Side Story: Touma in Leopard Print

When Side Story becomes available, Touma will send a text to Itsuki. The conversation is as follows:

Touma: sup. uh. i want to get some advice from you. you free? i'm hanging out at the top of the department store like usual Touma: sends a picture of a distressed-looking Raiga

Speak to Touma, who is at Toubo Rooftop.

Touma: Ah, there you are, Itsuki! There's something I wanna talk to you about... You got time right now?

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• Yes
• No

If the player chooses "no":

Itsuki: Sorry. I'm a little busy right now.

Touma: I see... Well, I'll be waiting here, so hurry up and go deal with your thing first.

Conversation ends, Side Story unaccepted.

If the player chooses "yes":

Itsuki: Sure.

Touma: Thanks, man. Come with me for a bit then.

>Touma takes Itsuki to a table.

Touma: Um, what I actually wanted to talk to you about is... girls.

Itsuki: That's rare. I never thought I'd hear that coming from you.

Touma: Yeah... So I need you to help me out with something...

Boy: What's the Genome Monster doing here?

>The boy from Touma's first Side Story walks up to the two teenagers.

Touma: Wh-What!? ... Huh? You're that-

Boy: Come on. I watched the show on TV. Was what you told me last time a lie? Were you just satisfied doing some lame show at a place like this? And stuck with a villain part, too.

Touma: ... Urk!

Boy: Well, not like it matters. You just blurted that stuff out. It's like I had my hopes up to begin with...

>Touma gets up and turns to face the boy.

Itsuki: Hey... Touma.

Boy: Wh-What? Are you gonna hit a kid like me?

Touma: I'm sorry!

>Touma bows.

Touma: I just wanted to get you to smile... That's why I couldn't stop myself from lying to you...!

Boy: ... For a reason like that? Seriously... That's so dumb...

Touma: I will become a real hero some day! And I'll get you to-

Boy: There's no way I can smile anymore. I mean... My mom and dad got divorced. Mom cries every day, and I get bullied at my new school... There's nothing good in this world. There's no way I can smile in a world like that...

Touma: ... Then... Then I'll definitely become a real hero and make you smile!

Boy: ... You're just lying again, aren't you?

Touma: No! This is my promise to you! That's why I want you to believe in me one more time!

Boy: ... A promise?

Touma: That's right!

Boy: ... That's so dumb.

>The boy runs away.

Touma: ... Hey, Itsuki.

Itsuki: You want to go train... right? I'll tag along.

Touma: Hehe... Thanks, man. What I need to train this time is how to flirt with confidence.

Itsuki: ... Excuse me?

Touma: Let me make it clear that I'm serious about this. ... For the next show, I actually have a part without a mask as Hyoma Kiba, the guy who transforms into Raiga.

Itsuki: Does putting on some weird mask really count as a "transformation"...?

Touma: C'mon, that's not the important part! Anyway the producers wanna target the female audience to boost attendance. That's why they decided to have an unmasked warrior appear, but the original actor couldn't make it. So I was chosen as the substitute. Seems like the Raiga director spoke up and said, "Why not use that kid?"

Itsuki: That must mean he thinks highly of your acting skills. That's great!

Touma: Still... the bar's been set high. The actor who plays Hyoma is a popular, young guy with a lot of buzz. He's a hit with both moms and young girls. If I'm gonna be his understudy, I need to learn how to act in a way that wins their hearts...

Itsuki: ... And that's why you have to be charismatic and confident, huh.

Touma: But I don't know how to do that, and when I looked online, everyone said it's better to have a wingman.

Itsuki: And that means...?

Touma: ... Please come with me to hit on girls.

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• All right...
• No way.

If the player chooses option 1:

Itsuki: All right... I guess we'll just have to do our best.

Touma: Now that's the Itsuki I know! Such encouraging words! How, where to do this...? Does Harajuku sound good to you?

Itsuki:' Yeah. I expect there'd be a lot of girls there.

Touma: It's decided then. Let's break it up for now. Come to Harajuku when you're ready!

>Touma leaves. As Itsuki leaves the rooftop, Touma will send a text. The conversation is as follows:

Touma: heeey where you at? Touma: i'm waiting in front of anzu, so hurry up Touma: sends a picture of Raiga with the words "Here I Go!" written on it

>Speak to Touma, who is in front of Anzu.

Touma: Ah, there you are, Itsuki! L-Let's get this started!

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• Sure.
• Sorry, not now.

If the player chooses option 2:

Itsuki: Sorry. I'm a little busy right now.

Touma: A-All right! Well, I'll be waiting here, so hurry up and go do what you need to do!

Conversation ends, Side Story does not progress.

If the player chooses option 1:

Itsuki: Sure.

Touma: A-All right! You ready? L-Let's do this.

Itsuki: That is so not you.

Touma: I know that... I'm trying to get in character. I can't just hit on random girls as my normal self. You better give this your all too. Got it?

>A brunette schoolgirl walks past the two.

Touma: H-Hey, miss! W-Wanna go grab some coffee with us?

Indifferent HS Girl: Why?

Touma: Wh-Why...? H-Hey, Itsuki!

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• We don't need a reason.
• We just thought it'd be nice.

If the player chooses option 1:

???

If the player chooses option 2:

Itsuki: We just thought that it'd be nice to have a coffee with you.

Indifferent HS Girl: Huh?

Itsuki: Would that not be enough?

Indifferent HS Girl: ... Hmm, wouldn't say that. It's just, I don't really know you guys...

Itsuki: Why don't we exchange Topic IDs then? That'll let us get to know each other, and we can grab coffee another time.

Indifferent HS Girl: ... True.

Touma: Ooh! Here, let's do that right now...

Indifferent HS Girl: Mm-hm, sure.

>The three exchanged each other's Topic IDs.

Indifferent HS Girl: See ya.

>The highschooler waves good-bye and walks away.

Touma: Itsuki... you're really good at this. I can't believe you did that so naturally...

Itsuki: Huh? Did I?

Touma: Riiiiiigt... You're that kind of guy. *Sigh* I feel sorry for Tsubasa. All right, let's move on to the next one.

>A short-haired lady walks towards the two.

Touma: How about that lady next!? I'll make the move this time!

Itsuki: Good luck.

Touma: H-Hello, miss! S-Say, wanna grab some coffee with us?

Curt Lady: No.

Touma: I-Itsuki!

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• Then how about tea instead?
• You were so cute, we...

If the player chooses option 1:

Itsuki: Then how about tea instead?

Curt Lady: Teehee! I wasn't expecting that response... That was pretty funny.

Touma: Does that mean...?

Curt Lady: Sure--is what I want to say, but I'm busy right now. Mind if we just exchange Topic IDs?

'Touma: Are you serious!? Aw yeah!

>The three exchange Topic IDs and the lady leaves.

Touma: Itsuki, you're pretty darn good...! But after seeing how you interact with them, I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Itsuki: Good.

Touma: H-Hey! Lemme try the next one!

Time passes. A dark-haired woman is seen walking away from the two.

Touma: See ya! I'll be waiting to hear back!

Itsuki: We talked to quite a few people... How're you feeling?

Touma: I get it now! To be a confident guy, you need the courage to face rejection! The guts to go the distance! And! The ability to "transform" into a different person than normal!

>Touma unlocks a new Perfoma: Grand Transformation!

Touma: Awww yeah! I totally got this!

Itsuki: Great.

Touma: Just you watch... I will nail this at the next show!

>Touma unlocks Radiant Skill: "Door of Transformation".

Cain: I do not understand... I simply cannot comprehend it...

Touma: What's up, Cain?

Cain: Why must a man who wishes to become a hero train his confidence by attempting to woo random ladies...?

Touma: T-Taking those kind of steps are necessary for heroes in this world!

Cain: I-Is this acceptable?

Touma: Huh?

Cain: Is it truly acceptable to continue placing my faith in you Truth be told, I am filled with naught but worry.

Touma: Did you seriously just say that out loud? There's nothing to worry about. I might not look like it, but I do feel like I'm making progress.

Cain: Very well... Then I shall continue to watch over you for a while longer... You may be a fool, but you are not the type of man who would go back on his word with that boy.

Touma: Of course not.

Cain: That child, however... he somehow reminds me of you--especially the radiance of his Perfoma.

Touma: Y-You think so? Well, that's not important. I'll be heading out now.

>Scene changes to the stage on the rooftop, with a sole Genome Monster standing in the middle on the stage. A crowd is watching, and within it is the boy.

Genome Monster: Who shall I convert into a Genome Monster today!?

Crowd: Nooooooo!

Hyoma: Hold it right there!

>Touma comes rushing onto the stage from the side, in his costume.

Hyoma: Now that I'm here, I won't let you do as you please!

Genome Monster: Wh-Who're you!?

Hyoma: I am the fangs of lightning that dash through the streets! My name is Hyoma Kiba! Is everyone okay? How about you ladies?

Crowd: Squeeeeeeeee!

>Itsuki is now in the crowd.

Hyoma: Come at me, Genome Monster! I will protect the children's futures, and these beautiful ladies!

Crowd: Squeeeeeeeee!

Hyoma: Now, it's time to be entranced! Lightning Systems, Full Throttle! ... Transmute!

Crowd: Squeeeeeeeee! Whoooaaa!

>Scene changes to the changing rooms.

Itsuki: Good work out there. You rocked it.

Touma: Yeah. I improvised so many lines, I'll probably get yelled at later... I guess hitting on those girls paid off though.

Itsuki: The reaction from the female audience was impressive. Some were even saying you were better than the regular actor.

Touma: I guess it was worth having you keep me company. I wonder if he was watching...

Itsuki: Oh, you mean that kid? I saw him at the edge of the audience. He was really engrossed in the show.

Touma: Heh... I see...

Itsuki: Now that you mention it, why're you so concerned about him?

Touma: Oh, about that...

Itsuki: You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Just because we're friends doesn't mean I need to know everything.

Touma: ... No, it's not a secret or anything. You helped me out with a lot of stuff, so I want you to know this.

Itsuki: All right...

Touma: That kid... he reminds me of when I was his age. Around then, my parents ran off 'cause they had more debt than they could handle. I was raised by my grandpa. I got bullied at school for that and lost faith in the world--as much as a kid could, anyway. But then I saw this hero show on TV, and it's like... it gave me courage. ... It saved me. Every week, some nasty villain would show up, and every single time, they'd almost take the hero down... But the hero always stood up against the villains--without ever losing hope. A hero has to be someone who can give courage and happiness to others. I wanna become someone like that for that kid.

The player is given two options on how to respond:

• I'll be cheering you on.
• You'll definitely be a hero.

If the player chooses option 1:

???

If the player chooses option 2:

Itsuki: You'll definitely be a hero. No doubt about it.

Touma: Yeah! Thanks, Itsuki!

Job complete!

To be added...