Maria Takarada is a young girl introduced as the granddaughter of Lory Takarada, the president of the LME talent agency. She appears to be around seven years old and is physically characterized by her mid-back length curly light brown or orange hair, often tied with a ribbon bow, and forest-green or yellow eyes. Her appearance suggests she may have some non-Japanese heritage from one of her parents.

Maria’s personality initially presents as manipulative for her age. She learned to use her cute appearance to gain sympathy and attention from adults, a survival tactic developed in response to the emotional neglect she experienced at home. This behavior is first seen during Kyoko Mogami’s audition for LME, where Maria attempts to interrupt and garner sympathy. Kyoko, however, recognizes the act and directly calls her out on it. Rather than becoming angry, Maria feels understood for the first time and develops an intense admiration for Kyoko, viewing her as an ultimate big sister figure.

The core of Maria’s background and motivation stems from a deep-seated guilt complex. She believes she caused her mother’s death. When she was five years old, Maria called her mother, who was working abroad as a top model, to come home for her birthday. Her mother died in a plane crash while returning to Japan to see her. Maria internalized this tragedy, convinced her father blamed her, and as a result could not talk to or be near him. Her motivation throughout the series is to overcome this guilt and reconnect with her father, a journey that Kyoko helps her begin. Kyoko helps Maria understand that her father does not hate her and does not hold her responsible for her mother’s death.

In the story, Maria serves as a supporting character who reflects Kyoko’s own emotional growth. Her role is to be a younger friend and admirer of Kyoko, and her presence allows Kyoko to demonstrate her capacity for empathy and guidance. Maria’s own development is marked by her transition from a guarded, manipulative child to a more open, happy, and affectionate girl. She rarely laughed before meeting Kyoko, but as she becomes closer to Kyoko, she grows noticeably happier.

Key relationships include her bond with Kyoko Mogami, which is the most significant in her life. Maria believes she and Kyoko share a kindred spirit or common aura that ordinary people do not have. She also has a well-known crush on Ren Tsuruga, and Kyoko comically supports this by giving Maria a detailed half-scale doll of Ren with different expressions. Her relationship with her father undergoes healing thanks to Kyoko’s intervention. She also has a warm relationship with Takenori Sawara, an LME director, who cares for her and asks Kyoko to help her overcome her guilt complex.

A notable and somewhat unusual ability or interest that Maria shares with Kyoko is a fascination with the occult and black magic. Maria dabbles in curses and dark rituals alongside Kyoko, bonding over their shared interest in things that fall outside the norm. This shared hobby becomes a point of connection between them.

Maria’s abilities are not presented as professional talents but as social and emotional intelligence. She is observant and understands how to manipulate situations to her advantage, though she learns to channel that insight into genuine connections. Her emotional growth is the primary arc: she moves from a lonely, guilt-ridden child to a young girl who can accept love and form meaningful friendships, with Kyoko acting as the catalyst for that change.