[dark eyes light up when his classmate approves -- but the shimmer doesn't last long, slowly beginning to realize his transgression] Oh. ...sorry. [the mutter of the word may seem insincere, but the gaze fixed on his desk hints at its honesty]

[the shinsengumi... well, who wouldn't want to write about the wolves of mibu and of their glorious battles as well as their... well, their unique mix of courage and stupidity -- ]

[but genis is right. at least two other groups will be covering the exact same thing.]

Aa, you are correct... How about something more generalized? Perhaps breaking down the misconceptions that samurai were truly honorable and noble and addressing the fact that they were more like hired thugs that switched loyalties with ease. Or how they evolved into today's yakuza?