#azami rindou

[ydotome]

Remember, Nadeshiko, some insurgents want to use Agents to do things for them. They say that, since you have so much power, you should use it to help people, not just to keep the seasons turning. But that's just their excuse to commit terrorism. Don't believe them. Please promise me you won't. - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 10

[lightaflametoburnmethrough]

Agents of the Four Seasons: Ep 13

Oooh, we were so spoiled this week~! 😆

Finally, we got to hear the ritual songs of Summer and Autumn as well as see both seasons' respective Agents and their Guards in real action.

And also take a break from the Spring/Winter drama bahahaha

But most of all, thank god they got Nadeshiko back! If they didn't, Ruri would've...Ruri...... *BAWLS* 😭

But seriously, Rindo is so hot when he's doing his one-man army charge 😍

Of all the Guards, I definitely favor him the most for how multi-faceted his character is.

He is so kind and gentle around Nadeshiko (his ultimate weakness), respectful and professional before his colleagues and the representatives of the other seasons but also downright merciless against those who dare to cross him.

Not one of these aspects can be called “fake” because each one makes up the whole that is him as a person.

And Nadeshiko loves all those sides of him.

The first thing she sees when she wakes up is Rindo and she couldn't be happier. Even though he's all beaten up and bloodied and panicking over whether she's okay, not wearing that "perfect prince" mask he always puts on around her, she knows it's him who came to rescue her.

Rindo who broke his facade and was in grief over losing her. Rindo who learned to put his trust in those who came to help him find Nadeshiko. And Rindo who "dirtied" his hands in revenge for how those scumbag insurgents mistreated her.

These were all him staying true to himself, to his love for Nadeshiko.

That's why he's so dashing and cool (kakkoii) in her eyes. That is exactly why he is her one and only prince.

UGH, my heart-!! 😖💘

But a quick break from the long-awaited rescue to talk about the plot.

Yes, peeps. This is where the sequel hook for the next novel, Dance of Summer, was laid.

Ruri's death in battle caused her powers to be automatically transferred over to the next Agent candidate. And since Ayame qualified because she was born in the Summer clan as well as being the closest relation to the former Agent of Summer, the Summer god (I think it's safe to say it is a female god by that voice Ayame heard in her head) probably thought "oh, how convenient" and chose the older twin to replace the dead sister.

Poor Ayame couldn't even reach her little sis to confirm whether Ruri was really dead or not before the markings started appearing on her body.

Like, the worst thing a Guard could possibly experience is the loss of the Agent they're protecting.

But in this case, the Guard has to take Agent's place immediately? They're not even allowed to grieve, not even if that Agent is their own flesh and blood?

How cruel the gods are.

I wonder if the later novels will dive deeper into that lore. Of how the connection between gods and humans resulted in the Agents feeling more cursed than blessed to be chosen, consequently causing them to hate the higher beings for tossing their lives about on a whim.

At the very least, I know there's a living god that walks among them but she's in a totally different category than the Agents so it won't be discussed here.

Anyways, good news is that this didn't have to end in tragedy thanks to Nadeshiko's ability to take and give life (the Autumn package is very handy, lol)

The bad news is...well, I'm not sure if they'll divulge it in the anime since there's only one episode left and I suspect most of it will be dedicated to focusing on Spring and Winter reconciling...

Eh, why not? There's no guarantee that the second novel will be greenlit for adaptation after this anime is over so if you don't want to read spoilers, skip the next part.

Basically, the issue of reviving Ruri is that there are now two Agents of Summer instead of one. And that's what sets up the conflict of the second novel.

I'm not sure why Ruri still has her Summer powers after she died so I guess those powers were never a thing to be transferred after all.

Rather, it seems more like they’re installed engraved into the Agents when they’re chosen.

So once you have them, you can never lose them. Not even death can make those seasonal abilities disappear.

Which sucks cuz...

That means Ayame can never really have a life without being involved with the seasons now.

This unprecedented development not only affects her engagement but also Ruri's and they spend the whole next novel trying to resolve that problem.

Aaaggghhh, that's why I want Dance of Summer to be adapted so bad! I want to see the introduction of Renri and Raicho as well as their relationships with Ruri and Ayame depicted on screen with voices and such! 😫

I mean, at this point, it is rather contrived that every one of the Agents are romantically attached to someone (even if Rindo’s feelings are platonic, there is that kind of framing from Nadeshiko’s end).

But since Akatsuki wrote it that way, then I'd like for all the couples to get equal treatment. Don't just stop at Winter and Spring, do the rest of 'em too!

That aside, one great thing to come out of this horrible incident is that all the season factions (or at least the Agents and their Guards) will be very good allies from here on out.

Prior to them joining forces to save Nadeshiko, it seems none of Seasons wanted to interact with one another outside the annual meetings. The villages and the Agency operated on the idea of "mind our own business" too much that everyone ended up becoming cold and indifferent to each other even during times of strife. And probably because of that, their security was frequently breached and they kept losing Agents more than they were able to preserve them.

So it's great that this generation of Agents are beginning to change that (I hope, anyway). Rindo definitely wouldn't have been able to find Nadeshiko without Spring and Summer's assistance and Ayame would've lost everything if Nadeshiko didn't repay the debt of saving her by bringing Ruri back to life.

Once again, it's a relief to know that even if they can't always rely on their own backers, the Agents and the Guards can find understanding and support from those who are in the same positions as them.

Because regardless of whether they have powers or not, the Agents were always human first and should be treated as such so that they (and their Guards) can fulfill their duties effectively.

Well, that's that.

Nadeshiko is finally safe and back with Rindo, who's still so sorry for everything that happened that it startles Nadeshiko a little at how different he is from his usual self.

But even so, even if he's not acting like the perfect prince, she still thinks he's so wonderful (suteki) and can easily tell that this side of him is Rindo in the truest, most honest sense.

She promises him that she’ll love him no matter which side he chooses to be.

Even if he's flawed and there’s blood on his hands, as long as he’s Rindo (her Rindo), she will always love him unconditionally.

And that is just...so beautiful that I can't help but cry.

Because yea, Nadeshiko might be a kid who's still naive and ignorant about a lot of things (including the fact that people can change over time). However, it's her pure belief and trust in him that will ensure Rindo to always strive to be the best version of himself that he can be for her (“for my princess, I will become a prince as many times as I need to”).

She accepted all of him. His strength and his weakness, the good and the bad. How can he not respond in kind when someone loves him with their whole heart like Nadeshiko does?

This. This is what true love looks like.

True love not only accepts, it inspires and brings out the greatest aspects of ourselves 🥹❤️

[ydotome]

Nadeshiko is alive. She's out there now, calling for my help. I didn't plan to get attached. It was just a job. I'd do the bare minimum, train my successor, and retire. I wanted her to grow up and become less of a handful already. I never meant to give her my heart. I didn't realize I already had. Give her back. Nadeshiko. My autumn. Give her back. - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 9

[ydotome]

Are you leaving, Rindo? I'm sorry, Nadeshiko. I'll be right back. I'll save dessert for you. It's an apple tart! That's very kind of you. Don't forget about me, not even for a second. I spend every second thinking only of you. - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 7

[ydotome]

Rindou Azami (阿左美 竜胆) - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 11

[ydotome]

We both have flower names! I've never matched with another Agent before! And that makes you happy? Well, the Agent of Summer doesn't have a flower name. Neither does the Agent of Winter. The Agent of Spring and her retainer... I'd love to meet them. - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 7

[ydotome]

Great job, Nadeshiko. You really were amazing! Thank you, too, Rindo. N-No problem. Are you crying? Hang on. I'll pay you and make it better. I... I'm fine. Then, I'll pat Lady Ayame. Lady Ayame, have your pats. L-Lady Iwaizuki... - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 13

[ydotome]

Nadeshiko... Nadeshiko! Please! Wake up! Call my name again in that voice of yours! Rindo...Rindo. Nadeshiko! It's me! Do you recognize me?! Yup. You're my prince and my knight, Rindo Azami. You're so very dashing. - Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai - Episode 13