[cynicalicious]

It means the author is stepping away from the series for a while, and she's done with it for now. She spent the last 10 years and 8 months cranking out books, so she's due for a break.

Spoiler for and... dunno if this needs a spoiler, but...:

And it means that she's done with the Sachiko/Yumi storyline. She was pretty straightforward about that. There's not a whole lot left to tell in terms of what happens in that setting. That story is pretty much done.

She didn't rule out more stories in that setting, but I wouldn't be holding my breath for anything anytime soon. I imagine she's probably somewhere tropical right now, with one of those drinks filled with fruit and some booze... I know I would be after cranking out 35 books in 10 years.

Then again, if she never writes another volume again, she can walk away and not feel any guilt. She wrapped up pretty much everything she needed to.

EDIT:

Just finished reading Big Door, Small Key/大きな扉、小さな鍵. That's going to be interesting to see Touko's side animated this week.

Spoiler for Big Door, Small Key/大きな扉、小さな鍵:

I wonder how they're going to animate the ride with Touko and Suguru... lol. If they leave the scene in where she makes him pull over, I've got $5 that says they stop at a Pizza Hut. (But then I bet they'll leave the puking scene out, though.) Touko sure is a twisted little cruller. And that's why I like her.