[lordwu]

Warning! Don't read my comments in the spoiler tag if you don't want your judgement of this episode be affected by it.

Spoiler:

In the novel, Sachiko acted strong, didn't cry, ate very little (if any) and was very weak and thin when Yumi visited her. It was not until Yumi visited her she finally let herself up, had a nice cry and got her appetite back. When Youko saw Sachiko being in that state at the burial ceremony she knew only Yumi can help Sachiko to open up and that was why she came directly from the ceremony to fetch Yumi in order to save Sachiko. There is also the part that Youko left for the convenience store after a (unwilling) short chat with Suguru in the garden because she knew that Sachiko will get her appetite back soon and will want to have something to eat. These are the small details that makes the ending so great, for me at least. Editing out these scenes is like missing out 80% of the emotion.

Ayako-Yumiko part I agree is probably the only part that outdid the novel. Very well done. Some of the conversations between Yumi and Touko were cut and order changed (Yumi's waving hand) which makes it less entertaining as it should have been.