Chapter 111: Chapter 110

In this world, there’s a vast range of VTubers, each with unique content. If I were to categorize VTuber "statuses," I’d say there are roughly four types:

Gaming: Most VTubers inevitably center their content around gaming. The platform’s limitations make it challenging for VTubers to shoot vlogs or do food review videos at restaurants, so gaming is the natural choice. Some VTubers dive deep into a single game, while others sample many games lightly. Within gaming, there’s further diversity—some play physical skill games like FPS, others focus on intuition-based games like Mafia, or strategy-based games like puzzles or turn-based games.

Skills: The most common examples are singing and ASMR. Though physical abilities, such as dance, can be VTuber skills, they’re not as easily showcased due to platform constraints. Activities like cooking may work slightly better but risk breaking immersion. Hence, audio-based skills like singing and ASMR are more common, with some even streaming art.

Talk Content: Just chatting is a staple for VTubers and may be the most widely used type. VTubers must showcase their personality, make engaging comments, and keep a lively presence in collaborations. Talking skills are like the basic stats for a VTuber, as essential as securing "CS" in an AOS game. Some even excel as hosts, coordinating conversations smoothly.

Creativity and Planning: Some VTubers are known for innovative ideas, or even over-the-top imagination. While not every broadcast may be groundbreaking, those with strong planning skills stand out by delivering well-structured content.

'I suppose my strength lies in gaming, while Sora’s is more technical.'

As for Chel, it’s a bit ambiguous. Her specialty is acting—would that fall under skills or talk content? Inagika doesn’t have any particularly high stats but maintains a balanced approach. Anna’s strength lies in singing and ASMR, though she’s recently been expanding her gaming skills. Ainatsu, with her drinking streams, likely ranks high in talk content, while her gaming skills are moderately good.

Hanabane Rui seems to have a high "planning" status as a VTuber.

“Not quite sure about planning broadcasts, though,” I muttered, glancing over the DM from Rui.

It's been about three months since I became a VTuber, and I’ve experimented with various content—tried out several games, recorded songs, and released voice clips. But I’ve yet to experience a true “planned broadcast.”

“Nothing complicated. You know the World Cup-style ideal-type voting? Even that’s a planned broadcast,” Rion replied after work.

“We’ve done a planned broadcast before, though technically it was Sora who led it.”

“We did?”

“Yep. Remember the ‘Karaoke Stream Until Unnie Finishes Her Rank Climb’ stream? That one.”

That counts as planned content?

“Think of it as similar to variety shows on TV, but adapted for internet streaming.”

The scope of “planning” is quite broad—just inviting various guests for a talk show technically qualifies. Deciding which guests to invite and what topics to discuss all demand planning skills.

“By that logic, we’ve done several planned broadcasts already.”

“The EYEAI-sponsored Labyrinthos tournament was also a planned event, even if it was a gaming stream.”

Whether karaoke, talk shows, or game tournaments, though they require guest selection skills, they don’t necessarily demand high-level planning. These are “low-level planning” broadcasts, which anyone could think of and execute with a little thought.

“From that angle, Hanabane Rui is a VTuber who specializes in resource-intensive planning broadcasts. Here, let me show you an example.”

Rion introduced me to one of Rui’s past broadcasts.

It went something like this:

"Cocoa Messages for a Sick Boyfriend" [How are you feeling…?👀]

[Would it help if I brought something?🎪]

[If it’s better that I don’t come by, just let me know!💧]

“The broadcast was a quiz where viewers had to guess if the message was written by a female or male VTuber. What do you think?”

“That’s tough.”

And it also makes you want to guess the answer.

“Exactly. Rui often does quiz shows like this. Maybe it’s due to her being highly educated.”

“So, does that mean I’ll be joining these planned broadcasts?”

“It’s likely. From Rui’s perspective, you’re a rising star, and you’re on the same team. She’d probably want you as a guest at least once.”

“True.”

I nodded in agreement.

“Not many VTubers make planned broadcasts their main content, so this is a good opportunity. Planning broadcasts are hard to prepare but meet a demand, so take part as a learning experience.”

Before becoming a VTuber, I questioned whether it was truly superior to other content-creation jobs.

At the time, Rion suggested I try it, and Anna said, “You can switch to streaming if VTubing doesn’t suit you.” So I became a VTuber. Although I hadn’t fully answered my own question, I was open to discovering the value.

With more experiences like these, I might find a more concrete answer.

Hoping for an AoiS solo live also has its own appeal as an “indirect experience of being an idol.” Planning broadcasts might offer a similar feel—an indirect taste of variety shows.

‘I’m genuinely curious to try.’

What kind of planned broadcasts await?

I felt a bit of excitement.

The hardest part of running a planned broadcast is syncing schedules.

At least, that’s what Rui believed.

Sometimes she had to coordinate the schedules of three to four people, sometimes up to ten.

‘Everyone’s so busy.’

This time, she needed to schedule seven people.

Among the six members (excluding the team owner), four were Japanese VTubers, and the other two were rookies from Korea.

The Japanese VTubers were all veterans with popularity. That’s why they were picked for the draft, after all.

As expected, they were busy. It wasn’t surprising that veteran VTubers had packed schedules.

‘Corporate VTubers are busy, and indie VTubers are busy in their own way.’

Indie VTubers manage everything themselves, so their workload is high. Corporate VTubers, while having managers, are also busy due to the volume of tasks their managers bring in.

Popularity means a busy schedule, whether indie or corporate.

Aurora

[I don’t have any particular schedule right now.]

Ayano Koji Sora

[I’m free as well.]

The two rookies from EYEAI got back to her.

Perhaps because they were new, they had empty schedules.

It seemed like the rest of the team was too busy.

Hanabane Rui

[So, should we try a pre-collab just among us for now?]

[I’ll drop the formal tone]

[Is that alright with you two?]

[Feel free to do the same.]

Ayano Koji Sora

[It feels a bit strange to speak informally to a senior…]

Aurora

[Can I call you Rui?]

[You may call me Laura-san if you prefer.]

[Or perhaps Lady Laura.]

"Pfft…"

Rui chuckled.

How audacious.

Yet, that made her like her even more. The truth was, Rui didn’t quite know how to close the distance with others.

Many misunderstood her. Because her main content involved large-scale variety show planning, people assumed Rui was an extrovert.@@novelbin@@

But that wasn’t the case at all.

Hanabane Rui

[Is there any broadcast you’d like to try?]

[Anything is fine, just let me know.]

Aurora

[I heard from Anna that you specialize in planning broadcasts.]

[I’d love to experience one.]

“As expected, it’s a planned broadcast,” Rui muttered.

It wasn’t surprising. Rui aimed to deliver one noteworthy planned broadcast at least once a month.

In some ways, it was a low-return investment.

Game-specialized VTubers like Aurora make their earnings in tournaments, while song-specialized VTubers like Sora release MVs. ASMR VTubers like “Asahina Hikari” attract subscribers with their ASMR content.

Just like the saying “If the body fails, the head suffers,” Rui didn’t have any standout talents, so she used her brain to plan content.

‘I’m here because I earned recognition, after all.’

To make variety planning your main content, as Rui did, requires certain prerequisites.

First, you need a broad network, as the content relies on bringing in different guests.

A high hosting ability is also essential for managing planned broadcasts.

That’s why Rui believed she was given the position of Leviathan team leader.

Hanabane Rui

[Usually, I plan with around 3–4 guests.]

[There aren’t many ideas that work well with just the two of you.]

[Do you have any ideas in mind?]

Aurora

[I looked into some of your past planned broadcasts.]

[How about recreating one of those?]

[(Link)]

“Hm?”

Rui tilted her head in curiosity.

Rui had led broadcasts with up to 10 guests. Although she often did large-scale collabs, she rarely planned with small groups.

‘A quiz show with just two people doesn’t sound fun.’

If Rui acted as the host, it would essentially be a one-on-one match between Laura and Sora, which doesn’t offer the same dynamics as a group quiz show.

Still pondering, Rui opened the link Laura had sent.

[Leviathan Collaboration] Listening to Cringe Couple Stories and Donating Every Time You Get Annoyed

[Featuring Hanabane Rui, Aurora, Ayano Koji Sora]

[Broadcast Rules]

Laura and Sora gather cringe-worthy couple stories from viewers for a set period.

Laura and Sora share the collected stories with Rui.

Laura reads the “guy” lines, while Sora takes on the “girl” lines.

Every time a story irritates Rui, she donates 1,000 yen to charity.