[Kaoru Chujo]

It isn't necessarily that important, as people have said, but I don't think we have to regard the Shinsengumi as a bunch of airheads because they didn't recognize her as a girl. In those days, I don't think women would ever have worn male clothing, as she did. It might even have been illegal, as it was to wear the clothing of a different social class. And her hairstyle, while it might look feminine to us, was like the other guys'.

As for the name Chizuru, I think that's a better give-away. But it can also be a surname, and according to my dictionary maybe even sometimes a male given name -- but today it's an obvious girl's name.

By the way, further to what Guardian Enzo said about the action, I thought the initial action was pretty effective, slight as it was. The sound and blood splash on the wall really worked for me.