 The head of the team working on this treatment, Doctor Atsuko Chiba, begins using the machine illegally to help psychiatric patients outside of the research facility, using her alter-ego "Paprika", a persona she assumes in the dream world.Chiba's closest allies are Doctor Toratarō Shima, the chief of the department, and Doctor Kōsaku Tokita, an obese, genius man-child and inventor of the DC Mini.Paprika counsels Detective Toshimi Konakawa, who is plagued by a recurring dream.