You’re standing at Naganaki Shrine on a thin, breezy Sunday. Most people are there to pray for luck or buy a charm, but then you see him. Akinari Kamiki. He’s thin, pale, and sitting on a bench like he’s waiting for a bus that’s never going to show up.
If you’ve played Persona 3 Reload, you know the vibe. This game is obsessed with death. It’s in the coffins, the Blue Hour, the Evokers. But while the main plot deals with world-ending stakes, Akinari’s story—the Sun Social Link—deals with the quiet, terrifying reality of a single life fading out. Honestly, it’s arguably the best writing in the entire franchise.
How to actually find Kamiki in Persona 3 Reload
Unlocking Akinari isn’t as simple as just walking up to him. He’s gated behind a few requirements that can trip you up if you aren't paying attention. First, you have to get Maiko (the Hanged Man link) to Rank 3. During one of those hangouts, she’ll introduce you to "the guy who’s always at the shrine."
But he won't talk to you yet. Not really.
You need Rank 4 Academics just to hold a conversation with him that doesn't end in him coughing and looking away. Then comes the fountain pen. He lost it. He thinks a "red-eyed beast" took it.
Basically, you need to wait until August 8th or later, once Koromaru has officially joined the team. Talk to Koro-chan at the dorm. He’ll have a "Red Fountain Pen" in his mouth. Take that back to the shrine on a Sunday, and the Sun Social Link finally begins.
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It’s worth the wait. Every single Sunday from that point on should be dedicated to him. He is one of the few Social Links that ranks up every single time you talk to him, provided you have a Sun Arcana Persona in your pocket. No need to spend extra days building points. Atlus knew his time was short, so they didn't make us waste it.
The Pink Alligator and the Meaning of Life
Akinari is dying of an incurable genetic disease. He knows it. You know it. He spends his remaining Sundays writing a story about a Pink Alligator.
It sounds like a kids' book, right? A pink alligator who can’t fit in because he's different, eventually finding a bird to be his friend. But as the ranks progress, the story gets darker and more reflective. The alligator eventually dies. The bird is left alone.
Kamiki is using this story to process his own "uselessness." He asks you questions that hit like a ton of bricks. Why was he born? What was the point of his existence if he’s just going to disappear before he can even become an adult?
The Rank 10 Twist
Most Social Links end with a "we'll be friends forever" promise. Akinari’s is different. By the time you reach Rank 10, something feels off. He doesn't cough. He looks... peaceful.
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He hands you his finished notebook and tells you that he finally understands. His life wasn't a waste because he left something behind—this story, and his bond with you. Then, he simply vanishes.
A lot of fans debate if he was already dead during that last meeting. If you go back to the shrine on the very last day of the game (March 5th), you’ll find his mother standing by that same bench. She tells you that Akinari passed away. She also mentions she found his notebook—the one he already gave you.
It’s heavily implied that at Rank 10, you were talking to his spirit. He stayed behind just long enough to say goodbye and give you the physical manifestation of his soul's work. It’s devastatingly beautiful.
Why He Matters for the Ending
Persona 3 Reload is a game about "Memento Mori"—remember you must die. While your teammates are fighting shadows to save the world, Akinari is fighting the internal shadow of despair.
He acts as a mirror for the Protagonist. Both of them are living on borrowed time. When the ending of the game happens (no spoilers, but if you know, you know), the lessons you learned from the Sun Social Link take on a whole new weight.
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You realize that a short life isn't a failed life.
Pro-Tips for Maxing the Sun Social Link
If you’re trying to 100% your run, here’s the reality: Sundays are precious.
- Prioritize him over Maya (Hermit): You can finish the Hermit link on holidays and during school breaks. Akinari is strictly Sundays.
- Bring the Arcana: Even though he ranks up automatically, always have a Sun Persona (like Yatagarasu or Quetzalcoatl) to ensure you get the maximum dialogue flavor.
- Check the Dorm: Don't forget to talk to Koromaru in August. If you miss that pen, you can't start the link, and you'll miss out on Asura, the ultimate Sun Persona.
- Don't skip the Epilogue: On the final day in March, go to the shrine. Seriously. The conversation with his mother is the actual "ending" of his arc and provides the closure you’ll definitely need.
Akinari Kamiki is a reminder that even in a game filled with gods and monsters, the most powerful stories are the ones about being human. He didn't need a Persona to change the world; he just needed a pen and a friend to listen.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your calendar in-game. If it's before August, focus on getting your Academics to Rank 4 and Maiko to Rank 3. If you’ve already hit August, go find Koromaru immediately to grab that pen. You don't want to reach the final months of the game and realize you ran out of Sundays to finish the most impactful story in the game.