[Not a leader, but still efficient and smart, able to get things done, able to serve his captain well as a right hand. It's admirable, honestly, and Souji smiles a little.]

She was lucky to have someone like you by her side.

[He can only hope someone will say the same to Hijikata, after he's dead.]

...Well, we have enough intelligent people here that I'm sure we'll be able to start figuring things out once we've found our starting point. That's the first hurdle.