Investigate Haruka's Accident
After the devastating news regarding Haruka's critical condition and the shocking revelation of her infant son, Haruto, Kiryu's immediate priority shifts. His unwavering resolve to protect his family compels him to uncover the truth behind the accident. This section guides you through the initial steps of Kiryu's investigation, from gathering preliminary information to his return to the familiar, yet subtly altered, streets of Kamurocho.
Step 1: Hospital Visit and Initial Inquiries
Your first objective is to visit Haruka at the hospital in Onomichi. Upon arrival, proceed to her room.
- Speak with Dr. Ito: The attending physician, Dr. Ito, will provide a grim but essential overview of Haruka's injuries. He'll explain the severity of her condition, emphasizing the critical state she's in, and confirm the presence of Haruto, a detail that will undoubtedly shock Kiryu. Dr. Ito will also mention the police investigation is ongoing but will have limited medical details to offer beyond her current prognosis.
- Converse with Detective Date: Shortly after speaking with Dr. Ito, you'll encounter Detective Date, a long-time ally and a familiar face. Date will be handling the police investigation into the hit-and-run. He'll inform Kiryu that the police have few leads at this stage. He'll confirm the accident occurred in Kamurocho, specifically in the Theater Square area, and that the driver fled the scene. Date will express his frustration with the lack of progress but will assure Kiryu that the police are doing their best. This conversation will solidify Kiryu's decision to take matters into his own hands, as he realizes the official channels might not move fast enough for his urgent need for answers.
The information gathered from both Dr. Ito and Detective Date, while limited, establishes the critical nature of Haruka's situation and points Kiryu back to the scene of the crime: Kamurocho.
Step 2: Return to Kamurocho
With the initial inquiries complete, Kiryu understands that the answers lie in Kamurocho. It's time to head back to the city that has been both a home and a battleground for him.
- Locate a Taxi: Use the mini-map to find the nearest taxi stand in Onomichi. Interact with the taxi to bring up the destination menu.
- Select Kamurocho: Choose "Kamurocho" as your destination. The taxi ride will serve as a brief loading screen and a moment for Kiryu to reflect on the gravity of the situation.
Step 3: Navigating Kamurocho and First Encounters
Upon arriving in Kamurocho, specifically in the familiar district of Theater Square, Kiryu will immediately notice that while the city's facade remains, the underlying atmosphere has shifted. The streets are still bustling, but a sense of unease permeates the air, and new, aggressive elements are clearly visible.
Initial Street Brawls:
As Kiryu steps back into Kamurocho, it won't be long before he's confronted by the city's less savory inhabitants. These initial street fights serve as a re-introduction to the combat mechanics and the general level of threat in the city.
- Enemy Types: Expect to encounter small groups of street thugs, often referred to as "Kamurocho Thugs" or "Street Punks." These enemies are typically unorganized and rely on basic punches and kicks. Some may wield simple weapons like pipes or bats, which can be disarmed and used against them.
- Combat Strategy:
- Focus on Crowd Control: Since you'll often be outnumbered, utilize Kiryu's wide-sweeping attacks to hit multiple enemies simultaneously.
- Grab and Throw: Grabbing enemies and throwing them into others is an effective way to knock down multiple opponents and create openings.
- Environmental Attacks: Keep an eye out for objects in the environment (e.g., bicycles, cones, signboards) that Kiryu can pick up and use as weapons or finishers.
- Heat Actions: Build up your Heat Gauge by landing successful attacks and dodging. Once full, unleash devastating Heat Actions for significant damage and stylish finishes. These early fights are a good opportunity to practice activating them.
- Dodging and Guarding: block incoming attacks and dodge to avoid damage, especially when facing multiple opponents.
- Rewards: Defeating these early enemies will grant you experience points (EXP) across Kiryu's various stats (Strength, Agility, Spirit, Technique, Charm) and a small amount of Yen. This is crucial for early character progression.
Kamurocho's Changed Landscape:
While the core layout of Kamurocho remains, pay attention to subtle changes. New businesses might have appeared, and certain areas might feel more desolate or, conversely, more heavily patrolled by rival gangs. These initial observations will hint at the larger power struggles unfolding in the city, which Kiryu will inevitably become entangled in as his investigation progresses.
Your immediate goal after these initial skirmishes is to begin searching for clues related to Haruka's accident, starting with the area around Theater Square, as indicated by Detective Date.