Both happened. He retired and turned in his last manuscript. I'm guessing that happened in the 1950s.
Then in our present time, he died long ago and a memorial/museum of all of his works are being put on display. Except there is one last manuscript they don't have. It's the one that tells of their great love story and his lover has it. His lover (our MC) who must be in his 80s or 90s and on his way to being with Tachibana again.
actually ti's wrong X'D it's two alternative endings :3 you can choose the one that suits you the most ^v^
seriously? how do you know that? :333
does it have two endings? if so, then why?in the firts one its said that tachibana died and in the second one that he just retired. i'm kinda confused :|