Content Warning: Mentions of Suicide Attempts

Greetings! Thank you for stopping by Anime Rants. I’m still trying to catch on Fall 2025 anime, and I’m getting close to completing This Monster Wants To Eat Me (WataTabe). What struck me most about these two episodes is that they served as the emotional climax of the series. Hinako can no longer handle her depression and suicidal thoughts, and Shiori can no longer handle standing by and doing nothing. Please enjoy my recaps and notes on WataTabe episodes 11 and 12.

1. Episode 11: Cold Morning
2. Episode 12: Beloved Child

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Episode 11: Cold Morning

Episode Rating: 8/10

This episode was tough to watch because I felt very empathetic toward Hinako, who acts recklessly in an attempt to die in this installment. Those who’ve been reading my episode reviews for this series know that I dealt with intense suicidal feelings for a period of several years. Life was very painful back then. Watching this episode made my heart ache for Hinako, but it also made me grateful that my mind is much more balanced now and I longer wish to die. I’ve come a long way and I’m highly appreciative of the help I’ve received. It would be unrealistic for Hinako to heal overnight, but I hope by the end of the series, she can find some hope or interest in life again.

Hinako didn’t go to school and pretended to be sick, so Miko and Shiori talked about what to do. Shiori still didn’t have a good idea of how to talk to Hinako or what to say. What she suggested was very on-the-nose and impersonal, so Miko sighed and said to leave it to her. She would visit Hinako alone. Shiori agreed, asking Miko to give Hinako her regards. After school, Miko brought icecream to Hinako’s house. Hinako didn’t even answer the door until Miko started screaming. It was clear Hinako wasn’t physically ill, but depressed. She lied and said her fever had gone down. Then the real talk began.

Miko explained that Shiori told her everything, and that even though she didn’t see Shiori as a person yet, she was grateful to the mermaid for keeping Hinako alive. Hinako asked if Miko was glad that she survived the accident. Miko spoke carefully but honestly, saying that she was happy she still had Hinako despite the pain of losing the others. It would have been unreasonable for Hinako to get angry, but I was momentarily afraid she would. Instead, Hinako touched Miko’s hand gently and thanked her for caring so much about her and her family.

For a second, Miko was hopeful; but when she looked at Hinako’s face, it was clear she was crying. Hinako apologized and stated that she knew full well that her words would hurt Miko. While breaking down into sobs, Hinako apologized again and again, but said what she needed to: that she wished she had died with her family. Miko comforted the crying teenager until she was calmer. Afterward, the kitsune went home feeling heavy-hearted. This scene was rough, and I understand some viewers being frustrated with Hinako. It’s not ratioinal for her to give up on life, but depression and intrusive suicidal thoughts make one believe there’s no hope and nothing to enjoy. I remember.

The next scene was actually rather brutal despite the fact that nothing intense was shown. We saw Hinako slowly and methodically waking up, making lunch, and brushing her teeth. It was brutal because it was such a good depiction of depression mixed with dissociation. The music, the cold lighting, the bubbles, the slightly distorted sounds, and the dead expression on Hinako’s face – everything was so realistic and accurate in that scene. It was difficult to watch because it reminded me of living like that for four years. Miko had texted Hinako and said it was ok to stay home, but Hinako kept getting ready for school, thinking she should at least try.

Her determination crumbled on the way to school. It was raining heavily and Hinako had to walk by the deserted beach. She saw the drowned yokai hands in the water and remembered what Shiori told her about them. A wave of temptation washed over Hinako as she realized how easy it would be to let go. Then she remembered that her “memory” of her family telling her to live was false. In reality, her family had no time to give her any final words, and she was actually remembering Shiori’s wish (“Hinako, you must survive.”) This was crushing to Hinako. I can understand because false memories and dreams can be very powerful. Realizing they are false can be as intense as grief.

It was too much for Hinako. She dropped her bag and ran into the water. She definitely intended to die. Shiori stopped her before she could reach the yokai that were smiling hungrily at her approach. But Shiori was not her usual self – she was furious. Both her eyes were yellow with an inhuman glint. She must have been so frustrated with Hinako, even grabbing her neck. Fortunately, she remembered in time that being angry and violent would not lead to a good outcome. Hurting Hinako would be counterproductive. The episode ends with Shiori telling Hinako the important truth: “I want to talk with you.”

This was definitely a big moment for Shiori. She was so used to treating humans as lifeforms beneath her. And she’s also so afraid of rejection from Hinako. I’m proud of her for realizing that she needed to stop and approach things with better communication. On a final note, the ending song, “Lily,” was sung by Yui Ishikawa (voice of Shiori) in this episode. In all the other episodes, the song was performed by Reina Ueda, who is the seiyuu voicing Hinako. I enjoy both versions now.

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Episode 12: Beloved Child

Episode Rating: 8/10

While Miko was at school, Shiori and Hinako sat on the rainy beach, talking. Shiori did her utmost to converse calmly with Hinako, but it was difficult because the teenager was so insistent that she wanted to die. This scene of the two of them talking in the rain was beautiful and important – definitely the climax of their relationship so far. The music was also gorgeous. Rainy scenes can be so romantic and intense.

I have a lot of empathy for Hinako, but I also understood Shiori’s frustration, and I feel bad for putting my partners and family through that in the past. No matter what Shiori said – even after she gave back Hinako’s memories and begged her to smile like her old self – Hinako only covered her eyes and started crying again, saying “I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.” After Hinako said she never should have trusted Shiori, the yokai was hurt and desperate. So, she chose the only option she could think of to buy time.

Shiori’s idea was to renew her promise to eat Hinako someday. This time, instead of using words alone, she would make the promise with a yokai pact. It took some convincing to get Hinako to believe this was serious. Shiori reminded Hinako that she could steal away her life when she least expected it and had finally found joy. That’s what Hinako really wanted: to die suddenly at the peak of existence, just like her family. Finally, the teenager started listening to Shiori again, and the mermaid bit her own finger. She then brushed her finger against Hinako’s mouth, making the human swallow a drop of blood. The deal was sealed.

Just when Hinako was recovering from the surprise of the yokai blood, Shiori leaned in close and gave her a kiss, biting her lip so it bled. She smiled and said that Hinako didn’t taste good at all. I swear, gay people can never just say, “I love you” – instead they have to do weird yokai blood pacts just to have a yuri kiss. Does a bite even count as a kiss? And why exactly did Shiori bite Hinako’s lip? Was it an impulsive act of affection, or part of the blood ritual? Based on the later conversation with Miko, I don’t think it was part of the yokai pact. Yeah, it was definitely a kiss.

When Miko found Shiori and Hinako, they were warm and dry inside the Yoatose house and the rain had stopped. It was now a hot summer day. Miko was extremely worried about Hinako and could tell she had been crying. Eventually, with some slight pushiness, Miko got the truth out of Hinako. When she heard that Hinako had renewed the promise with Shiori, Miko’s face clouded over. She grabbed Shiori and demanded to go get groceries with her so they could talk alone. On the way back from the grocery store, Shiori explained that the promise with Hinako was the only option she could think of to buy time and keep Hinako alive in the short term.

Miko’s anger at Shiori died down as she picked up on the fact that Shiori was hurting right now. As Shiori said, Hinako was being awful and selfish. Shiori loved Hinako, and now she would be forced to someday devour her. In addition, she would taste repulsive due to the mermaid blood’s influence. The consequences of breaking the pact are unknown, but Shiori’s life itself could be forfeit. She’s willing to do anything to save Hinako – even make herself miserable or put her own life in danger. But naturally, Shiori kept up her arrogant and cheerful social façade, denying that she was in emotional pain.

Episode 12 ends without any permanent solution, but there’s still one installment left after this. I would be happy if the final episode suggested a second season, but I would also be okay with the final episode wrapping up the story effectively. Let’s hope it doesn’t end on an unsatisfying note. This series made into my top ten anime of 2025, so I have high hopes for the ending. However, it’s probably going to be one or two weeks before I write about episode 13, just FYI. As usual, episodes 11 and 12 of WataTabe did not fail to entertain or intrigue me.

~Thanks for reading~

Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants

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