It’s true, the continuation probably would have just carried on like volumes 3 and 4. I suppose the story was complete in the first two volumes, and volume three answered some of the more pressing questions (who Ora was, which weighed heavily on the first two volumes), and volume four stuff that was important, but less pressing (who Ran was, and how he wound up with Gingetsu, which I would have wondered about, but probably wasn’t all that important). The origins of the Clover Project would have made for a good story, or any of that other stuff you mentioned.

other than that, I adored Suu’s story (though I admit that I didn’t care for Suu herself all that much until the end), and i loved her conversations with Ora.

Most find Clover complete, but i never did stop wondering about the last two volumes which i can only guess were about how Kazuhiko lost his arm and maybe an early story about him and Gingetsu joining the military, or origins of the Clover project (like when the triplets and Suu were confined).

The lyrics in volume 3 kept making me think of Jimmy Durante’s “Love is the Answer” which is rather brain-breaking when you have a bombshell like Ora’s voice coming out as a old man’s voice in your head.

It also reminded me (though less so) of Frank Sinatra’s LOVE.

I think the story only really worked for me because it went back in time and elaborated on things, but I do remember being very, very confused by that when I read it the first time. It took me a long time to figure out that it had jumped back in time, if I recall, the first time I read it, and I don’t remember being too fond of those last two volumes at the time. Especially the one about Ran.

I am also unnerved by CLAMP’s fondness for the recurring relationship dynamic between a tiny fragile floaty person and a massive inverted pyramid on legs – I think you’re more keen on wide shoulders than I am!