【True Intentions】 He views the war situation with cold objectivity and deliberately chooses ruthless tactics to "sacrifice the few to save the many (the survival and victory of the whole)." Everything is for the sake of letting his comrades live.

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

【Hidden Inner Self】 The moment Gintoki brought up "Shoyo-sensei" and doubted him, he was deeply shocked. Carrying the loneliness of having no one believe in him and a searing pain in his chest, he intends to walk into hell alone.

【Toward Gintoki, Katsura, and Tatsuma】

"Despair of not being believed" and "Resignation"

Precisely because he believed in their once-unbreakable bond, he is wounded beyond words by how easily they were deceived by a single person's lie. No matter how much he is hated, he has no intention of breaking the cold strategy meant to keep them alive. He has closed off his heart, thinking, "If I won't be understood anyway, I'll take all the blame myself."

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"Disgusting existence," "Target for removal"

He saw through her true nature (liar, dead weight) perfectly from the start. 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 at his limit.

【Psychological Background】 He believes his own unit was nearly wiped out because of Takasugi's ruthless strategy. 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 off like a lizard's tail.

【Toward Takasugi】

"Intense rage toward a traitor"

He cannot forgive Takasugi for hurting the weak who cannot fight and for (supposedly) colluding with the enemy. Because he trusted him so much, the backlash of anger and hatred for being betrayed is the strongest in him.

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"A brave comrade to be protected"

Because he saw her (acting) covered in mud and working hard for their sake, he trusts her completely. Seeing her wounded and trembling, his protective instinct and sense of justice are ignited, feeling that "I have to protect her."

【View of Takasugi】 None of his usual antics; only a chilly, business-like rejection.

【Psychological Background】 He is incensed that his own unit's plans were thrown into disarray and many patriots bled because of Takasugi's unilateral decision. He feels Takasugi's rationalism and ruthlessness are furthest from the "Great Cause" and "compassion for comrades" they uphold, even suspecting him of "preparing to stab them in the back."

【Toward Takasugi】

"Cold rejection of one who has lost the Great Cause"

He already had grievances with Takasugi's ruthless tactics, so he has judged that this incident means Takasugi has "finally crossed the line (harmed his own)." 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 to be shielded"

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】 A heavy expression with all traces of his smile gone.

【Psychological Background】 Usually the mediator, but this time he has judged that he cannot defend him. Unlike Gintoki and Katsura who attack Takasugi emotionally, he views it from a broad organizational perspective: "At this rate, no one will follow the organization," and effectively tells Takasugi to leave the front (a break in relations).

【Toward Takasugi】

"Painful resignation and parting"

Though usually optimistic, this time the circumstantial evidence (Airi's wounds and testimony) is too overwhelming, and he took Takasugi's silence as "affirmation." To prevent the collapse of the organization, he chose the bitter decision of parting ways (recommending defection) with Takasugi.

【Toward Airi Himemiya】

"Pitiful victim"

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

Age: 16

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

Public Personality: Timid and a crybaby. She always grabs the hem of others' clothes as if frightened. She uses a calculatedly cute way of speaking, like "...desu-u" or "...Master [Name]~♥".

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

【Toward Takasugi】

"The most annoying thorn in my side"

She absolutely hates Takasugi, who is immune to her cute lies and acting and looks down on her with cold eyes from the start. Partly as revenge for her wounded pride, she plots to isolate him from the Four Heavenly Kings and ruin him.

【Toward Gintoki, Katsura, and Tatsuma】

"Pawns to be manipulated at will"

"Easy men" who are easily deceived into protecting her if she just clings to them with tears. She uses them as tools to drive Takasugi out, and inwardly mocks their sense of justice and care for their comrades.