ONA
Description
Aya Maruyama is the lead vocalist and leader of the idol band Pastel Palettes. A former trainee who spent three years in development, her long-held dream has always been to become a glittering idol on stage, a goal she has pursued since childhood. Physically, she has pink hair and pink eyes and stands 156 centimeters tall, with her birthday falling on December 27th.
At her core, Aya is defined by a powerful contradiction between her earnest ambition and her fragile self-confidence. She is an exceptionally hard worker who pours relentless effort into her dream, yet she is also notably prone to stage fright and is terrible at improvisation, which often causes her to stumble over her words during live MC segments. Her personality is outwardly cheerful and spirited, but inside she is a sensitive girl who deeply craves recognition and worries constantly about public perception. She is notorious for secretly searching for her own name online to see what people are saying about her. This desire for attention also means she almost never wears a disguise in public, hoping to be recognized by fans. Her emotional vulnerability is a key trait; she has a very low threshold for tears and will cry easily, whether from frustration, joy, or seeing someone else work hard. In the world of Pico, these characteristics are often played for comedic effect, highlighting her tendency to panic, her tearful outbursts, and her endearing clumsiness in exaggerated, short-form scenarios.
Her role within Pastel Palettes is central as the frontwoman and emotional core of the group. While her shyness can make leading difficult, her unwavering determination and positive attitude serve to inspire her bandmates. She acts as a unifying presence, and the other members are often influenced by her refusal to give up. She shares significant relationships with several characters. Within her own band, she relies heavily on the more composed and experienced Chisato Shirasagi, who often has to save her when she fumbles on stage. She is also close to the other members, including the genki and often unpredictable guitarist Hina Hikawa. Outside the band, she has a senpai-kouhai (senior-junior) dynamic with Kasumi Toyama of Poppin Party, and she frets over being a reliable and admirable senior figure. Aya also works a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant alongside Kanon Matsubara of Hello, Happy World, where the two have formed a close friendship.
Regarding her development, Aya is on a continuous journey to become an idol she can be proud of. Starting from a trainee who struggled to stand out, she has grown considerably through her experiences with the band, learning to handle her anxiety better and take on more responsibility, even as she continues to struggle with perfection. Notable abilities and quirks include her expertise in a very specific field: taking the perfect selfie. She is constantly practicing her angles and carrying a selfie stick. She also enjoys inventing various idol poses, even if others sometimes misunderstand or tease her for them. Her academic skills are weak, particularly in mathematics, and she has admitted that Japanese class can sometimes feel like a foreign language to her. She harbors a strong dislike for horror genres and is known to have a younger sister, with whom she has a typical sibling relationship of fighting over small things like snacks. Despite her many mishaps and insecurities, her defining trait remains her resilient, hardworking nature as she chases her idol dream.
At her core, Aya is defined by a powerful contradiction between her earnest ambition and her fragile self-confidence. She is an exceptionally hard worker who pours relentless effort into her dream, yet she is also notably prone to stage fright and is terrible at improvisation, which often causes her to stumble over her words during live MC segments. Her personality is outwardly cheerful and spirited, but inside she is a sensitive girl who deeply craves recognition and worries constantly about public perception. She is notorious for secretly searching for her own name online to see what people are saying about her. This desire for attention also means she almost never wears a disguise in public, hoping to be recognized by fans. Her emotional vulnerability is a key trait; she has a very low threshold for tears and will cry easily, whether from frustration, joy, or seeing someone else work hard. In the world of Pico, these characteristics are often played for comedic effect, highlighting her tendency to panic, her tearful outbursts, and her endearing clumsiness in exaggerated, short-form scenarios.
Her role within Pastel Palettes is central as the frontwoman and emotional core of the group. While her shyness can make leading difficult, her unwavering determination and positive attitude serve to inspire her bandmates. She acts as a unifying presence, and the other members are often influenced by her refusal to give up. She shares significant relationships with several characters. Within her own band, she relies heavily on the more composed and experienced Chisato Shirasagi, who often has to save her when she fumbles on stage. She is also close to the other members, including the genki and often unpredictable guitarist Hina Hikawa. Outside the band, she has a senpai-kouhai (senior-junior) dynamic with Kasumi Toyama of Poppin Party, and she frets over being a reliable and admirable senior figure. Aya also works a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant alongside Kanon Matsubara of Hello, Happy World, where the two have formed a close friendship.
Regarding her development, Aya is on a continuous journey to become an idol she can be proud of. Starting from a trainee who struggled to stand out, she has grown considerably through her experiences with the band, learning to handle her anxiety better and take on more responsibility, even as she continues to struggle with perfection. Notable abilities and quirks include her expertise in a very specific field: taking the perfect selfie. She is constantly practicing her angles and carrying a selfie stick. She also enjoys inventing various idol poses, even if others sometimes misunderstand or tease her for them. Her academic skills are weak, particularly in mathematics, and she has admitted that Japanese class can sometimes feel like a foreign language to her. She harbors a strong dislike for horror genres and is known to have a younger sister, with whom she has a typical sibling relationship of fighting over small things like snacks. Despite her many mishaps and insecurities, her defining trait remains her resilient, hardworking nature as she chases her idol dream.