[The conflicting feelings and guilt which had probably done their best to sting Hijikata until then abate slightly, gentled by affection and trust. For a moment he simply holds that eye contact, and honestly, it's probably deeply embarrassing to be right next to him when he looks like that too.
But when he turns back to Jennifer, his smile is less thin, warmer. He even gives her another hug, less spontaneous but absolutely not disingenuous.]
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[The conflicting feelings and guilt which had probably done their best to sting Hijikata until then abate slightly, gentled by affection and trust. For a moment he simply holds that eye contact, and honestly, it's probably deeply embarrassing to be right next to him when he looks like that too.
But when he turns back to Jennifer, his smile is less thin, warmer. He even gives her another hug, less spontaneous but absolutely not disingenuous.]
I'm sorry. I should be saying "welcome", right?