Makoto Naegi

Makoto describes himself as a completely ordinary person, to the point of seeming a bit insecure. However, he admits to having one distinguishing characteristic: a unique sense of optimism.

Makoto is very kind, sympathetic, and forgiving, though at times a bit naive. He's friendly, polite, and much more down-to-earth than other students. Perhaps it's these qualities that allow him to successfully make friends with even the most reserved classmates during his free time.

Junko calls Makoto a "herbivore," meaning he's likely to be passive in relationships, as evidenced by some of his conversations with others. He's sometimes a bit nervous and can be quite accommodating. Despite these more modest qualities, he's capable of being a very driven and charismatic speaker.

Makoto is a firm believer in hope, maintaining a positive outlook on the future no matter how dire the present situation. He is also a pacifist, as he tends to believe that violence is not the answer. While he dislikes despair, considering it a corrupting and negative emotion that cannot benefit the world, he is very forgiving of those who have fallen into despair, viewing them as victims of Junko rather than inherently evil beings.

It seems the only person Makoto genuinely dislikes is Junko Enoshima, the True Ultimate Despair. He considers her his enemy and blames Junko, as well as her avatar, Monokuma, for the deaths of his friends during the Survival Game. However, even in her case, he believed death was unnecessary and tried to reason with her when she was preparing to commit suicide. Junko refused to listen and committed suicide anyway.

Many respect Makoto as the Ultimate Hope, though he himself is very humble and even a little embarrassed by this title. In Danganronpa Zero, it is mentioned that he possesses incredible inner strength, despite often appearing weak on the outside. During difficult times, he demonstrates the ability to instill hope in others.

At the beginning of Killing School Life in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Makoto appears and believes himself to be a teenager, with two years of his life erased from his memory. He is noticeably shorter than most of his classmates. He has spiky, dull brown hair with a prominent ahoge and pale brown eyes. He wears black jeans, a zipped-up dull green hoodie with a red stripe along the zipper, an unzipped black jacket with gold buttons, and red sneakers with white socks.

Makoto's hoodie features a red gas mask in a circle on the back, and a zipper extends all the way to the top of the hood. A badge in the shape of a four-pointed star superimposed on a crescent moon is pinned to the lapel of the jacket.

After joining the Future Foundation after Killing School Life, Makoto is seen wearing a black suit. In Danganronpa: Another Episode, his hair is noticeably lighter, longer, spikier, and overall slightly more detailed. In Danganronpa 3, it appears Makoto has had his hair cut, as it is significantly shorter. He also appears more mature, though his face is still slightly rounder for his adult age. After becoming the headmaster of the new Hope's Peak Academy, he wears a black suit and beige tie, along with a dark blue vest and a white shirt underneath.