This Monster Wants to Eat Me delves into the intricate and often painful relationships between humans and yokai, particularly through the lens of Hinako Yaotose’s tragic past and her connection to two powerful supernatural beings. Episodes 5 and 6 escalate the emotional stakes, revealing long-held secrets and forcing characters to confront uncomfortable truths about their identities and desires. The series, adapted from Sai Naekawa’s yuri manga, continues to explore themes of grief, sacrifice, and the complex nature of affection.
Episode 5: “The Beast of Affection” – Miko’s True Form and a Painful Confession
Episode 5, titled “The Beast of Affection,” plunges viewers into the heart of the conflict, revealing the true nature of Hinako’s childhood friend, Miko Yashiro. The episode begins with a flashback to a young Miko, arriving at Hinako’s house after her parents’ death, a time when Hinako viewed Miko as a precious friend. However, this idyllic image shatters as Hinako witnesses Miko’s true form: an enormous fox spirit battling Shiori, the mermaid who has vowed to eat Hinako when she reaches her “most perfect state.”
The Clash of Yokai and a Shocking Revelation
The battle between Miko and Shiori is not just a display of supernatural power; it’s a clash of intentions. Miko, in her fox form, demonstrates cunning by blocking Shiori’s path to the ocean. As the fight intensifies, Hinako makes a shocking discovery: Miko’s frequent illnesses were a direct result of her abstaining from feeding, a self-imposed struggle to control her monstrous hunger while remaining close to Hinako. This revelation highlights Miko’s deep affection and sacrifice.
The episode takes a deeply emotional turn when Miko, during the battle, speaks the names of Hinako’s deceased family members: Daichi, Yuri, and Mutsuki. This stuns Hinako, who realizes that Miko is not just a yokai but a local deity associated with a shrine her family frequented. Miko confesses her past, revealing that she was once a man-eating monster caught by a monk and forced to help humans. Over time, she grew to enjoy their company, eventually becoming a local deity and a guardian of Hinako’s family.
A Promise Unfulfilled and a Vow of Protection
Miko’s confession is steeped in regret. She reveals that Hinako’s family’s last wish at the shrine was for a safe journey, a wish Miko acknowledges she failed to fulfill. Shiori, enraged by this perceived failure, attacks Miko, accusing her of betraying Hinako’s family. Despite Miko’s protests that she is not a god and her profound regret, Shiori remains unconvinced. Hinako, however, intervenes, apologizing to Miko for unknowingly causing her friend’s suffering due to her own attractiveness to yokai. She affirms her friendship with Miko, regardless of her true nature.
The episode culminates in a tense cliffhanger. As Hinako accepts Miko, Miko becomes teary-eyed, explaining that this acceptance is why “bad yokai” are drawn to Hinako. Suddenly, Miko transforms back into her fox form, mouth agape, seemingly ready to swallow Hinako whole. The sound of gushing blood fills the air as Hinako reflects on her life, realizing that Miko had always been her anchor, preventing her from sinking entirely into despair after her family’s death. This shocking ending leaves viewers questioning Miko’s true intentions and the nature of her “affection.”
Episode 6: “The Shape of Affection” – Sacrifices, Truces, and Healing Wounds
Episode 6, titled “The Shape of Affection,” picks up immediately after the harrowing events of Episode 5, resolving some lingering questions about Miko’s actions and solidifying the complex relationships between the three main characters.
Miko’s Ultimate Sacrifice and the Truce
Instead of devouring Hinako, Miko performs an extraordinary act of self-sacrifice: she bites off a part of her own tail. This act is profoundly significant, as her tail is the source of her yokai power. By severing it, Miko willingly diminishes her strength to curb her hunger and ensure her friendship with Hinako. This selfless gesture convinces Shiori to spare Miko, and a tense truce is formed. Shiori agrees to let Miko become Hinako’s bodyguard, satisfying her own hunger with fish instead.
This episode delves deeper into Miko’s character, portraying her as a complex yokai who rejects her inherent monstrous nature to protect someone she cares for deeply. Her decision highlights the powerful symbolism of a monster choosing to be a guardian, creating a compelling narrative of self-control and love.
The Root of the Attraction and Hinako’s Scars
A crucial piece of lore is revealed: the reason Hinako’s blood attracts yokai stems from a bruise she sustained during the accident that killed her family. Miko confesses that she has been protecting Hinako ever since her own “change of heart” following that tragedy.
The episode also finally explains why Hinako consistently wears clothing that covers most of her body. It is revealed that she bears significant scarring from the accident, animated with striking detail by Studio Lings. This visual detail underscores the physical and emotional trauma Hinako has endured, providing further context for her initial wish to die.
With the immediate threat from Miko resolved and a fragile understanding established between Miko and Shiori, the focus shifts to Hinako’s well-being. Both the fox and the mermaid agree that Hinako is in desperate need of rest and relaxation, signaling a potential shift towards healing and acceptance for the protagonist.
Episodes 5 and 6 of This Monster Wants to Eat Me provide critical insights into the characters’ motivations and backstories, deepening the emotional resonance of the series and setting the stage for further exploration of their unique and intertwined destinies.
