| Writer | Yuki Midorikawa |
| Illustrator | Yuki Midorikawa |
| Published in English | 2010 |
| Publisher | Viz Media |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Age rating | Teen |
Mystery, Intrigue, and Subtle Feelings… with Yokai
Natsume’s Book of Friends had its reprints in tankōbon format continued with the third volume which came out in 2007 and the English translation followed in 2010. Chapter 10 initially ran in LaLa and the rest of the episodes in LaLa DX. Yuki Midorikawa provided the stories and art. The manga falls into supernatural fantasy and mystery genre focusing largely on the everyday life of the characters.
Chapters 9 and 11 exhibit gripping plots. The inciting incident of the former is the theft of the Book of Friends by a yokai while in the latter Takashi gets involved in a pursuit for a creature who threatens yokai. In chapter 10, the protagonist encounters a spirit who has lost connection with a human-friend. The final comics has Takashi bringing an abandoned egg home to raise up the one whoever comes out of it.
There are characters who cannot be understood straightforwardly so something unexpected is often revealed about them. Usually only Takashi, Madara, and aunt Tôko return in different episodes, which makes it especially satisfying to see the protagonist connecting more with Mr. Natori and Hîragi in chapter 11. This volume also shows Takashi saving a small yokai’s life. The comics aim at evoking emotions and discussions on being an orphan are one of the familiar tools for this. When Takashi learns that someone lost his ability to see yokai he has a thought-provoking dilemma: would it mean benefit or loss if the same happened to him? The subtle story of Hotaru recounts in a beautiful way how she accepts her unfortunate fate.
As always, the protagonist has to fight some hostile creatures every now and then. One dramatic scene will instantly provoke interest of the reader, hinting that something terrible has happened. Further on, Takashi and Natori undertake a daunting mission to incapacitate a monster whose activities raise a concern. More captivating than the perilous creatures, though, is the twisted and unpredictable development of plot. In particular, one chapter closes with a character revealing their complicated scheme that has tricked the main heroes.
The manga presents some adorable moments and characters and the artwork helps a lot in realising them. Yuki Midorikawa works superbly in visual storytelling through which she makes the feelings more vivid. The scenes that matter have no distracting details, leave a lot of empty area within the page and prove that less is more.
The third volume is a touching and intriguing installment in the Natsume’s Book of Friends series, having a balanced selection of character- and plot-driven comics. Strong themes and twisted plots with outstanding artwork make it a comic book worth the reader’s time.
Themes
Characters
Plot
Artwork
Content advisory
Erotic content: NONE
Takashi is lying on his back and a female yokai is on all fours above him in a way that may look suggestive but actually she has no such intentions.
Violence: SLIGHT
Takashi pressed between the hands of a large yokai. A yokai eating another one. Sword is in yokai’s head but it does not have severe results. Blood trail in a house. A large dragon/bird -like creature takes a yokai in its beak and is about to crush him.
Profanity: NONE
Word ‘damn’ used once.
Scary content: MODERATE
Various moments where characters are in severe danger. Characters are walking along a blood trail in a house, it looks very sinister. A yokai appears from below a mat, may feel a little creepy.
Alcohol, drugs, and smoking: SLIGHT
Yokai are drinking Japanese alcoholic beverage.
Mangas in Depth 
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