Along with quality-of-life updates and additions to its legendary soundtrack, Persona 5 Royal also adds some new characters. Spending time with Maruki, the new school counselor at Shujin Academy, must be prioritized at all costs. Without maxing his Confidant, you can’t access the Royal-only third semester or the true ending.
Table Of Contents
How to Begin the Councillor Confidant
In Persona 5 Royal, Maruki is hired by Shujin Academy to support students following the painful incidents caused by the school’s volleyball coach Kamoshida. Sympathetic and kind, he quickly becomes popular with the Phantom Thieves–even Yusuke visits him for counseling despite attending a different school. Behind his patient appearance, Maruki hides a dark past which is explored in the Royal-exclusive Third Semester.
You’ll start Maruki’s Confidant automatically on May 13. You can find Maruki on the first floor of Shujin Academy during school days on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
WarningYou must max out Maruki’s Confidant by November 18. If you don’t, you’ll miss all third-semester events, as well as the True Ending.
It’s not possible to progress the Councillor Confidant beyond Rank 5 before September 20. After this date, Maruki will be available nearly every school day, making it much easier to spend time with him to meet the hard deadline.
Spending time with Maruki will also increase your overall SP.
Councillor Confidant Skills
Spending time discussing your emotions with Maruki might not sound exciting, but these therapy sessions really pay off. Raising Maruki’s Confidant will reward you with helpful abilities useable in the Metaverse, as well as SP boosts and recovery items.
Check out the full list of abilities and necessary ranks below.
| Confidant Rank | Ability | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | -- | -- |
| 2 | Detox X | When Joker is inflicted with an ailment, he may recover immediately. |
| 3 | Flow | Chance to receive the effects of Charge and Concentrate at the start of battle. |
| 4 | -- | -- |
| 5 | Mindfulness | Chance to restore Joker's SP when it is low. |
| 6 | -- | -- |
| 7 | Flow Boost | Raises the chance of Flow succeeding. |
| 8 | -- | -- |
| 9 | Detox DX | Raises the chance of Detox X succeeding. |
| MAX | Wakefulness | Raises the SP recovered from Mindfulness. |
Maxing out the Councillor Confidant will allow you to fuse Vohu Manah. Itemizing this Persona creates the Doomsday ray gun, an incredibly powerful weapon for Akechi. If you wait to Itemize him during a fusion alarm, you’ll create Akechi’s ultimate gun, Ancient Day.
Hangout Conversations
Choosing specific dialogue options will earn you more points with Maruki. Below, we’ve listed all possible dialogue options and the corresponding points.
TipTo get the most points while spending time with Maruki, you’ll need to have a Persona of the Councillor Arcana on hand.
Rank 1
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "(Protagonist)-kun, it must've been especially tough for you after having just transferred here." | •Not really. •Yeah, it was. •To think I'd end up in a castle... | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "All you can eat...would be nice, but there's still plenty to be had. So, how about it?" | •We're not little kids. •Tell me more of these snacks... | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| Ryuji: "So, which way are you leanin'?" | •No harm in a little chat. •I'm going to do it. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
Rank 2
This Rank is automatic.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoshizawa: "Are you here for a session as well?" | •That's right. •You too, huh? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Welcome! Thank you for coming." | •Didn't have much choice. •We made a deal. •I'm a little nervous. | •0 •2 •2 | •0 •1 •1 |
| "Well, full disclosure...The school gave me a brief rundown of the circumstances surrounding your transfer here." | •It's in the past. •I'm doing okay now. •So much for my privacy. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "...Then again, maybe that's a little weird for you to hear from a guy you just met, huh?" | •But it sounds right. •Yep. •Kinda creeping me out here. | •3 •2 •0 | •2 •1 •0 |
| "If I get far enough with it, I think it'll be able to help a lot of people! So...?" | •So...what? •I'll need more details. •Uh... | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "And, uh...I've got a lot of snacks, too! You can have them! They're yours!" | •Well, okay. •Better make it worth it. •Why me, though? | •2 •0 •0 | •1 •0 •0 |
Rank 3
This Rank is unavailable on rainy days.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "But at the very least, I'm glad the ones who came to me have taken some steps toward recovery." | •So they have, huh? •You worry too much. •Thanks to you, probably. | •2 •0 •2 | •1 •0 •1 |
| "You remember how I asked you to help me with my research?" | •Of course. •Yeah, for our deal. •I forgot. | •2 •2 •0 | •1 •1 •0 |
| "Now, this is my question to you...When do you truly feel pain in your heart, (protagonist)-kun?" | •When someone betrays me. •When I lie. •When I get punched. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "Do you have any thoughts on this kind of pain, (protagonist)-kun?" | •That one seems necessary. •We'd be better off without it. •It's a seed for new loves. | •2 •0 •2 | •1 •0 •1 |
| "You helped me realize that purpose again. Thank you." | •Did that help? •Don't worry about it. | •2 •2 | •1 •1 |
| "I'm taking a breather. Just finished my last counseling session for the day. And I thought I'd thank you once again for your help earlier." | •Good work over there. •So you're actually working? •Getting to your research now? | •2 •0 •0 | •1 •0 •0 |
Rank 4
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Well, (protagonist)-kun, I just found out how scary cats can be, despite their cuteness." | •Where's this coming from? •What are you talking about? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I had no idea a cat's claws were so sharp..." | •I know, right...? •It's not the worst. •Talk about a reward. | •3 •0 •2 | •2 •0 •1 |
| "If only we could somehow directly reduce emotional pain in a healthy way—like putting antibiotics on a scratch." | •That'd be great. •Is that possible? •Is that what you're researching? | •2 •0 •3 | •1 •0 •2 |
| "I have such a torturous burning deep inside me!" | •...... •Are you okay? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "But we'll even be able to perform more effective treatment for those people with wounded hearts." | •That's a grand plan. •You're so kind. | •2 •2 | •1 •1 |
| "Say, would you like to try being my assistant? Of course, I'm on a shoestring budget, so I wouldn't be able to pay you!" | •That sounds fun. •I'm not the "free labor" type. •Nope. | •3 •0 •0 | •2 •0 •0 |
| "I should've asked this sooner, but...is this leaving you with any mental fatigue? Is your schoolwork being affected?" | •I feel completely fine. •It's part of our deal, so... •I'm struggling, to be honest. | •2 •2 •0 | •1 •1 •0 |
Rank 5
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "I thought I'd get a surprise for you, since you've been kind enough to indulge me all this time. Go ahead, enjoy!" | •This looks great! •How old do you think I am? •I could just take cash... | •3 •0 •2 | •2 •0 •1 |
| "Which container's cookies were marked as tasting better? Any guesses?" | •The one-cookie container. •The ten-cookie container. •It was a tie. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "You can see this law in action just by observing how excited people get over limited-edition merchandise." | •I never considered that. •They're getting played. •You know, you're right. | •0 •2 •3 | •0 •1 •2 |
| "How do you feel about that idea? That your unconscious desires may have changed the taste of the cookie?" | •My senses lied to me! •Hey, as long as it tastes good. •It's a little scary. | •2 •2 •0 | •1 •1 •0 |
| "That cookie would have remained more delicious than usual. It would have been a subjective truth of your reality." | •Not "truth" exactly... •I guess so. •I don't know... | •0 •2 •0 | •0 •1 •0 |
| "It was supposed to be a chance for us to relax, but it ended up being another big academic discussion..." | •I really don't mind. •Come on, man. •It was thought-provoking. | •2 •0 •2 | •1 •0 •1 |
Rank 6
You can only begin Rank 6 on or after September 20.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "You must have a real knack for coffee, (protagonist)-kun. This is fantastic." | •You wanted to talk? •Another cup? •We've got curry too. | •0 •2 •2 | •0 •1 •1 |
| "So I’m sorry to bother you, but I'd appreciate if you'd help me talk through this again." | •I can do that. •It's a deal. •I'm not up for this... | •3 •2 •0 | •2 •1 •0 |
| "With the way things are now, I can only save people directly within my reach." | •Isn't that enough? •You need more than that? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I don't think that would be enough to finally beat trauma. And I guess that's what I ultimately realized." | •So what CAN we do? •It's a hard question... •So give up. | •0 •0 •2 | •0 •0 •1 |
| "Then again, that’d be impossible. Maybe truly understanding all people’s hearts is beyond human capability. Hm? (Protagonist)-kun... Did I say something wrong?" | •All hearts share some things. •What if they're connected? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Yes, right, and...If I can combine this with the theory I'm verifying, I can tie it all back to cognitive psience, too...!" | •Calm down. •Where's this coming from? •Cognitive psience? | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "Sorry for...hah...rushing out...phew...so suddenly...hah...earlier..." | •Calm down. •What's going on? •Heavy breathing? Pervert. | •2 •2 •0 | •1 •1 •0 |
Rank 7
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Maybe it's a little hard to believe, but I guess I've taken an academic interest in them." | •You really are dedicated. •Are they even relevant? •Are you a fan? | •3 •0 •2 | •2 •0 •1 |
| "According to those calling cards they send out, their stated method is to 'steal your desires'...How is such a feat even possible? Any ideas, (protagonist)-kun?" | •No idea. •As in, removing them? •How about you, Maruki? | •3 •3 •0 | •2 •2 •0 |
| "Put another way, if that desire is gone, your cognitive perception of the cookies skews back to normal. So. Does that remind you of anything?" | •The change of heart...? •...... | •3 •0 | •2 •0 |
| "Well, they're thieves, so...if they could perceive a world like that, they could steal desires like any other treasure...Hey, (protagonist)-kun. You think I'm getting anywhere here?" | •I have no clue. •Sounds pretty far-fetched. •It's intriguing. | •0 •3 •3 | •0 •2 •2 |
Rank 8
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "(Protagonist)-kun, you're in for a real treat today! I know it's been a while since you've had one, too!" | •I'm good on cookies, thanks. •What do you mean? •Thanks, but I should get going. | •2 •3 •0 | •1 •2 •0 |
| "I'd like to take you to that buffet, as my way of thanking you. How does that sound?" | •Ooh, really? •Can you afford that? •Sorry, I prefer sushi. | •3 •2 •2 | •2 •1 •1 |
| "No holding back—eat as much as you please!" | •Thanks for the food! •Self-control much? •This is quite the spread. | •3 •0 •2 | •2 •0 •1 |
| "Oh, he's uhhh...how do I put it?" | •I'm his pupil. •It's complicated... •We've made a deal. | •2 •0 •3 | •1 •0 •2 |
| "I had meant to mention this earlier, but...my paper is finally almost finished." | •Congratulations. •Way to go. | •3 •3 | •2 •2 |
| Shibusawa: "Oh, don’t worry so much. Don't you wanna congratulate him too, (protagonist)-kun?" | •I sure do. •Let's celebrate. •I don't care who pays. | •3 •3 •0 | •2 •2 •0 |
| "You were going to ask about Rumi, right? Don't worry, it's fine." | •She a girlfriend of yours? •Who's Rumi? •Should I leave you two to talk? | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "Well...maybe it's because he knows I'm a little careless, though." | •He's a good friend. •Learn some independence. •You'll get the tab next time. | •2 •0 •0 | •1 •0 •0 |
Rank 9
WarningTo unlock the third semester, you must complete Rank 9 by November 17.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "You remember how my former girlfriend came up the other day? Rumi?" | •Yeah. •Kind of. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I think this’ll probably be the last time I come to you about the paper." | •Kind of sad... •Is our deal over? •Well...take care of yourself. | •3 •2 •2 | •2 •1 •1 |
MAX Rank
If Rank 9 is completed in time, this Rank will automatically trigger on November 18.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Glad to hear it! I wanted to discuss something with you, since it'll be our last chance to do so here." | •Last chance? •Oh, that's right... | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I'd always passed on it due to the price, but today is special! Not only that—I ordered the deluxe bowls for us!" | •Let's dig in. •Ooh, fancy. •Thank you. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "...Too bad I can't see anything now." | •Same here. •The life of a four-eyes... | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "My paper's done." | •Congratulations. •You did it! | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Please, allow me to express my gratitude to you once more as a most helpful student of Shujin...and as a phantom thief as well." | •How do you know that? •What do you mean? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "That is what I hypothesize as being the 'change of heart' you induce in your targets." | •You really know your stuff... •...... | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I was almost certain Mr. Kamoshida's change of heart was provoked by the three of you." | •Why'd you keep quiet? •What's your game here? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "But I think that's everything I'd kept from you...Does that change your opinion of me?" | •Well, we made a deal. •Will you rat us out? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Though, it'll likely be through different means than how the Phantom Thieves reform members of society." | •We all define justice differently. •I'll do my best too. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "We'll meet again though, right?" | •I'm sure of it. •Definitely. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
Other Hangouts
During the third semester, you’ll be able to spend more time with Maruki during specific story events. The dialogue choices you make on January 9 and February 2 are critical, as they will lead to either the True Ending or the Bad Ending.
Story Event (January 9)
NoteChoose “I can’t accept this reality” for the True Ending.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "For the sake of Yoshizawa-san, and the rest of your friends...I ask you to give me your answer." | •I can't accept this reality. •I'll accept this reality. | •True Ending •Bad Ending* | •True Ending •Bad Ending* |
| * "Oh, what a relief... you'll accept this world?" | •I need to think it over. •I'm serious. | •True Ending •Bad Ending* | •True Ending •Bad Ending* |
Story Event (February 2)
NoteChoose “I can’t” for the True Ending.
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "I've been concerned about a potential relapse, considering her difficulties with accepting this reality." | •She's just fine. •She's one tough lady. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I want to confirm with you one last time: is there no other way to come to an agreement besides fighting?" | •...... •We can't accept this reality. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "If you just stay, you'll never have to suffer from the pain of loss, or the pain of having people and things stolen from you!" | •Like you have? •What was stolen from you? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "So let me ask you the same: after really considering every option, do any of you have doubts about your views?" | •What do you mean? •What are you getting at? | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Please, accept my gift, for your friend's sake and your own!" *Will only occur if the protagonist fails to fulfill Akechi's promise. | •I can't. •I'll accept it. | •True Ending •Bad Ending* | •True Ending •Bad Ending* |
| * Morgana: "Hey... are you sure?" *Will only occur if the protagonist fails to fulfill Akechi's promise. | •I need to think it over again. •I'm sure. | •True Ending •Bad Ending | •True Ending •Bad Ending |
| "I'll be going now." | •This is for you. •You forgot something. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
Story Event (February 3)
| Dialogue | Possible Responses | Points WITH Matching Persona | Points WITHOUT Matching Persona |
|---|---|---|---|
| "It looks like I have your answer." | •It's time to finish this. •We're sure of ourselves now. •I'm sorry. | •0 •0 •0 | •0 •0 •0 |
| "Sorry, but I won't admit defeat just yet." | •Please, stop. •Please give this up. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "I gave up everything else...I dedicated all that I have to this...But I still...Why?" | •You're running from the past. •You're denying reality. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Don't you, of all people, understand that!?" | •You have to look to the future. •Even then, you keep going. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "You're the only one I can ask to help me with this, (protagonist)-kun." | •Very well. •I'm here for you. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
| "Please...let go of my hand." | •We're going back together. •I won't let it end like this. | •0 •0 | •0 •0 |
