Responses
I agree that the ending was basically as good as it was going to get, but what leads up to it is the truly disappointing part. It seems so rushed as it reached the conclusion, a lot of strings left untied and forgotten.
while most would say that they hated the ending, to me personally, I think this is the best outcome and ending they could've made out of this mess of a manga. the ending shows the imperfection of the society, the lies hiding under the shimmering glamour and the endless dreams that one can never hold onto, and even if they do, it would be under the sacrifice of other things they hold dear. if the ending had been the 'generic' happy ending, it would have lost the initial objective of the manga. this manga was never happy in the first place. Ai found her last happiness and truth in her children, aqua met peace after the burden of two lives and ruby fulfilled her dream of shining brighter and becoming light that once also shone on her. if looked at this way, everyone actually has an objectively happy ending, they got what they wanted. If not for loss of aqua and ai, ruby would never shine with the luster she ends up shining as.
even if not best, this ending does serve justice as the conclusion for this manga. Dears, if you feel uncomfortable with the ending, please read something sweet to soothe your enotions.