OVA
Description
Reiko Natsume, maternal grandmother to Takashi Natsume, passed her formidable spiritual power to her grandson. She bore a striking resemblance to Takashi, characterized by long, dusty-blonde hair, amber eyes, and a characteristic slight smile. This likeness often caused youkai to confuse Takashi for Reiko. She was frequently depicted in her school uniform, sometimes torn or marked by injuries like bruises from rocks thrown by shunning human children.
Socially isolated and despised by both humans and youkai, Reiko exhibited bullying behavior towards both groups. She challenged spirits to games or fights, compelling defeated youkai to inscribe their names in the Yuujinchou (Book of Friends), binding them as servants. While these actions initially suggested a desire for control, they stemmed primarily from profound loneliness and a craving for companionship. Despite an outwardly apathetic or mischievous demeanor, she was sensitive to others' negative assumptions and used bullying as a coping mechanism. Unexpected kindness occasionally surfaced, such as aiding Shigeru in an exorcism or trying to return a stolen doll to a child, though humans frequently misinterpreted her motives—like the doll's family accusing her of theft. Such experiences deepened her withdrawal from human contact, though some youkai glimpsed her softer side during unguarded moments.
Her ability to see and interact with youkai caused human ostracization, driving her towards spirits, though she often vented her frustrations on them. The Book of Friends became her tool to compel youkai obedience, employing methods considered forbidden by exorcists like Natori, such as using saliva and breath for sealing. Her formidable power allowed her to defeat even strong youkai, often wielding a talisman-adorned baseball bat defensively. She possessed knowledge of sealing and exorcism techniques, likely learned from defeated spirits. However, she was notably forgetful, frequently neglecting promises or meetings with youkai, and had poor table manners, which sometimes caused practical issues like pages sticking together in the Book of Friends.
Reiko formed complex relationships with youkai like Hinoe, Misuzu, and Madara. Her bond with Madara (later Nyanko-sensei) was particularly intimate; he could imitate her form and habits, stating she was one of the few humans he respected. She died young under a tree under unknown circumstances. Her death left many youkai waiting indefinitely for her return, a legacy Takashi later addressed by returning their names. She never married and had a daughter (Takashi's mother) out of wedlock, with the father undisclosed. Human society largely forgot her after death, though youkai remembered her—often negatively due to her binding of their names, though some recalled her kindness.
Her legacy persisted through the Book of Friends, which became a target for power-seeking spirits and exorcists. This forced Takashi into resolving the contracts and conflicts she left behind. Flashbacks and spirit encounters gradually revealed her life's tragedies, including her orphaned status and the isolation that shaped her actions. Her influence underscored themes of inherited trauma and the possibility of reconciliation as Takashi worked to free the bound youkai while understanding her loneliness.
Socially isolated and despised by both humans and youkai, Reiko exhibited bullying behavior towards both groups. She challenged spirits to games or fights, compelling defeated youkai to inscribe their names in the Yuujinchou (Book of Friends), binding them as servants. While these actions initially suggested a desire for control, they stemmed primarily from profound loneliness and a craving for companionship. Despite an outwardly apathetic or mischievous demeanor, she was sensitive to others' negative assumptions and used bullying as a coping mechanism. Unexpected kindness occasionally surfaced, such as aiding Shigeru in an exorcism or trying to return a stolen doll to a child, though humans frequently misinterpreted her motives—like the doll's family accusing her of theft. Such experiences deepened her withdrawal from human contact, though some youkai glimpsed her softer side during unguarded moments.
Her ability to see and interact with youkai caused human ostracization, driving her towards spirits, though she often vented her frustrations on them. The Book of Friends became her tool to compel youkai obedience, employing methods considered forbidden by exorcists like Natori, such as using saliva and breath for sealing. Her formidable power allowed her to defeat even strong youkai, often wielding a talisman-adorned baseball bat defensively. She possessed knowledge of sealing and exorcism techniques, likely learned from defeated spirits. However, she was notably forgetful, frequently neglecting promises or meetings with youkai, and had poor table manners, which sometimes caused practical issues like pages sticking together in the Book of Friends.
Reiko formed complex relationships with youkai like Hinoe, Misuzu, and Madara. Her bond with Madara (later Nyanko-sensei) was particularly intimate; he could imitate her form and habits, stating she was one of the few humans he respected. She died young under a tree under unknown circumstances. Her death left many youkai waiting indefinitely for her return, a legacy Takashi later addressed by returning their names. She never married and had a daughter (Takashi's mother) out of wedlock, with the father undisclosed. Human society largely forgot her after death, though youkai remembered her—often negatively due to her binding of their names, though some recalled her kindness.
Her legacy persisted through the Book of Friends, which became a target for power-seeking spirits and exorcists. This forced Takashi into resolving the contracts and conflicts she left behind. Flashbacks and spirit encounters gradually revealed her life's tragedies, including her orphaned status and the isolation that shaped her actions. Her influence underscored themes of inherited trauma and the possibility of reconciliation as Takashi worked to free the bound youkai while understanding her loneliness.