Toshizo Hijikata, vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, enforces order within this Bakumatsu-era Kyoto police force with unyielding resolve. Born to a Musashi Province farming family, he endured profound personal loss—parents and siblings perishing early—forging his resilience and ambition. Though not of samurai lineage, he sought to rise in stature alongside his lifelong friend Isami Kondou, dedicating himself to their shared cause of upholding the Tokugawa shogunate. Dubbed the "Demon Vice-Commander," Hijikata governed the Shinsengumi through merciless discipline, mandating seppuku for deserters. Behind the scenes, he steered strategic decisions and logistical operations, balancing deference to Kondou’s leadership with pragmatic control. This duality revealed his loyalty: bearing unseen burdens to preserve the group’s cohesion. His bond with Chizuru Yukimura, a girl seeking her missing father, shifts from guarded distrust to steadfast alliance. Initially sparing her life for her ties to a doctor central to Shinsengumi inquiries, Hijikata grows fiercely protective as her latent demon heritage draws danger. Shared trials solidify their loyalty, culminating in a vow to shield each other—a testament to their forged respect. Amid the Shinsengumi’s unraveling in the Boshin War, Hijikata faces the toll of consuming Ochimizu, an elixir granting superhuman strength at the risk of becoming a Rasetsu. His physical transformation strains his humanity, pitting duty against primal survival. Yet he persists, leading through pivotal clashes like Toba-Fushimi and Hakodate, prioritizing the Shinsengumi’s enduring legacy above his own fate. In *Hakuouki: SSL*’s modern academic reimagining, Hijikata embodies vice-principal and literature teacher, his stern demeanor unchanged. Interactions with Chizuru echo their historical dynamic, blending mentorship with quiet support as both navigate challenges through strategic pragmatism and shared growth. His final journey in *Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky* unfolds as the Shinsengumi fractures post-Kondou’s execution. Mortally wounded in battle, Hijikata consumes Chizuru’s blood to survive, binding their destinies. His last stand at Hakodate closes an era of relentless combat, yet his choice to cherish fleeting moments with her reveals vulnerability beneath his indomitable spirit.