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One of the biggest changes Persona 3 Portable made to vanilla P3 was that the male and female protagonists occasionally have different characters filling their social links. For P3P’s Strength arcana social link, the male protagonist will be spending time with Yuko Nishiwaki, the manager for the sports clubs, while the female protagonist gets the best boy in SEES, Koromaru the dog.

RELATED: Persona 3 Portable: What Does Character Choice Affect?

While entirely different from one another, both characters serve as one of the protagonist’s Strength arcana and befriending them boosts your fusion power to new heights. For help maxing your Strength social link in P3P, read on ahead.

This article contains some spoilers for subplots of Persona 3 Portable.

the conversation trigger to begin yuko's social link in persona 3 portable

Male Protagonist

If you’ve chosen to play P3P as the male protagonist, you’ll begin your social link with Yuko as early as 4/28. However, you’ll need to have initiated your Chariot social link by joining an after-school sports club and beginning your social link with Kazushi Miyamoto.

During both Rank 2 and Rank 3 of the Chariot social link for the male MC, you’ll have the option to chat with Yuko after sports practice.

On both of these occasions, you talk to her and then offer to walk her home. She’ll decline during Rank 2, but accept when you ask on Rank 3. She’ll ask if you’re okay with stopping someplace along the way, so agree to the stop.

Your Strength social link with Yuko will formally be established following this scene.

Female Protagonist

While playing P3P as the FeMC, you’ll instead form a social link with Koromaru, the SEES team’s canine recruit.

the female protagonist giving koromaru the dog food to start his social link in persona 3 portable

The earliest date on which you can begin Koromaru’s social link is 8/15. However, you’ll need to have first begun your social link with Fuuka.

Your navigational support represents the Priestess arcana, and during your Rank 1 scene with her during her own social link, you’ll receive a serving of Dog Food.

Shortly after, you’ll see a scene with a few members of SEES and the dog they’ve seen around Naganaki Shrine.

This is a prerequisite to beginning your social link with Koromaru, no matter how far ahead of his social link beginning you may see the scene.

Fuuka’s social link can begin as early as 6/15, so depending on when you begin hers, you may meet Koromaru fairly early.

However, while you do need to give him the Dog Food before this occurs, you can’t begin his social link until he joins SEES and begins living in Iwatodai Dormitory.

RELATED: Persona 3 Portable: Guide To Social Stats

yuko introducing herself to the protagonist in persona 3 portable

Below are the dialogue options for the social link that the male protagonist forms with Yuko Nishiwaki in P3P. Choose the responses that reward the most affinity to rank her up the fastest.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"... How about you, (Protagonist)-kun? Are you enjoying (Sport) Team?"

Yeah, it's a lot of fun.""

-

-

"I haven't made up my mind."

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"I'm mentally exhausted..."

"What happened?"

2

1

"Cheer up."

-

-

"Right, (Protagonist)-kun!?"

"I agree."

3

2

"I disagree."

-

-

It doesn't matter to me.""

-

-

"My reputation as an 'intellectual' would be ruined. *blush*"

"That's true."

2

1

"You? An intellectual?"

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"Hey, (Protagonist)-kun, do you think I eat too much?"

"Not really."

2

1

"Definitely."

-

-

"It doesn't matter to me."

-

-

"You must love being around good-looking girls like Mitsuru and Yukari..."

"It's kinda nice."

-

-

"Not necessarily."

3

2

"You're much cuter, Yuko."

3

2

"Oh, shoot! It's already this late?"

"Let's go."

2

1

"Let's stay a bit longer."

-

-

yuko at kendo practice showing you the gym in persona 3 portable

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Yuko is standing by the shoe rack with a strange look on her face.

"What's wrong?"

-

-

"Come on, let's go."

-

-

"It wouldn't be funny if I had gum all over my shoes."

"Does this happen often?"

-

-

"Do you know who did it?"

-

-

"I'm sorry, (Protagonist)-kun... I didn't mean to get you involved."

"Who were they?"

-

-

"No worries."

2

1

"Are you mad?"

"I'm honored."

3

2

"I find it disturbing."

-

-

"I don't care."

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"I'm not as tall as you, so I can't walk as fast..."

Hold her hand

2

1

Wait for her

-

-

"Heeey!"

"Do you know him?"

2

1

"Is that your son?"

-

-

"... Am I doing the right thing, (Protagonist)-kun?"

"Go for it."

2

1

"It's up to you."

2

1

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"So, what's your honest opinion? Can they win?"

"It's gonna be tough."

-

-

"Let's hope for the best."

2

1

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"Well, there they go..."

"Are you sad?"

-

-

"Are you relieved?"

2

1

"Maybe we should have a little party... You know, to celebrate our first attempt at coaching..."

"Sure."

3

2

"What for?"

-

-

yuko upset about how the team treats her, saying she's not their mother at cafe chagall in persona 3 portable

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"Do you like kids, (Protagonist)-kun?"

"Yeah, I like them."

-

-

"Not really."

-

-

"Would you want it to be a boy or a girl?"

"A boy."

2

1

"A girl."

2

1

"It doesn't matter which."

2

1

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"C-Can we just forget about that?"

"No worries."

-

-

"Forget about what?"

2

1

"Guess what I wanna be."

"A track and field star?"

2

1

"An instructor?"

3

2

"A kindergarten teacher?"

2

1

"I have no idea..."

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

"I could've given this to you at school, but... it gave me an excuse to see you."

"An excuse?"

2

1

"What are you talking about?"

2

1

"They're kinda mouthy, but they have their moments..."

"That's true."

2

1

"Not really."

-

-

"Today... my parents aren't home..."

"I see."

2

1

"And...?"

2

1

5/31 Phone Invite

This scene only triggers if you've begun Yuko's social link before 5/31.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"I envy them, since I don't have anything I'm really passionate about..."

"Don't give up."

-

-

"You'll find something."

2

2

"You're amazing too."

3

3

RELATED: Persona 3 Portable: All Classroom And Exam Answers

forming koromaru's social link in persona 3 portable

To advance his social link, you'll spend plenty of time taking Koromaru for walks at night, where you two will sometimes be joined by another member of SEES. If someone goes with you to walk Koromaru, you’ll earn points toward their social link as well.

Koromaru can sometimes find items on your walks, which are most typically HP or SP items for use inside Tartarus.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Koromaru seems happy...

"Wait!"

-

-

"Okay, you can eat it."

-

-

Koromaru keeps eating...

"How does it taste?"

-

-

"It's delicious, huh?"

-

-

Koromaru has finished eating and seems satisfied...

"Can I pet you?"

-

-

Paw-five!""

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Fuuka came in...

"Fleas!?"

-

-

"Are you itchy somewhere?"

-

-

"Woof."

"Did it hurt?"

-

-

"Does it feel good?"

3

2

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

There's a ball at Koromaru's feet...

Pick it up

3

3

Don't pick it up

-

-

... He brought it back in his mouth.

"Good boy!"

3

2

"One more?"

3

2

(Fuuka) "Hey do you think Koro-chan is still young?"

"I think he's still young."

-

-

"Nah, he's an old man."

-

-

koromaru with a happy music note in the iwatodia dorm lounge in persona 3 portable

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Mr. Ono is staring at Koromaru...

"Yes, he's a dog..."

-

-

"Are you scared of him?"

-

-

(Mr. Ono) "(Protagonist), is this your dog!?"

"Yes."

-

-

"He lives at the dorm..."

-

-

(Mr. Ono) "Please! Just lend him to me!"

"No."

-

-

"What for... ?"

-

-

"Arf."

"Can you do it boy?"

3

2

"You don't have to do it."

-

-

(Mr. Ono) "I'm pretty sure I lost it around here. C'mon, I'm counting on you, Inuchiyo."

"Who?"

-

-

"Don't give him new names."

-

-

(Mr. Ono) "Goodness, though, I'm so relieved..."

"... But that's a katana."

-

-

"You said it was a..."

-

-

(Mr. Ono) "And I've been invited to a wedding, so I'd be embarrassed to go unarmed!"

"Indeed..."

-

-

"Why a katana, though?"

-

-

"Arf."

"Thanks."

-

-

"We helped him out."

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Koromaru is sitting patiently...

"... Is it hard to forget?"

-

-

"We're with you."

3

2

Other dogs return the howl from every direction...

"Are you lonely?"

-

-

"Saying hi to the priest?"

3

2

"You gotta be quieter."

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

... You finally caught up.

"What're you doing?"

-

-

"Isn't this a crime?"

-

-

(Tanned Man) "Huh? Stay out of this, ya brat!"

"Time to call the cops."

-

-

"You stay outta this!"

-

-

Koromaru is on guard as he watches the two leave...

"It's all right now."

3

2

"You should've bit him."

-

-

koromaru woofing with flowers around his face in the iwatodai dorm lounge in persona 3 portable

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

(Fuuka) "Huh? You didn't eat all of it... But it's good meat, with the bone still in."

"Did you cook it?"

-

-

"Is he not feeling well?"

-

-

Koromaru is still carrying the meat in his mouth...

"Not going to eat it?"

-

-

"Is this on purpose?"

-

-

Koromaru is watching the puppy intently...

"How long has it been here?"

-

-

"Was this puppy abandoned?"

-

-

What should you do?

Check the puppy

-

-

Give the puppy water

-

-

Koromaru is wagging his tail happily...

"Glad we found his owner."

3

2

"Good work, Koromaru!"

-

-

"Why'd you wait so long?"

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

If you recall correctly, what you did was...

Played ball with him

-

-

Brushed him

3

2

Where would you start brushing him...?

The face

-

-

The back

3

2

The paws

-

-

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Koromaru is looking at you quietly...

"Are we good replacements?"

-

-

"Is it hard to let go?"

-

-

The way Koromaru thinks of us is...

"We aren't replacements."

2

1

"He sees us as friends."

3

2

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

(Koromaru gives you the Dirty Collar)

"Is this yours?"

-

-

"Why are you giving me this?"

-

-

It seems he wants you to hold on to it...

"Thanks."

-

-

"I'll cherish this."

-

-

But a collar?

"Am I your master?"

-

-

"Want to wear this?"

-

-

Koromaru is shaking his head...

"The priest's your master?"

-

-

"Want me to hold on to this?"

-

-

Koromaru answered energetically...

"Am I your comrade?"

-

-

Will you stick with me?""

-

-

Follow along with the guides above, and you’ll have Persona 3 Portable’s Strength social link maxed out in no time!

NEXT: Persona 3 Portable: Velvet Room Request Guide