She comes to bond with the Phantom Thieves, including Ann, who previously disliked her and wrongfully accused her of overlooking an abusive teacher.

She reports to the principal that she found no evidence that the Phantom Thieves are students, and expresses disinterest in a recommendation letter. After they defeat him and change his heart, she gets a call saying that the blackmail is over. Forgiving her for her mistake and realizing she has become one of the mafia boss' 'customers', the Phantom Thieves allow her to come with them to the Metaverse to the mafia boss' Palace, a manifestation of a person's heart, where she becomes so angered and disgusted by his misogyny and callous greed that she awakens to her Persona, Johanna, and joins the Phantom Thieves. After being called a burden by her sister and the Phantom Thieves, she aims to use herself as bait to discover the identity of the mafia boss, which ends up getting her and the others blackmailed for 3 million yen, with the risk of Makoto being forced into prostitution if they cannot pay up. She secretly holds the Phantom Thieves in high regard, much to the chagrin of her sister Sae Niijima, who is a prosecutor investigating the Phantom Thieves. She keeps their identity secret, on the condition that they are able to change the heart of an unidentified mafia boss. She eventually starts following Joker, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, and Yusuke Kitagawa, eventually discovering their true identities as the Phantom Thieves due to Ann and Ryuji's failure to discuss their activities subtly. Her role in Persona 5 begins with her being tasked to uncover clues about the Phantom Thieves, a group of people going into a place called the Metaverse and changing the hearts of ne'er do wells, after being pushed into it with the threat of not getting a recommendation for university. She describes her character as 'unconventional.' Appearances Leigh regards Makoto's story as her dealing with moral and ethical grey areas, specifically in how she feels about the protagonists.

She is voiced by Rina SatЕЌ in the original Japanese audio, and Cherami Leigh in the English localization. Her Personas, Johanna and Anat, are based on Pope Joan and the Semitic goddess of the same name. He discussed how her role as a Phantom Thief reflects how she breaks away from societal expectations. Persona 5 director Katsura Hashino described her as someone who 'no longer a place where they belong in society' and as a 'juvenile academic,' adding that the game's events gave her a sense of belonging. Makoto Niijima first appears in Persona 5, and her design was created by Shigenori Soejima.

Persona 5 figma