This Monster Wants to Eat Me (Japanese: Watashi o Tabetai, Hito de Nashi) has captivated audiences with its dark, twisted yuri narrative, exploring themes of life, death, and a mermaid’s peculiar hunger. Episode 9, titled “A Burned-In Prayer,” plunges the series into its deepest emotional depths yet, delivering a cascade of revelations that irrevocably alters the core relationship between Hinako and Shiori, leaving both characters—and viewers—reeling from a profound sense of betrayal and shattered hope. The episode has been hailed by many as a turning point, solidifying the series’ critical acclaim and intensifying its dramatic stakes.
The Premise: A Girl’s Death Wish and a Mermaid’s Promise
The series centers on Hinako Yaotose, a high school student haunted by the tragic loss of her family in an accident. Living a desolate life by the sea, Hinako harbors a vague wish for death, unable to end her own life. Her unique blood, however, attracts various yōkai (monsters) who desire to consume her. Her world changes when she encounters Shiori Oumi, a powerful mermaid yōkai who saves her from another monster. Shiori makes a chilling promise: she will protect Hinako from other yōkai until Hinako reaches her “most delicious” state, at which point Shiori herself will devour her. For Hinako, this strange, looming fate becomes her only reason to continue living, a perverse form of hope for an ending she desires.
Episode 9: A Tidal Wave of Truth and Trauma
“A Burned-In Prayer” opens with Hinako grappling with a bombshell revelation from Ayame, another yōkai: that humans with mixed yōkai blood become “inedible”. This claim ignites Hinako’s deep-seated need for answers, compelling her to confront Shiori directly about the mermaid blood supposedly coursing through her veins and the mysterious circumstances of their past encounters.
Hinako’s Desperate Search for Answers
Troubled by Ayame’s words, Hinako first seeks counsel from her friend, Miko, showcasing the growing bond between them. Miko’s emotional reaction provides a momentary release valve for the escalating tension before Hinako steels herself for the inevitable confrontation with Shiori. Hinako’s resolve to unearth the truth is palpable, as she directly questions Shiori about the presence of mermaid blood within her and the veracity of their past interactions.
Shiori’s Confession and the Devastating Twist
Cornered and no longer able to evade Hinako’s persistent questions, Shiori finally reveals a truth that shatters Hinako’s fragile world: Ayame was correct. Shiori’s blood is indeed mixed with Hinako’s. This infusion of mermaid blood is the reason other yōkai are so drawn to Hinako, and it also explains her unusual healing capabilities.
The most profound and heartbreaking revelation, however, is that Shiori had previously met Hinako before the accident that claimed her family. In a forgotten moment, a young and isolated Shiori encountered a despondent Hinako who was close to giving up on life. Shiori, driven by a deep, unspoken connection, begged Hinako to live, to hold on, and to choose life. It was this singular, emotional moment that compelled Shiori to break mermaid law and save Hinako’s life after the accident by mixing her own blood with Hinako’s.
The cruelest irony of this confession is that Shiori can no longer fulfill her original promise. Mermaid blood rejects mermaid flesh, meaning that Shiori can never eat Hinako. This truth utterly devastates Hinako, as the very “end” she had clung to—Shiori devouring her—was never real. Her reason for living, twisted as it was, vanishes, plunging her into an abyss of despair and feeling forced to survive a future she never asked for.
Character Impact and Emotional Resonance
Episode 9 profoundly impacts both protagonists:
- Hinako’s Betrayal: Hinako’s world collapses, built on a foundation of lies and a false promise. The revelation that the “voice” urging her to survive after the accident was Shiori’s, not her family’s, adds another layer of emotional manipulation and betrayal to her already traumatic past. Her journey, which began with a desire for death and a strange hope in Shiori, now faces an even more complex and agonizing path.
- Shiori’s Regret and Determination: Shiori, initially portrayed as a calculating predator, is revealed to be a complex figure driven by a deep, almost desperate desire to keep Hinako alive, even if it means Hinako will hate her. Her true motivations, rooted in a past encounter and an act of forbidden mercy, recontextualize her entire relationship with Hinako. Despite her earlier pretense, the episode reveals a crack in her detached facade as she witnesses Hinako’s heartbreak.
Critical Reception
“A Burned-In Prayer” has been widely lauded as a pivotal episode, with critics and viewers praising its emotional intensity, shocking twists, and character development. Reviewers have highlighted its ability to elevate the series from a meandering narrative to one that fully commits to its angsty, yuri drama. The episode’s narrative dexterity in flipping the entire series premise on its head has earned it commendation, with many calling it the “best and angstiest episode yet” and even one of the best anime episodes of the season. The masterful storytelling and the sheer emotional weight of the betrayals and revelations have solidified This Monster Wants to Eat Me as a standout in its genre.
