Maya Tōmi begins her journey as a first-generation Fafner pilot candidate, initially sidelined to the CDC as an operator due to a physical handicap before rising to active combat duty. Residing on Tatsumiyajima with her mother Chizuru, a physician, and elder sister Yumiko, a teacher for the disabled, she navigates life in a family-run hospital while grappling with her own medical ineptitude. Her protective instincts emerge through her steadfast friendship with Shōko Hazama, whom she supports during illnesses and evacuations, proving her reliability amid Festum assaults.

Observant and compassionate, Maya mediates peer conflicts and attunes to others’ emotions, though her romantic feelings for Kazuki Makabe remain guarded, hindered by social hesitance. In combat, her composure under pressure earns her the role of primary pilot for the Mark Sieben, later upgraded to the long-range specialist unit Mark Sieben Kai (Azrael).

During *Exodus*, Maya hones aerial tactics under mentor Kyōsuke Mizoguchi—playfully nicknamed “dad”—and devises diversionary strategies to shield Human Army transports, blending tactical ingenuity with dry humor to ease tensions among allies.

In *The Beyond*, she joins the Fifth Operation Azure to rescue Soushi Minashiro and abducted Esperanto children. A critical clash against a sister-mimicking Festum costs Maya her right eye to assimilation, yet she battles onward with aid from Sui Kaburagi and Kenji Kondō. Three years later, she distrusts Soushi’s loyalties after prolonged enemy contact, fiercely opposing his plan to annihilate Wadatsumijima with Mark Nicht to safeguard her home.

Maya’s arc charts her evolution from a sidelined candidate to a frontline warrior, navigating emotional bonds and battlefield ruthlessness. Her resilience and loyalty drive her to confront allies when necessary, solidifying her transformation from compassionate mediator to unwavering protector, defined by sacrifice and adaptability against existential threats.