Hey, thanks for visiting Anime Rants. Compared to the pilot, this second installment didn’t feel quite as powerful, but that’s only to be expected. It was still a great episode. So far, I’m most enjoying the music, the excellent voice-acting, the monster elements, and the exploration of Hinako’s psychology. It almost goes without saying, but I also love how incredibly gay this anime is. And last but not least, I enjoyed the short discussion about human flesh as food. Without further ado, let’s go over the second episode of the new Girls Love anime, This Monster Wants To Eat Me.
Episode 2: The Sunlit Beast and the Festival Song
Episode Rating: 8/10
The episode began with Shiori the transfer student taking Miko’s seat next to Hinako. (Miko was out sick.) Later, Hinako went to eat lunch and was followed closely by Shiori. The lunch scene was rather humorous at first. Shiori just radiated happiness and energy as she sat on the bench next to the perpetually gloomy Hinako. Despite her confidence and cheerfulness, Shiori didn’t interact with others like a normal person, and Hinako found it awkward. I think moments like this are funny, especially when the “abnormal” person doesn’t care about social conventions whatsoever.
After Hinako offered her homemade bento to the lunchless Shiori, the mermaid declined and said that all she really wanted to eat was Hinako. She said this while leaning close and touching Hinako’s lip with one finger. Hinako asked why Shiori didn’t eat her yesterday. Apparently, she didn’t comprehend the explanation at first. The carnivorous mermaid explained that humans taste best at a certain age, just like cows and pigs. Hinako had never heard someone talk about humans as meat before, so she didn’t get it until Shiori spelled it out very clearly and urged her to keep eating so she would grow into an even more delicious human.
Since I’ve been enjoying shows like Parasyte/Kiseijuu for many years now, I understood Shiori at once and wasn’t remotely thrown off by her words. But if I put myself in the shoes of a teenage girl who isn’t familiar with monster horror, it makes sense why Hinako was so bewildered at first, and why she walked away without eating her lunch. Any normal person would be off-put. But if she did feel a bit grossed out, that certainly wasn’t the biggest thing in Hinako’s mind. Her main thought was still her desire to die.
Hinako stopped at overpass and stared into the ocean water below. In her head, she was begging for someone or something to come grant her death. This was a painful scene for me because I remember doing the same thing for years. It felt like I couldn’t handle the emotional pain, and the nothingness of death would be preferable to such agony. I think Hinako was considering throwing herself off the bridge in that moment. But thankfully, she decided to wait and trust that the mermaid would kill her soon.
The next day, Mio returned to school. Much to her horror, her seat was now at the front of the class, while the seat closest to Hinako was assigned to the new transfer student, Shiori. It was very clear that Miko was jealous. She definitely likes Hinako. To put it plainly, Shiori and Miko started hating each other right away. They are both trying to monopolize Hinako, so they are rivals. I’m not worried about Shiori eating or attacking Miko, as that would clearly make Hinako hate her. Shiori is too smart to do something like that. Nevertheless, I’m glad Hinako told Shiori not to eat Miko.
Miko seems like a great character so far. I also love the seiyuu who voices her, Fairouz Ai. Anyway, Miko went home from school with Hinako that day. She intentionally left when Shiori was busy talking to a teacher about paperwork. At a convenience store, the girls bought snacks and drinks. Miko then asked Hinako to attend the nearby summer festival with her. Hinako gently declined, and the girls parted ways for the day. You know, people who ship Miko and Hinako might have a point. They would be cute together.
Hinako sank into despair at home as she remembered going to the festival with her family during the same summer when they all died. Hinako’s deep depression was interrupted by Shiori, who also invited Hinako to the festival. But unlike Miko, Shiori wouldn’t take no for an answer. Miko was arguably the better friend since she respected Hinako’s boundaries, but sometimes, you also needs a friend or lover who will break your door down and drag you out – once in a while. The episode ends with Shiori urging Hinako to get changed for the festival.
Shiori claimed that healthy meat requires a healthy mind, which is why she’s invested in helping Hinako with depression and loneliness. But I wonder if that’s the only reason. Despite not being a human, Shiori seems to have the same emotional intelligence as an average (if unusual) person. What I’m getting at is that she could be feeling empathy for Hinako. Is it okay for a yokai to care about their meal? What would happen if Shiori started falling for Hinako? Even if that never happens, I’m fascinated by this anime and will watch it to the bitter end.
I just have final note for today. Based on the visuals in this episode, I think Hinako’s family died in a boating accident. Also, Hinako appears to have some type of markings on her chest in the opening song visuals – possibly burn marks from surviving a fire on the boat. This anime continues to be heavy, dark, and highly entertaining.
~Thanks for Reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
Anime Rants 
I have two particular thoughts:
Firstly, I wonder about Miko. She and Shiori both want to monopolize Hinako and they are both protective of her, at least for the moment. Miko was concerned about weirdos approaching Hinako when she wasn’t walking alongside her to and from school, and at least two predators did so on the same day when Miko wasn’t with her. My first thought was that she might know something, but now I wonder whether she’s a protector of Hinako or another farmer of her, like Shiori. Certainly, they’re a bit like two dogs who want the same bone. (and anime has given me certain trust issues)
Second, Hinako is willing to let herself be eaten by Shiori because of her present mental state. If that improves then, yes, Shiori may find her to be tastier in the end, but if Hinako comes out of her depression, how willing will she still be to be eaten? And if that is part of what makes her flavor ideal to Shiori, then the things which we usually root for, like finding joy and hope and fear again, are precisely what will spell Hinako’s doom.
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