A few days later…

"How convenient for you that your knowledge remained as high as ever now that you're no longer the "Great Seal" that you swiftly and easily gone through the tests, Minato." said Pharos enviously to Minato after he, Makoto, Hanzo, Haru, Ken and their classmates are done with their tests in the morning session of the day.

"Aw, thanks for your kind words, it means a lot to me, Pharos." said Minato sarcastically back to Pharos as he and Ken left the classroom, noticed Akira (with Morgana inside his bag hanging on his shoulder), Ann and Ryuji standing together near the staircase and they make their way toward them. "Hey, you guys." greeted Minato politely to them.

"Hello, Kurusu-kun, Takamaki-san, Sakamoto-kun and Morgana." greeted Ken politely to them as well.

"Hello, Arisato-senpai and Amada-senpai." greeted Akira politely back to both Minato and Ken while Morgana, Ann and Ryuji nodded at them.

"So, how did you 3 do on your tests so far?" asked Minato.

"Akira and Lady Ann did quite well on their tests. Ryuji, on the other hand…" replied Morgana quite proudly on both Akira and Ann's tests then sadly on Ryuji's test.

"Can it, cat!" said Ryuji as he scowled at Morgana.

"That bad, huh? Kanakubo-sensei won't be pleased about it." sighed Minato.

"How right you are about me not pleased at Sakamoto-kun doing poorly on his tests, Arisato-kun." said Kanakubo-sensei in disappointed at Ryuji from behind both Minato and Ken (which surprised all of them before they glance at him) and before any of them could say anything to Kanakubo-sensei, they heard the school intercom start buzzing before the familiar voice of Kawakami-sensei start talking.

"Attention all students and teachers, 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 Akira, Minato, Morgana, Ryuji, Ann, Ken and Kanakubo-sensei 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. Do you know anything about it, sensei?" said Ann as she turned to glance with a curious look on her face at her friends before she glance at Kanakubo-sensei.

"Unfortunately no, Takamaki-san." said Kanakubo-sensei as he shake his head at Ann.

"I sure hope it's not something bad." said Ken.

"I guess we'll see and know why once we attend the assembly, everyone." said Akira to his friends and Kanakubo-sensei and they all nodded to him before they make their way down the stairs and down the hallway toward the auditorium.

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 (which Minato remember and recgonised as the same man named Takuto Maruki that he met in Big Bang Burger a few weeks ago) 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.

"Hey, Minato. Isn't he…" said Pharos.

"Yeah, I know, Pharos. To think that the guy that I met back in Big Bang Burger a few weeks ago is the therapist that principal Kobayakawa hired to help our mental health…" said Minato.

"Isn't he hot?" said the carefree-looking girl to her friend standing in front of Akira and his friends.

"Seriously, she thinks and tell her friend that the therapist is hot? He looks like a normal-looking man to me and my friends…" thought Akira in annoyance at the 2 girls talking about how hot they think the therapist is.

"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, Minato-san?" said Ken in amusement to Minato at Doctor Maruki clumsiness.

"He sure is, Ken-kun." said Minato in agreement with Ken.

"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.

"… 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 Akira, Minato, Morgana, Ann, Ryuji, Ken and the others students and they all turned and walked out of the auditorium.

XXXX

Another few minutes later, in the courtyard…

"Yo, you guys." Ryuji called out to Akira, Minato, Morgana, Ann and Ken and they stopped and turned around to glance at him. "You guys 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 Minato as he shake his 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, Sakamoto-kun. At least try to remember names as opposed to remembering answers for your tests." said Kanakubo-sensei as he showed up and shake his head at Ryuji for forgetting Doctor Maruki's name.

"Yeah whatever, teach. Wasn't that guy just basically clownin' it up onstage? You all 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-kun." suggested Akira as he, Minato, Morgana, Ann, Ken and Kanakubo-sensei 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 the rest of you… Kurusu-kun, Amada-kun and Kanakubo-sensei and what a surprise and coincidence to see you here and with them, Arisato-kun." added Doctor Maruki in surprise at Minato.

"So do I, Doctor." said Minato.

"You know this doctor, senpai?" asked Ryuji curiously to Minato.

"Yes, we do. We met in Big Bang Burger a few weeks ago." replied Doctor Maruki as he smiled at Ryuji.

"Is that so, Doctor, Arisato-kun?" said Kanakubo-sensei.

"And how'd you know our names?" asked Ryuji suspiciously at Doctor Maruki as well.

"Well, for your question, Sakamoto-kun, I was informed of certain students and a certain teacher before beginning my tenure here. Those that had, ah… previous interactions with Kamoshida-sensei." replied Doctor Maruki calmly to them.

"I see." thought Minato to himself.

"Kurusu-kun, it must've been especially tough for you after having just transferred here." said Doctor Maruki sadly and gently to Akira.

"Yeah, it was at first but I'm doing fine now, Doctor Maruki." said Akira.

"I see. That's good for both of you, just don't overdo it, alright?" said Doctor Maruki proudly to Akira.

"I know and I'll be careful." said Akira as he nodded at Doctor Maruki.

"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 all 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.

"Really? All you can snacks for free in your office?" said Minato excitedly to Doctor Maruki.

"Oh no, Minato…" said Pharos in exasperation at Minato.

"Seriously and of course you'd be lured in by snacks and foods especially if they're free, Minato-san." thought Ken in exasperation at Minato too.

"No, thank you. And please don't treat these students like they're 5 year old kids, Doctor. And also, don't get too excited at him having snacks for us, Arisato-kun." said Kanakubo-sensei in disapproval at Doctor Maruki for treating them like kids and at Minato for instantly caving to free snacks.

"Right, sorry about that, Kanakubo-sensei." said Doctor Maruki apologetically to Kanakubo-sensei. "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 Ken.

"I know that asking you all to be open with a complete stranger like myself is a lot. Making this mandatory wouldn't do you all 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 Akira. "…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, Kurusu-kun?" added Doctor Maruki to Akira.

"I don't know about this. What do you think, Akira?" said Ann as she glance at Akira.

"Hm… Mental training sessions with him, if I make good use to this, it may aid in our Phantom Thieves activities too…" thought Akira in his mind about Doctor Maruki's mental training sessions.

"There's also snacks…" said Doctor Maruki as he glance at Minato (who's trying to not show that he's still excited over Doctor Maruki offer of free snacks).

"Alright, alright, enough with the snacks!" said Ryuji in slight annoyance at Doctor Maruki's snack offer before both he, Ann, Minato, Morgana, Ken and Kanakubo-sensei glance at Akira. "So, which way are you leanin'?" asked Ryuji.

"I guess there's no harm for us to try it out, you guys." replied Akira.

"If that's your decision, Kurusu-kun…" said Kanakubo-sensei as he nodded at Akira.

"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.

"Guess that settles it then." said Ken.

"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.

"Sure, Doctor." said Kanakubo-sensei as he nodded at Doctor Maruki.

"Welp, we should get goin'." said Ryuji.

"Okay, I'll see you all later." said Doctor Maruki happily to them before Ryuji, Ann, Ken and Kanakubo-sensei turned and walked away from him, Akira and Minato. "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, Kurusu-kun." added Doctor Maruki gratefully to Akira.

"Yeah, sure." said Akira as he nodded at Doctor Maruki before he (and Minato) heard the same familiar girl's voice talk to him and felt everything stops around him.

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, both Akira and Minato 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 Akira and he quickly grab the card and put it inside his blazer pocket.

"He establish a Councillor social link with Doctor Maruki, huh? Never heard of a Councillor social link before in my previous school." thought Minato in confusion to himself about Akira's new link with Doctor Maruki before both he and Minato heard Ryuji call out to them.

"Sorry for keeping you 3 like this. Well then… See you, Kurusu-kun, Arisato-kun and Kanakubo-sensei." said Doctor Maruki to politely to them.

"Yeah, see you, Doctor Maruki." said Akira as he, Minato and Kanakubo-sensei nodded at Doctor Maruki before both Akira and Minato turned and went back to their classrooms, Kanakubo-sensei went back to the faculty room while Doctor Maruki turned and walked away too.