[quote]
Hey Itsuki! I’ve got your first line of missions to help you on your rise to Stardom! First is a dance lesson with Barry… and the other’s going to be a secret <3
It’ll be at Uzume Lesson Studio. You know, the place where you and Tusbasa had your first lesson. Barry says you can come by any time![/quote]
So welcome to the first intermission! After you complete each dungeon, the game gives you a breather period where you can just kinda fuck around, do sidequests, and catch up with everyone without the pressure of the plot. You don’t have to do this, mind you. As Maiko said, you can head to Barry’s studio to hop back into the plot, and you can abandon the plot at any time to go do sidequests. But since the game was so kind to offer it, let’s use the time to catch up with some friends.
First though, Kiria has officially joined the party, so let’s see what she brings to the-
…Oh. Oh dear. Is that…is that a pirate Miku outfit? Really? Sweetie, we need to have a talk, and it begins with changing back into your street clothes yesterday.
If it wasn’t obvious from the stat spread, Kiria is our dedicated black mage. She starts with Ice and Dark magic, but she’ll eventually pick up everything except electric spells, including the almighty family. Much like Teddie in Persona 4, her problem tends to be that she has too many tools to work with - you just don’t have enough skill slots to properly kit her out in Fire/Ice/Wind and Concentrate for maximum damage potential and give her Megidolaon for emergencies and keep her up to date with status ailments.
Anyway, let’s go do some sidequests. We unlocked Touma’s first one in the last dungeon, so let’s start there.
[quote]
hey itsuki. they’re gonna hold auditions for a new charcter in raiga.
so for preparation, i need to get hyped up. so… wanna go watch the show with me? i’ll be at central street in shibuya![/quote]
Well that’s just right across the street! Let’s go see the show.
This is uh…kind of a joke. You can tell which quests require you to fight things because they’ll have a recommended level, and 7 is about six levels too high for this one.
That’s the spirit! All right, let’s head there right away! It’s gonna be at the Toubo Department Store in Ikebukoro.
And sure enough, we have a new location on the world map.
There’s a nice little cafe here and a handful of folks to talk to, but nothing really worth showing off.
It’s a bit late to ask this now, but what’s Raiga?
I told you so much about it and you don’t remember?! He’s a hero, man! A live-action hero that I can’t love enough!
Uh-huh.
There’s gonna be an audition for the TV series soon, not just one of these live shows. I gotta watch this to get hyped!
You seem pumped up.
Of course I am! The whole reason why I got into this industry is to become a hero!
Clad with lightning’s might, the fangs of justice shall crush the nefarious Valhalla Pharmaceuticals! I am-
Oh, looks like it’s starting.
…R-Right.
Yaaaaaaaaay!
Lightning Systems, all green!
Gwaaaaaaaargh!
All right!
It was good. No wonder you’re so into it.
Right? Right!? Wasn’t it worth coming to see!? It was all… Masqueraider Raiga!
…Excuse me. You’re in the way.
The hell’d you say!? …Wait. Who’re you?
Does that really matter? Don’t you feel dumb for getting all into this fake show?
Then why’d you come see it? Didn’t you like the show too?
Not one bit. I’m just here to kill time.
Besides, all that stuff about friendship and justice and victory is irritating. Those things are fake and only exist in made-up stories.
Oh good, we found a nihilist child. I can’t wait to see what kind of sick burns he drops on Touma for liking a children’s show that he’s way too cool and mature for.
Wha-
There’s no way heroes even exist. Isn’t it time you grew up?
…
…Hey, why’re you so gloomy? I’d be happy to listen if you waan talk about-
Do I look like I care? It doesn’t involve you anyway. …I’m going now.
…Whatever. leaves
…
Why the lie? Auditions haven’t even started yet, right?
I just couldn’t leave him be when I saw that loneliness on his face… Making children smile…that’s what real heroes do.
Still… I can’t believe I blurted out something so ridiculous.
Then you just need to get that part, no matter what.
Yeah! I’ll make it happen! Will you come train with me? I still dunno about the sharpness of my moves for action scenes. I wanna brush up on them before the audition.
I suppose I should. I can’t let you become a liar, after all.
I owe you one, Itsuki! I’ll be sure to think of a training regimen.
Well that sounds like a plan to me. As we try to leave the rooftop, Touma gets a little more specific about his “training”.
[quote] now about my training plan… i’m thinking we should hit up the idolasphere in daitama
Okay.
remember those monsters called blobs? i feel like my action skills will get better if I fight a ton of those
Feel like?
c’mon, don’t sweat the details! what’s important is how we approach this!
[/quote]
So yeah, the game wants us to be L7 to fight five blobs. A real vote of confidence there, game. Anyway, the way this quest (and similar ones later on) works, is that Touma or a session that Touma is part of has to kill the blobs or they don’t count. Against blobs, this really isn’t a big deal, but later on the enemies will get a bit trickier and it’ll be harder to work certain party members in.
And you know what, let’s take Kiria for a spin. It’s not like we’re going to need Tsubasa’s combo potential to deal with L2 enemies.
I still cannot grasp the reason behind this fixation on becoming a “hero”. Is a hero not defined by their action? Simply striving to become one seems…odd.
Just watch me. I’ll show you what a true hero’s passion is like!
Well, if you wish to train, I suppose I have no reason to object.
Good! Let’s do this, Cain!
There’s really nothing interesting about killing five blobs, especially since even a basic attack would one-shot them several times over. However, it does give me the opportunity to talk about an interesting quirk of weapons.
Namely, the first skill for any given weapon takes…if not literally 0 EXP, then certainly very close. The best I can tell is that there’s a very very low threshold, and as long as you clear it, you’ll instantly get the first skill no matter how weak the fight was. And when I say a low threshold, we’re talking “two blobs didn’t do it, but two blobs and a dark mage or two did” levels. These are L2 and 3 enemies with appopriate experience drops, and Kiria is L15.
Yeah! I think I’ve figured it out! Sharp moves in an action scene involve fast footwork… timing… proper breathing! And going all in!
Touma Akagi’s soul as an entertainer has achieved a new awakening… Touma’s inspiration has taken form as a new Performa: Mind of a Hero!
gasp This radiance…!
Heh, I 've got this down now! Thanks, guys!
And that’s a wrap for Touma’s quest. Let’s head back to the bloom palace and finish up.
Huh?
I did not realize one could actually vocalize staring, but I suppose Tharja would be the one to make it happen.
[quote]
Tharja is one of the more…questionable side characters in Awakening. She’s a Plegian dark mage who defects out of boredom, and then spends the vast majority of her time stalking Robin, cursing Robin to be bound to her, cursing a whole bunch of other people for daring to hurt Robin, and bonding with (potentially marrying!) other folks based on their mutual love of Robin. Remember how I said Chrom was the straight man to a bunch of weirdos? Well, here’s exhibit A. TMS mercifully strips out a lot of the stalky bits and writes her as more of a socially awkward weirdo instead, but either way Kiria deserves better.[/quote]
And what’s wrong with just staring from a distance?
It’s much more fun to talk to someone face to face!
Do you…think so too?
If it’s okay…yeah, I’d prefer to talk a little more directly.
…Fine.
Tharja’s a Dark Mage mirage. She’s a little…weird, but when it comes to magic, she’s unbeatable.
Yes.
Uh, I’m Itsuki Aoi. Nice to meet you.
Charmed.
…
Um…? Is there something on my face?
Just curious. Kiria talks about you sometimes. I have high hopes for you…
I’d appreciate it if you help Kiria out. She can be a little…reckless, sometimes.
Hmm… I know I get a lot of help from Kiria, but I really don’t think she needs much help from me…
I’m counting on you… leaves
Really?
Mhm! I think she thinks you’re interesting. So you should come visit and talk to her from time time.
Well that was…interesting. Despite her weirdness, Tharja is still probably the least interesting of the mirages. Anyway, let’s do the thing we actually came here to do.
Chrom has a new sword we can grab, and Kiria has a whole bunch of Radiant Skills to pick up. We’ve seen EP Fitness before, but Lightoma (reveals traps in dungeons), Bewitching Desire (increases EP recovery from items and spells), and Endless Song (Survives a lethal blow once per battle) are all new.
And of course, the man of the hour. Unlike most Radiant Skills, the sidequest Performas don’t directly unlock anything (like how EP Fitness gives you an immediate MP boost), but they do have some nifty rewards that we’ll see soon.
Oh man, I’m getting nervous…
If you succeed, you shall be able to take your place on this…television business as a hero.
Yeah! Just watch me! I’ll teach you what a hero’s passion is!
I look forward to it. Now, Touma - go and show them the fruits of your training in full!
Right! Make sure you cheer me on!
…Somehow, I don’t think this is quite what Touma had in mind for the audition.
Too slow!
Whaaaaaat!? He dodged my Raging Stampede!?
Lightning Systems, all green!
Full boost! Raiga Kiiiiiiiick!
Graaaaaaaagh!
gasp Uh, oh no! Ack!
Goddammit Touma, you had one job. One job!
Right!? Wasn’t it awesome? Did you catch it? I sure hope you did! The way that I reeled back when I got hit with the Raiga Kick! If there was a national reeling-back competition, that one I did today would’ve been in the top four! Easy!
Your headpiece came off though.
sigh I didn’t get the part for the show and got this gig instead… But to think it’d be the villain… Ahaha…
Didn’t that director introduce you to this job though? He said he wanted you to get more experience. I don’t think you should be so bummed out about it.
But even so… Even so!
Is it about that kid?
Urk! That’s…well… The next time I see that kid, I’ll just have to honestly apologize to him…
Life rarely happens the way we desire. You must use this experience as impetus to push yourself to greater heights.
Y-You’re right! Yeah! My legend as a hero is just beginning!
That’s the spirit, Touma. And one day, show me what a true “hero’s passion” is like.
Touma Akagi has grown as an entertainer and has become “In the Kaiju Suit”!
whenever I make eye contact with Ms. Maiko lately, she does this creepy laugh like “hur hur hur”
[/quote]
Itsuki, you’ve done it! Tsubasa must be relieved indeed to have her sister back.
It seems the greatest unease in Tsubasa’s heart disappeared when her sister was rescued… We have you to thank, Itsuki.
: Seriously, dude! I’m totally serious! That had to have been Tiki=Waifu!
: Yeah yeah, all right already. sigh I wonder if Tiki=Waifu retired… I was a big fan too.
[/quote]
Yes. What about it?
Are you guys finished with your lesson already?
[/quote]
Awright, stop. That’ll do it for today!
…I asked a question, if you don’t mind?
I heard about you from Ms. Maiko. You’re Mr. Itsuki Aoi, right?
Ah, I knew it! You’re that boy who helped me out of that nasty jam earlier. And your name again was…
Ah, Maiko! You’ve finally decided to return as my muse, then?
See ya later, shitlords.
