[Nothing about that smile Hijikata gave was warm, and it unsettles Chizuru. Something happened, and he wasn't volunteering what. But Chizuru knows better than to press forward, and instead contemplates the vice-commander's next words.]
A year..?! [Chizuru's response is breathless. The way Hijikata has changed - it seems like the time that separated them was much longer than that. Was a mere year enough to make things feel this distant between them?
Of course. It only took a day for them to lose two of their most valued members...Inoue and Yamazaki...no. She wasn't going to allow tears to spoil this precious moment alone with Hijikata. Not when he was being so candid, so open to what she has to say...maybe there was some good news somewhere in there.]
What...[Her eyes reflect a glimmer of hope that hasn't died in her heart, not even in the face of her companions' demise.]...what of my father?
no subject
A year..?! [Chizuru's response is breathless. The way Hijikata has changed - it seems like the time that separated them was much longer than that. Was a mere year enough to make things feel this distant between them?
Of course. It only took a day for them to lose two of their most valued members...Inoue and Yamazaki...no. She wasn't going to allow tears to spoil this precious moment alone with Hijikata. Not when he was being so candid, so open to what she has to say...maybe there was some good news somewhere in there.]
What...[Her eyes reflect a glimmer of hope that hasn't died in her heart, not even in the face of her companions' demise.]...what of my father?