That's actually a really good way to end this. With the usual light touch we have romance effectively confirmed for the future, but without having to create the rather messy problematic stuff that would surround doing the romance now. Having the guy, say, kiss nine year old her just wouldn't fit the whole delicate tone of this manga. And yet I've always been rooting for them to be together, and this chapter certainly made it clear, in the sort of indirect, discreet but heartfelt way I love about this story, that they are and will be.