Tachibana, Maria

マリア・タチバナ

Koubu-Kai/Jinbu/Tenbu/Koubu Nishiki Unit
Color: Dark purple (sometimes seen as ether Black or Indigo)
Weapon: Arm-mounted machine cannon, back-mounted sniper cannon
Maria is a veteran of the Russian Revolution and the only member of the Hanagumi with prior experience in military tactics and warfare. This background is why she was chosen as the group's original leader. However, although her struggles in Russia made her an expert marksman and skilled tactician, they also rendered her coldly logical and unwilling to interact with others on an emotional level, which led to her being labeled "Kazuar" (in the anime, it is said that this name means "phoenix," but actually it refers to a bird, whose closest relative is the ostrich). After a series of setbacks, it was decided that Ichiro Ougami should replace her as leader, with Maria remaining as his second. Following an initial period of friction between the pair when Ōgami arrived, Maria's attitude began to shift slightly, though she still remains the most emotionally cold member of the group. Sakura looks up to Maria very much at the beginning.