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Persona 5 Royal Maruki confidant choices guide - The Councillor

by RPG Site Staff on 29 March, 2020

Persona 5 Royal adds a lot of new stuff to the already-brilliant world of Persona 5, and one of the most significant new additions are some confidant cooperation relationships that let you get to know new characters - like Takuto Maruki, the school counsellor who has the appropriate new arcana of The Councillor.

Getting to know Maruki will unlock not new abilities and skills in battle, plus open up a deep new relationship you very well might want to experience as part of your P5R journey. Time is always limited in Persona, however - but with this guide, you should be able to max out the relationship quickly and efficiently, which leaves you more time to get to know the other new character, Kasumi.

If you need more assistance with the rest of the game’s eclectic cast, check out our full Persona 5 & Royal Confidant guide, plus our Persona 5 & Royal Gift Guide. 

The Maruki confidant cooperation is new for Persona 5 Royal. It's also very easy to mess up - but this guide will help.

Takuto Maruki Confidant Cooperation Guide - The Councillor

On this page we feature every single confidant rank and conversation choice for the Persona 5 Royal exclusive relationship you can build with Takuto Maruki. We’ve tried to present it in as spoiler-free a way as we possibly can while keeping it useful.

Any conversation choices not listed here are such because they have no material impact on your relationship. Beyond that, the numbers next to each answer show how many points are added to the hidden XP value that determines when exactly each confidant cooperation relationship levels up to the next rank. 

For the record, the numbers shown represent the increases when you hang out with Maruki when you have a persona of Maruki’s arcana - The Councillor - on your person. Doing this gives you some bonus points - so always have a relevant Persona on you; that goes for all confidant cooperations.  

  • Once unlocked, you’ll be able to see Takuto Maruki on Monday and Friday daytimes. He’s your school councillor, and so he’ll be found in the school building, of course. 
  • The Maruki confidant relationship will kick off on May 13. 
  • You won’t be able to go beyond Rank 5 until after September 19.
  • Location & Availability: Maruki is available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday daytimes. 
  • CONFIDANT DEADLINE: Finally, you must progress to Rank 9 before November 17 if you want to reach Rank 10. This unlocks the new semester added to P5R, unlocking a lot of new content, but is also key if you want to get the game's true ending.

Rank 1:

  • You’ll meet Takuto Maruki through the natural progression of P5R’s story - he’ll show up and meet you to kick off the confidant relationship on 5/13. None of the conversation choices here matter.
  • Unlocks +5 SP, plus an item.

Rank 2:

Impactful Conversation Choices for this Rank:

  • Welcome! Thank you for coming.
    • Option 1: “We made a deal.” +2
    • Option 2: “I’m a little nervous.” +2
  • Maybe that's a little weird for you to hear from a guy you just met, huh?
    • Option 1: “But it all sounds right.” +3
    • Option 2: "Yep." +2
  • You can have them! They're yours!
    • Option 1: “Well, okay.” +2

Unlocks +5 SP & 1x Non-Static Gum item. Unlocks Detox X - a passive ability that means when you’re given a negative status ailment, you have a chance to heal it right away.

Rank 3:

Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • I'm glad the ones who came to me have taken some steps toward recovery.
    • Option 1: "So they have, huh?" +2 
    • Option 3: “Thanks to you, probably.” +2
  • You remember how I asked you to help me with my research?
    • Option 1: "Of course." +2
    • Option 2 "Yeah, for our deal." +2
  • Do you have any thoughts on this kind of pain?
    • Option 1: "That one seems necessary." +2 
    • Option 2: “It’s a seed for new loves.”
  • You helped me realize that purpose again. Thank you.
    • Option 1: "Did that help?" +2
    • Option 2: "Don't worry about it." +2
  • Bonus Phone Call: I thought I'd thank you once again for your help earlier.
    • Option 1: “Good work over there.” +2

Unlocks +5 SP & 1x Jagariko item. Unlocks Flow, which can give you the Charge and Concentrate buffs at the start of battles at random.

Rank 4

Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • I had no idea a cat's claws were so sharp...
    • Option 1: "I know, right…?" +3 
    • Option 3: "Talk about a reward." +2
  • ...like putting antibiotics on a scratch.
    • Option 3: "Is that what you’re researching?" +3 
    • Option 1: "That’d be great." +2
  • We'll even be able to perform more effective treatment for those people with wounded hearts.
    • Option 1: "That's a grand plan." +2
    • Option 2: "You're so kind." +2
  • I'm on a shoestring budget, so I wouldn't be able to pay you!
    • Option 1: "That sounds fun." +3
  • Bonus Phone Call: Is your schoolwork being affected?
    • Option 1: "I feel completely fine." +2 
    • Option 2: "It’s part of our deal, so..." +2

Unlocks +5 SP & 1x Happy Pop item.

Rank 5:

Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • Go ahead, enjoy!
    • ​​​​​​​Option 1: “This looks great” +3
    • Option 3: "I could just take cash..." +2
  • You can see this law in action just by observing how excited people get over limited-edition merchandise.
    • Option 3: “You know, you’re right.” +3
    • Option 2: "They're getting paid." +2
  • Your unconscious desires may have changed the taste of the cookie?
    • Option 1: "My senses lied to me!" +2
    • Option 2: “Hey, as long as it tastes good.” +2
  • It would have been a subjective truth of your reality.
    • Option 2: “I guess so.” +2
  • Bonus Phone Call: It ended up being another big academic discussion...
    • Option 1: “I really don’t mind.” +2
    • Option 3: "It was thought-provoking." +2

Unlocks +5 SP & 1x Donut Worry item. Unlocks Mindfulness, another passive skill that has the chance to restore some SP when your SP is low.

Rank 6:

Reminder: You won’t be able to go beyond Rank 5 until after September 19. Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • This is fantastic.
    • Option 2 “Another cup?” +2
    • Option 2 “We’ve got curry too.” +2
  • I'd appreciate if you'd help me talk through this again.
    • Option 1: “I can do that.” +3
    • Option 2: "It's a deal." +2
  • I don't think that would be enough to finally beat trauma. And I guess that's what I ultimately realized.
    • Option 3: “So give up.” +2
  • Bonus Phone Call: Sorry for... hah... rushing out... phew... so suddenly... hah... earlier...
    • Option 1: “Calm down.” +2
    • Option 2: “What’s going on.” +2

Rank 7:

Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • I guess I've taken an academic interest in them.
    • Option 1: "You really are dedicated." +3
    • Option 3: "Are you a fan?" +2
  • How is such a feat even possible? Any ideas, Joker?
    • ​​​​​​​Option 1: "No idea." +3
    • Option 2: "As in, removing them?" +3
  • Does that remind you of anything?
    • Option 1: "The change of heart..."
  • You think I'm getting anywhere here?
    • Option 2: "Sounds pretty far-fetched." +3
    • Option 3: It's intriguing." +3

Unlocks Quick Flow ability. Unlocks +5 SP & 1x Phantom Wafers item.

Rank 8 :

Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • I know it's been a while since you've had one, too!
    • Option 2: “What do you mean?” +3
    • Option 1: “I’m good on cookies, thanks.” +2
  • I'd like to take you to that buffet, as my way of thanking you. How does that sound?​​​​​​​
    • Option 1: “Ooh, really?” +3
    • Option 2: “Can you afford that?” +2
    • Option 3: “Sorry, I prefer sushi.” +2
  • No holding back! Eat as much as you please!
    • Option 1: “Thanks for the food!” +3
    • Option 3: “This is quite the spread.” +2
  • Oh, he's uhhh... how do I put it?​​​​​​​
    • Option 3: “We’ve made a deal.” +3
    • Option 1: “I’m a student.” +2
  • My paper is finally almost finished.
    • ​​​​​​​Option 1: "Congratulations." +3
    • Option 2: "Way to go." +3
  • Don't you wanna congratulate him too?
    • Option 1: “I sure do.” +2
    • Option 2: “Let’s celebrate.” +2
  • Bonus Phone Call: Maybe it's because he knows I'm a little careless, though.
    • Option 1: “He’s a good friend.” +2

Rank 9

You must complete Rank 9 before November 17th in order to unlock the third semester, which can help lead to one of the Persona 5 Royal endings. Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • I think this’ll probably be the last time I come to you about the paper.​​​​​​​
    • Option 1: “Kind of sad...” +3
    • Option 2: “Is our deal over?” +2
    • Option 3: “Well… take care of yourself.” +2

Rank up unlocks +5 SP & 1x Fulfiller item. Unlocks the Detox DX ability, raising the effectiveness and chance of Detox X (Maruki’s rank 2 confidant ability) occurring at random.

Rank 9 → 10:

This rank will occur naturally through story progress so long as you have reached Rank 9 before November 17.

Impactful conversation choices for this rank:

  • None! Just enjoy the ride. After you max out Maruki's Confidant, you can take a path to either the bad ending or the true ending, as detailed in our endings guide.

Unlocks the Wakefulness ability, which improves the recovery of SP you get from the Mindfulness ability unlocked at Rank 5.