The anime series “This Monster Wants to Eat Me,” known in Japan as “Watashi o Tabetai, Hito de Nashi,” continued its darkly romantic narrative with the highly anticipated fourth episode, which premiered on October 23, 2025. This installment significantly deepens the complex relationships between the human protagonist, Hinako, and the supernatural beings drawn to her, particularly through a pivotal confrontation that reveals hidden truths and sets the stage for future conflicts.
A Fragile Truce Shattered: Shiori’s Revelation
Episode 4 plunges viewers into heightened drama as the enigmatic mermaid, Shiori, confronts Hinako’s seemingly benevolent friend, Miko. From the series’ inception, Hinako, a high school student grappling with profound loss and a desire for an end to her existence, has been pursued by various yokai attracted to her uniquely “delicious” essence. Shiori’s proposition to protect Hinako until she reaches her peak “ripeness” for consumption forms the unusual core of their bond. However, the arrival of Miko, who appeared to be a steadfast human friend, added another layer of companionship to Hinako’s isolated life.
The episode’s central conflict ignites when Shiori, suspicious of Miko’s true intentions and sensing her supernatural nature, chooses to expose Miko in front of Hinako. This dramatic unveiling shatters the illusion of Miko’s humanity, revealing her to be a powerful kitsune, a fox spirit. This revelation confirms that Miko, like Shiori, harbors intentions of eventually consuming Hinako, having protected her from other yokai with a similar long-term goal.
The Kitsune’s Game: Miko’s True Nature
Miko’s identity as a kitsune introduces a crucial thematic element to the series: deceit. Traditionally, kitsune are known as trickster spirits capable of shapeshifting and manipulation. Miko’s prolonged deception, posing as a human friend while secretly being another monster drawn to Hinako, starkly contrasts with Shiori’s brutal honesty. While Shiori openly declared her intention to eat Hinako, Miko cultivated a friendship built on lies, albeit one that seemingly offered Hinako protection.
This exposure forces Hinako to confront the reality that even those closest to her may not be what they seem. The episode highlights the difference between Shiori’s overt, albeit predatory, sincerity and Miko’s hidden, manipulative protective instincts. Miko’s actions, from secretly slaughtering other yokai to getting close to Hinako, suggest a possessive and potentially selfish motivation, echoing the carnal desires that drive Shiori.
The Emerging Love Triangle and Thematic Implications
With Miko’s true form and intentions laid bare, Episode 4 further complicates Hinako’s already tumultuous emotional landscape. The dynamic shifts into what some analyses describe as a “toxic yuri love triangle,” with both Shiori and Miko vying for Hinako in their own distinct ways. Shiori offers a twisted form of protection and a promised end to Hinako’s suffering, while Miko’s revealed deceit complicates her protective role.
The episode also features a peculiar narrative interlude: a comedic short where Miko teaches Hinako how to cook. This segment, while seemingly discordant with the high-stakes drama, serves to underscore Miko’s long-standing, if deceptive, presence in Hinako’s life and perhaps hints at a softer, more domestic side to her intentions, even if ultimately self-serving.
Looking Ahead: Trust and Survival
The events of “This Monster Wants to Eat Me – Episode 4” significantly alter the series’ trajectory. Hinako must now grapple with the betrayal of a trusted friend and the realization that she is caught between two powerful yokai, both of whom desire her for their own monstrous ends. The unveiling of Miko’s true nature raises critical questions about trust, the nature of desire, and Hinako’s agency in a world where her very existence makes her a coveted meal. This episode successfully deepens the emotional and supernatural stakes, promising further intricate developments as Hinako navigates her perilous relationships.
