I Won’t Let Go - Vocaloid Gakupo Luka

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 The afternoon sunlight was still bright. After their playful chase, Megurine Luka was eventually caught by Kamui Gakupo. Or, more accurately— she had never really intended to escape. A vast coral reef stretched out beside them. Pink fan-shaped corals swayed gently with the current, while schools of silver-blue fish swept across the tops of the reef. Sunlight penetrated the crystal-clear water, casting layer after layer of rippling light across the white sand below. Luka stopped beside a pale pink coral formation and turned to look at Gakupo as he caught up with her. Her long pink hair, stirred by how quickly she had been swimming, streamed out behind her. “You cheated.” Gakupo stopped in front of her. “How did I cheat?” “You already knew you could swim faster than me.” “You were the one who told me to catch you.” “I was only saying it.” “I took you seriously.” Luka blinked. “How are you always so serious about the strangest things?” Gakupo smiled faintly. “Because you said it.” One simple sentence made every reply Luka had prepared disappear. She stared at him for a few seconds before deliberately turning her head away. “You’ve really gotten good at saying things like that lately.” “Is that bad?” “…That’s exactly the problem. It’s too good.” “Why?” Luka muttered softly, “Because every time you say something like that, I don’t know how to answer.” Gakupo did not tease her any further. He simply moved quietly to her side. The two of them remained together beside the coral reef. The current nearby was gentle. Several pale-yellow fish swam around Luka’s tail fin curiously before slowly circling toward Gakupo. Luka lowered her gaze toward them. “They don’t seem afraid of you.” “I don’t think I look that frightening.” “You did when we first met.” “Didn’t we already talk about that?” “But it’s funny.” Luka smiled mischievously. “When I think about that cold-looking man who told me, ‘Stay behind me,’ and compare him to the person who’s now chatting with me beside a coral reef, chasing me through the water, and discussing desserts…” She turned to look at him. “You’re completely different.” Gakupo did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Luka. Sunlight fell across her pink hair, giving every strand a soft glow. Her blue eyes reflected the bright corals and clear water around them, and yet somehow, to him, they stood out more than anything else in the sea. After a moment, he said quietly, “Because back then, I didn’t know you would become this important to me.” Luka’s smile paused. “And now?” “Now?” Gakupo looked at her. “Now I know.” His tone was not dramatic. He simply said it calmly. And somehow, that made the words feel even more sincere. Luka blinked and quietly looked away. “…There you go again.” “What?” “Saying things like that without warning.” “I was only answering you.” “But you never used to talk like this.” “There were many things I couldn’t say before.” “And now you can?” Gakupo nodded. “At least when I’m with you, I don’t want to hide them anymore.” Luka slowly turned back toward him. She met his eyes. Violet and blue gazes met in the crystal-clear sea. No one was there to interrupt them. Only fragments of sunlight drifted between them. After a moment, Gakupo lowered his gaze. He noticed Luka’s hand resting naturally at her side. So he slowly reached out. Luka immediately noticed the movement. She did not move away. She simply watched as his hand approached hers little by little. First, his fingertips lightly touched hers. Then Gakupo turned his hand over. His palm faced her. He did not immediately take her hand. He simply waited. Luka looked down at his hand, then back up at him. “What is it?” “Nothing.” “Then why is your hand there?” “I want to hold yours.” Luka could not help smiling. “Don’t you usually just take my hand?” “This time, I want to wait for you.” “Wait for me to do what?” “To give me your hand yourself.” Luka froze for a moment. She lowered her gaze toward the hand waiting before her. Gakupo did not rush her. He simply waited quietly. And in that moment, Luka suddenly remembered the first time they had truly held hands. Back then, neither of them had even known what they were to each other. The two kingdoms were still divided. Every meeting required an excuse. Every time they moved closer, it felt like cautiously testing some invisible boundary. When Gakupo first took her hand back then, her heart had beaten so quickly that she was sure he would notice. But now— that same hand was waiting before her once more. Only this time, she no longer had to worry about anyone seeing them. She no longer had to wonder whether she was allowed to take it. A smile slowly appeared on Luka’s lips. “Your Highness.” “Mm?” “You look as though you’re inviting me somewhere.” Gakupo glanced at his own outstretched hand. “That works too.” “Where are we going?” He looked ahead. The coral sea stretched far into the distance. Sunlight illuminated the vast blue water, and beyond the current lay a bright world with no visible end. “Anywhere.” Gakupo looked back at her. “As long as you’re willing to come with me.” Luka was silent for a second. Then she finally reached out. Her fingertips settled lightly into his palm. Gakupo did not immediately close his hand. Only when Luka willingly placed her entire hand in his did he slowly curl his fingers around hers. Then his fingers slipped between hers. Their hands intertwined. Luka looked down at them. One larger. One smaller. Held tightly together. She secretly gave their joined hands a little swing. Gakupo’s hand moved with hers. She swung them again. He followed again. A third time. Finally, Gakupo spoke. “What are you doing?” “Checking.” “Checking what?” “Checking whether you’re really holding on properly.” Gakupo looked at her helplessly. “Finished checking?” “Not yet.” Luka deliberately tried to pull her hand away. Gakupo immediately tightened his fingers. Not enough to hurt her. But enough to make it very clear that he would not let her go. Luka’s eyes curved with delight. “Inspection complete.” “So you did that on purpose?” “Mm.” “What if I had actually let go?” Luka thought for a moment. “Then I would have taken your hand again.” Gakupo paused. “You would?” “Of course.” She lifted their intertwined hands. “Does it always have to be you holding on to me?” Luka smiled softly. “Sometimes, I can be the one who holds on to you.” Gakupo looked at her. For a moment, he said nothing. Luka noticed his silence. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” “Whenever you say ‘nothing,’ there’s always something.” Gakupo looked down at their hands. “I just thought…” His voice was soft. “The feeling of someone choosing to hold on to me is even better than I imagined.” Luka’s expression softened instantly. She stopped joking. Instead, she tightened her fingers around his. “Then you’d better get used to it.” “Why?” “Because it’s going to happen a lot.” Gakupo looked at her. “A lot?” “Mm.” Luka began counting seriously. “When you return from patrol, I’ll hold your hand.” “When we go to eat together, I’ll hold your hand.” “When we look at coral, I’ll hold your hand.” “When you’re unhappy, I’ll hold your hand.” “And if you ever try to go do something dangerous alone again…” She deliberately paused. “I’ll hold on especially tightly.” Gakupo smiled helplessly. “Is this surveillance?” “It’s taking care of you.” “I don’t need to be taken care of.” “See?” Luka immediately turned toward him. “That sentence.” “What sentence?” “‘I don’t need it.’” She imitated his voice. “‘I’m fine.’” “‘There’s no need to worry.’” “‘I can go by myself.’” Gakupo fell silent. Luka narrowed her eyes at him. “See? I’m right.” “…Maybe.” “Then starting today, you need to change that.” “That may be difficult.” “Then I’ll teach you slowly.” “How?” Luka lifted their joined hands. “Like this.” Gakupo looked at her. “This counts as teaching?” “Of course.” “Lesson one.” Luka put on an exaggeratedly serious expression. “Your Highness does not have to do everything alone.” “Lesson two.” “If you’re sad, you can tell Luka.” “Lesson three.” “If you get hurt, you absolutely have to tell Luka.” “Lesson four.” “If you want to hold hands, just say so.” At the last one, Gakupo could not help asking, “Isn’t that a lesson I already know?” Luka thought about it. “…I suppose so.” “And I may even be better at it than you.” “…That’s true.” She laughed first. Gakupo laughed with her. Their hands never separated. Still holding on to one another, they slowly swam along the coral reef. Because their fingers were intertwined, they naturally moved more slowly than usual. But neither of them minded. Sometimes Luka swam a little faster. Gakupo simply allowed her to pull him along. A little later, he would move ahead. Then he would be the one guiding her forward. Sometimes they swam side by side. Sometimes one was slightly ahead of the other. But no matter how their positions changed, their hands remained connected. “Gakupo.” “Mm?” “Don’t you think we’re swimming really slowly like this?” “Yes.” “Should we let go?” “No.” The answer came without even a second of hesitation. Luka immediately smiled. “Me neither.” A school of tiny golden fish approached from the distance. The fish divided into two streams around them, then gathered together again behind them. Luka watched them for a moment before suddenly asking, “Have you ever thought about what we’ll be like in the future?” Gakupo turned toward her. “What do you mean?” “I mean far in the future.” She looked ahead. “Ten years.” “Twenty years.” “Even longer.” Gakupo thought for a moment. “We’ll probably be busier than we are now.” Luka immediately gave him a displeased look. “You’re not romantic at all.” “You asked about reality.” “Answer again.” “Is there a correct answer?” “Yes.” “What is it?” Luka gently swung their joined hands. “At the very least, this can’t change.” Gakupo lowered his gaze. “Holding hands?” “Mm.” She smiled. “We’ll still hold hands ten years from now.” “Twenty years from now too.” “Even after you really become king, and I become…” She suddenly stopped. Gakupo turned toward her. “Become what?” “Nothing.” “I heard you.” “You heard nothing.” “You said when you become—” Luka immediately covered his mouth with her free hand. “Don’t say it!” Gakupo’s eyes filled with amusement. Luka’s face had already turned red. “Anyway… I mean much later!” She quickly turned away. “A long, long time from now, we should still hold hands.” Gakupo did not tease her again. He simply tightened his grip a little. “All right.” Luka stole a glance at him. “That’s it?” “What else?” “You should at least say something.” Gakupo thought for a moment. Then he slowly lifted their joined hands closer. He lowered his head. And placed a soft kiss on the back of Luka’s hand. Luka went completely still. Gakupo looked up at her. “Ten years from now.” “Twenty years.” “Fifty years.” “If you’re still willing to give me your hand…” His thumb gently brushed across the back of hers. “I’ll keep holding it.” Luka looked at him. “What if I grow old?” “I’ll hold it.” “What if I’m not beautiful anymore?” “I’ll hold it.” “What if my temper gets worse?” “It isn’t exactly good now.” “Kamui Gakupo!” He laughed. Luka immediately tried to pull her hand free so she could hit him. But Gakupo held on firmly. “Don’t let go.” Luka deliberately frowned. “You just said you’d always hold my hand, and now I’m trying to leave.” “That’s exactly why I can’t let go.” “You’re so bossy.” “I learned from you.” Luka finally burst out laughing. “All right.” She moved closer again. Their shoulders gently touched. “Then neither of us lets go.” “Mm.” “What if we argue?” “Still don’t let go.” “But if we’re fighting, I might not want to talk to you.” “You don’t have to talk.” “What about our hands?” “Still holding.” Luka imagined it. The two of them angry, refusing to look at one another, yet stubbornly still holding hands. She burst out laughing. “That would look ridiculous.” “Weren’t you the one who said we can’t let go?” “That’s true.” Luka became quiet for a moment. Then, in a softer voice, she asked, “What if one day I’m afraid?” Gakupo’s smile slowly faded. He did not ask what she might be afraid of. He simply answered, “Then I’ll hold on tighter.” “What if I don’t know where to go?” “I’ll help you find the way.” “What if even you don’t know?” “Then we’ll get lost together.” Luka blinked. “Is a prince allowed to get lost?” “Occasionally.” “What if we really can’t find our way back to the royal city?” Gakupo looked around. “There’s coral.” “Seagrass.” “Fish.” “Didn’t we already talk about living here?” Luka laughed. “So you really are going to become a coral farmer?” “That part can still be discussed.” “Then I’ll open a dessert shop.” “I don’t think I can stop you from doing that.” “You’ll be my first customer.” “All right.” “You have to come every day.” “All right.” “And taste-test everything for me.” “Only a little.” “No. Everything.” “And what will you do?” “I’ll watch you eat.” Gakupo laughed helplessly. “So you really are still bullying me.” “You’re the one who agreed to let me.” “When did I agree to that?” Luka lifted their intertwined hands. “Now.” “Holding hands means I agreed?” “In my kingdom, yes.” “Another law you just invented?” “Exactly.” Their laughter blended into the water once again. After swimming for who knew how long, they finally reached the highest point of the coral reef. The view ahead suddenly opened up. A vast blue sea stretched before them beneath the sunlight. In the distance, several enormous sea turtles glided slowly by, and above them the surface of the sea shimmered brilliantly. Luka stopped. Gakupo stopped beside her. “It’s beautiful.” “Mm.” But Gakupo was not looking at the scenery. Luka noticed and turned toward him. “What are you looking at?” “You.” “With something this beautiful right in front of you, you’re looking at me?” “I’ve seen it many times.” “So?” Gakupo answered calmly, “You’re more beautiful.” Luka fell silent. Two seconds. Three. Then her entire face turned red. “You’re really terrible today.” “What did I do this time?” “You keep saying things that leave me with no idea how to respond.” “You don’t need to respond.” Gakupo gently lifted their joined hands. “You already did.” Luka looked at the hands that had never separated. Her expression slowly softened. Then she rested her head against Gakupo’s shoulder. “Then hold my hand a little longer.” “All right.” “A little longer than that.” “All right.” “What if I never want to let go?” Gakupo turned his face toward her. Sunlight fell into his violet eyes. “Then don’t.” Luka closed her eyes, a contented smile appearing on her lips. Their tails swayed gently with the peaceful current. Pink and violet hair floated together behind them. And their fingers remained intertwined. There was no grand declaration. No vow that needed the whole kingdom as witness. There was only Kamui Gakupo, reaching out one hand to Megurine Luka beneath the bright coral sea. And Luka choosing to place her own hand into his. To anyone else, it might have seemed like the simplest gesture in the world. But to them, it felt as though they had quietly placed a promise into each other’s palms. No matter how vast the sea became. No matter where the currents might carry them in the future. As long as one of them reached out a hand— the other would always take it.