Sae Nijima

3

Sae Niijima is the older sister and legal guardian of Makoto Niijima since their father's death a few years prior. During the course of the story, she would work as a public prosecutor of the Tokyo District Special Investigation Department at the Public Prosecutors Office. Having wanted to reform the legal system, she would be filled with envy for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts after their actions have made a mockery of the police force; one reason for the manifestation of her Palace. The Phantom Thieves persuade her Shadow Self of their beliefs without stealing her heart, and the real Sae understands them after having listening to the protagonist's absurd, yet truthful testimony, deciding to support them. After establishing a legal case against Masayoshi Shido, in reflection, she would quit her job as prosecutor and become a defense attorney, entrusting the legal reform to someone else. Sae is intelligent, professional and serious, although her actual maturity is debatable. A workaholic, Sae is very strict in both her work as prosecutor and guardian for her younger sister, Makoto, constantly telling her to focus on her studies and such. With many responsibilities, Sae is always working due to Japan's work pressure, and is very stressed and exhausted. She must care for Makoto, almost putting her in a single mother's role. Her father dying in the line of duty and forcing her to raise Makoto acts as her very sore spot. She resents Makoto, as the Niijima sisters' father throwing his life away in the name of justice forced her to raise her sister alone. The resentment is so horrible that when Makoto asks for her opinion on whether she would think the Phantom Thieves of Hearts were just, Sae snaps and says several cruel things that she instantly regrets, up to and including that she views Makoto as a burden, which hurts the latter.