#kangetsu itechou

I used the term “sentimental” to describe the emotions the first episode evoked but all I could think of while watching the second ep was how visceral the flashbacks were 😨

Not only did that kidnapping incident scar the Spring girls for life but it also haunted and tormented Rōsei endlessly as he grew up. Forced by his role as the Agent of Winter to move forward and fulfill his duties despite his heart still being frozen in time after Hinagiku, the girl he’s still in love with, sacrificed herself to protect him.

So yea, LOTS of angst to unpack there. Which is why I’m structuring this post into three major points in order to cover all the important things we saw this week.

Starting with Rōsei.

Off the mark, you’d expect him to be cold because of his association with the season he’s in charge of. He certainly has the bearing, expression and even the beautiful slanted eyes for it. But after what we learned in this chapter, the more correct words to describe him with would be “jaded and fucking depressed”.

And who could blame him for feeling that way? Ten years ago, the target for assasination was him. He believed that if he had died that day, Hinagiku and Sakura wouldn’t have had to suffer like they did for a decade. Yet Hinagiku’s sacrifice allowed him to live but caused Winter to linger. Because Spring disappeared, the other seasons could not come to pass and the whole country had to endure the cold for a long period of time.

It was also revealed that out of all the Agents, Winter is the one that is targeted the most by terrorists (inferring that it’s the season that is hated the most as well).

Add the fact that the Agents are strictly monitored by the Agency and their respective hometowns and not really treated as human beings by most of the population, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Rōsei’s personality hardened into ice by the weight of his existence and duties.

However, it didn’t. Even though he’s technically an adult now (iirc, he and Sakura are around the same age while Hinagiku is 4 years their junior), Rōsei remains the same kind-hearted boy he was 10 years ago.

He doesn’t want anyone to be harmed because of him and he’s always sincerely apologetic to those around him whenever he is attacked.

And whenever he sees someone in trouble, his first instinct is to help. Even though he’s not supposed to use his Winter powers for anything outside of bringing the seasonal change, he ignores the rules because people’s well-being are worth more than some ancient ritual.

It’s not out of any shallow desire to be a hero but comes from his deep regret of not being able to stop Hinagiku’s kidnapping. He doesn’t want to experience that helplessness again when he is capable of saving someone.

It’s clear that Rōsei hasn’t been able to move on and grow up properly like a normal person. He is still very much a child in a lot of respects and it shows in how he speaks and acts.

Like him not knowing how to handle his feelings. He is consumed by his guilt and doesn’t hide it. Itechō constantly has to snap him out of his suicidal or impulsive thoughts, which is then met by an almost teenage-like outrage on Rōsei’s end.

Most of all, his naivety in thinking that things would’ve been better if he died when in truth, it would’ve been signifcantly worse than their situation now. If Rōsei slit his throat back then, all three of the closest people to him would’ve been traumatized with no hope for repair. Hinagiku would have to carry the tragic death of her first love forever and Sakura would still feel guilt as Hinagiku’s guard because she couldn’t protect the boy who made Hinagiku happy.

Then there’s Itechō, who would be in the same PTSD shoes as Sakura is in now for failing to protect not only the Agent he’s been assigned to but also the person that he, Kangetsu Itechō, deemed as the most important to him in life.

Honestly, this sounds cruel to say but at least Hinagiku was spared and managed to stay alive, allowing for her to return. At least her coming back gives hope to everyone that they can heal from that terrible ordeal.

If Rōsei killed himself that day, that possibility would not exist.

It’s truly unfair, really. Despite being granted god-like powers, this seemingly lofty position as an Agent does not give the Agents themselves what would be considered a good life. If anything, it robs them of what a normal person deserves.

They do not have freedom. People either want to control them or kill them. And yet they still have to accept this as their reality and bring the change of the seasons for the sake of the country, regardless of their own feelings.

Such a life where you cannot even meet the person you love without getting a thousand signed permissions from the government first.

No wonder the Agents need their Guards. Not just to protect them from danger but to have someone whom they can trust and understand how hard it is for them to be an Agent. Because the officials surely won’t (remember, Hinagiku’s hometown abandoned their search for her after only 3 months while the Winter Agency didn’t give up until 5 years have passed).

They need their Guards to support them and tell them “I’m on your side, not anyone else’s”. To be the voice of reason that keeps those Agents from jumping off a cliff when their mind spirals too much into despair.

This is where Itechō comes in for Rōsei’s case.

Itechō also has his heavy share of guilt and PTSD from that day. But unlike Rōsei who is barely out of his teenage years, Itechō manages his emotions with relatively better control.

And that might be because he’s been doing this job as a Guard for probably well over ten years now.

In other words, he’s too good at what he does so they can’t fire him. A composed, effective bodyguard is better than one who is easily overwhelmed, after all.

The other reason might simply be that he’s older. From what I read, Itechō is ten years Rōsei and Sakura’s senior so he would be 30 in the current time of the story and therefore, 20 when Hinagiku disappeared.

Anyways, yea, there’s no denying that Itechō has the most life experience out of the main characters so he is less likely to lose himself to his feelings as quickly.

Even though he was just as distraught over the loss of Hinagiku as the others were, he was one of the few who took a serious intiative to find her. He even took Sakura into the Winter Village when the Spring Village dismissed her and threw her out, showing that he has a better sense of responsibility and empathy than the people who run the administration does.

Now 10 years have passed and that aspect of him didn’t seem to have changed much. Though Hinagiku’s kidnapping still hangs over him every day, Itechō doesn’t allow the pain of that memory to get in the way of doing his job.

He needs to protect Rōsei and by protect, it’s not just the matter of taking down the assassins aiming their guns at his Lord. Itechō also has to manage security details, lead his team, negotiate with those scummy political officials and make sure Rōsei doesn’t do anything that can hurt himself.

Itechō tirelessly tells Rōsei “you’re important to me” not just because those are his true feelings but also because he needs Rōsei to understand there are people who cherish him even when he won’t cherish himself. And that they’ll be greatly saddened if he were to get seriously injured or even die.

You hate yourself but you also must remember those who love you. If you love them just as much, then you would be hurting them if you act recklessly and you don’t want that, do you?

Itechō’s not speaking to Rōsei as a guard to his master. He’s speaking to him like a friend, even almost like he’s family. Because if there’s anything that’s going to get through that thick layer of self-loathing Rōsei shrouds himself in, it’s the reminder that he isn’t a dispensable proxy for a seasonal god but an irreplaceable person who is held dear by those who are close to him.

And out of everyone he knows, Itechō is the only person Rōsei will allow to do that because they’ve been by each other’s side since Rōsei was little.

That said, we’ve talked enough about managing Rōsei but what about Itechō? When he’s not keeping his own angst in check 24/7, what is the man like underneath his professionalism?

Very much like Rōsei, in fact. Just in a different font.

As one associated with Winter, Itechō is cool and collected as is expected of him as a Guard. But he also shows shades of the Onii-chan type which can be seen in the flashbacks. He saw himself as responsible for the safety of those three children and still beats himself up for not being able to protect them.

For Rōsei, it’s obvious since Rōsei is his Lord. For Hinagiku, it’s also obvious because she’s the youngest and most innocent as well as the girl whom Rōsei loves.

Then there’s Sakura, who he even more obviously has a very incredible soft spot for. The anime hasn’t brought this up yet but the one who trained Sakura in swordsmanship was Itechō. And she admired him to the point where her feelings went beyond the affection one would have towards their mentor.

Sakura trusted him deeply…which is why her “hatred” for him runs just as deep. She didn’t hate him for failing to protect Hinagiku that day (they were clearly outnumbered). She hated him when the entire Winter Village decided to not continue the search for Hinagiku even though Itechō promised her they would.

Itechō was the last person she trusted in this world to give her what she wanted after the Spring Village abandoned Hinagiku. But when he couldn’t keep that promise (through no intention or fault of his own), he essentially crushed the hope he gave her.

She felt betrayed by the person she loved.

So where would Sakura direct all her anger at?

Him, of course. Because they are both Guards who dedicate their lives to protecting the Agents. Because Itechō personally trained Sakura for that role, he understands her feelings better than anyone else does.

Their sense of identity is tied the strongest to the Agent they’re assigned to, even more than their feelings for their love interests. If the Guard loses their Agent, they wouldn’t just be losing the person closest to them, they’d lose their purpose as well.

Itechō was able to perform his duties as Rōsei’s Guard after that incident because Rōsei was safe. But while Hinagiku was held captive by the insurgents, Sakura could only mourn in agony until her Lady returned.

That’s why Itechō couldn’t blame Sakura for hating him. What he was able to keep, Sakura lost for 10 whole years.

Though I wouldn’t say their relationship is a lost cause. A large part of why Sakura is holding onto her hatred towards Winter and Itechō despite Hinagiku’s return is because it serves as her motivation to fight harder so she would never lose Hinagiku again.

Also, it’s obvious to anyone that she still cares about him. Because if she didn’t, she wouldn’t hate him to this extent. She’d be indifferent to him instead. The opposite of love is not hate because if you hate, you still care enough to react. The opposite to love is indifference because you don’t care and therefore, don’t have feelings to react on.

So…as long as she hates him, there’s hope for them to reconcile? 😅

It seems highly likely, especially since Hinagiku and Rōsei will definitely be happy to see each other again so Sakura cannot come between that if she truly wants Hinagiku to be happy. Once she accepts that hatred will be detrimental to what’s important to her and is able to heal and let go of the past, Sakura’s affection for Itechō will slowly revive as well. At least, that’s what I hope for because I want the best for everyone 🤞

Anyways, back to Team Winter.

Yea, they’re filled with guilt and regret but that doesn’t stop them from having their own wishes that they want to see fulfilled.

Rōsei wants more than anything to see Hinagiku. He will also defy orders from the Agency if it means he can help someone. And though Itechō is always warning him of the consequences of his actions, he’s not such a stickler for the rules that he will stop Rōsei from doing what’s right.

Because he is Rōsei’s most loyal follower, after all. His job is to support and protect Rōsei and the best way to do that is to understand him.

Their chemistry as partners is definitely not inferior to Hinagiku and Sakura’s.

Rōsei even proves it at the end when his response to Itechō’s usual “You’re the most important to me” line is basically “Bruh, I know, you’ve told me like a million times already 🙄 But save it for the girl (Sakura) you actually have special feelings for?” 🤣

Like, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Rōsei can tell Itechō reciprocates Sakura’s affection and is just being awkward about it. Itechō has been with him since he was at least 10 years old, after all. Rōsei definitely knows which girl his Guard is interested in 😂

But the fact that they can laugh together like this is proof that they’ve started on the emotional mend and that’s just very heartwarming 🥹

It’ll take a while but as long as Rōsei is able to forgive himself for the past and can be comforted by being in Hinagiku’s presence again, his suicidal impulses will gradually cease and that will bring peace to Itechō’s heart as well.

Finally, making up for lost time.

This image really stabs you in the chest without mercy because you can see just how happy these kids were together before they were violently forced apart.

How lonely it must’ve been for the Agents, who had to shoulder a destiny they never asked for at such a tender young age. They wouldn’t have had the luxury to be friends with other children because they had to focus on their duties foremost.

So for Rōsei, Hinagiku and Sakura to all be within the same age group was a blessing. At least they had someone in their limited circle to interact and enjoy time together with.

Hinagiku and Rōsei developing feelings for each other during the purest, most innocent stage of their lives is so sweet, too.

They couldn’t have much for themselves so this was their whole world.

It was a simpler, more peaceful time that ended too short.

Yet even though so many years have passed, Rōsei’s feelings for Hinagiku haven’t changed. If anything, they’ve only gotten deeper with longing, something Rōsei admits to himself wherever he observes Spring.

Hinagiku is always on his mind. When he sees blooming flowers or green fields or feels the warm wind, she’s there. When he uses his Winter powers, he’s careful not to overtake the Spring she manifested but instead weave his ice and snow with her greenery.

In the myth of this series, since Winter and Spring were in love, Spring would always follow Winter as if chasing after her lover.

But ironically, it’s Winter who’s chasing Spring now. After a decade of absence, she has returned and Winter yearns for the warmth she brings.

And I think it’s amazing that Rōsei not only kept his feelings for that long but didn’t need to try to hold onto them either.

Maybe it’s the regret that sustained it. Maybe they’re both being influenced by the myth. But those explanations ultimately end up sounding shallow anyway because whether she was the Agent of Spring or not, the one who Rōsei wants to meet is Hinagiku.

I want to feel her (Hinagiku’s) Spring.

He is truly loyal to his lady love.

Hinagiku's theme

Rosei's theme