[ the real hesitation from Hijikata is in picking it up but eventually he and the pup have come to a deadlock—they seem to both know he knows it wants to be picked up (especially because cat friend over there got to get off the shelf?!) but Hijikata isn't really sure if—

—true to pup form, it decides that it will try the cat's method that had been executed with Saitou. And true to its form, it doesn't seem to recognize that it's a lot bigger and clumsier than they are. Oh well, it's a minor setback when it leaps at Hijikata and basically gets all over him trying to perch on his shoulder.

Hijikata grunts in surprise but tries to keep it mostly to himself until the Cybuddy is practically on his face and either going to suffocate him or poke his eye out. Just like a damn kid— ]

Hold on, goddamn it—
[ he manages to pry the puppy off, holding it up in front of him and takes a deep breath. The pup's hind legs wiggle impatiently along with its tail but Hijikata holds it still. ]

You can't just go climbing all over people like you own them. [ tail wagging suggests this has not registers and Hijikata sighs a little in defeat, bring it closer now that it's in his hands anyway to inspect it.

Which succeeds in getting himself licked on the nose unexpectedly. ] you can't just do that, either...!

[ tsuntsuns at robot wolf pup; a Hijikata Toshizou life event. ]

—Saitou, are you doing okay picking another one? [ can they leave before this turns even more embarrassing for him... ]