Natsume's Book of Friends Season 3 Episode 10 The Broken Mirror

Natsume's Book of Friends is a Japanese anime series that revolves around a teenage boy named Takashi Natsume who has the ability to see spirits. He is constantly struggling with his past as an orphan and the fact that he inherited a mysterious book from his grandmother. The book contains the names of powerful spirits that can be controlled by the person who possesses it. Natsume is on a mission to release the spirits from the book and find peace in his life. In season 3 episode 10, titled "The Broken Mirror," Natsume explores the complicated relationship between humans and spirits.

The episode begins with Natsume and his friend Tanuma exploring the forest. Tanuma asks Natsume if he ever feels lonely, to which Natsume responds that he used to, but now he has friends and a family. They come across a broken mirror and while examining it, they hear a voice. They realize that a spirit is trapped inside the mirror and decide to help it. They take the mirror to a local shrine for inspiration on how to free the spirit.

At the shrine, they meet a priestess named Kiko who offers to help them. She tells them that the spirit in the mirror is a yokai called a Sekigan, which is known for its ability to manipulate mirrors and reflections. Kiko explains that the Sekigan is most likely trapped in the mirror because it has been betrayed by a human, as spirits only enter mirrors voluntarily when they are well-treated by humans. Natsume realizes that the spirit must have been hurt in some way by a human, and is reminded of his own past struggles with his ability to see spirits.

Natsume decides to investigate the matter further and visits a nearby antique shop that specializes in mirrors. The shop owner tells him that he recently acquired the broken mirror from an old woman who had no use for it. Natsume realizes that the old woman might be related to the spirit in the mirror and sets out to find her.

Natsume and Tanuma eventually locate the old woman and discover that she used to work as a makeup artist. She tells them that she once had a Sekigan as a client and the spirit helped her create beautiful makeup looks by manipulating the mirrors in her studio. However, one day the Sekigan suddenly disappeared without explanation, leaving the old woman heartbroken. They realize that the Sekigan must be the spirit trapped in the mirror and that it has been away from the human world for a long time.

Natsume decides to return the Sekigan to the old woman and reunite them once and for all. He and Tanuma take the mirror back to her studio, where the Sekigan is finally released from its prison. The spirit thanks them and explains that it was betrayed by a human who had used it for its powers and then abandoned it. Natsume can relate to the spirit's pain and assures it that not all humans are like that.

"The Broken Mirror" is a poignant episode that explores the themes of betrayal, trust, and the complex relationship between humans and spirits. Natsume's empathy and kindness shine through as he helps the Sekigan find closure and reunite with its human friend. The episode shows us that it's important to treat all beings with respect and kindness, regardless of whether they are human or spirit.