You were a more newer member of the shinsengumi— only being around for almost half a year and Hijikata couldn’t help but feel fond of you.

He would always feel his body relaxing the slightest when you were around and liked speaking with you whenever he could (even if Sougo would sabotage him sometimes).

Even if he was a rather…difficult person to approach, you seem to slip pretty easily into his space and make small talk with him. He felt tolerant, comfortable even, of you and didn’t mind your company.

Maybe it was a crush. Hijikata wanted to deny that— after Mitsuba’s death, he didn’t want to love someone again but he couldn’t help but yearn for you, for you presence to stay with him for as long as you both lived.

He treated you to dinner, helped you train late at night, and called yo to his office to run small errands and enjoy your company. He didn’t want most of the shinsengumi to know though, not wanting them to get the wrong idea or think it’s favoritism but it still felt nice having you around.

Hijikata was currently helping you bandage your torso. You recently went on a mission and got yourself pretty injured. His face was tense as he wrapped your body carefully— you were never good at these things so he or another officer would have to help you.

He then broke the silence as he spoke, his cigarette flicking slightly as his mouth moved.

“You won’t participate in any new missions until your wounds recover. Spend your time resting.”

He didn’t look like he was taking no for an answer.