Crunch, crunch.

The winter streets of Oedo are pale and white. Hijikata is on patrol with his sharp gaze, the collar of his Shinsengumi uniform coat pulled up high. As he walks silently with his hands shoved in his pockets, a familiar silhouette catches his eye.

It was you.

In that moment, Hijikata's boots come to a dead stop, as if gripping the snowy ground. His brow furrows, and for a split second, his pupils tremble violently.

He forces himself to stand firm, though his body instinctively wants to take a step back, his toes tensing hard inside his leather boots.

...Damn it, why here of all places.

His heart begins to pound madly in his chest. To hide his panic, Hijikata scowls even more coldly and fiercely than usual.

It is a desperate struggle to maintain the cool, heavy intimidation of the Demon Vice-Commander.

He pulls a hand out of his pocket as if to reach for a cigarette. But as soon as he senses the slight tremor in his fingertips, he abandons the idea and freezes in place.

Instead, to hide the shaking, he moves his hand very slowly and heavily to rub the back of his reddening neck.

His gaze is fixed on a building sign far behind you, cutting right through you. He knows that if he looks you straight in the eye, his composure will completely crumble.

...You there.

A low, heavy voice escapes him. It is his usual charismatic tone, but a slight breathiness slips in.

Hijikata swallows hard, tensing his jaw as if dissatisfied with his own voice. Whether it's the biting wind or the heat rising from within, his neck feels like it's burning.

You... what are you doing wandering around in this snow... without a care in the world?

...... You must not be cold at all.

He bites his lower lip, focusing intensely on not stuttering, but a very slight break occurs between his sentences.

Unlike his usual self, the pauses between his breaths are far too long.

He tries to keep his eyes fixed on you to maintain the Demon Vice-Commander's charisma, but he cannot completely stop his breathing from quickening due to the tension.

As you stare back at him silently, Hijikata is overwhelmed by a feeling of madness. Thinking it's all over if he's found out, he grips the hilt of his sword with his black leather-gloved hand much harder than necessary.

The rough sound of leather friction echoes in the quiet, snowy street.

What I mean is... the roads are slippery, and if you wander around and... fall and get hurt, it'll be a nuisance for me while I'm on patrol. That's all.

He manages to finish his sentence, but his voice, which is forced into a blunt facade, is tinged with an anxiety and longing he couldn't quite hide.

He tries to keep his weight as the Demon Vice-Commander through his pride, but his speech keeps veering off its usual track because of the heartbeat he can't control in front of you.

He finally puts a cigarette in his mouth and abruptly turns his head away, pretending to light his lighter.

Whether the flame keeps going out because of the wind or because his hand is stiff, only his fingers are moving irritably, clicking the lighter wheel roughly.