Thank you for visiting Anime Rants on this winter’s day – or whenever you read this. I’ve been trying to cover two episodes at a time to help me catch up faster to the Fall 2025 anime. However, I had a lot to say about episode 10 and thought it deserved its own post. This is the episode where we learn about Shioris’s past and hear her share important lines with Miko. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on WataTabe episode 10.
Note: Spoilers are present in this article
Episode 10: Said With A Prayer
Episode Rating: 8/10
In this intense episode, we finally learned about Shiori and her backstory. Long ago – probably up to several centuries ago – she took up residence in a cove near a village of fishermen. The villagers occasionally abandoned their children in that cove. Shiori always happily devoured the young humans until one day, an especially emaciated girl was left in the cove. She was so skinny and wretched that Shiori had no desire to eat her. So, she allowed the quiet girl to live with her for many years.
This was Shiori’s first relationship with a human. We don’t know exactly what she felt, especially since she does not process nor admit to emotions readily. I think Shiori cared to some degree about that human. That’s why, to express her gratitude, she gave the human girl a small portion of her flesh. As you may recall, mermaid flesh makes humans immortal, or close to it. Regardless of her good intentions, immortality is a curse, especially when someone didn’t ask for it. The girl resented Shiori intensely for making her unlike other humans. She swore to kill Shiori and then spent untold years trying to fulfill that oath.
Eventually, the age of modern war arrived, and the bitter human girl brought an armful of explosives, charging at Shiori. Her attack caused an explosion great enough to kill her – or so we can probably assume, since her head was completely blown off. It didn’t kill Shiori, but it blew apart most of her body and she spent decades trying to recover. During that time, she was unable to do anything but watch the sea around her and contemplate. That’s when she realized that she had never had a true relationship with anyone. In her words, nobody had ever “invited her in.” Even if Shiori cared about that human girl, all she got in return was hate.
In one of Shiori’s most important lines (imo), she stated, “I am incapable of forming connections to others.” This confirms what I have already long suspected, that Shiori would qualify as a sociopath if she was human. (And since she sometimes devours people, she’s a psychopath, too.) But the best way to think of it is that Shiori is a “solitary animal.” She can recall no family, and exists only as a lonely predator. This is in contrast to Miko, who remembers that she had siblings and parents in the distant past. Animals like foxes are semi-social, and in Miko’s case, that probably disposed her to wanting to form connections with others. It was much easier for her than for Shiori.
Shiori continued her story. While she was recovering, and still had no arms, the mermaid washed up to a rocky shore, where she met six-year-old Hinako. The child was so bright and full of life – plus, Shiori hadn’t eaten in ages besides fish that swam into her mouth. At first, the monster wanted nothing more than to devour Hinako. However, with no arms, she could not snatch the child. Much to her surprise, Hinako left and came back with a bento lunch. She called Shiori “Miss Fish” and was worried about her being hurt and weak. Thus, Hinako took it upon herself to feed the strange creature.
Over the course of the next three days or so, Hinako visited Shiori at the beach and brought her food, snacks, and candy. This helped Shiori heal herself. Soon, her arms were back and she could speak again. She still felt tempted to eat Hinako, but first she asked if the child was being kind to her in order to seek immortality. Hinako didn’t understand. However, she said she loved the ocean and that “Miss Fish” was beautiful just like the sea. Hinako was not afraid at all, even when Shiori placed her huge hand on Hinako’s neck for a minute. Being freely accepted, fed, and told she was beautiful were things Shiori had never experienced.
At that moment, Shiori “fell in love” with Hinako. It was the first time anyone had “invited her in.” In order to make sure nobody stole away Hinako’s vibrant life, Shiori gave a drop of her blood to Hinako. Then she erased the child’s memories of the encounter and let her go. Is it creepy that Shiori was so captivated by a child? Yes. This is a monster romance, so it’s eerie and unethical by default. But it sure makes a hell of a cool fantasy, especially when the romance is queer. I think Shiori loved Hinako as a cute lifeform at first. But then, meeting her in human form as a teenager, she actually fell in love.
A decade later, thanks to some small fry yokai, Shiori detected Hinako’s blood and how it had changed. Knowing that Hinako was being hunted for her blood, she went to find the human right away. Shiori’s goal was always to protect Hinako. Now that her story was done, Shiori and Miko talked about what to do. They were worried Hinako might try suicide. After Shiori said she might alter Hinako’s memories again, Miko gave an exasperated sigh. She then offered some of the simplest and best advice that anyone has said in this anime. “What you need to do is have a conversation,” she asserted.
Shiori’s response was extremely telling. She said, “Conversation is only productive between those of shared values and status.” I strongly disagree with that statement. No wonder Shiori has never managed a relationship if she thinks this way. If that were true, I would never have conversations with people I disagree with, basically. That’s not a healthy way to live. Miko didn’t argue with the statement, but urged Shiori to adopt Hinako’s values if she really did care. Then the yokai went their separate ways. The episode ends with Shiori worried and wishing to make things right with Hinako.
~Thanks for Reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
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