Well, it IS sad, but it is also spring, and Letty always disappears in spring. So it's a cute end. Sad because Cirno won't see Letty for another 8 months, but cute cuz Cirno gave her a farewell gift.
Cirno recognises that flowers blooming coincides with Letty leaving, but decides that if SHE gives Letty flowers she will be joyful and not leave, but it doesn't work quite as planned... and I cried like I had been gut punched. I haven't been blindsided like that in quite some time.
Also, I like how Cirno seems to be an adopted daughter of sorts for Reimu and Marisa, but the sorrow seems to be distracting me somewhat from that realisation.
Actually, I think that Cirno means that blooming Sakura and Letty never exist at the same time (hence panel 4), thus she wanted someone to make that branch bloom earlier.
It worked as planned, giving Letty a chance to see beautiful flowers. It doesn't change the fact that she will still have to leave, though.
mobo said: I nominate this for the Soul-Crushingly Depressing pool.
And I think it needs to be removed from it to avoid diluting the pool. It's got a bittersweet ending, but it's not like she died or anything. Cirno just has to wait awhile to see her again.
Compare this to other posts in the pool and remember the "soul-crushingly" part. The pool isn't just for anything that makes you feel a little bummed.
I don't think it even deserves the bad end tag either. You know they're going to see each other again.
The last 3 panels makes the deal, a very clever way from the artist. The silent/no text storyline also added the value for me.
and yes i think it should be removed from the Soul-Crushingly Depressing pool, since letty will return in the winter. I guess bittersweet would be a safe then.
Also it's not a Bad End because Cirno succeeded in her mission, which was to show Letty blooming Cherry Blossoms, which she never gets to see otherwise, so I vote for removing that tag.