Ryoji Mochizuki

Ryoji Mochizuki is a non-playable character from Persona 3. He is a transfer student who enrolled into Gekkoukan High School later in the story and became known for his flirtatious nature.
==Appearances==
*Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload: Major Character
*Persona 3 Portable (F): Fortune Social Link
**Persona 3 (Manga): Major Character
**Persona 3 The Movie: Major Character
**Persona 3 Portable Dear Girls Comic Anthology
**Persona 3: the Weird Masquerade -Souen no Kesshou-/ Chapter 4: Ai no Seiyaku/Final Chapter: Hekikuu no Kanata e
**Persona 3 Portable Drama CD Volume 2
==Design==
Ryoji has black, swept back hair, blue eyes, and a beauty mark under his left eye. He wears the school uniform of Gekkoukan High School, with the added detail of folded black sleeves. He also wears black suspenders, a watch with crossed straps on his left wrist, and a yellow scarf. He is never seen without his scarf except in Kyoto.
In the movie and Reload, his skin has a slightly warm complexion (In the original anime cutscene, his skin was very pale).
==Personality==
=== Pre-December 2nd ===
With his debut in early November, Ryoji is introduced as an outgoing, naive, playboy-type who quickly finds a reputation for flirting with every girl in school. He immediately becomes a popular figure among both his classmates and the wider set of Gekkoukan's female students, remarked by many to be very physically attractive. Although not meaning any harm, his attitude makes some of his peers (such as Yukari) upset. He shows little concern for other peoples' boundaries and generally fails to pick up on the social clues expressed by those who dislike him or his flirtatious nature. His personality is similar enough to Junpei's to lead to the two of them becoming good friends within a few weeks. 
As a result of Ryoji's heavily restricted limelight in Persona 3 and FES, a great deal of his character is developed in additional content or adaptations. Persona 3 The Movie #3: Falling Down gives Ryoji considerably more screen time and insight into personality than the original game. While his obliviousness and womanizer habits remain, added to these is a great stubbornness and desire to help people. At the beginning of the movie, Makoto Yuki falls into a difficult depression brought on by a combination of his circumstances and Pharos' words to him. Ryoji slowly combats this through sheer force of will. Set on befriending Makoto, Ryoji spends a great deal of time with him– working a job with him, performing a help service at school with him, and remaining by his side as a persistently positive role model. Despite knowing him for "minimal time", Ryoji is willing to dedicate himself to the happiness of his classmate. The movie develops a Ryoji Mochizuki who is incredibly attentive, caring, and unwilling to give up on Makoto in spite of his attempts to push Ryoji away from him.
His Social Link, as seen in Portable, is one which demonstrates a considerably softer, kinder side of his personality. As opposed to his portrayal in the movies, Ryoji is generally very calm and considerate of the protagonist's feelings. The Link starts him off relatively carefree and flirtatious before settling into a more serious and sensitive attitude around the female protagonist. He attempts to get through to her his genuine feelings of affection, having quiet conversations with her and making an open effort to respect her. On top of an ability to be more composed and appreciative than he is depicted outside of the Fortune Social Link, the Link also exposes the uncertainty he harbors. Ryoji admits that his existence grants him fear and uneasiness. While often very spunky and carefree, Ryoji also finds himself settling into a scared, sensitive, and fragile person who desperately wants to rely on the protagonist while also being afraid to take too much of her for himself. He is very selfless and self-conscious, and is consistently pained by it. He feels that his personal wants and what he believes is best for the female protagonist do not align.
Persona 3 Reload expands on ideas touched upon in Portable and the stageplay: a great love for and interest in humanity. His hangout events show his interest in the world around him, and a great appreciation for the protagonist in opening his eyes to it all, "expand[ing his] horizons". In particular, Ryoji latches on to the concept of relationships between people. He wishes to understand why people form connections between each other and to define the meaningful connection between the protagonist and himself. Through it all, he is characterized as genuinely curious and warmhearted. When he realizes his feelings towards the protagonist are that of love, Ryoji focuses on how happy he was to be able to have such an experience. A new scene during the four days of career experience depict Ryoji's deep concern for Junpei and a greater insight to his care for people outside of the protagonist.
=== Post-December 2nd ===
Ryoji's rematch with Aigis marks the complete return of his memories as Death and understanding of his existence. The depictions of this version of him vary little in comparison to the him coming before it. Where he was previously bubbly, bright, and a bit insensitive, Ryoji becomes very mellow and apologetic. He harbors a great guilt for what he has done to the protagonist and Aigis, and what his existence marks concerning the end of the world. Despite being Death itself, Ryoji is incredibly sad to have to bring such a fate down upon the group he had spent the last month building a friendship with. Where Ryoji has zero obligation to care, he cares deeply. His great kindness leads him to beg SEES to take his life so that they need not suffer until the day of The Fall, going so far as to ask the protagonist multiple times and to appear before him as Thanatos in order to sway his decision. A dorm conversation with Fuuka leads her to regretfully wonder if he spent Christmas having fun with girls or crying all by himself.
On New Year's Eve, Ryoji will accept any decision SEES chooses to make, understanding that it is their lives that only they know what to do with. He does not blame or criticize them for either option, being open to all ways of living, with his objections to them sparing him only resulting from a personal desire for the group to escape suffering. As Death, Ryoji wishes for the happiness of those he grew to befriend, and for humanity as a whole. He is incredibly thankful for the time he spent with the protagonist and the miraculous bond they got to share. The Nyx Avatar ultimately states it never minded the time it spent as Ryoji Mochizuki.
==Profile==
===Persona 3===
After the defeat of the twelve Greater Shadows, followed by the exposure of Shuji Ikutsuki's deceit and his simultaneous death, Ryoji arrives as a transfer student, claiming his parents are working overseas. In actuality, he is the being Ikutsuki tricked SEES into summoning. Ryoji's flirtatious personality immediately gains people's attention and his frequent antics with Junpei causes him to often get on Yukari's nerves. Aigis continually expresses an unknown feeling of hostility toward him and repeatedly warns the protagonist to keep his guard up around Ryoji.
Despite the warnings, Ryoji later befriends Junpei and Yukari, along with the protagonist and the other members of SEES. He proclaims to be from a rich family, and is apparently very popular with his classmates. During a school trip, Ryoji, Junpei, Akihiko, and the protagonist attempt to get in a hot spring with the girls by "mistaking" the time. Eventually, Yukari, Mitsuru, Fuuka, and Aigis show up in the hot spring, much to Akihiko's panic and fear. Depending on the protagonist's actions, he could either escape from the girls' vision or get caught for being a "peeping Tom." Should the protagonist successfully avoid the girls, Ryoji and Junpei will faint from staying in the hot springs for too long.
Ryoji's true past is revealed after Aigis eventually senses who he really is. She confronts him one night during the Dark Hour on the Moonlight Bridge. At first, Ryoji can't remember what led him there, or why Aigis shows such hostility toward him. Aigis explains what she really is and her true purpose as an Anti-Shadow Weapon. She claims to have fought against Ryoji at that same location 10 years ago. This triggers his memories of his true identity, the anthropomorphic personification of Death, and Ryoji easily halts Aigis' assault, heavily wounding her. He faints after SEES arrives, but explains his true identity the next day.
Ryoji reveals that he was sealed inside the protagonist's body 10 years ago by Aigis, after she realized Death can not be defeated. Being locked away within the protagonist's body, he manifested as the form of a child known as Pharos, and defeating the twelve Shadows manifested him further into the real world as Ryoji Mochizuki. He explains that he is the "Appriser" of Nyx, and is destined to be the harbinger of Death (ultimately becoming the Avatar of Nyx). However, he feels misery and guilt because of the bond between the Protagonist and his other identity, Pharos. Thus Ryoji offers SEES the option to kill him, instead of facing Nyx, but gives them a month to think about it.
On December 31, Ryoji asks for SEES to make their decision. He invites himself into the protagonist's room and sits on his bed, where he issues an offer where the protagonist could kill him, so the memories of the Dark Hour (the cause of all of SEES' pain and suffering) can be erased, allowing them to live their lives as normal high school students until the inevitable arrival of Nyx on the promised day. In a further attempt to persuade the protagonist to kill him, Ryoji takes on his true form as Death.
The protagonist is not given a second chance to reconsider his choices in this event.
December 31 	December 31
This is a very important decision. You must choose wisely.	This is a very important decision. You must choose wisely.
Let Ryoji Live 	Good ending; game proceeds
Kill Ryoji 	Bad Ending; game skips to March 3, then March 5
Accepting Ryoji's offer will result in a bad ending. The protagonist is shown pointing his Evoker to his head, presumably to summon his Persona and kill Ryoji, before the scene fades to black. All memories of The Fall are forgotten and rewritten if applicable. The date then advances to the 3rd of March, where Junpei, Yukari and the protagonist live their lives and attend Gekkoukan, meeting Aigis on the way. Junpei and Yukari do not recognize Aigis and her name is replaced by "Strange Girl."
The game then skips to the 5th of March, where the trio attend the third year's Graduation ceremony. Mitsuru steps up to the podium to hold a speech about last year, but the death of her father was seemingly rewritten without mentioning the Dark Hour and Ikutsuki's involvement in it, and similarly, Yukari omits the reason for her father's death. Unlike in later Persona games, the normal credits roll upon triggering this bad ending, but an extra scene post-credits displays Yukari, Junpei and the protagonist singing karaoke before the screen fades to gray, presumably implying that they were all killed by The Fall.
If the protagonist refuses Ryoji's offer to kill him, he provides the members of SEES with useful information regarding a confrontation with Nyx. When Ryoji leaves, he tells them to "look forward to the next year," presumably indicating that he himself hopes that they can put a stop to Nyx. The Adamah Block in Tartarus becomes available afterwards, the Fool Arcana Social Link maxes out, and the Judgement Arcana Social Link begins.
On January 31st, Ryoji appears at the top of Tartarus as the Nyx Avatar, bearing the potential and skills that the twelve previous Shadows possessed. Throughout the battle he shifts from one Arcana to another while explaining their motifs and purpose, up to his final final and true Arcana, Death. While arming an attack, he tells the protagonist not to regret anything, as this is the protagonist's "own decision."
After the protagonist manages to fend off the Avatar of Nyx, Ryoji laments that there should have been more people like SEES, then perhaps the Fall could have been avoided, and shrugs off the SEES' assault, and continues his summoning of Nyx. As SEES fall into despair, the protagonist rises upon the moon to face Nyx. Through the cheering of others, he manages to perform the Great Seal, thus stopping Nyx. Ryoji's voice reappears, commentating that the protagonist has found his answer to life, before fading away.
====Portable====
Ryoji represents the female protagonist's Fortune Arcana Social Link, which automatically starts on November 9th.
His Social Link, although short-lived, talks about his time as a human on earth spending time with the female protagonist. He is first introduced to her through Junpei, and they become fast friends despite Aigis' hostility towards Ryoji. As time goes by, Ryoji develops strong romantic feelings for her, but is also strangely saddened when near her. He considers their relationship to be "forbidden love." He leaves her before the next full moon, teary-eyed.
After maxing out his Social Link, Ryoji gives the female protagonist his Faint Glow Ring as a memento of his time on earth, enabling the fusion of Norn. He claims he will survive his heartbreak if she keeps it.
Ryoji's alignment with the Fortune Arcana is manifested when he lets SEES decide on how to deal with Nyx, as the Fortune Arcana represents deciding one's fate, as well as seizing the opportunities provided by it.
====Persona 3 Reload====
Ryoji is nearly identical to his original counterpart. However, he has special Linked Episodes where he will speak to the protagonist privately.
If the protagonist accepts his offer on December 31, "Kimi no Kioku" does not play in the credits. Instead, "Mistic" plays as a bad ending version of the credits roll, and the ending cutscene with Yukari, Junpei and the protagonist turns to grey and fades, implying that Nyx killed them all when they were singing karaoke.
==Gallery==
===Persona 3===
P3-Ryoji.jpg|Concept artwork of Ryoji
Persona 3 Ryoji.png|Concept artwork of Ryoji's costume (Kyoto)
Persona 3 Ryoji Anime.png|Concept artwork of Ryoji (cinematic)
P3-Vol.1.png|Ryoji and the protagonist
SEES Soejima Art.jpg|Ryoji on the right
===Persona 3 (Manga)===
Persona 3 Manga 3.jpg|Chapitre Deux
Persona 3 manga 2.jpg|Chapitre Quatre
P3 Manga Chapitre Six.jpg|Chapitre Six
P3 manga Volume 8 cover.jpg|Chapitre Huit
P3 Manga Chapitre Neuf.jpg|Chapitre Neuf
P3 Manga Ryoji with his bang down.jpg|Ryoji with his bang down
===Persona 3 The Movie===
Ryoji P3M Design.png|Ryoji's design in Persona 3 The Movie
P3M Winter of Rebirth Countdown 08.jpg|Illustration countdown of Winter of Rebirth
Ryoji Mochizuki in P3M.jpg|Ryoji Mochizuki in Persona 3 The Movie
Chihiro Fushimi makes a cameo appearances in P3M.png|Ryoji and Chihiro
Keisuke Hiraga makes a cameo appearances in P3M.jpg|Ryoji posing with Makoto
FinallySmiled.gif|Ryoji and Makoto
P3M FD.jpg|Ryoji on the Moonlight Bridge
P3M Falling Down CD cover.jpg|
Persona 3 Falling Down DVD Cover.jpg|
Duo bridge.png|Makoto and Ryoji
===Persona 3: the Weird Masquerade===
SnK Ryoji.jpg|Ryoji as he appears in Persona 3: the Weird Masquerade
===Other===
P25 SCC Collaboration Promo Art P3.jpg|Promotional artwork for the Persona 25th Anniversary x Sega Collaboration Cafe collaboration
===Videos===
file:Persona 3 FES-The Journey - "Bad Ending"|Accepting Ryoji's offer in non-Reload versions of Persona 3
file:Persona 3 Reload - Bad Ending|Accepting Ryoji's offer in Persona 3 Reload
==In Other Languages==
Language	Title
Japanese	望月 綾時 (Mochizuki Ryōji)
Korean 	모치즈키 료지 (Mochijeuki Ryoji)
German 	Ryoji Mochizuki
==Etymology==
* The name Ryoji means "design" (綾) (ryo) and "time, hour, occasion" (時) (ji). 
* Ryoji's surname Mochizuki means "full moon" (望月).
** It can also mean "wish, desire" (望) (mochi) and "moon" (月) (tsuki/zuki) separately.
==Trivia==
*Ryoji's true form as The Appriser is Thanatos, "the bringer of death."
*In chapter 18.5 of the Persona 3 manga, where Ryoji changes his hairstyle in order to confuse Mitsuru on which one was the real Minato, he bears a strong resemblance to him, possibly due to his appearance being based on Minato. Ryoji manifested Minato's looks due to him being sealed in him.
**However, he doesn't resemble the female protagonist during her route, despite Ryoji being sealed inside her too.
**Along with this is certain artworks of Ryoji and either male or female protagonist, he seems to be taller than both.
*During one of the events in his social link, Ryoji states that he would love the female protagonist no matter if she were a boy or a girl.
*Ryoji shares both his English and Japanese voice actors with the protagonist.
* In one of the Link events in Reload, some students are dissatisfied about Ryoji taking their female partners out for dates and tried to confront him over it.
==References==
Category:Persona 3 FES Characters
Category:Persona 3 Portable Characters
Category:Persona 3 Allies
Category:Persona 3 The Movie Characters
Category:Fortune Arcana
Category:Death Arcana
Category:Persona 3 Enemies
Category:Enemies