Those things about Hagu choosing Hanamoto sensei rather than Morita or Takemoto is clearly explained by Mayama in the final episode of H&C II.
Mayama said “It’s about the purpose of life. Love is the reason for some, but not for others”.

And the reason of why Takemoto did not choose Hagu is explained very well in 9th episode of H&C II (which are veeeeeeerry good reasons from my point of view)

As with the Ending at first I was a bit disturbed, H&C is that kind of anime that you have to watch over and over again. There are just so many things going on, it’s hard not to miss the little details that gives eveything another perspective. In H&C, you have to take in every little detail and that’s what just makes it so believable-just like in real time, when you look back you see so many other alternatives, so many what-ifs-, so many little things you’ve not been able too see or little things that change everything…

In response to this article’s perspective on realism in Honey and Clover, I completely agree. I think this is an anime filled with insightful characters with more on their minds than teenage lust. It’s filled with art students, each trying to find their way and find meaning through their art, each different enough to be able to choose something like art school instead of traditional college. Lust does not play a role in their actions and it is somewhat explained by the third generation shopping arcade heirs (or whatever they call themselves). The concept of lust is particularly dealt with when it comes to Mayama and Yamada – the point is made that lust does not play a role because the personalities of each character to one another are really too important in comparison to hormones. It is not so dissimilar from a pair in real life choosing not to advance their relationship because it would harm the friendship. Also, if you look at the rest of the anime, it tends to skip over fleeting emotions or just unnecessary things, and while lust is shown concerning Yamada, it is more or less unnecessary when it comes to Hagu. Unrequited lust would perhaps only come across as creepy instead of as a plight of the heart. Anyway, I think Honey and Clover is very realistic, as long as you’re not confining reality to one dimension.

I have some thoughts concerning the ending and Shuuji’s love for Hagu. At first I thought it was not romantic love and everyone was misunderstanding his proclamation and it was just fatherly love since Shuuji has been more like a father figure and elder brother to Hagu. However, after thinking about it more, in the ending episodes you see Shuuji holding Hagu outside of the hospital, in a very affectionate way, and not quite how a father would hold his younger daughter, but more intimate – not sexual, just intimate. Hagu is somewhat like Harada to Shuuji, but more precious and he is meant to protect her. While the love may be somewhat romantic I feel it is more complicated than that. Just as Harada and Rika were not Shuuji’s lovers, but inexplicably a part of him, I believe Hagu has come to mean the same. It is because of this that he begins to heal, it is because Hagu is restoring what was lost when Shuuji lost Harada – she is restoring the part of him that was lost, and in turn becoming a part of him herself. I think Shuuji initially loved her because she was special, then came to care for her as a father would, unsure of his place, as she grew, their connection changed for him to be more as a guardian and older brother, and as she grew still and passed adolescence entering into the phase of her life governed by her personal purpose, the relationship changed yet again to be something of a love of meeting of minds and souls. I believe that Shuuji is the soulmate, in that he and Hagu complement one another well and Morita is
the kindred spirit, in that he and Hagu can see the world through the same eyes.

From Hagu’s perspective the growth is similar. Shuuji thinks that she knows how he feels, and I imagine that Hagu’s difficulty’s in continuing her art would have been cause by not having Shuuji there, since he has similarly become a part of her that she cannot be without. What we’re seeing is a birth of that new spiritual bond, one that we saw die with Harada.

As for romantic love, maybe one day it will turn into that. Hagu continues to grow as a woman, and perhaps one day when she is fully an adult and has asserted herself, perhaps she and Shuuji will have that connection, and perhaps Shuuji knows this as one who has watched the path of students and watched them grow.

Someone asked about why Hagu didn’t choose Takemoto and Morita despite their affections. I think it is mainly because she cares for them, and does not want to use them. Hagu is very special – she is the character that actually is unwilling to give up her desire and her goals for another, for even love, she puts herself first, and it is not selfish, because she cannot exist without herself, so to speak. With this said, it is very possible for her to love Morita and be in love, though it’s not going to be that typical love where you want to touch and be affectionate, it’s a love that is rooted in sharing similar goals and being able to admire one another on a level that few others stand on. I don’t think Hagu cares more about art than love. Like Mayama said, it’s not about which is more important and there isn’t a right or wrong answer, but it is simply that Hagu cannot exist without art, and if she cannot exist than she cannot have love. Art, drawing, and her eyes and the way she sees the world, that’s who she is, that is her mind. It really is inseparable from her. Art is expression, it is her opinions on paper, it is how she expresses herself. So, taking that away really is like killing herself in a sense.

So, anyway, I love this anime dearly. My favorite characters are Takemoto, Yamada, Morita, and Shuuji. I think I also love Leader, but not quite in the same way. I always wondered if they would pair Morita with Yamada. Hagu is in love with Morita, will not ask him to come back for her, and only wishes for his happiness. Yamada wishes the same for him and gives him that same selfless love on the walk home where they hold hands…. oh well. I grew to like Nomiya quite a bit too.

I guess what we get out of the ending is that Hagu cares more about art than about love.

Unless, of course, his love for Hagu wasn’t “real”, or just a temporary liking. He’s a difficult character to scrutinize, so it’s hard to put a finger on what he really wants.

Morita and Takemoto couldn’t help her draw again in the same way that Shuuji could. Shuuji is an adult, he had money saved, he quit his job to dedicate his life full-time to her recovery. He was willing to dedicate his life to her. Morita loved her, yes, but he was a restless, talented person. He couldn’t dedicate his life to Hagu because there was so much more that he had to do. He was too flighty to spend every moment tending to Hagu’s recovery. Now, Takemoto wanted to help her and was willing to dedicate it all for him, but there is a scene where he himself realizes he can’t. He’s young, in order to support Hagu he’d have to get multiple jobs….but then he wouldn’t have the time to tend to her needs…..it was simply impossible for him to play the role that Shuuji could.

Now, your second question is one that I was argued a lot over at the Animesuki forums =) The anime seems to make it seem like Shuuji was making a love confession. The manga seemed to be slightly less ambigious.

Personally, I don’t think it was a love confession because it simply doesn’t match anything we’ve seen from their relationship. In this case, I prefer to believe my own interpretation, and it just doesn’t seem to make any sense, so instead I just prefer the explanation that it wasn’t a love confession.

I must say I’m humbled by your thoughts on the series; wish I could delve deeper into the meanings of the story than what I’m capable of.

There’s one thing with the ending that still bugs me though. I can understand Hagu choose Hanamoto-senpai because she knew he could get her better enough to do art again, but isn’t that selfish of her? Morita comes back with every now and then with huge amounts of moolah, and he loves her very much; why did Hagu not take him? Takemoto is diligent and hardworking, and loves her just as much as Morita does, if not more; why did she not choose him? Both have had unrequited love for her since they were introduced, but she turned them both down and chose Hanamoto-senpai just so she could draw again. Both guys potentially could help her with that too, why reject their feelings?

Also, was Hanamoto-senpai’s revelation of love true? He had always been a fatherly figure to Hagu, so why the sudden change in feelings? Was there any part in the series which cultivated this concept?

I look forward to reading more from you!

You can’t say that “this or that” isn’t realistic because it doesn’t fit into the box of the observer. There are many places in the world, and most likely all of them have their own culture which affects the way you do things.

The bike trip for self-realization was pretty well done from my point of view, and was quite “realistic”. Well, where I come from, it would most likely be a school shooting rather than a cycling trip..

I’m all into realism, but I think its quite good to keep a small distance from getting too life like, which was pretty well done with the inevitable comedic reliefs after a period of “holding your breath” serious scenes. Since if you want super realistic, rather go outside and be the main character of your very own Honey & Clover, rather than staying an observer!

I’d say the best couple was Rika + Mayama. The ending was pretty shocking with the sudden outburst when she tries to leave to spain alone. And the whole suicide thing after the work would be done.

Have you seen the 2 extra DVD only episodes from season 1?