Don’t look for me, don’t worry about me, please don’t hate me, and just forget me.

Just know that I am dying to protect what means most to me, my family.

They want to kill me, but I won’t give them that opportunity.
I love you, Ryui, and Orando more than anything in this world.

Orando…Do you like it? I named our son after the oranda goldfish, you know how much I love goldfish.

Maybe we will meet again, in another life. I hope I become a goldfish when I die, not one in a bowl but one in a lake or a pond where I am free.

If you are ever scared, do not be afraid. Trust Reo, Takagi, and Barwick, they will take care you.

If I had more time, I would have told you in person, everything, and answered all your questions. But time ran out so quickly.

I know this letter is a jumbled mess, but what do you expect for someone who paid you to write their essays in university?

I want to sleep next you and hold you one more time, so I must cut this letter short, so I have time. I hope you understand.