Chapter 81 : Preparation is difficult

The preparation is difficult.

Live streaming requires a considerable amount of money.

If you’re a Vtuber under companies like Lumilive or Hanalive, it’s a different story, but…

Without the “Nanoka” bait, I’m stuck with around 200,000 subscribers and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Honestly, 200,000 subscribers is a lot.

In the Vtuber industry, it’s not easy to surpass 100,000 subscribers while being independent.

However—

It’s really tight to keep doing live streams consistently.

Maintaining a high-resolution 2D model costs money too.

Internet speed, equipment upgrades, broadcasting software licenses, continuous content creation costs…

And when it comes to year-end live streams, it’s not just a simple broadcast, but a concert-level preparation is needed.

At a minimum, new costume modeling, live performance direction, background creation, sound mixing, live 2D motion tuning, microphone and audio equipment upgrades… and…

The most important part, live song arrangement and accompaniment production.

Each one of these is money.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I really need to invest this much, but…

I can’t just do it half-heartedly.

Live streaming is a Vtuber’s pride.

If you do it half-heartedly, it becomes just a “broadcast where you play music and sing.”

But if you prepare properly, it becomes a performance.

That difference might be the key to breaking through the stagnation of subscribers and sparking growth again.

“…No, but this is too difficult.”

I rested my chin on my hand and sighed.

Honestly, thinking about my broadcasting style, maybe it’s better to just have a casual chatting stream rather than a song live stream.

But—

The year-end live stream is a special event that happens once every year.

Nano did it last year, and will do it again this year.

If I skip this, it just wouldn’t feel like ending the year as a Vtuber.

“…What should I do about this?”

I stared at my laptop screen and thought.

What I have ready so far is—

Year-end limited costume (illustration in progress)

Set background (outsourced)

Song list (undecided)

It’s literally a rough draft.

Can I finish everything within two weeks in this state?

“Oh, by the way, I was supposed to do a collab broadcast with Ahyeon and Arin.”

The thought suddenly popped into my head, and I nodded.

Right.

Today, rather than preparing for the live stream,

It’s a day to do an off-collab broadcast with Ahyeon and Arin first.

This is also a pretty important event.

I can’t solve this alone by thinking, so I should chat with them and clear my mind.

I stretched lightly and got up from my seat.

“First, let’s prepare for the broadcast.”

Forget about the year-end live stream for now,

Today, it’s just a day to chat comfortably with the three of us.

I need to refresh my mind like this to gather the energy to continue.

I checked the equipment on the desk and gathered my thoughts.

From now on, I’m not Kang Suhyun, but Vtuber Shirahana Yuki.

And it’s a comfortable collab broadcast with my friends.

Now, it’s time to officially start preparing.

“Mom, what are you thinking about for the live stream?”

“Ot…”

I didn’t want to think about it.

Ahyeon. You’re too sharp…

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment.

Do you really have to ask this now?

I’m already distracted preparing for the collab broadcast, and you’re suddenly bringing up the year-end live stream plans.

Ahyeon really knows how to hit where it hurts sometimes.

“Well…”

I trailed off, staring at the monitor.

Nothing had appeared in the chat yet.

Fortunately, I hadn’t started the broadcast yet, so the viewers wouldn’t hear my worries.

But…

Ahyeon and Arin had already caught on completely.

“Maybe you still haven’t planned it properly?”

Arin added from the side.

I flinched and turned my head.

“No, no! There’s no way!”

“Hmm~ I see.”

Ahyeon crossed her arms with a meaningful smile.

“Actually, you look pretty panicked right now.”

Arin narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

At that moment, I realized I was about to get scolded if I continued like this.

“Wait, wait.”

I waved my hands in a desperate attempt to explain.

“There’s still some time! No need to rush, right? It’s not like there’s no plan at all, it’s just roughly outlined!”

“Roughly outlined?”

Ahyeon raised her eyebrows.

“…So, you haven’t decided on anything concrete yet?”

“Well, that’s…”

I trailed off again.

Why is everyone so sharp?

“No, it’s not that! There’s a basic framework! I’ve already thought about the song list, and the costume is in the illustration process…”

“Song list confirmed?”

“…Undecided.”

“Costume work completed?”

“…Undecided.”

“Special stage plan?”

“…Undecided.”

“Ha…”

Ahyeon sighed deeply.

And Arin scratched her head slightly and spoke.

“Sis, this is all undecided.”

“No, I mean, it’s still in progress! Everyone’s being too hasty!”

I desperately tried to explain.

But I knew deep down that this excuse wouldn’t work.

In the end—

“Alright. Then let’s have a meeting starting now.”

“Huh?”

“Since the broadcast preparations are almost done anyway, let’s finalize the live stream plan before we start.”

“Wait, wait, wait! This is too sudden!”

I waved my hands in resistance.

But Ahyeon and Arin had already made up their minds.

“Sis, it’s obvious you don’t have a plan yet.”

“That’s right, Mom. You should probably start preparing properly now.”

I pressed my lips together tightly.

Then Ahyeon leaned on her chin as if to tell me to say something.

“Alright then, Mom. Summarize the direction of the year-end live stream in one sentence.”

“Uh… Well…”

I tugged at my hair and thought hard.

What should I say?

The year-end live stream…

Cool?

Or warm?

“Emotionally moving?”

No, that’s not what we should be deciding—

“…A performance summarizing a year as a VTuber?”

I said that.

Ahyeon and Arin looked at me, slightly surprised.

“Oh? That actually sounds pretty good?”

“You actually had a solid idea for once?”

I shrugged.

“Since it’s the end of the year, it would be like wrapping up this year’s activities. Looking back at what I’ve done and preparing for the next year with meaning.”

“Hmm…”

Ahyeon tapped her fingers, lost in thought.

“Then… it would be nice to bring back some memorable moments from this year’s streams and content.”

“Right. For example, singing the first song I ever performed again or mentioning things I said back then.”

“Then we can build the song list around that!”

I was starting to feel more confident.

Maybe this was actually a good direction.

Since Ahyeon and Arin were helping me, if we organized everything properly now—

“Alright. Then after today’s stream, let’s finalize the song list first.”

“…Huh?”

“And tomorrow, we’ll plan the stage production concept.”

“Wait, wait! Isn’t this too fast?!”

I was startled and waved my hands.

But Ahyeon was already writing something down on paper, and Arin had taken out her laptop and started searching for something.

“Unnie, you can’t run away now.”

“Fufu. Prepare yourself, Mama.”

That’s when I realized.

Now, I really had to start preparing for the live show.

“…Ugh, Ahyeon, you little— I shouldn’t have even asked!!”

I collapsed onto the sofa in despair.

There was no escaping now.

All I could do was let these pretty-faced brats play me like a puppet…

“Sigh… This is exactly why I didn’t want to think about it.”

Arin smirked and crossed her arms.

“Unnie, do you realize how important an end-of-year live is? It’s a good thing we’re making proper plans now.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

Ahyeon agreed and plopped down next to me.

“So first, we finalize the song list and concept, then plan the production accordingly. We also need to prepare stage effects and events in advance.”

“Sigh… Just thinking about having to do all that is overwhelming…”

I grabbed my head in frustration.

Ahyeon sighed and spoke.

“Mama, with that mindset, you won’t be able to do a live show. I had similar worries when preparing for my first solo stream.”

“Huh?”

I turned to look at Ahyeon.

Resting her chin on her hand, she reminisced.

“Back then, I kept thinking, ‘I have to do well.’ But when it came to actually preparing, I had no idea where to start. The more I planned, the more pressure I felt… Honestly, it was overwhelming.”

I was slightly surprised.

“You went through that too?”

“Of course. You know this. At first, I never even considered doing a live performance as a VTuber. I had no stage experience either. But since everyone else was doing lives, I felt like I had to as well… I had a lot of worries.”

“So how did you overcome it?”

Ahyeon held up a finger.

“It’s simple. You just start.”

“…Huh?”

“If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never do it. Just set the big picture and fill in the details as you go. Once you decide on a stage concept, things like outfits and production naturally follow. Once you pick the song list, the setlist order falls into place. You organize as you go—trying to make it perfect from the start just makes it more overwhelming.”

I shut my mouth at her words.

What was with that long speech?

Honestly… I already knew that.

But an end-of-year live show required way more preparation than regular streams, and I was scared of making mistakes.

Hearing Ahyeon say this, though…

Maybe I was just overthinking it.

“…So, I just need to start now?”

“Exactly. You’ve been doing great so far, unnie.”

Arin approached me with a quiet smile.

“I understand why you’re worried. But there’s no need to be so scared. When I debuted at HanaLive and planned my first big stream, I was really nervous too.”

I looked at her in surprise.

“You were?”

“Of course. Especially when I had to plan my first proper VTuber event, I didn’t know what kind of content to do. Back then, a senior gave me some advice.”

Arin pointed at the monitor.

“Streaming isn’t something you do alone.”

“…Huh?”

“When you do a live show, your fans are there. Viewers watch, react, and support you. A live performance isn’t about creating a flawless stage—it’s about creating an experience together with your audience.”

I was silent for a moment.

Thinking back…

That was exactly how I had done my streams until now.

I adjusted my content based on viewers’ reactions, improvised, and interacted with them.

It was never about executing a perfectly planned broadcast—

It was about engaging with my audience and making something together.

That was my stream.

I slowly exhaled.

“…You’re right.”

For the first time, I felt a little more at ease.

“It’s the same for live performances. Instead of stressing over a perfect plan, what’s important is making a show that fans can enjoy with you.”

Arin smiled warmly.

I let her words sink in.

That’s right.

This wasn’t just about creating a ‘perfect performance’—it was about sharing an experience with the people who supported me.

In that case…

I could do it.

“Alright.”

I lifted my head with determination.

“Let’s finalize the song list first.”

Ahyeon and Arin smiled at the same time.

“As expected of Mama.”

“That’s the spirit, unnie!”

And so, I began preparing for the end-of-year live show.

It didn’t have to be perfect.

I finally realized that.