Gentle Breeze of Night - Endfield & VOCALOID

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 By the time they left Moonwatch Pavilion, night had quietly descended upon the entire city. Perlica led Kamui Gakupo and Megurine Luka along a wooden corridor toward another part of the garden. Lanterns hanging on either side cast a gentle glow over the polished floorboards, while the distant sound of people chatting and laughing added a touch of liveliness to the peaceful evening. "Where are we going next?" Luka asked curiously. "The lotus pond," Perlica replied as she continued walking. "During the day, you can admire the blooming lotus flowers. At night, the water reflects the lights surrounding the pond. There's a pavilion by the water, so if you're not too tired, we can take a walk there." "Of course we're not tired!" Luka immediately replied with an eager smile. "As long as there are still beautiful places to explore, I want to see them all!" Gakupo watched her enthusiasm and chuckled softly. "I knew you would say that." "Does that mean you don't want to go?" Luka turned toward him, looking at him with a deliberately challenging expression. "If you wish for me to accompany you, I certainly won't refuse." "I never said I particularly wanted you to come." Despite her words, Luka quietly reached out and hooked her finger around his. Gakupo didn't expose her attempt to hide her true feelings. Instead, he simply took her hand and continued walking beside her. After crossing a small stone bridge, the scenery opened up before them. A lotus pond stretched peacefully before the three travelers. Beneath the night sky, the water appeared deep and mysterious. Several broad lotus leaves swayed gently in the breeze, while a few flowers that had yet to wither remained scattered across the pond. The reflections of the stone lanterns along the banks and the lights from distant buildings shimmered on the surface, swaying softly with the ripples. "It's so beautiful..." Luka instinctively slowed her pace. She approached the water's edge and leaned forward slightly, gazing at the reflections of the lotus flowers. The evening breeze brushed against her long hair, causing a few pink strands to fall softly across her cheeks. "The scenery was already beautiful during the day, but I never expected it to feel completely different at night." "The lotus pond is quite popular in the evening," Perlica explained as she came to stand beside Luka. "Especially when the weather is clear, the moon can be seen reflected in the water. Many people come here specifically to take a walk." Luka raised her head and looked toward the sky. The moon had risen, hanging in the deep blue heavens among several bright stars. "Then let's go see the pavilion, too!" She immediately pulled Gakupo forward, but her excitement nearly caused her to misstep on the stone pathway. "Careful." Gakupo promptly steadied her by the arm, gently supporting her shoulder with his other hand. Once Luka regained her balance, she looked up at him with a slightly embarrassed expression. "I just wanted to get there faster." "I understand. But there's no need to rush." His voice carried a gentle, amused warmth. "The scenery isn't going to disappear suddenly. We have plenty of time to enjoy it." Luka gazed at him, and the words she had been about to say suddenly caught in her throat. A moment later, she smiled, her eyes curving with delight. "Then you'd better hold my hand tightly so I don't get lost." "Of course, my princess." "Gakupo!" Hearing him tease her in that familiar, affectionate tone, Luka couldn't help blushing. Nevertheless, she made no attempt to release his hand. After reaching the pavilion, the three of them stopped to find comfortable places to stand. Luka approached the railing and admired the moon reflected in the pond. Beside her, Gakupo rested one arm lightly against the wooden railing, occasionally responding to her comments about the surrounding scenery. Perlica stood on the other side, her gaze moving from the lotus flowers in the water to the distant lanterns. "Perlica," Luka suddenly asked, turning toward her, "do you usually come here to rest?" Perlica paused slightly. "Occasionally. Usually when I've finished a task or need some time to organize my thoughts." "Then you must really like this place, don't you?" "Like it?" She seemed a little surprised by the question and took a moment to consider it. "I suppose you could say that. It's quiet here, and there's no need to plan anything in particular." Luka smiled. "Then that's exactly what makes it wonderful! Sometimes, doing absolutely nothing can be a wonderful thing, too." Perlica looked at her. "You seem particularly good at enjoying moments like these." "Because I don't think traveling is just about visiting lots of places or making sure you've seen every attraction." Luka gently waved the round fan in her hand. "Being able to take a walk with someone important to you, talk about ordinary things, or even simply spend time in the same place is already enough to make me happy." As she spoke, she naturally leaned against Gakupo's shoulder. "Isn't that right?" Gakupo lowered his head to look at her, his gaze tender. "Indeed. Especially when you're by my side." Luka's cheeks flushed once again. "How many times are you going to say things like that today...?" "If you like hearing them, I can say even more." "N-No, you don't have to!" Perlica watched the two of them and finally couldn't help letting out a soft laugh. "You two really do have a wonderful relationship." This time, Luka didn't immediately deny it. Instead, she tightened her hold on Gakupo's hand and answered with a hint of shyness, yet complete honesty. "It's because he's always taking such good care of me." Gakupo said nothing more. He simply held her hand a little more firmly. The moon's reflection scattered into a gentle silver shimmer across the surface of the pond as the breeze stirred the water. A few flower petals drifted down from the nearby bank, landing softly on the surface before slowly floating away with the current. Watching the scene, Perlica suddenly felt that the pavilion was more relaxing than usual tonight. She didn't need to explain the next destination or constantly keep track of the time. The two visitors from another world were simply enjoying the evening, and for once, she could set aside her usual responsibilities and considerations to appreciate the scenery with them. "Oh, right, Perlica!" Luka suddenly remembered something and turned toward her. "Let's take a photo together!" "A photo?" "Yes! We can include the lotus pond in the background, so we'll always remember this place when we return home." Gakupo smiled and agreed. "That's a good idea." Perlica hesitated briefly before nodding. "All right. However, once we've taken it, we should prepare to head back." "Understood!" Luka immediately took out her camera and asked a passing staff member to help them. The three stood in front of the pavilion, with the moonlit lotus pond behind them. Luka stood in the middle, holding onto Gakupo with one arm while standing close to Perlica on the other side. Gakupo turned slightly toward Luka, ensuring she was standing comfortably. Although Perlica maintained her usual composed posture, a faint smile shone in her eyes. The shutter clicked, capturing the smiles of all three travelers in a single frame. Luka eagerly checked the photograph. "Wonderful! It turned out beautifully!" She turned the screen toward the other two, excited to share the result. Gakupo took a look and spoke softly. "This photograph is certainly worth keeping." Perlica nodded as well. "I hope that whenever you look at it in the future, you'll remember the scenery we enjoyed tonight." "We definitely will!" Luka answered with a bright smile. Before leaving the pavilion, she turned around for one last look at the lotus pond. The moon still hung peacefully in the night sky, its reflection mingling with the lantern lights on the water. The lotus leaves swayed gently in the breeze, and the pavilion remained surrounded by a quiet beauty. Unlike the grand, sweeping panorama from Moonwatch Pavilion, this place possessed a gentle charm that made it difficult to leave in a hurry. Gakupo walked over to her and extended his hand. "Let's go, Luka." "Mm!" She placed her hand in his palm and walked with him toward the stone pathway leading back to the corridor. Perlica walked beside them, occasionally answering Luka's curious questions about the garden. Their figures gradually moved farther away from the lotus pond, while the pavilion remained beneath the moonlight, quietly watching over the beautiful night. For Perlica, it had been nothing more than a brief evening stroll. But for Gakupo and Luka, who had come from another world, the night had given them yet another precious memory to treasure. And the photograph capturing the smiles of all three would become one of the warmest mementos of their journey.