File #1: Muna 'Hoshiko' Mamane.
The Insider's Guide to Muna.
Muna is the older sister of Sophocles. She was born July 28th, and is 17 years old. (She actually ages every year! So her 18th will be on 7/28/2026). She is my longest ongoing project (goes hand in hand with my Pokemon Sun and Moon anime AU, both established in 2019). I have to say that I love how she's turned out over the years. She has evolved with my writing and art abilities... I am so excited to finally make her public.
Her character design can be found here: ⬇️
Full render + Simple Sketches ⬇️
*All art is by Sophostars.
Muna practically LIVES to protect Sophocles. Like most of the family, her relationship with Molayne is skewed. She's willing to side/ally with him when it's necessary, for example, during Showering the World With Love's field trip. They worked to protect Sophocles' peace just for their plan to blow up on their face. Still, their relationship stays negative for the most part. (After that episode was over, they broke out into a nasty fight on Sophocles' behalf.)
Her relationship with her Mother and Father is stable. She often serves as a maid by choice to her family... She knows this dynamic probably isn't the healthiest, but she's really willing to go all in for her family members, especially her brother. She isn't AS dedicated to her parents and cousin especially, but she tries her hardest either way.
More on relationships. She's distant from most of her classmates, but she met Mallow when she was only little.
Author's Note: In my universe, Sophocles was admitted to the hospital after a panic attack that left him injured due to his newfound at that time nyctophobia. Coincidentally, he was admitted to the hospital the same day Mallow's mother was before she had passed. Mallow had run into Muna, and asked her about her situation. After learning more about Sophocles, and being the first kid his age he talked to since the incident at that time, Muna could never find out how to repay Mallow and they've been really great friends ever since. Their stories really do intertwine more than they realize.
As for a classmate that doesn't have the best relationship with Muna? That would be Kiawe. Kiawe thinks Muna is really weird for the way she acts around Sophocles, especially since he's getting older. They've had their fights over it and the common defense Muna uses is that Kiawe does the same thing with his little sister, Mimo. Muna, who is fed up with his hypocrisy, has had an estranged relationship with him ever since.
Hold up, you want actual background information about her? One that isn't completely centered around Sophocles? What? Well, I guess I'll start by listing off starting from the beginning of her life? I'll simplify things, don't worry. She was born on July 28th in Malie City on Ula'Ula' Island. Born to her Mother and Father. The first six years of Muna's life were pretty uneventful. She met her partner Pokemon, Togedemaru (Princess) at the age of 5. (You can tell Princess and Sophocles' Togedemaru apart by looking at the orange ribbon on Princess' tail.) She picked up the photography hobby after receiving a camera on her 6th birthday. (Though on her 6th birthday something beautiful happened, Sophocles, was coincidentally born on the same day but 6 years after!) Sewing has been a part of her life forever, as it was one of her first skills, as singing has been. She practically "Came out of the womb" singing, her parents might say... She turned that into an idol career starting at the age of 9 and going until she was nearly 12. She was THE Alolan Idol! With her hit single: Fly Into Future! She has recently rejoined the force though! (Though, she mostly focuses on writing and singing the perfect song or lullaby to sing to Sophocles.) She labeled Sophocles as "The best birthday gift ever" when he was born.
Most of her skills, though, came with something that was both beautiful and tragic. During the incident with Minior, Muna kept a close eye on her brother (labeled "Teacup" at this time, Darling was a nickname change since the incident because Teacup became too painful). She had failed to protect Sophocles due to her legs giving out. There was nothing she could do. She kept on running but dropped out. After hating herself, her self hatred manifested into a monstrous creature that she could harness magic from. An imp like species to be exact. Known as Otherform. She would only switch into this being after conveying or feeling strong emotions... It has its benefits, though! She gave herself the title of witch! She can cast spells via learning through a book, ride a broom, (As she can do these in human form, her wings in Otherform only work ... If she's in Otherform. She isn't going to trigger a strong emotional response just to make her commute, are you kidding?)
Although, this ability does not come easy by any means of the word. She trains every single day just to be the best and strongest sister ever for her Darling!
Her favorite forms of training or activity include
- Running, you can't catch her. She's insane at it.
- Magic, it becomes very helpful.
- Weaponry! She uses a spear-like device labeled as a polearm nicknamed "Sister's Oath"
- Flight. On both broom and with her wings, she'll learn to soar.
Despite being amazing, Muna still doubts herself all the time. She never ever thinks that she's good enough to be the best sister ever. She will forever hold some guilt about the Minior incident inside of her heart. I mean, that is part of the reason she trains so hard. She loves her brother so much, it would be the death of her if something happened to him.
.... That was really heavy. Before we get into some heavier stuff, here are some surface level facts about her.
- Her favorite color is actually orange!... Pink is a secondary and she's glad to have it, but she's trying to make it more obvious that she really enjoys orange. She loves pink. But orange is where it's really at for her.
- Her favorite foods are Poni Radishes, Apples, and Curry!
- She, like her brother, is very very analytical. She isn't good with technology, but her research techniques are spot on.
- Often draws out diagrams to study the possible outcomes of situations, usually to help Sophocles navigate his Nyctophobia in a smarter way...
- Favorite decoration in her room is her Newton's Cradle.
- One of her "secondary" hobbies she doesn't engage in as much anymore is photography. Really the only times she'll take a picture anymore is if Sophocles does something cute or noteworthy. She stopped taking photos after the Minior incident to make more time for her studies.
- Her bedroom doubles as her research facility as it is large. While her room is super cute and is doused in merchandise of her own idol career, anime, and merchandise of her brother, (usually handmade), serious research still happens in there!
She never will stop caring for Sophocles, and sometimes people like to call her psychotic because of the way she acts. She will engage of acts of love towards Sophocles that can include cheek touching and pulling, hugging, picking up, dizziness, and she even gets nosebleeds... Needless to say, she isn't alright most of the time. But god is she trying. She is encouraged, tenacious, but she sometimes sells herself short. Her whole goal is to protect Sophocles to repay for her "sins" she committed at the site of the Minior incident, and she stops at nothing.
... Though, what specific actions DOES Muna take to make her sacrifices for her brother? Well... Sometimes she'll go without eating for a day because she "Needs to save this food to sustain someone who needs it." She loses sleep because she's too caught up in worrying about Sophocles' well-being and creating the perfect song to sing to him... Getting too caught up in studying.... It really is depressing. But she sees it as necessary.
Now, unfortunately for me, as the author and main creator, most of this lore (Specifically that pertains to the Minior incident....) Is exclusive to the anime.
Not to worry! I have some game exclusive information lined up.
In the games, she presents herself as formal but at the same time she seems very distant from the player character. The only thing that she says to the player before they enter the trial room (SUN AND MOON EXCLUSIVE ONLY) is "Take care of him for me. Okay?" She'll repeat that dialogue until the player finishes their trial. After that, she'll open up to them and say "Hey, I knew you could do it... Maybe you could help me out sometime. Just kidding." However, In USUM, she'll greet the player with "Welcome to Hokulani Observatory. You're here for the trial, are you not? Well. I'm the Captain's older sister. As you found all of our- well, Darling Soffy's beloved Charjabugs, I guess it's time I let you see him." In all versions of Alola's games, She challenges the player to a 6 on 6 when they beat the champion. Her team is exactly IDENTICAL to Sophocles', but Togedemaru is her ace, and she adds another Pokemon, Dedenne.
In Ultra Sun and Moon, after beating the Team Rainbow Rocket arc and ultimately help out Sophocles, a special side quest for Muna unlocks. She titles this quest "Older Sister Sneakiness." Where she hesitantly asks the player character for help. She had been experimenting the night prior, and she needs you to return Sophocles' Starry Night Nightlight to his room before nightfall. Through this quest, the player will be able to explore the different rooms of the Observatory along with exploring Sophocles' room to find out more information about the family.
In summary, Muna is sweet, analytical, strong, tenacious, talented, but self-loathing. She goes to insane lengths to protect her brother, but it is worth it at the end of the day. Despite being seen as psychotic by others. Despite being successful and praised around Alola, she can't stop thinking that she's a Monster. (That's why a nickname for Otherform is Kaibutsumono).
I love Muna. She is one of my favorite and biggest and proudest projects I have had going for a while now. And I hope after you read this insider's guide from the creator, you will too! See you next time.
