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IM SO HAPPY WITH THE S7 ANNOUNCEMENT
October is so far tough T_T
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I doodled…
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Do you guys ever think about Matoba's complex abt the clan.... me too...
[Image description from alt: Manga screencaps from Chapter 102 of Natsume's Book of Friends. Matoba says: "The Matobas are the most powerful clan in the current exorcism industry. Nobody would dare antagonize us openly. They would have no chance against us. By the same token, we're a reliable escape when they run into trouble. As long as they still need us, they would never ruffle feathers, even the disgruntled. Our prescence... as the indisputable powerhouse gives an assurance of *balance* in the industry." Natsume says: "A reliable escape..." Matoba replies: "Heh. Not everyone... has a benevolent protector like your kitty cat." The next panels are when they are in the pottery kiln going down the stairs. Matoba says: "So, Natsume... now you know... why we have to remain more powerful than the others. I would do anything necessary... to maintain that power." End image description.]
So like. Here there is a very clear connection between power and safety bc the Matobas must become powerful to be a pillar of protection or safety to others or a "reliable escape". So anytime Matoba is talking about power or even maybe collecting yokai to use, it's for the benefit of protecting others from yokai.
I also really like his line of "I would do anything necessary to maintain that power" bc it really helps in understanding some of the fucked up things he did like. Blackmail a kid to help you catch a yokai at a meeting? It posed a threat to the Matobas & might make them less powerful, so destroy it to maintain power! Shoot Nyanko-sensei so his blood awakens a powerful yokai underground? That was to see if the yokai was fit to be used by the clan so they can be powerful! Etc. Etc. It's more succinctly put by this panel:
[Image description from alt: Manga screencap from Chapter 25. Matoba smiles, saying: "I'll use whatever I have available to me. My job is to protect people, and I need stronger yokai to do it. That's all." End image description.]
So, considering all of that:
[Image description feom alt: Manga screencaps from Chapter 71.6. Natori says: "...I wonder how long the Matoba clan can stay at the top." Matoba replies, smiling: "Ha ha, who knows? But *I* won't let us fall." Natori looks at him, thinking: "I suppose..." The next image shows another part of the chapter. Matoba tells Natori: "You can't protect anything if you're not powerful, Shuichi." Natori looks back, thinking: "I think..." End image description.]
I think the emphasis on *I* here is important bc like. Now we know something of his family w Shinobu leaving the family and his parents presumably being dead which leaves him to be the clan head at 23. Since he sees the absolute necessity of the Matoba clan in the industry, he is determined to not let it fall, especially since the responsiblity is on him now.
Adding to that, though I cut it out, Natori continues his thought saying: "I suppose... there's nothing riding on my shoulders. I wonder if... that's why the world seems so unstable." Which adds to the whole Matoba feels responsible for the clan maintaining power because people's source of protection is riding on its shoulders.
[Image description from alt: Manga screencaps from Chapter 93 after talking about Natsume. Natori says: "Mr. Matoba..." Matoba interrupts: "Use the tools available. The capable get things done. And those who can't should stay out of the way. ...How long is he going to pretend to be normal?" Natori coughs and says: "Mr. Matoba... have you ever considered quitting the exorcist business?" Natori looks at Matoba, but Matoba doesn't look back and doesn't reply. End image description.]
"Have you ever considered quitting the exorcist business" ICONIC, TO ME, bc like. So here he's talking abt Natsume, basically implying he's capable therefore should get things done. Before this he said that if they'd stayed trapped, Natsume could have solved the whole thing himself. Because Matoba knows Natsume is powerful and capable therefore he should contribute to exorcism stuff, but he especially wanted Natsume to join the Matoba clan to, again, help maintain its power.
HOWEVER. The part that gets me is him saying: "How long will he pretend to be normal?" Bc then he's implying that, if you have power, you are inherently obligated to use it for what it's best suited for. Like. How long is he going to "pretend" to be "normal", in which pretending indicates defying your nature and "normal" is being outside of the exorcism business. Matoba sees Natsume having a normal life outside of exorcism even though he has high spiritual power & can see well as pretending.
To which, Natori says the best question ever bc you would think that in response Natori would say something like "keep Natsume out of the exorcist stuff" but INSTEAD. HE SAYS. Have you ever thought abt quitting the exorcist business. To Matoba. Bc he knows that Matoba feels very obligated to his responsibility as the clan head that fell on him given that the rest of his family cannot or won't do it. But he sees the Matoba clan as a necessary prescence for the safety of people against yokai. So in his mind he HAS to fill in this role.
And when Natsume asked him this same question before he was like lol no, but when Natori asks he just doesn't answer. Bc in his mind maybe quitting was never an option because he was the last one left who would be the head of the Matobas and keep it powerful and keep others safe, and without him, there would be no pillar of safety for others because the Matoba clan wouldn't be there or wouldn't be as strong. But the thought has 100% crossed his mind, but he knows it's not an option for him.
So really, he sees living a normal life with exorcist talent as "pretending" because he's projecting his feelings about being the only one inherently able to and obligated to fufill the role of the Matoba clan head to keep the clan powerful onto everyone else he sees as capable/powerful.
In which case, him serving a purpose that he specifically is suited for without regard for his own desires that don't align with the purpose is very similar to the definition of a tool.
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