u/Honest-Tea-8880

Core theme: Teenage students that were thrown into the world of mythology, making a team and becoming its leader in order to defeat the evils that possess their world.

\-Both characters carry a burden greater than those around them and must accept responsibility for the safety of others, even when they didn’t choose it (Makoto begins his journey emotionally closed off, bearing the weight of summoning multiple Personas and being the team’s anchor in battles with Shadows/ Percy doesn’t initially want to be a hero either, but he’s thrust into the world of gods and monsters, constantly being pushed into leadership roles due to his strength and loyalty)

\-Death is not just a concept to them; it’s personal, part of their journey, and often something they have to overcome or protect others from (Makoto directly engages with death and the afterlife, especially with the themes of the Dark Hour, Tartarus, and ultimately becoming the seal to protect humanity from Nyx (embodiment of death)/ Percy has frequent brushes with death—traveling to the Underworld, confronting Hades, battling Thanatos’ chains in Heroes of Olympus, etc)

\-Both are central to their teams not just for power, but for emotional strength and the choices they’re willing to make for others (Makoto leads SEES, the group that fights during the Dark Hour, and his power to wield multiple Personas makes him the linchpin of the team/ Percy is always surrounded by friends like Annabeth and Grover, but he’s often the center of prophecy, decisions, and final showdowns, due to his power and intellect in fights)

\-Mythology is the structure of both their worlds—even if it is interpreted differently—and both interact with ancient gods and entities within a modern setting (Makoto’s world is deeply influenced by Jungian and mythological themes. His Personas are based on mythological deities and figures/ Percy’s world is directly influenced by Greek (and later Roman and Norse) mythology, with gods, monsters, and ancient prophecies all woven into modern life)

\-Their character arcs are about selflessness and growing into someone who protects others, even at the cost of their own happiness or life (Makoto sacrifices himself to become the Great Seal, saving humanity from Nyx and ensuring the world can continue/ Percy repeatedly risks himself to save his friends and the world, especially when he refuses godhood after the Titan War in favor of asking the gods to recognize all demigods)

- Both are considered "chosen ones" (Makoto being the only Persona protagonist directly chosen by Philemon, symbolized by the Blue Butterfly landing on him, and Percy being a central figure in the Great Prophecy).

- Both constantly changed schools throughout their lives (Makoto due to being passed between different relatives and guardians, and Percy because of his troubled history and repeated expulsions).

- Both are introduced to a hidden supernatural world by influential figures associated with their schools (Mitsuru Kirijo and Chiron).

- Both develop a romantic relationship with a member of their team (Aigis and Annabeth Chase).

- Both serve as the leaders of groups composed of individuals with powers similar to their own (SEES and Camp Half-Blood).

- Both had allies who were later revealed to be connected to the main antagonistic force (Ryoji Mochizuki as Nyx's Avatar and Luke Castellan as Kronos' pawn).

- Both carry significant family-related trauma (Makoto lost his parents in the Moonlight Bridge incident, while Percy grew up with an absent father due to being Poseidon's son and a mother who constantly struggled to protect him from the dangers surrounding his heritage).