An Afternoon Grilling Together - Vocaloid 神威x巡音

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 The afternoon sunlight gradually softened, and the trees surrounding the campsite swayed gently in the breeze. The distant stream continued to murmur, its clear water flowing over the stones. After resting for a while following the completion of their tent, Kamui Gakupo and Megurine Luka began preparing their dinner. “Gakupo, I think we can start grilling now, don’t you?” Luka looked at the ingredients they had prepared before turning her attention to the barbecue equipment nearby. Her eyes were filled with anticipation. “Sure. Let’s set up the grill first and check the charcoal. You can take out the ingredients while I get everything ready. Once I’m finished, we can start cooking.” “Okay!” Luka answered cheerfully and began taking the containers of ingredients out one by one, arranging them neatly on the small table. Before leaving for their trip, the two of them had spent some time preparing food for their camping adventure. Along with vegetables suitable for grilling, they had brought various pre-cut ingredients and sauces they had mixed in advance. Luka opened each container and carefully checked its contents, seemingly enjoying even this part of preparing dinner. Meanwhile, Gakupo concentrated on setting up the barbecue equipment. He first made sure the grill was stable before preparing the charcoal safely. He also checked that there were no easily flammable objects nearby. Once everything was properly arranged and the charcoal had gradually reached a suitable temperature, he turned toward Luka. “All right. We can begin.” “Finally, it’s my turn!” Luka picked up the prepared ingredients and moved beside the grill. She carefully placed each piece onto the cooking grate, leaving enough space between them to prevent overcrowding. As the ingredients touched the heated surface, a faint sizzling sound filled the air, and their appetizing aroma gradually began to spread through the campsite. Luka could not help smiling with satisfaction. “Just hearing that sound makes everything seem delicious already.” Standing beside her, Gakupo glanced at the grill. “We’ve only just started. The real test of patience comes later.” “I’m very patient!” She answered with complete confidence before picking up another portion of ingredients and slowly placing them on the grate. Gakupo listened to her response and smiled quietly. He knew that Luka always became enthusiastic about things she enjoyed. Sometimes, she could even become so excited that she forgot to pay attention to certain little details. So while she was busy preparing the next batch, he kept an eye on the ingredients already on the grill, adjusting their positions whenever necessary to ensure they cooked evenly. Before long, several pieces began releasing an irresistible aroma. “Gakupo, look! Do you think this one is ready to be turned over?” Luka pointed at the ingredients on the grill, asking with an expectant expression. Gakupo examined them carefully. “These pieces are ready. The others need a little more time.” He picked up the barbecue tongs and turned over the ingredients that were ready, adjusting their positions slightly to distribute the heat more evenly. “This helps both sides cook more evenly,” he explained. “We shouldn’t judge by the color of the surface alone. We also need to make sure the inside is thoroughly cooked.” Luka listened attentively and nodded. “I see! Then I’ll be responsible for putting the ingredients on the grill, and you can turn them over and check whether they’re cooked!” “That sounds like a good division of responsibilities.” “Exactly! We really do work well together.” She looked at Gakupo with a cheerful smile, clearly pleased with their teamwork. Watching her happy expression, Gakupo did not disagree. He simply continued tending to the food. The charcoal radiated a steady warmth as the aroma of grilled food gradually grew stronger. Luka placed the remaining ingredients onto the grill one by one, while Gakupo turned them over from time to time and adjusted their positions, making sure everything was cooked properly. Their teamwork felt so natural that one might have thought they had done this many times before. Sometimes, Luka would ask how much longer a particular ingredient needed to cook. At other times, Gakupo would remind her to prepare the next batch while they waited. Even when they had to pause for a little while, neither of them felt bored. Instead, they enjoyed the simple process of preparing dinner together. “By the way, Luka, have you been camping often before?” Gakupo asked as he turned over the food on the grill. “Not very often.” Luka thought for a moment before answering. “I occasionally went on outings to the countryside with friends, but I rarely had the chance to put up a tent and prepare a barbecue properly like this.” “How do you feel about it today?” “I love it!” She answered almost immediately. “At first, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t know how to set up the tent properly. But we managed to finish it together, and preparing dinner is fun, too.” Luka watched the ingredients gradually turn golden on the grill, a smile lingering on her lips. “I originally thought the most enjoyable parts of camping would be admiring the scenery or looking at the stars tonight. But now I’ve realized that even the preparations can be fun.” Gakupo turned over another piece of food and replied calmly, “Perhaps it’s because we don’t have to rush to finish anything. Even ordinary things can feel different when we have the time to enjoy them.” Luka turned her head slightly to look at him. “That actually makes a lot of sense.” “Think about it. Normally, when we eat, we only need to decide what to have and where to go. But today, we’ve done everything ourselves, from setting up the tent to preparing dinner.” He paused briefly before adding, “When we finally sit down to eat, I think we’ll appreciate the meal even more.” Luka gazed at him, and a gentle smile appeared on her face. “I think so, too.” She had always liked this side of Gakupo. He was not the kind of person who constantly said beautiful things, nor did he deliberately try to create romantic moments. Yet whenever she spent time with him, she could always find little things that made her feel at ease. Just like now, he was concentrating on tending the barbecue, occasionally responding to her comments and reminding her to pay attention to the temperature of the grill. It was an ordinary holiday activity, yet somehow, the time they spent together felt especially precious. “Gakupo.” “Hmm?” “Can we go camping together again in the future?” He raised his head and looked at her. “Of course. Where would you like to go?” “So many places!” Luka began thinking seriously. “I want to visit somewhere with an ocean view, and I’d love to camp deep in a forest, too. If possible, I also want to find a place where we can see a sky full of stars at night.” “Then we can plan everything little by little.” “Won’t you find it troublesome?” Gakupo paused for a moment, then understood why she had asked. He transferred the cooked ingredients onto a clean plate before answering. “If I’m going with you, I won’t find it troublesome.” His tone was as natural as ever. He made no attempt to emphasize his words, yet Luka suddenly found herself at a loss for what to say. She lowered her head and pretended to check the sauces on the table, but his answer continued to echo clearly in her mind. After a short pause, she finally spoke softly. “Then it’s a promise, okay?” “It’s a promise.” Gakupo looked at her with a faint smile in his eyes. He did not ask why she had suddenly become so shy. Instead, he simply returned his attention to the grill. “Luka, this batch is almost ready. Could you bring the plate over?” “Okay!” She quickly regained her usual enthusiasm and picked up a clean plate, ready to receive the cooked food. Gakupo transferred the ingredients onto the plate one by one before checking the remaining pieces. Only after confirming that they were thoroughly cooked did he let Luka prepare the next batch. When the first plate of grilled food was finally ready, they looked at each other at almost the same time. “That looks delicious!” Luka exclaimed. “Then let’s try some.” They placed the plate on the small table and tidied up the surrounding equipment. Luka picked up her utensils, selected a piece of food that had finished cooking, blew on it gently, and finally took a bite. The next moment, her eyes lit up. “It’s delicious!” Gakupo watched her reaction, a smile forming at the corners of his lips. “Really?” “Really! You should try some, too.” She immediately offered him another piece, waiting expectantly for his opinion. Gakupo accepted it and took a bite. After savoring the flavor for a moment, he nodded. “Mm, it’s quite good.” “See!” Luka looked even happier than if someone had complimented her own cooking. “Then we have to keep going and grill the rest!” “Understood.” He deliberately replied in a slightly formal tone, making Luka burst into laughter. They continued preparing the ingredients together. Luka placed another batch onto the grill, while Gakupo patiently turned each piece over and checked that everything was thoroughly cooked. During the waiting periods, they chatted about amusing things that had happened in their daily lives and discussed the trips they hoped to take together in the future. Sometimes, they laughed at something funny one of them had said. At other times, when the conversation naturally paused, they simply enjoyed the warmth of the charcoal and the surrounding scenery. There was no work they needed to finish immediately and no schedule they had to rush to keep. There was only the dinner gradually coming together, the warmth of the charcoal, and the person sitting beside them with whom they could share their thoughts without hesitation. The sun slowly descended toward the far side of the mountains, painting the sky in soft, warm hues. Luka handed the final portion of ingredients to Gakupo before standing beside him and looking toward the distant mountains. “Today has been so wonderful.” Gakupo placed the freshly grilled food onto a plate and followed her gaze. “It has.” “I wish time would slow down a little.” Hearing this, he turned slightly to look at her. “Then let’s take our time. We still have plenty of time today.” Luka gazed at him, another familiar smile returning to her face. That was right. They still had plenty of time. They could enjoy dinner together, take a walk around the campsite, and sit in front of their tent to admire the stars once night fell. For now, the aroma of grilled food continued to linger around them. The dinner they had prepared with their own hands was not simply a way to satisfy their hunger. It was also filling their holiday journey with countless little moments worth remembering. For Luka, the most exciting part was never just the delicious food or the beautiful scenery in front of her. It was the reassuring feeling of being able to turn her head and find Gakupo still beside her, sharing the same moment. And for Gakupo, spending a leisurely afternoon listening to Luka share her happiness and accompanying her through one simple task after another was already everything he could have hoped for in a holiday. They continued grilling and chatting, allowing the warmth of the food and the sound of their laughter to accompany them through this journey that was still far from over.