This Monster Wants to Eat Me (Japanese: Watashi o Tabetai, Hitodenashi) is a captivating series known for its unique blend of horror, yuri, and supernatural elements, following the complicated relationship between a mermaid named Shiori and a human girl, Hinako. Episode 12, titled “Stormy Talk” or “A Painful Promise Between Shiori and Hinako,” marks a pivotal and emotionally charged turning point, delving deep into the protagonists’ shared past and their conflicting desires. This installment, which aired on December 18, 2025, pushed the narrative to new emotional depths, setting the stage for the series finale.
Episode 12: Unveiling Truths and Renewing Vows
The episode opens with Shiori and Hinako on a rainy beach, engaging in a long-awaited, intense conversation. Shiori reveals a significant secret: she had previously used a spell to erase Hinako’s memories of their first encounter ten years prior. She then lifts this spell, allowing Hinako to remember the truth of their initial meeting and how Shiori’s intervention, involving her blood, saved Hinako’s life during the accident that claimed her family.
Shiori confesses that her original promise to “eat” Hinako was a pretense, an excuse to ensure Hinako’s survival because she couldn’t bear for her to die. She wanted Hinako to live, despite Hinako’s persistent desire for death. This revelation deeply wounds Hinako, who feels betrayed by Shiori’s deception. The conversation becomes a heated exchange, with Hinako struggling to process the truth and unable to accept Shiori’s pleas for her to find happiness. Shiori expresses her sadness at seeing Hinako as a “hollow husk,” no longer the shining light she once valued, and her desire to bring back “that smile”.
In a desperate attempt to reignite Hinako’s will to live, Shiori makes a new, more serious promise: she will truly devour Hinako, but only when Hinako genuinely wishes to live and is at her happiest. This new pact is sealed with Shiori biting Hinako’s lip, a symbolic act akin to a yokai betrothal, and making Hinako drink more of her blood. Shiori admits that Hinako now “tastes terrible” to her after their blood mixed, emphasizing the sacrifice she’s making with this renewed, albeit complex, promise.
Later in the episode, Miko, worried about Hinako’s absence from school, visits her house and finds both Hinako and Shiori there. Noticing Hinako’s injured lip, Miko learns about the renewed promise. Miko confronts Shiori, expressing her concern that Shiori’s efforts to communicate with Hinako led back to the original, troubling agreement. However, Miko also acknowledges Shiori’s underlying desire for Hinako to live, realizing that Shiori herself is in pain over this difficult situation.
Exploring Deep Themes and Character Dynamics
Episode 12 meticulously explores the core psychological struggles of its main characters:
Hinako’s Trauma and Desire for Death
Hinako’s deep-seated desire to die stems from the tragic loss of her family. She believes she is “damaged beyond repair” and feels fundamentally unlovable. The revelation of Shiori’s lie, while intended to save her, further exacerbates her feelings of betrayal and isolates her, making her even more resistant to the idea of living. She questions if her family died miserably, a belief Shiori tries to counter by saying they were happy.
Shiori’s Self-Hatred and Complex Love
Shiori’s character is portrayed with significant complexity. Her initial lie was born from a desperate need to protect Hinako, whom she valued above all else. However, her methods are often manipulative, and she struggles with reciprocal communication. Her fixation on Hinako’s past, happier self is revealed to be a reflection of her own self-hatred; she believes only an “innocent and naive child” could love a “monster” like her. The renewed promise to eat Hinako, while seemingly fulfilling Hinako’s morbid wish, is paradoxically Shiori’s way of ensuring Hinako’s continued existence, even if it means a future of despair for herself after nurturing Hinako’s hope.
The Role of Miko
Miko serves as a voice of reason and an emotional anchor in the volatile dynamic between Shiori and Hinako. She correctly observes that both girls are struggling to communicate effectively and provides much-needed perspective and even comic relief. Miko’s realization of Shiori’s pain highlights the emotional toll this twisted relationship takes on all involved.
Toxic Yuri and a Binding Pact
The episode intensifies the “toxic yuri” elements of the series, showcasing the intertwined, yet destructive, nature of Shiori and Hinako’s bond. The act of sharing blood and the biting of the lip signifies a powerful, almost inescapable, contract or betrothal in the yokai world, binding them even further. This renewed promise creates a fragile, temporary stability, a “band-aid laid on top of a festering and necrotic wound,” as both parties accept its terms with a semblance of acquiescence.
Critical Reception
Episode 12 was met with discussions highlighting its emotional intensity and the complex, often frustrating, character interactions. Reviewers noted the predictable yet impactful nature of the girls talking past each other, emphasizing their inability to engage in productive communication due to their individual traumas and self-perceptions. The episode was praised for elevating the emotional stakes and for its honest portrayal of characters deeply entrenched in their pain and conflicting desires. Many viewed it as a powerful setup for the series’ impending finale, leaving viewers to ponder how such a complex and painful promise could ever truly resolve.
Conclusion
“This Monster Wants to Eat Me – Episode 12” is a critical installment that peels back layers of deception and emotional defense, forcing both Shiori and Hinako to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and their shared history. By revealing Shiori’s true intentions and establishing a new, albeit twisted, promise, the episode solidifies their deeply enmeshed relationship, ensuring Hinako’s survival while pushing both characters further into a cycle of pain and codependency. It masterfully sets the stage for a poignant conclusion, leaving the audience to anticipate the ultimate resolution of their “painful promise.”
