[car engine idling]
[car door opens]
[HINAGIKU] Sakura.
It feels like the Village is nearby.
Is it?
Yes.
But it's much further into the mountains.
Is there something about this place that gave it away?
[HINAGIKU] Yes. Hinagiku can feel a leyline.
The energy feels...
so familiar.
This girl remembers.
[♪ opening theme song playing]
AGENTS OF THE FOUR SEASONS: DANCE OF SPRING
[wind howling]
[ROSEI] Spring turned down the extra security?
We upset Sakura, didn't we?
[ITECHO] No, it's not that.
The Agency's Spring Division stepped in.
According to them, we really overstepped.
They're not happy we dispatched our team
without their prior approval.
[ROSEI] They were just attacked by insurgents.
Are they still hung up on formalities?
They're writing it off
as an attack on the Agent of Summer.
In their mind, Spring was not the target, so...
Are they making the ones we assigned leave?
[ITECHO] I convinced them to let those two stay.
But again, they weren't happy about it.
[sighs]
I don't get it.
The Village's actions when she was kidnapped,
and the Agency's decisions now.
Something feels off about the way they treat Hinagiku,
not to mention, Sakura.
Hinagiku's the Agent of Spring,
but the Village doesn't act like it.
It's like they're just waiting
for the day they can replace them.
[inhales deeply]
What's your read?
Do you think Hinagiku's birth has anything to do with it?
You know? Who told you?
Nobody.
I overheard you talking to Sakura about it one day.
But I didn't get much.
It's not your story to tell.
But if knowing will help me keep her safe,
then please, fill me in.
[Sakura yells, grunts]
Lady Hinagiku, I've failed you.
How could I be so careless?
What?
Did something happen, Sakura?
I left all the snacks I got for you behind!
And now you'll have nothing to eat!
- Huh? - I'm a disgrace.
I'm unworthy of being your Guard.
- [sobbing] - Don't be upset.
It's fine.
No!
You don't understand!
I chose the perfect treat to restore your energy.
It would have set a wonderful mood
for the manifestation.
Strawberry daifuku.
[gasps]
I'm the worst!
How could I forget something so important?
I've completely ruined everything!
I'm the most insufferable fool in the whole country!
No, really, Sakura.
It's okay.
Hinagiku is fine.
She's not even that hungry.
[stomach growling]
[♪ playful music playing]
[gasps]
I'm so sorry, my lady! [echoing]
[metal flask clinking]
[liquid pouring]
[HINAGIKU] Hey, Sakura.
It isn't daifuku,
but maybe
these are enough instead?
[gasps]
Lady Hinagiku, I'm so sorry.
[sighs] Come on, please.
No more apologies today.
Just eat.
Well? Good?
It's delicious, Lady Hinagiku.
[giggles]
[ITECHO] How much do you know?
Not a whole lot.
Only the affair.
All right, we'll start with that, then.
Her father is from Spring.
Shungetsu Kayo led a prominent family.
People expected him to be head of the Village one day.
And you've met her mother.
The last Agent of Spring,
Kobai Yukiyanagi.
It wasn't always an affair.
She and Shungetsu were originally engaged
to be married.
[ROSEI] So what happened?
How'd it spin out into such a scandal?
[ITECHO] Ever heard of the Shirafujis?
[ROSEI] Just that they have a lot of pull
in and around the Village.
Some kind of old family.
[ITECHO] Then you know where this is going.
Their daughter wanted Shungetsu.
[ROSEI] And an Agent only lasts for a generation.
The Shirafujis had more to offer long-term.
So he went with her instead.
[ITECHO] Right.
He had one son with his wife,
but that marriage was never going to work out.
Eventually,
he decided he wanted more than a political arrangement.
[ROSEI] He stepped out,
and got Kobai pregnant.
[ITECHO] The affair was the talk of the Village
almost immediately.
And his wife,
she flew into a rage
and attacked Lady Kobai and her newborn with a knife.
That was that.
Lady Kobai and Lady Hinagiku
left the Village after the incident.
Lady Kobai was gone a lot.
Lady Hinagiku was mostly raised by her grandmother.
But she was old.
She passed away.
And shortly after, Lady Kobai's illness took hold.
[sips]
Memories are coming to Hinagiku.
Maybe it's because the Village of Spring is close.
Or maybe...
I see. You're remembering the past?
Yes.
The past.
But they're not Hinagiku's memories.
They belong to that girl.
[HINAGIKU] This spring is beautiful!
[laughs] And my mother made it.
Because she's the Agent of Spring!
It's amazing.
Wow, I'll keep this to remember it.
My first spring with Mother.
I never want to forget
[KOBAI] Hinagiku, you have to leave it.
The person you're about to meet isn't fond of childish
or sentimental behavior.
[groans]
Why not?
[KOBAI] Please listen, Hinagiku.
Just let it go.
You need to make a good impression.
[HINAGIKU] Okay.
I'm sorry.
[sobbing]
[footsteps]
[gasps]
Kobai, it's good to see you.
[KOBAI] Go ahead. Like we practiced.
My name is Hinagiku Yukiyanagi.
I traveled from Akebono.
I'm Kobai Yukiyanagi's daughter,
and I'll be turning five this year.
[SHUNGETSU] I'm Shungetsu Kayo.
So, how are you holding up?
I'm doing well today.
[SHUNGETSU] Not just today, I hope.
I've arranged a place where you can rest quietly
for your health.
[KOBAI] Thank you. Please look after her for me.
Don't say that.
I told you not to bring her here in the first place,
and if you'd come here earlier,
none of this would have happened,
so don't act like I agreed--
- Stop yelling at my mother! - [Shungetsu gasps]
[grunts angrily]
[KOBAI] Hinagiku,
it's all right.
He's just upset.
But he's your father.
[gasps]
My father?
I don't know him.
I couldn't tell you.
Because...
it's not for me to say.
But I promise, he'll protect you after I'm gone.
You have my word on that.
Where are you going?
Do you need to manifest spring somewhere else?
I thought this was the last place.
The truth is, your mother isn't feeling well right now.
She needs to rest and get better.
I'm sure you'll be fine without me, though, won't you?
You have to be used to it by now.
[HINAGIKU] But why?
I wanna spend more time with you.
Your mother is a bad woman, darling.
People will start to see you that way if we stay together.
You'll lead a much happier life if I'm not there to ruin it.
I don't care if people are mean,
or if my life could be happier.
I just wanna stay with you!
[sighs]
Sorry, Hinagiku.
But it's inevitable that you'll face countless hardships.
Please,
do your best to endure.
Endure it all and wait for your chance.
[HINAGIKU] Endure it all and wait for my chance?
[KOBAI] Yes.
Even if times get hard,
live through them.
You can run away if you need to.
Running away doesn't mean you've lost.
But you have to survive.
Wait for the day when you can fight back.
Hone a blade and keep it in your heart.
Do that, and one day, your flowers will bloom again.
But I don't know how to fight.
You'll learn.
Sometimes fighting is the only path forward.
I wish more than anything that I could protect you.
But you have your own life to live.
And there's no one else that can do it for you.
Find your way.
[gasps]
[SHUNGETSU] It's time to go.
[HINAGIKU] No! No! No!
You can't!
Hinagiku, I need you to be good!
Mother, please.
Please don't make me stay home again.
How long am I supposed to be a good girl?
[KOBAI] You're always supposed to be good.
[HINAGIKU] I promise I will.
I'll do anything you say.
So, can I... Can I see you before summer?
Maybe in autumn?
[Kobai sobbing]
Then winter?
When it's winter,
will you come back to see me?
- I miss you. - I know you miss me!
♪
We can play hide and seek, Hinagiku.
But promise you won't look for me.
Not until I call you.
It'll be a long time.
Someday, when you feel so tired
that you can't keep your eyes open anymore,
that's when I'll tell you it's time to find me.
[whimpers] No!
Mother, please!
Don't go!
Don't leave me alone again!
I swear, I'll be good.
So, please, don't leave me.
[sobbing]
Don't leave me alone.
[whimpers]
Mother.
Please, come back.
[gasps]
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
It hurts! It hurts!
[cries] It hurts!
[♪ sinister music playing]
Stop it.
Don't call my name.
[trembling breaths]
I'm scared.
[WOMAN 1] How could that woman's daughter be the next Agent?
- [MAN] It's unheard of. - [WOMAN 2] It's an ill omen.
[WOMAN 3] I hope it's not a sign of things to come.
[WOMAN 4] Who could have known?
You're a cursed child.
[Hinagiku gasps]
It's your fault.
You practically killed her yourself.
[ROSEI] So she inherited her duty
as an Agent from her mother,
and they called it an ill omen.
Of course, the Village elders would see it that way.
Lady Hinagiku has only ever had one real ally
in the Village of Spring,
and it's Sakura.
She's never wavered.
She supported her alone all this time.
[SAKURA] I'd stay with you, by your side, forever.
I'd never leave you even for a moment.
- [kids laugh] - [BOY 1] Hey, listen to this.
Do you know about the secret
of the mansion on the edge of town?
[GIRL] That's the house where the new Agent of Spring
is training, right?
[BOY 2] Don't forget about the mirror that speeds up time.
[GIRL] The one where you wither away if you look in it?
[BOY 2] I heard there's a big snake.
And it eats anyone that goes in.
[BOY 1] That's all made up.
They just spread those scary rumors
to keep any burglars away.
[GIRL] Really? What for?
Because golden peaches grow in the garden.
Wait, what'd you--
[gasps]
- [GIRL] Are you serious? - Yeah, I'm telling you!
[GIRL] I don't know.
[BOY 1] I heard it from my big brother.
[children chattering]
Is it true?
[grunting]
I bet a golden peach would sell for a lot of money
if I could get one.
[gasps]
[grunts]
[gasps]
[grunting]
They're just regular peaches.
Those peaches aren't ripe yet, you know.
Huh?
So, who are you anyway?
Don't tell on me.
I'm Sakura.
Sakura.
[SAKURA] My family,
they decided they didn't want me around one day
and they left me at the home.
The home?
Guess you don't know.
It's a place for kids without parents.
I got ditched, abandoned.
They say my parents ruined the Himedaka name.
That they are a disgrace to the Village.
And the grown-ups tell their kids not to be my friend.
They won't even talk to me.
It's hard, and I feel so alone.
I wish I could have had a decent family.
I have no idea what's going to happen to me.
I'm scared.
[HINAGIKU] I understand.
I'm alone, too.
My mother, she's dead now.
[gasps]
My father says it's my fault.
When I became the Agent of Spring,
he said I was cursed.
I never wanted to be the Agent of Spring.
It's too much.
I just wanna go home,
but I can't.
I'm lonely.
[gasps]
[footsteps approaching]
[both gasp]
[both sigh in relief]
[chuckles]
I'll come again.
You will?
You really mean it?
Mm.
[insects trilling]
- [rustling] - [gasps]
[excited gasp]
[chuckles]
You came back!
I thought I would never see you again.
Huh?
[both giggling]
[giggles]
[chuckles]
[♪ bright music playing]
[SPRING OFFICER] Hey! Stay still!
You're that orphan girl, aren't you?
You really are a disgrace.
Sakura!
Get off! Stop it!
Sakura!
[thuds]
[SPRING OFFICER] This is no place for the likes of you.
Never come back!
[door slams]
If you refuse to let me see Sakura Himedaka,
I refuse to do my duty.
[WOMAN] If you won't train, then you won't get dinner.
I'm not hungry.
[♪ melancholic music playing]
[growling]
[grunts]
My lady, you have to eat something.
If you keep this up, you're going to starve to death.
[HINAGIKU] I told you, I won't eat anything
until you let me see Sakura again.
[gasps]
[sighs]
[WOMAN] Lady Hinagiku,
we've brought Sakura Himedaka as requested.
[HINAGIKU] Only Sakura is allowed.
- Lady Hinagiku. - [gasps]
- I missed you! - [chuckles]
[♪ bright music playing]
How are you feeling?
I bet you're pretty hungry.
- [chuckles] - Uh?
[gasps]
Not exactly.
I've been sneaking these.
[both giggle]
[SPRING OFFICER] Since she was reunited with Sakura,
she's grown. Her powers have improved.
I think it's for the best if we let the girl stay.
[SPRING CHIEF] "Agents manifest the seasons with their hearts."
[SPRING LEADER] Though her parents disgraced the Village,
the Himedaka family has a long history
of producing loyal and capable Guards
for the Agents.
[SPRING CHIEF] It's highly irregular,
but against my better judgment,
I hereby appoint Sakura Himedaka
the Guard of Spring.
- [SAKURA] Lady Hinagiku! - [gasps] Sakura!
[panting]
From now on, it's my duty to stay right by your side.
[HINAGIKU] Really?
[SAKURA] Yes. I'm gonna quit school,
and I'm moving in!
I'll protect you for the rest of my life.
It's perfect!
We'll be together forever!
We'll never be lonely again.
[♪ closing theme song playing]
[SAKURA] I'd stay with you, by your side, forever.
I'd never leave you even for a moment.
EPISODE 5: ALONE TOGETHER
Or so I thought.
[static crackling]
NEXT TIME: A PLACE TO CALL HOME