I'm kinda getting the feeling that the author told the editor beforehand how he wanted to end the manga and that was why it got axed.
Editor: "So let me get this straight: You want these two dumbasses, who already have feelings for each other and know about the other's feelings, to NOT date for an entire YEAR AND A HALF, just to end the story the moment they start dating?!
Author: "Yep, exactly."
Editor: "I see.... and I suppose that means the girl will fail her application and never achieve it right up until the end of her third ye..."
Author: "Nope, she will actually succeed in her application on her first try and get her serialization, just that it will be a digital one."
Editor: "Wait, then if she manages to do it, how will you explain them not dating just yet?"
Author: "Well, since she technically didn't get a serialization in the same magazine as him, she will claim it as not counting, so they will leave it as a koibito miman for now."
Editor: "So not only are you gonna make them not date right up until the manga ends, but are also gonna move the goalposts and blueball the readers through the entire time?"
Author: "That's right! It will be just like the mangas of old!"
Editor: "Yeah... screw that shit, you wanna tease the readers like Heisei era manga, you're gonna get axed like Heisei era manga; we're all Reiwa energy now."