How to raise a random guy's wife

"Okay, okay, how exactly do we do it?"

"The method is very simple. In fact, there are many people who want to become idols, but very few who have the ability to become idols." Kobayashi Sora took the plan. "We just need to give hope to those who want to become idols but cannot because of various restrictions."

"But as you said, not everyone has the qualities needed to become an idol, such as looks, physique, singing and dancing abilities."

"Abilities can be trained, as for looks and physique..." Kobayashi Sora chuckled, "There are artists."

"Like the Live2D live streams like Star Cluster?"

"Correct."

“You can earn money through live streaming, and then use that money to improve your skills and earn even more money…” Kobayashi Megumi noticed a problem: “But even with a Live2D avatar, there are still barriers to entry for live streaming. Or rather, while a Live2D avatar can smooth out the differences in appearance, it becomes even more difficult to stand out and earn money—where are you going to find so many interesting people?”

You should know Niconico, right?

"Hmm." Kobayashi Megumi recalled, "I also posted some promotional videos on it before."

Niconico is an online video sharing website launched by NIWANGO in 2006. Its unique feature is that comments appear on the video in the form of bullet comments, which made it extremely popular.

Or rather, in the past.

"Initially, we were highly competitive with our innovative bullet screen feature. After officially opening user registration, the number of registered members exceeded 1 million in just two months. In April of the same year, the monthly page views reached 591 million, so we had to limit access in order to reduce the server load," Kobayashi Sora explained. "After reaching a peak of 256 million, we never saw any more."

"Huh? What's the reason?"

"First of all, as a video platform, we have not seriously addressed issues that greatly affect the user experience, such as video latency and stuttering. As soon as the number of users increases, the network congestion makes it difficult for the servers to cope."

"A technical problem?"

"It's an attitude problem. In order to convert a large number of ordinary users into paying users, whenever ordinary users encounter video buffering, niconico will entice users to become paid members below the video to speed up the buffering."

"And then?"

"Non-paid members are not allowed to drag the video progress bar, and the highest quality is only 720p. Non-paid members can only watch 360p videos."

"at last?"

"Excessive traffic diversion. Less than a year after its official establishment, it launched the 'niconico Market,' placing product advertisements at the bottom of video pages and diverting traffic to various e-commerce platforms, which seriously affected the user experience."

"No wonder... I thought it was a problem with the promotional video, but it got a great response on YouTube. It turns out that Niconico doesn't have many users anymore."

“There are many very talented streamers on Niconico. After Niconico declined, their income was greatly affected.” Kobayashi Sora chuckled. “At this time, someone needs to lend a helping hand.”

-

“Number 32.” Iori Hashima put a checkmark next to a name and smiled. “This kind of job suits me best.”

He looked out the window and saw a girl wearing a mask approach and then enter the coffee shop.

“Here.” Iori Hashima raised his hand, revealing a perfect smile, and gestured to the girl.

"Hello." The girl approached nervously. "Um... I heard RER wants to collaborate with me?"

“Yes.” Iori Hashima handed over her business card. “Do you know about star clusters?”

"Of course I know! I love Koishi the most!"

“Now there’s an opportunity to participate in activities with them…” Iori Hashima patiently explained the details, bit by bit.

-

“I will provide the streamer information, and Iori will be responsible for communication and contact. Although many streamers have already moved to YouTube, they should not refuse to have more ways to make money.”

“We’ve got an interesting streamer…” Kobayashi Megumi thought of Sagara Mayu, “But what about the Live2D avatar? Mayu can’t handle it all by herself, and we also need her for the mobile game and the second season of ‘Liella! Superstar’.”

“Remember what I said before? If Live2D live streaming becomes popular, then more streamers will definitely want to replicate this method. At that time, illustrators who can create Live2D characters will become very popular. The popularity of streamers can also increase the popularity of animators.” Kobayashi Sora opened the webpage. “Obviously, I’m not the only one who has realized this.”

Kobayashi Megumi looked at the screen, "A ghost castle?"

“This is a production team that also conducts the same type of live streaming events called virtual idols, and they also offer services to help create Live2D characters.” Kobayashi Sora browsed the webpage. “This is just one of them. There are many other teams and independent artists. If you want more Live2D characters, you can just outsource them.”

"Wow, that's amazing..." Kobayashi Megumi looked at the various cute characters on the webpage, "But the price... once the quantity goes up, the investment will also increase accordingly."

“For other companies, such an investment would obviously be irrational.” Kobayashi Sora brought the topic back to the beginning. “But our goal is to scare Love Live!, so as long as we cultivate a few top streamers who can make Love Live! feel threatened, that’s enough. It’s worth it to exchange some investment for stable development.”

Love Live! has become the best path for school idols to climb to the peak of their dreams through its long-term operation, and has made a lot of profits from it.

Kobayashi Sora's method allows many people without the necessary conditions to become idols, opening up a new path.

Diverting the flow at the source is a fundamental solution.

Kobayashi Megumi's eyes sparkled as she hugged Kobayashi Sora's neck and kissed him, saying, "My secretary is amazing."

Chapter 499 Completion Plan

"This year's regional qualifiers are also being held online," Eriri said, watching a video of Star Cluster's victory. "I quite enjoy watching them live."

“Compared to offline, there are more viewers online.” Kobayashi Megumi explained while doing prenatal yoga under the supervision of Kobayashi Sora, “After all, offline requires a real person to be present, while online, you only need to click a button.”

"There's also the cost to consider," Kobayashi Sora added, her gaze fixed on Kobayashi Megumi. "Online, you only need to post a tag, but offline, the venue and staff are a considerable expense."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Kobayashi Megumi with some trepidation, "Is it alright for you to talk while exercising like this?"

“Appropriate exercise can effectively relieve physical discomfort,” Kobayashi Megumi replied. “And being able to speak proves that the intensity of the exercise is just right. If I can’t speak, it means that I’ve overdone it and need to stop immediately.”

"This isn't quite what I expected." Kasumigaoka Utaha felt like she had learned something she couldn't use, so she jotted it down. "Online competitions would allow more people to see the performances of various school idol groups, which would attract more viewers to buy tickets for the finals, whether offline or online. What's it called again?"

"Traffic generation," Kobayashi Sora replied.

“This approach is very advantageous for Star Cluster,” Eriri read through the comments. “After all, the Superstar project has given Star Cluster members a lot of fans online—I’m not surprised they’ve passed the preliminary rounds in first place, and I expect they’ll win the regional finals as well.”

"This is all thanks to you guys," Kobayashi Megumi said. "Your light novel and Eriri's manga adaptation kept Star Cluster very popular during the gap between the mobile game and the second season being in production."

"The hugely popular 'Chronicles of the Universe XIII' has increased your fame, and you've in turn increased the fame of the Star Cluster." Kobayashi Sora gestured, "One degree of fame, two applications."

"If it weren't for the star cluster's own superior strength, even with our great reputation, we wouldn't have been able to help them win." Kasumigaoka Utaha typed on the keyboard, "The credit doesn't all belong to us."

“If it weren’t for you guys, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.” Kobayashi Megumi looked at Kobayashi Sora. “But now that the preliminary rounds are over, we need to get on with the follow-up plans. We need to choose a suitable virtual idol to debut and increase our influence as soon as possible to avoid those troublesome things.”

Eriri asked curiously, "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

"That's how it is..." Kobayashi Sora briefly recounted the events and his plan.

"Tsk." Eriri said with displeasure, "Don't those guys have any room for dreams other than money?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha sneered, "Have you ever considered that their dream is simply to be rich?"

“I do,” Kobayashi Sora raised her hand. “My dream used to be to be rich.”

Kobayashi Megumi tilted her head. "Before? What about your dreams now?"

"You."

Eriri: "..." First of all, I didn't offend any of you.

Kasumigaoka Utaha rolled her eyes and skillfully changed the subject, "The plan is good, but if Love Live discovers that RER has the ability to dismantle their base, won't they intensify their encroachment even more?"

“That’s right.” Reminded by Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri also realized, “They targeted RER before for profit. If RER has the ability to threaten Love Live!, then they will also target RER to cut their losses.”

“If RER makes money from virtual idols, Love Live will probably become even more aggressive.” Kasumigaoka Utaha started shaking her leg, but after noticing Kobayashi Megumi, she pressed her leg down. “Watching others make money is more painful than them losing money themselves.”

“We’ve thought of that too.” Kobayashi Megumi and Kobayashi Sora exchanged a glance. “So we need someone they dare not mess with to join the plan.”

“Virtual editors,” Kobayashi Sora added, “and virtual writers.”

Eriri looked puzzled. "What's wrong with that...?"

“I said…” Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her red eyes slightly, “The virtual author you’re talking about, you wouldn’t happen to be Akane Kousaka, would you?”

"Exactly."

"What?" Eriri's eyes widened. "That woman is going to do a live stream?"

"Why not?" Kobayashi Sora asked in return.

"With her temper, why would she do a live stream? To drink and smoke?" Eriri imagined Akane Kousaka doing a live stream with her Live2D avatar, the cute paper doll making chugging noises while loudly cursing: What kind of garbage is this?!

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her strangely, "Does she even have fans?"

"What if she helps revise comics and novels?"

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha exchanged a glance.

Despite their dissatisfaction with Akane Akasaka, as creators, they were all too aware of Akane Akasaka's appeal to creators.

Akane Kousaka can bring creators an improvement that even the creators themselves dare not imagine.

Eriri asked curiously, "How did you persuade her?"

“Let’s use what we just said.” Kobayashi Sora pointed upwards, “There will be more participants online than offline.”

“Sister Zhu Yin really enjoys discovering talent. Compared to searching one by one offline, it’s much easier for people to come to you online,” Xiao Lin Hui explained. “After hearing that, she agreed.”

"Love Live! dares to mess with RER, but doesn't dare to mess with Akane Kousaka," Kasumigaoka Utaha asked. "So why not just use her to warn Love Live! from the beginning?"

"It's normal to want to make more profit, and Love Live's idea is still in the discussion stage. Bringing up Akane-nee directly would be a complete falling out," Kobayashi Sora explained. "Love Live's large number of venues, peripheral channels, concert experience, album production, etc. are all things that RER currently lacks. It is still very necessary to continue friendly and equal cooperation."

"To be honest, it's true," Eriri said, still worried. "But her personality..."

Kobayashi Sora naturally considered this issue as well. "This requires an industry insider who has extensive experience dealing with people with bad tempers, is familiar with Sister Zhu Yin, and can restrain her when she loses her temper."

"A terrible personality?" Eriri subconsciously looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Kasumigaoka Utaha already had the answer in her heart, "Virtual editing..."

Chapter 500, let's go next.

When the virtual editors and virtual authors premiered, the four members of Kasumi Eri's group prepared snacks, drinks, and fruits, waiting for them to appear.

Kobayashi Sora peeled the orange and fed it to Kobayashi Megumi segment by segment.

The smooth movements paused for a moment as Kobayashi Sora turned to look at Kobayashi Megumi, only to see her with a mischievous smile, her pink tongue brushing against her lips.

Kobayashi Sora silently licked the orange juice from her fingertips, admiring Kobayashi Megumi's blushing face.

I can't see it, I can't see it.

Kasumigaoka Utaha silently pets the cat.

Eriri took a big gulp of black tea.

Tsk, why does this black tea smell like dog food?

"It's starting, it's starting." Eriri saw the standby screen appear on the screen. "This is too flashy."