When Persona Made Me Cry Again. || P4G Analysis - Naoki Konishi

Naoki Konishi is the brother of Saki Konishi and the Hanged man arcana social link of Persona 4 and Persona 4 Golden. He gratefully has seen some renewed respect over the years but is overall a wholly under-represented link in talks of the best persona 4 social links and today I want to analyze him to the fullest. This Naoki Konishi analysis will go into everything but also be a bit more personal than I usually am. Hope you enjoy and choose to support me-
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[@unholy5948]

I actually never realized just how significant the cream puff story was until this video. This made me realize that I actually had a similar experience to Naoki in that, when my grandma died years ago, I didn't cry for months. I thought it was just that I was never really all that close to her before, but when I visited her grave the second or third time, my mom had me say something we always used to say when we left her house. That's when I realized, "Oh, I'm never going to see her again, huh?" Thanks for this video. I've definitely found a new appreciation for Naoki's character due to this.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thank you for sharing that. I'm a bit tired rn but that really resonated with me and my cousin who died when I was younger. Thanks for watching/supporting

[@oodlemynoodle3753]

Naoki is probably the character I relate to the most in Persona. The idea of grief not hitting you until some mundane thing happens is so real, and I experienced that firsthand. I've always loved acting and theater, and my dad was really supportive when I started doing plays at a local community theater. He came to every show and would help me memorize my lines. After he died, I didn't cry for months after the initial day. It wasn't until opening night of a play I was doing the summer after he died that I looked out into the audience, realized he wasn't there, and started bawling my eyes out. After that I would go home and see little things left of him and cry, like finding sunflower seeds in the couch while cleaning or seeing unopen cans of drinks that he had put in the freezer before his death. Naoki's link kind of opened the floodgates again and playing through it almost made me feel like I was looking at a younger version of myself. Great analysis, I was really looking forward to this one.

[@Namingway248]

You don't actually have to let Naoki go home when he asks during the early clean-up event, if you insist twice he helps you clean up he will do so. Although it seems harsh out of context this is usually what I do, because although he is pushing you away in that instance he shows a clear desire every other time you meet him to be treated normal and have the same responsibilities as everyone else. I've always interpreted letting him go home as proving to him you're treating him with the exact same pity as everyone else, while making him stay shows an attempt to see him as an individual and not as his circumstance.

[@juandaviduribe8267]

I chose to make him clean up too. It just seems like a better way to start the S. Link knowing that he’d rather people treating him naturally rather than them feeling sorry for him

[@Whatsuppbuddies]

I remember my mum saying that after my father died that all our neighbours and family friends made big gestures of support to 'be there if there was anything she needed' or the like, but after only a few weeks it had all quietly dried up. The hypocrisy of the obligated kindness in Naoki's social link really spoke to me. I remember being told that I was the man of the house at my dad's funeral, to take care of my mother and sister. I was barely five years old. It's ok to feel sympathy for someone when they lose someone, but this social link really drives home the fact that the common perception of grief is coloured too much by people inferring actions from dramas. I don't know if that's because modern society is so inculcated from death or because it's become so taboo to speak about in general. Either way, it was quite validating to see my feelings represented in P4

[@jonmcknight18]

There also the fact that he was trying to move on and been seen as the villain for that did he miss his sister defiantly but he knew she wouldn't want him to be sad and people three to shove that sadness down his throat.

[@wacky1210]

It's terrible that your family had assigned you a role forcefully, before you could even process your father's passing, and not mention you were five at the time. I hope you've been having better experiences recently, remember to stay strong, stand your ground and stay healthy and remember that life goes on

[@wacky1210]

You probably knew and thought about all this already but I just wanted to remind you, I really do hope you are doing well enough these days

[@dachking6657]

I quite like this social link. Cream puffs will never be the same again…

[@HidinginPrivate]

It's always the little things

[@RaspyCh]

Social link

[@dachking6657]

@@RaspyCh Whoops haha

[@Beatjoy5511]

So true, just looking at one makes me wanna shed a lil tear

[@pink_alligator]

I always thought the 'people just suddenly always opening up to you' thing made the most sense in P4 bcs it's a small town, your laidback, calm, nonjudgmental attitude actually stands out there, and it is easier to confide in someone like that and someone who isn't connected to the town like everyone else (that's also why I struggle the most with Yu's recharacterization from the anime bcs not looking stoic and being mostly silent for me ruins that believability)

[@doomguy676]

Naoki's creampuff story reminded me of something that happened to myself. My grandfather passed away a couple months ago and he lived with us. I would buy these large bags of peanut butter cups and stick them in the fridge and I would often get on his case for taking some without asking me first. One week i forgot about them and when I found the bag still closed untouched I remember having that "Oh....they really aren't here." reaction.

[@deathlytree434]

Its also very dark that the hangman card looks similar to the position the sister was left in the murder it gave a bit of a hint that she was tied to her brothers arcana

[@MrBolioman]

Not only Naoki, but every single Hanged man character on the series actually crushes me in one way or another. Being suspended is difficult. Even if the face of the character in the Arcana seems normal about it. It can also means that one is getting used to their own situation. And they are on risk of just living like that forever. Naoki, Not knowing how to grief like a novel or actor, Believeing he was a cold person, getting special tratment where his actions have no consecuences. Having people telling him how to live his life with contradictory believes (some telling him to keep his chin up, and others critizicing him because he is not sad, or helping ont the store) and him saying over and over again how he is used to it... it destroys me. I get how it feels and it´s not cute. I was actually waiting for your video on Naoki, and you didn´t dissapoint. amazing video!!

[@cyanariesdw04]

I also have a strong feeling about the Hanged Man characters as they do kinda remind me of myself. I think the reason they hit the most for me is because they all show suspense by denying what the character considers a normal or desirable life. Maiko who’s caught in the middle of parental issues inevitably has to be split from one of her parents Naoki who will always seemingly always bear the identity of “the dead girl’s brother” when he simple wants to seen as a normal kid and Iwai who’s being extorted for his craft due to past connections when he’s moved on to a new life And all of them try to resolve it (or at least try to ask take an action for some problem) by a means that puts them in an also unfavorable situation. Maiko opts to run away, Naoki considers dropping out of school and Iwai nearly lets himself be extorted. The aspect of self-sacrifice and self-blame is real with these characters and it gives them a lot of serious depth. The idea of “There’s a problem in my life and it has to be my fault, therefore I should fix it” is a very real perception that I think they all portray so well. Good card with good characters behind it. Also sorry for the rant, your comment just stood out to me lmao.

[@Meowjocat]

Hanged and Hierophant are the most wholesome for me. Ngl Kou’s confidant was so good

[@rayvenkman2087]

@@MeowjocatEmperor, Sun, Hanged and Hierophant are the consistently excellent Arcanas in 3-5. The ones that’s guaranteed to be great. If Iwai didn’t exist, I could easily see Shiho take on the Hanged Man as I could see her SL be like that of Naoki except she’s the victim of Kamoshida’s crime which she’s unfortunately become associated with around Shujin. How they’ll treat her with kid gloves, making grand gestures and generally doing what they think as courtesy to her without realising how they’re effectively treating her like she’s a thing than a human being. A SL dedicated to a victim of a Palace Ruler’s evil.

[@Meowjocat]

@@rayvenkman2087 So true, I wish Shiho was a confidant instead of Ohya I didn’t really like her SL. Heck both P4 and 5 Devil Arcana sucked. Shinya the Tower Arcana should’ve been introduced earlier but nvm. I would even consider Newpaper club girl as a Confidant cause she was underrated throughout the whole game.

[@Meowjocat]

@@rayvenkman2087 But I love Iwai’s Confidant a lot he’s such a wholesome guy throughout his SL

[@jakk2631]

Yes! I can realty to him so much I hate being treated spacial because of my disability, and resncty it been 3 years since my mom passed away, It hurts and almost every little thing reminded me. but I need to get pass it

[@Paimonphobic]

Naoki is my second favorite character in P4G(just behind Chie) and I really felt like he should’ve been a party member since he has a lot more plot relevance compared to Kanji and Rise. Cause if you really think about it, since he was never a party member, he doesn’t know how Saki truly died. And there’s easily a way for him to appear on tv as he could’ve been interviewed about his sister and his feelings

[@TheInferno0099]

The plot relevance you mentioned can be applied to almost everyone on the investigation team including chie I do think the dynamic between naoki and yosuke on the same team would have been very interesting

[@mausebas]

having social links become party members would be cool tbh

[@Ethan-nl2wg]

@@TheInferno0099 I feel like Chie gets a pass since she was already involved with the plot when she went into the TV with Yu and Yosuke

[@xiniti8185]

Something I really like about Naoki’s link (as well as Hisano, Dojima, Nanako, Yumi and to a lesser extent Naoto and Kanji) is how P4 treats death despite the main theme being truth. It really contrasts the way P3 tackles death and transformation; I prefer it, if I’m honest, not to slight P3, of course. Honestly the way the entire of P4 feels when it comes to death and illness is so cool to me lmao. And Yosuke showing up for this social link with his typical blunt yet kind attitude… I wish stuff like this would happen more in other links. I love the MC but sometimes for stuff like this, I can believe the MC having his friends help him out (like in Shu’s link)

[@lenierka]

Ohhh I really like your point on this! If you don’t mind me asking, can you elaborate on why you prefer p4’s approach to death compared to p3? Personally I always loved how in p4, despite it being a game where u summon literal mythological figures in anime battles, everything feels so grounded and normal? Like you can totally see real people living in towns such as Inaba or the struggles of small businesses competing against in-universe walmart. Nothing ever felt too out of reach grandiose or a spectacle. Like tatsumi port island in p3 all prestige and big ole rich billion dollar shadow corp or all of p5’s style (love those games too with p5r being my fave). Heck even with the murders happening or one of the team members being a literal idol. So you can just feel a town full of people just actively trying to continue with their lives despite the hardships. Idk maybe it’s just me having a big soft spot for smalltown settings xD

[@buntado6]

Well I mean, P3 didn't tackle death itself in many of the links, unless you saw "death" as the end of an era. Kenji would be the death of his fantasy towards dating the teacher, Maiko the death of her family life as she knew it due to the parent's divorce, and the MMO link be the death of the virtual world and hence of their only known means of interaction, the sport guy whose knee started to fail, and so on.

[@xiniti8185]

@@lenierka yeah P4 always felt grounded, but P4 is primarily sorta like The Answer to some of P3’s lingering questions (pun intended). If P3 was about “why should you live on?”, then P4 would be “once you’ve decided on that, how do you do it?” It’s all well and good to face someone’s death and accept it, but what about yourself? How do you relate to that? What’s your truth? What about the surrounding circumstances? What about the onlookers? Stuff like that is what I like.

[@axtonflaxonwaxon9448]

My sister was a huge fan of South Korean pop culture, being something of a guerilla before it became so prevalent on Netflix or groups like BTS being played on local radios. She would constantly ring me up suggesting I watch one show or another and I always blew her off, chalking it up to a younger sibling being obnoxious. She lost to her struggle with depression three years ago and since then I've replayed this game, now understanding Naoki's story on a personal level. I watch a show on Netflix and grab my phone ready to suggest it to her. She must have missed this one since she never told me about it, I have to let her know...

[@michaelhall736]

With my mother passing away two months ago I find myself in a similar situation and I find Naoki's social link more relatable than ever. I didn't cry right away when she died because I wanted to stay strong for my dad, nieces and nephews. She really liked Dr. Pepper but neither me or dad did. I bought a bottle of it out of habit a month ago and no one ever touched it for weeks. Eventually my dad did drink it because he wanted to honor her memory.

[@Distant_Dubstep]

Naoki's S link is so underrated. I genuinely cried thru his S link man.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Big sad hours

[@ZekromAndYugiAndDrago123]

Replaying Persona 4 and realizing you can interact with Saki and Naoki and see one of their confrontations over her eating his Cream Puffs broke me man. Fuck this social link was amazing

[@DKzCoolD2]

It's so wonderful that you had such a strong moment with Naoki.. Especially since it took you 4 playthroughs to give him a try.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Yeah no kidding. What a meme. It's always the stuff I like most that I don't check out

[@cyndercharmander]

it took me months to get to this video and... oh my gosh this made me CRY i lost my cat last year and the grieving process has been... complicated. he disappeared and we were never able to find him, so to start with we were hoping that he would come back. i remember crying about a week afterwards, and crying even more over the coming months as it started to settle in... and after a while of not really thinking about it, this video squeezed my heart in a vice once again funny enough, just a month before he went missing, i got this big cat plushie which i named Creampuff, which is probably why this video touched me so deeply. i've been hugging Creampuff almost every day since i lost my cat and it's been a real comfort to me now that there isn't a cat around anymore i've been lucky enough to see some cats every week since the start of the year, and it's got me thinking... as soon as i'm in a better position, i want to adopt a cat. i miss having one around, and though it'll never replace him, it'll be nice to have some fuzzy company to take care of 💗

[@rileyninja9733]

The idea of people watching you to makes sure your sad and not a bad person after a family member dies is a really interesting dynamic. The lack of information of the spys could make him seem heartless because he laughed at a joke. Even though depression or grief is often masked because dwelling in it is pointless at some point also that stuff comes and goes. I mean I randomly started crying about my dog that died like 8 or 10 years ago, not even a month ago

[@rileyninja9733]

The moment that made me cry was thinking me hugging and snuggling my dog when I was stressed or upset. I cried because I wanted to hug someone that held no judgment of me, no expectations but he was gone long ago and my small dog just isn't as absorbing

[@plaza3825]

When my grandpa died to old age, i wasn't really affected, but everyone else was devasted. They sobbed through their funeral speeches. My eyes did water, but i felt more affected by everyone's pain than g-pa's death itself, which also made me feel bad. My tough-as-nails grandma was hit the hardest by her husband's passing, and I sat next to her during the service. I couldn't feel what she felt nor did i have words for her, but I could hold her hand. When her grieving adult children grasped at her for support, she had nothing left inside her to give. But in my weak, weak emotion, I didn't need support and i wordlessly held her hand while she sobbed. I don't know how often my grandma ever emotionally relied on anyone other than grandpa, but I gave her comfort in that moment, and she let me know it later in a text message. I never had a close relationship with my grandpa, and ashamedly i never did get hit with grief like Naoki did, but i realized from g-ma's text (plus talking to mom about this) that even an unemotional person like me can give a unique comfort *because* I'm unemotional and that has value

[@Random-xe2cc]

I know that I’m extremely late as hell but the cream puff story lines up exactly with what happened with my uncle. I really didn’t cry that much at the funeral or the wake but it was only until after the funeral when we went back to my uncles house for Christmas and realized that he wasn’t going to be there with his jokes and his stories that he used to tell me. I don’t think anyone actually enjoyed Christmas that year.

[@statz3697]

This gotta be one of the best social links in p4

[@HidinginPrivate]

For sure

[@manimifire8563]

That comment about the house wives was so true that it hurts... And also I Never realized how carefully crafted this link was, it's beautiful. Great analysis as always.

[@SachikoHitsujiyama]

I never thought that I'll cry while watching a video about a Persona character... but here I am, crying while writing this. Year ago my granpa passed away, and not that long ago I asked mysefl "why hasn't granpa called me? Isn't he worried about me?"... then it clicked. I started crying like crazy, and I still can't move on from his death. He was a second father figure to me. So...I can resonate with Naoki pretty well... that feeling of emptiness escpecially.

[@neozomg2541]

23:46 This reminds me a lot of when a few members of my family died. Like when my cousin died a few years back and my grandma saying I remind her more and more of him or talking about things he used to do. But specially when my great granddad (her father) died last year. She and my aunts planned to whole funeral but I don't remember ever crying myself for that matter and I felt bad that I wasn't sad when everyone else was and if they were judging me for it. I just wanted everything to to quiet down so we could get used to living in without him, since we live in his home to take care of him, because the family wanted to carry his wish of not being in a nursing home. I once heard death only ever happens in 2 way. Long, slow and dragged out. If anything you're waiting for it but it feels forever, or it happens out of no where and no rhyme or reason. My granddad was the former since grandma and I were just sitting in "the waiting game" while still trying to do what we could. I found myself feeling awful in the month leading to it because it felt like there was nothing I could really do. But I didn't have a moment like this until months after the funeral when I was home alone and thought "oh I should go see if granddad is hungr- ...oh right" and while I didn't cry or break down since I guess I already did my grieving the realization finally hit me. But I think I still made something even though I wasn't hungry and granddad had long stopped having an appetite to make him anything. So this made me a bit emotional so I felt I needed to comment it (also it helps the vid and I didn't have anything witty to say on some of the other vids for this series) but yeah. Probably just coming off as nonsense. Love these videos, can't wait for the rest of them!

[@jvever4904]

Naoki is actually one of my favorite social links in this game, thanks for covering it so well in this video!

[@HidinginPrivate]

Sure thing! Glad you thought I did him justice!

[@bette4287]

I honestly really loved Naoki's link. It wasn't something I saw or understood deeply but it was still really good. I did his link at the very end of the game.

[@SapphireLibra3]

I'm working on a Persona fanfiction (my biggest story ever) and currently the party member the main character is trying to rescue is the Hanged Man Arcana Social Link. Thank you so much for putting so much heart into this one, as this is helping me understand what this arcana represents even more.

[@magatsudreemurr7717]

Still haven't watched the vid yet but imma say this :This is the second least played social link for me(next to the hermit) i only did it once on ps2 and once on pc(i have like 8 playthroughs of P4), not because it's bad i think... it's just painful for me because i can relate to his struggle of properly grieving.

[@himasekiwari155]

You're analysis just..made me love for Persona 4 stronger, my favorite social link is well most of the main gang and ebihara, but listening to ur analysis of Naoki, it hits hard. I love how Persona 4 despite having to battle tons of forms of Gods, it is very grounded, persona 4 feels very human, like you can feel the lives in that town, there are subtle things that makes it feel like it's a breathing living town, people there having there own problem but finding there own ways to deal with it and how tbh it feels like knowing other people and really makes don't judge a book by its cover really relevant. (Persona 4 writing really hits the spot tbh, the character development, story beats, themes) I love the topics and stories in P4 too it's timeless, The different forms of truth, bonds, internal struggles and again how it handles death (I like Persona 3, second after 4, but idk sometimes it all feels so grand same goes to 5 and i feel a bit overwhelmed, both aren't bad but yeh just a preference, in persona 3 my fave moments were the Sun arcana and also the relationship/character of Junpei and chidori)

[@LinkaDL]

One of my favourite SLs in this game. I never expected that I would love Naoki´s character but when I discovered how well written he´s, his suffering, the cream puff story and all that... I ended up crying. This game may look happy and funny but when it needs to hit hard in the feelings it takes your heart and throws it into a trash basket. I love P4.

[@FlawlessiceVA]

Commenting for the algorithm and also to tell you I love this series.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thank you, we're entering the climactic final stretch. Main character videos start soon

[@frankaxe6700]

It's made me tear up When I heard his voice and his story

[@edgyone2273]

dont mind me sharing something personal haha i feel like talking about it now and i don't know why i remember that when my grandma passed away i didn't cry at all but sometimes when i really wanted to talk to someone i always end up wanting to talk to to her and well everytime that happened i ended up crying real bad haha honestly when i think about it sometimes it makes me feel bad didn't i love her enough to cry about her passing when it had just happened? when little things in the house had to be thrown away i got frustrated and cried even though i understood things had to change there i understand why some stuff happens but it still makes me feel very sad nonetheless sometimes i wonder of what could've been i wonder if she would be proud of what person i am today i wish she could've seen me grow up to this point but yeah that didn't happen this video really makes me feel all sorts of stuff i again dont know how to describe them but i do wanna say thanks again for such a video like this man

[@KoeSeer]

I also realized few years ago with my mom's and dad's passing that the realization of death of a family member never occured to you in weeks until you realized the mundane things that usually they did never happened again.

[@BubblingBrooke]

This whole series has made me really really appreciate p4 all over again. I played this back in high school with a friend of mine and while it means a lot to me because of the shared experience, I missed out on a lot by either missing some links or being a young stupid teen who didn't grasp how good the writing was at the time. This has made me play the game again and I appreciate every single video.

[@juanito46101]

This is one of the segments I was waiting the most and I really loved it, such a shame not a lot of people about his social link

[@unowngamer9352]

Man, this made me cry, first time in a while. Thanks man.

[@KoongYe]

Gosh I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion at 11:37. People play the game, and get the most surface, shallow version of the story and characters and judge the game and character from it, missing the point and subtlety entirely. And they put out a review that reads "I hate Yosuke because he's insensitive, I didn't play Naoki's storyline because I don't like him, I thought the single mother was weird and boring, Naoto is a transgender representation, Persona 4 needs to be as edgy as Persona 3". Like... I just saw a review of persona 4 five minutues ago saying just that, getting thousands of likes. It's just so depressing the shallowness of these people.

[@abadenoughdude300]

Naoki's link is both the saddest and the most infuriating of all P4 links, I think. Grief is the emotion that resonates with me the most, having gone through death of family members since a young age, so I can totally relate with what Naoki is going through. Which is also why the two faced, self serving "empathy" of society, judging you for not behaving exactly as they think you should in the situation while being indifferent or just plain hostile towards what you're actually going through, strikes a nerve for me as well.

[@dolphinboi-playmonsterranc9668]

Naoki is one of the easiest to miss but one of the best. When you experience loss, pitying or guilt tripping doesn't help. It just makes things worse.

[@ItsShaz1]

Clicked as fast as I could

[@HidinginPrivate]

Howdy

[@ItsShaz1]

@@HidinginPrivate 👋:)

[@Aeirion]

I was chilling watching this video having known about his character. But I forgot a lot. Then I saw that moment and just realized I was crying. Something I have a very hard time doing even if I want to. I'm happy to have not felt much grief, yet that felt so real that I didn't know how to react. This is why I'm a writer. If I could make somebody feel a way they didn't think they would, I did a good job. It gives my life, purpose.

[@fishspoons]

Thank you for the conscious effort to bring genuine analysis to this platform. I truly loathe how easily swayed public opinion is by the basic ass ramblings that make up most so-called KZbin criticism.

[@1084dreamer]

Naoki' S Link is one of the most well written S Link in the series. Not only because how his story is linked with us, his S link is also linked with Yosuke. You could talk with Yosuke in TV when you were not busy to rescue people. Yosuke would ask you how Naoki was doing when your Hanged man S Link is low. He found out you were having a good relationship with Naoki recently and was happy with that. And after you took Naoki to Jenus, Yosuke would say Naoki started talking with him. And later when Naoki's S Link reached 10, Yosuke would tell you he and Naoki become friends. This is real human relationship. You are not Naoki's only friend. (Kanji is Naoki's childhood friend in P4A, I don't know if game Kanji would also talk about him or not) BTW it is the first video I found when I type Persona 4 analysis in YT. I am glad to find it.

[@professionalyusukesimp]

This video is honestly masterful - the script is super well-written and the editing works really well. The analysis was incredibly well-done, and the way you related the link to personal stories and used it to respond to criticism against the series were some really nice additions. 11/10

[@zenronez1158]

This is now one of my new favorite social links in persona after listening this video. Before I go over why. Hiding in Private I relate to your experience of Persona 5. In Middle School I used to do anything to be accepted by my peers so I could mesh with the crowd. But after I realized nothing I was doing didnt matter I became lonley and unseen. One day when I was home from school I noticed my brother playing a game which had flashy visuals a interesting story and good music. So I asked if could play and after starting the game. I had a similar view to you had seeing the world and emotions from different perspectives granted I didn't know you had to go directly to the social links to start them. But still seeing fictional characters worrying about things that real people do was eye opening for me. It showed me I wasn't alone in this world. For the longest time I believed this game changed my life. But like you said it's a piece of media a very well crafted and written piece of media. My favorite video game of all time the Royal version. This link I sympathize with on different levels. The way he handles his grief hits home to me. When I was young my father passed away. When I heard this it didn't really cross my mind until I had a dream on night. In the dream I saw my father in the middle of white heavenly clouds. I tried to call out to him but nothing happened I don't remember what he said. But I woke up crying telling my mom what I saw This dream happened a month after my father's passing. I didn't really understand why I cried after the month he passed away. Until today people handle grief differently it dosent have to be immediately. Punishing yourself for something. I didn't really expect this would show up for the link until I put the pieces together as I was listening to this. I thought I couldn't do anything for myself because of a mistake of mine. I'd hold myself back on purpose just because I didn't think I deserve to live the life I want. I thought I didn't do what society expects for someone to do. Its either oh they lost someone close to them why aren't they sad. Oh he did something bad why isn't they punished. Oh they have everything they want why are they not happy. Its up to the person themselves not society's expectations. I think this show's the importance of having someone to hear your voice to listen to what you have to say. Someone to see you as you to be heard amongst the sea of air and white noise. Hiding in Private I respect your dedication into making this highly detailed analysis of this wonderful game. I will always take the time out of my day to watch your video's when they come out. Whenever your reading this have an amazing day.

[@101lillarry]

Thank you for making this video. I have loved persona 4 ever since I was about 13 or so, it really helped me though alot and I thought I knew everything about it but watching this made me remember how deep and complex not only the game but people as a whole, I never did his social link because when I was young I thought he was just a jerk but I realize how wrong I was.it will take some time for the massage to sink in but hopefully with this I will not only know my own emotions better but also how not to judge people like how the housewives do in the game. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and please keep making videos.

[@superfluousstuckupitude2512]

Honestly I love this social link more than I did before. As someone who's younger sibling was also murdered the grieving process is unlike anything I've ever felt before. The pity, the empty platitudes I hated it all and on top of that people telling you how you should feel even though they've never experienced something like this. That's just how it is unfortunately people are always gonna give their opinion about what they think you should do and 99% of the time it's unsolicited. At that point you just have to tell people to shut tf up and let you deal with it how you have to deal with it and not give a damn how they feel about cuz obviously they didn't care about what they were saying to you.

[@fruitynyanko7316]

Just wanted to say thank you for making these videos! I've been listening to them while drawing and it really helps me both enjoy my work and understand persona 4, one of my favourite games of all time in such depth!

[@DieloTheDino]

Ever since I began watching your videos analyzing the Persona 4 cast while I played P4G Steam at the same time, I began to really look into some of the characters you hadn't analyzed yet and really appreciated them. There were other videos from others who talked a bit about other SLs, but Naoki's really intrigued me, especially with the first impression. After finishing P4G later on, he became my absolute favorite non main character and to me, he truly represents the Hanged Man Arcana as he is in a constant form of stasis and is confused on how he should feel. I may not relate to him, but just by seeing his situation, I could sense the raw emotion and believe that I would be the same if I were in the same situation. Many of the SLs in Persona make me feel that way, but Naoki's struck me so much. Anyways, really love your P4G analysis videos!

[@_ace_defective_]

I've always liked this social link. This was a really good analysis, I'll have to convince my friends to do this social link and some of the other ones next time they play through the game.

[@hanimeme9304]

Hey, just stopping by in my binge through your videos after waiting for them to stockpile over time, but I have been loving these videos. There is nothing more gratifying to my emotional (and time) investment in this game than to see someone explain in no uncertain terms what makes this game so special. By validating my own feelings and emotions that this game has given me, to see someone else have a connection, or bond with the characters and writing of this game that is so often overshadowed by its more popular (and flashy) sequel, this video series makes me appreciate p4g even more in a way i never could have imagined. Thank you so much for allowing me to connect with a game I love so much by sharing your love for it so much as well.

[@schuetz600]

Oof I'm real late to this one. Still, Naoki is easily one of my favorites in this game and his s link is one of the two places I cried playing Persona 4. And I rarely cry when playing games or watching movies so it seriously caught me off guard. Discovering Naoki's link in my ng+ run made my second playthrough feel so worth it!

[@wacky1210]

Right of the bat, I'd like to say this video was amazing. The commentary was on point, the jokes hit while not taking anything away from the genuine moments, oh yes the genuine moments, i honestly don't have anything else to say but it was amazing the fucking creampuff thing, just fucking amazing. You have been one of my favorite KZbinrs for a long time, but this including your recent videos just solidified my love for your content.

[@followthewhiterabbit884]

@Hiding in Private I almost watched every of your Persona videos. I'm almost finished. But I can relate to every of your videos. How you speak about the characteres and speak about your own live moves every time something in me that says:"You know that feeling/situation from your own live." So, thank you for making me feel such things.

[@simpleguy86]

I love how games like this can evoke such feeling and help us think about the world with a new perspective to appreciate life one way or another. Your videos are always awesome

[@yuki5619]

Woah. I think that was your best video of this series so far. You really did great job best boy. I actually teared up while watching. Thank you for all of your hard work!

[@lenierka]

Hey! I just wanted to say that I’ve been binging your videos ever since you released your Ai vid! Your passion, editing style and narration really pulled me in and I’ve been lurking on all your content ever since. This one has been my favorite of yours so far, Naokis social link was one of my favorites in the whole game and I’m happy there was someone who gave it the attention and time it deserved! I’m excited for all your future projects thank you for the amazing content ^-^

[@kakugowaii5854]

4:58 You really thought you could sneak in that Katawa Shoujo OST without anyone realizing huh? Talk about games that make you cry, P4 and Katawa Shoujo are intense, some of the best video game experiences I've ever had

[@HidinginPrivate]

Sneak? Never- I use KS ost a lot tbh haha. Glad you recognized it

[@nyx6607]

Yeesh, ptsd just hit me hard in this video, it reminded me of my dad who I haven't thought about in a while. Can't believe a video made me cry, I have a hard time with crying about a lot of things, years of shutting my grief out I suppose, but anyways, this video was incredible man, I want to play persona 4 again and go see Naoki again after this

[@Yami-no-Raiden]

Thank you for taking the time in making and showcasing these analysis videos. It feels like as time goes on and more people play P4 while not understanding it, a lot of the truth of the game ends up being swallowed by the fog of general consensus. So, thank you for reminding me of all the things I found and loved about this game.

[@stargirl_xo_2004]

This is the first vid I’ve seen of yours, but I love it a lot. One of the things that hit me hard was when my grandma passed from cancer in 2014, it took me at least 3 years to fully grieve. This affected my emotional growth, I held in a lot of my negative feelings, and it took till I started dating my boyfriend for him to help me fully process my grieve. I couldn’t thank him enough for all the help he’s given me.

[@frank0206778]

Always hyped when I see notifications from you!

[@HidinginPrivate]

Happy to hear that! I appreciate your support

[@DomBalabil]

really great video, thanks man

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thank you

[@rauden340]

just found you today, your vids are fantastic!

[@ItsDanbo]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS

[@HidinginPrivate]

Aaayyyyyy

[@harmonys965]

Not me crying over my own “cream puff” moment now that it’s been spelled out… :’( Persona social links through both P4G and P5R have given me so many different views of the world that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. The sheer number of completely different, yet still utterly HUMAN, perspectives through these characters is something I wish people knew more about. I hear a lot of people who haven’t played a Persona game write off these parts as a simple sim game to fill in between dungeons and while they aren’t WRONG in that it’s a sim… it’s so much more than that. A real sit down with full attention to a Persona game can completely change a persons life.

[@heehokuzunoha7757]

P4 made me cry and now this video has too. Well done brother.

[@chioorochi]

New subscriber here, been binge watching all your videos, thank you! I'm currently playing ng+ and trying to max out Naoki's s-link.

[@SageDarkwind]

I'm surprise the Happy Squirrel Arcana wasn't brought up as much in discussions on P4 and P5 considering how much gossip goes around in those two games, like with those judgmental housewives in P4 and the general populace of Tokyo in P5.

[@Nodegama]

Great work! I found this very relatable. I love persona for tackling stories like this.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Me too! Thanks for the support again Nodegama

[@USChoudhari]

Thanks for the video!

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thanks U!

[@Marika_ER]

I definitely agree with this take. Sorrow depicted in media just isn't right. Sometimes a grieving person doesn't internalize that their loved one is gone. Like yes they know they're gone, but not emotionally

[@ThiccFurryBoi34]

Now why couldn’t be a persona user him vs adachi would be very satisfying

[@HidinginPrivate]

That would be a good showdown, that might make him too much of the main character tho haha. He'd basically be the protagonist at that point

[@artoriapendragonidilfitri7414]

Great video, Hiding-kun. I have a similar story about cream puff with my late Dad , but ours were hash browns.

[@tonycuz6591]

I started with the nanako vid just wanna say I love your vids man this game series is special to me in the same vain as ffx having gone through a lot of stuff too it helped me think about stuff. Gotta say I plan on watching all of em. If you do any of the older games as well would love to see it! /.3./

[@765craven4]

My step dad just recently passed away, and he did a lot of really awful stuff to me, my brother and my mom. He saddled us with tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt, many of which was put on cards we didn't even know about until after he'd passed. Despite that we all cared about him a lot and it was very evident from all of the trouble he went to to make sure we were living a comfortable life (working as many as 80 hours in a week to make sure we had a roof over our heads) that he cared about us. He always made time to help us out with any issues we were having. I had a "cream puff" moment when I was cooking dinner the other day and realized that we could actually salt the food (he had high cholesterol so we had to wait until we'd made our own plate to season it) before serving it.

[@ninakrishnamurthy6674]

When I first played, I got Naoki’s rank 9 scene right after the part where you identify the killer and everything that follows. And man did hearing that line about how Saki must have wanted to live more hit different when it came after seeing exactly how she died. Made the killer even more of a bastard 😡

[@pink_alligator]

It takes a Long time to grieve especially for your first serious death. You know death means you'll never see them again but you really can't perceptualize just how permanent death is until you've lived it at least once. So it's not just how we grieve that's different for every person which everyone should understand but also *When*

[@lucalopez9604]

engagement engagement. This is the first of your videos I see and I'm so happy to have been recommended it. About to marathon all the others.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Let me know what you think of them! There are a lot so far and many more to come as well

[@Starwarsdude8221991]

I remember this conversation never thought much of it wow eye opening

[@buntado6]

I deliberately avoid some quirks me and my grandpa shared, like saying "maaaa-ma!" in a very particular way, because I don't want to make mom sad by reminding her that my grandpa also used to say it. I also broke down when I found a handkerchief box that I had made in school for Father's day. It was of my grandpa, since my dad was absent from my life. I was ok with seeing the rest of his belongings, I could perfectly assume them as his legacy items for us to use, but I couldn't bear reading that text, "For the best dad in the world". That thing was for him and him alone, and I had no idea what to do with it. In the end I kept it, because it did have it's use, to remind me how much I did love him, and that I had the capability to feel that for others.

[@vibespidersstudios8895]

I say the same thing with not just with my family but also my pets that I used to have. Like made me cry the most of seeing relatives passing away is the realization of I could never give up my time of the day such as my Saturdays to spend with my grandparents on my mother’s side. When my grandma died, my grandpa was heartbroken and some family disputes happened that I cannot discuss that it lead my grandpa leaving our family home and betrayed my mother’s trust is somewhat estranged from the family. It is the moment that I realized that people grieve in different ways because the moment my great grandma on my father pass away is the grief my family and I no longer spend the summers at the hot just old trinkets apartment of family heirlooms. What really hurts the most was my father’s step father who we treat as a family member and a grandfather and my elder sister and hear stories of like historical events and individual people he met. As a young child, I didn’t cared at the moment. It was after his death was a cartoon sketch of him with a quote, “there is a right way or the wrong way. I don’t know about you but I believe my way is better than yours.” It is just there still a piece of him there but he’s not here anymore and could never come back. I could never hear his voice anymore. Also having pets too my first 16 year old dog passed away about last year. Though it wasn’t hard on me as much as grief however, it is the same when my mom thinks there is a dog to feed. Or having the same feeling to greet the pet and having its sleepy head perk up sleeping in the bed and missed the different barks constantly every hour of not knowing what it wants. That is still grief is knowing something is a part of a routine you’ve done for a long time. Only to realize you don’t have to do it anymore and it just leaves a hole in you and not knowing what to fill it after.

[@simpleguy86]

I also feel empathy as someone who's been unfairly treated for something I never even did and drove me to depression. If not for games and great analysis like these to help me appreciate the aspects of my life i dont know what i would do. Thank you

[@yuki5619]

yup, after watching this 4 times i can say that this video is your best one so far

[@HidinginPrivate]

Dang I'm glad you liked this one so much Yuki. That's a lot of time spent watching this one

[@yuki5619]

@@HidinginPrivate yeah, i REALLY liked this one, i mean, it made me tear up

[@isakjarlestedt2001]

it'd be pushing my self to write some long comment so just um yeah video good video very very good great job Hiding :-)

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thank you! This is enough the kind words are good haha

[@MrHagarenViper]

Randomly found and binged this series and been enjoying them a lot - this one was especially good. I've 100% the game a couple times but Naoki's story is fuzzy to me by now, it was pretty cool to see him in a new light. Also heads up, it seems like this video hasn't made it into your P4 playlist yet?

[@riam850]

So I guess the comment section now became a support group for people to share their stories? I liked this social link before, but for me it was more about Naoki being a shadow of his sister- Like people to this day know him mostly as "Saki Konishi brother" and I know this all too well, but now after my father death I can really relate to his grief. It's all just so weird man - I remember crying when my grandpa passed away 15+ years ago, but when I was in the hospital where my father died I just couldn't cry, I even hold his hand for the last time when he already passed away and I knew that this is the last time I'm gonna see him, but I just couldn't do it, I was the only person there who wasn't crying. It just weird - You imagine yourself falling on your knees and screaming into heaven, but all I felt was emptiness. I even remember the same extended family that tried to assure me after it happened, talking behind my back at funeral saying that I was a bad person because I didn't despair hard enough (And at that point I even started to believing that too). It just so weird that you can just live like that, just going through the motions and then just break down when you see a photo in your living room, that you've seen already at least a thousand times.

[@kendricktruong5886]

Hi. I'm follwo you on Twitch on another account and I never thought I see a video from you here

[@galaxa13]

Shit man, I lost my mom 7 months ago and when you started talking about the innocuous things that finally cement that a person has died and they are gone I started bawling. For me it was having to explain to my dad what to buy at the grocery store when he wanted to do something nice for me. With my mom it had been as simple as saying "get the crackers" because we both knew what kind and what brand, but when I had to stop and actually think about it clicked that the short hand language I had been using my whole life now only had one speaker, me. The other person fluent in it wasn't around anymore.

[@saltheartist9987]

Can all of us who likes Naoki social link let us praise in reverie.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Yes

[@zeke7150]

I grieved with Naoki when I was playing through his social link. And that is all I have to say. Thank you Atlus.

[@Terensworth]

Yeah, that's my take exactly on the Cream Puff story. I lost my father a good few years back. And it took me around a year, maybe a bit less to finally, really cry about it. And yeah, just like your grandmother, I made a speech in the funeral, I kept my spirits high for others, I was sad but I didn't really let it sink yet. It was during my design year that it hit me. When our final projects were getting organized to be presented. That's when it hit me. When I realized "Dad will be so happy to see me manage this... Oh...." And thats where the sadness rooted. I remember crying so much with my mom that night, and it was so strange, it felt almost liberating, like in that happening, I felt like I finally let him back into my mindset with love and respect. My relationship with my father was complex to say the least, but being able to truly cry about his death made me feel like we ended it off correctly, at least. And honestly, I feel like Naoki's social link might've rung in my head at the time, maybe subconciously, just remembering that once everything is below the surface, we can get back up above it ourselves and take action again.

[@herculesbeetle]

Hey, quick silly comment before a get to a story, I can see you're a fellow appreciator of persona 4. Story time, recently my grandma passed, and I haven't cried about it, like, at all, and I found it kinda strange, but this did kinda help me figure some crap out, so, thanks

[@konstantinos-iliasstrempas4594]

very nice video i would like to sugest you doing a video about yukiko if you want

[@HidinginPrivate]

I prewrote this series covering everything already. The yukiko video is written, recorded, and in its video editing phase

[@zeo1087]

Now I want cream puffs lmao. Great video!!!

[@Beatjoy5511]

Close death is always a slow burn, I’ve lost many in my life. It never registers since you’re so used to them being around. It’s always like oh they’ll come around again, or oh they’ll give me a call here soon. Until time passes and you realize you’re on fire. Even if you violet ever garden it you’ll realize soon enough you are. That pain takes over but for good reason, all that suppression will come to life and it helps bring relief.

[@littlea420]

what a great social link

[@PhantomsnowAlexa]

Naoki was my favorite social link in Golden. He was the one I made sure I completed in every play through. And his statement about how his sister has crossed a river and no matter how much he wants her to come back, she will never return. That really hit the feels every time.