Makoto Niijima

Makoto Niijima (, Niijima Makoto) is a character that originates from Persona 5.

Origin
In Persona 5, Makoto Niijima is a third year student at Shujin Academy, and a senior to the protagonist. She is the school's student council president and a model honors student. Underlying her calm and composed demeanor however is a girl with extreme social and self-confidence issues, linked mostly to her orphanage: after the deaths of her parents, most of the responsibility was thrust onto her older sister, public prosecutor Sae Niijima. She hopes of getting a good job just to lay some responsibility off of her sister, and studies almost mindlessly as a consequence. Makoto is unable to register many social cues and has very few friends, making her very unpopular among the students despite being council president. This problem is exacerbated after the school's volleyball coach Kamoshida confesses to physically and sexually abusing his students (as a result of the Phantom Thieves changing his heart). As Makoto knew about his crimes, many believed that she chose to stay silent out of respect for Kamoshida, finding her to be concerned only with getting a good letter of recommendation from the faculty. In reality, however, Makoto wanted to say something but felt powerless against the principal, who encouraged her not to speak about it, as Kamoshida was an Olympic medalist who helped make the school famous with his achievements.

As the Phantom Thieves grow in popularity, Makoto is ordered by the principal to track the clandestine group down. After stalking the protagonist for a couple of days, she correctly deduces that they are Shujin students led by the protagonist, and threatens to reveal their identities to the principal; however, she makes a deal with them to have them change the heart of a mafia boss extorting Shujin students. When they are unable to get close to the Mafia boss, she offers herself up as bait, allowing the Phantom Thieves to learn his name, Junya Kaneshiro, and gain a meeting with him at the expense of being set up for blackmail.

Feeling responsible for their predicament, Makoto enters the Metaverse with the other Phantom Thieves, which allows them to enter Kaneshiro's palace, as in Kaneshiro's distorted cognition, she is a customer of his bank. Disgusted by what she witnesses, awakens her Persona, becoming one of the Phantom Thieves, with the codename Queen. As a member, she becomes the team's advisor, analyzing enemy weaknesses and a fighter. In battle, she uses fist weapons and revolvers, and has access to nuclear and healing spells. After joining the Thieves, she looks to break out of her shell with Joker's help.

Should the player pursue a confidant with Makoto, she will ask the protagonist to guide her around so she can learn more about society. On one of these excursions, Makoto meets a girl named Eiko Takao, and the two quickly become friends. Makoto and Eiko agree to go on a double date to learn more about each other, and Makoto convinces the protagonist to be her date. Eiko brings a man Tsukasa, who has a history of manipulating vulnerable girls into working for his illegal businesses. Makoto slowly opens up to the protagonist over time, admitting she experiences guilt for ignoring her student life in favor of social experiences. She feels the expectations put upon her by forces beyond her control made her lose sight of herself and what she wants. Makoto and the protagonist eventually expose Tsukasa for who he truly is, which allows Eiko to be free for the first time. Makoto resolves to study for college and become a police commisioner. The irony of her current role as a Phantom Thief is not lost on her, and she fully pledges loyalty to the team.

When Takuto Maruki alters reality in Persona 5 Royal, Makoto's father never died and Sae is much nicer. Makoto finally has a happy family life. When confronted by the protagonist, Makoto realized that this is an illusion and lets go of her desires. Her father disappears and Sae returns to her normal self. Initially self destructive about her selfishness, she resolves to move forward and protect her friends and loved ones. Both herself and Haru then explain that they will move far away for college, but say they will return when they can. They do return for Persona 5 Strikers, where Makoto admits she missed everyone.

As a background character
Makoto appears on the Mementos stage in her Queen costume.

Assist role
Makoto appears in one of the variations of Joker's All-Out Attack, fighting alongside Yusuke Kitagawa and Haru Okumura.

Spirits
Makoto also appears as a Novice-class support spirit and her Phantom Thief identity, Queen is featured on the Phantom Thieves of Hearts spirit in the Persona DLC Spirit Board.

In both spirits' battles, Makoto uses a puppet fighter. Makoto is fought along a Giant Clear puppet fighter representing Makoto's Persona, Johanna, and is fought on the Dracula's Castle stage's Ω form. During the battle, the Giant Clear Wario puppet fighter frequently uses Wario Bike so that only Wario's motorcycle seem to appear from out of nowhere, referencing Johanna's design being based on a motorcycle.

During the Phantom Thieves of Hearts spirit battle, Makoto is fought on the Mementos stage and is the fifth Phantom Thief to defeat before fighting Joker.