"I don't want to have any regrets."
I liked this episode. They also kept the good looking artistic visuals up to this point. The dialogue scene with Chihiro and Rea back in the abandoned bowling alley was nice. Though this episode was largely anime-original, I don't think it derails the story to endanger future chances of adapting more material from the source.
There was no strong sense of closure; but I believe it implied an intention not to end it all here. A strong signal to me that there is an intention for a sequel in the future. There's still much more to come, after all. Rea declaring that she intended to return to school and Chihiro's plans to preserve her using certain methods could serve as a preview of a few things yet to come.
I'm a bit let down that I didn't get to see that iconic (well, to readers) "morning bicycle ride" scene get animated
yet, though. I have high hopes for a sequel in the future.
Because I too, don't want to have any regrets.