Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor

While looking for Nyanko-sensei, Takashi Natsume comes across Mitsumi, a timid, small youkai with an important assignment. Tasked by his formidable leader Gantetsu, Mitsumi has been chosen as the year’s “Ishi Okoshi,” responsible for rousing Gantetsu from a long, deep sleep. Wanting to see Mitsumi succeed and earn his place, Natsume offers his help—but their efforts are complicated by the fact that others are also seeking to awaken the sleeping divine being, and time is running short.

Elsewhere, Natsume’s friend Kaname Tanuma begins receiving quiet visits from an unfamiliar man who speaks briefly and then disappears. Natsume soon realizes the visitor is a youkai posing as human, insisting he means no harm. Even so, as Tanuma’s condition gradually worsens, Natsume’s unease grows, and he starts questioning what the youkai truly wants—and why he has attached himself to Tanuma in the first place.