A new morning and another day of university. This morning was normal with a breakfast and a good talk to Tanuki, at least. While I study, he has to stay at my apartment to take care; at least he hears my order. Of course he wished to go with me until the university shrunk, a perfect dream for him and nightmare to disturb me more. In a place full of people, the class being taught and if I have the bad lucky to meet Mika and Tanuki desires to meet her, how would be my life after these accidents? Does a mess bigger than yesterday? Who know?

Forget it! Time to study. It’s a new day, Vanz. Concentration!

I am arriving at my classroom, but while I was walking at street I had the impression that someone was looking at me hidden. I was suspecting that was Tanuki following me like yesterday, even not knowing. He should know one tactic to keep the eyes on me. If not, I am getting crazy.

I put my paws on the class and sit at same place of yesterday. Seconds later, Amerix appeared the same way than before: the black coat and hood covering his head. It’s not surprise that he was calling attention from everyone. I pulled his arm and he looked at me, pulling a smile, but not taking out his hood.

– I presume you like coats – I commented greeting him with my hand. Maybe a hug would comfort him, but I am lazy to lift.

– It’s cool to hide my fur – he commented blushed.

– I understand you – I think. The mix of fur he has I wonder if he suffered bully at life. – Will you sit at back?

– I feel more comfortable there – he looked at back, the place he sits. I looked back too just to have notion who sits there too.

– Understood. I hope you be alright.

– Me too.

I replied smiling to him while I watch him going at deep world, the back of classroom with a strange reply: “me too”. The way he hides his face with the hood and everyone watching him for some seconds worry me that he will be the center of attention, not matter what he is or does. He has the Japanese lineage while I have the Chinese, something that calls attention of everyone. Even when I lived with my father, I remember that when the students saw I have pulled eyes it’s like I am an alien. Everyone has curiosity about my family, likes and if I speak Japanese – because for them, Japanese, Chinese and Korean are all equal – and, of course, there were always who monk with me face.

No, Kona doesn’t enter at list of these people, despite that he doesn’t like me. I neither like him too. He is cold.

The otter teacher entered at class greeting everyone and receives the replies. I had to stop thinking in Amerix to put my mind at class, preparing my emotions and apprenticeship. I turn off my phone and I get anxious with the new class today. Thanks God that Tanuki doesn’t know how to use a phone to call me every time asking if I am alright or not. Everyone would think that he was my crush or nanny.

Crush is worse.

~

After the longtime of class it was time of breakfast and today I came prepared with breads with cream cheese and one package of cookie. Tanuki had given the idea to take tea with me. I would love to bring tea, but it would call attention from everyone. They would say I am gaucho carrying the bottle with hot water and mate on cup, usually bull horn or hoof. And I am not crazy; I already saw one person that came from the South bringing exactly all I said at beach when I travelled with my father. A bottle with hot water and the cup is a bull horn to put his mate and drink. I don’t know if I call it genius or crazy, but at least mate should be best than beer.

I search the same tree that I sat yesterday to connect my body with the few of nature that exists here hoping that nobody decided to sit there in circles. The break time is agitated and all you hear is noise created by mix of each one talking. Impossible to be a fox and had to hear what they are saying. Poor is who was born dog!

I found the tree free from crowd and boring people occupying space, except one that was sat behind the tree reading a book with the head down. I sighed seeing that I lose my sacred place for someone until I had the stupid fox curiosity to see who was occupying my place. Black coat with hood, blue hands…

It’s Amerix again, like yesterday; the same place and same pose. I am surprised that I am finding the first colleague sat at same place and alone again. I can see he loves to read, maybe his valve of escape. I give my steps until there again. Am I anxious to see him again? It’s strange to answer. I tried to call by his name in the middle of crowd talking loud out of our circle and lifted his head fast, again surprised that someone – specifically me – was there to make company with him, if is this what he desires so much. I judge he would like it. Nobody would like to be disturbed in the middle of reading.

– Did you come because of me? – he did this question like if it was suspect that I was following him.

– I would ask the same you sat on the place I like the most – we both blushed with this. – What are you reading?

He looked at cape and after at me, showing the cover. I thought weird for someone looks at book before replying like if he doesn’t know what was reading.

– The Art of War – he said showing the book. I lifted my eyes of curiosity.

– I already heard about this book, but I never read. Is it good?

– I began yesterday – he brought the book back to his arms. – I am enjoying a little. I always liked to learn something related the war and discipline.

I try to guess with my mind where he would apply the book in his life. I heard about the famous Sun Tzu, the period that the dynasties conflict between them every time because China I can speak that is the country that loved to put swords and arrows to move. Japan isn’t far away from.

I prepare to sit on his side aware to not let him uncomfortable. My mind plays trying to guess the lessons that this book teaches for the humanity and I won’t ask for someone who began to read, even the curiosity poking me. It’s good that he has the pleasure to read because I am a shame.

– You like to read – I commented. – Do you?

– I like, mainly folks and fantasies – what Art of War tells of fantasy is nothing if not the reality. – My mother encouraged me to read.

– This looks good because I am difficult to read. My father encouraged me for other things – I was opening the bag to grab my bread and the cookie package. I looked at him and he has nothing to eat. I don’t know if he will buy something or pass the break time hungry. – Didn’t you bring nothing to eat?

– I don’t. I am not hungry.

When I hear someone saying that isn’t hungry, I immediately doubt. I offer him cookies, but he avoids at beginning. I shrug dissatisfied.

– And you? – he asked looking at me. – Don’t you read?

– Who dare I have this good habit! – first bite given on my bread.

– Everyone says it – he sighed. – The majority I met prefer to watch movies, series or play games. It’s difficult to find someone that reads.

I don’t know if I take this as offense or unburden. I was looking at him to know his opinions.

– Games you like, don’t you?

– Yes, but I still prefer to read – Amerix commented looking at book and smoothing his finger at cape. – I am bad with games. The most I tried online I was a failure.

– I avoid playing online because is really difficult – this because I didn’t tell I am horrible too. – Literally my pastime is different too.

– Can I know? – he asked.

– Well, I like to meditate and practice yoga.

– I never tried these kinds of exercises neither sport.

He commented at moment I gave another bite. I had to wait to chew and swallow to reply while I think in what to comment about our hobbies, but suddenly my mind received a snap about other thing I had to discover soon: Yokais. Like he said to like fantasies and folks he should know about them too. This would kill my curiosity. I lifted my finger for him that looked at me waiting for the question.

– You said to like folks and fantasies – he nodded positive. – Do you have some book about Yokais?

– Yokais? Yes, two, I think.

– Two? – is there a lot to explain about these creatures? – I was needing to study about them.

– It’s cool, but you said that you difficultly read. Will you enjoy reading about legends? They are big books.

“One thing connects with other”, I was thinking. I don’t know if Amerix said it as threat or help. I really don’t have the habit to read books, but if I have to know about Yokais because of Tanuki and his stories, I should verify and study about them, their behaviors and where they live by myself.

– I hope. I already like the culture coming from China and Japan and because… – I tried to search right words to use – I was playing an old RPG game of feudal Japan and there are a lot of creatures – this I am not lying. I already played a game like this, but of course I understood nothing, absolutely nothing.

– Ah, serious?

– Yes. I have interesting to know a little about folks – mainly I am becoming aim for them.

– This looks cool, Vanz, but the books are big and massive.

Big, but not complete. It’s what I thought when I hear these creatures. If Tanuki said some percentage in number maybe is less than 5% and look that Tanuki is someone who understand very well about the world he lived.

And Amerix? Is he intelligent? I can try asking after I give another bite on my food. I still don’t comfort with the case of Amerix gets without having a breakfast. I offered again cookies and he avoided. Maybe I shouldn’t force anymore.

I noticed something curious: he with Japanese bloodline reading one Chinese work and me, Chinese bloodline, with Japanese work. It’s kind each one learning with other because share knowledge we don’t have this level enough to discuss and I don’t intend.

– Amerix – I swallowed another bite. – Can I ask something about these Yokais?

– You can, but I am not sure if I will reply all.

– I hope it isn’t difficult. What do you know about Onis?

He repeated the name, looking familiar for his mind. He closed his book with highlighter to guide where he stopped and looked at me.

– Onis are old known from the culture. They are huge and strong demons with horrible smell, looking like an orc – this I proofed with my eyes. – They live in the hell, some as guardians and others to punish damned souls, but they can have the lucky to go out and visit the Earth to cause chaos.

I was paying attention on each word pronounced by him.

– They are thirsty for fresh flesh, mainly people. Just a brave samurai can stop these monsters.

“Or a genie lamp too”, I thought remembering the scene of yesterday that Tanuki saved me and defeated the demon so easy, throwing him away at the sky. I had a knot in the stomach when I heard that they are thirsty for flesh and who would know that I am the flesh he hunted not because I am tasty – because I am not – but because they say I have kitsune bloodline.

– Why did you ask about Onis? – he looked at me worried with my ugly face on the flesh part.

– Because last night I had a strange nightmare – that became real – where I was running away from this big monster. He smells horrible and he uses a clef as weapon.

– Ah yes! Clef are their favorite instrument – he remembered this detail with a smile on the face mixed with worries. – It’s strange you had this nightmare, just from one creature you don’t know.

– Yes. Crazy’ don’t you think?

I know I shrunk my shoulders, having almost no idea of what I was speaking with him. I was feeling stupid with this topic. We should be talking about studies, the university, teacher and even our tastes, dreams, but talk about Yokai? It’s almost the same if we were geeks not talking about super heroes and comics. At least, Amerix doesn’t look like to enjoy this kind of universe and neither do I.

I kept in silence there finishing my bread, resting cookies that Amerix avoids. I have no idea what to talk now. What could I do? Talk more about Yokais? I would disturb him a lot filling questions about creatures that I don’t know. I should try to discover for myself and study; also, Tanuki knows very well about them – or I hope yes.

– Vanz – Amerix called my attention – I can lend my books for you if you desire.

– Serious, Amerix? – I looked at him without argument. – Won’t you miss them?

– Don’t worry with it. I believe you will take advantage studying about folks.

Maybe I am going to take advantage most than he thinks. I get so surprised how Amerix is a good man with me, attentive and needy at same time. My face sketched a pure smile with a pure company I am having in this beginning of class. Being far away from my father, grandfather, house, comfort and confidence, I am doing well meeting my first colleague and maybe future friend studying at same classroom, same course and same teacher. Of course, I can’t forget the incredible encounter with Mika and… Kona?

I try to forget this kind of person looking down, seeing the book he was reading. I don’t know if I was disturbing him to read again. Not only this; I am worried if he will pass the morning without breakfast.

– Aren’t you hungry, Amerix?

– Not so much. I can endure until the end of class.

– You are brave – I commented without hide the expression of surprise.

– Sometimes I think I am being rough with myself.

I would say that is the effect of Art of War he was reading, but maybe I am being stupid. His comment left a weak laugh and I couldn’t pretend it.

The alarm school rang. I didn’t notice again the time flying. It’s when you talk and you enjoy so much that lose the notion of time. I know we traded looks for some strange reason and lifted up at same time.

– Are you anxious for the next class? – he asked me to discover my mood today.

– On true, anxious with other things. – like being captured, eaten, smashed, whatever by Yokais. I forced a smile. – But I keep trying.

This is all I could say for him – for a while?

– We look like are at same boat.

He left a laugh with this comment that I didn’t understand at beginning. Even not understanding, his smile was a comfort for me (and for him).