I just got the Saikano manga and was able to follow the story thanks to the information I got from the anime. The part that I found significantly different was precisely the ending, and been looking for an explanation until I found this thread. Pretty informative.

I just got a question:

In the post I am replying to it is said that Chise destroys everything and the takes Chuuji as a spaceship. My question is, what is the specific reason why Chise does this? Is it also explained why Chise only takes Chuuji?

Also, when Chuuji is in the field of bodies he keeps saying "gomenne". Why is that?

Anyone know where I can get the manga?
i have seen the anime, but i want to read the english translated manga too.

You can probably order them directly from shogakukan,
go here:

http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/ENTRY21Comics?pat=0&word1=2&word2=0&length=0&lpc=1

If you live in Toronto, then there's a manga store called Kikiwai in the Chinese Cultural Centre close to Spadina and Dundas that sells them. That's where I got my copy

You can download it also from saikano.narod.ru in zip

This manga should be bought by anyone, its the best i've ever read