You're wandering through Paulownia Mall, dodging the usual crowds, when you spot him. A kid sitting alone on a bench by the fountain, looking a bit intense about his snacks. In the world of Persona 3 Reload, most players just call him the chubby student. His real name is Nozomi Suemitsu, and honestly, he's one of the weirdest Social Links in the entire game.
Getting him to actually talk to you is a whole process. It's not like the other students who just wave you down in the hallway. No, Nozomi requires a specific set of "tests" before he deems you worthy of being his "apprentice." If you’re looking for the persona 3 reload chubby student answers, you've probably already realized he won't give you the time of day unless you prove your "gourmet" credentials.
How to Find and Unlock the Gourmet King
First things first. You can't just walk up to him on day one. You need to put in some legwork with Kenji Tomochika (the Magician Arcana) first. Once you hit Rank 4 with Kenji, he’ll mention a "Gourmet King" hanging out at the mall.
But wait, there's a stat check. You need Rank 2 Charm (Unpolished) to even start the conversation. If you’ve been spending your nights at the Hagakure Ramen shop or singing your heart out at Mandragora Karaoke, you should be fine. Once you meet the requirements, head to Paulownia Mall during the day. He’s usually there every day of the week, even on Sundays, which makes him great for filling gaps in your schedule.
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The Infamous Gourmet Quiz Answers
When you first talk to him, he’s going to grill you. He wants to know if you actually know the local food scene. If you mess up these answers, you're just wasting a day.
Here are the specific persona 3 reload chubby student answers for his introductory quiz:
- Question: What is the most popular drink at the cafe over there?
- Answer: Pheromone Coffee.
- Question: What color is the mascot for the Azuki Arai shop? (The "duck" mascot).
- Answer: Red.
- Question: What is the secret item on the menu at Hagakure Ramen?
- Answer: Hagakure Bowl.
After you nail the quiz, he still isn't satisfied. Typical. He’ll demand a "tribute" to prove your dedication. He wants an Odd Morsel.
Where to get an Odd Morsel
Don't go looking in the mall shops for this. You won’t find it. Odd Morsels are common drops found inside treasure chests in Tartarus. Specifically, you'll find them in the early blocks (Thebel and Arqa). Most players usually have a stack of these sitting in their inventory by the time they talk to Nozomi. If you’ve been selling all your "junk" to the police station, you might have accidentally gotten rid of them. Just do a quick run through the lower floors of Tartarus, and you'll find one in no time.
Hand the Odd Morsel over, and boom—the Moon Social Link officially begins.
Ranking Up the Moon Social Link (The Best Responses)
Nozomi’s story is... a lot. It starts with food, pivots to an inferiority complex regarding his late brother, and then takes a wild hard left into a literal cult. It’s definitely one of the more "unique" storylines Atlus kept from the original 2006 release.
To rank up fast, you should always have a Moon Arcana Persona in your inventory. This gives you a multiplier on the points you earn during dialogue. If you don't have one, go visit the Velvet Room and fuse something like Gurulu or Onoskelis.
Rank-by-Rank Dialogue Guide
- Rank 2: He’ll talk about his Gourmet King status.
- Best Choice: "Sure, why not."
- Rank 3: He starts talking about his "disciples."
- Best Choice: "The Gourmet King."
- Rank 4: Nozomi starts looking a bit peaked.
- Best Choice: "Are you feeling sick?"
- Rank 5: He mentions his brother.
- Best Choice: "That's right."
- Rank 6: The cult stuff starts creeping in here.
- Best Choice: "Are you sick?" (He really does look unwell throughout this link).
- Rank 7: This is where it gets heavy. He talks about the "end of the world."
- Best Choice: "The world is ending?"
- Follow-up: "No way I'm paying for that" or "That's insane." Both work, but standing your ground is better.
- Rank 8: Confronting his lies.
- Best Choice: "No, you're not."
- Rank 9: The cult leader stuff comes to a head.
- Best Choice: "Just stop it" or "You're scamming them too?"
- Rank 10: The resolution.
- Best Choice: "You're irreplaceable" or "Just be yourself."
Honestly, Nozomi is a controversial character in the fandom. Some people find him annoying, while others see him as a tragic figure who fell victim to grief and a predatory cult. Regardless of how you feel, maxing him out is worth it for the gameplay benefits.
Why You Shouldn't Skip the Chubby Student
A lot of people ignore the Moon Social Link because Nozomi is, well, kind of a jerk for the first six ranks. But from a completionist standpoint, he's essential.
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Maxing out the Moon Social Link gives you the Gourmet License. This is the key item required to fuse Sandalphon, the ultimate Persona of the Moon Arcana. Sandalphon is a powerhouse, especially if you're looking for high-level Light and Almighty damage.
Also, Nozomi is one of the few Social Links available on Sundays and during holidays. When the school is closed and your other friends are busy, the "Gourmet King" is almost always sitting on that bench. Using him to fill those "dead" days is the secret to a Max Social Link run.
Quick Tips for Efficiency
- Matching Persona: I can't stress this enough. If you don't bring a Moon Persona, you'll likely have to spend "empty" days just hanging out with him without ranking up.
- Dating Site Notes: Later in the game (starting in November), you can buy "Dating Site Notes" from the suspicious man at Club Escapade. Use these at the dorm computer at night to get extra points for Nozomi if you're falling behind.
- The "Reversed" Link: Be careful. In the original game, Nozomi was easy to "Reverse" (where the link breaks), but in Reload, it’s much harder to mess up. Just don't be a total jerk to him during the Rank 9 event, and you'll be fine.
The cult storyline is weird, yeah. And the way he treats the protagonist at first is pretty grating. But watching him finally admit that he doesn't need to be his "perfect" dead brother to have value is actually a decent payoff.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough
Check your inventory right now for an Odd Morsel. If you don't have one, make it your priority during your next Tartarus run. Once you have it, ensure your Charm is at Rank 2 and go find Nozomi at the Paulownia Mall fountain. Use the quiz answers Pheromone Coffee, Red, and Hagakure Bowl to skip the trial-and-error and start the Moon Social Link immediately. Having a Moon Persona like Gurulu ready before you talk to him will save you at least two or three in-game days in the long run.