Side Story: The Hungry Man

When the Side Story is available, the player will receive the following Topic from Yashiro:

Yashiro: Aoi. Office.

If the player waits too long to do the Side Story, the player will receive the following Topic from Yashiro:

Yashiro: How long do you plan on making me wait? Come to the office immediately.

Yashiro: Aoi... the energy I need to continue being active is dwindling... Do something about it...

Itsuki: Does that mean you're hungry?

Yashiro: No. The energy I need has simply dropped beyond acceptable levels.

The player is given two options:

• Yes
• No

If the player chooses "no":

Itsuki: Sorry, I'm busy right now.

Yashiro: ...

The conversation ends and side story is not accepted.

If the player chooses "yes":

The side story has been accepted.

Itsuki: All right... So why are you in this state?

The screen transitions to Yashiro sitting on the couch with his arm holding up his head.

Yashiro: I haven't replenished my energy these past few days due to conflicts in my schedule.

Itsuki: I'm not sure what's going on, but are you saying you haven't eaten in days? Wait, how'd you even get by until now!?

Yashiro: Aside from show business, all my miscellaneous affairs were left to my assistant.

Itsuki: And what happened to this assistant of yours?

Yashiro: I dismissed him. He was against my transfer to Fortuna, after all. Tell me, Aoi... How do you people normally fend off starvation?

Itsuki: Calling it starvation is a bit extreme, but I guess I go to a cafe when I'm hungry... Other than that though...

Yashiro: A cafe, hm? I see. Understood.

Yashiro gets up and walks away in a daze.

Itsuki: I'm worried about him...

Gameplay is resumed and as Itsuki is leaving, the player will receive an urgent Topic from Mamori:

Mamori: Itsuki!!! Mamori: Yashiro collapsed in front of the cafe! Itsuki: So he didn't make it... Mamori: Please come at once! Itsuki: Got it.

When the player goes to Cafe Seiren's main entrance in Shibuya and talks to Mamori:

Mamori: Itsuki!

Itsuki: Where's Yashiro?

Mamori: I had someone passing by help me. We managed to get him inside the cafe! Please come with me!

The screen transitions to the interior of the Cafe Seiren to where Yashiro is sitting across Itsuki and Mamori.

Yashiro: Phew...

Itsuki: How are you feeling?

Yashiro: There are no problems. So all I must do is come here from now on, correct?

Itsuki: Yeah, but... how can you be so uninformed...?

Yashiro: There was no need for it. Until now, I've only lived thinking of how to perfect my craft.

Mamori: Yashiro...

Yashiro: Then again, I've had no one to teach me such things.

Itsuki: Huh?

Yashiro: It's been five years since he passed away.

Itsuki: Yashiro...

Yashiro: Had my father still been around, my situation would not have changed much. Improve only your acting skills---that was what my father taught me.

Itsuki: That does sound like something your father would say...

Yashiro: Thus, everything else is unnecessary.

Mamori: It isn't unnecessary!

Yashiro: What?

Mamori: Even though I can only use a microwave, as someone involved in a cooking show, I cannot let that comment pass!

The screen transitions to show dessert and meals on the table.

Itsuki: H-How is this cafe capable of providing this many kinds of food...?

Yashiro: What is the meaning of this?

Mamori: Yashiro, dining is an important part of being an actor! There are food programs, travel shows... Even a drama role may require it. That's why eating can never be called unnecessary! No matter what you eat, Yashiro, you're expressionless... It's very boring! No one could ever enjoy a dining sense like that! I-I think you've failed at it.

Yashiro: ...

Mamori: Oh... I'm sorry... I...

Yashiro: Very well. Minamoto, there is indeed truth to your words.

Mamori: In that case, how about trying a food report? You can eat something and say what you think about it.

Yashiro: Then allow me to try it at once---or so I would like to say. I have no idea how to go about this. Aoi, show me an example first. Try eating that ramen.

Itsuki: Me? ...All right.

Itsuki finished the ramen.

Yashiro: How is it?

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• The thick soup mixes with...
• This is a samurai of ramen!...

If the player chooses option 1:

Itsuki: The thick soup mixes with the noodles, creating a perfect balance. I see... It's a seafood-style soup. The roasted pork melts in my mouth... The cooked bamboo shoots add a nice, crunchy texture... It's delicious. To think you could eat such ramen at a cafe like this... ... Or something like that?

If the player chooses option 2:

Itsuki: This is... a samurai of the ramen world! The clean, seafood soup base is as sharp as a blade honed by a master craftsman...! These wavy, semi-thick noodles... their texture has a firmness to the bite, as if to embody the very heart of Bushido! ... Or something like that?

Regardless of what the player chose:

Yashiro: Ah... That was quite expressive. I see... This is what a food report is like. Well then, tell me about this cake next.

Mamori: I want to hear it too!

Itsuki: All right.

Itsuki finished the cake...

Yashiro: Your thoughts?

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• The softness of the cake...
• How adorable!

If the player chooses option 1:

Itsuki: The softness of the sponge cake... and the delicate texture of the carefully whipped cream... I feel as though I'm going back to sleep in a warm bed under the gentle starlight of spring... The strawberries are also fresh, and their slight sourness brings the cake's flavor all together... It's heavenly. ... Or something like that?

If the player chooses option 2:

Itsuki: How adorable!

Yashiro: ...!?

Itsuki: This cake is like a noble lady clad in an ivory, frilled dress, with her cheeks blushing a strawberry dress. With each bite, an overwhelming yet elegant scent and a noble sweetness fill my mouth, enveloping me in euphoria! The princess of the cake world has descended before me! Huff... Huff... How was that... Yashiro?

Regardless of what the player chose:

Yashiro: ...

Mamori: Yashiro?

Yashiro: ...I believe I get the gist of it. The secret to the food report is an overwhelming power of description that conveys what you taste to the viewer... ...as well as a relentless power of expression that speaks directly to the viewer's heart!

A light envelops Yashiro as an orb forms from his chest. Yashiro achieves a new Performa: Palate Epiphany.

Mamori: Amazing...! Y-You grasped the essence of it just by watching Itsuki...!

Yashiro: Hmph... That was more simple than eating breakfast.

Itsuki: What you just ate was lunch though.

Yashiro: At this moment... new doors have been opened for my craft. I wish to try various dishes at once in order to fully grasp this sensation.

The screen transitions as Yashiro stands up by Itsuki's seat.

Yashiro: If you'll excuse me.

Gameplay resumes as the player receives a new Topic:

Tiki: Big brother! Looks like you obtained a new Performa! Tiki: I'm ready to perform a Unity whenever! I'll be waiting at the Bloom Palace! TIki:

Bloom Palace

>The new Radiant Skill Door of Hunger has been realized!

Yashiro: ...

Navarre: ...

Yashiro: Navarre.

Navarre: What is it?

Yashiro: When I was starving... why did you say nothing?

Navarre: Whatever I said would not have changed the situation for the better. That's why I remained silent.

Yashiro: I see.

Navarre: Heh heh...

Yashiro: ?

Navarre: Even I never saw further meaning in dining beyond taking in the necessary nutrients. However, I now see that it can be held in a different light... This is what makes performing arts so intriguing.

Yashiro: Indeed. It seems there is still much to learn---for both you and myself.

Navarre: It would seem so.

>The scene transitions into a cinematic with Mamori's Microwaving with Mamorin cooking show and Yashiro dressed in a chef's outfit standing next to Mamori. He is shown taking a bite into a bun and then an explosive review.

Itsuki: Amazing... It's like the Yashiro who had no interest in food never existed.

Mamori: I know! I was really surprised too!

>The scene transitions to Fortuna Office with Yashiro on the screen.

Yashiro: I used the examples you showed me as reference.

Itsuki: Yours was much better than mine though.

Yashiro: Of course it was. I am a true artist, after all. Since then, I have continued to eat every type of food of all times and places. That unfortunately resulted in my weight increasing 44 pounds.

Itsuki: You went that far...?

Yashiro: That only meant that I had to lose the same amount of weight. It's as simple as that.

Itsuki: S-So this is what a first-class actor is capable of doing...

Yashiro: That is correct, Aoi. This is what a true artist is.

Job complete!