There are quite a few Hololive Vtuber manga series, and they can tend to do deal with alternate timelines and specific characters. With the holoX Meeting manga series, it really feels like it is designed to help offer insight into the Hololive 6th generation Vtubers lore and backstory in a fun way that might still feel a bit true to the performers’ personalities and tell a story that stands well on its own.
While La+ Darknesss is considered the “leader” of Secret Society holoX and Takane Lui ends up being the leader by default, holoX Meeting stars Sakamata Chloe. She’s the newest recruit to the group after searching for a job. She’s hired to be the world domination organization’s cleaner by Laplus, though really that ends up meaning she becomes a literal cleaner for the group and hired to tidy up around their blatantly obvious and not at all hidden headquarters.
The first part of the series plays off like any one about an organization or group. As we follow the newcomer Chloe, we’re first introduced to the other existing members like Hakui Koyori and Kazama Iroha one-by-one. Early chapters each spend time focusing on one character to show who they are, and also establish why someone like Chloe might be given a sudden application and opportunity to join.
What’s fun about this is that the series is set up not just as a comedy series, but almost as a slice of life one as well. The first few chapters sort of firmly establish this, starting with Chloe’s introduction to Laplus, her meeting Lui for the first time, and the way Iroha and Chloe connect. I mean, it’s absolutely getting silly and ridiculous for some chapters after Koyori’s introduction. Yet it’s still very genuine and I feel even joyful.
As for the insights, there were honestly times when I did think back to what I knew about each Hololive Vtuber when I read the manga. For example, I remembered a pun segment a while back with Lui when her “introduction” happened in this series. Also, given the way Laplus can act, even though the manga is playing up the “official” persona, it can still sometimes feel a bit accurate.
But honestly, I feel like it’s best that the holoX Meeting manga does stick with the established Hololive Vtuber profiles, setting, and lore. It’s a fun read, due to how well the “secret society” concept lends itself to a series. Especially given that it’s really an excuse to appease Laplus and have fun. You don’t need any prior knowledge of the performers, and it stands up well on its own. Simply put, the holoX Meeting manga does a great job of taking Cover’s lore for Hololive Vtubers and turning it into a series anyone can enjoy.
Volume 1 of holoX Meeting is now available, and Yen Press doesn’t have a release date for the second volume of the manga just yet.
