#that would be (8x3)+(30x3)+40=154 years | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

coquelicoq · 1 month ago

Text

if we assume that each of the three pillars comes exactly three times for a total of nine times, and we know that the 7th time it was the 40-year guardian, and if we assume that was her final visit and the last two visits will be split between the 30-year guardian and the 8-year guardian, we can calculate how long ago the miharu family made that deal: (40x3)+(30x2)+(8x2)=196 years. 196 years ago it was 1828, but i think this is supposed to be set in the 1980s or 90s, so call it the late 1700s. that's the kind of thing matoba as the head of the matoba clan has to concern himself with - deals with youkai made by people 200 years ago from families that don't even exist anymore. it's an interesting contrast to the thing he says to natsume at the end of this arc, about the 9th visit, which is 30 years away, being someone else's problem. he's embroiled in the past but doesn't even think he'll get to have a future.

#however i don't think we can assume either 1) that each of the 3 pillars comes exactly 3 times #or 2) that the 7th visit was the 40-year guardian's final visit #based on the end of the arc when natsume asks who will come for the final visit and specifically asks if it will be #the 40-year guardian again. and matoba is just like idk not my problem #if they each come 3x then he should be able to predict which it will be for the 9th visit by process of elimination #(unless the miharu records are missing or something)#and if the 40-year guardian has already done all her tours then matoba should at least be able to say it won't be her. and he doesn't #but i still think 196 is a reasonable ballpark just because we know there have been 7 out of 9 visits #and they're splitting it between them in some way even if not perfectly equally #natsume's book of friends #natsume yuujinchou #matoba seiji #natsuyuu meta #miharu loquats arc #my posts #i think the only assumption we can safely make is that it's never the same guardian two times in a row #i guess the lower bound would be if the 8-year guardian and the 30-year guardian took turns for the first 6 visits #that would be (8x3)+(30x3)+40=154 years #and the upper bound would be if the 40-year guardian started and then switched off with the 30-year guardian up to visit 7 #that would be (40x4)+(30x3)=250 years #both of which seem highly unlikely. so the reality has to be between those two extremes and 196 seems pretty reasonable #and in any case even if it was only 154 years ago...that's still a really long time ago

44 notes · View notes