Oh, that makes sense

I've got an origific plunny I've been sitting on for nearly six months now, just kinda prodding now and again for fun, and tonight I finally realized that the main character is probably autistic, and one of the reasons he really wants a familiar is because they can act as service animals/emotional support animals. I'm not sure that he realizes that's why he wants one (he really wanted one just to have a lifelong companion), but it's definitely a thing.

Meanwhile, the main character's love interest is probably also autistic and/or ADHD and already has a familiar, and is doing pretty dandy if you ask them. I don't know if they realize that their familiar is totally a service animal, but their familiar is totally a service animal (in addition to being a working animal for their job).