We’re back squarely in comfort mode this week. Natsume Yuujinchou is nothing if not safely reliable. You pretty much know based on who is – and isn’t – on the cast list what sort of episode it’s going to be. And most of the time a plot-heavy exorcist ep will be followed by a cozy one. And I suppose it will be like that right up until the finale arc, whenever that might happen. I certainly don’t want this show for surprises (which is why the Chobi-dragon thing packed quite a narrative punch).

This time around it’s Taki’s turn in the spotlight. There are rumors at school that she’s got a boyfriend, which has her fan club all atwitter. It turns out it’s not a boyfriend, but her older brother Isamu. He’s six years older but shorter than she is, and a college student who’s come home (which he rarely does, which has Taki worried). Natsume Yuujinchou is pretty much the opposite of Mushishi, which judiciously avoided familiar seiyuu and cast real children. Here, everyone of consequence is a big name – and in the case of Isamu it’s Fukuyama Jun (who, incidentally, I just found out actually does do the bus announcements in the town where I work, which I thought was just a guy who sounded like him).

Speaking of seiyuu, I just have to say for the nth time that Inoue Kazuhiko’s Nyanko-sensei is an absolute miracle of nature. I don’t know if it’s my favorite seiyuu role of all-time – I’ve honestly never thought about the question – but I marvel over and over at how great he is here. All the little nuances and trills and mannerisms he brings to Nyanko-sensei are very possibly my favorite thing about this series. He doesn’t even have that much to do this week but he just owns every scene he’s in.

The story itself isn’t thrilling or anything here, but it does pick up steam and have some nice moments. Isamu has in fact returned because he’s found a mysterious old skeleton key taped in his old diary, and has a nagging feeling it’s important. But he gets sick every time he goes in the house, which has Taki convinced he hates being around her. Isamu is also a confirmed skeptic (and kawaii otaku) whose hobby is going to places with local legends and trying to disprove them. He’s being possessed by some sort of shadow youkai Natsume assumes he picked up on one of those trips (though that will turn out to be an invalid assumption).

As it turns out the youkai isn’t such a bad guy. In fact he’s from the shrine behind Isamu’s college, and hitched a ride with him because it’s his only way to get back. And the key is for a hidden door behind the Phoenix Bookcase in the house, where he and his youkai-seeing grandfather stashed some stones they’d picked and painted for Taki when she was born. All’s well that ends well, Nyanko-sensei gets his bribery eclair, and Taki gets her stony gift. All completely non-essential material, and no series does non-essential better than Natsume Yuujinchou.