What kind of animal would pair with you?
In Myra's world, that choice says everything about who you are, who you're allowed to become, and who will judge you for it.
I gave my heroine a skunk. You can only imagine how that turned out…
When I started writing Myra's Big Mistake, I knew I wanted to explore something uncomfortable: the way we make snap judgments about people based on things that shouldn't matter.
On Orihimé, humans pair with animals. It's a core part of society. You get a translation chip as a kid, and eventually—if you're lucky—an animal chooses you. Dogs, cats, foxes, birds… they're all respected. Celebrated, even.
But nocturnal animals? Skunks, raccoons, bats?
People wrinkle their noses. They step back. They assume something must be wrong with you.
Sound familiar?
Mochi Wasn't an Accident
I didn't give Myra a skunk to be quirky. I gave her Mochi because I wanted readers to feel the sting of prejudice in a way that might sneak past their defenses.
Mochi is polite. Deferential. Adorable, honestly—like “a bowl of chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream,” as Myra describes him. He's loyal and wise and loves beach sand a little too much.
But people see the tail and flinch. Kids kick dirt at him. Women shriek and run. Even Myra's own father refuses to acknowledge him.
Of course, none of that is Mochi's fault.
He didn't choose to be a skunk. Myra didn't choose to pair with him. It happened, and it's right. They fit together beautifully.
But the world doesn't care about what's right. The world cares about what's convenient.
Judging Others
I've been thinking a lot about how we judge people—by their jobs, their bodies, their choices that don't affect us at all.
Myra gets it from every angle: she's “not the pretty Kimura sister,” she failed her exams twice, she's a line cook instead of a head chef, and she paired with a nocturnal animal her father considers shameful.
None of these things make her less worthy of love, success, or happiness. But she's internalized the message anyway. She calls herself a “lifelong screw-up” before anyone else can.
That hit close to home when I was writing it. I think it might for some of you, too.
What I Love About Myra
She keeps going.
She runs in the mornings even though she hates it. She bakes cheesecakes that are perfect, even if no one else notices. She shows up for her best friend, her family, her job… even when they don't show up for her.
And when the most powerful man on the planet tries to pursue her, she doesn't believe it. She can't. Because she's been told her whole life that she's not worth pursuing.
Mochi sees her, though. He knows who she is.
“You are Myra Kimura. You are kind and thoughtful. Dedicated and loyal. Don't listen to people who try to tell you to be someone you're not.”
That's the heart of this story. That's what the skunk represents.
What About You?
Have you ever felt judged for something that shouldn't define you? A job, a choice, an association?
I'd love to hear about it. Because I think most of us have a little Mochi in our lives—something or someone we love that the world doesn't quite understand.
And I think that's worth celebrating.
She’s burdened by a lifetime of disappointment. He’s been her secret admirer for years.
Fall in love with a mismatched couple who will stop at nothing to find happiness in the cosmos.
){kind=link}