Mitsuru Kirijo

**Mitsuru Kirijo** is a playable character from *Persona 3*.

## Design

Mitsuru has long red hair covering her left eye. The hue of the hair can sometimes appear vivid red or dark red. Her eyes are brown, although they have sometimes been portrayed with hints of red.

At school and in Tartarus, she wears the Gekkoukan High uniform with personal effects: no jacket, a white blouse (long sleeve in winter & short puffy-sleeve in summer), a black skirt that goes above her knees and black knee-high high-heeled boots. On the weekends and days off, she wears a short black peacoat, a white scarf and white pants, along with her black boots. In the summer, however, she wears a white sleeveless turtleneck shirt and black pants. As with the rest of SEES, Mitsuru wears a swimsuit during the excursion at Yakushima. She is seen wearing a kimono at numerous appropriate occasions.

A younger Mitsuru, seen briefly in *The Answer*, had curly pigtails. She previously wore a red ribbon with a green gem, a white puffy blouse, a red skirt, white stockings and brown shoes.

In her middle school years, she is seen wearing the standard summer school uniform and a black sweater vest.

In *Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight*, she retains some parts of her school uniform, although her blouse is left open, showing her strappy black sport bra beneath, and this is matched with a maroon short jacket, leggings and black thigh high boots. In addition, she also wears a black choker, magenta gloves and a pair of black headphones.

In *Persona 4 Arena*, Mitsuru, now 20 years old, reappears and is wearing a fur coat over a black catsuit. She still fights with a rapier and carries an Evoker in a holster on her thigh.

## Personality

Mitsuru is calm, confident, mature, responsible, wise and very intelligent despite being a high school student. However, she may be interpreted as slightly arrogant, conceited, cold-hearted or overconfident. As events unfold, this may be a front of maturity, due to her assumed role as the leader of SEES. Her Persona Arcana is the Empress, which fits with the "motherly/older sisterly" role she plays in the group.

Mitsuru has a streak of strict conduct. Per formal Japanese culture, Mitsuru is the only member of SEES who formally addresses her fellow club mates by their last names. Akihiko Sanada is an exception to this, as the two are good friends and have known each other since junior high. Eventually, she becomes more familiar with the other SEES members and refers to Yukari Takeba on a first-name basis, and the others' on occasion. Mitsuru is also very insistent with the team keeping their grades up, going so far as to sign them up for summer classes behind their backs. Mitsuru is also outspoken and has zero tolerance for prejudice. For example when the female protagonist is elected leader and Junpei Iori is annoyed because "he's the only guy in the group," Mitsuru sternly tells him that "Whether one is a man or woman doesn't factor into it. The responsibility falls to those who have the gift. And let me add, if you ever say or do anything to condescend to her because she's a woman..."

Despite her often getting annoyed at Akihiko's eagerness to fight, Shinjiro Aragaki claims in *Persona Q* that she "enjoys fighting just as much as he does, if not, more."

Mitsuru is shown to be quite awkward when dealing with normal social situations, likely due to her upbringing. It is noted by her father that she has difficulty trusting others, and at one point he tells her that she can only do so much on her own and reminds her of the Kirijo Group's guiding principle, "Two in harmony surpasses one in perfection," which Mitsuru takes to heart.

In *The Answer*, during the dispute over what to do with the keys, Mitsuru sides with Yukari, much to Akihiko's confusion. Her reason for doing this is not revealed until after the conflict is resolved; after the protagonist's death, she swore an oath that if anything happened to make Yukari suffer, she would put aside her own feelings and stand with her no matter what, as payment for her being there for her the year before. It's then that Mitsuru truly returns the favor; she tells Yukari that while losing someone close to you is agony, there's no need to suffer alone and that she and the others can be there for her when she needs it the most, and that that's the reason one forms such bonds in the first place.

## Gameplay

#### Playstyle

Mitsuru is a fierce character with a variety of fast pokes that have a respectable amount of range. Like Yu, she is also a "Jack-of-All Stats" character, however, as Yu tends to focus on speed, Mitsuru leans more on force. She has several options to pressure an opponent, even if she is not in direct contact and can draw her opponents in with long-range Persona attacks. Additionally, she can freeze opponents and inflict Charm which drains the opponent's SP gauge to add to her own. Mitsuru is however somewhat limited in attack options. Thus she relies on her feints and delayed attacks in order to either bait out moves from her opponents or go for a reset. Also, like Guile of the Street Fighter series and other examples, Mitsuru is one of the few "charge motion" characters on the roster, so her special moves in the heat of battle require precise timing to stick them into combos, save for her SP skills. Also like Guile, she also has a hopping normal attack that can be directed backward or forward mid-hop (akin to both Guile and Charlie Nash's Sobat attacks).

Mitsuru's theme/leitmotif is named "Missions for the Brilliant Executor," a nod to her duties and her "executions." The OST disc version has altered instrumentals in comparison to a few of the other themes, while the remixed version in Persona 4 The ULTIMATE in MAYONAKA ARENA Original Arrange Soundtrack, known as "Missions for the Brilliant Executor -2K Mix-" features a quicker tempo and more rock instrumentals.

Mitsuru has 4 Persona cards/units total in the first Arena game. In Ultimax, this amount does not change.

Her Megaten-series moves in these games are Marin Karin (used as her 2C), Getsu-ei (used as her Furious Action), Bufula, Myriad Arrows, Bufudyne, Mabufudyne and Niflheim. In Ultimax, she also gains Tentarafoo (used as an ice elemental attack as opposed to a wind-based attack like Yosuke's version).

## Battle Quotes

### *Persona 3*

 File:Persona 3 - Mitsuru Battle Quotes
* "Penthesilea!" (Enemy weak to attack)
* "Artemisia!" (Enemy weak to attack)
* "Obey my command!" (Summoning Persona: Penthesilea)
* "I summon thee!" (Summoning Persona: Penthesilea)
* "I command thee!" (Summoning Persona: Artemisia)
* "This ends now!" (Summoning Persona: Artemisia)
* "I will show no mercy!" (Enemy weak to attack/Critical with Phys skill)
* "This is no longer just OUR battle." (Enemy weak to attack/Critical with Phys skill)
* "Hang in there." (Healing a party member)
* "Here!" (Using an item on a party member)
* "Be careful." (Using an item on a party member)
* "Out of my way!" (Critical hit)
* "Begone!" (Critical hit)
* "Such persistence." (Enemy survives attack)
* "I failed to finish it off." (Enemy survives attack)
* "This can't be..." (Attack misses)
* "That enemy is quite fast." (Attack misses)
* "Not good enough." (Evades enemy's attack)
* "You've done it." (Protagonist gets One More)
* "Don't leave the job unfinished." (MC gets One More)
* "How disgraceful..." (Recovering from Down)
* "I let my guard down." (Recovering from Down)
* "Understood." (Changing battle tactics)
* "Leave it to me." (Changing battle tactics)
* "The enemy's down! Let's finish this!" (Prompting an All-Out Attack)
* "You'll fall by my hand." (Initiating All-Out Attack)
* "So be it." (Denying All-Out Attack)
* "Now's our chance! Let's go!" (Requesting Co-Op attack)
* "You have my gratitude." (Being healed by an ally)
* "Thank you." (Revived from KO)
* "You've improved." (Protagonist lands critical hit or weak spot)
* "That's unexpected." (Party member lands critical hit)
* "Great job Iori!" (Junpei hits a weak spot/critical hit)
* "Go, Akihiko!" (Akihiko hits a weak spot/critical hit)
* "Good boy! You deserve a treat!" (Koromaru hits a weak spot/critical hit)
* "Very well. Leave the rest to me." (Entering battle)
* "Is this... a person? We must save them!" (Finding a missing person)
* "The shadows are getting stronger as well." (Battle won: Penthesilea)
* "My will is unfailing." (Battle won)
* "I mustn't falter." (Battle won)
* "You are unworthy of my time." (Battle won)
* "This appears to be just the beginning." (Battle won)
* "Let's go!" (Summoning Persona: Artemisia in The Answer when fighting 2-on-2)
* "I'm in no condition to fight, can you handle this?" (Requesting to leave battle)
* "My apologies." (Fulfilling request to leave battle)
* "You're quite the slave driver, aren't you?"(Denying request to leave battle)
* "Slash attacks are ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Slash)
* "Strikes are ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Strike)
* "Pierce attacks are ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Pierce)
* "Fire is ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Fire)
* "Ice is ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Ice)
* "Wind is ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Wind)
* "Electricity is ineffective." (Enemy resistant to Electricity)
* "Light seems to be having no effect." (Enemy resistant to Light)
* "Darkness seems to be having no effect." (Enemy resistant to Darkness)
* "What?! Almighty attacks are ineffective?!" (Enemy resistant to Almighty)
* "Give him/her strength! Take my life if you must!" (Final Nyx battle)
* "...You're cheating. I'll have to punish you." (When using a cheat)
* "I trusted you. I can't believe you cheated." (When player is using a cheat)
* "I'm very disappointed in you..." (When using a cheat)
* "Roger. I'll attempt to analyze the enemy." (Request to scan an enemy while support)
* "Use Garu skills against the enemy." (Enemy is weak against Garu spells while support)
* "Take the enemy down!" (using rush while support)
* "Keep up the good work." (Battle won with protagonist while support)
* "A surprise attack! Prepare for battle!" (Struck by an enemy outside of battle while support)
* "Two enemies remain. Don't get careless." (Two enemies in battle while support)
* "Two distressed enemies detected!" (Engaging battle with two enemies with advantage while support)
* "An assault by two enemies! Stand strong!" (Struck by enemies outside of battle while support)
* "Three enemies present! Don't get careless." (Engaging battle with enemies while support)
* "Three enemies! We're at a disadvantage!" (Engaging battle with enemies while support)
* "Iori is in danger!" (Junpei gets struck by an enemy and low on HP while support)
* "One more." (One enemy left while support)
* "Only one more!" (One enemy left standing while support)
* "One enemy remains." (One enemy left while support)
* C'est magnifique! (Protagonist evades attack while support.)
* "Look out!" (Protagonist gets struck by an enemy and low on HP while support)
* "You're injured. Can you heal yourself?" (Protagonist's HP is low while support)
* "Roger. I'll request help from the others!" (Requesting for help while support)
* "Takeba is on her way. Hang in there." (Yukari was requested to assist while support)
* "That's a rare form. Teach it a lesson!" (Engaging a battle with a rare enemy)
* "Stay sharp! (Protagonist recovers from "down" status)
* "A single strike...?! Come on! Stand up...!" (Protagonist is knocked unconscious and oneshotted)
* "You have the potential to grow even stronger. (Won with protagonist while support)

### *Persona 4 Arena*

Quotes (English): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOqRRnBa8fk

Quotes (Japanese): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOXQCeE14rY

* "Magnifique!" (While chosen on the Character Select screen)
* "I can't believe one can actually enter a TV." (Starting Arcade Mode)
* "Akihiko! Show me what you've learned!" (vs. Akihiko)
* "The young successor of Shirogane!" (vs. Naoto)
* Is she an obstacle to overcome? (vs. Elizabeth)
* "Akihiko!" (Performing a strong attack on Akihiko)
* "Aigis!" (Performing a strong attack on Aigis)
* "I'll fight to the bitter end!" (Awakened)
* "Ice Mirror!" (While performing Bufula)
* "Time to rush this! Out of my way!" (While performing super move; Myriad Arrows)
* "Come forth! Feel the cold!" (While performing super move; Bufudyne)
* "I will prevail!" (While performing Awakening super move; Mabufudyne)
* "The finale!" (Initiating Instant Kill; Niflheim)
* "It's time for the execution!" (Artemisia freezes the opponent)
* "Adieu!" (Mitsuru stabs the opponent, finishing the Instant Kill)
* "This can't be..." (KO'ed)

#### Victory Quotes

General
* C'est magnifique! A perfect victory!
* I'm sorry, but I cannot stop now. I'm on a mission.
* When I do battle like this, it brings me back to my high school days...
* If you aren't satisfied with this result, feel free to challenge me whenever you want. I will neither run nor hide.

Character Specific
* Aigis: Remember the last time we fought like this...? I can see we've both grown since then. Well done.
* Akihiko Sanada: Akihiko... In our match, I saw the vision of strength you're striving for.
* Yukiko Amagi: Your moves showed both power and grace. I felt as if I was watching a dance... Truly exquisite.
* Naoto Shirogane: Your analytical way of thinking showed through in your moves as well. You're a credit to the Shirogane name.
* Teddie: Such surprising dexterity from an overstuffed body... Very intriguing. Though I have to think it's rather hot inside...
* Elizabeth: I could tell from the start that she was far from ordinary, but that colossal strength...
* Labrys: The agony of having a heart, but not being human... I pledge to atone for the sins the Kirijo Group committed against you.
* Shadow Labrys: She was carrying such profound anguish... It is my duty to rectify the Kirijo Group's past sins.
* **Mitsuru Kirijo**: A fight against oneself... Now that I think about it, it's a battle that's constantly repeated in life.

### *Persona 4 Arena Ultimax*

* I will fight under the Kirijo name. (Character select)
* My resolve is set. (Character select)
* Ha you seem to be well, Iori. (vs. Junpei)
* You're nothing but a frail imitation. (vs. Mitsuru (Shadow Type))
* Tentarafoo! (While performing Tentarafoo)
* Fall into a daze. (While performing Tentarafoo)
* You won't escape! (While performing Myriad Arrows)
* Better luck next time! (While performing Myriad Arrows)
* I'm sorry. I had no choice. (Final round victory)
* It seems this is me after all. (Final round victory)

#### Victory Quotes

##### Normal Type

General
* I hope you don't think ill of me. I cannot lose, for the sake of my burden...
* No matter how many times you come at me, I will continue to strike you down... None shall stand in my way!
* No matter what the circumstances, I cannot afford to lose. If you'll still come at me knowing this, then I'll show no mercy!
* The execution queen, hm...? Not an honorable nickname by most perspectives, but it's not all bad. I will strike down all that stand in my way!
* There's no need to be frustrated. It just happened that I was a little stronger than you.
* I will deal with all the calamities the Kirijo Group gave rise to. This I swear!

Character Specific
* Yu Narukami: No wonder you've taken the role of leader to your friends. You're a talented young man with a lot of promise.
* Aigis: You've grown to a truly astonishing degree. Let's keep striving to better ourselves for the sake of our goal, Aigis.
* Akihiko Sanada: It seems your skills have definitely been honed in your training journey. I'll be counting on you, Akihiko.
* Junpei Iori: What's the matter? Is your weapon just for show? It seems your time away from actual combat has made you lose your touch.
* Yukari Takeba: Is that... a new type of battle gear? Will you allow me to consider it for official usage...?
* Ken Amada: There is no need to rush. There will definitely come a time when your strength is required.
* Labrys: The way you fought proves that you'll serve our team well... I have high hopes for you.
* Sho: You're a victim of the Kirijo Group as well... I vow that their mistakes will never again be repeated.
* Rise Kujikawa: You should gain more actual combat experience. Else you won't be able to protect those precious to you when it matters most.
* Tohru Adachi: What a dreadful person... To think they fought against such a man...
* Margaret: Why is it that so many powerful people flock to Inaba...? I won today but only because luck was on my side. I'd definitely like to fight you again.
* **Shadow Mitsuru**: I'll tell you the difference between you and me... It's my iron resolve!

##### Shadow Type

General
* You could never understand the thought process of the elite. There is no need for lowly worms to have their own will!
* That's enough of your unsightly squirming. I'll send you to hell at once!
* I am ever disappointed by incompetent louts. It seems you were no exception.
* All you must do is cast aside all thought and simply obey! Stay groveling on the ground like that!
* Being incompetent is itself a sin. That's why I am executing you. You had best thank me!
* (chuckle) How pitiful... Will you beg for mercy like the lowlife you are?
* (chuckle) How unsightly! It's a shame. but the gulf in one's natural gifts cannot be overcome.

Character Specific
* Yu Narukami: You call yourself a leader with those menial skills? \*chuckle\* Enough of your foolishness!
* Akihiko Sanada: In the end, you're nothing but a disposable soldier. Lose, and you're worthless to me. Now die in despair!
* **Mitsuru Kirijo**: Do you feel uneasy unless you're sticking your nose in everything? Or do you just have that little faith in your companions? Ahahahah!

### *Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth*

* *"Your orders, leader."* (Battle start)
* *"I gratefully decline."* (Battle start, responding to Teddie)
* *"Brace yourselves!"* (Battle start, Enemy Advance)
* *"I shall cut you down!"* (Battle start, fighting Tree-type Shadow)
* *"Posing as a priest... This is blasphemy!"* (Battle start, Merciful Clergyman)
* *"L-Let's execute them!"* (Battle start, Kind Doctor)
* *"Persona!"* (Skill)
* *"Come! Penthesilea!"* (Skill)
* *"Are you all right?* (Item)
* *"I'll execute you."* (Critical)
* *"WHAT?"* (Miss)
* *"It's useless!"* (Miss, Enemy)
* *"Don't be so sure. I can win this!"* (Low Energy, responding to Teddie)
* *"Sorry..."* (Dies)
* *"Akihiko, you let your guard down!"* (Akihiko dies)
* *"Our morale is high. Now is the time to strike."* (All-Out Attack, prompt)
* *"The battle has only begun."* (One Enemy defeated)
* *"Give me your next command."* (One Enemy defeated)
* *"Good! The red nurse and doctor are all that remain!"* (Kind Doctor battle, Calming Nurse defeated)

## Trivia

* In *Persona 3*, if the player uses a cheat device, Mitsuru will scold the player for it, saying they should be punished and she is disappointed in them.(0:49)
* In *Persona 3*, Mitsuru has been criticized for her poor AI. She has a tendency to use Marin Karin (charm the enemy) and Tentarafoo (panic the enemy) excessively, which is troublesome as they tend to miss often. Some players recommend changing her tactics to "Full Assault" to reduce this habit or prioritize removing them from her skill roster if possible, but her usage of Marin Karin in particular has since become a meme associated with her character.
* In *Persona 3 Portable*, Mitsuru only wields fencing rapiers and jousting lances. Other one-handed swords are for the male protagonist's exclusive use.
* One of the portraits in *Persona 4 Arena* is an updated version of Mitsuru's All-Out Attack portrait from *Persona 3 Portable*.
* In *Persona 4 Arena*, Mitsuru's Myriad Arrows/Setsuna Samidare Geki (Early-Summer/Fifth Month Rain Attack) is based on her critical attack animation.
	+ Also regarding this move, Mitsuru along with Yu Narukami (Ziodyne), Aigis (Megido), Naoto Shirogane (Double Fangs) and Elizabeth (Mind Charge) are among the characters who do not have naturally learned skills in their movesets (assuming Yu and Aigis strictly use only Izanagi and Athena) as both Penthesilea and/or Artemisia are not normally able to learn Myriad Arrows.
	+ This also applies to the skill Getsu-ei (used as Mitsuru's Furious Action), as that too cannot be naturally learned by Penthesilea or Artemisia.
* According to Shigenori Soejima, Mitsuru is the most popular character among the development staff.
* In *Persona 4 Golden*, if Yukiko Amagi has the Gekkou Uniform equipped, she will mimic Mitsuru's victory pose after battles as well as say Mitsuru's lines.
* When going to Karaoke with Mitsuru, she will say that she has trouble hitting the high notes.
* Her "execution" during the school trip in *Persona 3*, which is missable if the player does a good job running away from the girls in the hot springs, is canon. Yukari mentions to Teddie that an execution took place once in a school trip during the events of *P3*, in *P4 Arena Ultimax*.
* Mitsuru's star sign is incorrectly listed as Aries in the *Persona 3: Offcial Design Works*.