Natsume! I can tell you’re lying by the look on your face!

My grandmother kept the name “Natsume” her whole life. I never dared to ask any of the relatives I was staying with… I was scared to hear them say something bad about her or tell me how lonely she was.

- I don’t understand it. To humans, youkai are like a mist. Why protect them? 

- I couldn’t help it. My body moved on its own. It’s really important to me.

Tanuma: I asked once. About why he doesn’t tell people he can see youkai. I said the Fujiwaras would believe him. He said it was because he wanted them to stay smiling. I didn’t understand at first. Then I dreamed he was eaten by a youkai. Then I understood. “Oh, that’s what he meant.” Like for example, any time he is late, I wonder if he might’ve been eaten like in my dream, and it terrifies me. But Nishimura and the others don’t know anything, so they just laugh and wait. They think he must’ve just overslept. If they knew, the Fujiwaras would go pale any time he got his clothes dirty. They wouldn’t be able to smile at all. Natsume doesn’t want that. I’m sure it’s what scares him the most.