Valentines gift for @vulpiximisa & @chynandri ! The two crewmates that took me out of niche waters and helped sailing the legendary voting gauntlet ship with me. ♡
Shinpachi+Hijikata (I hope no one asked u this yet but I too like reading your analysis)
Thank you so much!
I ship those two absolutely platonically but with a burning passion of a hundred suns. I love what they have in the series and what they could have.
First of all - It’s a very unlikey relationship. Shinpachi has a lot of respect for authorities what makes him keep his distance. Hijikata is not a friendly kind of guy. They are different ages, live in different worlds socially and economically, don’t share any hobbies or interests. And yet they actually hit it off,because they aren’t that far off when it comes to personality. In my opinion they aren’t friends per se - there will be always distance between the two of them - but they are close enough. I think the closest comparison to what I think they have is a tight uncle - nephew relationship.
Rest under the cut because I put a lot of pictures and this got ridiculously long somehow. Oops.
Hijikata gets compared to Gintoki A LOT (rightfully so, of course) and Shinpachi to Yamazaki (I don’t see it, personally) but for me the two of them are also close when it comes to personality. They are both really protective of others and can’t really walk past any injustice. They both try to be the voice of reason of their group and both actually aren’t, becuase no matter how hard they try to hide it, they are as crazy as their respective groups. They both keep themselves to high standard when it comes to ethics and work. They are rational, hardworking, and down-to-earth in most situations.
Also - It can’t be just me who sees Shinpachi’s Sgt.-Nasty-esque drills of Otsuu fan club and thinks of how Hijikata handles his underlings…
And then comes entire thing with Tosshi. Tosshi emerged becaue of a curse, but he was and is a part of Hijikata. And while regular Hijikata is absolutely in-tune with Gintoki, Tosshi was in-tune with Shinpachi to the point of actually admiting it during their boxing match.
And this allows me to seamlessly switch to topic of how much they care for each other. I am absolutely certain that the whole boxing match was only for Tosshi’s benefit. Oh, Shin-chan is competetive and proud, and absolutely could go a few rounds just to prove something, but when they lay down, almost knocked out, Tosshi flashbacks to his moments of weakness; Shinpachi flashes back to… Tosshi, and moments where Shinpachi tried to help him few episodes back. If that isn’t an indication that Shinpachi is thinking more of Tosshi than himself at the moment then I don’t even know.
I think that they relationship is pretty well shown by a bit from the end of Shinsengumi Crisis Arc, when Hijikata talks to Yorozuya about the curse and how it wasn’t lifted. He turns to leave…
(instert deep monologue abdout personal demons)
What we have here is : worried Shinpachi, Hijikata who actually explains himself to him (that’s not for Gintoki’s benefit; with Gintoki Hijikata assumes he knows such things from what I noticed), and Shinpachi convinced that Hijikata will be ok(his smile is killing me). I am quite convinced that Hijikata does not explain himslef and his feelings (feelings, for gorilla’s sake!) to everyone.
On Hijikata’s side we have for example his behavior in Yagyu Arc and, for another example this sweet little tidbit where Shinpachi comes to the fire, but seeing as there are no places, Hijikata stands up too - he could have talked over his plan while sitting down, and I will not accept explanation that it was a coincidence, because it’s too well timed.
But nevermind, let’s get back to those two dorks. To sum up last part: They clearly care about and like each other.
On Shinpachi’s part there is a lot of respect for everything Hijitaka is and does. While Sougo’s talent and good looks are what Shinpachi probably wishes he had, Hijikata’s cool exterior, strong work ethics and no-nonsense attitude are closer to what he actually IS and CAN be. Especially after the whole deal with Tosshi. I really think that Hijikata could be a second person, after Gintoki of course, who Shinpachi really looks up to.
And Hijikata… I think that he geniuely respects Shinpachi - I think that much like Gintoki he sees the potential Shinpachi has, that steel backbone that shines through. Besides, Shinpachi politness and down-to-earth attitude must be refreshing. Also I think that he enjoys the thouht that Shinpachi might look up to him; it’s hard to prove by screenshots, but I get the vibes that Hijikata tries HARDER to appear cool whenever Shinpachi is near.
(Okay now I get this headcanon of Hijikata trying to be on his coolest when Shinpachi is around to show up Gintoki - “that lazy perm better not be Megane’s rolemodel!”)
BUt to sum up (I’ll never finish otherwise): I think that Hijikata is the cool (okay HIJIKATA think’s he’s cool) uncle of Shinpachi’s - not really a buddy, but someone who tries to be a rolemodel. And Shinpachi looks up to him a little.
vulpiximisa said: didnt he used to study art before he suddenly started doing lawyering
Possibly! Very possibly! I tend to forget a lot of actual canon details and backstories - and if that’s the case, that makes me even happier. Phoenix Wright: art nerd.
