Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi • This Monster Wants to Eat Me - Episode 13 discussion

# Source Material Corner

Reply to this comment for any source-related discussion, future spoilers (including future characters, events and general hype about future content), comparison of the anime adaptation to the original, or just general talk about the source material. **You are still required to tag all spoilers.** Discussions about the source outside of this comment tree will be removed, and replying with spoilers outside of the source corner will lead to bans.

The spoiler syntax is:
`[Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<`

# **All untagged spoilers and hints in this thread will receive immediate 8-day bans (minimum).**

Merry Christmas, everyone!

In the end, it's just *'I want this monster to eat me.'*

Making it to the end, I didn't think Miko would end up #1, but here we are. I suppose it's just my natural attraction to 'side characters' but calling Miko that is an injustice, especially considering all the [nonsense she has to deal with.](https://i.imgur.com/UG0Y2XI.jpeg)

[removed]

Did they make it to Christmas in-universe?

That yuri handholding near the end, but not the joyful type with Hinako saying sorry but Shiori refusing to forgive her.

Hinako put up a facade, pretending she enjoyed the trip with Miko and Shiori.

Episode ends with Hinako wearing those clips she got during the trip and looking at her family photo.

This was a heavy show that I greatly enjoyed! I'm addicted to its OP (Sacrifice)

What a gift from Shiori, placing the hairpin on Hinako's head just like she did to her a while back. It's also placed on the right side of her head, making a mirror image to Shiori's left. The best part, however, was the Monday after where Hinako placed both hairpins herself. It showed how much she treasured the gesture.

well, are we going to witness Shiori eating Hinako? well im pretty sure we know the answer to it already, but i do hope we get a s2 of this, i enjoyed it alot

Fantastic finale, that convo with the fireflies was just phenomenal. Great show overall, fingers crossed for a season 2, feels like we merely scratched the surface of the story and their relationships.

No cliffhanger and Shiori choosing to be the Monster Hinako wants her to be...what a depressing ending...

Shiori just wanted to drink some alcohol. Curse you underage drinking laws!

All of us already know Hinako is unlikely to fully return to her cheerful self, but I am satisfied knowing a small part of her enjoys spending time with Miko and Shiori. May this small part of Hinako continues to grow.

Shiori may not be familiar with technology, but she is definitely skilled at photo bombing. Lol!

Miko remains the best girl in my heart! Everyone, regardless of human or yokai, needs a friend (or guardian deity) like Miko to spur you on in life!

The combination of yuri, drama, horror, and comedy, along with the performances of Reina Ueda, Yui Ishikawa, and Fairouz Ai as [Hinako](https://imgchest.com/p/bp45onnnn75), [Shiori](https://imgchest.com/p/m9yxnqqqp7q), and [Miko](https://imgchest.com/p/9p4nz666b4n), made this series simply fantastic and one of the most unique this season! I'd love to see a second season to see [how the relationship between these three develops](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/1012e2ea5730.png). 9/10 from me!

As for[ the last episode... it was great](https://imgchest.com/p/xny8699924b), thanks to [Hinako, Shiori, and Miko going on the trip](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/21f70da30a14.png)! [Shiori and Miko's banters](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/d5a75e30ce8f.png) or [their argument about Hinako](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/11f4edf23c1f.png) which ended up with [these two having a photo together](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/e3abcf8e6175.png), made me laugh out loud xD

Although, of course, deep down, [Hinako](https://imgchest.com/p/bp45onnnn75) isn't doing so well, I'm glad she at least had some fun on this trip and [had the opportunity to talk honestly with Shiori](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/b0483f479637.png).

[Miko](https://imgchest.com/p/9p4nz666b4n), as usual, brought [a lot of humor](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/648c181fe52c.png) to this episode, but I really like that she's looking out for not only [Hinako](https://imgchest.com/p/bp45onnnn75) but [also Shiori](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/0613b31c14a9.png). She's a good person... I mean, yokai!

I also loved [Hinako's hair after her bath](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/15c558e50f6e.png), she [looked really cute with that new hairstyle](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/e6642bca8f07.png)!

Here my screenshot albums from the episode:

* [Group scenes](https://imgchest.com/p/xny8699924b)
* [Hinako](https://imgchest.com/p/bp45onnnn75)
* [Shiori](https://imgchest.com/p/m9yxnqqqp7q)
* [Miko](https://imgchest.com/p/9p4nz666b4n)

*EDIT. I added my screenshot albums.*

A great wrap up to the series. Fantastic OST, great direction, and great art despite the obvious lower budget. I also can't even begin to praise the VA's enough. Reina Ueda, Yui Ishikawa, and Fairouz Ai truly brought these characters to life. The show wouldn't be nearly as great without them. 


The story is also beautiful. Probably the best depictions of depression and survivors guilt I've ever seen. Hinako isn't someone who can heal in just a few episodes. Sai Naekawa (mangaka of the series) either had to experience this herself or see it first hand for Hinako to feel like such a real character. Her confession that she genuinely had fun on their trip after convincing herself she would never be able to do so broke me. Just a slight sliver of hope that maybe she can be happy one day.


I'm going to hope and pray that we get a season 2 of this. However, I like how they left it open ended, so if we never get one, it still feels like a satisfying ending. I heard that Sai was involved with the production to make sure her work was being adapted well.


It has definitely earned a spot in my top 3 anime of the year.

Poor Shiori wanted so badly to see Hinako smile again, but now when she does, it's just going to serve as a reminder of their time together coming closer to an end :[

What a bittersweet feeling it is to see Hinako start to truly enjoy life a bit, since that means that the time for Shiori to eat her gets closer.

Honestly what a bittersweet finale, period. The call-back with the hairpins, Shiori being down whenever Hinako smiles, the scene with the "fireflies", Shiori assuming her "monster" face again... it's a happy trip until they remind you of the promise that's hanging over their head.

It's not extremely conclusive as a finale but as a source reader I don't mind. I do wonder what you guys who are only watching the anime think about it.

All in all, I loved the show. I do wish it had better production values overall, but they nailed the important moments and that's what matters. Plus it had an excellent voice cast, and excellent sound design, so that was real nice.

Edit: [great commemoration picture from the studio for the finale](https://x.com/wttb_tv/status/2004206458506997777/photo/1)

Horror Yokai Yuri Day!

**Pain**.

Please don’t be the calm before another storm. Please no. Please no.

Rock paper scissors saves lives. Need to start using this method when my friends can’t decide on shit.

That fox phone case is so cute. Is there an OtterBox version?

I’m still sitting mad that Hinako’s friends abandoned her, even though I know they were also kids who didn’t have the proper tools to understand grief and depression.

**Pain**.

Bake-tanuki?

Shiori’s smile is so painful to see.

I know people make fun of the elderly for not understanding technology, and I get it, but I really dig this program where the course was free for I think anyone over 65 in learning how to navigate modern devices and applications.

**Pain**.

Orange kitty, orange kitty, orange kitty.

Shiori is worrying me greatly.

Now *I’m* craving ice cream.

>Smile Mart

😭

Shiori is just straight up saying wedding vows in this

Oh that girl never showed up. So my fears are put to rest 😮‍💨

***

It’s “nice” to see that this wasn’t a magical cure that resolved Hinako’s survivor’s guilt and depression. She’s still struggling. Shiori is struggling because Hinako is still struggling. That apology Hinako gave Shiori was what got me to cry.

Miko is such a great character. Being a friend and a frenemy to two people clearly struggling and in an admittedly unhealthy relationship with each other is so *difficult*. But she’s trying.

I’m overall really impressed with what we have of the anime. I’m sure the source material is richer and has much more to describe about this entire scenario, but anime-wise, my opinion on Shiori did a wonderful 180 at the realization that she’s been hurting all this time and hides it behind her smile and teasing and being a “monster”. As much as I’m going to rally for Hinako, I put Shiori was my favorite character. I see so many parallels in her relationship with Hinako and other IRL relationships where a caregiver or a partner is struggling with their loved one’s mental health and may use drastic measures or selfish means in a desperate attempt to keep their loved one’s alive.

I can’t stress enough how it ain’t easy. It’s not easy being the one with mental health issues and realizing your support is struggling with your relationship and their own mental health. It’s not easy supporting someone with struggling mental health while maintaining your own. And it *also* doesn’t help when armchair psychologist people think they know best.

Communication won’t magically solve everything. Prescriptions *might* help, but who knows how many therapies you have to try until one works for you and you take it consistently. Therapy—couple’s therapy—can be expensive, have long wait times, and shopping for a therapist is exhausting.

It is just…***not easy*** all around. And that’s just human adults. Being a teenager strips away a lot of agency and options.

Still sitting mad at how much support Hinako lost as a vulnerable, traumatized child. If the series is intentionally criticizing how people—friends, extended family, government, neighbors, community—abandon those who need them the most, it did a good job in my book. I know it’s a bit of a fantasy steeple to initially isolate the protagonist and leave them bereft of support, so they can gain support through other protagonists or deuteragonists and supporting cast along the way. It’s not always a commentary on society and culture. But even so, Watanabe still has me side eyeing everyone who failed Hinako.

What a flipping great ending (for this season, I hope there is more). It would feel so jarring for this to be a traditional HEA at this moment. Hinako admitted she had fun! She’s smiling a bit more. She sees how her actions have weighed upon Shiori. And Shiori was able to speak some of her truths and let the smile drop. That’s enough (for me) right now.

Curious that girl from Shiori’s past was just in a flashback. I thought she’d become an antagonist or a tritagonist, but I guess she really was just a flashback-only character.

This was a pretty good series. I hope we get another season because I really want to see if Hinako ever finds a way to overcome her trauma. Girl’s barely clinging onto life as it is. Shiori and Miko have their work cut out for them if they wanna try and “save” Hinako.

I am glad that they added this episode, because it gave a bit of what I was saying was missing in the last one, and that is a reason for why Hinako would believe Shiori this time. As mentioned last week, while I can infer some reasons for myself, it wasn't really sold for why Hinako would believe that renewed promise after Shiori betrayed her once already with the same one. I think, this episode added a bit from Hinako's side (in that she still wants to believe in that her parents would wish for her to live and not kill herself so she is only allowed to die by supernatural means out of her control) but also from Shiori's side in that she is basically saying that giving (and later fulfilling) that promise, even if she didn't want to, was just the "better" outcome than to just let Hinako die immediately. I still think this should have been in the episode last week already, but at least they addressed it now.

All in all, I think the show was interesting. As someone who was on the Miko side of the whole depression angle (as in having a feeling but never knowing how bad it truly is for the other person) I think having a character like Hinako is a really good idea even if I can't say how accurate it is. But not only Hinako by herself, I think Miko and Shiori are very strong characters with their own purpose as well and not just side characters that wouldn't matter much in the grand scheme. Similarly, I liked some of the imagery like showing the depression via the depth and darkness of the ocean. But I also think that the show lacked in the directional department. I don't even mean the animation by itself, but how they decided to present a lot of the ideas.

For example, as mentioned, having this metaphor with the dark and deep ocean is interesting but just repeating it without much development isn't really doing much. They could have built onto this metaphor over time. They sometimes did (like Miko being the sun that shines through the surface) but not enough to make this work for 13 episodes. Sure, this could be an issue with the source as well, but there were other examples that I can point to. Like having this Miko ending in episode 4 or 5 (together with that cooking after credit scene) which came after a more serious Miko episode and this tone just felt completely off. I think Miko's character is well done, because the contrast of her acting all genki when she knows it isn't helping much, adds an additional layer, and the two things could have been used for that layer. But their placement was just in the wrong spot.

Or just take this episode with another example. They clearly don't have the budget to make this whole trip look interesting, so they have a collage of pictures. And sure, they use a camera sound because there is a picture taken in every one of those. But why not make this collage out of actual camera shots? Some could be selfies, others are Miko taking pictures of the surrounding and of course Hinako. You could add character to Miko by showing what and who she took pictures of. For example them lacking Shiori. While this could also add to Hinako and Shiori. The former not trying to look into the camera and the latter trying to sneak onto at least some of those. But they didn't do that either and just took the very easy approach which just makes this feel more lacking in creativity than lacking in budget.

However, I want to still say that I did like the general theme and the characters so I want to give the manga a fair shake because I do hope that it solves some of my issues. I at least expect the art to be more creative, but I will see if that is true. I didn't want to start reading before I finished the show to not be influenced by that difference. Because I still think the overall ideas are interesting and worth looking into. I sadly just feel that the studio underestimated the topic of this show and what they would need to do if they don't have the budget. I guess they still gave me a reason to check out the manga, so it's better than nothing. But I will probably remember the anime mostly as a missed opportunity. Because I think this topic could have drawn a wider audience and leave with a better overall impression. I will say though that the soundtrack was well done and added a lot to the atmosphere.

To all Watatabe's fan who want SS2 comes true.

Infinite (The company which picked up and produced Watatabe anime adaptation) official twitter account has published its 5th column about [the background behind how Watatabe came to be adapted into anime](https://twitter.com/Infinite_PRdayo/status/2003808670577205250). In addition, the company is welcoming your opinions, impressions, and expectations towards Infinite, which can be submitted via this [google form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBvhi_Chfdk63HkA6cAUhxOPl-9sui3gh1vzRagjC4aN4VfQ/viewform). Of course, you can tell Infinite directly about your impression of Watatabe and your demand for SS2!

The survey has 3 pages. You can answer only the question with (\*).

Page 1 : Your name (Handle name is OK) , Sex, Age

Page 2 : You can skip if you want to.

Page 3 : Choose the column you've read (You can opt for Vol.05 which focuses solely on Watatabe), Any impression or opinion (Such as you love Watatabe anime, music etc.), Your expectation towards Infinite (Tell them you want SS2!)

Since this project has targeted international expansion from the beginning, I think there's no problem to write in english. Prove them the existance of oversea fans! (I already sent mine)

It is great that people are spreading the word how good is this work and expressing their gratitude to those involved in the project. Although, **those feedbacks are far more valuable when you tell them via official contact channels rather than being washed away in sea of internet**. All opinions submitted via official channels will be shared internally within the company and among business partners involved in the project, and those will become the live reactions and reputations of that work.

We can clearly see that Hinako was forcing a smile infront of Miko to make her not feel bad about the trip and to make Shiori eat her soon if Hinako can show that she's happy.

And it seems like Hinako already knows that Shiori is not intended to uphold her renewed promise. Yeah, Hinako can't be that much of a fool to not see that. But still Hinako wishes for Shiori to keep her promise and Shiori is willing to keep this going if she can see Hinako having fun even if it's one more day.
The last line from Hinako was confusing. What did she mean by when she said that she would never make that promise ever again ??

Watatabe was a gem of this season. I'm definitely sure that it would already get greenlit for a season 2.

Great show. Moody, atmospheric, metaphorically deep. The idea I liked most was the question of intrinsic/internal and extrinsic/external control. Hinako wouldn't kill herself because of her belief that her family wanted her to live on, but she would contract with a yokai to eat her. Bringing to mind the very human habit of forging on, but simultaneously engaging in self-sabotage and ultimately self-destruction through more elaborate means.

Also, Shiori contracted to eat Hinako, but not necessarily all of her right? So like, maybe just Hinako's least favorite finger would satisfy the contract? And if the finger powers Shiori up, we've basically got fantasy yuri JJK? Just throwing some ideas out there.

Out of all the shows airing this season, I did not expect this one to end [with an onsen episode.](https://i.imgur.com/6nWbHUu.png)

The first half of the episode was actually pretty cute [with Miko getting annoyed at Shiori](https://i.imgur.com/tNSYB6A.png), [Miko and Shiori fighting over Hinako](https://i.imgur.com/cBYVqc2.png), and I love how [Shiori tried to grab a bottle of sake](https://i.imgur.com/DF0gubr.png) as her souvenir, not realizing that underage drinking is no longer acceptable these days. xD

I do wonder if this episode is an anime original. It feels like this is one of those episodes [that was made to show off the local prefecture](https://i.imgur.com/ILUaamb.png). From what I've found, this anime is set in Ehime Prefecture, where the author, Naekawa-sensei, grew up.

Second half of the episode, tho... So it turns out Hinako didn't really believe Shiori and [knows that she has no plan to eat her.](https://i.imgur.com/LuT3zLq.jpeg) And the only reason Hinako even looked barely happy this episode [is because she thinks that Shiori might want to eat her sooner](https://i.imgur.com/FNqv4m9.jpeg) if she started acting happy.

Although it looks like things may have improved for Hinako [since she does admit she really had a little fun](https://i.imgur.com/8BnyiII.jpeg) during the trip. If this one trip could help her, maybe someday Miko and Shiori could actually change her.

[That "Itekimasu" from Hinako](https://i.imgur.com/RKPj5BE.jpeg) at the very end of the episode could easily be interpreted in two ways, too. So clearly it's still gonna take a lot of work before Hinako heals. :(

Man, what a lovely, depressing show this was. I really hope we get a season 2 because I'd love to see more of these girls and possibly even meet more interesting yokai in the future, like Ayame. A solid 8/10 for me for the story, visuals, and stellar voice acting from the cast.

Man what a rollercoaster of emotions till the very end. They way both Hinako and Shiori go back to putting on their masks; Hinako continuing to live while pretending to be happy, and Shiori returning to being the monster who is just here to eat her. But somehow leaving a miniscule speck of optimism that maybe, just maybe that this doomed ship can be saved.

Overall, a great series, I love it. Feels like it shares a lot in common with TSHD from last season beyond the gay monsters. And although WTTB has a lower budget production, the VA and OST have been phenomenal at elevating the emotional scenes. Also, would like to recommend everyone to go read the manga too just to admire the beautiful art.

Oh man, Hinako admitting she indeed had at least a little fun with the trip warmed my heart so much.

Season 2 waiting room >>>

So depressing...hopefully they can figure a way out of this situation

Now that was a good show!

Merry Christmas everyone! Since this is the final episode Id like to take the time to put down some recommendations if you're craving similar stories.

First on the list is _Dark Mermaid_, a webtoon about the relationship between a traumatized girl and a mermaid, much like _Watatabe_! Though the nature of the trauma here is very different. Especially recommend if you want some unapologetic "assholes deserve to get chucked into the sea" attitude from the author. Fair warning, even though it did get a good amount of story in, it is painfully obvious that it got the axe well before the author's ideal time to end the story (FUCK YOU WEBTOON), and while the story was still able to conclude in a decently satisfying manner, it had to abandon it's beautiful, slow, ruminating pace to do it.

Next is _The Wind Spell_ by Rrrrrrice, a short, recently concluded long format webcomic with absolutely **beautiful** artwork about a deaf girl in a European, seaside, 17th century town, prosecuted for her heritage of pagan magic, and how her life was transformed by an encounter with a mermaid.

And finally, one that's already been mentioned around the episode threads, _Normality & Monsters_, or _Common Sense Monster_ is it's localized title I think. A manga about a girl who isn't malicious but doesn't quite fit in with her civilized and socially integrated peers and the skinwalker wearing the skin of a female classmate who awes her with how perfectly she (it?) fits in. Not as serious, and more comedic than either of the two previous recommendations and _Watatabe_, but still a very amusing and intriguing read with stunning high contrast artwork.

Of course if any of you got recs of your own please feel free to share! The world must know more of the fascinating depths of Horror Yuri!

Btw the soundtrack is also already out!

Man I'm not ready to let this go... I mean yeah I'm a manga reader but still the anime was so enjoyable and the soundtrack and voice acting added so much to the story and the episode discussions is where I've been able to talk about the story the most 😭

What a great send-off episode though. The highlight scene for me is definitely the fireflies. Rare moment in anime were it restrains itself with the dialogue. That "I'm sorry" from Hinako says so much, really striking at the undescribable heavy weight of their immensely complex relationship and situation.

Now I can only pray to Miko-chan for a season 2...

"I rather choose you who will be with me tomorrow than choosing over the far-future you and the past you" - Shiori to Hinako.

Miko is also just a good mama to both Hinako and Shiori. Mama fox Miko is at her peak.

Is there some alternative or non-EN subtitle going around with misleading translations here? I'm seeing a whole lot of people who seem to think that A, Hinako says that she didn't actually have fun on the trip and is just pretending, or B, that Shiori doesn't plan on keeping her promise / Hinako doesn't think she'll keep her promise. Hinako was pretty clear in saying that she *thought* she'd have to simply pretend in order to fulfill her part of the promise, but she actually was having fun on the trip, and there's no reason for her to apologise to Shiori or for Shiori to refuse to forgive her if they don't currently believe in the promise.

My personal highlight was Miko. She went from an annoying character in the first episode to the best character in my opinion once the truth behind her was shown. The gag of Miko constantly being called to help from someone went from convenient to genuinely frustrating because I was hoping she would stick around at those moments.

This is personally an issue I created myself but I wish this had released in spring or winter of this year instead because I started the series with the unfair mindset of comparing it to The Summer Hikaru Died since it started a week or two after the former ended which I myself know is a really unfair comparison. In my mind just in concept they are similar which I wish I never did make the comparison.

Fake it till it becomes real is not a bad way to go at all. It works. Hinako may never fully get over her survivor's guilt but she can learn to live with it. Learn to let herself be happy now and then. Shiori's promise will turn out to be a good thing. I choose to believe so.


So glad this got made. Never expected to see such a tender and true portrayal of depression and survivor's guilt. Both from the perspective of the one going through it and from that of the people who care for them and feel helpless. Very grateful for the representation. 


And the entire team put their all into it. Budget constraints notwithstanding they presented this great story in such a stellar fashion. This is among the best things I've watched this year. No question.

The ultimate end goal would be for Hinako to ask Shiori if they could lift this promise of theirs. She needs to *want* it herself. Forcing it won’t do any good after all.

But I do wonder if Hinako hasn’t already realised the paradox of their promise. If she does become truly happy again, then her death wish would probably be gone too. Would Shiori then go on to eat her? I don’t think so.

That final Hinako from Miko was fantastic, something the manga can't give you. Either way, if you're interested, start reading from chapter 31.

Overall great adaptation with fantastic VA performance from ueda, ishikawa, and fairouz ai, despite with obvious lower budget studio lings still deliver it very well, a bit sad tho cuz the chance of S2 is nearly if not outright impossible, yuri curse still exist after all

The story's themes of grief, despair and personal growth really resonated with me.

Remind me:
Was that shot of the picture at the end the first time we saw her family with their faces?
If so, it was a really nice touch to show that Hinako made some progress.

Great finale. Really liked that Hinako is starting to be more positive with Miko and Shiori in her life.

I wouldn’t mind a spin-off of the adventures of Shiori and Miko.

I was initially glad today how much Hinako was smiling on the trip they took, but then it occurred to me that she might be faking it. And yeah, at least somewhat, but it does sound like she honestly enjoyed it some as well and that's progress.

Poor Miko realizing she now has two disasters to watch over instead of just the one.

Very good show all around.

"[I chose the person you'll be the day after today](https://imgur.com/a/epc7UiC)," Shiori

If there's a quote I would choose to summarize the core theme of Watatabe it would be Shiori's above. Change is a slow and gradual process. Whether it's processing a tragic loss or learning to value human connection. Some days you might feel like you haven't moved a single step forward, like you're trapped in a perpetual today that stretches out further than the ocean. The future feels more like a dream rather than a reality to reach out towards. In those moments the best we can do is to look at the tomorrow within our grasp.

Hinako and Shiori both have a long way to go, but I still believe thier story will end on a happier note. Miko is proof that people or monsters can change for the better, so together they'll be able to reach the day after today.

Overall, I loved this anime and it's my favorite of the season with Shiori being my favorite new character of the year. Her arc of slowly learning the value of connection through a random act of kindness resonated with me so much. She may be socially awkward, tactless, and pushy, but I believe she is trying her best to be kind and show her love to Hinako too. When I look at her I can't not see a lonely girl who is tired of never being seen. Every time she hides behind saying she's a monster it just breaks my heart.

If you enjoyed S1, I would highly recommend continuing their story in the manga.

Lastly, I mentioned it before but Watatabe along with Ruri Rocks and My Dress-Up Darling S2 are my favorite anime of the year.

Ok, let’s do this one final time.

So first off the comedy throughout this episode is great as always. They’re really ending it with a bang. Chibi Shiori asking if she’s invited too with the wall of text about carrying futons and dismembering the yoga was great visual comedy, Shiori spouting the philosophical commentary regarding Miko before bluntly trying to buy sake only to be stopped by Miko having to remind her that they’re in underage, high schooler form was hilarious. It also has an added meta layer for me when I imagine their adult Seiyuu’s saying that, lol. And Miko trolling Shiori at the inn, she really channeled her inner Kitsune there. And the end with her taking off like a race car. I’m gonna miss her, man.

On a more serious note, the repeated focus on Hinako’s smiles eventually made me uneasy regarding the promise and then they went and brought it up. It sucks but at least she did end up being a little happy. I loved Hinako and Shiori’s interaction at the jewelry store, specifically because we finally get a scene like this with Shiori’s mask dropped and get to see her true reactions and it’s like a whole new world of interaction between them. I also loved their entire interaction beside the fireflies, how the lighting lit up their faces in the darkness, the transition from the underwater bubbles to the fireflies in the sky, and Shiori asking Hinako whether she truly had fun on the trip, and Hinako asking Shiori if she truly wants to eat her and why she made the promise if she doesn’t.

“Not for the you I knew in the past. Not for the you who will exist in the far future. But for the you who exists the day after today”, God Damn. Not just a perfect encapsulation of Shiori’s reason for the promise, not just the quote of the episode, but what I’d consider the quote of the season and a core message of this series that is a perfect description of dealing with depression. Unable to go back to how you were, and unable to conceive of a far away future where you no longer struggle, doing everything in your power to make it to the next day. And it’s thanks to that promise that Hinako is able to do that and have fun on trips like this with Shiori and Miko and, as shown at the end, carry out her daily routine of making lunch and going to school.

Speaking of the end, I’ll admit I’m not exactly sure what was supposed to be conveyed by Hinako saying she’d never make that promise/wish, so if anyone could help explain it to me I’d appreciate it.

All things considered, I heard a lot of praise from people regarding this show in the months before it aired and it managed to not only live up to but exceed my expectations. I hope we get a season 2, but I will forever be grateful for what we already have. A truly fantastic anime.

The OST is released under Keiji Inai. Not sure if any are free. They will probably play 30 second samples or lower quality if they aren’t. These are the sharing links I found that hopefully work:


YouTube Premium/(non-Premium with ads?):

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kSMdR_q2F2GJjQ4dbTtVc2GSot59Z5W-k

Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/tv-anime-this-monster-wants-to-eat-me-original-soundtrack/1859796843

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3ppp7V5KG0plv5r2d0DYPp

I enjoyed this series, though I usually didn't watch it on Thursdays. We got a "time skip" for like a second but that was probably in fish-girls mind. I was hoping or expecting a time skip but I suppose the source material is likely still on-going.

The only complaint I have: I have hoped for a short, condensed story ending in one season.

Now with yuri curse I will never know how it all ends.

What a bittersweet ending, Hinako admitting that she will never be her old cheerful self and accepting that this inner emtpiness is a part of her for good. Now she can learn and work towards finding a way to live with her grief without falling into despair.

Hinako will never be able to move on from her despair, but she might be able to move forward. What a beautiful show.

I also love how Shiori has to learn to accept Hinako taking her own way without being able to force happiness on her.

This is one of those shows where you need to pay close attention and where you can analyze the shit out of it. One of the absolute highlights this season, if not of all of 2025.

I love this show so much

People who went through a few depressive years, or were close to someone who did, know that you won't snap back to "normalcy" after a talk or one happy thing, but having people like Miko and Shiori around you can make all the difference in the world. Silly fox stupid fish, I love both of you and, despite what *one* of you say, you two are amazing to Hinako

Back when I saw the trailer a few months ago I really believed this would be a CGDCT yuri show that I would enjoy but it would quickly fade into my mind after it ended, I was never so happy to be wrong about a series

The respect the story treats depression is nothing but commendable, the writing is top notch and the direction the anime took was perfect. Even Shiori's "silly run" on the beach episode fit the comedic tone we would need at that moment

And I also want to say thank you to the whole community here, thanks to the discussion you guys have every week here, Watatabe climbed into the weekly ranks and I hope more people gave this show a chance due to that!

I hope in a few years we will all be back here talking about season two!

Beautiful ending. I love that they ended with a proper date, Miko bringing her girlfriend Hinako and Hinako bringing her girlfriend Shiori, and Miko just accepting that's how it is now

No one's *happy* with everything that happened, but it's a great showing of them simply adjusting to the new noose around all their necks. Hinako's depression has improved 0% since the start of the show, but she has a terrible goal now, which gives her a path forward. I may actually pick up the manga for this one, since I really want to see the girls' new dynamic

And the closing shot of Hinako finally seeing her family's faces in the photograph and telling them she'd see them soon was heartbreaking

at the end here, I just want to shout out the fantastic OST!

Can't believe the season is over already!

For everybody who first experienced "This Monster Wants to Eat Me" through the anime, I hope you consider checking the manga out: I won't go too into it since that's what the Source Material Corner is for, but there have been a number of bonus chapters the anime didn't adapt you should check out, and obviously there's all the content in future chapters the anime didn't get to, though hopefully there will be a season 2 eventually!

I mentioned this last week, but something I find really interesting about Shiori and Hinako's new promise is that while it re-asserts the premise, of Shiori eating Hinako, it doesn't feel like it un-does all the development the characters have gone through (because Hinako and us as the viewers/readers still knows much more about Shiori) nor like a return to the status quo or a regression of the plot, and I think that is in large part due to the fact that it recontextualizes the implications of the promise and in so doing, flips the power dynamics involved

Before, Shiori eating Hinako was tragic because it would mean the latter's death, and while Hinako wanted it to happen, she was definitely at Shiori's mercy in that dynamic. Now, as further evidenced by the events of this episode, that is sort of reversed and enhanced: It's not just tragic for Hinako, but also for Shiori, who doesn't want to have to kill her, and while Shiori tells Miko she can decide when to pull the metaphorical trigger, we can see that Shiori is now the one sort of at the mercy of Hinako's condition and happiness: As she becomes more mentally healthy, it just drives the metaphorical knife deeper into Shiori.

I know a few people who were upset at the reveal that Shiori never wanted to hurt Hinako, I guess because they really liked the premise and/or they felt removing that undermined the tension, stakes, and tragedy of the plot, but hopefully the events of this and last episode helps resolve that for those people.

Also, an important development: Last episode, while Shiori was trying to convince Hinako to live, a lot of her language was about Hinako living for her (Shiori), not for her own sake: Shiori says SHE wants Hinako to be back to how she used to be, and that SHE needs Hinako to live. Even Hinako calls her out on this in the moment. Shiori is still a monster whose relationship with Hinako, even putting aside the latter's suicidal depression and the current trust issues, is far from normal and healthy: even if deep down Shiori does truly care for Hinako, she doesn't quite get what that should mean or entail. I'll shamelessly plug my own analysis of this (and how she uses facades to mask the emotional intelligence she DOES have, something we also saw clear as day last episode when her whole personality switches when she proposes the new promise) I gave a few episodes ago [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1pe1ijf/watashi_wo_tabetai_hitodenashi_this_monster_wants/nsioxs4/)

However, here in this episode, we have Shiori saying that rather then chasing after the Hinako of the past or choosing the Hinako of the present, she'll ensure that there is a Hinako of the future: It's still somewhat objectifying as it is framed as Shiori picking and choosing an identity from/of Hinako's, but it's definitely a shift towards a healthier direction and is more respectful of Hinako's agency then what she said last week about wanting Hinako to be like her young self again.

Bro I was joking last week about Miko having to babysit Hinako and Shiroi. She practically IS just babysitting them now

I’m not usually into yuri anime, but this one truly caught me off guard. What hooked me was how boldly and sensitively it tackled difficult topics like depression and suicide. Being surrounded by loved ones who struggle with these realities, I know how hard it is to find the right words—or any words at all—when trying to reach them.
The anime portrayed that heaviness with honesty and care. WataTabe did an impressive job capturing the quiet pain, confusion, and emotional distance that often come with mental health struggles. The use of drowning as a metaphor for suicide was especially powerful—it reflected how overwhelming and isolating those feelings can be, as if slowly losing air while the world goes on above the surface.
The music elevated everything, particularly during the emotional scenes, making the moments linger long after they ended. Kudos to the entire team behind this anime for handling such sensitive themes with depth, empathy, and artistic grace.
To add a sense of hope, I really wish they would make another season. I’m glad they stayed true to the manga—it shows respect for both the story and its themes. With how emotionally grounded the narrative has been so far, I genuinely hope the ending is handled with the same care and offers something meaningful, maybe even healing, for those who see themselves in it.