[Souji just smiles, because smiling is a lot easier than allowing weakness, it always has been. The only thing he has to fight for here is his own survival, his own ability to linger on until he can get back where he belongs. To die for one's own safety is quite the paradox, and he'll only fight for it if he needs to, and so... so he has no purpose, for now. Without Hijikata, without Kondou, without Tetsu, without any of his comrades, it's not so strange.

One hand closes briefly into a hard fist, however. It's bad enough to still have the prospect of being slowly imprisoned in one's own body praying on your mind, without having to be kept captive in a more literal sense until that time comes about.] I don't really care for either prettiness or gifts that much, no... especially when they come at the price of my home and my freedom.

[Thankfully, he is good at reading between the lines, and good at understanding why someone would prefer not to outright offer such a thing - especially if you'd prefer to keep your motives to yourself.] Thank you. [It could just be thanks for the support he's been given, even as he seems able to straighten out properly and breathe easier, or perhaps just for the encouraging words.] You're right, of course. There is no point simply accepting the situation - my friends certainly wouldn't. If they have come here, they'll be looking. [He grimaces slightly, a strangely childish gesture, followed by a similarly juvenile little laugh.] Though in Yamazaki-san's case, probably just to feed me health food and lecture me about walking around outside.