He's trying so hard to make Palma and and Tokiko have chemistry but it's just not going to happen. Palma's character is way too thin and leaves no impression aside from being ditzy and somewhat lacking in confidence. Unlike Ely
Maybe the author could have saved it if they introduced Palma earlier but at the moment Palma just seems like a lame consolation prize compared with Ely. Ely brutally personality-mogs her.