A romance has cost dearly in the virtual talent industry. On April 20, 2026, the VTuber agency known as Limiless! issued a surprise official statement announcing the immediate termination of contracts for two talents, Kanade Ruka and Bakubaku Baku, after confirming they violated a strict internal rule banning relationships between company members.

A direct and public expulsion

According to the agency’s notice, after speaking directly with those involved and confirming the facts, the decision was made to expel them on the same day. Rimiresu! explained the measure aimed to “protect other talents and fans from any anxiety or loss of confidence” the situation might cause. The company confiscated the accounts and activity names of the former members, asking the public not to investigate further and offering an apology for the concern generated.

Before this dramatic outcome, the interaction between the two VTubers on social media was seen as a close friendship. Kanaderuka often referred to Bakubaku Baku as a kind “older brother” figure from their time in the group Triangular△. They frequently shared supportive messages and moments fans called “teetee” (a term in the otaku community describing affectionate interactions), which, in retrospect, hid more than professional camaraderie.

Following the announcement, both talents posted farewell messages. Kanaderuka took full responsibility for the situation, clarifying the agency acted correctly and asking fans not to blame the company. Bakubaku Baku also offered a brief apology, thanking for the support received during his career.

The debate: Fair contracts or privacy invasion?

What truly ignited social media was not the firing itself, but the extreme frankness of the statement. For many netizens, explicitly naming the “office romance” as the reason for the firing was unnecessary and even counterproductive. “Announcing that these two are dating with names and surnames seems counterproductive; just saying they violated the contract would have been enough,” commented one user.

This incident, recorded up to April 22, 2026, has put the “zero romance” policies common in the idol and VTuber industry, especially in small agencies, under scrutiny. While some debate whether these clauses violate basic human rights, others argue they are voluntarily accepted contractual terms to avoid internal drama and maintain the parasocial illusion with fans. For now, the couple’s future in content creation is uncertain, leaving the community reflecting on the thin and complex line between personal life and virtual entertainment.