The Yakuza games have always given players lots to do, whether related to the lengthy main story or the many Substories. The spin-off/prequel Like a Dragon: Ishin is no different, and like the mainline series, the protagonist Ryoma can help the locals and solve their problems too.
One of these substories in Like a Dragon: Ishin is Chapter 3's Substory number 18, The Reclusive Son. The story features an argument between a concerned mother and a son that lives as a recluse, never leaving his room. Of course, Ryoma will offer to help and prepares to give the young man a pep talk to get his life back in order.
Locating The Reclusive Son Substory
The location of the substory can be located on the above map in East Umekojicho in Rakugai. As Ryoma walks through the area on the map, he finds a mother and a son arguing outside their home.
After speaking with the mother, Ryoma discovers that he has something in common with the son named Uchitaro. They are the younger brothers of the heirs of samurai families, also known as Heyazumi. Agreeing to help, Like a Dragon's Ryoma, will speak to Uchitaro to try and encourage him to live a better life. To complete this side quest successfully, the player must select the correct answers during their chat.
Answers For The Reclusive Son
Ryoma will now sit down with the Uchitaro and attempt to inspire him in conversation. The answers are as follows:
Answer One
Ryoma must start the chat correctly, as the son instantly closed up when his mother left the room. Ryoma will question himself on how he should start it off. The correct answer is What are you up to?
He discovers that Uchitaro doesn't leave his room to go outside much and sits around reading all day. Ryoma tries to get the son to see that he should go outside and enjoy life and not live with any regrets.
Answer Two
Realizing that he needs to get into the son's mindset even more, Ryoma must decide what to ask him next. The answer to the second answer is to Make a personal connection.
During the second part of the conversation, Ryoma loses his patience with Uchitaro and demands to know what he thinks he has to offer the potential woman of his dreams in Ishin. To his surprise, the son is listening to Ryoma.
Answer Three
Finally, Ryoma must continue his push to get the young man out of his room and feel inspired. The correct answer for Ryoma is to Boost his self-confidence.
In the third conversation, Uchitaro reveals that he loved sword fighting until he witnessed a robber getting cut down in front of him. The trauma was enough for the man to lose confidence in himself and realize that sword combat in Ishin usually ends with someone losing their life. Despite a successful conversation, Uchitaro refuses to return to his sword practice and asks Ryoma to leave.
To summarize the answers to Substory 18, The Reclusive Son are:
- What are you up to?
- Make a personal connection.
- Boost his self-confidence.
Fighting Alongside Uchitaro
Outside the house, it appears that Ryoma has failed to inspire Uchitaro, but taking his leave, a thug bumps into the mother and threatens her. Ryoma holds back and hopes the son will come to the rescue, and it works. A frightened Uchitaro confronts the villain to protect his mother, and it isn't long before the thug's backup arrives. Unsurprisingly, Ryoma will offer to even the odds and take down the bad guys together.
Aside from the increased numbers, the fight isn't vastly different from the rest of the battles Ryoma will encounter on the streets. Ensure that Ryoma's health is replenished and use the Wild Dancer fighting style. With the fight over, Uchitaro has found his confidence again, and Ryoma is rewarded with the Iron Gauntlets and 350 virtue points.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.