Awesome, thanks for the translation jkl32428! That's the fullest response we've gotten so far. My sister was actually the one who asked the question at AX and she was really happy to read your post.

We also got the impression that Kurosawa was steering away from a romantic love relationship, and that route would seriously mess with the source material. But then they did add an anime-original early dynamic between Kumiko and Shuuichi, so they're not totally opposed to changes (or maybe just additions). If the AX panel host had allowed one more question, I was next in line and would have asked Kurosawa personally about the director's instructions on Kumiko's unique dynamic with Shuuichi in the first season. :P Oh well, that'll have to wait until another day.

Hey guys - some possible new information on KyoAni's Kumiko x Reina intentions. A few days ago a friend of mine asked Kumiko's voice actress Tomoyo Kurosawa in person what she thought about Kumiko and Reina's relationship at her panel at Anime Expo.

Someone recorded the audio and posted it here: http://osterreik.tumblr.com/post/123344044909/tomoyo-kurosawa-on-kumiko-and-reinas

But the panel translator seems to be leaving out a lot of stuff! Kurosawa-san seems to be saying Kumiko and Reina aren't lovers or even best friends, but have some attraction that transcends all of that somehow. Any Japanese speakers who can give a more full translation?