[It's really strange, this sense of... something. Solidarity, maybe? Not just because of what remains mostly unspoken about disease and loss, but simply because they somehow do share a place in the world, albeit probably surrounded by different circumstances. Souji can't help but deny that it makes him curious about exactly what differs about their respective lives, but even for someone as nosy as he is, that strikes him as rather invasive to just ask about.

He makes an amused little sound, distractedly scratching behind Saizō's ears, his smile slowly splitting into a grin.] Well, at least being formal doesn't mean that I'm well-mannered. Hijikata-san always likes to point out that I'm still a rude little brat.

[He rolls his eyes a bit, because really, it's not like Hijikata has any room to talk. At least Souji is mostly rude only toward people he knows, and in a fairly playful and familiar way. As opposed to some people giving the entire world the finger at times.] So maybe I can make up for the way I speak in other ways.