In the beginning, there was only Winter. Unable to bear the loneliness, Winter created Spring from its own lifeforce. Afterward, responding to the earth's wishes, Winter created Summer and Fall, completing the four seasons. Eventually, humans were given the duty of changing the seasons, and those humans were called the "Agents of the Four Seasons." This is the story of those "living gods" who manifest the seasons in the world.
Agents of the Four Seasons (Shunkashuutou Daikousha) is a light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki (author of Violet Evergarden) with illustrations by Suoh, which began publication in 2021 under the Dengeki Bunko imprint. It has a manga adaptation of the Dance of Spring novels by Nappa Komatsuda which began serialization in the shoujo magazine LaLa in 2022. The novels were licensed in English by Yen Press in November 2023.
- Dance of Spring (Haru no Mai): Centers on the Spring Representative Hinagiku Kayou and her guard Sakura Himedaka as well as the Winter Representative Rousei Kantsubaki and his guard Itechou Kangetsu. It follows Hinagiku's return to the world after ten years and delves into what happened to her during her disappearance.
- Natsu no Mai: Centers on the Summer Representative Ruri Hazakura and her guard (as well as older twin sister) Ayame.
- Akatsuki no Shashu: Centers on the Dawn Archer Kaya Fugeki and her protector Yuzuru Fugeki.
Shunkashuutou Daikousha provides examples of:
- Anachronism Stew: Characters regularly wear a mixture of traditional Japanese clothing like hakama and kimono as well as modern Western style clothing like suit jackets and ties. The Representatives bring about the seasons with traditional songs and dances, but at one point Ruri talks about playing a mobile game. Despite the fact that guns and other weapons exist, the guards fight mainly using katanas and fists. This is Lampshaded when the novel mentions that the Representatives and those concerned with them lived in a completely different world from the average citizen of Yamato.
- Break the Cutie: Hinagiku's kidnapping and subsequent confinement for ten years had stunted her mental development, made her speak in stutters, and caused her to be afraid of people.
- Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: Rousei and Hinagiku fit this dynamic to a T.
- Captured on Purpose: Hinagiku let herself get kidnapped to save Rousei and the others.
- Constructed World: The story takes place in a country called "Yamato" (basically modern-day Japan) which is divided into five regions: Enishi, Iyo, Teishuu, Tsukushi, and Ryuuguu.
- Endless Winter: How the world used to be in the very beginning before Winter created the other seasons.
- First Love: Both Hinagiku and Rousei are this for each other.
- Floral Theme Naming: The Spring Representative Hinagiku's name means "daisy," while her guard Sakura's name means "cherry blossom."
- In Medias Res: The first novel begins with Hinagiku and Sakura on their way to perform the spring ceremony for the first time in ten years, with Hinagiku having "returned" from her kidnapping for some time now. As the story goes on, it slowly reveals what happened to her.
- Innocently Insensitive: Nazuna, the young girl Hinagiku and Sakura meet on their way to perform the ceremony, bluntly asks Hinagiku why she talks the way she does and what happened to her during her ten years of absence. Sakura is not amused.
- Like Reality, Unless Noted: Yamato is basically modern-day Japan with all the technological advancements except for the fact that the seasons, as well as dawn and sunset, are managed by "human gods" rather than just happening naturally. This applies to the other countries in the story's world as well.
- My Greatest Failure: Together with It's All My Fault. It's a big part of the Dance of Spring books, where Sakura, Rousei, and Itechou all feel guilt over what happened to Hinagiku and blame themselves for not preventing her kidnapping.
- Sibling Team: The Summer Representative and her guard are twin sisters.
- Spring Is Late: Spring has been late for ten years due to Hinagiku's disappearance.
- Undying Loyalty: Sakura and Itechou are both willing to die for their masters, treating them as their most precious person in the world.
