It’s time to go. Leaving my safe place, letting Tanuki at security and watching the world that I live. Seeing the park in my front, I breath the purity that the nature can give to me. And his hug? I don't know if hugs were a habit or culture of his folk, but I smiled, feeling a comfort coming from him. Hug is good. I know he wants to take care of me, save me, stay with me, but I imagine too if I will be able to endure such pressure of someone that came from a vase that my grandfather gave me. The new adventure I was having now I can have two adventures: university and a crazy servant taking care of me. I hope he can take care of my apartment. I have no idea about his habits and the way he maintains the cleaning, but I hope my place will be safe with him. I ask to God for it.

Walking by the streets observing each house, building and stores I have close to me. I know it will take twenty minutes to arrive at my university and it's good I can walk and maintain my health. I can see each store at my side: market, stationary store, clothes stores and so on. The people walking around maybe they are going to work or buy something at bakery. It's morning yet, so they should take a coffee, I think. I find nobody going at same direction I am going. Maybe I didn't have the lucky to find someone to go at university at same time.

I can see the clock tower of university where I am and it's cool. This will be my guide to know where I am and the distance missing. I am very anxious to arrive there. Just imagining I will be studying far away from everything I had and following my dream is a pleasure to put my life in risk and know what really is the world I am living. I imagine my father and grandfather praying for me, asking the God protect me from all the devils that appears at my way. My face shows a smile so gratifying that I can't hide, not matter if the people look strange for me. I am not ashamed.

Only with they discover Tanuki. So my shame will be my company.

~

Finally at my university. Huge with a beautiful garden, some people going in, others out to talk and a beautiful blue sky to rejoice my day. I can't wait to see my classroom and see the people I will study, even if I don’t make colleagues. I walk by the halls seeing a crowd, everyone trying to find their classroom, others just talking stopped. I presume the mine is on the second floor accordingly to the guides glued on the walls.

Zoology... Up the stairs, second floor. I can't wait. I was very excited to arrive. I go up the stairs, crossing many people, trying not to bump on them until that one woman bumped into me. Maybe it was an accident. I looked at her and I see...

– Mika!

My eyes got in surprise seeing that's her. Sure! It's her!

– Vanz!

That was her answer. When we met again, we hug without questions and not caring the crowd around us.

Ahh... Mika! A white and pure fox with pink streak in hair, the blue eyes rising as fire, the fur so well brushed as snow and her attention with me is a kind of heaven. I studied with her at school during four years and after we separated, I had any news about her. I was twelve years old when we studied together. And now, for the blessing of time, we are facing again with a blush on our faces. I am literally shy facing her again at same university that I dreamed so much to arrive. It was my unique moment to see her.

Alright! I am being exaggerated. I have a lot of opportunities to see her now that we study at same place.

– How have you been? – I asked looking at her after the hug. – Such years far away.

– I have been fine. I had any news about the old people we studied together – she smiled back while brushes her hair.

– Neither do I, but answer me: what are you doing here? – my curiosity about her course is big.

– I will study nursing here. I have been studying for the entrance exam and I did it.

– It seems so incredible!

It's funnier to discover and hear my vocabulary when I am with someone I like so much. It seems that my brain crashes at some part and I mess up the ideas and phrases I try to form.

Also, is she alone? Living here? Maybe she moved to here.

– Are you living here?

– Yes. My grandparents live here and I am with them for a while. Nursing is a long course.

– I know. Like the mine – I laugh a little, thinking funny. Why? I don't know. – I am studying zoology.

– Serious? I always thought you like animals and nature. I remember you liked to play with plants and tell me about animals and his behaviors.

– Yes, I remember – with a blush on the face, scratching my nape. I believe my eyes were shinning so high that everyone could notice the light. – And you liked to hear.

– You are the few men I had friendship.

– Serious? I didn't remember it.

Was I lazy when we studied? We laughed and began to remember the time we studied together and passed a lot of time playing and teaching her about I knew about plants. I think I had a good taste for botany. I don't like perfumes, but I love to smell the fragrance coming from each flower I meet.

Thank you, grandfather.

She said about few men she had friendship. I neither had men friends too. Who only I remember is one German shepherd that loved to disturb me and mocks my face. I felt it was a bullying with me, what disturbed me so much. At least, when Mika and I separated, it was the same effect with that dog I don't remember the name. It was a relief for me because nobody more mocked me. The few that tried gave up of me and I even mocked them as possible. I never felt comfortable joking.

Forget him! It's past now. I am with my friend back. It's very comfortable we talking like at old times we had. I was smiling with her while she tells me about her life during the school and that sweet unity was broken when I heard a voice coming from my back, calling by Mika. It was a male voice, bass, looking like he recognized her too. I turn back to look who would be the other lucky to find us.

– Kona?

No. Not lucky. An unlucky of my part. It's him. That tall German shepherd with pulled eyes looking at us with surprise and me with fear. Just seeing him I remembered his name. Crazy memory!

Mika replied his name. Now I remember who is him: the same who mocked me at school when we studied together with Mika: Kona. He has a closed face as always, like he doesn't like problems. Worse than that is that the girls of classroom had a crush on him. How I don't know. I just know he was looking at us and I got in freeze. I literally would have huge problems on that university studying with someone I don't like a little. Our eyes were trading. I should greet him in cold mod.

– I... Hi, Kona.

– You here, Vanz? It's a surprise – replying without a smile from his face, so typical from his personality.

– Really a surprise. Coincidence.

– Are you studying here too? – Mika asked.

– Yes. Me and my old friends rent an apartment when we passed by entrance exam – his hands on the pocked and looking at her while I am between two, trading my eyes for who is speaking. My soul frozen by the presence of someone so independent, intelligent and strong. – I am going to study mechatronics engineering.

– That seems pretty difficult. I am studying nursing and Vanz, zoology.

I got in shock to hear Mika saying my course. Kona was looking at me so serious that I imagine I would shrink only by his eyes.

– Animals is so your face – his comment I don't know if it was a compliment or a disgust in my face.

– Yes... – I begin to stutter shy. – Thank you. I always liked animal life.

– And flowers.

– Plants.

I corrected his comment, what didn't make difference for him. I couldn't hold facing him forever. For my blessing, his colleagues called for him. I remember well these two. David is a nice skunk, very talented with his bass and the calmest of the three; already Terrian is a strong bull terrier, taller than Kona and he has a affection with women. It's a weird and funny trio that they make.

– They are calling me – Kona was looking back to them. They were waving to us. Kona said it with a hard voice, like a disgusting. For me, it's a relief they call for him. He turned to us. – I have to go. Nice to meet you back, Mika.

– I say the same, Kona. Have a good class – the two embraced, what let me a little hopeless and uncomfortable.

– Thank you – after the hug, he looked at me and poked my chest with his fist. – Good luck, animal.

– Than... Thank you. You too.

He walks coming back to them, believing the class is at point to begin. I buffed when I see he is getting away from me. Buffed not of angry, but relief. He scares me, even if we grew up.

– Are you alright, Vanz?

– I am. I just never liked Kona – I sighed turning to her. – He is... I don't know. I feel I am very little before him.

– Don't get worried with it, Vanz. He isn't so bad as you think.

She looks like to comprehend my feelings even defending him. She looking at me with these wonderful eyes that shine my soul, hugging her books, the pure fur as no sin. Her presence would be enough to bring me back the perseverance.

– I know, Mika. Look. Thank you.

She didn't understand why I thanked her, but she decided to smile back, burning in me a pure peace she brings.

God! Does she bring me relief more than a yoga or green tea? I would pass my time with her if...

– I have to go at my class, Vanz.

– I understand, Mika – sighing again, seeing I will separate from her again. – I hope I can see you again.

– I hope to see you soon, Vanz. I missed you too much.

Did she say it too? Missing me? More than me missing her? I got in huge ice where I feel nothing of my soul and flesh. My mind in tsunami of dreams and eyes shaking so much with ears down.

– Ye... Yes, Mika. It's a pleasure to see you back.

– I know. Bye.

She smiled to me and turned back. I replied with my "good bye" shaking, the tongue losing firmness. It's a pity we didn't embrace again. I would love to feel it again.

Blushed, blushed and blushed is how I am. Meeting again the woman I loved and was my best friend of my entire life and a man that was my nightmare, the two things together, the weird yin and yang. Now I see that this adventure of my new life will be full of surprises and consequences. Tanuki, Mika, Kona, university... All at same place unless that other surprise comes from the sky.