Falling Cherry Blossoms

Kazama Chikage had never thought that people like Okita Soji could deserve the title of "samurai." They were just ronin eager to earn merit. But even he, arrogant as he was, came to believe that reaching conclusions too soon, before getting to know something, was terribly shallow after learning of Soji's resolve.

It was just like the cherry blossoms he'd seen: he had scorned their plain appearance before they bloomed, regretted his shallowness when they were in full bloom, and felt only wonder and sorrow when they withered.