Players of Persona 5 Royal will see Haru Okumura in the background during various school scenes, but she doesn't become a major part of the story until her father becomes the next target of the Phantom Thieves. At that point she joins the team, and from then on she's an essential member whose Psychokinesis skills can get Technical hits on all kinds of status ailments.
Haru also becomes a confidant starting at the end of October, and players will have to rush through her story since she's the last confidant to show up in Persona 5 Royal. But while Haru might not be the most well-developed Phantom Thief, her confidant abilities are definitely worth the effort.
General Information
The Empress Arcana has two main interpretations: a female figure of great temporal power and intelligence, and a mother figure associated with fertility and growth. Since Haru is the heiress of a major business and her hobby is growing plants with a green thumb, she manages to combine both interpretations in one character. Haru's persona is Milady, one of the main villains of The Three Musketeers and a spy who manages to talk her way out of trouble multiple times.
Haru doesn't have a consistent schedule, but players can find her on the Shujin school roof on most days when it isn't raining or snowing. Players can interact with her to plant or harvest vegetables after starting the Empress confidant, or they can hang out with her to gain relationship points and advance her events. Joker will have trouble going to school in late November and early December, but he can still sneak up to the rooftop to speak with Haru.
Haru will invite Joker to visit Asakusa on 11/6, although players may have trouble seeing this event if they've chosen the friendship path with the Devil confidant. Going out with Haru on this day will give Joker the Kumade room decoration. Haru will also ask Joker to join her at the movies during the evening of 11/6, and Joker can invite her to Tsukishima to get the Giant Spatula. Her favorite gifts are the Heart Ring, the Glass Vase, Wrist Weights, the Watercolor Postcard, and the Flower Basket.
While the Hawaii vacation happens too early to invite Haru, players can ask her to hang out during the school festival on 10/26. Unfortunately, players won't get any relationship points during this event since they can't start her confidant ranks until later. At the end of it she'll give Joker a Sakura Amezaiku, which gives 100 SP to a single ally.
If Joker reaches rank 10 and romances Haru, he can invite her to celebrate Christmas Eve together. Her present is a Hat, which will give players more same-Arcana relationship points during New Game Plus. Romancing players can also spend time with her on Valentine's Day to get Haru's Chocolate, which restores all SP for one ally, and go on a date with her on White Day.
Rank 1
Haru will become available for confidant events after the school festival ends and the window for exploring Nijima's Palace opens up. There are no requirements to get things started, so head up to the rooftop and agree to bring Haru's vegetables to Leblanc. Most dialog choices have no consequences, but the last one can give players a starting boost to Haru's relationship points.
- Sounds good. 3
- That was our deal. 3
- Thanks. I'm counting on you. 3
As the last confidant in the game, Haru is relatively easy to rank up. Still, it helps to have an Empress Persona in stock during these events, and the point values listed assume that players have one.
For starting the Empress confidant, Joker will get Cultivation. By speaking to Haru, Joker can have her plant Moonlight Carrots (full SP restore for 1 ally), Sun Tomatoes (100 SP for all allies), Earth Beans (Charge for one ally), or Star Onions (Concentrate for one ally). Each plant has its own growth period and yield, but all of them will take less than a week to grow. Haru is always tending her garden on non-rainy days even when she isn't ready to hang out, so players should speak with her frequently.
Rank 2
During the next hangout, Haru will mention the new Okumura Foods president and how she's worried about whom to trust.
- You like coffee? 3
- Are you opening a café? 3
- Are you starting a farm? 3
- What do you mean? 0
- So you won't accept his offer? 0
- He sounds suspicious. 3
- This is a complex issue. 3
- You might be wrong. 3
- Maybe you should fire him. 3
- Moonlight Carrot. 3
- Sun Tomato. 3
- Jewel Melon. 3
While Haru can't grow any Jewel Melons, the option is a reference to Persona 4 Golden. One of the plants the protagonist of that game can grow is the Bead Melon.
Rank 3
Aside from the new president, Haru's other worry is her fiancé. Her contract with him is still active, and according to him breaking it will incur a heavy fine on Okumura Foods.
- A phantom thief doesn't worry. 3
- They won't find out. 3
- It'll be okay, I promise. 3
- "I don't want to go with you." 3
- "I'm afraid of flying." 0
- "We should break up." 0
- I have. 3
- Not yet. 3
- Too many times to count. 3
- Smart response. 3
- Sounds like a hassle. 0
- Which friend? 0
At this rank, Haru will get Follow Up. After Joker's turn, Haru has a chance to ask for a follow-up attack that will hit every enemy with a critical blow.
Rank 4
Haru invites Joker to try out some expensive coffee at the Shibuya buffet, but to fully comprehend it Joker will need Proficiency 5 (Transcendent). During the coffee break, Haru unexpectedly runs into President Takakura, who tells her to take things easy.
- That's pricey. 3
- What a rip-off. 0
- It must be amazing. 3
- I can't let you do that. 3
- Let me cover the bill. 3
- Cheers. 3
- You mean... poop!? 3
- I can taste the elephant. 3
- Excuse me while I vomit. 3
- Hands off my cat. 0
- I'd rather not think about it. 0
- Let's ask him. 3
- He seemed nice enough. 0
- He was a little sketchy. 0
- I'm not really sure. 3
- I don't mind. 0
- It was rather intriguing. 0
- Let's get coffee again sometime. 3
Joker's reward this time is Celeb Talk. If Joker fails to convince a Shadow to join him, and there are a group of Shadows still on the field, Haru can give him one more chance to talk.
Rank 5
During the next event, Haru brings Joker to Big Bang Burger to talk more about how hard it is to trust anyone at Okumura Foods.
- Trust who you want to trust. 0
- Somebody's telling the truth. 3
- Trust no one. 3
- Are you really considering it? 0
- You can't just give in. 0
- There has to be another way. 3
- That doesn't matter now. 3
- You didn't have a choice. 0
- I don't think so. 3
- Are you okay? 0
- We're all here for you. 0
- Pinch yourself. 3
The reward for reaching rank 5 is Bumper Crop. Haru will now produce one more vegetable each time she harvests her garden.
Rank 6
Rank 6 has Haru drag Joker to Jinbocho to research coffee beans, but once again the outing ends with an unwelcome encounter. This can unlock Jinbocho as a destination if players haven't found it yet.
- That's fascinating. 3
- You're so studious. 3
- Can you make some for me? 3
- I had no idea. 3
- That's a surprise. 0
- I could've guessed that. 0
- You might be right. 0
- That would be bad. 3
- Black like coffee? 3
- You don't need to apologize. 0
- That guy is horrible. 0
- You're not powerless. 0
- Be strong, Haru. 3
- You can talk to me anytime. 3
- Let him say what he wants. 3
- Wanna run away together? 0
This event's reward is Harisen Recovery. On her turn, Haru has a chance to end a status ailment on one ally for free.
Rank 7
All the stress from the business is getting to Haru. She's heard President Takakura wants to start a new café chain, but she has no idea what he plans to do with it.
- You look exhausted. 0
- Don't overwork yourself. 0
- Let's go see the nurse. 0
- That sounds really tough... 3
- You should ask some employees. 0
- What do you want to do? 3
- What does Takakura-san think? 3
- There has to be a way. 3
- You should tell him that. 3
- That's the spirit. 3
- You can do it, Haru. 3
- Don't relax yet. 0
- I'll always have your back. 3
- So what's this "magic item"? 0
The reward for this rank is Soil Improvement. Every plant type will take one less day to grow, and this includes whatever's currently in the garden during the rank 7 event.
Rank 8
Haru is feeling better after last time, and she's come up with a plan to use home-grown coffee as a way to express herself to President Takakura.
- The soil? 3
- The planters? 0
- This beetle? 0
- It'll help him understand you. 3
- He's going to love it. 3
- He might not like it. 3
- I'll be cheering for you. 3
- You're amazing, Haru. 3
- Are you sure you can do that? 3
- You can understand them? 0
- It's in your nature to nurture. 3
- I want some too. 3
The rank 8 reward is Endure. Haru now has a chance to survive a normally fatal blow with 1 HP.
Rank 9
The rank 9 event is the big meeting with Takakura, which goes better than Haru had feared.
- Don't forget to breathe. 0
- Believe in yourself. 0
- I'm here for you, Haru. 0
- I'm sure you'll do great. 3
- It'll be fine. 3
- Give it all you've got, Haru. 3
- You're very welcome. 3
- You did amazing. 3
- Do I get a reward? 0
- He saw us as good friends. 0
- I like you too, Haru. 0 (romance flag)
If players are on the friendship path:
- Thanks. 0
- You sound so happy. 3
- I can't wait to try it. 0
If players are on the romance path:
- What're you up to? 0
- I wanted to hear your voice. 3
- I miss you. 3
For reaching rank 9, Haru will get Protect. If a single-target attack would kill Joker, Haru has a chance to jump in the way and take the attack herself.
Rank 10
Rank 10 starts the same whether players are on the friendship or romance path, but the romance path will end in Joker's room. Relationship points no longer matter, but if players want to get the best results they should choose 2 or 3 for the first dialog option of either path and then any response for the rest.
Maxing the Empress confidant will give Haru her Second Awakening. Milady becomes Astarte, a Phoenician and Canaanite goddess of war and beauty. She gains a null Psy and strong Ice affinity, along with the skill Evade Nuke. This also gives Joker access to Mother Harlot, the ultimate Empress Persona.
Rank 11
Players who reach Empress 10 and unlock the third semester will have a chance to speak to Haru in January. This isn't an official rank, but it does end with Haru's Third Awakening. Astarte becomes Lucy, the real Countess of Carlisle whose exploits partly inspired the character of Milady de Winter. Haru's Icy Glare becomes Cool Customer, dropping the chance of an ailment hitting a party member by 50 percent instead of 25 percent. She also gets the skill Life Wall, which applies a Physical and Magical barrier to all party members with one action.
If players get to rank 10 with Haru, they can speak with her on 3/19 to get a Dyed Handkerchief. This will give Haru the Soil Improvement skill immediately after players reestablish the Empress confidant during a New Game Plus.
Persona 5 Royal is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.