【True Intentions】 He views the war situation with cold objectivity, deliberately choosing ruthless tactics to "sacrifice the few to save the many (the survival and victory of the whole)." It is all to ensure his comrades survive.

【Attitude Toward Others】 He offers no excuses or explanations. He knows that revealing his true intent would mean identifying the "next pawns to be discarded," which would only hurt his comrades more. Thus, he willingly accepts the role of the villain and traitor.

【Hidden Inner Self】 He is deeply shaken the moment Gintoki brings up "Shoyo-sensei" to doubt him. Carrying the loneliness of having no one believe in him and a searing pain in his chest, he prepares to walk into hell alone.

【Toward Gintoki, Katsura, and Tatsuma】

"Despair of being mistrusted" and "Resignation"

Because he believed in their once-unbreakable bond, he is hurt beyond words that they were so easily deceived by a single person's lies. No matter how much he is hated, he has no intention of abandoning the cold-blooded strategy meant to keep them alive. He has closed off his heart, thinking, "If I won't be understood anyway, I'll take the fall alone."

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"Disgusting existence," "Target for removal"

He saw through her true nature (liar, dead weight) from the very beginning. He loathes and looks down on her from the bottom of his heart as someone who endangers his plans and the lives of his comrades for a personal grudge.

【View of Takasugi】 Cold. The trust they once shared while watching each other's backs has vanished. Having lost many subordinates on the harsh battlefield, he is mentally exhausted.

【Psychological Background】 He mistakenly believes his own unit was nearly wiped out because of Takasugi's ruthless tactics. He harbors deep distrust, wondering if Takasugi now views even his "Shoka Sonjuku comrades (himself and Katsura)" as obstacles and is trying to cut them loose like a lizard's tail.

【Toward Takasugi】

"Intense rage toward a traitor"

He cannot forgive Takasugi for hurting weak non-combatants and (as he mistakenly believes) colluding with the enemy. Because he trusted him so much, the backlash of anger and disgust at being betrayed is incredibly strong.

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"A brave comrade to be protected"

Because he has seen her covered in mud, working hard for their sake (an act), he trusts her completely. Seeing her hurt and trembling triggers his protective instincts and sense of justice, making him feel he must look after her.

【View of Takasugi】 None of his usual antics; his rejection is chilly and businesslike.

【Psychological Background】 He is furious that his own unit's operations were thrown into chaos by Takasugi's unilateral decision, leading to the bloodshed of many patriots. He feels Takasugi's rationalism and ruthlessness are furthest from their "Great Cause" and "compassion for comrades," even suspecting Takasugi is preparing to stab them in the back.

【Toward Takasugi】

"Cold rejection of one who lost the Cause"

He already had grievances with Takasugi's cold tactics, so he has judged this incident as Takasugi "finally crossing the line (harming allies)." Casting aside personal feelings, he has resolved to cut Takasugi off as a "dangerous element" in his capacity as a leader of the patriots.

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"A lovely patriot deserving protection"

He is completely fooled by her tears and brave attitude. He feels a strong sense of righteous indignation and pity that a weak person who served their Great Cause was harmed by the reckless actions of one of their own.

【View of Takasugi】 All smiles are gone; his expression is heavy and somber.

【Psychological Background】 Usually the mediator, but he has decided he cannot defend Takasugi this time. Unlike Gintoki and Katsura who attack emotionally, he views it from a broader perspective, realizing that "the organization (no one) will follow him like this," and effectively tells Takasugi to leave the front (a break-up).

【Toward Takasugi】

"Painful resignation and parting"

Though usually optimistic, the circumstantial evidence (the girl's wounds and testimony) is too overwhelming this time, and he took Takasugi's silence as an admission of guilt. To prevent the collapse of the organization, he made the agonizing decision to call for a split from Takasugi.

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"Pitiful victim"

While not as emotional as Gintoki and the others, seeing her tremble makes him think, "Something terrible happened to her, I must protect her." However, his merchant's intuition leaves a tiny margin of unease, wondering if the situation fits together a bit too perfectly.

Age: 16

Appearance: A fragile and lovely girl, slightly above average beauty. Small stature. Fluffy, light-colored hair and large, moist eyes that always seem to be welling with tears. She wears a cute pastel-colored kimono and looks like a "girl you want to protect" who has nothing to do with war.

Public Personality: Timid and a crybaby. She always grabs onto others' sleeves as if frightened. She uses a calculatedly cute tone, ending sentences with "~desu-u" or calling people "~sama-a ♥".

She joined the patriots midway through and belongs to the medical and logistics support teams.

【Toward Takasugi】

"The most annoying thorn in my side"

She absolutely hates Takasugi because her cute lies and acting don't work on him at all, and he has looked down on her with cold eyes from the start. Partly as revenge for her wounded pride, she is plotting to isolate him from the Four Kings and ruin him.

【Toward Gintoki, Katsura, and Tatsuma】

"Pawns to be manipulated at will"

She sees them as "easy men" who will be fooled and protect her if she just clings to them with tears. She is using them as tools to drive Takasugi out, inwardly mocking their sense of justice and loyalty to their comrades.