Actually, there's a scene around the last chapter that sums it up pretty well, where he's
It's a very, very Japanese-style storytelling element, granted, where symbolic actions tend to be viewed as more logically-acceptable. It's not the kind of thing we often see in western storytelling, so I get why you might initially interpret it the way you do.
And even with that all being the case, I'd further say that the "crazy" bit isn't even necessarily an act, so much as just a genuine part of his personality that he later pushes to the fore. When he's making his way through the
And last thing, I wouldn't liken his starting personality in the game to Kazuma so much, that of the "quiet and serious" type; if anything, he's got more in common with the way Nishiki acts. He's more the charming and cool type, who begins to act a bit more desperate because of the crappy position he's put in.
Anyway, finally passed Akiyama's part in Y5. Have to say, the fact that he's saddled along with Haruka in the same chapter really works to his detriment. I used to love Akiyama so much in Y4 and Dead Souls, but I was left uninterested playing his stuff here. It's just not very compelling, when all his story stuff deals with the same ridiculous "dreams of a pop idol" crap as Haruka. Not to mention that Sotenbori looks really ugly in this game, all sun-drenched and washed-out. Hard to look at.
Regardless, that means I've finally moved on to Shinada. And man oh man, what a refreshing change that is. I didn't read much at all about him beforehand, only knowing that he was an ex-baseball player. But on top of that, he's now a perpetually-in-debt writer for an adult entertainment magazine?
Compelling, original, and fun. As a character, I just love this guy so far. Have to see where his story goes, but I'm hooked as it is now.