I... [He can't decide quite how to answer her question...so he takes the easier way out.] If Okita and Kohaku weren't here, it might be different. But... [He looks down in contemplation. He's not sure if Souji even told his unsettling counterpart about the ochimizu.

And he's not eager for him to know, if he doesn't already. Outside of reprimands and battle topics, communication has never been one of Hijikata's strengths.

At Chizuru's guessing about his makeover, he gives a grim smile.] That's not too far from the truth.

["I imagine they all have questions they'd rather have answered, rather than left to speculation..." The smile remains when she indirectly asks her next question, but fades when she mentions Yamazaki.

That seems like it happened a decade ago. He nods before meeting her uncertain gaze once again.]

For me, it's going on a year since Toba-Fushimi. If you have questions, I suppose now's as good a time as any for you to ask them. [He sighs almost inaudibly.] Just be careful what they are, because I'm going to tell you the truth.

[And then he steels himself for what she might say. Wondering not for the first time why he feels so frustratingly vulnerable.]