Okita spits blood and kneels during the battle. Tuberculosis was destroying him. But even in a destitute situation, Okita laughs daringly. After all, his dying place is where he feels alive the most. From "Shinsengumi Rinpuden." 
Unfavorable Progress
"Shinsengumi Rinpuden" Scriptwriting
Yuyuko:...Hm, this is tricky. What should happen next?
Fumi:Yuyuko, how's the script going?
Yuyuko:Oh, hello, Fumi-senpai.
Fumi:I've brought you some tea and sweets from Tamao.
Yuyuko:Thank you, you didn't have to.
Fumi:...Looks like you've having a hard time with the script.
Yuyuko:I'm sorry. The deadline is coming up, but...it's not going so well.
Fumi:Why don't we have some of the sweets I brought and take a break?
Yuyuko:But the deadline...
Fumi:Driving yourself into a corner isn't going to help you come up with any good ideas.
Yuyuko:...I guess so.
Yuyuko:Whew... Tamao-senpai's tea is delicious.
Fumi:You finally look like yourself again.
Yuyuko:I'm sorry for worrying you.
Fumi:Heh heh, don't mention it. It's part of my job as your senior.
Fumi:Hey, Yuyuko. Is there anything I could help with?
Yuyuko:Fumi-senpai...
Fumi:Scriptwriting isn't my expertise, but talking about it might be able to give you some hints.
Yuyuko:...You're right. Mulling over it by myself isn't going to get me anywhere.
Yuyuko:Then could I have you read this first? I'd like to hear your opinion.
Fumi:No problem. Let me have a look.
Fumi:I only did a quick skim, but this is quite good.
Fumi:Especially this scene where they enter Ikedaya. I can't help but empathize with Kondo's sense of duty.
Fumi:Seeing someone struggling for their beliefs always gets me fired up.
Yuyuko:Thank you. But the problem comes after that...
Fumi:...Hm? It's blank from the second half, I see. So right before the Boshin War begins?
Yuyuko:Yes, exactly. Right after the restoration of government to the crown and they lost their support.
Yuyuko:I can't seem to figure out how the squad members must've felt facing that battle after losing the cause they'd been fighting for.
Yuyuko:How they felt upon their destruction.
Fumi:I see. That does seem tricky.
Fumi:But... I think I might be able to help.
Yuyuko:Huh?
Fumi:In other words, the story of the Shinsengumi romanticizes destruction. The beauty of their deaths and how they felt at the moment.
Fumi:The feelings toward a glorious death that can only come after a loss. I—no, WE should know that feeling very well.
Yuyuko:...Feelings toward a glorious death.
Yuyuko:Oh, I see what you mean... You're right, I am well aware of that.
Fumi:Sounds like you got it.
Yuyuko:Thank you, Fumi-senpai. Thanks to you, I can see the path. Let me get back to work.
Yuyuko's Shinsengumi
Yuyuko:Sorry for the wait! Here's the script for "Shinsengumi Rinpuden"!
Fumi:Finally.
Tamao:Well? Are you satisfied with how it turned out?
Yuyuko:Yes, somehow... I did what I could.
Yuyuko:Can I have you two read it? I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.
Tamao:Yes, of course!
Fumi:Sure, I'll have a look.
Yuyuko:...What do you think?
Tamao:It's brilliant... Better than I expected.
Tamao:I was especially touched by the attitudes of the squad members in the second half when they lost their cause, but still stuck to their beliefs.
Fumi:Yes, it's a nice contrast from the fighting for their cause in the first half. A great composition.
Yuyuko:...Thank goodness. I struggled over that part the most, so I'm happy it got across.
Yuyuko:What the squad members were thinking when facing the battle after losing their cause...
Yuyuko:I couldn't write the second half when I didn't know how they felt. But I understood after talking to you, Fumi-senpai.
Yuyuko:You could even say the real story begins after their loss. There are things you'd only notice after losing your cause, honor, and everything.
Tamao:Things you'd only notice after a loss. ...Don't tell me—
Yuyuko:Yes, it's the same as us back then.
Yuyuko:It could've been our very last stage. That's why we were able to face that stage with a fleeting brilliance.
Yuyuko:My feelings back then overlapped with the squad members' feelings... And then lines started coming out one after another.
Fumi:I see... Did you also overlap with Okita Soji when writing his last moments?
Yuyuko:...Oh, you noticed. It could be because that's my role, but I put a lot of attention to that scene.
Yuyuko:(Okita Soji)
"Kondo-san, I no longer fear death. My mind has been made up long ago."
"Kondo-san, I no longer fear death. My mind has been made up long ago."
Yuyuko:(Okita Soji)
"But that was for a death on the battlefield and not on my sickbed."
"But that was for a death on the battlefield and not on my sickbed."
Yuyuko:(Okita Soji)
"O how I loathe this illness... I also want to fall together with the squad."
"O how I loathe this illness... I also want to fall together with the squad."
Yuyuko:Place of death... I wrote it while thinking of the stage at that time.
Yuyuko:Even if I hadn't stood up on that stage...I would've felt there's no use regretting.
Fumi:I see. Okita Soji's rare display of vulnerability and tears is because you've entrusted your feelings to the role.
Yuyuko:Yes... But after I re-read it, I felt embarrassed because there's too much overlap between me and Okita Soji.
Yuyuko:And on top of that, I'm playing this role. ...Hmm, maybe I should re-write this.
Tamao:Not at all. I think it's very fitting and turned out great.
Yuyuko:Y-You think so? ...Thank you.
Tamao:I should be the one to thank you for the wonderful script.
Yuyuko:...Phew, I feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders. I've finally be released from duty as well.
Fumi:Hold on a minute, Yuyuko. Why are you acting like you've finished? This is where it all begins.
Yuyuko:Huh?
Tamao:Yes, let's make copies of the script for everyone and go over the script together.
Yuyuko:What? Right now?!
Fumi:You've written such a good script, so of course we want to hurry and come up a worthy performance.
Tamao:I can't wait to see how the roles will turn out.
Yuyuko:...Ngh, if my seniors say so, I suppose I must also put my heart into it.
Yuyuko:I'll do my utmost to perform the best Okita Soji.
Yuyuko:I know it's partly because I wrote the script, but Okita Soji has become a role I feel really strongly attached to.
Yuyuko:Man, I had such a difficult time with the Shinsengumi script. The stage back then was also a tough time, but this was a different kind of rough.
Yuyuko:I honestly don't know what I would've done if Fumi-senpai hadn't given me advice.
Yuyuko:But now that it's finished, it's become a good memory. "Shinsengumi Rinpuden" has turned into an irreplaceable piece for me.