Natsume Yuujinchou Go – 02

I like a girl who knows what she wants

It really feels like Fall is here now…especially since the colder weather has already weakened my immune system enough to get me sick. Sigh. Still, it was nice to keep cozy (despite sniffles) watching a this week’s episode featuring a heart-warming youkai tale about a little girl trying to do a good deed.

Natsume just can’t help himself when a stray youkai comes a-knocking at his door, asking for a favour. It was actually funny seeing him try and refuse an offer from the towel youkai, because we all just knew he would cave in. It’s inevitable; the whole show revolves around Natsume going to great lengths for youkai he’s only just met. Part of why his emotional burden is so heavy is because he gets attached to every single youkai he meets, and sometimes he doesn’t know what to do with the (sometimes painful) bonds he forms.

When you step out the shower after washing your hair and you can’t find your towel

The story begins with a childish youkai who simply wants to return a towel she was given by a human who happened to see her one day. Unfortunately, he can no longer see her, so that made returning it exceedingly difficult since she wanted him to acknowledge her one last time. Now that she realizes how quickly the life of a human is extinguished in comparison to the decades-long lifespan of youkai, she’s currently settling on returning it without ever speaking with him again.

It’s a bittersweet story. Although she remains cheerful throughout the episode, even at the crushing moment when Sougo can’t see or remember her, Natsume is very outwardly disturbed. It’s not uncommon for him to wonder what’s the point of forming bonds with youkai, and so he does it yet again this episode in response to this one-sided friendship. It’s just sad that youkai can become so deeply attached to people who can’t even see them, and will die in what feels like the blink of an eye for a youkai. It’s too depressing. This seems especially sad in the case at hand, where the demon is so darn adorable that it’s a shame all her efforts aren’t being noticed. She waited for him at the bus stop for 50 years and now she has to just be satisfied by giving her towel back to a guy who doesn’t even remember her. No final goodbye, no last conversation, no closure…just…the end of a relationship.

That towel probably smells REALLY BAD after 50 years

Natsume tries to make it right by making him give her another towel as a sort of “yes, I received your gift” sort of confirmation, but that feels a little forced. Yes, it makes her happy, but it doesn’t really grant her wish. It’s the best she could get in that situation, and she has no choice but to be consoled with such a small trinket.

Although it’s saddening to think of how Sougo didn’t remember her, it’s not one of those “if only we hadn’t met” sort of situations. She’s still glad that she was able to encounter such a kind human, even for the briefest of moments. That’s partially why, I think, she can remain so positive throughout all this. It’s endings like these that remind Natsume that good things can come out of humans and youkai becoming friends.

On a side note, I must say that I’ve always liked how Natsume Yuujinchou doesn’t just shove everyone else to the side while Natsume does his thing. They’re still part of the story. Natsume still talks with his friends, takes interest in their problems, and communicates properly with his “parents” (in fact, he gets scolded by them when he just runs off). A lot of shows about youkai tend to just ignore all the classmates who don’t have that power. However, they’re an integral part of Natsume’s growth, as before he would only talk to youkai. I liked that Satoru’s story kind of mirrored Natsume’s youkai dilemma, adding that human component to the mix.

This was a very touching episode, filled to the brim with bittersweet moments. I simultaneously love and hate the scene where Sougo perks up when the cute youkai child speaks…but it turns out he was only attending to the sound of the rain. Sigh. So close. Still, it’s better for it to end this way. Natsume doesn’t take his special ability to view youkai for granted since he knows it’s so unique. Since he’s one of the very few who can help these guys, he takes it upon himself to go above and beyond what any normal person would do for a stranger. It’s incredibly sweet. I forgot how nice Natsume is…and how not-nice Nyanko-sensei is. Mochi monster, indeed!

About Overcooled

A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.