Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring Episode 3: A Glimpse

Hinagiku and Sakura arrive at the stately Summer Palace, a picture of serene winter beauty. Sakura, ever watchful, scans the surroundings, her focus entirely on Hinagiku's safety. She notes suspicious figures in the trees, a detail that foreshadows trouble, but maintains a calm exterior for Hinagiku's sake. Hinagiku, meanwhile, is enchanted by the palace grounds and its array of friendly animals.

Inside, Ayame Hazakura, the Summer Escort, offers a polished welcome, dressed in a sharp business suit that speaks of efficiency. She introduces herself and reveals a surprising fact: she and the Summer Proxy, Ruri, are sisters. Hinagiku, touched by this, declares Sakura her own sister, causing Sakura to blush with embarrassment, though her deep affection is clear. Ayame observes them with a gentle, melancholic smile.

The Summer Proxy, Ruri, remains in her room, isolated and withdrawn. She sits with a bird, her expression vacant, her inner voice recounting a past where she played with friends before the burden of being chosen. Ayame later explains the Summer Proxy's power to command animals, a magnificent gift that carries an immense, wearying responsibility. This power comes with great cost, both emotionally and financially, straining the palace's resources.

After a brief, amusing debate where Ayame and Sakura both fiercely defend the tradition of the kimono against Hinagiku's modern suggestions, Hinagiku performs her Spring Dance ritual. At a shrine overlooking the bay, her graceful movements transform the winter landscape into a vibrant display of cherry blossoms. Sakura watches with a reverence bordering on awe. As twilight falls, the temporary beauty fades, and the group returns to the palace, everyone quiet.

Later, Hinagiku is told to rest while Sakura and Ayame head to the kitchen to prepare refreshments. A white rabbit with a green ribbon hops into Hinagiku's room, then leads her deeper into the quiet, shadowed corridors of the palace. The mansion feels vast and mysterious in the dim evening light. The rabbit finally stops before a set of heavy wooden doors, where Hinagiku hears a muffled voice inside.

Hinagiku realizes she has found Ruri, the Summer Proxy. They speak through the closed door, and Ruri's voice is sharp with bitterness, resenting her role and her sister, Ayame. She claims to only perform her duties for Ayame's sake, calling the proxy system a machine that uses its human parts. Ruri's words reveal a profound sense of powerlessness, the crushing weight of a destiny she did not choose.

Ayame suddenly appears, shocked to find Hinagiku at Ruri's door. She begins to scold Ruri loudly for her disrespect and neglected duties, escalating the tension. Hinagiku's question about Sakura's marital plans leads Sakura to declare her sole purpose is to serve Hinagiku forever. When Hinagiku mentions "Brother Itecho," Sakura's reaction is fiercely intense, claiming any past connection is "incinerated." The combined stress overwhelms Hinagiku, and she collapses, Sakura screaming her name in panic.

Hinagiku is put to bed, unconscious and suffering a high fever, her incoherent mumbles revealing her distress. Sakura sits by her side, consumed by guilt and worry, while Ayame watches, her own face etched with the day's heavy emotional toll. Ayame confirms Hinagiku's spiritual and physical limits have been reached, necessitating absolute rest. They decide to prepare a nourishing rice porridge in the kitchen.

In the palace kitchen, Sakura takes the lead, preparing the porridge with practiced care, explaining details to Ayame. As they work, Ayame reveals a Summer Clan tradition: escorts are groomed to marry the Proxy. She explains that Ruri's current "strike" stems from fear and anger over Ayame's impending marriage and departure from service. Ayame's voice carries the weight of regret as she unveils this crucial piece of information.

Sakura draws a parallel between Ruri's "strike" and Hinagiku's own two-year withdrawal after a traumatic kidnapping. She argues that a "strike" is often the only way a proxy can express their pain and assert their humanity. A distressing flashback shows a younger Hinagiku, heartbroken after overhearing her family discussing replacing her because she was "broken." Sakura remembers the Spring Clan's cold indifference, their only concern the seasonal cycle.

Sakura's story deeply affects Ayame, who recognizes her own similar failures with Ruri. As she stirs the porridge, Ayame breaks down, admitting that in her pursuit of being a perfect escort, she failed as a loving sister. She cries, lamenting that she always prioritized clan rules over their personal bond. A heartfelt flashback shows young Ruri and Ayame playing joyfully in a field of sunflowers, a stark, painful contrast to their current estrangement.

With renewed purpose, Ayame thanks Sakura, and they finish preparing the nourishing meal. As they ready to leave the kitchen, a white rabbit and other small animals watch them, a moment of gentle peace before chaos. Suddenly, the palace's spiritual barrier is violently torn apart. Sakura instantly adopts a combat stance, gripping her katana as alarms blare. An armed intruder bursts into Hinagiku's room, but Sakura is already there, a human shield protecting the unconscious Hinagiku. The episode ends on this perilous cliffhanger.