When we left our principals in Volume 8, Miko had been maliciously outed to Hinako as a human-eating kitsune by Tsubaki. In Watashi o Tabetai, Hito de Nashi, Volume 9 (私を喰べたい、ひとでなし), Tsubaki is appalled to learn that Hinako already knows her friend’s inhuman nature. Miko retaliates by unmasking Tsubaki as a tanuki, and suddenly, the girl’s anger makes sense. Her anger is a relic of the millennia-long war between the kitsune and the tanuki. She lashes out at Miko, forcing her to confront the monster she is, whereupon this confrontation becomes a story about misunderstandings and change and redemption.
Once Tsubaki’s threat is past, Hinako, Miko and Shiori go out on a shopping day, Miko leads the way, and tells Shiori to watch Hinako, the anniversary of her family’s death is approaching. At the cemetery, Shiori, dressed in mourning, finds Hinako, who is able to express some of her deepest feelings for the very first time.
Fans of yokai lore will love this volume, as it gets pretty deeply into both the larger story of tanuki vs kitsune, but also develops personal stories for two more of our resident yokai. With every chapter, Miko is able to leave part of her painful past behind because Hinako accepts her for who she is. Shiori is still a veiled threat, but the veil is starting to fray.
9 volumes into this story, the art is simply stunning. There is a scene in which Hinako stands before the altar in her home. The light shines through the window lighting up the wall, but where it is dark, you can see the ocean moving in. Just…wow. I have no idea where the story might go, what lore we’ll be delving into, but I am here for whatever Naekawa-sensei offers up. This is a fantastic series full of chills, thrills and emo. ^_^
Ratings:
Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – Not really, unless yokai lore is your jam
Yuri – Hard to define, let’s say “yes, but”
Overall – 9
This Monster Wants To Eat Me, Volumes 1-3 are available now from Yen Press, Volume 4 will be out this spring.
The Watashi o Tabetai Hito de Nashi anime is scheduled for sometime this year and the trailer on Youtube leans heavily into the art for what I hope will be a magnificent animated work from Pony Canyon and STUDIO LINGS.
