Sakura.
Is this place close... to the Village?
Yes, although that's much farther into the mountains.
Could you tell from the look of the trees and hills?
Hinagiku feels... a leyline,
so it comes to her.
That girl...
remembers.
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring
Spring refused extra security personnel?
Did it rub Sakura the wrong way?
No, it wasn't that.
We ran into pushback from the Agency's spring division.
They objected to us dispatching security without Spring's approval.
They ran into an insurgent attack. This is no time for formalities.
They claim the attack targeted the Summer Palace, not the Agent and Guard of Spring.
Did they make the two people we already sent leave, too?
I managed to get them to at least accept that,
although they didn't seem happy about it.
Itecho, between the Village of Spring ten years ago and the Agency now,
don't you think something's off about the way Hinagiku and Sakura get treated?
Especially by the Village of Spring.
She's their Agent,
even if her replacement will emerge when she dies.
Do you think Hinagiku's birth has something to do with it?
You knew about that?
I happened to overhear you and Sakura talking once.
But I don't know much.
If it's essential to keeping her safe, I need to find out more.
Please, tell me.
Please forgive me, Lady Hinagiku.
How could I be so careless?
Wh-What's wrong... Sakura?
I forgot to bring the snacks I got for you to eat here!
What a disaster! I'm not worthy to serve you.
Of course... you are.
No, I'm not!
To fill your belly and restore your energy before the rite,
I chose today's treat, strawberry daifuku, with utmost care!
And then I... I...
Oh, why did you forget it, Sakura, you stupid fool?!
I'm the biggest idiot in all of Yamato!
Don't worry, Sakura.
Hinagiku doesn't... feel hungry.
I'm so, so sorry!
Listen, Sakura,
why not have these... instead of the treat you forgot?
I'm truly sorry, Lady Hinagiku.
Ugh.
Sakura... no more "sorry"s today!
Is it... tasty?
It's delicious, Lady Hinagiku.
How much do you know?
That Hinagiku was born from adultery.
Lady Hinagiku's father,
Shungetsu Kayo, led a prominent family in the Village of Spring.
People said he would become head of the Village someday.
And you've met her mother.
She was the previous Agent of Spring, Kobai Yukiyanagi.
She and Shungetsu were originally engaged.
They were? Then, why did it turn into such a scandal?
Have you heard of the Shirafujis?
An old family, right? With a lot of pull inside and outside the Village.
The Shirafujis' daughter fell in love with Shungetsu.
And an Agent is only for a generation.
Her family had more to offer, so he ended the engagement?
Right. And he had one son with his Shirafuji wife.
But a marriage like theirs was never going to work out.
So Hinagiku came into the world.
The affair became the talk of the Village,
and the wife flew at Lady Kobai and the newborn Lady Hinagiku with a knife.
Lady Kobai and Lady Hinagiku lived outside the village after that.
Lady Kobai was often absent, so Lady Hinagiku was raised by her grandmother.
But the grandmother passed away, and soon Lady Kobai took ill as well.
It sort of... comes to Hinagiku.
Maybe because the Village of Spring is close... or maybe...
Do you mean events from the past?
Yes. But...
not Hinagiku's.
Her memories.
My mother made this spring!
My mother is the Agent of Spring.
Isn't that amazing?
I'll keep this to remember,
since it's my first spring with you, Mother.
Hinagiku, put it back.
The person you're about to meet doesn't like children who do things like that.
But—
Please, Hinagiku. I want him to like you.
All right.
Sorry.
Kobai, it's so good to see you.
Tell him, like we practiced.
My name is Hinagiku Yukiyanagi. I've come from Akebono.
I am Kobai Yukiyanagi's daughter. I will turn five this year.
I'm Shungetsu Kayo.
How are you feeling?
Well, for today.
Not just for today, I hope.
I've arranged a place where you can rest quietly. Use it to get well.
Please look after Hinagiku for me.
Stop!
If you'd just listened to me and come sooner, alone, this would never have—
Don't pick on my mother!
Hinagiku, it's all right.
This man is... your father.
M-My father?
Yes, that's right.
But... No, it's nothing.
He'll protect you after I'm gone.
Are you going to manifest spring again?
But it's spring already.
The truth is, your mother isn't feeling well, so she needs to go get better.
You'll be fine without me.
It won't be much of a change, now will it?
But we finally got to be together.
Your mother is a bad woman.
People will say bad things about you, too, if we're together.
You can lead a happier life without me.
I don't care if people say bad things or I'm not happy.
I want to be with you.
Sorry, Hinagiku.
I'm sure many things will happen to make you sad.
But please, endure them.
Endure, and wait for your chance to strike.
Endure, and wait for my chance to strike?
Yes. Even if times get hard, live through them.
Run away, if it helps you survive.
Running away doesn't mean you've lost. Whatever you do, live.
And wait for the day when you can fight again.
Keep a blade in your heart.
Because someday, your time to bloom again will come.
I don't want to fight.
Of course not. But sometimes you have to.
I wish I could protect you from everything, but you have your own life to live.
You're the only one who can live it, Hinagiku.
It's time.
No!
N-No,
Mother!
Hinagiku, be a good girl.
Do I have to stay home again?
How long do I have to be good?
Be good for ever and ever.
I'll be good. I will!
So...
can I see you before summer?
How about autumn?
Winter? When it's winter,
can I see you again, Mother?
Mother...
Not for a lot longer than that!
Let's play hide and seek, Hinagiku.
Don't come looking for me
until I call you.
Someday, when you're so sleepy you can't keep your eyes open anymore,
I'll come tell you that it's time.
N-No!
Mother, please, don't leave me alone!
I'll be good, so don't leave me alone.
Don't leave me alone.
Mother...
It hurts! It hurts!
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
Stop it.
Don't call my name.
I'm scared.
How could her daughter become the next Agent?
It's unheard of.
It's a bad omen.
I hope it's not a sign of bad things to come.
Who could have known?
You're cursed.
You...
practically murdered her.
Inheriting her duty as Agent from her mother was an "unprecedented ill omen"?
Of course the old folks in the Village would say that.
Lady Hinagiku has only one real ally in the Village of Spring, and that's Sakura.
She's supported Lady Hinagiku alone all this time.
I'd always be with you, at your side all day long.
I'd never leave you, even for a moment.
Hey, listen to this.
Have you heard the secret of the old mansion on the edge of town?
That's where the new Agent of Spring is training, right?
Don't forget the mirror that speeds up time!
The one where you get old and die if you look in it?
There's a big snake that gobbles up anyone who goes in!
Those are all made-up rumors they spread to keep burglars away.
Really? What for?
Because there's golden peaches in the garden.
Gold?!
Wait, for real?!
You bet it's real!
I don't know...
Well, I heard it from my big brother.
Gold...
Would golden peaches sell for a lot?
These are just regular peaches.
Those peaches are still hard.
Tell me, who are you?
I... I'm Sakura.
Sakura.
Sa-ku-ra.
So, my mom and dad left me, and now I'm in the home.
What's that?
It's where kids from the Village without parents live.
I got ditched.
People call them a blot on the Himedaka name and a disgrace to the Village,
so all the other kids' parents tell them not to be friends with me.
So, I'm always on my own.
I wish I could've been born into a decent family.
I don't know what's going to happen to me.
I'm scared.
I'm always alone, too.
My mother... died.
My father says it's my fault.
He says, since I became the Agent, I'm cursed.
I don't want to be the Agent of Spring, or train, either.
I want to go home, but I can't.
I'm lonely.
I'll come again.
Really? You will?
Thank goodness!
I thought you'd never come back!
You there!
Your parents are a disgrace to the Village! How'd you get in here?!
Sakura!
Let go! Let go of me!
Sakura!
This is no place for the likes of you!
Never come back!
I won't do my duty if you keep Sakura Himedaka away from me.
You'll get nothing to eat if you won't train!
I don't need anything.
Please, eat something.
You'll starve to death if you keep this up.
I won't eat until you bring me Sakura.
Lady Hinagiku,
I have brought Sakura Himedaka.
Sakura, come here.
Lady Hinagiku.
Sakura!
Are you all right? You must be hungry.
I've been eating these in secret.
Since we reintroduced Sakura Himedaka,
her divine powers have grown by leaps and bounds.
It seems she cannot bear the thought of being separated again.
"Agents manifest with their hearts."
Her parents were ne'er-do-wells,
but the Himedaka family is known for the many Guards it has produced.
This is highly irregular,
but I hereby appoint Sakura Himedaka the Guard of Spring.
Lady Hinagiku!
Sakura.
From now on, I can be by your side all day!
Really?
Yes! I'm going to quit school to come live here and protect you.
So,
from now on,
we'll always, always be together!
I'd always be with you, at your side all day long.
Episode 5: Alone Together
I'd never leave you, even for a moment.
Or so I thought.
Translation: William Varteresian Timing: Krzysztof Kunc
Editing and Typesetting: Ashley Barboza Quality Check: Elisabeth Crist
Translation Check: Michelle Tymon
Next Time: A Place to Call Home