[It hadn't taken Ban too long to recognize Gintoki, but it was difficult for him to be easily noticed when he lacked the same intensity as the first time.

Ban craned his neck, beginning to pull himself up to stand.]

Sounds reasonable to assume everybody cares about something.

[With a flick of his wrist, Ban was holding a cloak, which he threw over Gintoki. It was just as clear to him that Gintoki would want to spit on it or throw it away just as quickly as it was tossed at him, but he thought about one person in particular who was worried about that man.

He wasn't answering his question at all, but Ban wasn't the sort to mention his real thoughts to just anyone.]

Course, for you-- It'd be better to say that what you care about doesn't matter~. What matters is who cares about you, right?

Somethin' tells me it's the only thing you'd let help you make decisions.

[He did remember, at that time, the intensity in Gintoki's eyes in those moments. It was a rare glimpse into the eyes of someone who had the capacity to put the entirety of himself into something. It might have been why he didn't recognize him before.

He just looked different.]