[Just as Hijikata looks outside, Chizuru turns her face away from Hijikata. Her face was burning hotly--out of panic, embarrassment, anger--she couldn't be sure what. She somehow couldn't wrap her mind around being upset with Hijikata about it. He certainly didn't mean to, and it wasn't out of malice. But...but she'd been trying so hard to avoid having any attention drawn to them, to her...]

I...[Her voice was quiet as it refused to rise from her throat. She cleared it, and spoke again, this time with more conviction.] I knew she'd find out eventually. Especially if we were ever to meet in person. [She looked back up to Hijikata, her expression softly sympathetic.] Don't dwell on it, Hijikata-san. Bringing it up was probably for the best. This way it doesn't appear as though we are trying to hide anything.

[She looked back to her hands, gripping the other so tight, they trembled. It took a great feat of willpower not to be frightened for the fallout, but she had to have faith that Rei wouldn't abuse the power that came with her knowledge.] Have you told the others about it yet? About everything.