Oh same! Harada got me interested in these characters since I never bothered to watch Gintama. I was even thinking of watching the show to see more interactions between them, but that sounds really lame, so I'm good.
I mean, yes, you are going to be disappointed about the couple thing. Hijikata becomes pretty irrelevant by the end, with nothing but his overused mayonnaise-lover gag in stock. Just as a side note, though, I suggest you don't refrain from watching Gintama just for that reason.The comedy wasn't always my cup of tea and I'm not a fan of shonen, but the characters are all very likeable and the openings and endings are great, you can see why it's so praised in the anime community.
Aww thanks! I'll keep that in mind. I've never been interested in watching Gintama, but maybe some day~
I only watched Gintama because of Harada. She got me hooked on the Gintoki x Hijikata otp, so I was really curious of their actual bromance in the series. Needless to say, I was very disappointed because that's only a bit in the beginning.
The series is very long, and I thought Hijikata and Gintoki would have a closer relationship, but they spend even less time together the more the series progresses. If anything, he could be paired more naturally with Okita, with whom he has a steadier love-hate relationship.
But Harada did such a good job at making me love this couple (without even knowing who they where) with all those doujinshis about them, that I wish she drew them again as original characters of her own so I don't have to compare them to the actual Gintama characters, damn it, lol