Original subtitles

Natsume's Book of Friends

[7]

Hey, look!

Is that Natori Shuichi?

Wow, he's so handsome!

Please stay a bit further back!

Sorry to bother you during filming.

It's fine.

The director can be awfully particular, so I end up sitting around a lot.

It's a nice change of pace.

Oh, Toko-san said this was thanks for those biwa.

They're from a new shop, and very good.

Thanks, Natsume.

Anyway, I'll be going.

Nyah! Nyah! Nyah!

Oh, fine.

Stop whining.

You caught him?

The one who dodged my spell?

My name's Natori.

I'm new here, but if you'd like to hire me, I can help.

Wonderfully done.

Seal

I could learn a thing or two from you.

He's strong, but he's so new that he's not getting any normal customers, I hear.

He's just a little brat who wants to show off his power.

My days are filled with useless noise.

Look, that's rare.

Natori's napping.

He probably thinks he can slack off 'cause he's smart.

Lucky guy.

Hey, Natori.

Here are my notes.

At least write this part down.

It felt like it was definitely going to be on the test.

No, I...

Tomita! Let's go!

Okay!

Give it back tomorrow, then.

Hey, wait!

Let's go!

Who was that?

Tomita, right?

Tomita Haruomi, right?

In a world filled with casual malice,

some people were just naturally kind.

That's the kind of person I wanted to be.

Meeting! Meeting!

Western Plain Wednesday

The western plain...

on Wednesday.

If he came all this way, does that mean somebody wants to see me?

I'm back.

The

Outstretched

Hand

Tomita, thanks for letting me borrow your notebook.

What's wrong?

I'm just not feeling well today.

Tomita, let's go play soccer.

Sorry, not today.

What? You're no fun.

Sorry.

Oh, fine. Let's just do it next time.

Okay.

Tomita?

Our next class is in another room.

Are you okay?

Oh, yeah.

Thanks for coming to remind me.

You're a good guy, Natori.

I just came to get something I forgot.

You sure you're okay?

Yeah. I'll just take a quick nap.

Stop it.

Get away from him!

Go someplace else!

Huh?

Natori?

Sorry, were you waiting for me?

Nope, I wasn't.

I see.

I feel a lot better after that nap.

Ugly.

You are ugly.

Go away.

How long are you going to stay there?

You're useless.

Again?

I just need to ignore it.

Whether I can see it or not.

You interfered.

You interfered!

Ow...

So it's coming after me, huh?

I wasn't really thinking, but I guess grabbing it was a bad idea.

South Entrance

Nobody's really making contact with me, huh?

Oh, Shuichi-san. Hello.

Matoba Se—

Ow!

Get in here.

I'm trying to hide.

What's the next heir to the Matoba clan doing hiding under a table?

I was hungry. That's all.

That's not what I meant!

What?

No, nothing.

I'm not supposed to be here today.

If the Matoba show up too much, it puts everyone on edge.

And I don't have any real hopes for this meeting.

The era when you could easily find a prodigy is long gone.

The present head of our clan says that everyone here is from a declining family.

But I came anyway, since you can sometimes see interesting things.

And when you're hidden, you can hear interesting things, too.

That's a nasty little hobby, listening under tables.

I know it's undignified,

but gathering information is part of an important family's job, right?

Everybody's so stubborn.

They can't do anything on their own,

but when it gets out of hand, they come crying to us.

If you can find that cute, it means you have power.

So was it you who called me here?

No. Did someone call you? How did they do it?

A familiar? A letter?

Well...

It's got nothing to do with you.

Oh, I recognize that voice.

See you around, Shuichi-san.

H-Hey!

Takuma-san?

Shuichi-kun?

You came to this meeting, too?

Yes, I guess.

Hey, make me your familiar.

No, me. Okay?

You're all so annoying.

Begone.

I don't like men.

So make me your familiar.

Come on, Nanase.

Is that Nanase, from the Matoba clan?

Yes.

Huh? But the Matoba aren't supposed to be here today.

I'm surprised you know that.

The head of the clan isn't supposed to come, but ordinary clan members are allowed.

It's unusual for Nanase-san to be here alone.

Hello, Takuma.

Good evening.

You're as popular as ever, I see.

They're just a bunch of idiot monsters who are acting up

because they know the Matoba themselves aren't coming.

You're not taking more familiars?

Don't be so mean.

Nobody good ever wants to be a familiar for the Matobas.

The only useful ones are the ones that came to serve the Nanase long ago.

But one of them just became tainted and ran away.

It hurts to have someone you were counting on disappear.

A familiar?

Oh? Is this young man the Natori boy, the one everyone's talking about?

My name is Natori Shuichi.

The young master of the Matoba has told me about you.

I see.

I'm sure he told you all kinds of awful things.

I suppose so.

I'd like you to...

Like me to what?

Nothing.

At some point, I'd like to sit down and talk with you.

Now, please excuse me.

Takuma-san, is there something wrong with the Matoba clan's familiars?

Oh, yes.

The Matoba failed to fulfill a promise to a great yokai,

so they've lost a great deal of trust.

They can't form a bond with any good yokai, nor can anyone involved with them.

Natsume's Book of Friends

[7]

In the end, I never found out who called me.

Somebody was playing a prank.

Well, whatever.

I can take my time, little by little.

I just need to be someone who is needed by others.

You interfered.

You interfered.

An exorcist?

You're an exorcist?!

I'll make you suffer!

Natori!

You okay?

You look pale.

I'm fine.

If you say so.

Hey, Tomita!

Let's go to the school store.

Okay!

Just ignore Natori.

He's creepy.

Is he really?

Let's go.

Okay.

Ow...

I'll make you suffer.

I'll make you suffer. I'll make you suffer.

My body feels so heavy.

Oh, dear.

Hey, you.

You're possessed by a yokai, aren't you?

Are you the one who called me?

Can you see me?

Little brat.

I'm willing to tell you how to get rid of that thing on your right arm.

Do you know something?

But grant my wish in exchange.

You want me to trust the words of a yokai I barely know?

I'm ugly, so I can understand why you wouldn't trust me.

But it's not often that those who can see yokai pass this way.

I have to take my chance.

I can't say I'll be able to help.

But what is your wish?

Exorcise me.

Why?

I once served a man of power.

But he abandoned me because I was ugly and useless.

And ever since then, I've been sad, so sad...

How long am I to suffer?

I've suffered enough.

Enough.

I'm sorry, but I can't.

I can't exorcise one who is not evil.

I'm sorry.

I feel stupid.

I should've just lied and gotten her to tell me how to exorcise this thing.

I should've just ignored the yokai hurting Tomita.

I should've just had the strength of heart to exorcise that poor yokai,

or the strength to get involved without fearing reprisal.

It feels like it's getting better. Is there something I can do?

Shuichi-san, how are you feeling?

I made rice porridge.

Thanks, Sumi-san.

Leave it there.

Oh, and you have a visitor.

Hello, Shuichi-san.

Matoba!

What are you doing here?

Wouldn't it cause trouble if someone saw you visiting the disgraced Natori family?

It would, indeed.

And the barrier here is old and full of holes.

So come on, let's go.

I'm sure you're not busy,

so let's do an experiment together.

An experiment?

I'll rip off that thing on your right shoulder.

What will you do?

When did you notice?

I noticed a burning smell coming from you during the meeting.

I couldn't see it then, but now I can.

It's absorbing your power, right?

But this one is...

What?

Never mind.

So, where did you find it?

It grabbed onto me when it was wandering around the school.

No, sorry.

It was possessing a classmate.

Did that classmate do something, you think?

Something to make it possess him?

I don't think he's the type.

What is he like?

His name is Tomita Haruomi.

He's cheerful and kind.

I don't know much else.

I see.

Ow.

Huh? That didn't do it either.

You really are experimenting, huh?

Of course.

I thought we might be able to use this yokai again, but I guess not.

"Again"?

It's all puffed up and can't understand speech anymore.

It's too far gone, I'm sure.

Once it shows itself, we separate it with this talisman,

and lure it into this pot.

Thanks.

I'm not just here for your sake, Shuichi-san.

Our goals are merely aligned for now.

You're not going to take a familiar, Shuichi-san?

A familiar?

I know if I had a yokai who would make a promise with me,

I would treasure it.

Here it comes!

I call its name, and nothing of color answers.

By this paper, be separated from thy vessel...

You who taints thy vessel, begone!

It came off.

Dinnertime.

What is that?

Matoba...

Shuichi-san?

Seeing the happy look on his face as he closed the lid, I understood.

He really didn't come to save me.

He probably just wanted to feed whatever he had in that pot.

Where are we?

Your yard.

It's very nice.

Did you carry me here?

Seiji, what are you doing with that thing you're raising?

It listens to me, just a little.

Oh, Shuichi-san.

Don't tell Nanase about this.

Don't tell Nanase-san?

See you around.

Thanks for your help.

If you ever get in real trouble, come here.

I can at least listen to your problems.

I'm fine.

I'm totally fine.

I was curious about what he said, so I looked into it a little.

Perhaps it was Nanase who called me to that meeting,

to exorcise the familiar that fled,

because the head of the Nanase clan two generations ago was named "Haruomi."

The same name as Tomita.

Did the name "Haruomi" attract it?

Was it longing... or hatred? There's no way to know.

But perhaps Matoba took care of the problem in secret, for the Nanase clan's sake?

He makes me angry, but I never saw that pot again.

You're not going to take a familiar, Shuichi-san?

I...

I can't exorcise you,

but will you teach me things?

You can ignore me if you like,

but if you'll talk to me...

Those vines are snake gourd.

So can I call you "Urihime" (Gourd Princess)?

I have to move forward, too.

Overcome my troubles one by one.

Striving to become the person I'd like to be.

Watch Us Again!