Natsume's Book of Friends (夏目友人帳)

Reiko Natsume!

Huh? Huh?

My name is inside your book.

-I'd like it back. -Huh.

I'm not Reiko. I just look like her.

Puppycock.

You're most definitely Reiko Natsume.

No, I'm not.

Reiko was my grandmother.

-I'm Takashi. -Lies. You aren't her grandson.

You're Reiko herself.

No, I'm not. Hm?

-Hm? -

Holy crap!

Dude, what gives?

I saw a-a woman's ghost.

Was she hot?

Spill it! How sexy was this ghost?

Well?

Really, Natsume?

You used sixth period to nap?

I can't believe you.

Something good on TV last night keep you up, buddy?

Nope.

I've been able to see strange things

-ever since I was a kid. -

Things that appear invisible to other people.

For the most part, they're beings called "yokai."

I got this power from my grandma,

Reiko Natsume.

She used to battle the yokai she encountered

and take their names when she won.

Having a yokai's name lets you control them

and my grandma's collection,

AKA the "Book of Friends," was passed to me.

So now I spend a good bit of time and energy

returning the names to their rightful owners.

Huh. Huh.

Am I hearing things?

A pot!

I know pots can roll,

but not like that!

What? You're getting chased by pottery now?

Yeah.

So it was either yokai-related or designed to roll vertically?

Since you managed to get away from it

without a scratch, it can't be that powerful.

Sure hope so.

Come to think of it,

how did my grandma protect herself?

Whenever I return a name,

I see visions of her smiling, but that's it.

It's the same every time.

She's always smiling,

and always alone.

See you later! Bye! Be safe!

What's a "Yummy Macaron?"

Are they sweet? I bet they are!

Buy me some! Come on!

- Not now, Master. -My sweets!

Focus! The watch shop is right there. Huh?

Yes, it's true!

My boy finally made it into that school.

Which is quite the relief, of course.

I'm jealous.

Mine's got exams next year.

-Do you know that lady? -Yeah.

We met at a family gathering a while back.

Hm. Shall we be off then?

Not just yet.

Shouldn't waste a chance to talk to my relative.

-What? -See you around.

-Bye! - Hello, ma'am!

Huh.

Have we met?

A long time ago.

I grew up a little bit.

Do you remember a kid named Takashi?

Let me think.

Oh!

Hi!

Do you live somewhere close?

Sorry we couldn't take you in back then, but, um...

It's fine. It all worked out.

Plus, I'm the one who's sorry.

Yes, well,

even children shouldn't get away

with making games out of scaring people.

Yeah, it wasn't cool.

But since I have you here, I'd like to ask you something.

Could you or anybody you know

tell me about my grandma on my mom's side?

Wait, the Natsume side?

That's right.

It would be nice to learn more about my mom's relatives.

I see.

Thing is, there wasn't much family

for the Natsumes to claim.

They were aloof,

which is why your care fell to our side.

Although I do remember how crazy your grandmother was,

so perhaps it was for the best.

Got worse when your mother was born--

I'm sorry, ma'am. I shouldn't have asked.

It isn't exactly an easy subject.

I appreciate you, though.

No worries.

You take care, okay?

-Hey, Natsume! - Natsume!

Oh, Tanuma.

Why are you here?

Um, I was just shopping in that store there.

Then I walked out and saw you.

So, you heard that just now?

Huh.

No, but I saw her leave.

And your face.

-Who is she? Old friend? -Huh.

I mean, forget it. My bad.

No, I want to tell you.

Huh.

She's related to my dad.

I asked her about my late grandma.

But she said the same things everyone else says about her.

Huh.

Grandma Reiko could see yokai, too.

So she came off as weird or not right in the head.

And it just bugs me when that's all people remember.

It's depressing.

And apparently,

she was unmarried when she gave birth.

My mom had no idea who her father was.

They say...

she got dumped the second after the guy knocked her off.

Natsume, Look.

If you don't feel comfortable, we can drop it.

I'm fine.

I'm just afraid of what other awful things I'll learn.

But...

The Reiko most yokai remember is different.

Like, almost completely different.

Which is nice.

Hey, Natsume,

I think it's great how much you still love her.

I do.

Thanks for saying that.

And for listening.

I'm sorry, Master.

Hm? Why? What for?

The stuff I said.

The Reiko that you and the other yokai knew

seemed happier.

I didn't want to tell you how my relatives remember her.

You aren't talking sense.

But then again, you often baffle me.

- -Hm.

I found you at last, Reiko.

Now, return my treasure to me.

You've got the wrong Natsume.

And by treasure...

Do you mean your name?

If it's in the Book of Friends, I can actually return--

Silence! Dirty thief.

Hold on a sec.

What'd she steal?

What you stole was my treasure.

You took my irreplicable friend.

And I demand you return her.

Never fear, Master's here!

If you refuse to give her back,

I'll take something you find precious instead.

Like what?

Takashi! Dinner time!

Oh no, you don't!

- -

Did we really just lose a friggin' pot?

Though I don't sense humans, there could be something else.

Hey, is anyone home?

- -Huh?

Hm.

There's something you need from me?

Just a little help.

I, um, lost sight of a pot yokai around here.

It was saying my grandma has its special treasure.

Grandma?

Yeah, I guess she took something from it.

Oh, you didn't know?

Reiko Natsume pilfered a doll from that pot years ago.

Huh?

It was a very beautiful doll at that.

And she stole it?

You sure?

Well, she was very lonely, so why wouldn't she want it?

Since you're her grandson,

you should sort through her things and look for it.

If anyone could help, surely it's you.

Hey, I think she called that human Reiko.