[Mahou]

Originally Posted by Balzac

Spoiler for Everything:

Well you know they could have just ended it there in first Refrain. After all, the job was done, the two were free to live the rest of their lives supporting each other and it was high time to move on. But this is a major Key release, so somehow there has to be a point where all the tears and emotions bled from the reader has to be rewarded somehow. And Key isn't known - bar a few like AIR and Tomoyo After - for leaving it at the bittersweet end. Always has to be the sweeter side.

Would people like it better if it had ended there?

Also regarding the H thing, remember it is a Japanese game first and foremost, and they have to make sales somehow. Only way to do that is to appeal to their customers. Sure, it works if you have made a name for yourself as a pretty good company who makes fine works but others don't have that luxury. I vaguely remember it being proving in Clannad's release. (And I was the only one in my circle to proclaim on my high horse that there had to be an H version released of that game later )

I didn't mind the h-scenes in Ecstasy because it reminded me of Kanon's which were simply stated as a "reward" or something like that(?) The feeling that they had been kind of "tacked on" was more or less obvious, I think (at least to me).

Spoiler for response:

I liked the 2nd refrain ending. Despite it's180° turn, I was aware of Key's "miracle"-endings. And I'm a huge, huge fan of happy endings as I will always avoid bad endings or similar like there's no tomorrow .
OT: When I read that there was no good ending for Air, I was like "Dang it!", even though I had read only the manga.