by Yuki Midorikawa, 191 pages
Always the softy, Natsume follows the sound of crying into an abandoned house and discovers a little boy trapped in a box. But when Natsume releases him, the child mistakes Natsume for his captor and runs away. The older boy worries that the real culprit may still be after the boy and keeps an eye on him. His fears prove justified when he encounters a creepy axe-wielding yokai lurking about, but the closer he gets to the mystery the more uneasy he feels as something doesn't quite add up right.
Oh, poor Natsume just wants everyone to get along. He's a natural protector, comforter, and snuggler, and doesn't hesitate to tousle hair and hold hands and dispense hugs...or throw himself between the vulnerable and danger. That's why it's so hard for anybody not to love him, be they adorable little fox spirits or cynical exorcists or lonely river gods (or drunken tubby yokai cats). The foolish few who don't jump on the warm-fuzzy wagon have a tendency to get their comeuppance, so really it's wiser just to give in and make friends. Hee.
This volume also contains a funny little flashback about Natsume's grandmother Reiko and an unrelated short story about first love and high school.
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