The girl is reborn over and over, doomed to repeat the cycle, with the monster growing larger every time due to its stomach getting fuller with bodies.

The students' teacher, Sakaki, explains that the Nijigahara embankment was named for a legend about a kudan, a "cow with a human face" known to predict plagues and suffering before mysteriously dying.

[5] Fantagraphics noted that the manga would be darker than their previous two releases, but still be part of their initiative to publish "unique artistic voices," adding that it would be translated by Rachel Thorn.

[15] Comparing the manga to Asano's previous works, Johanna Carlson of Comics Worth Reading said that it has "the same strong focus on character, but with much more emphasis on the creepy and violently destructive."

"[16] Ng Suat Tong of The Hooded Utilitarian felt that the quality of the manga which required looking at it as a whole was atypical in the industry, which emphasizes ease of reading.

"[17] In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called the manga a "dark and twisted psychological horror story" which is "equal parts beautiful and highly disturbing", adding that it is "impressive and will leave readers puzzling about it, with many likely returning to dig deeper and discover further meanings.

"[21] Kevin Church of Comics Alliance found that the story didn't feel cheap, "even with the unrelenting bleakness of the narrative" due to Arié's impact on the lives around her.

"[22] David Berry of the National Post found fault in Asano's over-indulgence in implying that everything in the manga is connected, but called the story "one that can still capture a unique moment with piercing emotionality, leaving feelings lingering like evening shadows.