Inori is a Japanese novelist best known as the original creator of the light novel and manga series I’m in Love with the Villainess. The author began writing novels as a hobby during university, having first tried writing in elementary school, and initially pursued a career by entering new writer competitions. Becoming a professional writer happened somewhat by accident; due to health reasons and a period as a caretaker for parents, Inori wrote as a pastime, and the commercial publication of that hobby led to a career as an author.

The series I’m in Love with the Villainess began as a web novel serialized on the user-generated site Shōsetsuka ni Narō starting in January 2018. The work gained a following and was later acquired for commercial publication. The light novel was first released digitally in February 2019 under the GL Bunko imprint, with illustrations by Hanagata, before receiving a physical print release. A manga adaptation illustrated by Aonoshimo began serialization in Ichijinsha’s Comic Yuri Hime magazine in June 2020. The series has since been translated into multiple languages and published internationally. An anime television series adaptation produced by Platinum Vision aired from October to December 2023.

Inori’s notable works extend to the spin-off light novel series I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner, which is told from the perspective of the character Claire François. Prior to the success of I’m in Love with the Villainess, Inori wrote other unpublished works, including a heterosexual story about a villainess titled The Villainess Wants to Be Alone and a fantasy science fiction story titled Crying Hearts.

In interviews, Inori has discussed recurring aspects of the author’s creative identity. When asked about writing yuri, or girls’ love, Inori explained that there is no deliberate choice to write in the genre; for reasons related to personality and sexuality, stories naturally develop into relationships between women. The main character Rae Taylor was inspired by Inori’s partner, Aki, whose humor served as the model for the character. Inori has cited light novel writer Shinobu Saeki as a significant influence, stating that reading Saeki’s work was instrumental to becoming the type of writer Inori is today.

In terms of industry significance, I’m in Love with the Villainess initially gained more popularity overseas than in Japan. Fan translations in English and Korean helped build an international fandom, which subsequently led to print releases in South Korea and North America. This international support preceded wider recognition in Japan. The manga adaptation and its serialization in Comic Yuri Hime helped increase domestic popularity, and in 2021 the series placed fifth in the Manga Ranking I Want to See Animated at Anime Japan. Inori has acknowledged that the series’ international reception and the support of fans played a crucial role in its success and path to becoming an anime. The author continues to work on new projects while maintaining involvement in the I’m in Love with the Villainess franchise by checking manga adaptations for consistency with the original story while allowing the illustrators creative freedom.