[Hijikata, too, had already opened his mouth, ready to parry the next scathing jab at his social graces or personal habits, so when Maribelle pauses and apologises he's dumbstruck for a moment.]

Ah... it's okay. It was my fault too; I should've made it clear that I was going to poke you as many times as possible. I guess you would've declined if you'd known, so I understand why you got upset.

[He returns the small bow. Maybe she actually isn't that arrogant! And maybe he really was too crude in what he did to her.]