Maria Mikhailovna Kujō, who goes by the nickname Masha, is the older sister of Alisa Mikhailovna Kujō, the main heroine of the series. She is a second-year student at Seirei Private Academy and serves as the secretary of the student council. Born to a Russian father and a Japanese mother, Maria’s first language was Russian. During her childhood, other children told her to speak Japanese properly, so she learned the language later in her early years, making her fully bilingual. In her past, she was attacked by a dog and was rescued by a boy named Masachika Kuze. This event left a deep impression on her, and she eventually fell in love with him. She does her best to keep her romantic feelings to herself, but she has revealed them to him on certain occasions, making her a key figure in Masachika’s childhood memories and his present life.

Maria has a warm, gentle, and affectionate personality. She is often described as having a soft, maternal aura that puts others at ease. She always wears a fluffy, mature smile and seems to care genuinely about everyone around her. This calm and nurturing demeanor makes her one of the most popular girls in the academy, alongside Chisaki Sarashina, and she is often referred to as a healing presence by other students. Despite her outwardly sweet and sometimes airheaded appearance, she is highly perceptive and keenly aware of the romantic tension between her sister Alisa and Masachika, often noticing it before they do. She is also much more capable than she lets on; she deliberately acts silly or foolish when her sister is watching so that Alisa does not feel stressed about being outperformed by her older sibling.

Maria’s primary motivation is the well-being and happiness of her younger sister, Alisa. She adores her sister deeply and enjoys teasing her playfully, a behavior that signals the close bond they share. She is protective of Alisa and provides emotional support, helping her navigate social anxieties and romantic confusion. At the same time, she is tied to Masachika’s past, acting as a living key to memories he has tried to set aside. Her role in the story is both as a source of romantic complexity and as a bridge between the main duo, gently encouraging Alisa to open up and supporting Masachika in ways that connect their shared history.

In terms of abilities, Maria is academically and socially accomplished. She handles her duties as student council secretary competently and excels in her studies without visible effort. Her linguistic skill is notable; she often reverts to speaking Russian under stress, which underscores the series’ central motif of language and hidden feelings. Her perceptiveness and emotional intelligence allow her to read situations and people accurately, making her an effective confidante and mediator.

Her development in the early part of the story primarily involves the gradual revelation of her connection to Masachika and the depth of her feelings for him, as well as her role in supporting Alisa’s growth. While the first season of the anime leaves the full extent of her backstory and her relationship with Masachika somewhat open-ended, later material explores these threads in greater detail. Overall, Maria combines competence, emotional openness, and a maternal warmth that makes her a memorable and stabilizing presence in the ensemble.