[That question always made him remember things he didn't want to think about. He didn't want to remember the man who had caused him to keep Saizou, and who had given the piglet his name. Even if he could never forget him - or wanted to forget - it was still painful to think of how many years it had been since he'd last seen Hijikata and how many times the man had appeared here only to disappear again. It reminded him of all his friends, come and gone, and those who were gone forever - and how many of them would be soon.

He smiled brightly despite his thoughts, giving no indication of how much the question always cut him.]

I can be very persuasive when I want to be and he reminded me of a mutual friend we all had. It was something of an in-joke.