Maria

Maria is a character from the fighting game series The King of Fighters (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ, KOF). She first appeared as a non-canon character in The King of Fighters 2002 and The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match, which are considered 'dream matches' outside of the main storyline. However, she was made canon along with Asuka when they appeared in The King of Fighters 2003. Maria is a close friend of Athena Asamiya and attends the same school as her. She, like Asuka, is also learning to master Psycho Power. In the game, they typically appear as supporting characters for Athena. Maria's character is relatively simple, mainly reflecting her friendship with Athena and their shared training in Psycho Power. Their inclusion adds a slice-of-life element to the KOF series and provides depth to Athena's character. Maria and Asuka's role in the game is more focused on the story's background rather than their combat abilities.