You’ve just started Persona 3 Reload, and within the first few weeks, you’re basically forced into a friendship with Kenji Tomochika. He’s the Magician Arcana, the guy who sits right near you, and honestly? He’s one of the most polarizing characters in the game. Most players rush through his dialogue because they find his obsession with older women—specifically teachers—a bit much.
But if you’re trying to max out every bond in a single run, the P3R Kenji social link is actually your first real test of how the system works. It’s the gateway to the "Gourmet King" and some heavy-hitting fusions like Futsunishi.
How to actually get things moving
Kenji is an early bird. You don't have to jump through hoops like you do for Mitsuru or Fuuka. No maxed-out academics or courage requirements here. On 4/22, the game basically hands him to you. He'll invite you to get ramen, and that’s your Rank 1.
He is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. You’ll find him just sitting in the classroom. One thing you've gotta remember: he’s a student. That means when exams roll around or summer break hits, he vanishes. If you don't finish him off early, you'll be sitting on a Rank 9 for months while he’s off on vacation.
The choices that matter (and the ones that don't)
Look, Kenji isn't exactly deep. He’s a teenage boy who thinks he’s found the love of his life in a faculty member. To rank him up fast, you basically have to play the "supportive bro" role, even if you think he's being a complete idiot.
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If you want the most points, always bring a Magician Arcana Persona (like Nekomata or Jack-o'-Lantern) in your pocket. It’s a 1.5x multiplier for points. Without it, you’ll end up wasting days just "hanging out" without a rank-up event.
Rank 2: When he asks what you're into, tell him "I'm into older women, too." It’s a lie for most players, but it gets the job done. Or say "I like them all!" if you want to be a bit more vague.
Rank 3: He’ll start talking about his "plans." Tell him "What, of life?" and then follow up with "Good luck!" It’s basically just enabling him at this point.
Rank 8: This is where the drama peaks. He gets a bit frantic. When he asks if he's in trouble, say "Are you in trouble?" and tell him "You should go with her" or "You two should talk it out."
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The teacher dilemma: Is he actually delusional?
There’s a massive debate in the Persona community about Ms. Kanou. Some people think she was genuinely grooming him; others think Kenji just completely misread "private tutoring" as "let's get married and move to Kyushu."
If you talk to "Maya" (the Hermit Social Link) on the MMO, she actually mentions a teacher friend who's complaining about a student having a crush on her. It’s pretty clearly Ms. Kanou. She knows what’s happening and, frankly, she lets it slide for a bit too long before the fiancé shows up. It makes the ending of the link feel a lot more grounded and a little bit sadder than the "ha-ha, he's a creep" vibe people usually give it.
Why you shouldn't ignore the "Gourmet King"
A lot of people miss this: Kenji is the key to Nozomi Suemitsu (the Moon Arcana). Once you hit Rank 3 with Kenji, he’ll mention a guy known as the Gourmet King. If you don't do this, you can't even start the Moon link. Even if you hate Kenji's story, you need him for the completionist run.
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Actionable steps for your playthrough
- Prioritize him in April/May: Since he's a school link, he’s unavailable during the long stretches of holidays and the week before exams. Get him to Rank 10 before summer break if possible.
- The Ramen Trick: If you find yourself short on points to hit the next rank, don't waste a day hanging out. Wait until you get a night text from him or use the Dating Site Notes at the shared PC in the dorm (available in November) to nudge the points up without spending an afternoon.
- Futsunishi is the goal: Maxing him out gives you the Handmade Choker. This unlocks the fusion for Futsunishi, which is one of the best physical attackers in the mid-to-late game.
Kenji might be the "annoying best friend" trope, but his story is a weirdly accurate look at high school delusion. Just keep the Magician Persona on you, tell him what he wants to hear, and move on to the more interesting links like Akinari or Aigis once you've secured that Rank 10.