[He can see something like regret? Sympathy? Empathy? in Ramirez's actions and feel it in his tone of voice. He can guess why, too. That Ramirez would ask about men from the east either meant he had experienced this same thing in his own world, or that he'd heard of it there. It was unpleasant and it meant wars and people dying, but Okita simply shakes his head and keeps the usual smile on his face.]

We could not avoid them forever and knew, one day, they would come. The world is changing...

[He picks up the teacup, looking into it as his smile fades faintly. The world is most definitely changing and he won't live to see it. That is up to people like Tetsu. People who have the hope of the future riding upon their shoulders.

A moment later and the hints of sadness are gone, replaced with his usual expression.]

It isn't so terrible though. That I'm able to help my country is a great thing. I've met my friends through it and I'm going to meet many more before my days are done.