Aya Maruyama, a first-year student at Yotsuba Women's University, balances her studies with leading the idol band Pastel*Palettes as their vocalist and working part-time at a fast-food restaurant alongside Kanon Matsubara. Her dream of becoming an idol sparked in childhood after being inspired by Ayumi, leader of Marmalade, leading to three years of rigorous training before securing her role as Pastel*Palettes' lead singer. She possesses pastel pink hair with wavy ends and large pink eyes, typically worn loose but tied in pigtails for performances or training. Her casual wardrobe favors soft, feminine colors, floral patterns, and accessories like jeweled necklaces or bangles. Seasonal outfits include off-shoulder sweaters with miniskirts and boots in winter, and striped dresses with headbands in summer. Outwardly cheerful, high-spirited, and bubbly, Aya demonstrates unselfish kindness, often helping others. Internally, she is highly sensitive and grapples with a desire for public recognition, frequently searching online for opinions about herself. She experiences stage fright, cries easily when overwhelmed, and struggles with improvisation, making mistakes during live MC segments. This emotional nature fuels her complex about being noticed as an idol; she avoids disguises in public to increase visibility. Sentimental and idealistic, Aya diligently works toward her goals despite setbacks. Her hobbies include social media, perfecting selfies, and creating "idol poses," though bandmates like Eve sometimes misunderstand or tease these efforts. As Pastel*Palettes' leader and vocalist, Aya counteracts her nervousness through meticulous preparation, memorizing lyrics and planning speeches ahead of performances. Her leadership extends beyond music, seen in creating detailed job manuals for coworkers like Kanon. In the spin-off *Garupa☆Pico ~Ohmori~*, she participates in themed episodes such as "Pastel＊Desert," exploring oasis environments, and "Magic Morphin' Pastel✽Rangers," where the band transforms into magical warriors fighting monsters. Aya shares a close bond with her younger sister and maintains friendships across bands. She has a senpai-kouhai dynamic with Kasumi Toyama, striving to act as a reliable senior. Her friendship with Kanon stems from their shared job, while a strong connection with Himari Uehara arises from their similar personalities and interests. She admires Chisato Shirasagi but occasionally feels envy toward individuals like Chisato or Kaoru Seta who attract attention more effortlessly. Her bandmates support her during emotional challenges, arranging a meeting with her idol Ayumi after Marmalade disbands, helping her overcome heartbreak and reaffirm her dedication. Her background includes attending Hanasakigawa Girls' High School, where she assisted peers like Kasumi with studies, before progressing to Yotsuba Women's University as a Humanities major. Her development shows gradual growth in confidence while retaining emotional vulnerability and reliance on preparation. Following the *We're All Here! New Year's Party!!*, she secretly takes magic classes after positive reception to a magic show with Kasumi. Trivia notes her height is 156 cm, matching bandmate Hina and other franchise characters. She dislikes horror and octopus but enjoys hamburger steak and rice omelets. Her birthday falls on December 27, leading to combined Christmas celebrations. She habitually carries a selfie stick and struggles academically, particularly in math and Japanese language comprehension. Aya creates guidebooks for tasks and adopted the nickname "The Jumping Ego Searcher" due to her online self-monitoring. Collaborations in other media feature her design crossovers, resembling Minamoto Sakura in a *Zombieland Saga* event and Hoshino Ai in an *Oshi no Ko* collaboration.