Hey, Sis.
The last few days have been really challenging. I thought for a while about the easiest way to fill you in and I decided to write this letter. It lets you know the truth while keeping others from finding out too much. Before I begin, I want to mention one thing. You might not see me the same way after you get through this. I just hope you can understand the position I'm in—as your sister, and also as your greatest ally.
I'll start with the most important point, first. Your latest case has been more important than any other in your career. The SIU has tasked you with prosecuting the Phantom Thieves. They're an elusive organization, capable of stealing hearts without leaving any traces. I've been on edge about it ever since you joined the investigation. You must've noticed, since you asked me that question before school yesterday—the one about my expression. I said I was afraid that the Phantom Thieves might target us because you're leading the case. But that couldn't have been further from the truth. The real reason I'm afraid is because I'm one of them. I, Makoto Niijima, am a phantom thief.
I still remember the first time I heard about them. It was when they left a calling card for Mr. Kamoshida. At first glance, I wasn't exactly impressed. It was so over-the-top that I immediately dismissed it as a stunt. But less than a week later, Mr. Kamoshida confessed about the horrible things he'd been doing at Shujin. For some, it was too convenient to be a coincidence. It was proof that the Phantom Thieves were real. Further incidents only cemented this idea—most famously, the Madarame incident. As time went on, more and more students came to support the Phantom Thieves. Before I knew it, they'd displaced the police as guardians of justice for many of my peers.
That last part especially irritated me. Father dedicated his life to making the community safer. I took it upon myself to prove that the police stood for justice after he died. The Phantom Thieves, on the other hand, only cared about the will of the masses. Their entire organization exclusively focused on getting revenge. When their popularity became too hard to ignore, I decided that enough was enough. I had to do something about it.
I got my chance when the principal wanted me to get dirt on the Phantom Thieves. It only took me a few days to discover where their hideout was. To call it a "hideout" would be extremely misleading. They met out in the open inside the Shibuya train station. No code words, no disguises, no nothing. As soon as I saw them, I snuck up from behind and snapped some photos. The looks on their faces proved I had caught them completely off-guard. I had everything I needed to report them to the cops on the spot. But on that day, something stopped me from doing the "right thing": my inflated sense of pride. I didn't just want to expose the Phantom Thieves. I also wanted to show their fans how wrong they were about justice—that I knew better than they all did. That's why I asked the Phantom Thieves to prove that they could really change hearts. I didn't know it then, but my decision changed my life forever.
As for how I awakened my Persona, it's somewhat of an embarrassing story. Not long after I met the Phantom Thieves, I led them straight into a trap. Kaneshiro lured us into his hideout and put a bounty on our heads we couldn't possibly afford. I was determined to make up for my mistake after he took advantage of us. When we entered the Metaverse, I communed with a mysterious voice inside my head. It told me to rip off my mask. I embraced my rebellious spirit and was instantly reborn as Queen, the High Priestess. With my help, the Phantom Thieves were able to vanquish Kaneshiro and all of his minions. It wasn't long before I decided I didn't just want to change his heart. I wanted to fight for justice until the last seed of evil was snuffed out. I vowed that I would live as a phantom thief until the bitter end.
Joining the Phantom Thieves opened my eyes to the true nature of this world. I used to think that hard work could help anyone reach their full potential—that Shujin's worst test taker could be a top scorer if they just studied hard enough. In reality, the world is a heartless place. The system turns a blind eye to suffering, leaving countless people to their fate. If our father was alive today, he would agree with me. There needs to be a voice for those who slip through the cracks. To do otherwise would be a miscarriage of justice.
On a more personal note, being a phantom thief has given me something else I never had before: real friends. You've probably heard me talk about people like Eiko before. They're more so loose associates than actual friends, though. On the other hand, I have countless friends in the Phantom Thieves: Skull, Oracle, and Noir, just to name a few. If I had to say who my best friend was, it would have to be our leader, Joker. He fearlessly guides us in battle, no matter how bleak our situation looks. He also makes sure we're managing our home lives and doing well in school. After all he's done for us, there's no doubt in my mind he deserves to be our leader.
Originally, I wasn't going to fill you in on any of this. I ended up changing my mind because of something that happened earlier today. It turns out you have a Palace in the Metaverse. In other words, one of your desires is corrupting your heart from within. Everywhere you go, your desire controls your choices. It makes you do things you wouldn't get close to without it. Its effects are everywhere in the real world, even if you don't recognize it.
One question I had for a while was why. How could one of Tokyo's most talented prosecutors live a double life as a Palace ruler? I've thought about it for a while and I have a solid hunch. You went into law enforcement so you could avenge our father's death. You also wanted to show the world that you could fight back against a fate of ruin. But in your quest to do so, your whole concept of justice was corrupted. The SIU's old guard quickly took notice. Having a prosecutor that only cared about winning was just what they needed.
Part of me understands why you fell into that trap. We've been on our own for a couple years now and we need all the money we can get. But one thing I've learned from being a phantom thief is that the wicked target people at the end of their rope. They don't care how many people get hurt in their pursuit of personal gain. All they desire is the taste of self-righteous victory. As long as those with cheating hands stand unopposed, nothing will stop their reign of destruction.
There's one major question you probably have after reading all this. If the Phantom Thieves didn't kill Kunikazu Okumura, then who did? For a while, we had no idea where to look, either. It kept us on edge for a dangerously long time. But thanks to Akechi-kun, we now know who we're up against. They're a dark Persona user who's stalked us since we started changing hearts. Every time we made a move, they eerily followed us in the shadows. Above everything else, this figure wants to keep us from making justice. Killing Okumura was all part of their plan. Unfortunately, their plan is working. If we do nothing, the Phantom Thieves will face certain defeat at the hands of the legal system. There's only one way we can make sure the truth comes out. We need to visit your Palace and steal your heart.
We wanted to go to your Palace today, but I nixed that idea. I told my friends I had "other plans". As I said it, I felt like everyone could see straight through me. They instantly knew that I wasn't being honest with them. As I sit here writing this, I wish I would've just told them the truth. They could have helped me push past my fears so we could focus on changing your heart. Instead, I chose to go it alone—and, just like I did with the Kaneshiro situation, let the whole team down.
I promise I won't make the same mistake when we meet up tomorrow. We're going to your Palace for the first time and nothing will stand in our way. We will fight until the colors of justice claim victory over the forces of corruption. I'll see you soon, Sis. I love you.
~Makoto Niijima
Makoto jerked her hand, forcing the pages out of her journal. Her tense fingers quickly worked the ruled sheets into a crumpled mess. Makoto's knuckles blanched as she pulled the compact wad to her chest and squeezed with all her might. An eternity of silence passed before she finally allowed her grip to loosen. A deep sigh escaped her lips. As Makoto stuffed the papers deep inside her dress pocket, a single thought echoed within her:
"If only you knew the truth, Sis."
(A/N): A special thank you goes out to my editor, RK128, for his contributions to this story. I hope you enjoyed this emotionally powerful take on the Niijima arc. I opted to make some changes from the canon to create a more emotionally powerful impact. If you liked this story, please consider checking out some of the other ones I've written on this site. As always, I appreciate any feedback you might have. This fic was a pleasure to write and I hope to see you next time.