Historian's archive"I don't know why I'm documenting this. It just feels like...
...there should be a record. Of this moment. Of these heroes.
I want them to be remembered."

The entries on this archive deal with V-tubers who've left us,
to allow a better understanding of their inclusion on the series
and to provide some more context regarding who they were.The basic criteria for someone's inclusion is they must
have both retired in our world and left the narrative.Due to this, I recommend only checking it if you are up to date,
otherwise you risk spoilers. (Latest volume: 3)

Groups

Hololive

774 Inc.

Nijisanji

V-tubers

V-tubers

V-tubers

V-tubers

V-tubers

Hitomi Chris
(人見 クリス)"One of the enigmatic figures of Hololive's past"

Hitomi Chris was a short-lived member of Hololive's first generation.She debuted on June 2018, and retired on the same month.The circumstances are shrouded in mystery:
some speak of her as a victim, others do so as a culprit.I like how in V-Saga you are able to think of her both ways:
the main responsible for the events,
or a poor girl who was cut a raw deal.There's also some who - with varying degrees of seriousness -
refuse to mention her, and insist others don't either.Frankly, I think turning her into "she-who-must-not-be-named" is silly.
She existed, and whatever happened happened.No one can delete someone from everyone's memories,
so I think that instead of sweeping the past under the rug,
people should be allowed to do what they will out of it.Selectively leaving out sad events to paint a happy picture...
...I think someone who managed to draw a merry scene
as part of a series that embraced those painful events
would get to portray a superior form of happiness.Things of InterestArt tag: #人見アートSuper cute chibi art I foundCommission of her by ArkFordHololive Fan Wiki page

Friend A
(友人A)"Now, Hololive has grown into a big company loved the world over."

Friend A was first amongst Hololive's managers.
She debuted a model in 2017, and retired at the end of June 2024.Every story needs a protagonist, every ideal needs its champion.
In Hololive's case that protagonist, that champion, is Tokino Sora.
But every protagonist - every champion since Achilles - needs a best friend.A is the first letter of the alphabet, and so it was this girl's moniker:
being there for her friend since the start, supporting, encouraging her,
means she was none other than Sora's - and Hololive's - first fan.Slowly her duties grew, as Hololive did.
She became the face of management to the public,
humanizing a role oft played with anonymous abnegation.Eventually, much like the talents she watched over, she too gained a junior.
And, much like the idols she helped foster, she too had a graduation.After a 3-month break to handle family matters,
she announced her retirement to dedicate herself fully to them.For her little screentime in V-Saga, I sure made A suffer a lot.
Fitting for a manager, is it not? Lots of pain, toil, and occassional joy.I think the Azuki intermission in 2&5 works as a great send-off for her.Things of interestTribute posted on Hololive's Official channelLast HoloGra episode featuring herArt tag: #絵ーちゃんA-chan's TwitterVirtual YouTuber Wiki page

Inari Kuromu
(稲荷 くろむ)"People losing their humanity - that'd be the end."

Inari Kuromu was a founding member of Animare.
A fox girl, she was also the first member it lost.She debuted in June 2018, and retired on the last days of that same year.Her Twitter was deleted and her YouTube channel was wiped.At first may be perceived as a small side character, but she gains in importance once you realize she shares design cues with Ookami Mio.Things like the shape of the ears and the red streak of hair,
not to mention the red and black color scheme in general.Mio's designer, Izumi Sai, was a fan of Kuromu.
When the former debuted, on the same month the latter retired,
the model for who was starting was inspired in who would soon leave.In the story, Nanashi tells Mio he was the one who picked her clothes.
Clothes - specially the jacket - that bear the red and black combination.A fitting choice, because he's giving Mio her own colors back.
However, could he also have a more private reason for this?
Animare has a fox girl again. And she's given Kuromu's color scheme.It may be that Nanashi, much like Izumi Sai,
gave Mio the red and black in honor of Kuromu.Both mention games as their focus,
and evoke shrine gates at times.I think it's cool to think Mio carries a part of Kuromu with her,
both in our world and in V-Saga!Things of interestArt tag: #くろむあーとAll the art Izumi Sai drew of herVirtual YouTuber Wiki page

Umori Hinako
(宇森 ひなこ)"What we'd like most, is for Hinako to come back."

Umori Hinako was a founding member of Animare.
She was a bat girl, and the second member it lost.She debuted in June 2018.
Due to health problems, she decided to retire in October 2019.Due to those same problems, she was unable to do a goodbye stream.
The three remaining members of Animare did one instead.During said stream, they explained the situation:
Hinako turned down going on hiatus until she recovered,
opting to graduate instead.Inaba Haneru also revealed in tears that, prior to sharing her decision,
Hinako had repeatedly asked her out for a meal together,
invitations she couldn't accept due to being busy."On the day before the meeting (where her retirement was formalized),
she told me that she had been worrying about retiring due to her illness,
and that she had invited me out because she wanted to ask me about it.I was busy and couldn't go, and if I had gone then,
maybe we could have found another way..."Haneru's feelings of guilt due to not being there to save Hinako
in V-Saga felt so appropriate to me once I heard her say that.Things of interestHaneru, Ichika and Ran's stream after her retirementHinako's TwitterArt tag: #ひなこあーとVirtual YouTuber Wiki page

Momono Yurari
(桃乃 ゆらり)"I got up to coloring my sketch..."

Momono Yurari was to be part of Animare's second wave of new members.
Based on her design I believe her to be a hamster girl.The second wave was announced on April 11th, 2020,
and Yurari started using Twitter on April 18th.However, before the date for it came on April 25th, her debut was cancelled.
The reason given was "a lie discovered in her exchanges with management."Her story ended before it even got to properly begin.
Despite that, I still consider her the third member Animare lost.There was a person who, for the briefest time, went by that name.
Someone who, for 5 days, interacted on Twitter using it.
That means something.This is why she's part of the V-Saga story, although briefly.
Taking the reason given for her debut cancellation into account,
maybe her being a double agent or a traitor would have made sense.However, I went with her being a sincere, honest girl instead.
Maybe you'd expect her to have a catch, but there's none.
The only thing she hid were her feelings for Nanashi.She loved him, and followed him until the end.
You may be left feeling he's responsible for her death.
Much like it was 774 Inc. who decided to pull the plug on her.Responsibility is most likely always shared, but it fits like that.Things of interestYurari's TwitterSuper cute sketch of her I found

Haibara Akane
(灰原 あかね)"Isn't she a boy?"

Haibara Akane was a member of Animare's second wave of new recruits.
She was a red panda, and the fourth member the group lost.This had no bearing on what I did, but while joking about the new members before they debuted Inaba Haneru said Akane acted too normal on Twitter.Looking at her design, she said there may be a twist involving her gender.
"She gives me an ore vibe. Isn't she a boy? I'm thinking she probably is one."She was a girl after all, despite everyone's first impressions!I had her be a lion too; a choice made following her design, I think.
I knew Nanashi was a cat, so she had to be a feline as well.(Also, I only discovered she was a red panda while writing this...
In hindsight the "Aka" part of the name and the red earrings hint at it.)Still, I feel lion was the better choice. The species lends itself well,
and it even allowed me to sneak in a Botan scene with her.Akane debuted on April 25th, 2020.
On May 31st, it was announced she'd enter an indefinite hiatus.
Then, without her returning, on August 26th her retirement was announced.Despite health issues being the official reason given for her break,
at the time it was said this was an excuse from 774inc,
and that she had instead been suspended due to smoking on stream.On V-Saga, her relationship with her adoptive family, Nanashi, is complex.She feels inferior to him, but the feeling never turns into resentment.
She tries to be like her brother, as much as is within her means.That leads to her straying from her true self in a big way.In the narrative, Akane refuses to renounce the struggle she believes in
(and professes a total loyalty to Nanashi she may have been hiding),
a decision that promptly leads to her dying.In our world, Akane insists on being true to who she is by smoking
(at least once openly showing a side of her she had been hiding),
even if it meant her end would swiftly come, as it did.I find that way to look at her extremely compelling.
Aren't (we) all rebels to some degree? She most certainly was.It's sad how she never got to show who she truly was with a smile.Things of interestAkane's TwitterArt tag: #はいばらーとHaneru joking about Akane's genderVolume 2 celebratory art featuring her

Hashiba Natsumi
(羽柴なつみ)"[Hashiba Natsumi] will protect everyone in Animare."

Hashiba Natsumi was a member of Animare's second wave of new recruits.
She was a shiba inu, and the fifth member the group lost.Natsumi debuted on April 25th, 2020, fast friends with Mimi and Akane.
After Akane's early departure, ShiroShiba became Animare's dynamic duo.At the start of 2021, Natsumi suffered from sudden hearing loss.
After going on break twice, Natsumi decided to retire on August 15th, 2021,
making her close friend Mimi the last remaining member of their wave.I was initially on the fence about killing Natsumi on volume 3,
then her break happened and I decided to go for it.In volume 2, Noel cares for Mimi -not Natsumi- after the explosion,
this was foreshadowing of who would survive and who would die.While joking about the new members' designs, Haneru called her "a stalker".
Natsumi rolled with it, appearing on her debut behind a pole post, stalking.
This is referenced by the way Mimi meets him, spying on Akane and Yurari.Of course, while in our world Natsumi was female, he was male on the story.
In Natsumi and Kuku's cases, it was done to lower readers' guard for Akane.
This ends up shaping how the group members are split for his demise.Natsumi final upload was a cover of "Ikiru te nandayo".
She asked, "what is to live?" before leaving Mimi alone.In the end, he didn't keep his promise.
But, there were things Natsumi did achieve.So maybe to live is to fail while trying your best.
Natsumi sure did alright for a matcha-haired stalker.Things of interestNatsumi's TwitterArt tag: #羽柴手配絵Haneru joking about Natsumi being a stalker

Sougetsu Eli
(蒼月 エリ)
"Eli saved my life - or at least, a part of me."

Sougetsu Eli was a founding member of HoneyStrap.
She debuted on July 2018, and retired on May 21st, 2019.Despite HoneyStrap also being under 774inc, her departure feels different when compared to that of Animare's retired founding members.Eli's Twitter is still up, and she had a proper last stream.
The regret is less and the love is more in her case.It's something very tangible, and made soon apparent.
Years later people still draw and talk fondly of her.In V-Saga, despite going through something similar,
HoneyStrap chooses a different path than Animare.
As Patra explains, the cause is Eli.Eli choose love.
She choose it as her last deed;
as the thing to tie her memory to.That was inherited, and even though she left,
it remained as part of the group ever since.Things of interestEli's TwitterArt tag: #絵リTestimony on her I foundVirtual YouTuber Wiki page

Kaen
(카엔)
"I'm sorry for leaving you - be happy!"Kaen was a member of 541 E&C, a South Korean agency absorbed into Nijisanji KR on January 25th, 2020 as a way to kickstart that branch.On July 10th, 2020, the group abruptly announced
four of its members would retire. Kaen was one of them.At the time it was speculated that the three males were being conscripted
to serve in South Korea's mandatory military service.I find this possibility very interesting: it deepens this being the Korean branch of Nijisanji, not only because they speak the language, but because it's members also can't avoid the political realities of the peninsula.After the announcement, Kaen took the time to send every remaining member of Nijisanji KR - including Gaon - a personal message on Twitter.Making him the "leader" figure of the trio just felt natural to me.As someone who also went through military service,
I hope Kaen stays positive and kind, doing his best even in that situation -
that's how I tried to portray him on V-saga.Things of interestKaen's TwitterArt tag: #kingkaenfanartKaen's YouTube channelr/VirtualYoutubers' thread on the announcement

Lorou
(로로)"One man's ambition and deceit cast a shadow on this magical experience."Lorou was a member of 541 E&C, a South Koren agency absorbed into Nijisanji KR on January 25th, 2020 as a way to kickstart that branch.On July 10th, 2020, the group abruptly announced
four of its members would retire. Lorou was one of them.At the time it was speculated that the three males were being conscripted
to serve in South Korea's mandatory military service.The last thing Lorou shared before the announced was a fan animation
of Pucci activating Made in Heaven - something very interesting indeed!After the announcement, Lorou posted a series of messages
sharing his feeling on the V-tubing world.In that retelling, the above quote is found.Considering the possibility that he was conscripted,
and him listing "PyongYang, North Korea" as his Twitter location...
...could the "one man" he aluded to be Kim Jong-un?!Maybe Lorou feels bitter and is out to get him!In V-Saga, doing that is no longer an option for him...
...but South Korea doesn't have a shortage of other conscripts, does it?Also, something that doesn't have to do with anything,
but technically he shares his name with Roro.The "Rxrx", "Lxlx", and combinations with those syllables
seem to always be associated with cats...I wonder why?Things of interestLorou's TwitterArt tag: #LOROUArt"Change the world - my final message. Goodbye."Virtual YouTuber Wiki page

Hakuren
(백연)"Come and share your story. I'm always here for it..."Hakuren was a member of 541 E&C, a South Koren agency absorbed into Nijisanji KR on January 25th, 2020 as a way to kickstart that branch.On July 10th, 2020, the group abruptly announced
four of its members would retire. Hakuren was one of them.At the time it was speculated that the three males were being conscripted
to serve in South Korea's mandatory military service.Prior to the announcement, Hakuren had been inactive since March.
After retweeting it, he posted nothing afterwards either.In V-Saga, he speaks in an old fashioned manner.
His design made me think it fitting for him.Talking about it later, the way I put it was this:
I had just the one scene to make him be someone,
and I made use of that to achieve it.Not many phrases were spared for his tale.
Fitting, for a man of few words whose story ends prematurely.Things of interestHakuren's TwitterArt tag: #HakurenartHakuren's YouTube channel

V-tubers

Kataribe Tsumugu
(語部紡)"Is this, the end?"Kataribe Tsumugu was (is?) a Nijisanji member
who debuted on January 31st, 2019.
Her character is that of a ghost.She only streamed three times, making her last tweet on March 11th, 2019.
She's been missing in action every since. Is she even still alive? Who knows.
Yet, despite that, she is still listed in the Nijisanji official site, as if active.She truly became Nijisanji's ghost.
But for there to be a ghost, there first had to be a person who dies, right?
I took the chance and wrote a story that ends in her death.Just one more V-tuber, amidst the sea of them all.
Not that big of a loss in the grand scheme of things, right?
Well, losing her plays a big role in setting a certain fan on a path of revenge...Things of interestTsumugus's TwitterArt tag: #い絵ーいTsumugu's YouTube channel

Cafeno Zombi-ko
(カフェ野ゾンビ子)"That fallen heroine feel, I think, will be resurrected for something later."On January 5th, 2018, a zombie girl used a computer to upload a video.
It was the debut of Cafeno Zombi-ko, an unusually cheery girl, considering.She kept uploading videos for two whole years under Upd8,
until they decided to put an end to the project and made her graduate.
And so, she finally passed on in March 13th, 2020.She was a girl who came from another world,
and found a zombie apocalypse in ours!
Very fitting for Rainbows' antagonist,
considering the genres of its media quotes!Since her content was in the format of recorded video-logs,
I think conveying her backstory via a written diary was quite appropiate!Zombi-ko actually had a friend, in the form of fellow zombie Takashi.
He was killed by a human, who she killed in turn, laughing in the aftermath.Early on, she got comments asking if this or that V-tuber hadn't killed her.
In Rainbows, it's in fact a V-tuber who puts an end to her human life.But that's the thing, isn't it?
For a zombie, is death ever the end,
or always just another beginning?Things of interestZombie-ko's TwitterArt tag: #びこアートZombie-ko's YouTube channelHitoribocchi no Hitorigoto acapella coverKitto kono Inochi ni Imi ha Nakatta acapella coverHello/How Are You acapella cover