Natsume's Book of Friends: Volume 4

by Yuki Midorikawa, 191 pages

Always a softy, Natsume volunteers to help a lonely yokai track down an evil counterpart, accompanies Natori-san on a hot springs holiday that turns out to be more work than pleasure, and puts himself in danger to give comfort to a grieving yokai whose only memento of lost love is a shadow hiding in a painting of a wintry cherry grove.

Yokai have long memories. Luckily for Natsume, these days he generally leaves a good impression, though this can yield unexpected returns. For the first time in his young life, he has a sense of belonging and is happy. He has friends, people who care for him and treat him as family. Fear of losing them has kept him from being honest about his abilities, but he knows he'll have to tell them someday. He owes them that much. But he's not ready just yet.