Naruto Hiden Vol 1 Epilogue

Epilogue: 「拝啓、 六代目火影様」// [Dear Rokudaime Hokage-Sama,]

 

Pages 214-215

RAW English 里の西の森で、 カカシは大きな楓の根元に腰を下ろした。 In the western forest of the village, Kakas.h.i.+ sat down at the base of a large maple tree. 三月にしては暖かく、頭上をおおう針葉樹の梢から降りそそぐ陽光は、汗ばむほどだった。 Although it was March, it was warm to the extent that he perspired. Sunlight rained incessantly through the coniferous treetops, which were covering him from overhead. 胸ポケットから一通の手紙を取り出す。封を切ったとたん、そこはかとない、いい香りが鼻先をかすめた。 He took out a letter from his breast-pocket. As soon as he cut the seal, a faint and pleasant aroma grazed the tip of his nose. その香りが、四か月前の、あの事件の記憶を。。。そう、飛鯱丸が龍波武装同盟に襲撃された、あの日の記憶を呼び覚ました。 That fragrance (triggered) memories of that incident from four months ago…That was right. The Tobishachimaru was attacked by the Ryuuha Armament Alliance. He was reminded of the memories of that day. そして、この偶然を、少し面白がった。つい昨日、五影のあいだで、鬼燈城の管理運営に関しての正式な合意が取り交わされたばかりだったのだ。 And then unexpectedly, he enjoyed himself a little bit (back then). Just yesterday, they had merely exchanged a formal agreement amongst the Five Kage regarding the control and management of the Houzukijyou. あれから、土影、水影、風影、雷影が鬼燈城へ視察に訪れた。雷影などは、華氷の力量を自分の眼でたしかめると言って、彼女と手合わせまでした。 Afterwards, the Tsuchikage, Mizukage, Kazekage, and the Raikage visited the Houzukijyou for an inspection. Because the Raikage (and the other Kage) said that (they wanted to) ascertain the ability of Kahyo with their own eyes, the Raikage even had a bout with her. その場に居合わせた者の話によれば、雷影の剛拳は城の壁に新しい穴を数個あけただけでなく、年甲斐もなく、雷塾熱刀まで繰り出したそうだ。 According to the stories of the people, who happened to be present for the occasion, the Raikage’s strong fists not only created several new holes in the castle’s walls, but that he was also acting unbecoming for his age. It looked as though he wanted to unleash a Lariat. もちろん、雷影が本気を出していたとは、だれも思っていない。しかし、雷影が五分の力しか出していないとしても、並の忍では、華氷ほど優雅に戦うことはできなかっただろうと、だれもが口をそろえて言った。 Of course, n.o.body thought that the Raikage was making a serious effort (during their battle). However, even if the Raikage had not given out only one-fifth of his strength, or (if he was like) a normal s.h.i.+n.o.bi, perhaps he would not have been able to battle as elegantly against Kahyo. Everyone unanimously said so. 雷影の攻撃をかわし、華氷は相手の懐に飛び込んだ。そして、雷影の顔の前で、パチンと指を鳴らした。 While exchanging attacks with the Raikage, Kahyo plunged into her opponent’s chest. And then, in front of the Raikage’s face, she snapped her fingers with a ‘pachin’ sound. それだけだった。 With just that, (it was the end of their battle). 雷影の、ヒゲが凍りついた。 The Raikage’s beard froze. 「うぬぬぬ、いつの間に術を…」 ”Urghh, when did you use that jutsu….” 「すみません、雷影様」眼を見開いた雷影に、華氷はにっこり笑ってみせた。「素敵なおヒゲを台無しにしてしまって」 “I’m sorry, Raikage-sama” The Raikage’s eyes opened wide. (In his eyes, he saw that) Kahyo was smiling sweetly and laughing. “I ruined a lovely beard”. この手合わせは、どちらも怪我なく終わった。雷影は自慢のヒゲを失い、雲隠れの衆に陰でさんざん笑われることにはなったが。 That bout ended without any injuries to either of them. The Raikage lost his prideful beard. Behind his back, he expected that the people of k.u.mogakure were harshly laughing at him. ほかの影たちは、この一件を面白がった。 As for the other Kage, they were amused by this incident. 「あのきかん坊の、鳩が豆鉄砲を食らったような顔が見えるようじゃぜ」と、土影が言っ たとか言わないとか。 “That unruly child looks like he’s completely dumbfounded” It was implied that the Tsuchikage had said so. いずれにせよ、きちんと自分自身の眼で見て、ほかの影たちは結論を下したのである。 At any rate, the other Kage precisely saw the conclusion for themselves .

[T/N]

The Tsuchikage used this phrase: 鳩が豆鉄砲を食らったような顔が見えるよう. The literal expression is sorta like “Your face looks like a pigeon that has eaten a peashooter”. (A peashooter is a mini-gun that’s loaded up with little beans). It means that your expression is so shocked, you look dumbfounded. The English equivalent of this idiom is like “You look like a dying duck in a thunderstorm”

Pages 216-217

RAW English 華氷の実力は、前任の草隠れの無為と互角、華氷をおいて鬼燈城の新城主にふさわしい者はおらず、六代目火影の采配を全員が支持する、と。 Kahyo’s apt.i.tude was on par with Mui’s, who was formerly in the position (of watching over the Houzukijyou) from Kusogakure. With the exception of Kahyo, there was no one else as appropriate to become the lord of Houzukijyou. Everyone supported the command of the Rokudaime Hokage. カカシは、四つに折りたたまれた手紙を、開いた。 The letter was folded into fourths. Kakas.h.i.+ opened it. 拝啓、六代目火影様におかれましては、いかがお過ごしでしょうか？私は。。。 Dear Sir, as the Rokudaime Hokage-sama, how have you been? As for me…. 「よおし！」森の中に谺したのは、ガイの暑苦しい大声だった。「今日も青春パワー全開でいくぞ、リー！」 “Okay!” Echoing within the forest was Guy’s sweltering, loud voice. “Today, let’s go with a full-throttle of our Power of Youth, Lee!” 「はい、ガイ先生！」 “Yes, Guy-sensei!” そしてリーに車椅子を押させて、カカシの眼の前を、エッホ、エッホ、と何度も行ったり来たりするのだった。 And then, he made Lee push the wheelchair. They were in front of Kakas.h.i.+’s eyes. They were going back and forth multiple times, making an ‘ehho-ehho’ sound. 「おや？」と、ガイが驚いてみせた。「そこにいるのは、六代目火影のはたけカカシ様ではないか？」 “Oh?” Guy said. He was surprised. “Over there, isn’t that the Rokudaime Hokage, Hatake Kakas.h.i.+-sama?” 「……」 「……」 「そして、その手紙……」ガイは聞こえよがしに、リーに耳打ちをした。「カカシのやつはな、飛鯱丸の一件のとき、オレが搭乗客の命を救わんと奮闘していたころ、なんと破廉恥にも敵のくノ一をひっかけていたんだぞ」 “Also, that letter….” Guy whispered into Lee’s ear. He was deliberately intending to be heard by Kakas.h.i.+. “That guy Kakas.h.i.+, during that incident with the Tobishachimaru, and while I put forth a strenuous effort to save the lives of the pa.s.sengers….How audacious of him ! He picked up a girl, an enemy kunoichi. “ 「里のみんなが言ってたことは、本当だったんですね」リーがひそひそとささやきかえす。 “Everyone in the village was talking about it. So it was true, right?” Lee whispered and murmured back. 「ぼくはあんな大人にはなりませんよ、ガイ先生」 “I won’t become that sort of adult, Guy-sensei” 「お前たちねえ……」カカシは手紙をたたんで、胸ポケットにしまった。 “It’s you guys, eh?.....” Kakas.h.i.+ folded the letter and placed it back into his breast-pocket. 「オレと華氷はそんなんじゃないって、何度も言ってるでしょう？」 “I said that Kahyo and I weren’t like that. Didn’t I say that multiple times?” が、ガイとリーはカカシの言うことなど無視して、 片足スクワットをはじめてしまった。 However, Guy and Lee disregarded what Kakas.h.i.+ had said. They had started on one-legged squats. 「よく言った、我が弟子よ！」ガイは左足一本で、スクワットを軽々と続けた。「あんなやつが火影でも、オレがちゃんと補佐してやるつもりだ！よおし、今日は片足スクワッ ト五千回だ！」 “My pupil, you’ve said it well!” With his left leg, Guy easily continued with the squats. “Although such a guy is the Hokage, I intend to a.s.sist him perfectly! Okay, today it will be 5,000 one-legged squats!” 「はい、ガイ先生！」 “Yes, Guy-sensei!” カカシは腰を上げて、 そっとその場を立ち去った。 Kakas.h.i.+ lifted up his back. He quietly departed from that place. 次に手紙を読もうとしたのは、茶屋の店先だった。 The next place that he attempted to read the letter was at the storefront of a teahouse. 抹茶を一杯注文して、茶が運ばれてくるまでのあいだに、華氷からの手紙を開いた。 He ordered a cup of matcha green tea. (While he was waiting) for the tea to arrive, he opened the letter from Kahyo . 拝啓、六代目火影様におかれましては、いかがお過ごしでしょうか？私は。。。 Dear Sir, as the Rokudaime Hokage-sama, how have you been? As for me ….

[T/N]

聞こえよがし is for when you’re intentionally saying something with the clear purpose of letting the intended person overhear you. So it’s like a ‘loud-whisper’ in that you want the other person to hear whatever sarcastic or mean comment that you have to throw. Guy is so sa.s.sy~

女の子を引っ掛ける means to pick up a girl~ So 敵のくノ一をひっかけていた = picked up an enemy kunoichi. Though the root verb is sorta like “to catch/cheat/ensnare/trap”. 女を引っ掛ける basically means colloquially that Guy thinks that he seduced her :P

Pages 218-219

RAW English 「おっ、カカシ先生」 “Oh, Kakas.h.i.+-sensei” 眼を向けると、シカマルとチョウジがだらだらと茶屋へやってきた。 Turning his eyes, (Kakas.h.i.+ watched) as s.h.i.+kamaru and Chouji slowly came around and towards the teahouse. 「なに読んでるの、カカシ先生？」ポテトチップスをバリバリ食べながら、チョウジが訊いた。「あっ、ひょっとして、カカシ先生が職権濫用でものにした女からの手紙？」 “What are you reading, Kakas.h.i.+-sensei?” Chouji asked while he was eating potato chips with a ‘baribari’ crunching sound. “Ah, by any chance, is that a letter from that woman? Kakas.h.i.+-sensei won over her heart because of an abuse of your authority, right?” 「『ものにした』って、あのねえ……」カカシはそそくさと手紙をポケットに押し込んだ。 “Excuse me, you said『Won over her heart』…”Kakas.h.i.+ hurriedly pushed the letter into his pocket. 「お前たち、まだ誤解があるようだけど、あれはオレの火影としての初仕事であって、けっして職権濫用なんかじや。。。」 “As for you guys, there still seems to be a misunderstanding. However, that happened to be my first command as the Hokage. Well, by no means was that an abuse of authority….” 「まあ、そう言ってやるなよ、チョウジ」と、シカマルがかぶせた。「カカシ先生だって、 とっくに三十歳過ぎてんだぜ。女のひとりやふたり、いたっておかしくねェだろ」 “Well, don’t say things like that, Chouji” s.h.i.+kamaru said, covering (for Chouji). “Even for Kakas.h.i.+-sensei, he’s already exceeded over 30 years old. ” One or two women, it’s probably not really strange, right?” 「いや、だからね…」 “No, that’s why…” 「あの華氷って人、きれいだったもんね」と、チョウジ。「年増だけど」 “That Kahyo person, she was beautiful.” Said Chouji. “But she was middle-aged” それから、ふたりでニヤニヤしながら、 カカシを眺めていた。 And then while the two of them were grinning, they gazed at Kakas.h.i.+. 「……」 「……」 カカシは茶も飲まずに、金だけ払って茶屋をあとにした。 Without even drinking any tea, Kakas.h.i.+ just paid the money. He left the teahouse. 里の目抜き通りを歩いていると、里人が次々に挨拶をしてくる。が、どうも通り過ぎるはしから、クスクス笑いが聞こえてきてしまうのだった。 Walking along the main street of the village, the villagers greeted him one by one. However, somehow only in pa.s.sing, he could hear them giggling. これはおかしい……すっかり自意識過剰になっているカカシはそう思った。なんでオレが華氷から手紙を受け取ったことを、みんなが知っているんだ？ That’s strange…Kakas.h.i.+ completely thought that he had become overly self-conscious. How does everyone know about the letters that I’ve received from Kahyo? カカシは歩き、だれもいない路地に入った。 Kakas.h.i.+ walked into an alleyway where there was no one. 路地の両端を見渡し、しつこいほど人影が見当たらないことを確認してから、またぞろポケットから手紙をひっぱり出した。 Surveying both ends of the alleyway, he could not see the figures of any insistent people. After he affirmed (that he was alone), he pulled out the letter from his pocket yet again. 拝啓、六代目火影様におかれましては。。。 Dear Sir, as the Rokudaime Hokage-sama …. 「見てよ、あれ」 “Look over there” 「！？」 「！？」 「ニヤニヤしちゃって、いやらしい」 “He’s grinning. How disgusting” 声のほうをさっとふりかえると、サクラと、いのと、ヒナタが、板壁の上から顔をのぞかせていた。 Quickly turning his head back towards the direction of the voices, (Kakas.h.i.+ saw) the faces of Sakura, Ino, and Hinata. They were peeping from over the top of the wooden wall. 「わっ！」びっくり仰天いたカカシの手の中で、手紙が躍った。 “Wha!” Startled and horrified, the letter jumped awkwardly inside Kakas.h.i.+’s hands.

Pages 220-221

RAW English 「おま、おま、お前たち……どこから現れたんだ！」 “You-, you-, you guys…. Where did you guys come from!” 「見てよ、あの慌てっぷり」いのが、言った。「心にやましいことがあるから、あんなに慌てるのね」 “Look at how fl.u.s.tered he is” Ino said. “It’s a guilty conscious in his heart from what happened. That’s why he’s so fl.u.s.tered” サクラが、まるで汚いものでも見るかのような眼を向けてくる。 Sakura’s eyes turned towards him, as if she had also seemingly saw something filthy. 「噂は本当なんですか？」ヒナタが言った。「カカシ先生が鬼燈城の城主のポストと引き換えに、華氷さんに迫っているっていうのは……」 “So the rumors are true? “ Hinata said. “ (I heard that) Kakas.h.i.+-sensei pressured Kahyo-san into an exchange for the post of being the lord of the Houzukijyou…” 「そ、そそ、そんなわけないでしょう！」カカシは叫んだ。 “Ah-, ah-ah-, As if such a thing would even happen!” Kakas.h.i.+ shouted. 「いったいだれが、そんな根も葉もない噂を流しているんだんだ！？」 “Who the heck is distributing such a completely false and unfounded rumour!?” が、女の子たちは、もう聞いちゃいない。ひそひそとささやき合っては、まるで三羽の雀のように「えー、ほんと？」とか「信じらんない」とか「もうそんなことまで？」とか、 ピーチクパーチクさえずるばかりだった。 However, the girls were already not listening. They were whispering and murmuring amongst each other, as if they were three sparrows tweeting with a ‘piichikupaachiku’ sound. They were merely chirping “Ehh, really?”… “It’s unbelievable”… “It’s already to such an extent?” カカシはまた歩きだした。 Kakas.h.i.+ started to walk again. どうやら、プライバシーを保てる場所は、火影の執務室しかなさそうだった。 Somehow or another, it seemed as though the office of the Hokage would be the only location where he could maintain his privacy. 目抜き通りへ戻り、とぼとぼ歩いていると、ちょっとした人だかりに出くわした。人だかりのむこうで、だれかが声高にわめいている。 Return onto the main street, he walked trudgingly along. Then, he happened to come across a small crowd. On the opposite side of the crowd, someone was yelling with a loud voice. 集まった皆の衆が、ドッと笑った。 Everyone who was gathered there then burst into laughter. 「オレはマジでこの眼で見たんだってばよ!」人の輪の真ん中にいたのは、ナルトだった。 “I’m serious, I saw it with my own eyes ‘dattebayo!” The person who was in the centre of the ring of people… was Naruto. 「カカシ先生が、手紙を書いては破り、書いては破りしていたんだってばよ……ありゃ、 ぜってーにラブレターってやつだってばよ!」 “Kakas.h.i.+-sensei tore up the letter that he was writing. He was writing it and then tearing it up, ‘dattebayo….Jeez, that guy was definitely writing a love-letter ‘dattebayo!” 「……」 「……」 「あんなんで、六代目火影として、大丈夫なのかなあ!」ナルトは太平楽に声を張りあげ た。「いや、恋をするなとは言わねーけどよ、ありゃちょっと重症だってばよ……こないだなんか、花を摘んでさ……こうやって一枚一枚花びらを引っこ抜きながら、好き、嫌い、 好き、嫌い、なんてやってたんだぜ！ “As the Rokudaime Hokage, I wonder if it’s alright for him to be doing such a thing!” Naruto raised his voice in a happy-go-lucky way. “No, I’m not saying that he didn’t fall in love, but jeez, it’s a little bit of a serious illness ‘dattebayo…. Something like the other day, he was holding a flower. In this way, one by one while plucking off the petals, he (was saying) such things like ‘she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not…’. 「おまえか…」眼を光らせたカカシが、ナルトの背後にそびえ立った。「おまえが、あることないこと、言いふらしていたのか」 “It’s you?...” Kakas.h.i.+ made his eyes glisten as he stood behind Naruto, towering over him. 「……え？」ふりかえったナルトの眼には、恐怖の色がありありと浮かんでいた。「カ、 カカシ先生！ちょ、ちょっと待って…」 “….Eh?” Naruto turned around. A colour of dread vividly rose into his eyes. “Ka- Kakas.h.i.+-sensei! Wai- Wait a second…” ゴツンッ！ Gotsunn! (/Thud!)

Pages 222-223

RAW English 「いったいなんだって、こんなことをするんだっ！」ナルトの頭に落とした拳骨を、カカシはふり回した。「事と次第によっちゃ、許さないからなっ！」 “Why the heck are you doing something like this!” Kakas.h.i.+ swung his fist and dropped it onto Naruto’s head. “ Because I won’t allow you to make this matter even worse!” 「だって、だって……」涙目のナルトが、頭をさすりながら、訴えた。 「オレだけ仲間はずれにしてさ……みんなが鬼燈城で戦っていたのに……カカシ先生が死にそうになってい るときに、オレは里でボサッとしてたんだぞ！」 “But- But-…” Naruto was teary-eyed. While rubbing his head, he complained. “I was the only comrade who was left out….everyone else was battling at the Houzukijyou…When Kakas.h.i.+-sensei was on the verge of death, I was doing nothing in the village!” 「ナルト……」 “Naruto…” ナルトは腕で眼をゴシゴシこすった。 Naruto briskly rubbed his eyes with a ‘gos.h.i.+gos.h.i.+’ sound. 「悪かったよ、殴ったりして」カカシは言った。「それに、お前に隠していたのは、オレになにかあったときでも、お前には里を守っていってもらわなきゃならないからだ」 “My bad, (sorry for) hitting you” Kakas.h.i.+ said. “Besides, there was reason why we concealed (that mission) from you, even though there were times when (you could have) done something for me. It’s because we needed you to protect the village.” 「そんなの、分かってるってばよ……」 “ I understand that ‘ttebayo…” 「あぁあ、シャレが分かんねェ人だな」シカマルとチョウジが通りのむこうからやってくる。「このバカがあることないこと吹いて回ったところで、だれも本気でそんなこと信じ ちゃいねェよ」 “Ahh, it’s the person who didn’t know about the joke” s.h.i.+kamaru and Chouji came around from the opposite side of the street. “This idiot went around places, spouting half-truths and a mixture of both fact and fiction. By the way, no one seriously believes in such things.” チョウジがうなずいた。 Chouji nodded. 「そうよ」通りの反対から、サクラと、いのと、ヒナタも連れだってやってきた。「ちょっとみんなでカカシ先生のことをからかっただけじゃない」 “That’s right!” From the opposite side of the street, Sakura, Ino, and Hinata also came along. “Everyone was only teasing Kakas.h.i.+-sensei a little bit, right?” 「ナルトくん……大丈夫？」ヒナタが、ナルトに手を貸して立たせる。「こんなことで殴るなんて、カカシ先生、ひどい」 “Naruto-kun, are you okay?” Hinata lent out her hand so that she could help Naruto stand-up. “Doing such a thing like hitting you…Kakas.h.i.+-sensei, that’s awful” 「え……だって、ナルトのやつが…」 “Eh…but that guy Naruto…” 「ナルトは傷ついてたんだぜ」シカマルが言った。「火影なら、そんぐれー分かるだろ」 “Naruto was wounded” s.h.i.+kamaru said. “(Even if you’re) the Hokage, I guess you don’t understand (what happened).” 「いや、そんなこと言われても…」 “No, but I even wasn’t saying such things…” 「謝るべきだと思います、カカシ先生」サクラといのが、ギャーギャー言った。「ただの無邪気なイタズラじゃないですか」 “We think you should apologize, Kakas.h.i.+-sensei” Sakura and Ino chattered with a ‘gya-gya’ sound. “It was merely an innocent prank, wasn’t it?” 「ああ、もう！」とうとう、カカシは叫び出してしまった。「分かったよ、分かりましたよ……どうしたら許してくれるの？」 “Ah, that’s right!” Finally, Kakas.h.i.+ let out (an exasperated) cry. “I understand…I understand…How can you forgive me?” ナルトとシカマルが目配せをして、ニヤリと笑った。 Naruto and s.h.i.+kamaru exchanged looks (and winked at one another). They broadly grinned and laughed. しまった！それを見たとたん、カカシは自分が罠にハメられたことを知った。こいつらに、やられた！ d.a.m.n it! As soon as he saw that, Kakas.h.i.+ himself understood that he had been placed into a trap. 「オレのこの傷ついた心を癒すには…」と、ナルトが言った。「ラーメンしかねェってばよ！」 “In order to heal this wounded heart of mine….” Naruto said. “There’s no other choice but ramen ‘ttebayo!” 「……」 「……」 全員が固唾を呑んで、カカシの返答を待っていた。 Since it was a tense situation, everyone gulped the saliva that had been collecting in their mouths. They awaited Kakas.h.i.+’s answer.

 

 

Pages 224-225

RAW English 「分かった、分かった……」カカシは両手をあげて、降参のポーズを取るしかなかった。 “I understand, I understand…” Kakas.h.i.+ raised both of his hands. He couldn’t (help but stand) in an ‘I surrender’ pose. 「じゃあ、いまからみんなでラーメンでも食いにいくか」 “Well then, let’s all go to eat ramen now” 「イェーイ！」歓声があがった。「やったあ！」 “Yay!” The broke out in cheers of joy. “Hooray!” 「作戦成功だってばよ！」 “It was a successful strategy ‘dattebayo!” やれやれ……カカシは心の中で、首をふった。不意に可笑しさが込みあげる。火影になっても、やってることは同じじゃないか。毎日、食って、寝て、つまらないことで悩んで。 オレの務めは、こいつらとこうやってバカできる日を、一日でも多く守っていくことなんだろうな。 Oh dear goodness…In Kakas.h.i.+’s mind, he shook his head. Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up within him. Even though I became the Hokage, wasn’t I doing the same things? Everyday, I am eating, sleeping, and worrying over trifling things. It seems that even my responsibilities are to continue to protect them. (For as many days as possible), perhaps I can (protect those days for when) those guys can be foolish in such a way. なあ、そうだろ……オビト？ Hey, isn’t that right, Obito? それから、喜び勇んで一楽へと向かう生徒たちのあとを追いかけた。 And then, in high spirits, he pursued after his students who were heading towards Ichiraku. 降りそそぐ陽光。 The suns.h.i.+ne was raining incessantly. どこかで、ウグイスが囀っていた。 Somewhere, a bush-warbler was singing. 拝啓、六代目火影様におかれましては、いかがお過ごしでしょうか？私は、日々の仕事に追われていますが、日増しに春めいていく季節のなかで、心穏やかに務めを果たしております。。。 Dear Sir, as the Rokudaime Hokage-sama, how have you been? As for me, I’m being pressed by my daily work. However, day by day, while the season is starting to show signs of becoming more like springtime, I am calmly fulfilling my responsibilities… 春は、そう、すぐそこまで来ていた。 That’s right. Before long, it would be springtime.

[T/N]

Even though Kakas.h.i.+ is saying 分かった = I know/ I understand over and over again literally, he means more like “Urgh, I get it already!” or “Okay, okay, enough!” because he’s just frustrated at everyone for trolling him and chastising him about hitting Naruto.

The last line has a subtle connotation to it. Usually when ‘Spring is just around the corner’ is mentioned, it can sometimes be a metaphor for ‘blossoming love’ (=the romantic kind because of the blooming sakura trees in the spring). It don’t interpret it to mean that (I think they have a friendly/platonic work-relations.h.i.+p going on). But this line made 2ch explode on this light novel’s release day… because of the way that you could read it.

The other way to interpret the last line (the way I would put it?) is that it refers to the ways things will be changing and looking up from there onwards (like a refres.h.i.+ng new start on something). The time-skip in this chapter is March, so you could also take the ‘Spring is coming soon’ to be literal~

//End Translation

//End of the Epilogue

//End of the entire light novel~!! (And Kakas.h.i.+ getting hardcore trolled~)