Maaa

"Maaa"

- Maaaa

Maaa, although strictly speaking not a Narehate, is a resident of The Village of Iruburu. Whether she has an actual name is unknown. Due to the fact that she can only say "Maaa" Riko took to calling her that, which she doesn't seem to mind. Apparently none of the other Narehate in Iruburu can understand Maaa either.

Appearance
Maaa resembles a sheet ghost, having a round-shaped body with fabric-like folds at the bottom, that she uses to walk. She has a split mouth like a cat, with a large tooth in the center, and she is usually drooling. Maaa's eyes are small and beady and often have tears coming out of them. Maaa is covered in pink fur, has two tentacle-like arms, and the surface of her body is fluffy. There is a darker patch of fur over Maaa's left eye from when her body was torn apart during the balancing ceremony. Amusingly, Maaa has a very prominent posterior.

Maaa has a very flexible body, which can grow and shrink in height. Her arms also extend when flexed, and are evidently quite strong. In the creases and flaps of Maaa's body she stores items in a sort of pouch. According to Riko's notes, Maaa looks pretty filthy up close and smells like a toned-down version of dried excrement.

Personality
Maaa displays a very innocent and curious behavior, which can be seen in how she interacts with Riko.

Early Life
Maaa was a creation of the village using the signals from the villagers and the increase in value due to the lurings. An existence similar to a cell. Since Maaa and a couple of villagers were not created from humans, they are strictly speaking not Narehate but as there is no distinction between them and the villagers, they also cannot exist outside of the village. What is not known is from what signals was Maaa created.

Maaa and others like him lived a normal life relying on their mixed, inherited value.

Iruburu Arc
While Majikaja is showing Riko, Reg, and Nanachi Iruburu's Market of Value, Maaa gets a hold of Meinya, and accidentally crushes it. Meinya ends up being fine, but nonetheless, Maaa had damaged an item that doesn't belong to her. A sound rings out around the village, signalling the balancing ceremony. One of Maaa's possessions, a doll she seems to cherish, is taken and destroyed; Maaa is partially skinned alive, and one of her arms is torn off.

Later, Maaa meets Riko again and saves her from an overly curious mob of Narehate. Maaa's arm and skin seem to have grown back, though her fur grew back in a darker tone than originally. Riko then invites Maaa to come along with her, and since then Maaa has accompanied her throughout the village, much to her delight.

Maaa has taken a liking to Meinya, and obviously feels deep sorrow for hurting it. Meinya is often seen on Maaa's head or in her arms.

When the Fuzosheppu attacks Riko, Maaa sacrifices herself in order to save her. Before Maaa is dragged away, Riko uses her White Whistle, in hope to save Maaa and the other villagers, and Reg arrives to fend off the Fuzosheppu.

When Vueko tells her story, Maaa is also present and is confused by the revelations. After Reg's battle against Juroimoh, he asks Maaa, Majikaja and Moogie to keep Riko safe, just before Faputa arrives.

When the creatures make their way inside the village, Moogie, seeing how their fellow villagers are decimated and shaken by the events unfolding, says that it is over for them and all will come to an end now. She is pulled out of her shock by Maaa who carries the unconscious Riko and gives her new purpose to at least save Riko.

After Riko used her whistle again, Maaa and Nanachi catch her as she passes out.

As the village collapsed, Faputa asks Maaa and Majikaja to bring the trio out of the village.

Riko, still weakened from the use of her whistle, hands Maaa a doll which bears similarity to the one taken from Maaa during the Balancing and apologizes to Maaa that the replacement doll she made for her is not finished yet. Maaa takes the crude doll and holds Meinya and Riko close with a hint of satisfaction in her expression. Though not explicitly shown, Maaa fades away shortly after.

High Regeneration
Maaa is able to quickly regenerate from injuries but the newly grown fur will take on a darker color, as seen with the healed spots after the balancing ceremony.

Trivia

 * According to Riko's notes, Maaa uses the lower folds of her body to skillfully walk.
 * During the balancing, Maaa's extremely precious stuffed animal was converted into value.
 * In the original work of Akihito Tsukushi, Doorbeetle Mani, he notes Maaa to be one of the main heroines of Made in Abyss Volume 07, and thus suggesting Maaa to be a female character as well as using the character for woman (女) in a section.
 * Most of the type of villagers created like Maaa do not possess the ability of speaking clearly, remaining nameless until someone gives them one.