Nekopara Vol. 4

Nekopara Vol. 4 is the fifth installment in the Nekopara Visual Novel series. The game focuses on Kashou and his struggles to meet his father's expectations as a patissier and gain his approval.

Despite the popularity of, "La Soleil", Kashou's father continues to disapprove of it. Determined to get his father to approve of him, Kashou journeys to France to seek advice from the teacher who taught him his craft. A new chapter awaits in the next volume of the NEKOPARA series!

Tropes used in Nekopara Vol. 4 include:

Art Evolution: The art in Vol. 4 has leaps and bounds improved compared to the last three volumes as the character models are much more animated even for minor things such as reactions and idle movements.
As You Know: After the Wham! Line below, Kashou and his catpanions explain the issue between his father and himself. Specifically in regards to his decision to become a patissier.
Awful Truth: As Kashou looks to find the "core" he is missing, he admits to Maple and Cinnamon that his Catpanions encouraging him is actually causing him more harm than help.
Big Eater: Coconut, to the point where Azuki calls her out for trying to eat everything, leaving nothing for Awayuki. Kashou fortunately tells Coconut that he was prepared and thus made enough to satisfy her appetite.

Coconut: I can eat a big dinner even if I do some snacking!
Azuki: Yeah, YOU and YOU alone.

Break the Haughty: Downplayed. Kashou believed that he held an advantage against his father, whose expertise was with Japanese sweets, when it came to Western sweets. But after his father easily makes a whipped cream that is close to his mentor's flavor, something he hasn't been able to do, all he could do is leave in disgrace.
Continuity Nod: In contrast to the other catgirls who just let their hair down, Chocola and Vanilla's hairstyle in their yukatas is the same from the party in Vol. 3.
Crazy Prepared: Shigure learned how to speak fluently in French upon the chance that Kashou would never return home from France. Which comes in handy when she follows him on his return to France.
Forgotten First Meeting: Subverted. Fraize from the start recognized Kashou, but decided to keep quiet as he had other things on his mind.
Freudian Excuse: Possibly in regards to Shigure's Brother Complex. After Kashou had left for France to study abroad, Shigure was devastated when she couldn't find him anywhere to the point where she freaks out unless she is able to see and hear from him. Kashou stated in response that he did tell her but either was too young to understand or didn't bother to listen.
Gratuitous English: Chocola excitedly names the foods available at the birthday party using their English names.
Heroic BSOD: After his ill-fated encounter with his father, he struggles with finding the "core" his father says that he lacks. Not helping matters is that a cheesecake they ate from a convenience store at the hot springs is comparable to the sweets he makes. It gets to the point where he starts to second-guess himself, wondering if becoming a patissier was a good idea after all.
Hot Springs Episode: Vol. 4 features Kashou, Shigure, and the catgirls heading to the hot springs as a token of the former's appreciation for latter's hard work at the patisserie.
Meaningful Name:
- The reason Beignet named her cake shop La Soleil was because her son, Suhama, compared her to the sun.
- Fraise named herself after the dessert Kashou made for her when she was a kitten: Macaron à la fraise.
Meanwhile Scene: In Vol. 4, once the story focuses on Kashou and Shigure's time in France, the transition screens show how the catgirls are doing running the Patisserie by themselves.
Pimped-Out Dress: Shigure wears an Elegant Gothic Lolita version of this in order to blend in while in France. Kashou tells her that it just makes her stand out more as a tourist.
Precision F-Strike: Downplayed. Vanilla describes Chocola in a yukata as "cute AF."
Put on a Bus: Inverted, as while Kashou and Shigure head to France, the focus remains on them while the catgirls are out of focus.
Sequel Hook: Done twice in regards to a certain character:
- Upon leaving France to head back to Japan, Shigure gives Fraise a travel voucher as a gift as she invites her and Beignet to visit La Solei when they come to Japan.
- At the post-credits scene, where La Soleil ends up increasing in business to the point where it's near impossible to maintain, Kashou states that a worker like Fraise would come in handy at a time like this.
Strong Family Resemblance: Awayuki looks like Shigure with longer hair.
Wham! Line: Shigure delivers one to Kashou right after the opening:

I would like to request you make Mother's birthday cake!