Original subtitles

ORIGINAL WORK BY YUKI MIDORIKAWA

Why are you interfering with the ritual?

I want to see an end to the Miharus.

W-e-l-c-o-m-e.

Where is Matoba?

This room is booby-trapped

so that the air thins out.

I'm worried about Natsume and how the ritual is going.

We need to get out of here quickly.

Matoba?

It does seem like we are in a bind.

We need to find a way to break the spell.

Yes, we do.

But this spell isn't particularly powerful.

Spells cast by the Miharus can be lifted if we identify the source.

It's a bit of a shame, to be honest.

Even if we can't get out,

Natsume may have put a stop to it all.

-Matoba… -You should make better use of people.

Those with ability should get things done.

And those with no ability should just get out of the way.

How much longer will he…

continue to pretend to be normal?

Matoba,

have you ever thought about quitting being an exorcist?

That seems to be where the spell is emanating from.

Can you perform that paper felling incantation, Natori?

The paper felling incantation?

Yes, I believe that would break the spell.

It seems as though this strange sorcery has only been cast on you.

Can you not see them?

There are numerous incantations to curse intruders written on the walls.

Although they're all crude and simple curses,

they can trick the vulnerable.

Tell me, Natori.

If you can't do it, I will clean up this mess for you.

I have no interest in the weak. Never show your face again.

Is this a storeroom?

Are you okay?

-I have to rush to interfere. -Hey…

-Exit… Exit… -Wait!

Why are you so set on interfering?

Why do you want to make them disappear?

Do you have something against the Miharus?

I thought her problem was with the Matobas,

but her real issue is with the Miharus.

I guess all exorcists are useless.

This house does seem full of traps,

but the Miharu clan is long gone.

Are you sure?

So you'll hear me out?

Yes, I will.

"This overflowing box that allows no-one to escape."

"No further tricks could be added to it."

"Corners paper thin."

"Show your true form, show your true form."

"You are but paper!"

There it is,

the real exit.

Brilliantly done.

Let's get going.

Do you know Masakiyo?

Masakiyo?

Yes. He was heartless and showed no mercy. He was a Miharu exorcist.

There was an old mansion on the other side of the mountain.

I lived in secret in a small shed in the yard.

However, one day…

A huge ayakashi

came to live in the storehouse.

Lots of other wicked ayakashi began to gather there too.

The people who lived in the mansion were always crying.

And I cried too. It was scary…

The people of the mansion called many different exorcists.

But none of them could get rid of the ayakashi.

But then, one day…

Run away, run away! The Miharu are coming!

Masakiyo, the ruthless Miharu exorcist is coming!

I was so scared I couldn't move.

But the powerful ayakashi presumed that they could defeat him.

But all were obliterated by the might of the exorcist of the Miharu.

So that led to your grudge against the Miharu?

But…

W-e-l-c-o-m-e.

-Sorry to keep you waiting. -W-e-l-c-o-m-e.

You're late, boss. Where were you?

I'll explain later. The Miharu are an interesting bunch.

-Hey, where is Natsume? -I guess he's looking for the saboteur.

Now then, I'm excited to see which one will make an appearance.

I will never forget the horrors I saw back then.

The Miharu mercilessly

annihilated the ayakashi one by one.

And then…

he found me.

Get out of here, now. I have no interest in the weak.

Never show your face again.

But he allowed me to escape.

Why are you angry then?

I have to repay

my debt to him.

Ever since that day…

Wait, state your wish.

I followed Masakiyo around.

But he never looked at me.

He didn't even speak to me.

Isn't that called stalking?

I continued to follow him, thinking that someday

I could repay the debt I owed to him.

But he was not a warm person.

He always had a stern look on his face.

But just once,

I saw him crying.

I wish that the house of the Miharu was no more.

I was happy to hear it.

I finally understood Masakiyo's wishes.

However, despite my efforts to destroy this house,

it never worked due to the presence of the Three Pillars.

Then I had a realization.

If I make the Three Pillars angry,

they might destroy the house of Miharu for me.

Yes, I must interfere in the ritual.

-Wait! Stop! -Let me go!

I will not let you get in the way

of my getting in the way.

Hiiragi!

-Let me go! -Ouch!

-Quick… quick! -Hey, wait!

The exit is this way, Natsume.

Thanks, Hiiragi.

It seems like she's so obsessed with repaying the debt

that she doesn't even notice that the Miharu are long gone.

Where is Natori?

With all of the energy in this house, I can't detect his presence. Let's hurry.

If we let her get too far, we'll never catch up.

Got it.

Please come this way.

-I wonder which one it is. -I don't know.

But we'll find out once we get into the pillar room.

The Miharu had their work cut out with this ritual.

This spirit feels dangerous.

If we anger it, the repercussions will be immense.

It's incredible that this pitiful creature doesn't even realize

that the family it wants to protect is dead and long gone.

There they are.

Matoba!

So that must be…

I'm going to stop you!

I won't let you!

-I'm going to stop you! -I won't let you!

If you come any closer to our group,

you will be exorcized, you one-eyed beast.

Natori…

-Are you okay, Natsume? -Natori…

-I'm glad you are safe. -I'm glad you're safe too.

Let's keep watch outside the pillar room until the ritual is finished.

OK.

-Was that yokai just now the saboteur? -Yes. But they had reason to do it.

An interesting one.

Please enter the room.

They have entered the pillar room.

When they read out the spell before the yokai in the room,

it will transform into its true form.

Those gathered in the room will then call its name and serve it alcohol.

If it drinks the alcohol,

then the ceremony is complete.

Thank you for your help, Natsume. We are here now.

-So let's fulfill the role we have here. -Yes.

It has begun.

-Let me pass. -I heard your story.

Neither Masakiyo or the Miharu

reside here any longer. They've perished.

Even if you disrupt the ritual, you won't get the payback you are looking for.

That can't be true!

We are standing in the house of the Miharu.

Masakiyo told me that the Miharu house should disappear.

He said it while crying.

Despite how strong he was,

he hunched over and shed many tears.

I wanted to console him,

but he would always ignore me.

So that is why I must fulfill his wish!

Get out of the way! I will enrage it!

No, you can't!

-Natsume! -The circle won't let you escape unhurt.

Let me go! Let me go, you brat!

What Masakiyo wanted to see gone

is already gone!

Masakiyo and the Miharu

are no longer here!

And they can't ever be brought back!

You're wrong…

But the Miharu house still stands here…

I need to pay Masakiyo back. He spared me.

Me. Someone so powerless.

Where is it? Where is it?

I have it here.

How about a drink, Iron Hooded Spirit?

Oh protector, one of the Three Pillars.

I shall protect you.

Having been invited while famished,

I will defend this house.

We will never let anyone destroy this house

be it with wind, fire, water or rock.

It is finished.

The ceremony. It is finished.

Natsume!

You fool.

-It's because -Natsume!

-you were clinging to an ayakashi. -Natsume!

Hey, let me pay you back. Hey!

Stop making me repeat myself.

Leave immediately.

I should never have let you escape.

If you don't wish to be exorcized, never show your face again.

You helped me

so I must repay my debt.

You were about to be exorcized on the whim of humans,

and are equally saved through their mercy.

How can you say you're in debt to me?

You are free.

You can go wherever you want.

You should live as you want.

Then I will stay hidden by his side.

So that he won't find me.

Masakiyo.

Please tell me the reason.

It's none of your business.

Leave me.

Make this the final day you think about me.

I wish that the house of the Miharu was no more.

He couldn't share this burden with a loved one.

But at the same time, he couldn't abandon and leave his family.

You saw what was in my heart, Natsume.

You saw things even I did not understand.

If the Miharu disappeared, then Masakiyo would surely be free.

But now it is too late.

It's all too late. All too late.

He told you something else too, didn't he?

"You are free."

"You can go wherever you want."

"You should live as you want."

The Miharu ritual ended in peace.

Thank you for your efforts, Natori.

-You were a great help. -Same to you.

If you hadn't been there, I'm not sure if I could've gotten out of that room.

I guess we will call it even then.

Now I don't have to worry

about this house for the time being.

You have to bear the burden of legacy.

I will never know what that is like.

But I have started to think in a different way.

We don't need to carry burdens all by ourselves.

Where did the one-eyed yokai go?

Who knows. Maybe she has a place to return to.

Or maybe she embraced her freedom and embarked on an adventure.

I am beat!

But you didn't do anything this time, Master?

We need to hurry and pick the sweet loquats!

Hey, you're forgetting the flag.

Matoba.

Thanks for your work today, Natsume.

I guess everything worked out just like you said.

It's hard not to pity the Three Pillars.

They still keep their promise to the household despite it being gone.

It's both humorous and absurd.

For a moment, I wondered if

a part of Matoba envied those ayakashi,

who go so far to fulfill their promise.

Matoba can never make promises to anyone due to his family circumstances.

-Is something wrong? -No.

This time we completed the ceremony, but I don't know how it'll go next time.

Will it be the White Nailed Apparition or the Redwood who comes?

Well, I guess by then someone else will be in charge,

so it's not for me to worry about.

I'm sure it'll be fine next time too.

As long as someone earnestly makes an attempt to greet them.

Don't be glum.

How strange? Did I look glum?

But as it is a gift, I'll humbly accept it.

This is a loquat from Yorishima's place, right?

When I was a student, I was curious and I would just stare at the tree.

There was one time when I stood looking at them with Natori,

and Yorishima gave us one loquat each.

They were so sweet and delicious.

My years of wishing to try one finally came true.

But not in Natori's case.

It seems he was given one that was a bit off.

I think Yorishima wanted to

give Natori a loquat, and he just gave me one because I happened to be there.

But I got the sweet one,

and Natori couldn't hide his pained expression to Yorishima.

Even in something so trivial, things don't always go to plan.

Matoba, we're ready to move out.

Sorry for the odd story.

There was really no point to the story, I guess.

See you again, Natsume.

Why did the house of Miharu ultimately fall into decline?

They had strong guardians so they should've been secure.

I believe them welcoming the Three Pillars ultimately cost them.

YORISHIMA

People often lack the ability to control what they have.

That goes for themselves, never mind the ayakashi.

It is incredibly rare for someone

to have something as powerful as Master or the Book of Friends with them

and not abuse them, like you.

Not abuse them?

He rides me around like a horse!

In the beginning,

I guess there was someone who wished to protect this place.

And there was an ayakashi who acquiesced to that request.

Even in something so trivial, things don't always go to plan.

Natsume,

sorry for getting you wrapped up in such an incident again.

Please take these ones as a token of my appreciation.

So please cheer up.

Do I look upset?

NEXT TIME ON NATSUME'S BOOK OF FRIENDS

I know where it is. The first page.

Is that something important?

I thought about planting a flower in the garden.

You don't leave people alone. But thanks.

Can I ask your name?

Subtitle translation by: Shane Forde