Rima Mashiro, though the same age as Amu Hinamori, stands out for her petite stature, elegant appearance, and initially cold attitude. She is often admired by boys for her beauty and quiet nature, while girls in her class tend to resent her for what they perceive as arrogance. Despite her aloof exterior, Rima is observant and emotionally complex. She is introduced as Amu’s successor in the Guardians, taking over the Queen’s Chair from Nadeshiko Fujisaki. When she learns of Nadeshiko’s close friendship with Amu, Rima pretends to cry, an act only Nagihiko Fujisaki (Nadeshiko’s true identity) sees through.

Before joining the Guardians, Rima rarely engaged in athletic activities and kept to herself. However, after witnessing Amu’s commitment to cleansing X-Eggs, she gradually becomes more involved and begins participating in Guardian missions. Over time, she develops a strong bond with the group, particularly Amu, marking the beginning of her emotional growth and openness.

Rima’s reserved nature is deeply rooted in her past trauma. As a child, she was often cheerful and made funny faces to make her parents smile. However, a kidnapping incident, which occurred because of her cuteness, left lasting emotional scars. In its aftermath, her parents became overly protective, picking her up from school daily and frequently arguing over how best to care for her. Ironically, these arguments often resulted in them neglecting Rima’s emotional needs, contributing to her withdrawn personality. Their eventual divorce further impacted her trust in others.

Rima’s Guardian Character, Kusukusu, was born from her secret love of comedy, which conflicted with her delicate appearance. Kusukusu became Rima’s only emotional outlet before she met the Guardians, representing the side of her that longed to laugh and make others happy. According to Kusukusu, Rima resents her pretty face believing that if she had been born with a “funny face,” she might have better expressed her true self and brought more joy to her parents. Since the kidnapping, Rima has avoided smiling, associating her cheerful expression with unwanted attention. Nevertheless, she is not above using her cute looks to manipulate others especially boys—when necessary.

Rima’s journey in Shugo Chara! is one of reclaiming her voice and learning to trust others again. Through her friendship with Amu and the support of the Guardians, she slowly opens her heart, rediscovering both her humor and her strength.

Rima has wavy, hazel-blonde hair that flows down to her waist, giving her a soft and refined appearance. Her long bangs are neatly held back by a thin black hairband adorned with a small ribbon at the center. She has striking golden-honey yellow eyes that accentuate her delicate features and often give her a distant, yet captivating, gaze.

Rima’s natural beauty is often described as resembling that of an elegant English lady, and it earns her admiration from many boys at her school despite her generally aloof personality. She wears the Seiyo Academy school uniform, styled with a proper tie, maintaining a neat and orderly look. Her composed appearance often contrasts sharply with her actual interests, such as her love for comedy, and plays into how others misinterpret her personality.

Rima Mashiro initially comes across as cold, aloof, and reserved, often giving off a regal or indifferent air. Her petite frame and quiet attitude lead many of her classmates especially the boys to admire her from afar, mistaking her silence for elegance. In contrast, many girls find her distant and perceive her as arrogant.

However, Rima’s true personality is more complex. Beneath her cool exterior, she is deeply sensitive, struggling with feelings of loneliness and neglect stemming from her parents’ constant absence and eventual divorce. This emotional distance caused her to develop a defensive persona and suppress her real interests and feelings.

Despite her serious appearance, Rima has a genuine love for comedy and making people laugh, a passion she initially hides because it conflicts with the “perfect girl” image others project onto her. Her Guardian Character, Kusukusu, embodies this comedic side and helps Rima slowly embrace her love for laughter.

Over time, Rima warms up to others, especially after joining the Guardians and forming a close bond with Amu Hinamori. She eventually begins expressing her emotions more freely and becomes more comfortable with her authentic self, learning to balance her reserved nature with her hidden cheerful spirit.

Kusukusu
Kusukusu is Rima Mashiro’s Guardian Character, representing her hidden desire to make others laugh and express joy through comedy. Kusukusu is cheerful, bubbly, and always energetic, an expressive contrast to Rima’s typically reserved and stoic outer self.

She was born from Rima’s internal wish to bring happiness to others through laughter, a side of herself that she suppressed due to her upbringing and the expectations placed on her. Kusukusu supports Rima emotionally, often trying to cheer her up with silly expressions or playful antics when she’s feeling down.

Both Rima and Kusukusu share a mutual love for perfecting comedic timing and performance, and through Kusukusu’s influence, Rima gradually becomes more comfortable embracing this lighter, joyful side of her personality.

The name Rima (りま) does not have a specific meaning in Japanese, as it is written in hiragana and may have been chosen for its pleasant sound or uniqueness. It can also be a reference to foreign names, such as the Arabic or Spanish “Rima,” meaning “white antelope” or “poem,” respectively, though there is no official confirmation.

Her surname Mashiro (真城) is written with the kanji 真 (ma), meaning “true” or “genuine,” and 城 (shiro), meaning “castle” or “fortress.” Together, Mashiro can be interpreted as “true fortress” or “genuine castle,” possibly reflecting Rima’s emotionally guarded personality and the walls she has built around her true self.