Karen Aijo is a student at Seisho Music Academy, enrolled in the Actor Training Department as student number one of the 99th Graduating Class. A Tokyo native, she attended Meika Private Junior High School. Her journey as a Stage Girl started in childhood after witnessing a performance of "Starlight" that left her deeply inspired. This passion led her to pursue extensive training: classical ballet since 2006, vocal music since 2008, and both modern and jazz dance since 2010. She has performed professionally in several productions, including "Pajama Diary" as Moe Kurihara, "Aozora no Mukō" as Sarah, and lead roles in "Hakuryūki" and "DREAM ~ Akenai Yoru wa." Her appearance features red ochre eyes and auburn hair, usually worn in half-twintails with bangs swept to the right. A crown clip, given to her by Hikari Kagura, is always fastened on the left side of her bangs. She wears the standard Seisho Music Academy uniform: a gray blazer with dark gray trimming, a gray knife-pleated skirt, a white button-up shirt, a red ribbon tie, brown loafers, and black three-quarter socks. In casual settings, she opts for denim shorts, a plain white T-shirt with red hems, beige high-top sneakers, and a pale pink jacket with red trimming tied around her waist. For practice, she wears a black leotard with red straps, white tights, and a loose white shirt. Her revue outfit consists of a blue jacket with golden facing and piping, a standing collar with a golden tassel, red turnbacks with golden piping, white cuff flaps with golden trim, and a golden armband and epaulets over a white shirt. This is paired with a red kick-pleated skirt featuring a white band and red ribbon, black boots with golden trim, and a red pelisse jacket with golden piping draped over the left shoulder. During revues, the crown clip transforms into a real crown, and she wields a spadroon with a red gem at the hilt. Karen is enthusiastic, warm, and boisterous, often seeking friendship over rivalry with other stage girls. She can appear carefree or lazy, especially in morning lessons, but regains her motivation after Hikari Kagura arrives at the academy. Her determination and stubbornness become evident during revue auditions. She frequently uses the catchphrase "Non, non dayo!" She enjoys lazing around, baths after practice, eating umeboshi, and Chinese food. She dislikes stretching and green peas. She has a habit of waking up in a cold sweat if she sleeps without socks. Her star sign is Libra. Relationships play a key role in her life. Hikari Kagura is her childhood friend; they made a promise to stand together on the stage of "Starlight," which drives Karen deeply. Hikari’s departure for twelve years caused Karen to lose motivation, which returned when Hikari transferred to Seisho. Mahiru Tsuyuzaki, her roommate, initially took comfort in caring for Karen but grew jealous when Karen’s attention turned to Hikari. Their relationship improved after Karen reassured Mahiru of her own brilliance. Junna Hoshimi struggled with fear of failure, and Karen eased these worries by explaining how actors are reborn with each performance, leading to a friendship and the nickname "Junjun." Nana Daiba is valued for her supportive nature and nicknamed "Banana" for her sweet and nourishing qualities. Karen’s belief that each performance is ephemeral and precious directly contrasted with Nana’s wish to preserve a specific "Starlight" performance. When Aruru Otsuki lost her purpose on stage, Karen empathized and encouraged her to jump onto her own stage of destiny. Karen undergoes considerable development. Initially lacking dedication and struggling with morning practices, she rediscovers her passion after Hikari’s return. She joins the revue auditions to perform alongside Hikari, honing her skills and resolve. A pivotal moment occurs when Hikari betrays her during the final auditions by kicking her off the stage, plunging Karen into despondency. She recovers by reading the original English version of "Starlight" to understand Hikari’s perspective and by learning from her classmates about their reasons for performing. Central to her growth is the idea of being "reborn" through change, understanding others, and adopting new viewpoints. After fulfilling her dream of performing "Starlight" with Hikari, Karen faces uncertainty about her future but chooses to continue pursuing new stages, reaffirming her commitment to constant reinvention. Her name, Karen Aijo (愛城 華恋), carries meaningful connotations. The given name combines "flower" (華) and "love" (恋), evoking the role of Flora in "Starlight." The surname Aijo uses the characters for "love" (愛) and "castle" (城). The name was designed to start with 'A' and end with 'N,' symbolizing leadership from the beginning to the end of a story. In Chinese, the character 華 can also imply corona or brilliance, which inadvertently complements the crown motif in her appearance.