Let's be real for a second. If you’ve played Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal, you know the "Operation Maid Watch" scene is one of the most chaotic moments in the early game. It starts as a goofy prank by Ryuji and Mishima, but it ends with Joker discovering that his tired, overworked homeroom teacher, Sadayo Kawakami, is moonlighting as a maid named Becky.
Honestly, the Persona 5 Kawakami romance is easily the most debated relationship in the entire game. On one hand, you have the "best girl" camp who swear by her utility and character growth. On the other, you have players who find the student-teacher dynamic way too uncomfortable, especially in a game that starts with a story arc about an abusive teacher.
Whether you're here for the "Special Massage" perk or you actually want to see her story through, there is a very specific way to handle this relationship without messing it up.
How to Actually Start the Persona 5 Kawakami Romance
You can't just jump into this. It takes work. First, you have to clear Madarame’s Palace. After that, Ryuji and Mishima will drag you into the Maid Watch event. Once that disaster is over, you need to talk to Kawakami at school.
She’ll be standing outside the faculty lounge, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday. She’s trying to avoid you, obviously. But if you help her out with a certain "incident" involving Ms. Chouno, she’ll give you her number.
The Guts Barrier
Here is where most people get stuck. You need Rank 3 Guts just to pick up the yellow payphone at Leblanc and call her. If you haven't been eating Big Bang Burgers or watching gutsy movies, Becky isn't coming over.
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Every time you call her, it costs 5,000 yen. It’s a steep price in the early game, but if you're serious about the Persona 5 Kawakami romance, you need to treat it like an investment.
The Tricky Dialogue Choices (Don't Mess These Up)
Getting to Rank 9 is where the real "make or break" moments happen. Most Persona romances are pretty straightforward—you just pick the nice option at the end. Kawakami is different. She is actively trying to be a responsible adult, which means she will push you away unless you are very firm about your intentions.
In Rank 7, when she talks about her "debt" and moving to a sister company, you have to choose "Think this through more." If you don't, you might lock yourself out of the romantic path later.
When you finally hit Rank 9, the game gives you that familiar warning: “I should choose my words carefully.” This is it. To secure the romance, you need to follow this specific path:
- "I want to keep seeing you."
- "I mean what I say."
- "I’m a man; you’re a woman."
That last line is the kicker. It’s the game’s way of saying "we are dropping the teacher-student labels now." If you pick "I'm a master; you're a maid," you just got friend-zoned. Permanently.
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Why Everyone Prioritizes This Confidant
Is it just because people like the maid aesthetic? Kinda, but not really. In terms of gameplay, Kawakami is the most "broken" confidant in Persona 5.
She represents the Temperance Arcana, and her abilities are all about time management.
- Slack Off: Lets you read or make tools during her class.
- Housekeeping: She’ll make coffee or do laundry while you go do other things.
- Special Massage: This is the big one. At Rank 10, after you spend all day in a Palace or Mementos, you can call her for a massage. This lets you go out at night instead of being forced to sleep by Morgana.
In a game where time is your most valuable resource, she literally gives you more of it. That’s why even players who hate the romance still max out her rank as fast as possible.
The Elephant in the Room: Is It Weird?
We have to talk about the controversy. Persona 5 opens with Kamoshida, a predatory teacher who ruins lives. Then, a few months later, the game lets you date your own teacher.
Critics like those at Uppercut and various community forums have pointed out this "double standard" for years. The game tries to bridge the gap by making Kawakami the reluctant one. She tells you to stop. She reminds you it’s inappropriate. She only gives in because Joker is persistent.
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However, fans often argue that the context is different. Kamoshida was abusive and used power to hurt students; Kawakami is a victim of blackmail who finds a genuine (if taboo) connection with someone who actually helps her. Whether that justifies it for you is a personal call. It's definitely one of the more "adult" themes the series has tackled.
Pro-Tip for New Game Plus
If you max her out, she gives you the Permanent Program (or "Unlimited Service" in Royal). This carries over to New Game Plus, meaning once you unlock her again, you get her services for free and much earlier. It makes the second playthrough a breeze.
What to Do Now
If you're aiming for the Persona 5 Kawakami romance, start focusing on your Guts immediately. Eat at the diner during rainy days and take on the Big Bang Burger challenge. Also, make sure you have a Persona of the Temperance Arcana in your inventory every time you call her; it speeds up the ranking process significantly.
Once you reach Rank 10, don't forget to invite her out on the school trip or during the Christmas Eve event. These unique scenes provide some of the best dialogue in the game and show a much softer, less "Becky-fied" version of her character.
Focus on clearing the "A Teacher Maid to Suffer" Mementos request as soon as it drops in September. You can't progress past Rank 8 without it, and waiting too long can eat up your precious November/December schedule.