A few days later…
"Hey, Maly. How did you do on your tests so far?" asked Keiko as she turned to glance at Mallory after they're done with their tests in the morning session of the day.
"So far so good. What about you, Keiko?" replied Mallory before she asked a question back to Keiko.
"Madame Keiko did very well in her tests, Miss Mallory." replied Morgana proudly to Mallory about Keiko doing well in her tests.
"Morgana!" gasped Keiko with an embarrassed look on her face.
"Oh, is that so? Good for her even though I'm quite surprised that you somehow managed to did well on your tests since you always went out every night to meet and spend time with that politician man, Toranosuke Yoshida or meet and spend time with that famous Detective Prince guy and I sure hope that both Sakamoto and Takamaki also did good in their tests like us." said Mallory as she smiled at both Keiko (who look even more embarrassed when Mallory mention Akechi) and Morgana before they, Ann and the other students in their class heard the school intercom start buzzing before the familiar voice of Kawakami-sensei start talking.
"Attention all students, there'll be an assembly in the auditorium later and you're all required to attend, that's all." said Kawakami-sensei before she stop talking and the students around Keiko, Mallory, Morgana and Ann start talking.
"A school wide assembly, at this time of year? Really?"
"Think we can bring our flash cards in?"
"Kamoshida is just one of the many things wrong with this school…"
"Totally."
"I've got to hurry home and study!"
"That Kamoshida is still causing us trouble, even when he's gone…"
"Wonder what the assembly's about and why they need us to attend, you guys." said Ann as she turned to glance with a curious look on her face at Keiko, Mallory and Morgana.
"I guess we'll see and know why once we attend the assembly, Ann." said Keiko as both she and Mallory stood up from their seats (while Morgana went into Keiko's desk) and left the classroom together with Ann also standing up from her seat and followed behind them.
XXXX
A few minutes later, in the auditorium…
"Ever since that specific incident, many of you have voiced concerns that I could not bear to ignore. We believe the mental health of our student body is absolutely vital, so we've acquired the services of a therapist. The floor is yours, doctor…" said Principal Kobayakawa calmly and reassuringly to the students before he glance to his left, call out to the doctor before stepping aside to let a tan-skinned, short unkempt dark brown-haired, bespectacled brown-eyed tall man wearing a blue dress shirt with a dark blue checkered necktie around his neck and a long sleeve white lab-coat over his shirt and necktie, long light grey pants and open toed dark brown sandals on his feet approaching and stopping in front of the microphone.
"Humph. As if you truly care one bit about our mental health and that's the therapist that will help us, huh?" thought Keiko in annoyance at the principal then curiously at the therapist.
"Isn't he hot?" said the carefree-looking girl to her friend standing in front of Keiko, Mallory and Ann.
"Seriously, she thinks and tell her friend that the therapist is hot? He looks like a normal-looking man to me and yet he somehow looks familiar and reminded me of someone…" thought Mallory in annoyance at the 2 girls talking about how hot they think the therapist is then in confusion at why the therapist reminded her of someone.
"It's nice to meet you all." greeted the male therapist politely to the students.
"Whoa, he's not only hot but also have a sexy voice too!" said the calm-looking girl happily to the carefree-looking girl.
"My name is-Huh?" the male therapist started introducing himself only to stop when he noticed that the microphone suddenly stops working and he quickly fix it. "My name is Takuto Maruki. Thank you for welcoming me to your school." said the male therapist named Takuto Maruki to the students before he bowed only to hit his head on the microphone and make him clutch his forehead with his hands and winced in pain from it.
"Ouch, that's gotta hurt for a silly and clumsy man like him, huh, Keiko?" said Mallory in amusement to Keiko at Doctor Maruki clumsiness.
"Don't be like that to him, Maly. He just forgets, that's why." said Keiko with a sympathy look on her face at Doctor Maruki.
"Sure. Whatever you said, Keiko." said Mallory as she shrugged her shoulders.
"No need to be formal with me, though. I'm just here to counsel anyone who's interested. You all can even call me Doc, if that would help you all feel more comfortable. Any assistance you'll need, I'll be-Oh… I guess I'm not really any good for helping with money problems…" said Doctor Maruki jokingly to the students before he got pushed aside by Principal Kobayakawa.
"Now that's quite rude of that fat principal for pushing him aside before he finish talking, right, Keiko?" said Mallory as she scowled at the principal.
"Yeah, you're right, Maly." said Keiko in agreement with Mallory.
"… Thank you, Doctor Maruki. Well then, now that all of you know about Doctor Maruki and the help he can give to all you students, the assembly is done and all of you may return to your classes now, thank you." said Principal Kobayakawa thankfully to Doctor Maruki before he dismissed Keiko, Mallory, Ann, Ryuji and the others students and they all turned and walked out of the auditorium.
XXXX
Another few minutes later, in the courtyard…
"Yo, girls." Ryuji called out to Keiko, Mallory and Ann and they stopped and turned around to glance at him. "You girls ever expect this place to actually give a shit about our mental healths?" asked Ryuji sarcastically to them about what Principal Kobayakawa just told them back in the auditorium.
"Honestly? No, Sakamoto." replied Mallory as she shake her head.
"Well, our school's made national news. Maybe they figured they'd look even worse if they didn't do anything for us." said Ann.
"Maybe. And Doctor, uh… Doctor Whathisname." said Ryuji as he try to recall the Doctor's name.
"Doctor Maruki, Ryuji-kun." said Keiko as she shake her head at Ryuji for forgetting Doctor Maruki's name.
"Yeah-wasn't that guy just basically clownin' it up onstage? You girls really think he'll do us any good?" said Ryuji unsurely to them about Doctor Maruki.
"Why don't you try asking him yourself since he's coming toward us right now, Sakamoto." suggested Mallory as she, Keiko and Ann noticed Doctor Maruki coming toward them and stopping behind Ryuji.
"Gah!" gasped Ryuji as he quickly turned around and glance in surprise at Doctor Maruki.
"Hey there and sorry for startling you." said Doctor Maruki apologetically to Ryuji before he glance at each of them. "Sakamoto-kun and Takamaki-san, right? And that must make you two… Amamiya-san and Caelum-san. As a matter of fact, my younger brother sometimes mention you to me and quite fondly too, Caelum-san." added Doctor Maruki as he smiled at Mallory while they gasped and widened their eyes in surprise at Doctor Maruki knowing about them.
"Hm? Your brother mention me to you and who is your brother, Doctor?" asked Mallory suspiciously at Doctor Maruki.
"And how'd you know our names?" asked Ryuji suspiciously at Doctor Maruki as well.
"Well, he's actually my half-brother and both you and Amamiya-san already met and know him a few times as Akira Kurusu who's also best friend with Goro Akechi-kun, of course and as for your question, Sakamoto-kun, I was informed of certain students before beginning my tenure here. Those that had, ah… previous interactions with Kamoshida-sensei." replied Doctor Maruki calmly to both Mallory and Ryuji.
"No wonder why I thought he look familiar and reminded me of someone! He's Kurusu's older half-brother!" thought Mallory in more surprise in her mind at Akira and Doctor Maruki being half-brothers.
"Amamiya-san and Caelum-san, it must've been especially tough for you 2 after having just transferred here." said Doctor Maruki sadly and gently to both Keiko and Mallory.
"Yeah, it was at first but we're doing fine now, Doctor Maruki." said Keiko.
"I see. That's good for both of you, just don't overdo it, alright?" said Doctor Maruki proudly to both Keiko and Mallory.
"So… whaddya want with us?" asked Ryuji.
"Ah, yes, I'd forgotten… I know I already offered my services to the student body earlier, but would you 4 be interested in counselling?" suggested Doctor Maruki.
"Nope. Not at all." said Ryuji, rejecting Doctor Maruki's counselling suggestion.
"Huh!?" said Doctor Maruki in surprise at Ryuji for rejecting it.
"How's that surprising?" said Ryuji.
"You were just a touch more emphatic about it than I'd expected… Ah! But, if you come to my office, you can have free snacks! All you can eat… would be nice, but there's still plenty to be had. So, how about it?" said Doctor Maruki.
"No, thank you. And please don't treat us like we're kids, Doctor." said Keiko in disapproval at Doctor Maruki for treating them like kids.
"Right, sorry about that." said Doctor Maruki apologetically to Keiko. "To be frank, I've been explicitly ordered to provide counselling to the students directly involved with Kamoshida-sensei. It's in the school's interest… for it's students." added Doctor Maruki hesitantly to them.
"Ahhh, the school's interest, huh?" said Ryuji as he crossed his arms.
"That explains it." sighed Mallory.
"I know that asking you 4 to be open with a complete stranger like myself is a lot. Making this mandatory wouldn't do you 4 any good, either. Might as well turned it into a worthwhile experience…" said Doctor Maruki more unsurely to them before he got an idea and glance at Keiko. "…Ooh, I know! If you attend my counselling sessions, I'll teach you different ways to improve your mental acuity. Like, ways to hone your concentration before exams, or not getting nervous on dates. How's that sound, Amamiya-san?" added Doctor Maruki to Keiko.
"I don't know about this. What do you think, Keiko?" said Mallory as she glance at Keiko.
"Hm… Mental training sessions with him, if I make good use to this, it may aid in our Phantom Thieves activities too…" thought Keiko in her mind about Doctor Maruki's mental training sessions.
"There's also snacks…" said Doctor Maruki.
"Alright, alright, enough with the snacks!" said Ryuji in slight annoyance at Doctor Maruki's snack offer before both he and Ann glance at Keiko. "So, which way are you leanin'?" asked Ryuji.
"I guess there's no harm for us to try it out, Maly, Ryuji-kun and Ann-san." replied Keiko.
"Alright then, Keiko." said Mallory as she nodded at Keiko.
"I guess it'd just be more trouble for us if we didn't go." sighed Ryuji.
"Hmmm, yeah." said Ann in reluctant agreement with Ryuji.
"Really? Then, I guess it's a deal. I'll be in the nurse's office-feel free to come by when it's convenient for you all." said Doctor Maruki happily to them.
"Welp, we should get goin'." said Ryuji.
"Okay, I'll see you all later." said Doctor Maruki happily to both Ryuji and Ann before they turned and walked away from him, Keiko and Mallory. "Thank you for taking my counselling into consideration. Now that we've a deal, I promise I'll do my best to help you and your friends, Amamiya-san." added Doctor Maruki gratefully to Keiko.
"Yeah, sure." said Keiko as she nodded at Doctor Maruki before she heard the same familiar girl's voice talk to her and felt everything stops around her.
XXXX
Back in the interrogation room…
"It's hard to believe an ordinary high school student could accomplish such grandiose heists. One would need a heart of steel, unaffected by outside influences and prepared to act without hesitation. There has to be someone who help strengthen your mental state. Sound like somebody you know? Give me that person's name!" demanded Sae-san sternly to Keiko (who fell silent and didn't answer her question).
XXXX
Back in the courtyard…
I am thou, thou art I…
Thou has acquired a new vow,
It shall became the wings of rebellion,
That breaketh thy chains of captivity,
With the birth of the Councillor Persona,
I have obtained the wings of blessing that,
Shall lead to freedom and new power…
After the girl's voice fell silent, Keiko look up and saw a red and black card with a black sun that had eyes and a beard on it in the sky with 3 black and grey figures of 1 man and 2 women standing under the sun forming above Doctor Maruki's head before the card flew toward Keiko and she quickly grab the card and put it inside her blazer pocket.
"A Councillor social link with Doctor Maruki, huh?" thought Keiko to herself about her new link with Doctor Maruki before both she and Mallory heard Ryuji call out to them.
"Sorry for keeping you 2 like this. Well then… See you, Amamiya-san, Caelum-san." said Doctor Maruki to both Keiko and Mallory.
"Yeah, see you, Doctor Maruki." said Keiko as she and Mallory nodded at Doctor Maruki before they turned and went back to their classroom while Doctor Maruki turned and walked away too.
