The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria
The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria, known in Japan as Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria and colloquially referred to as Hakomari, is a Japanese light novel series written by Eiji Mikage, with illustrations by Tetsuo. ASCII Media Works published seven novels from January 2009 to June 2015 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The novels have been licensed for release in North America by Yen Press.
Plot
The story revolves around a carefree boy named Kazuki Hoshino, who is intensely attached to his normal daily life, and Aya Otonashi, who suddenly transfers into his class for the 13,118th time and declares her goal to "break" him forthwith. This starts an avalanche of events, involving a supernatural device known as the Boxes and a supernatural being, which pits the two characters against each other causing their friends to be caught under their crossfire.Characters
Main characters
;Kazuki Hoshino;Maria "Aya" Otonashi
Supporting characters
;O;Kokone Kirino
;Daiya Oomine
;Kasumi Mogi
;Haruaki Usui
Other
;Ryu Miyazaki;Riko Asami
;Iroha Shindou
;Yuuri Yanagi
;Koudai Kamiuchi
;Ruka Hoshino
;Nana Yanagi
;Touji Kijima
;Miyuki Karino