Its been so many years and I'm still waiting for their feelings to reach each other or to acknowledge them. But sensei hasn't so far but hope dies last I guess. Plus most of her work is so emotional..
Yeah but we can still hope in our hearts and just think that they actually fell in love with each other to ease the pain.
They did. They chose to stay with each other because they've realized they've fallen in love. However they're still growing so probably in their future (that we don't get to see ;-;), they're more like truer lovers -- the type that you described in your first post.
Hmm , I got more the feeling that while both of them are in love with each other none of them at least currently will not admit it or even realised it. Yes, they are staying together but Sato is resigned that Mei doesn't feel anything for him thus he'll stay with him until Mei gets tired of him. Mei on the other hand realised his feelings for Sato but his "agony" makes Mei feel better/safer . Probably I am not explaining properly but thats the best I can do ╮(￣▽￣)╭...
Wait are you trying to say till Misato gets tired of Mei? Well what I had meant was that since Mei had decided to forget "Sato", maybe one day, he may truly fall in love with Misato and when he does, he'll call Misato "Misato" instead of Sato. Who knows how long their relationship will last or how long Misato will continue to last but it's just a hope of mines for the two of them especially Misato who has already resigned himself to what will happen to their love.
I hope that one day, Mei will finally call Misato by his name instead of Sato. It'll most likely make Misato realize that Mei is no longer looking at him as "Sato" but as himself.