"The undisciplined ones will leave on their own, generally sooner rather than later."

That was one benefit of Hijikata's style of instruction. Anyone who had the strength of will to stick around most likely had enough of it to be worth teaching. Saved a lot of his time, and of everyone else's.

"And I've been informed that some of them have valid reasons to turn up a little late for the school year, and... discouraged from getting over-eager about the announcement."

He doesn't look or sound like a man who has once in his life been overexcited about anything.