Well, this one stings. Just two years after her debut, "Hiiro Ao," a member of the new hololive VTuber group "hololive DEV_IS ReGLOSS," has officially announced her graduation. The news, dropped by Cover Corp today (October 3), has left many fans reeling, marking an abrupt end to her career.
▼ Unsurprisingly, the announcement quickly shot to the top of trending topics on X.
Hiiro Ao initially carved out a unique niche in hololive with her distinctive neutral character design and voice. Starting off with a cool, "ikemen" vibe, she gradually leaned into a more comedic persona, often revealing a surprisingly cute side. Later, her official merchandise even featured more daring, sensual outfits, showcasing her evolving charm. She currently boasts a solid 729,000 subscribers.
The writing, perhaps, was on the wall. Back in March, Cover Corp announced that Hiiro Ao had been diagnosed with "adjustment disorder" after a hospital visit. Following medical advice, the management team decided to put her activities on hold, prioritizing her recovery.
But after more than half a year, the eventual outcome wasn't a return, but a sudden, immediate graduation. This has left many fans heartbroken, especially since there was no opportunity for a farewell stream or message from Hiiro Ao herself.
Even Hiiro Ao's official X account posted a heartfelt message, stating, "Thank you to all the fans and members for the time we spent together; it truly felt like a dream. Thank you for appearing in my life. I swear I will always love my Readers (Hiiro Ao's fans). Please remember this." However, the post was explicitly stated to be from her manager, adding an extra layer of bittersweetness to the sudden departure.
For fans, the sting of not getting a proper goodbye is undoubtedly sharp. All we can do now is wish Hiiro Ao the best, hoping she finds health and happiness on her path forward.