For tropes pertaining to their appearances in the source material, click here. Spoilers for Persona 4, Persona 5 and their Updated Re-releases will be Unmarked. You Have Been Warned.
open/close all folders
The Investigation Team
Goro Akechi
Click here to see Akechi as a child
The Protagonist. A cynical 12 year old who was born to a sex worker in a red light district. Having lost his mother to suicide at a very young age, Akechi spent years being pushed through foster homes and orphanages, unwanted and unloved. After being rescued from an abusive foster home by teen delinquent Kanji Tatsumi, Akechi got adopted by police detective Ryotaro Dojima, thus giving him a chance to heal and a fresh start in life. Though wary at first, Akechi soon begins to settle into his new home. That is, until the arrival of Dojima's nephew Yu Narukami and an ensuing series of serial murders turns his life upside down.For tropes pertaining to his appearance in canon, click here.
- Abusive Parents: Many of his previous foster parents were neglectful and abusive towards him.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Akechi is introduced one week prior to the events of Persona 4, six years earlier than his appearance in canon.
- Bastard Angst: Due to the stigma surrounding children born out of wedlock in Japan, Akechi suffered discrimination throughout his entire life from the moment his status in the koseki became known to his schoolmates.
- Celibate Hero: Akechi is consistently portrayed as disinterested in romance, and he gets irritated whenever someone makes an assumption to the contrary.
- Combat Pragmatist: In his first sparring match with Kanji, Akechi delivers an underhanded knee to Kanji's gut when the latter least expects it, and then admits that in a real fight he would have gone for the groin.
- Conditioned to Accept Horror: Akechi's lifetime of abuse and neglect has left him used to being treated like garbage or a meal ticket, and Dojima has to put in a lot of effort to break through his cynical shell.
- Deadpan Snarker: His tongue is as sharp as his wit.
- Defrosting Ice King: As the story progresses, Akechi gradually begins to warm up to his new foster family and friends.
- Face Palm: Does this too many times to count, often in response to Adachi's incompetence and Yu Narukami's antics.
- Fatal Flaw: Akechi's pride and desire to prove himself causes him to clash with the Investigation Team, preventing them from truly being on the same page.
- Happily Adopted: After years of being passed through foster homes, unwanted and unloved, Akechi finally finds a loving home with the Dojima family.
- First-Name Basis: Akechi is uncomfortable with others calling him by his first name unless he truly trusts them.
- In-Series Nickname: Akechi tells Marie that he had "lived through Hell", prompting her to give him the nickname "Hell-boy".
- Innocence Lost: Akechi had been exposed to the ugliness of the world from a very young age, from suffering physical abuse at the hands of bullies to walking in on his mother servicing a client, but the moment which truly destroyed his innocence was when he discovered his mother's hanged corpse at the age of six.
- Irony: Unbeknownst to him, much like Yu, Akechi had a Persona from the moment he entered the TV world. If he had thought to shout the word "Persona," he would've discovered Loki much earlier.
- Please, Don't Leave Me: A flashback in Akechi's Dungeon depicts the moment he discovered his mother's suicide.Mama! Mama, please... Come back to me. You have to…
- Son of a Whore: He regularly suffered discrimination due to the stigmas surrounding sex work in Japan, with many denouncing his mother as an irresponsible slut and himself as an unwanted bastard child.
- Spotting the Thread: Akechi witnesses the handshake between Yu Narukami and the Gas Station Attendant, and correctly deduces that said attendant is responsible for giving Yu and the culprit the power to enter the TV world. He later convinces the enigmatic attendant to give him said ability too.
- Tarot Motifs: For Akechi, the Fool Social Link represents his own personal development, beginning from the moment he accepts his Shadow. Additionally, Akechi himself is represented by the Adjustment Arcana for his Social Link with Yu.
- Tragic Keepsake: His "Proof of Justice"; a toy ray gun gifted to him by his mother and the last possession he has from when she was alive.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Akechi was effectively forced to "grow up" faster due to a combination of his mother's suicide and being thrown between several abusive and neglectful homes. He notably has a rather wide vocabulary range.
Kanji Tatsumi
"And like… I dunno if I'm gay, bi, or somethin' else, but what I do know is that I love what I do. Acting all tough, pickin' fights… Your pops was right that it doesn't make me happy. Doesn't mean I'll stop, 'cause somebody's gotta do it, but it's like Chie-senpai said. I can be a badass and still like cute shit."
The deuteragonist of The Crow Cries at Midnight. Kanji is a teenage delinquent with a reputation for tussling with street gangs. Despite this abrasive demeanour, Kanji has a kind, gentle heart and a strong sense of justice.— Kanji to Akechi
- Adaptational Early Appearance: In the original game, Kanji first appears after the rescue of Yukiko Amagi. Here, he's the first member of the Investigation Team to be introduced.
- Best Friend: Kanji is the first person to befriend Akechi, and the two grow close over the course of the story. Even after the latter begins to open up to others, their Rank 10 Event has Akechi state in no uncertain terms that Kanji is his best friend.
- Bruiser with a Soft Center: His abrasive demeanor bellies a gentle and compassionate soul with a talent for handicraft. He even gives Nanako sewing lessons.
- Endearingly Dorky: He easily gets flustered and bashful whenever his tough guy facade cracks.
- Friend to All Children: Is very kind and gentle towards both Akechi and Nanako. His protectiveness towards them eventually earns him Dojima's trust.
- Point of Divergence: Kanji calling the cops to rescue Akechi from an abusive household is what kicks of the plot of the story.
Yu Narukami
- Broken Ace: Underneath his charisma and intelligence is a lonely boy whose constant school transfers have clearly taken a toll on him.
- Exact Words: Akechi puts in place a "No Girlfriends" policy for his new roomate, as he's a middle-schooler and he'd rather not walk in on anything "unsavory". Yu responds by asking if boyfriends are still on the table, much to Akechi's exasperation.
- In-Series Nickname: "No Girlfriends," thanks to Akechi. Notably, Yu embraces this moniker wholeheartedly out of good humor.
- Large Ham: Is prone to theatrics, much to Akechi's chagrin. His dialogue implies that he has taken acting classes in the past.
- Stepford Smiler: His dialogue at the end of Chapter 23 indicates that he suffers from loneliness which he masks beneath a charismatic demeanour.
Yosuke Hanamura
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Due to his Character Development, Yosuke owns up to his homophobic treatment of Kanji and is kinder towards him throughout the latter half of the story, most notably during the camping trip.
- Armoured Closet Gay: Or bi, given his very clear interest in women. Yosuke's internalized homophobia makes him come across as someone who's terrified to embrace the part of himself who might be interested in guys.
- Butt-Monkey: Is frequently the butt of jokes, often in regards to his loudmouth tendencies.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: His behaviour often causes friction with his cohorts (notably Akechi and Kanji), but he acknowledges his mistakes and makes a genuine effort to set things right.
- Licking the Blade: Yosuke does this, among various other ridiculous anime poses, when he gets the bright idea to bring a pair of weapons to a public cafe.
- My God, What Have I Done?: He eventually comes to regret his harsh words to Akechi and goes out of his way to apologize.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: As the author notes, Kanji was on the verge of accepting his Shadow without a fight...then Yosuke just had to open his big mouth.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Over the course of the story, Yosuke begins to own up to his more problematic tendencies (notably his homophobia towards Kanji and his tendency to project his own flaws onto others) in an effort to mend bridges with his teammates.
Chie Satonaka
- Groin Attack: Chie expresses a desire to find the culprit of the murders and "kick him so hard, his balls shatter.'
- Limited Wardrobe: Downplayed and lampshaded. Marie notes that she nicknames Yukiko and her "Red" and "Green" respectively because they always wear those colors. She attempts to avoid the color associations by shopping with Yukiko, but always ended up with something green or colors that mix to make green.
Yukiko Amagi
- Beware the Nice Ones: Quiet, polite Yukiko gleefully joins Chie and Kanji in indulging in some violent fantasies about what they're going to do once they get their hands on the killer.
- Limited Wardrobe: Downplayed and lampshaded by Marie like Chie above. Nearly all of her clothes are shades of red.
Teddie
- Adaptational Superpower Change: Teddie's Persona uses Nuclear spells instead of Ice spells, due to his Persona's missile motif.
Naoto Shirogane
- Adaptational Angst Upgrade: They avoid their Shadow upon learning that it had manifested following Kanji's rescue, taking any chance they can to avoid it. They also get jealous at Rise and Teddie's awakening, along with the ease Rise had with her awakening.
- Adaptational Gender Identity: Initially, they go exclusively by masculine pronouns prior to their dungeon just like in the original game, but after confronting their Shadow they identify as an "all pronouns" nonbinary.
- Badass Normal: Unlike the rest of the Investigation Team, Naoto is a trained professional with a gun. Notably, they join the Investigation Team's forays into the TV world from Kanji's Dungeon onward despite not having a Persona.
- Human Trafficking: Prior to the events of the story, Naoto collaborated with police officer Akihiro Niijima in order to bust a trafficking ring in the Shinjuku ward. Disguising themself as an innocent schoolgirl, Naoto was able to use themself as live bait to infiltrate the ring, with a GPS tracker and a well-concealed gun hidden in their uniform.
- Precocious Crush: Sae Niijima's little sister Makoto is said to have a crush on them.
Rise Kujikawa
An idol who is currently taking a haitus from her work in her hometown of Inaba. Due to being warned of the kidnappings ahead of time, she joins the Investigation team.
- Adaptational Angst Downgrade: Downplayed. She still has to face her Shadow in Teddie's dungeon, but due to having time to prepare and not having the stress of being kidnapped, she manages to accept her Shadow without a fight.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Due to the Investigation Teams intervention, she doesn't get kidnapped and joins the team earlier than in canon. Her Shadow and Persona also shows up due to being awakened in Teddie's dungeon
- Jumped at the Call: She jumps into the supernatural side of the case with ease, befriending the Investigation Team and joining them earlier than in canon.
Other Prominent Characters
Ryotaro Dojima
A police detective and single father who serves as Akechi's guardian and foster father.
- Actually Pretty Funny: He find Akechi's jabs at Adachi's expense quite amusing, much to the latter's dismay.
- A Birthday, Not a Break: The Investigation Team's stakeout and Kanji's subsequent kidnapping happens on Dojima's birthday. Despite expecting to work late that night, Dojima is less than pleased.Dojima: ...To think they'd pick tonight of all nights...
- Establishing Character Moment: His appearance during the opening of the story establishes him as a flawed yet well-meaning detective who's trying to resolve his grief by apprehending his wife's killer at the expense of spending time with his daughter.
- Good Parents: For all of his absentee issues, Dojima proves to be an excellent adoptive father to Akechi. He provides the two things Akechi truly needed - stability and unconditional love. And for as much as he struggles to connect with his biological daughter Nanako, the fact that Dojima laments his absence and makes a genuine effort to own up to his mistakes sets him miles apart from Akechi's despised birth father.
- Happily Adopted: Is the first of Akechi's foster guardians to treat him as a member of the family, caring for him as his own son.
- The Lost Lenore: Much like in the original game, Dojima continues to grieve the loss of his wife Chisato.
- Spit Take: Does this when Akechi brings up the possibility of Yu bringing a girlfriend into his room, saying that if he must share a room, he'd rather not walk in on anything "unsavoury".
- That One Case: Is pursuing a relentless investigation into the hit-and-run case which killed his wife.
Nanako Dojima
- Children Are Innocent: Nanako practically embodies the innocence long torn from Akechi's heart. She quickly melts Akechi's heart when she first meets him, and although she's initially scared by Kanji's appearance, she quickly befriends him once she meets him in person.
- Family of Choice: She almost immediately begins to look up to Akechi as an older brother and eventually, these feelings become reciprocal, culminating when Akechi accepts her as an adoptive sister.
- Groin Attack: When Chie instructs her in the art of self-defense, she happily shares her passion kicking men between the legs, prompting Nanako to loudly repeat "A kick to the crotch'll make 'em see stars!"
- Nice Girl: Very kind and gentle.
Tohru Adachi
An lazy, incompetent police detective whose bumbling demeanour masks his true intentions. He serves as the Jester Social Link for Yu.
- Anti-Role Model: He openly encourages Nanako to take shortcuts with her homework, much to Akechi's chagrin.
- Beneath Suspicion: Even the extremely intelligent Akechi is unable to see past Adachi's bumbling demeanour and consider the possibility of him being a suspect in the murder cases.
- Big Bad Friend: To Yu Narukami. Despite having suspicious, Yu is reluctant to consider the possibility of Adachi being the culprit due to their friendship.
- Butt-Monkey: Is the butt of a lot of jokes.
- Establishing Character Moment: Adachi first appearance has him complaining about his job during the investigation of Akechi's abusive foster home, thus establishing him as an unempathetic slacker who doesn't take his job seriously.Adachi: Man… I still don't know how you talked me into this. This is a lawyer's job, not a cop's.
Dojima: If you think it's acceptable to half-ass a job like this, you should reevaluate your career. This is a kid we're talking about. - Late-Arrival Spoiler: The story makes little effort to hide the twist that he's the killer. This allows him to act as a more active antagonist throughout the story.
- Noodle Incident: Adachi has a reputation amongst the police force for his incompetence and is implied to have botched several jobs in the past.
- Police Are Useless: A laughably incompetent cop whose ineptitude got him assigned to the remote town of Inaba. Justified; due to the lack of police recruits, the department needs all hands on deck for the murder cases, even if they're as useless as Adachi.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Played for Laughs. When Adachi encourages Nanako to take the "quick and easy route" with her homework, Yu agrees with him in an attempt to bolster their Social Link, much to Akechi's exasperation.
- Traitor Shot: At the end of his hangout in Chapter 32. After he leaves, Yu voices his suspicions of his friend, which is immediately followed by a shot of Adachi lingering outside the Dojima residence, seething over Akechi's jabs at his expense.You think you're so funny, don't you, kid? You're lucky Dojima-san cares so much about you, or I'd have half a mind to make you the next Midnight Channel star...
- Villain Has a Point: Despite his utter irresponsibility (and the fact that he's the killer), he notes Yu and Akechi's independence and encourages them to find an adult they can trust in times of trouble.
"Izaya Sagiri"
"I'm not the kind of person to dictate people's choices. Power doesn't determine morality; it's what you do with the power that shows your true character."
"I meet a lot of people, and I'm an impartial party. I wanna see what you can figure out, and whose wishes will prevail. Will it be our mystery killer and their endless hunger for thrills, or will the desire for truth and hope for the future win out?"
A mysterious gas station attendant who only ever appears on rainy days. Akechi sees the attendant give Yu Narukami a handshake and correctly deduces that he is responsible for giving out the power to enter the TV world, thereby enabling much of the supernatural phenomenon plaguing Inaba. He takes an interest in Akechi when the latter approaches him after deducing his involvement in the murder cases.— Sagiri to Akechi and Kanji
- Ascended Extra: In the original game, after giving Yu his powers, the Moel gas station attendant fades into the background until the eleventh hour. In this story, Akechi cottons on to how suspicious he is very quickly and he remains a recurring supporting character, eventually becoming Akechi's Death Social Link.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: Akechi surmises that trickster spirits such as the gas station attendant operate on a different concept of morality incomprehensible to ordinary humans.
- Gender Bender: Identifies as male as "Izaya Sagiri" while female as Izanami.
Word of God describes him/her as being genderfluid. - Meaningful Name: "Izaya" means "the one who watches over the crowd" and "Sagiri" means "mist/fog", with the latter being used in the names of Kunino-Sagiri and Ameno-Sagiri.
- Named by the Adaptation: In the original game, Izanami's gas station attendant persona isn't given a name prior to the reveal of his true identity.
- Pet the Dog: Despite his amorality, Sagiri occasionally shows moments of thoughtfulness towards Akechi.
- Upon their first meeting, gives Akechi an umbrella when he notices that the boy doesn't have one.
- At the end of their hangout at Aiya's, Sagiri foots the bill for Akechi's meal.
- He also gifts Akechi a book about Japanese mythology for his birthday.
- Spotting the Thread: Akechi witnesses the attendant giving Yu Narukami the handshake which gave him the power to enter the TV world.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Has a habit of vanishing into thin air at the end of a conversation.
The Fox
- Guest-Star Party Member: Accompanies the Investigation Team when they visit Kanji's dungeon.
Taro Namatame
Taro Namatame
- Late-Arrival Spoiler: Due to his Social Link with Akechi, the Investigation Team deduces that he isn't the killer due to his non-malicious nature and genuine concern for the victims.
- Sympathetic Adulterer: He grew distant from his wife and connected with Mayumi in a time of loneliness. Though the story doesn't condone his adultery, it does make it clear that the media sensationalized the affair without bothering to address the human side of the situation.
Sho Minazuki
Sho Minazuki
"I just don't get it. For a while, you were a loner, scraping by in this shitty world, and I thought, hey. This kid gets me, but then you just had to ruin it by getting all chummy and soft with people. And now you're all alone, so what's the point?"
A misanthropic youth with a violent streak. He spends much of the story observing Akechi from within the shadows before revealing himself when the latter is alone during the Yasogami camping trip. He serves as the Tower Social Link for Akechi.- Foil: In a sense, he embodies the unhealthy mindset Akechi once held and serves as an example of how the latter could have turned out had he not met Kanji.
Shadows and Personas
Shadow Akechi/Robin Hood
"Because I am you. And I know that deep down, that's all you really want - unconditional love."
"The feelings one represses can vary dramatically. For instance… You struggle accepting that others care about you and that you care about them, too. I understand, of course. It feels too good to be true…"
Akechi's Shadow, who appears when the former first visits the Midnight Channel after gaining the power to enter the TV world. Due to Akechi accepting his darkest feelings, his Shadow represents his repressed positive feelings: his longing for friendship, his capacity to open up to others - every scrap of hope and vulnerability that remains in his broken heart. When he sees that Akechi isn't ready to accept him, the Shadow allows him to leave the TV world to prepare himself.Unlike most Shadow Selves, Shadow Akechi acts as an ally towards the heroes, offering them protection within the TV world and helping them understand Akechi's pain so they can better support him. Per the Shadow's advice, Akechi jumps into the TV world, prompting the Investigation Team to pursue him, in the process witnessing Akechi's darkest feelings and childhood trauma. Shadow Akechi acts as a Guest-Star Party Member during this period, guiding them through the dungeon before turning on them and challenging them to a fight so they can prove that they truly care for Akechi.
Upon finally being accepted as a part of Akechi, Shadow Akechi takes on the form of the Robin Hood Persona, but continues to exist as his own person.
- Ascended Extra: In Persona 5, as Robin Hood he merely served to hide Loki's existence and later form Akechi's ultimate Persona. Here, he spent enough time as an autonomous Shadow for him to maintain a distinct character from Akechi even after becoming Robin Hood. He talks to Akechi in his head more often than other Personas and can switch between his Shadow and Persona forms at will.
- Clones Are People, Too: Having existed for several weeks, Shadow Akechi develops his own individual identity which persists even after he becomes Akechi's Persona.
- First-Name Basis: As the part of Akechi that's less distant, he has no qualms with letting others (notably Teddie) address him as "Goro".
- Guest-Star Party Member: Shadow Akechi accompanies the Investigation Team as he guides them through Akechi's Dungeon. Throughout the venture, he takes a back seat and acts as a Navigator for the team whilst introducing them to combat mechanics such as Baton Pass.
- Get Out!: When he sees that Akechi isn't ready to accept him, the Shadow's friendly demeanor drops and he tells Teddie to take Akechi out of the TV world before the former can say something to provoke the Shadow.Shadow Akechi: Get him out of here, Teddie-kun. He's not ready yet, and I don't want him saying something he'll regret.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: Akechi's Shadow reveals that he himself secretly struggles with loneliness and a desire for companionship. Unlike Akechi, the Shadow openly embraces the Investigation Team as friends, going as far as to call Yu "Nii-San"note and refers to Dojima as "Dad".
- Laser Sword: Wields a glowing blue saber.
- Nice Guy: Justified, as the Shadow embodies Akechi's kinder traits; his long-repressed idealism and desire to give to others the kindness he so desperately craved throughout his life.
- One-Winged Angel: Averted. Unlike most Shadow Selves, Shadow Akechi doesn't transform into a monster prior to battling the heroes, instead retaining his normal form as he attacks the Investigation Team. Justified as Akechi doesn't reject his Shadow and cause it to lose control of itself.
- Prince Charming: His princely attire and kind, dapper mannerisms certainly evoke this, to the point that Akechi finds him insufferable because of how perfect he is.
- Token Heroic Orc: Due to the nature of Akechi's repressed feelings, his Shadow is far more benevolent in nature.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: In accepting the Shadow as part of himself, Akechi has to accept that all of the positive traits represented by his Shadow exist within him too.
Loki (Unmarked Spoilers)
"The Persona you just witnessed is the manifestation of all of Goro's anguish and pain. The part of himself he easily accepted, the spite and resentment at a world that saw him as less than diseased rats languishing in the sewers…"
— Shadow Akechi
- Foreshadowing: Unusually, Akechi gets attacked by Shadows when he enters the TV world, an abnormal occurrence since Shadows only ever attack Persona users whilst ignoring normal people. Though Akechi's Shadow justifies this as Akechi gaining the potential to wield a Persona after receiving the power to enter the TV world, Shadow Akechi also acts uncharacteristically evasively when the subject comes up, implying that he knows more than he lets on. As it turns out, Akechi already had a Persona from the get go.
- The Power of Hate: The bitterness and hatred which sustained Akechi for much of his life manifested as his initial Persona.
- The Reveal: Much like Yu, Akechi had a starter Persona all along. However, due to the conflicting state of his heart, it split into two separate forms.
Shadow Saki
"Poor, powerless Saki, forced to be the good girl. Forced to take every little insult and every little advance, and now look where it got you."
Saki Konishi's Shadow, which appears when Saki gets thrown into the Midnight Channel by the culprit. - Absurdly Sharp Claws: Her fingernails elongate into these as she transforms.
- Adaptational Expansion: Saki's death occurs off-screen in the original game. Here, we actually get to see her confrontation with her Shadow.
- Lean and Mean: Her Shadow transforms into a gangly beast with long claws and a Slasher Smile.
- The Resenter: The Shadow embodies Saki's repressed resentment towards Yosuke.Shadow Saki: And come on. You and I both know you hate that fake, overeager little shit. You just have to grin and bear it because he's the manager's son, while he gets the wrong idea, and suddenly he thinks he stands a chance.
Shadow Kanji
"Akechi… He's a good kid. He sees me for what I really am, and he doesn't make fun of me or push me away. I'm a helluva lot happier now that I've got him and Nanako-chan. I shouldn't worry so much… But what if it's just them? How do I know the rest of the world won't spit in my face the moment I show my true colors? All those times people made fun of me for followin' my passions… If it turns out I like guys, won't I be provin' them right?"
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Downplayed. Kanji gets kidnapped on May the 16th, thus causing his Shadow to manifest one day earlier that it did in the original game.
- Camp Gay: Behaves in the vein of a gay caricature.
- Tears of Joy: The Shadow sheds a Single Tear when Kanji accepts it as part of himself.
- The Unfought: Averted. As the author notes, Kanji might have been able to talk out his issues with his Shadow and accept it without a fight, but alas, Yosuke just had to open his big mouth.
- Vocal Dissonance: Discussed. Unlike Shadow Kanji, Take-Mikazuchi has a deep voice. As Kanji notes, it would be weird if a thunder god spoke with a lisp.
Shadow Naoto
"I won't disappear. Hiding from me will not change a thing… So don't go! Don't leave me alone! Please no, please no, please—"
"Do you not see the irony? You claim to be a detective, yet you turn your eyes from the truth. You know what must be done, but it has been nearly two weeks, and you've shown zero inclination to face me. No matter how hard you pretend to be an ace detective, in avoiding me, you've only proven that you are but a child playing pretend…"
Naoto's Shadow, which first appears after Naoto accompanies the Investigation Team into Akechi's Dungeon. Naoto catches a glimpse of their Shadow staring at them just as they leave the dungeon. Due to their reluctance to face their repressed feelings, the Shadow continues to linger within the TV world, eventually developing an identity of its own much like Akechi's Shadow.- Adaptational Early Appearance: Due to Naoto joining the Investigation Team and venturing into the TV world earlier than in the original game, their Shadow appears on May the 18th, almost four months earlier than their appearance in canon. The Investigation Team also ends up properly encountering the Shadow while searching for Teddie after he went missing.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: Teddie probably wouldn't have ended up generating his own dungeon if Shadow Naoto didn't keep hiding from him.
- Foreshadowing: Naoto texts Akechi about the seemingly-blank Midnight Channel broadcast in Chapter 33 and reacted with seeming apprehension when he confirms that no one appeared on-screen, indicating that they saw something no one else did. Sure enough, the next chapter reveals that Naoto saw their own Shadow.
Velvet Room Denizens
In General
Supernatural beings which reside within the Velvet Room; a place which serves to nurture the potential of Wild Card persona users. Akechi first enters the Velvet Room after accepting his Shadow and embracing the members of the Investigation Team as friends. Several of the Velvet Room's attendants serve as Social Links for Akechi due to his young age, though Marie remains his primary attendant.
Igor
"Welcome to the Velvet Room. I am Igor, and it's a pleasure to finally meet your acquaintance."
"Little by little, I do sense a change. A simple connection providing stability and structure has in turn rekindled his desire for justice and to uncover the truth. Bit by bit, he builds new connections... Yet that reckless spark within him could still lead him down a worrying path."
A mysterious long-nosed old man who propitiates the Velvet Room. Noting Akechi's potential as a Wild Card yet cautious of approaching him due to the turmoil within his heart, Igor sends Marie to observe the boy as he begins to form connections with those around him. Once Akechi comes to terms with his repressed feelings and accepts the Investigation Team as friends, Igor welcomes him into the Velvet Room.— Igor observing Akechi
- Establishing Character Moment: At the end of Chapter 2, a limousine stops in front of Marie, and the door opens to reveal a Really Big Nose'... which was attached to an old man. Igor then invites Marie into the limo, asking only for her to watch over Akechi.
- Gag Nose: He has a very long nose. Margaret even has a song about it.
- In-Series Nickname: Marie calls him "The Nose" and for a good portion of the story, Akechi knows him exclusively by that moniker.
- Not So Above It All: Even he finds Yu Narukami's "No Girlfriends" nickname amusing, as evidenced by the corners of his mouth twitching upwards when the topic arises.
Marie
'''
A mysterious girl with amnesia. Akechi first meets her sitting by a river and talking to herself. Over time, the two form a friendship, with Akechi introducing her to various forms of literature and teaching her how to play chess. However, it soon becomes apparent that she knows more about the supernatural occurrences in Inaba than she lets on. It also becomes apparent to Akechi that Marie is secretly observing him on behalf of an individual known as "The Nose". She serves as the Aeon Social Link for both Akechi and Yu, as well as the former's Velvet Room Attendant.- The Nicknamer: Marie refers to everyone by nicknames. Akechi is "Hell-boy" (in reference to him claiming to have been through hell), Yu is "No Girlfriends" (in reference to an inside joke between him and Akechi), Chie is "Green" (due to her signature green jacket), and Igor is "the Nose" (for obvious reasons).
Margaret
Margaret
"Even if the path was difficult to tread, look at where you are now. In just a few short months, you've found a home, a family, and the conviction to pursue a difficult truth. That you've come so far in so little time is truly an impressive feat."
An elegant woman with a vast knowledge of Personas and their mythological origins. She serves as the Empress Social Link for both Yu and Akechi, teaching the latter about various Personas and the arcana they represent.— Margaret to Akechi
- Metaphorically True: Upon meeting Dojima, Margaret passes herself off as Akechi's tutor, leaving out the supernatural aspect of their lessons as well as the fact that she isn't a licensed teacher.Actually, I'm here to see Akechi. He recently enrolled in some special electives, and I'm here to instruct him. Think of me as a special tutor for exceptionally gifted children.
- Not So Above It All: As calm and composed as she is, she finds Yu's "No Girlfriends" alias hilarious, visibly stifling a laugh when the topic comes up.
Theodore
"Master, has the new guest arrived? Since he had such a fraught journey getting here, I thought I would provide some sort of gift. I am told that these 'colas' are an excellent source of vitality! May it serve you well on your journey…"
A naive yet enthusiastic man who resides within the Velvet Room. He serves as the Sun Social Link for Akechi, who takes him for outings in the human world to help broaden his horizons.- Establishing Character Moment: Upon his introduction, offers Akechi a gift in the form of a can of cola, much to the latter's bewilderment.
- Nice to the Waiter: Leaves an absurdly large stack of yen for the server at the Souzai Daigaku restaurant.
Lavenza
Lavenza
"Well… perhaps, but it'll be quite some time before I'm ready to meet my Trickster."
A young girl who is currently training to become a Velvet Room Attendant. She serves as Akechi's Moon Social Link.- Adaptational Early Appearance: Appears during the events of Persona 4, six years earlier than her canonical debut.
Supporting Cast
Goro Akechi's Mother
Akechi's late mother. A prostitute in Shinjuku who gave birth to a bastard child after being impregnated by one of her clients, Akechi's mother struggled with the social stigmas surrounding her profession and eventually committed suicide.
- Adaptational Expansion: Little is known about her character in canon. The Crow Cries at Midnight characterizes her as a Struggling Single Mother who did her best to care for her young son before being Driven to Suicide.
- The story also reveals several details about her: namely that she was bilingual and had a love of jazz; interests which helped Akechi remember her even in death.
- Death by Origin Story: Her suicide marked the moment Akechi's life took a turn for the worse.
- Driven to Suicide: Tragically, the pressures society placed upon her coupled with the stigmas surrounding her line of work pushed her to take her own life, leaving her young son to find the body.
- Foil: To Dojima. Both are single parents who unwittingly neglected their young children due to their work commitments, prompting said children to grow independent from a young age.
- Good Parents: Akechi describes her as a very caring woman who did her best to provide for him in spite of their financial hardships.
- I Have No Son!: Was on the receiving end of this. Her family disowned her due to her line of work, leaving her with no financial support.
- Parental Neglect: A sympathetic example not unlike Dojima. Due to their financial struggles, Akechi's mother frequently took clients at the expense of spending time with her son.
- Posthumous Character: The story makes it clear that even now, Akechi still grieves his mother's suicide.
- Primal Scene: Akechi once walked in on her servicing a client after coming home from the bathhouse early.
- Single Mom Stripper: Worked as a prostitute not because she enjoyed it, but because she had no other means to support her young son.
Saki Konishi
- Adaptational Expansion: Saki is given more characterisation prior to her death. Notably, her trauma from discovering Mayumi Yamano's body is shown, as is her encounter and subsequent death at the hands of her Shadow.
- In Spite of a Nail: Despite the Investigation Team's efforts, Teddie is unable to help Saki escape the Midnight Channel and she becomes the second victim of the murder cases.
Mrs. Tatsumi
Kanji Tatsumi's mother.
- Good Parents: Is kind and supportive towards her son.
Sae Nijima
"The world is changing, but those up top aren't so ready to accept it. If I can pursue justice and empower other women to do the same, then perhaps there's still hope for the future."
A 17 year old law student and the eldest daughter of Police Officer Akihiro Niijima. She first appears during the "Detective's Intermission", where she invites Naoto out for a meal.- Adaptational Early Appearance: Is introduced during the events of Persona 4, 6 years prior to the events of Persona 5
Lala Escargot
A woman in Shinjuku who served as a friend and confidant to Akechi and his mother during the former's childhood. She was the proprietress of the bathhouse frequented by a young Akechi.
The Antisocial Force
Masayoshi Shido
Goro Akechi's birth father. An unscrupulous politician who had a one-night fling with Akechi's mother before abandoning her and her unborn child, his name is only known to Akechi from his mother's drunken rants. The leader of a diabolical conspiracy, Shido is determined to become Prime Minister and reshape the country into his own image through any means necessary.
- Archnemesis Dad: His bastard child Akechi will later become the leader of the Phantom Thieves opposing his conspiracy.
- Big Bad: Is set to become this for the untitled sequel which adapts the plot of Persona 5.
- Disappeared Dad: Walked out when Akechi's mother was pregnant with him.
Takuto Maruki
A counselor and researcher with ties to the Antisocial Force.
- Adaptational Modesty: Downplayed. Maruki has a different Metaverse design in this continuity; a suit of gold armor reassembling a Paladin instead of a priest. Said armor lacks the metal thong
◊ his canon design so graciously sports. - Adaptational Villainy: Downplayed. While he's still an Anti-Villain, this iteration of Maruki is a member of the Antisocial Force, thus making him complicit in far more crimes.
- The Dragon: Official artwork indicates that he will take Akechi's place as Shido's right hand man (and Yaldabaoth's Unwitting Pawn) for the events of Persona 5.
- Evil Wears Black: Downplayed since he's an Anti-Villain, but in this continuity, Maruki wears a black variant of his Palace suit as his researcher's attire.
- Gold-Colored Superiority: Wears a suit of golden armor in the Metaverse.
- Lighter and Softer: In comparison to Akechi's role as Shido's enforcer. Instead of killing Shido's enemies through mental shutdowns, Maruki simply uses his actualization abilities to brainwash them by altering their cognitions.
.png){kind=small}
