The Villainess VTuber Tears People Apart

In this world, there are various VTubers, and just as many types of content.

Still, if I had to categorize them, I think VTuber statuses can roughly be divided into four.

The first is gaming.

Most VTubers inevitably choose gaming as their primary content.

Due to the inherent limitations of utilizing a virtual avatar, certain content is restricted. For example, filming vlogs or doing mukbangs at restaurants is quite difficult.

Therefore, they have no choice but to rely on gaming.

However, each VTuber approaches gaming differently—some delve deeply into a single game, while others touch lightly on a variety of games.

From there, it diversifies further into physical skill games like FPS, intuition-based games like Mafia, or intellectual games like puzzles or turn-based strategy games.

The second is skill.

The most representative examples are singing and ASMR.

Physical abilities, such as athletic or dance skills, also fall under this category.

While some VTubers use these talents as their main selling point, the limitations of a virtual avatar make it difficult to fully leverage them.

Cooking is another example. While it might be easier to incorporate compared to athletics or dance, using a webcam risks breaking immersion.

As a result, sound-based skills like singing or ASMR are the most common, though there are occasionally art-focused streams as well.

The third is talk.

For VTubers, chatting (or just chatting) streams are indispensable content and perhaps the most frequently utilized status.

A VTuber needs to showcase their character, be able to make witty comments, and maintain good relationships during collaborations while ensuring their presence is felt without awkward silences.

In other words, talk is as fundamental a status as farming CS in a MOBA game.

Some VTubers even go a step further and exhibit excellent hosting abilities.

And the fourth is planning skills.

This includes imaginative ideas that others wouldn’t think of, or even pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable. Occasionally, a VTuber will emerge who breaks the mold with their unique broadcasts.

Of course, having great planning skills doesn’t mean every broadcast is groundbreaking.

However, even with the same radio-style show, there can be a noticeable difference in how structured the broadcast feels.

“I guess I’d say I have a high gaming status, and Sora has a high skill status.”

Chel is a bit tricky. Her specialty is acting, but should that be considered a skill or talk?

Inagika doesn’t have any outstandingly high statuses but seems fairly balanced overall.

Anna specializes in singing and ASMR, so her skill status is high. However, she’s been expanding into gaming lately.

Ainatsu, with her focus on drinking streams, likely has a high talk status. Her gaming status is also decently strong.

And in Hanabane Rui’s case, she seemed to be a VTuber with a high “planning” status.

“I don’t really get this ‘planned broadcast’ thing.”

I muttered while glancing at the DM Rui had sent me.

It had been about three months since I became a VTuber, and during that time, I’d tried various types of content.

I’d played different games, recorded songs, and even released voice packs.

But I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a “planned broadcast.”

“It’s not that complicated. You know those Ideal Type World Cup things, right? That’s also a kind of planned broadcast.”

Rion, who had just returned from work, answered me.

“And you’ve actually done a planned broadcast before. Well, technically, it was Sora who organized it.”

“We did?”

“Yeah. Remember the ‘karaoke stream that continues until you finish climbing the ranked ladder’? That one.”

That was considered a planned broadcast?

“Think of it like this: when you watch TV, there are all kinds of variety shows, right? A planned broadcast is like running that type of show but in the form of an internet stream.”

The scope of planning is quite broad, so even just hosting a talk show with various guests can be considered a planned broadcast.

Deciding which guests to invite, what topics to discuss, and so on—when broken down in detail, it seemed to require significant planning ability.

“By that logic, we’ve already done several planned broadcasts ourselves, haven’t we?”

“Even the EYEAI Cup Labyrinthos Tournament is conducted under a massive plan. It’s a gaming broadcast but also a planned broadcast.”

That said, whether it’s karaoke streams, talk show streams, or gaming tournament streams—

They may require good selection skills but don’t necessarily demand exceptional broadcasting planning abilities.

These are broadcasts based on “low-level planning,” something that anyone could easily think of and execute with a bit of effort.

“In that sense, Hanabane Rui is a VTuber who specializes in ‘planned broadcasts that require significant resources.’ For example, this kind of broadcast.”

Rion, saying so, introduced me to one of Rui’s past streams.

It went something like this:

# Cocoa Talk Messages for a Sick Boyfriend

[Are you feeling okay…? 👀]

[Do you think it’s fine if I bring something? 🎪]

[If my being at your place makes you uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to tell me! 💧]

“It was a quiz show where participants had to guess whether the messages were written by a male VTuber or a female VTuber. What do you think?”

“That’s tricky.”

And because it’s tricky, it makes you want to guess the correct answer even more.

“Right? Hanabane Rui often does quiz shows like this. Maybe it’s because she’s highly educated.”

“So, does that mean I’ll also end up experiencing these kinds of planned broadcasts?”

“It’s bound to happen. From Rui’s perspective, you’re a newly trending rookie and a part of her team now. She’ll definitely want to invite you as a guest at least once.”

That did seem likely.

I nodded in agreement.

“Especially since there aren’t many VTubers who use planned broadcasts as their main content. This is a great opportunity. Planned broadcasts are tough to prepare, but there’s always demand for them. Think of it as a learning experience and participate.”

Before becoming a VTuber, I had a lingering doubt. “What makes being a VTuber better than being a streamer or some other profession?”*

At that time, Rion encouraged me to try being a VTuber, and Anna told me, “If you don’t like it, you can always switch to being a streamer later.”

I wouldn’t say I’ve fully answered that question yet.

It feels more like I’ve postponed finding the answer.

Still, now that I’ve become a VTuber, it doesn’t feel so bad. I think I could answer that “doubt” more clearly now than before.

And if I engage in more activities, I might be able to provide an even better answer.

For instance, aiming for an AoiS one-man live show is about gaining “indirect idol experience.”

Participating in planned broadcasts would be similar—providing “indirect variety show experience.”

And honestly, I just want to try it out for the fun of it.

What kind of planned broadcasts could there be?

I was a little excited.

***

The hardest part of planning a broadcast is scheduling.

At least, that’s what Hanabane Rui thought.

Anywhere from 3–4 people at minimum, to as many as 10 people—it’s not easy to coordinate their schedules all at once.

“Everyone’s so busy.”

This time, Rui had to coordinate the schedules of seven people.

Six members excluding the team owner: four Japanese VTubers and two rookie Korean VTubers.

The Japanese VTubers were all experienced and popular. That’s why they were drafted.

As expected, they were busy.

Veteran VTubers being busy wasn’t unusual, so it wasn’t surprising.

“Corporate VTubers are busy in their own way, and independent ones in theirs.”

Independent VTubers, lacking managers, have to handle everything themselves, which makes them busy.

Corporate VTubers have managers, but that doesn’t mean they’re less busy—managers often bring them lots of work.

In the end, whether corporate or independent, popularity means busyness.

Aurora

[I don’t have any special plans.]

Ayanokouji Sora

[I’m free too.]

Messages arrived from the two VTubers from EYEAI.

Perhaps because they were still rookies who had debuted recently, their schedules seemed open.

The others, however, appeared to be busy.

Hanabane Rui

[Then how about we do a small collaboration just among us before the main event?]

[Ah, I’ll drop the formal speech.]

[That’s fine with you, right?]

[You two can drop formalities too.]

Ayanokouji Sora

[Dropping honorifics with such a senior feels a bit…]

Aurora
[Then should I just call you Rui?]

[You can call me Miss Laura if you’d like.]

[Or perhaps Lady Laura.]

“Pfft….”

Rui chuckled unconsciously.

How cheeky.

But that made her like Aurora even more. In truth, Rui didn’t really know how to narrow the gap between herself and others.

People often misunderstood. They assumed that Rui, whose main content consisted of large-scale variety shows, was an outgoing social butterfly.

In reality, she was anything but.

Hanabane Rui

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

[Anything’s fine—just let me know.]

Aurora

[Anna mentioned that you specialize in planned broadcasts.]

[I’d like to experience a planned broadcast firsthand.]

“Of course it’s about planning,” Rui muttered.

It wasn’t a surprising answer. Rui already aimed to create one noteworthy planned broadcast per month.

In a sense, planned broadcasts were inefficient.

VTubers like Aurora, who focused on gaming, earned subscribers by participating in tournaments. VTubers like Sora, who specialized in singing, produced MVs to gain subscribers.

Then there were VTubers like Asahina Hikari, who earned subscribers through ASMR content.

There’s a saying: If your body isn’t skilled, your mind must work harder.

Since Rui lacked exceptional talents or skills, all she could do was push her mind to its limits.

“Still, I’ve earned my spot because of that effort.”

For someone like Rui to base her content on variety show planning, certain prerequisites were necessary.

First, she inevitably needed an extensive network.

Her content required inviting a variety of guests onto her channel.

Second, strong hosting skills were crucial for running planned broadcasts.

As a result, Rui had both a wide network and strong people management skills.

That’s why she believed she had been given the position of team leader for Leviathan.

Hanabane Rui

[I usually run broadcasts with around 3–4 guests.]

[So there aren’t many ideas that would work with just the two of you.]

[Do you have any ideas yourself?]

Aurora

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

[How about recreating one of them in a new way?]

[(Link)]

“Hmm?”

Rui tilted her head in curiosity.

Rui had experience managing broadcasts with up to 10 guests.

In other words, she specialized in large-scale collaborations with many participants. On the other hand, she had rarely planned broadcasts with a smaller number of participants.

“A quiz show wouldn’t work with just two people.”

For instance, if Rui were to act as the host now, it would essentially boil down to a one-on-one showdown between Aurora and Sora.

A one-on-one format didn’t create particularly entertaining dynamics. Typically, at least three guests were needed to make a quiz show interesting.

Because of that, there weren’t many planned broadcasts designed for just two participants.

“Did I ever run any two-person broadcasts in the past?”

As she pondered, Rui clicked on the provided link.

***

【Leviathan Collaboration】

A broadcast where we donate money every time we get angry listening to cringy couple stories 【Hanabane Rui / Aurora / Ayanokouji Sora】

【Broadcast Rules】

1. Laura and Sora collect cringy couple stories from viewers over a set period.

2. Laura and Sora share the collected stories with Rui during the broadcast.

3. Laura reads the male lines, and Sora reads the female lines.

4. If a story makes Rui angry, she donates 1,000 yen to charity.