>>280872707
It's simple. He had to rewrite the ending in order to keep the series going after the success of volume 3. Watanare was supposed to end with volume 4. That's why there was a 16 month gap between volumes 4 and 5. Mai was going to be the solo winner. Anyone who has read volume 4 can tell that the story is heavily steered towards Renako choosing Mai. She gets an entire pitybait chapter prior to Renako's decision, for crying out loud.