My favourite types of WataHito chapters are ones that remind you how Hinako is more fucked up than the monsters who want to eat her. Kinda makes you wonder at an alternate interpretation of the title wherein Hinako, in her aberrant, ephemeral approach to life and love, is the 'monster' who wants to 'eat' Shiori by consuming her every thought, by becoming an existence into whom Shiori is utterly subsumed. If Shiori stops seeing Hinako as inferior, as short-lived prey, a mere dinner party's duration in her eternal life, then she gives Hinako power over herself. If she dreads Hinako dying, considering her presence as indispensable, wanting to delay her demise, then she'll be facing the only thing in the universe more mighty than even her titanic self- death, the absolute void, deeper even than the seas she calls home. Hinako, by becoming a creature of death, shall take up the position of the alien, of the other, and Shiori, in wanting to prevent this, shall become human, familiar in her tragedy. And if Hinako does die, and if Shiori cares enough to never forget her, to never get over it, then she'll have been 'eaten' by Hinako, a part of herself ripped off and swallowed into the abyss where Hinako has retreated, where she can never go unless she relinquishes her very nature. Regardless of how likely or unlikely this ending might be, if Shiori lets herself be infected by the fear of it, if she even entertains that possibility, it shall be the beginning of her consumption, the pain of teeth sinking into her immortal flesh. Personally, I can't wait.
Also, Hinako being a MikoShio shipper is beautiful and an opinion I wholeheartedly agree with. The homoeroticism of scales and tails cannot be understated. Congrats to Hinako on her graduation from 'monsterfucker' to 'person who wants the monsters to fuck each other'. Romcom night with Hinako is just an endless lineup of Alien vs Predator, Godzilla vs. Kong, Vampire vs. Werewolf type movies. My girl out here really putting the love into Lovecraft (if only she had more HP too).