Something was definitely wrong. The smile didn't match the look in Sai's eyes and Okkita just waited while the ninja tried to sort things out. It hurt him to have to pull his attention away from the conversation by the bulletin, but right now, the boy before him needed his full support. Even if it seemed like Hijikata was slipping away and Okita felt his protective instincts flaring, he couldn't just get up and leave Sai like this. Okita was a demon, but he wasn't heartless.

"What do you mean, Sai-kun?" he asked, finally turning his full attention to him. Whatever had happened, it had shaken Sai badly enough that the happy mask wasn't working anymore - and that said a lot. "Don't apologize - just say what you need to."