Everything appears to be set in stone , until Benio and Tosei 's wedding day , when the Kanto earthquake of 1923 rocks Tokyo and forces a bittersweet ending to the story . Lalissa is fatally injured in the quake trying to save Shinobu , and as she lies dying , she tells Shinobu to marry Benio and be happy . Shinobu , memories restored and himself severely injured , finds Benio amid the wreckage of the ruined city , and the two vow to never be separated from each other again . Tosei tries to save Benio , but Benio refuses , preferring to die alongside her beloved rather than face life without him ; thus , Tosei rescues both Benio and Shinobu . In the end , Tosei comes to terms with his feelings about his mother and rededicates himself to his business ; Onijima returns to Manchuria , and Tamaki decides to obey her heart and follow him ; and Benio and Shinobu are wed at last
Kanto earthquake
1923 Great Kantō earthquake
Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern