Guess who got another idea for Chia... again?
(By the way, all of my motivation is currently going into my Ilia fanfic for The Eternally Regressing Knight! I'll cross-post it here eventually, but I still need to make a cover first. The original is on AO3.)
I've been doing a lot of thinking about Chia, and I realised I made her... too complex for Ares/Orion.
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love those seasons. But looking back, Ares and Orion are much more fast-paced and match-focused. There isn't as much room for the kind of character journey I always imagined for Chia.
The more I thought about it, the more I realised she was written like an og Inazuma Eleven character.
Her arc, her ideals, her perfectionism, and the pressure she puts on herself all fit the OG series much better. I can actually picture her growing alongside those characters instead of just existing around them.
I also think this reflects how I've grown as a writer.
I first created Chia when I was around 16. Now I'm an adult, and my priorities, worldview, and the kinds of stories I want to tell have changed. I want those changes to be reflected in her too.
(A funny example lol is her hair. She used to have bright pink hair because that matched who I was back then. Nowadays I've fallen in love with alternative fashion and standing out in a different way, so I find myself leaning more towards black and red.)
This doesn't mean a rewrite or a brand-new book is guaranteed anytime soon.
But... the motivation is back!!!
And honestly, that's the most excited I've felt about Chia in a long time.
Thank you to everyone who's stayed with her throughout this journey. Whether you've been here since the very first version or only found her recently, I really appreciate all of your support.
