You’re standing in the Naganaki Shrine on a breezy Sunday afternoon. Most players are rushing to finish their school Social Links or grinding levels in Tartarus, but there’s a thin, pale young man sitting alone on a bench by the playground. He looks like he’s waiting for something—or someone. This is Akinari Kamiki. Honestly, if you skip his story, you’re missing the actual heart of the game.
Sun Persona 3 Reload isn't just another checklist for your 100% completion run. It’s a gut punch. While the Sun Arcana in other Persona games focuses on politics or career ambition, Persona 3 Reload keeps it intimate and devastatingly human. You aren't helping a guy get a job. You’re watching a terminal patient try to find a reason to have existed in the first place.
How to Actually Unlock the Sun Social Link
It’s surprisingly easy to miss him entirely. Unlike your classmates who corner you in the hallway, Akinari requires some legwork and specific Social Stats. Basically, you can’t even talk to him properly until you’ve hit Rank 4 Academics (Smart).
But wait, there’s more. You also have to progress the Hanged Man Social Link (Maiko, the little girl at the shrine) to at least Rank 3. During one of those scenes, you’ll see Akinari for the first time. He’ll mention a missing fountain pen.
Finding that pen is the weird part. You have to go back to the Iwatodai Dorm and talk to Koromaru. Our favorite Shiba Inu apparently has a thing for shiny objects because he’s the one holding onto the Red Fountain Pen. Take that back to Akinari on a Sunday, and the link finally starts.
Keep in mind that Akinari is only available on Sundays. This is a massive time commitment in a game where Sundays are your only chance to hang out with Maya (Hermit) or go on dates. If you start late, you’re going to be sweating bullets by January trying to finish his story.
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The Best Way to Rank Up (Without Wasting Time)
Here is the good news: you don't actually need to carry a Sun Arcana Persona when you visit him.
Most Social Links in the game require "points" to trigger the next rank. If you don't have enough points, you waste a day just "hanging out" without a rank-up. Akinari doesn't work like that. Because his availability is so limited—literally once a week—the game developers made his rank-ups automatic. If you see him, he will level up. Every. Single. Time.
Does carrying a Sun Persona like Yatagarasu or Quetzalcoatl help? Sure, it gives you extra dialogue points, but since he ranks up automatically anyway, those points are technically "overkill." You're better off using your Persona slots for the school-based links that actually have strict point requirements.
Quick Strategy for Efficiency:
- Prioritize the Hermit Link early. Since both Maya and Akinari use Sundays, try to finish the Hermit Arcana before August.
- August 9th is generally the earliest you can start the Sun link.
- Don't panic about dialogue. Since he levels up automatically, you can choose the answers that feel right to you rather than just looking for the +3 point options.
The Story of the Pink Alligator
Akinari is writing a book. It’s a story about a pink alligator and a bird. It sounds like a children's fable, but it’s actually a metaphor for his own isolation and his failing health.
As you progress through the ranks, he moves from bitter anger—"Why me? Why am I the one dying?"—to a sort of quiet, profound acceptance. It’s heavy stuff. Persona 3 Reload shines here because the new voice acting really hammers home the fragility in his voice. You aren't just reading text; you’re listening to a kid come to terms with the end of his life.
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Interestingly, this book becomes "lore" in the later games. If you play Persona 4 Golden, you can actually find a reference to this story being published and becoming a hit. It’s a tiny detail, but it gives Akinari’s life the meaning he was so desperate to find. He wanted to leave something behind. He did.
What Do You Get for Finishing It?
When you hit Rank 10, Akinari gives you the Worn Notebook. This is the key to fusing Asura, the ultimate Persona of the Sun Arcana.
Asura is a beast. In the original game, he was a bit of a glass cannon, but in Reload, he’s a powerhouse for late-game Tartarus runs. He starts at level 85 and comes with Unshaken Will, which makes you immune to almost all status ailments like Confuse, Fear, and Rage. If you’re planning on taking on the secret boss or the final Reaper fights, you want Asura in your back pocket.
Beyond the gameplay stats, finishing the link also adds a special scene during the game’s final days. I won't spoil the exact wording, but let’s just say his mother makes an appearance, and you might want to have some tissues nearby. It’s widely considered the best-written side story in the entire Persona franchise for a reason.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Academics: If you spend all your time at the arcade or the beef bowl shop and ignore your books, you won’t have the Rank 4 Academics needed to start his link until it’s too late.
- Missing the Pen: If you talk to Akinari and then forget to talk to Koromaru that night, you might lose a whole week. Sundays are precious.
- Assuming he's at school: He is a "non-school" link. He doesn't care about exams or holidays. He’s always at the shrine on Sundays, even during summer break.
Why the Sun Arcana Matters for Your Build
Outside of the Social Link, the Sun Major Arcana card in Shuffle Time is one of the most broken buffs in the game.
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If you pick up the Sun card during a Tartarus run, it allows you to fuse Personas that are up to 5 levels higher than your current level. This is massive. It lets you bridge the gap between mid-game and the truly powerful high-level summons without having to grind for hours.
Final Insights for Your Playthrough
If you want the full Persona 3 Reload experience, make Akinari a priority. Start checking the Naganaki Shrine every Sunday starting in August. Make sure you have your Academics up to "Smart" by then. Don't worry about bringing a matching Persona; just show up and listen to his story.
Once you finish the link, head to the Velvet Room and look into fusing Asura as soon as you hit the level requirement. It’s one of the few ultimate Personas that remains useful all the way through the final battle. More importantly, take a second to actually read the dialogue in those Rank 9 and 10 scenes. It changes how you look at the game's ending.
To get the most out of your Sunday schedule, finish the Hermit Social Link by late July so your Sundays are completely free for Akinari starting in August. This ensures you’ll max out the Sun Arcana long before the game reaches its climax in January.