Agents of the Four Seasons
Japanese light novel series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Agents of the Four Seasons (Japanese: 春夏秋冬代行者, Hepburn: Shunkashūtō Daikōsha) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki (author of Violet Evergarden) and illustrated by Suoh. It began publication under ASCII Media Works' light novel imprint Dengeki Bunko in April 2021. A manga adaptation of the first part illustrated by Nappa Komatsuka began serialization in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa in July 2022. An anime television series adaptation of the first part produced by Wit Studio premiered in March 2026.
| Agents of the Four Seasons | |
First Japanese light novel volume cover, depicting the Agents of Winter (Rousei, left) and Spring (Hinagiku, right) | |
| 春夏秋冬代行者 (Shunkashūtō Daikōsha) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Kana Akatsuki |
| Illustrated by | Suoh |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Dengeki Bunko |
| Original run | April 9, 2021 – present |
| Volumes | 8 |
| Manga | |
| Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring | |
| Written by | Kana Akatsuki |
| Illustrated by | Nappa Komatsuka |
| Published by | Hakusensha |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | Hana to Yume Comics |
| Magazine | LaLa |
| Original run | July 23, 2022 – present |
| Volumes | 7 |
| Manga | |
| Agents of the Four Seasons: One Hundred Songs and One Hundred Pages | |
| Written by | Kana Akatsuki |
| Illustrated by | Yuriko Asami |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Dengeki Comics NEXT |
| Magazine | Dengeki G's Comic |
| Original run | May 15, 2023 – present |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Anime television series | |
| Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring | |
| Directed by | Ken Yamamoto |
| Produced by | Shou Ootani |
| Written by | Ayumu Hisao |
| Music by | Kensuke Ushio |
| Studio | Wit Studio |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | Tokyo MX, GYT, GTV, BS11, MBS, CBC, RKB, HBC, AT-X |
| Original run | March 29, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 7 |
Plot
Synopsis
In the beginning there was only Winter, who, unable to bear the loneliness, chose to cut off part of his essence and give birth to Spring. By Mother Earth's wish, he cut off part of his essence again to give birth to Summer and Autumn, thus beginning the cycle of the four seasons. The deities decided to entrust their roles to Mother Earth's creatures, but none were able to fulfill the task. Mankind stood before their desperation, willing to perform their duty in exchange for peace, prosperity, and stability in its lands. The Four Seasons then granted their powers to a small group of humans: the Agents of the Four Seasons.
Introduction
Each country has its own version of the origin of the world, though each one agrees on the nature of seasons, day and night.
The seasons are brought by the Agents, humans entrusted with this task by the homonymous deities, while day and night are induced by the arrows shot into the sky by the Archers of Dawn and Twilight.
Their safety is put at risk by the "Insurgents", individuals who detest the seasons or the alternation of day and night. For this reason, Agents and Archers are respectively protected by Guards and Custodians. The management and protection of these figures is carried out by both autonomous and governmental institutions.
The story is set in the present day in the Far East, in the Yamato archipelago, also known as the "Cherry Tree of the East", given the cherry blossom branch arrangement of its islands (Enishi, Teishu, Iyo, Tsukushi and Ryugu), each with its own peculiarities.
The novel series begins on February 10, Year 20 of the Reimei Era, with the return of Hinagiku Kayo, the Agent of Spring, after being kidnapped by the Rebels for almost ten years, during which the corresponding season has not manifested. Along with her Guard, Sakura Himedaka, she heads towards the shrine of Ryugu Peak, where the two secretly want to perform the ritual to bring their season back. Their destination changes after meeting a little girl who was alone on the path to the top, however the ritual is still performed with full success: Spring has returned.
The continuation of the story focuses on the other Agents and their Guards, ranging between their stories and the new developments of events after Hinagiku's return.
Characters
The story, as a whole, does not feature a single character who constantly plays the leading role. Each major narrative arc (e.g., Dance of..., The Archer of...) features its corresponding Agent and Guard or Archer and Custodian.
Agents of the Four Seasons and Guards
- Hinagiku Kayo (花葉 雛菊, Kayō Hinagiku)
- Voiced by: Yuka Nukui[3] (Japanese); Celeste Perez[4] (English)
- The Agent of Spring, possesses the ability of "Life Acceleration". She was kidnapped by the "Rebels", natural enemies of the Agents of the Four Seasons, disappearing for almost ten years, during which the Spring did not appear. She has had feelings for Rosei since she was little. Being an illegitimate daughter between the head of Kayo family and his mistress, the previous Agent of Spring Kobai Yukiyanagi, he family treats her poorly even after her return.
- Sakura Himedaka (姫鷹 さくら, Himedaka Sakura)
- Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (PV),[5] Yoshino Aoyama (anime)[3] (Japanese); Marisa Duran[4] (English)
- The Agent of Spring's Guard. She is an attendant who has never stopped looking for Hinagiku, a victim of regret for not being able to protect her Lady. The love she felt for Itecho surpassed the adoration of a student towards her master, but due to a certain event she hates him deeply. Even after Town of Spring and Winter stopped searching for Hinagiku, she continued to search for her alone.
- Rosei Kantsubaki (寒椿 狼星, Kantsubaki Rōsei)
- Voiced by: Shogo Sakata,[3] Miyuri Shimabukuro,[6] (childhood) (Japanese); Alejandro Saab[4] Emily Fajardo[7] (childhood) (English)
- The Agent of Winter and currently the longest serving among other Agents. He possesses the ability "Vital Energy Freezing". Being the cause of the kidnapping of his first love, Hinagiku, torments him.
- Itecho Kangetsu (寒月 凍蝶, Kangetsu Itechō)
- Voiced by: Satoshi Hino (PV, anime)[5][3] (Japanese); Christopher Wehkamp[4] (English)
- The Agent of Winter's Guard. He has been Rosei's servant since he was a child, and was also Sakura's sword master. Like Rosei, he condemns himself for failing to protect the Spring maidens.
- Ruri Hazakura (葉桜 瑠璃, Hazakura Ruri)
- Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka[3] (Japanese); Alexis Tipton[4] (English)
- The Agent of Summer, possesses the ability of "Vital Energy Manipulation". She has a sunny and kind nature, but she can't be honest with her older twin sister Ayame, because she doesn't want her to give up her role as her Guard.
- Ayame Hazakura (葉桜 あやめ, Hazakura Ayame)
- Voiced by: Ranko Baba[3] (Japanese); Hayden Daviau[4] (English)
- The Agent of Summer's Guard. She is Ruri's older twin sister and her attendant. She plans to leave her post as a Guard on the occasion of her wedding. Despite being a victim of her sister's whims, she wishes for her happiness.
- Nadeshiko Iwaizuki (祝月 撫子, Iwaizuki Nadeshiko)
- Voiced by: Hime Sawada[3] (Japanese); Emi Lo[4] (English)
- The Agent of Autumn, possesses the ability of "Vital Energy Decomposition". She is the youngest and the shortest-serving deity. She has immense trust and affection for Rindou.
- Rindo Azami (阿左美 竜胆, Azami Rindō)
- Voiced by: Taku Yashiro[3] (Japanese); Lee George[4] (English)
- The Agent of Autumn's Guard. He treats his job like a "business", without letting his emotions get in the way. Those around him don't see it that way. He doesn't realize it, but he's overprotective of Nadeshiko.
Archers and Custodians of Dawn and Twilight
- Kaya Fugeki (巫覡 花矢, Fugeki Kaya)
- The Archer of Dawn, her task is to bring the Day to Yamato. She is a 16 y/o high school student with a masculine way of speech, but no one knows she's the Goddess of the Day, except Yuzuru. She deeply cares for Yuzuru. She tries to force him to abandon his role as Guardian so that he can gain the freedom she lacks.
- Yuzuru Fugeki (巫覡 弓弦, Fugeki Yuzuru)
- The Archer of Dawn's Custodian. He decided to serve Kaya in place of his father. He is proud of his work and is fond of Kaya, but is annoyed that she is trying to force him to abandon his role as her Custodian.
- Kaguya Fugeki (巫覡 輝矢, Fugeki Kaguya)
- The Archer of Twilight, his task is to bring Night to Yamato. He fell into depression after his wife and his custodian, Eken, suddenly ran away from home. His feelings for Tsukihi are difficult to explain in words.
- Eken Fugeki (巫覡 慧剣, Fugeki Eken)
- The Archer of Twilight's Custodian. He respects Kaguya and they once lived together as father and son, but one day, he ran away.
Towns of the Four Seasons
Birthplaces of the Agents of the Four Seasons. They represent autonomous institutions tasked with procreating, training, and protecting the Agents of the Four Seasons.
Town of Spring
Birthplace of the Agents of Spring, located on the island of Teishu.
- Kobai Yukiyanagi (雪柳 紅梅, Yukiyanagi Kōbai)
- Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa[8] (Japanese); Monica Rial[4] (English)
- Former Agent of Spring and Hinagiku's mother. She fell in love with Shungetsu, with whom she had Hinagiku, but this gave rise to a series of disagreements within the village. She later committed suicide to end the discrimination and mistreatment toward her and her daughter.
- Shungetsu Kayo (花葉 春月, Kayō Shungetsu)
- Voiced by: Kōji Yusa[9]
- Head of the Kayo family. He's the father of Hinagiku and Zansetsu. He is as cold as Winter, probably the reason Kobai fell in love with him. His beloved's death has sparked an aversion to Hinagiku, who he ignores even though he officially acknowledged her.
- Zansetsu Kayo (花葉 残雪, Kayō Zansetsu)
- Spring Village Administrator. He's Hinagiku's half-brother. He's a wealthy boy, and his mother's a prosperous landowner. He knows Sakura and asks her to keep her sister unaware of the financial support he is providing to the two girls.
- Tsubame Aboshi (阿星 燕, Aboshi Tsubame)
- Zansetsu's servant. She grew up in the same orphanage as Sakura before being taken in by Zansetsu, whom she worships almost religiously. Despite her age, she performs her duties better than most adults in the village.
Town of Winter
Birthplace of the Agents of Winter, located on the island of Enishi.
- Yukimi Todo (藤堂 雪見, Tōdō Yukimi)
- Voiced by: Yu Miyazaki[10]
- Member of the Town of Winter's elite security. He's a kind and caring agent who guards Hinagiku and Sakura on Rousei and Itechou's orders. He monitored Rousei and Hinagiku's relationship during the month of the Summoning of the Four Seasons.
- Rintaro Shimotsuki (霜月 倫太郎, Shimotsuki Rintarō)
- Voiced by: Hayato Kashiwazaki[11]
- Member of the Town of Winter's elite security. Along with Todo, he guards the two girls on Rousei and Itechou's orders. He holds Itechou in high regard.
Town of Summer
Birthplace of the Agents of Summer, located on the island of Iyo.
- Raicho Kimikage (君影 雷鳥, Kimikage Raichō)
- Agent of Summer's Guard Candidate, Ruri's fiancé. He's a confident, sometimes arrogant man. Most people consider him weird, but he's kind and devoted to those he respects. He's madly in love with Ruri.
- Renri Rouo (老鶯 連理, Rōō Renri)
- Town of Summer doctor and Ayame's fiancé. He is a doctor affiliated with the town's medical practice. Despite his playboy appearance, he is kind and gentle. He wishes to marry Ayame, but there is a big secret between them.
Town of Autumn
Birthplace of the Agents of Autumn, located on the island of Tsukushi.
- Miyabi Sanekazura (真葛美 夜日, Sanekazura Miyabi)
- Head maid of the Town of Autumn Domestic Affairs Department. She is Nadeshiko's maid and works at the village's main shrine. She is strong-willed, caring, and skilled at her job. She can't help but love Nadeshiko and is happy to have been chosen as her head maid. Her family situation is a bit complicated.
- Koyoi Shirahagi (白萩 今宵, Shirahagi Koyoi)
- Member of the Town of Autumn's security. He is one of Rindo's closest subordinates and associates. He is a quiet, simple, and kind boy who takes care of Nadeshiko, but the little girl's guard dog does not seem to appreciate him and he often ends up being the victim of its pranks.
Institutions of Yamato
Agency of the Four Seasons
It is a NGO that manages the duties of the Agents of the Four Seasons, allocating funds to them and their corresponding towns.
- Reiko Nagatsuki (長月 礼子, Nagatsuki Reiko)
- Voiced by: Misato Matsuoka[12]
- Member of the Agency Autumn Division's Security Department. She is responsible for the Town of Autumn's security system. She is an intelligent woman with a career that allows her to operate flexibly. She considers Rindo a little brother.
- Ishihara (石原, Ishihara)
- Voiced by: Haruna Mikawa[13] (Japanese); Cassie Ewulu[7] (English)
- An employee of the Agency of the Four Seasons' Security Department. She is assigned to the Agent of Winter's security and also serves as Rousei's psychologist. She is a calm woman with excellent qualities in her duties.
National Security
It's a government national defense organization that protects peace and security in Yamato.
- Tsukihi Aragami (荒神 月燈, Aragami Tsukihi)
- Special Agent of National Security. She's the captain of Kaguya's security. She was only appointed to this role temporarily, but she has deep respect and affection for him. She grew up in a family devoted to the gods.
Insurgents
Natural enemies of the Agents of the Four Seasons. They are divided into Reformists, whose goal is to threaten the Agents' safety to pressure institutions into changing the laws governing their divine powers, and Defeaters, whose goal is to eliminate the Agents out of hatred for the seasons.
- Misuzu Henderson (観鈴・ヘンダーソン, Misuzu Hendaason)
- Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[14]
- Leader of the "Kasai" Reformist group. She's called "Gozen" and is the woman who organized the attack on the Town of Winter where Hinagiku was kidnapped. She's obsessed with Hinagiku, whom she has begun to recognize as her daughter.
- Mikami (美上, Mikami)
- Voiced by: Hinata Tadokoro[15]
- Misuzu's right-hand man. He wants to leave the group and start a new life, but he's in love with her.
Other characters
- Nazuna (薺, Nazuna)
- Voiced by: Nao Toyama[8] (Japanese); Sarah Wiedenheft[4] (English)
- A little girl Hinagiku and Sakura meet while climbing Ryugu Peak. Her dramatic story prompts Hinagiku to perform the ritual of the Spring Manifestation. The little girl thus becomes the first witness of the return of Spring.
Production
Kana Akatuski reported that Agents of the Four Seasons was born while she was in charge of the scenario for the Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris DLC.[16][17] Initially intended to be a self-contained volume, due to the large number of scenes to be represented, at the publisher's suggestion, it was intended to be released in two volumes, however this led the author to integrate many battle developments with frequent scene changes, which brought the work to its current state.[18]
Akatsuki had always found some phenomena mysterious, leading her to ask "Why does the moon chase me?" and "Why do the seasons change?", but instead of seeking a scientific basis, she took pleasure in imagining them in a fantasy world. The work was created using the sensitivity of her childhood.[19]
Media
Light novel
Written by Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Suoh, Agents of the Four Seasons began publication under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko light novel imprint on April 9, 2021. Eight volumes have been released as of December 2024.[20]
During their panel at MCM Comic Con London 2023, Yen Press announced that they licensed the series for English publication.[21]
| No. | Title | Original release date | North American release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dance of Spring, Part I Haru no Mai (Jō) (春の舞 上) | April 9, 2021[22] 978-4-04-913584-8 | November 28, 2023[1] 978-1-9753-7317-7 |
| 2 | Dance of Spring, Part II Haru no Mai (Ge) (春の舞 下) | April 9, 2021[23] 978-4-04-913753-8 | March 19, 2024[24] 978-1-9753-7319-1 |
| 3 | Dance of Summer, Part I Natsu no Mai (Jō) (夏の舞 上) | July 8, 2022[25] 978-4-04-913944-0 | July 23, 2024[26] 978-1-9753-7321-4 |
| 4 | Dance of Summer, Part II Natsu no Mai (Ge) (夏の舞 下) | July 8, 2022[27] 978-4-04-913943-3 | December 17, 2024[28] 978-1-9753-7323-8 |
| 5 | The Archer of Dawn Akatsuki no Shashu (暁の射手) | January 7, 2023[29] 978-4-04-914686-8 | August 26, 2025[30] 978-1-9753-9390-8 |
| 6 | Dance of Autumn, Part I Aki no Mai (Jō) (秋の舞 上) | November 10, 2023[31] 978-4-04-915076-6 | April 14, 2026[32] 979-8-8554-0769-3 |
| 7 | Dance of Autumn, Part II Aki no Mai (Ge) (秋の舞 下) | November 10, 2023[33] 978-4-04-915078-0 | October 13, 2026[34] 979-8-8554-0772-3 |
| 8 | The Archer of Twilight Tasogare no Shashu (黄昏の射手) | December 10, 2024[20] 978-4-04-915861-8 | — |
A collection of spin-off novels written by Kana Akatsuki is available for free on the Kakuyomu website (Kadokawa Co. & Hatena Co.).[35] Some spin-offs from the "Dance of Spring" arc have received a manga adaptation in the spin-off Agents of the Four Seasons: One Hundred Songs and One Hundred Pages (春夏秋冬代行者 百歌百葉, Shunkashūtō Daikōsha Hyakka Hyakuyō).
Manga
A manga adaptation of the first part illustrated by Nappa Komatsuda began serialization in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa on July 23, 2022.[36] Its chapters have been collected into seven tankōbon volumes as of April 2026.[37] The manga adaptation is also licensed in English by Yen Press.[38]
A spin-off manga illustrated by Yuriko Asami, titled Agents of the Four Seasons: One Hundred Songs and One Hundred Pages (春夏秋冬代行者 百歌百葉, Shunkashūtō Daikōsha Hyakka Hyakuyō) began serialization in the Dengeki G's Comic section of both ComicWalker and Nico Nico Seiga websites on May 15, 2023.[39][40] Its chapters have been collected into two tankōbon volumes as of December 2024.[41] The spin-off is published in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website.[42]
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 4, 2023[43] | 978-4-592-21276-8 | November 19, 2024[2] | 979-8-8554-0495-1 |
| 2 | May 2, 2023[44] | 978-4-592-21277-5 | April 22, 2025[45] | 979-8-8554-0497-5 |
| 3 | November 2, 2023[46] | 978-4-592-21278-2 | August 26, 2025[47] | 979-8-8554-0499-9 |
| 4 | May 2, 2024[48] | 978-4-592-21279-9 | March 24, 2026[49] | 979-8-8554-2221-4 |
| 5 | February 5, 2025[50] | 978-4-592-21280-5 | September 22, 2026[51] | 979-8-8554-2654-0 |
| 6 | August 5, 2025[52] | 978-4-592-22281-1 | — | — |
| 7 | April 3, 2026[37] | 978-4-592-22282-8 | — | — |
Agents of the Four Seasons: One Hundred Songs and One Hundred Pages
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 10, 2023[53] | 978-4-04-915315-6 |
| 2 | December 10, 2024[41] | 978-4-04-916157-1 |
| 3 | May 27, 2026[54] | 978-4-04-952249-5 |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation of the first part was announced on April 10, 2025. It is produced by Wit Studio and directed by Ken Yamamoto, with Kazuhiro Furuhashi serving as animation adviser, Ayumu Hisao handling series composition, Namiko Torii designing the characters, and Kensuke Ushio composing the music.[55][56] The series premiered on March 29, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks, with an advance screening held on March 15 of the same year at Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo.[57] The opening theme song is "Petals" (ペタルズ, Petaruzu), while the ending theme song is "Hana Ikada" (花筏), both performed by Orangestar featuring Kase.[3][57] Crunchyroll is streaming the series in simulcast with an English dub.[58] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[59]
Episodes
| No. | Title [60][61] | Directed by [a] | Written by [a] | Storyboarded by [a] | Original release date [62][b] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Dance of Spring" Transliteration: "Haru no Mai" (Japanese: 春の舞) | Shinnosuke Itō | Ayumu Hisao | Kazuhiro Furuhashi | March 29, 2026 | |
|
The Agent of Spring, Hinagiku Kayo, and her Guard, Sakura Himedaka, head to the southern island of Ryugu in the archipelago of Yamato willing to perform the ritual of Spring Manifestation to restore their season, which has been missing for 10 years. On their journey to the shrine on Ryugu Peak, the designated location for the ritual, they encounter Nazuna, an elementary school girl who ignored the mountain's evacuation alarm. The girl explains her intention by saying she wants to "shovel the snow". The two representatives of Spring, a bit perplexed, decide to accompany the girl and help her with this strange task, deviating from their original route. They reach a grave and here, they realize that Nazuna's desire to "shovel the snow" is actually a gesture of affection towards her deceased mother. Faced with the girl's despair, Hinagiku decides to perform the Manifestation ritual. Spring thus makes its return. | ||||||
| 2 | "Lingering Snow" Transliteration: "Nagoriyuki" (Japanese: 名残雪) | Ken Yamamoto & Sayaka Niwa | Ayumu Hisao | Ken Yamamoto | April 4, 2026 | |
|
The Agent of Winter, Rosei Kantsubaki, and his Guard, Itecho Kangetsu, head to the southern island of Tsukushi to witness the return of Spring with their own eyes. Two weeks after the event in Ryugu, Hinagiku has completed her mission on this island as well. The two representatives of Winter and their escort, upon landing on the island, are attacked by a group of Rebels, but they easily repel them. Arriving at the hotel in the evening, Ishihara, a new member of the escort, asks Itecho why a meeting between the Agent of Winter and the Agent of Spring cannot take place, but the attendant responds rather superficially. The girl therefore decides to investigate on her own, consulting various documents and eventually discovering a disconcerting truth. The next day, Rosei's group sets out to witness the cherry blossoms on the island. Numerous people have flocked to Tsukushi to admire the springtime spectacle, and the resulting disturbances are not few. As the Agent of Winter contemplates the landscape, a serious accident occurs between two vehicles. A truck overturns on the road, while a car ends up on the edge of a cliff. The screams of two children are heard from the car. Rosei then decides to use his powers to save them. The intervention is successful, but the boy begins to ruminate on the past events, when he failed to protect his beloved Hinagiku. While Itechou tries to comfort him, Rosei has a vision of the girl, who shines brighter than ever. | ||||||
| 3 | "A Glimpse" Transliteration: "Henei" (Japanese: 片影) | Miyabi Inamori & Sayaka Niwa | Ayumu Hisao | Yoshiko Sato | April 11, 2026 | |
|
After completing the Spring Manifestation on Tsukushi island, Hinagiku and Sakura reach the central island of Iyo. On the advice of the Four Seasons Agency, the two girls travel to the land of Yaga, a famous touristic location where the Summer Villa, the residence of the Agent of Summer, is located, designated as a temporary residence until their assignment is complete. They are greeted by Ayame Hazakura, Guard and elder sister of the Agent of Summer, Ruri Hazakura. The attendant's warm welcome and the lively atmosphere of the villa immediately put Hinagiku and Sakura at ease, if it were not for Ruri's rudeness, who, instead of formally introducing herself, stays locked in her room, using rather brusque tones towards the Agent of Spring. The truth is that the girl is protesting against Ayame, who intends to leave her role in preparation for her wedding. The news shocks the two representatives of Spring, but it doesn't distract them from their task. After a series of Manifestations on the island, Hinagiku falls ill due to excessive use of the Divine Powers. Sakura decides to prepare something to restore her strength and meets Ayame in the villa's kitchen, with whom she begins a reflection on what a Guard is to an Agent. Sakura's words reassure Ayame, who has a different aura than the first time they met. A few hours later, Hinagiku wakes up without fever and decides to tell her attendant, but something sinister looms over the villa. | ||||||
| 4 | "Morning Calm" Transliteration: "Asakaze" (Japanese: 朝風) | Hayate Sato | Ayumu Hisao & Tomomi Kawaguchi | Hayate Sato | April 18, 2026 | |
|
A group of Rebels attacks and breaks into the Summer Villa, aiming to capture Hinagiku and Ruri. While a series of firefights erupt on the ground floor, Sakura and Ayame face armed men alone on the upper floor. The two guards manage to fend off the attack, and the situation calms down in the other rooms of the villa. However, Sakura is informed of the presence of some members of the Winter Village's elite escort, sent by Rosei and Itecho to protect the two girls during their journey. This news irritates Sakura, but she decides to take advantage of it for Hinagiku's safety. Everyone gathers in the living room to discuss the situation. The two Spring representatives are joined by the Summer sisters, but the scene is surreal: Ruri and Ayame are actually twins. The atmosphere between the two is tense, and even in such a context, the Agent of Summer takes every opportunity to show her irritation to her sister. Meanwhile, Sakura realizes that the girl she spoke to in the kitchen was actually Ruri, posing as Ayame, who confesses she did it to secretly meet the Spring attendant. Hinagiku intervenes, scolding her colleague, then shifts the conversation to her protesting attitude. As the two Agents converse, bittersweet memories from the past resurface in Sakura's mind. | ||||||
| 5 | "Alone Together" Transliteration: "Futaribotchi" (Japanese: 二人ぼっち) | Shinnosuke Itō | Ayumu Hisao | Shinnosuke Itō | April 25, 2026 | |
|
Having completed their mission on Iyo Island, Hinagiku and Sakura travel to the northern island of Teishuu, home to the capital Teito and their birthplace, the Village of Spring. The Agent of Spring, recognizing the region's spiritual lineage, begins to recall some events from her childhood. The narrative context of these memories is introduced through a dialogue between Rousei and Itechou, who have returned to the Winter Villa, deeply perplexed by the decision of the Spring Division of the Four Seasons Authority not to reinforce the two girls' security detail after the attack on the Summer Villa. This decision has something to do with Hinagiku's past. She is the daughter of the previous Agent of Spring, Koubai Yukiyanagi, and the current head of the Kayou family, Shungetsu, the product of an illegitimate relationship between the two. When the news became public within the village, much unrest ensued, including the attempted murder of Koubai and the still-infant Hinagiku at the hands of his legitimate wife. The woman and the child moved to their maternal grandmother's house to escape the slums. Unfortunately, her grandmother passed away, and Koubai's health deteriorated due to illness, forcing them to return. On that day, the Agent of Spring asked Shungetsu to guard Hinagiku, hoping that by separating from her, he could live a better life. But the gods proved cruel: when Koubai lost his life, Hinagiku was chosen as the new Agent of Spring, an unprecedented mother-daughter transition that was seen by the villagers as a harbinger of doom. For this reason, many rumors began to spread about the child, one of which reached the ears of Sakura, then an elementary school student. Intrigued by what she heard, she decided to sneak into the new Agent's hideout to verify its veracity, only to be discovered by Hinagiku herself. This strange encounter would mark the beginning of a deep bond that would bind them together for life. | ||||||
| 6 | "A Place to Call Home" Transliteration: "Kaeru Basho" (Japanese: 還る場所) | Miho Arai | Ayumu Hisao & Tomomi Kawaguchi | Miho Arai | May 2, 2026 | |
|
Hinagiku and Sakura continue to manifest Spring on Teishuu Island. After completing a series of rituals, the two girls decide to rest on the shores of a lake to recharge. During this moment of relaxation, Hinagiku notices the snow melting on the local mountains and becomes saddened, wondering how Rousei feels. Although the girl defines herself as a different person from the child she was before being kidnapped, whom she believes to be dead, she continues to harbor feelings for the Agent of Winter. This irritates Sakura, who immaturely desires all of Hinagiku's love for herself. In a moment of intimacy with her Lady, the attendant begins to remember the pain she had to live with in the past. Hinagiku notices her Bodyguard's moment of difficulty and lavishes her undivided affection upon him. A moment of intimacy between two girls bound by fate, whose love defies definition. | ||||||
| 7 | "Dusk" Transliteration: "Yoyami" (Japanese: 宵聞) | Hajime Nihira | Ayumu Hisao | Hajime Nihira | May 9, 2026 | |
|
The Agent of Autumn, Nadeshiko Iwaizuki, enjoys admiring and drawing the spring landscape brought by Hinagiku to Tsukushi Island, home to the Autumn Mansion. This is little Nadeshiko's first spring, and she's truly thrilled—an enthusiasm she can't help but share with her Guard, Rindo Azami. Although the orderly seems to treat his job like a business and can't wait to be alone for a cigarette, he's actually overprotective of his young lady, so much so that he's touched when the little girl shares her excitement at discovering she shares the name of a flower with Hinagiku. The brief but loving exchange between the two comes to an end when Rindo is called back to the mansion's security department to sign some documents relating to the Council of the Four Seasons. Meanwhile, the two Spring girls are shopping for souvenirs at a Teishuu airport shop, ready to head to Enishi Island to give to the two Winter representatives. Meanwhile, Rosei and Itecho are pondering the Insurgents' movements, too strange to be autonomous, and suspect there are moles in Yamato's institutions. The two young men's priority is to ensure maximum safety for Hinagiku and Sakura during the demonstration in Enishi. Although they both believe they don't deserve to see the two girls again after the event ten years ago, they burn with desire to see them again, and now more than ever they feel they can succeed. While each of them reflects on their feelings, at the Autumn Villa, Rindo finishes reading the documents and prepares to return to Nadeshiko, a routine no different from the ordinary days he's accustomed to. However, this monotony is about to be shattered, as a great misfortune falls upon the villa like a bomb from the sky. | ||||||
| 8 | "Spring Rain" Transliteration: "Sakura-ame" (Japanese: 桜雨) | TBA | TBA | TBA | May 16, 2026 | |
Reception
The series topped the New Title category of the 2022 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook.[63]
By March 2026, the series had over 850,000 copies in circulation.[64]
See also
- Violet Evergarden, another light novel series by Kana Akatsuki