An Afternoon of Endless Talks - Vocaloid 神威x巡音

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 Sunlight continued to pour down through the surface of the sea, layer by layer. After leaving the pink-and-violet coral reef from earlier, Kamui Gakupo and Megurine Luka were in no hurry to return to the royal city. Instead, they swam slowly along the coral sea together. The current in this area was gentle. Vast fields of soft seagrass swayed over the sandy seabed with the tide, and now and then, tiny seahorses could be seen hiding between the coral branches. Several transparent little jellyfish drifted above their heads, their rounded bells glowing like glass beneath the sunlight. No guards. No diplomats. And nothing that urgently needed their attention. This rare afternoon belonged quietly to the two of them. Luka swam over to a huge piece of white coral, rested one hand on its upper edge, and turned to look at Gakupo. “Haven’t we been slacking off for a little too long today?” Gakupo leisurely swam over to her side. “You’re only realizing that now?” “It’s because I was talking to you the whole time.” “So it’s my fault?” “Of course.” Luka answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Gakupo raised an eyebrow. “And yet a certain princess was the one who kept asking me what I liked about her.” “That was an important question.” “More important than affairs of state?” “Today, yes.” Gakupo could not help laughing. “If the ministers of both kingdoms heard you say that, they would probably get quite a headache.” Luka leaned against the coral without the slightest sign of remorse. “That’s exactly why we can’t let them hear us.” She gestured around them. “Look. There are no ministers here.” “No guards.” “No royal attendants.” “Only fish.” At that exact moment, a clownfish happened to swim between them. Luka immediately pointed at it. “And that one.” Gakupo lowered his gaze toward the little fish, which had absolutely no idea it had just become part of their conversation. “Do we need to make it promise to keep our secret?” “Of course.” With a perfectly serious expression, Luka swam over to the clownfish. “You mustn’t tell anyone what we talked about today, all right?” The little fish flicked its tail twice before disappearing into the coral. Luka turned back. “It agreed.” “How do you know?” “Princess intuition.” “So princesses can communicate with fish now?” “Wouldn’t it be stranger if merfolk couldn’t talk to fish?” “Then what did it just say?” Luka fell silent for two seconds. “It said…” She suddenly pointed at Gakupo. “That prince looks especially happy today.” Gakupo paused. “The fish said that too?” “Mm.” “I thought you were the one saying it.” “I’m merely translating.” Gakupo stared at her completely serious expression. In the end, he failed to hold back his laughter. Luka immediately moved closer. “See?” “See what?” “You really have been smiling all day.” “Have I?” “Yes.” She swam directly in front of him and studied his face carefully. “When I first met you, I really thought you were incredibly difficult to approach.” “Why?” “Because your face practically said, ‘Don’t talk to me.’” “It did not.” “It did.” “No.” “It absolutely did.” Luka imitated the expression he had worn back then, deliberately lowering her brows and putting on a stern face. “‘Stay behind me.’” Gakupo looked at her. “Was I really that intimidating?” “Yes.” “I was only trying to save you.” “I know.” Luka returned to her usual smile. “That’s why I thought it was so interesting afterward.” “What was interesting?” “That the prince who looked so intimidating was actually an incredibly gentle person.” Gakupo’s expression paused slightly. “I don’t think I’m particularly gentle.” “That’s because you don’t realize it.” “Realize what?” Luka slowly swam to his side. “Every time you say, ‘There’s no need to worry,’ you’re already moving in front of everyone else to protect them.” “When you see an injured little fish during patrol, you always stop.” “And when children in the royal city sneak up behind you, you clearly notice them, but you pretend you don’t so they can tug on your tail fin.” Gakupo immediately turned to look at her. “How do you know about that?” Luka’s eyes lit up. “So it really happened?” “…” “Gakupo.” “Only occasionally.” “So you really do let children pull on your tail.” “They’re only curious.” “How long do you let them do it?” “Not very long.” “Do you get angry?” “There’s no reason to.” Luka struggled to hold back her laughter. “And you still say you’re not gentle.” Gakupo gave her a helpless look. “What about you?” “Me?” “When we first met, did you really only think I was intimidating?” Luka considered the question. “Not entirely.” “What else did you think?” She stole a glance at him. “You’re not allowed to laugh.” “I’ll try.” “What do you mean, you’ll try?” “I promise.” Only then did Luka move a little closer. “Actually, the first time I saw you…” She deliberately stopped. Gakupo waited. “What?” “I’m deciding whether I should say it.” “You’re reconsidering after already starting?” “It’s a little embarrassing.” Gakupo looked at her. “I want to hear it.” Luka pressed her lips together. Finally, she said quietly, “I thought you were very handsome.” Gakupo was silent for a moment. “…That’s all?” “What do you mean, ‘that’s all’?” Luka’s face immediately turned red. “I was about to be eaten by a monster! Then suddenly this man with long violet hair appeared and saved me. Of course I was going to look at you!” The amusement in Gakupo’s eyes grew stronger. “So that’s why you kept staring at me?” “I was not staring!” “You were.” “I wasn’t.” “You were.” “Kamui Gakupo!” He finally laughed out loud. Annoyed, Luka reached out and pinched his cheek. “Didn’t you promise not to laugh?” “Sorry.” “You’re not sorry at all!” “Because I’m happy.” Luka stopped. “Happy about what?” Gakupo gently took the hand she still had against his face. “Because now I know that when we first met, I wasn’t the only one paying attention.” Luka blinked. “You were watching me too?” “Mm.” “Why?” “Do you really want to know?” “Of course.” Gakupo looked at her. “My first thought was that your hair was very noticeable.” Luka immediately frowned. “Just my hair?” “My second thought was that this princess was very brave.” “Why?” “You had barely been rescued, and you were already arguing with a complete stranger.” “That was because you kept ordering me around.” “My third thought…” His voice suddenly softened. “…was that your eyes were beautiful.” Luka instantly fell silent. Gakupo continued. “The water was very dark back then.” “But your eyes were bright.” “That’s why I remember them so clearly.” The tips of Luka’s ears slowly turned red. “You really are a strange person.” “What’s strange about me?” “One moment you say something completely ordinary, and the next you suddenly say something that leaves me with no idea how to respond.” “Which kind do you prefer?” Luka thought seriously for a moment. “Both.” “Even the ordinary things?” “Mm.” She settled beside him. “Actually, this is what I like most right now.” “What?” “Talking nonsense with you.” Luka reached out and brushed a little strand of seagrass beside them. “Talking about things that aren’t important at all.” “Like what we thought of each other the first time we met.” “Or what kinds of fish we saw today.” “Or what we want for dinner.” Gakupo suddenly asked, “What do you want for dinner?” Luka stared at him for several seconds before laughing. “You caught onto that very quickly.” “Wasn’t that the topic you just suggested?” “Then let me think.” She looked up toward the sunlight wavering overhead. “I want sea grapes.” “What else?” “Grilled shellfish.” “And?” “Sweet coral berries.” Gakupo frowned slightly. “Haven’t you been eating too many sweets lately?” Luka immediately looked at him. “Are you trying to control me now?” “I’m only reminding you.” “Your Highness, I’m a princess.” “So?” “A princess can eat as many desserts as she wants.” “Who made that rule?” “I just did.” “Then I object.” “Objection denied.” Gakupo gave a helpless little laugh. “Then if your teeth hurt tomorrow, don’t come looking for me.” Luka immediately moved closer. “But if they really hurt, I’m still going to find you.” “Why?” “Because you’ll stay with me.” Gakupo was silent for a moment. “…That is true.” “See?” Luka smiled triumphantly. “So I can eat them.” “That logic is flawed.” “How?” “Me staying with you doesn’t mean I support you eating too many sweets.” “Then would you stop me?” Gakupo looked at her expectant expression. “Yes.” Luka immediately puffed out her cheeks. “Meanie.” “Two portions at most.” Her eyes lit up. “Three.” “Two.” “Two and a half.” “How do you eat half a portion of dessert?” “I eat two portions, and then you give me half of yours.” Gakupo paused. Luka immediately smiled. “Then I get two and a half.” “Then I simply won’t order one.” “You can’t.” “Why not?” “Because I need to eat half of yours.” “…” For once, Gakupo could not think of a response. Luka proudly flicked her pale-blue tail. “I win.” “Were we competing?” “We are now.” They continued talking as they slowly swam along the coral reef. Along the way, Luka suddenly spotted a gigantic empty shell. She immediately swam over and sat on its edge, letting her tail hang naturally over the side. “Gakupo, come here.” “What for?” “Sit with me.” Gakupo swam over. The giant shell was just large enough for the two of them to rest side by side. As soon as Luka settled down, she naturally rested her head against Gakupo’s shoulder. “Tired?” “No.” “Then why did you stop?” “Because I wanted to sit with you.” Gakupo lowered his gaze slightly. “That’s all?” “That’s all.” Luka deliberately imitated his earlier tone. Gakupo noticed immediately. “You’re copying me.” “Am I?” “Yes.” “No.” “Yes.” “Where’s your evidence?” Gakupo did not answer. Instead, he simply reached out and gently took her hand. Luka looked down. “You’re holding my hand again.” “Mm.” “We’re not even swimming now.” “So?” Luka could not help laughing. “All right.” She intertwined her fingers more tightly with his. “You can hold it.” A school of tiny blue fish swam past them. Luka watched quietly for a while. “Gakupo.” “Mm?” “If we weren’t a prince and princess, what do you think we would be doing?” Gakupo thought for a moment. “What about you?” “I asked first.” “I don’t know.” “Think seriously.” He looked out over the endless coral sea. “Maybe we would live somewhere around here.” “Really?” “Mm.” “Somewhere quiet.” “We wouldn’t need a very large house.” “Every morning, we could swim around the nearby reef.” “And in the afternoon, if there was nothing to do, we could sit together like this.” Luka lifted her head to look at him. “What kind of job would you have?” Gakupo was silent for a moment. “A guard?” Luka immediately burst out laughing. “You still ended up being a guard!” “It’s what I’m best at.” “No, you have to choose something else.” “Then what do you think would suit me?” Luka examined him carefully. “A coral farmer.” Gakupo stared at her. “…Why?” “Because the contrast would be funny.” “It doesn’t suit me.” “A pearl merchant?” “Also no.” “A musician?” This time, Gakupo did not immediately reject the idea. Luka’s eyes lit up. “That one works?” “Perhaps.” “Then I could sit beside you every day and listen while you play.” “You wouldn’t have to work?” “I’d be your very first listener.” “Does that count as work?” “It’s very important work.” Gakupo smiled and shook his head. “Then what would you want to do?” Luka thought for quite a while. “I’d open a little shop.” “What would you sell?” “Desserts.” Gakupo immediately said, “I knew it.” “And you would have to visit every day.” “Why?” “To taste-test everything for me.” “Didn’t you just complain that I wouldn’t let you eat too many sweets?” “Exactly. So now you can eat them instead.” “…You’re just trying to push the responsibility onto me.” Luka laughed and leaned against his shoulder. “But it sounds nice.” “What does?” “If we really could live like that.” Her voice gradually softened. “Waking up in the morning and knowing you were somewhere nearby.” “Not having to wait for some kingdom’s approval or count the days until we could see each other again.” “If I wanted to see you today, I could simply come and find you.” Gakupo looked at her. “You can do that now.” Luka lifted her head. “What?” “If you want to see me now, you can simply come and find me.” He gently tightened his grip on her hand. “You don’t need anyone’s permission.” Luka was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled. “In that case, I might come bother you every day.” “Come.” “Really?” “Mm.” “Even in the morning?” “That’s fine.” “Can I follow you on patrol too?” “As long as you don’t wander too far from me.” “Can we eat together?” “Yes.” “And come to the coral reef together in the afternoon?” “As long as I don’t have official duties.” Luka narrowed her eyes. “That last sentence ruined the mood.” “A prince still has work to do.” “What a shame.” She sighed. Then immediately leaned even closer. “Then whenever you’re not working, all of your time belongs to me.” Gakupo turned his face toward her. “All of it?” “All of it.” “That’s rather possessive.” “You don’t like it?” Gakupo lowered his head and gently touched his forehead to hers. “I like it.” Luka smiled with satisfaction. They continued talking for a long time. They talked about which palace chef made the best shellfish, and which etiquette lessons they hated most as children. Luka told him how she had once secretly escaped from the palace to watch sea turtles lay their eggs, while Gakupo admitted that, when he was young and practicing swordsmanship, he had accidentally cut down one of his father’s favorite corals. “You actually cut it down?” Luka laughed so hard that she nearly slipped off the shell. Gakupo caught her around the waist. “Is it really that funny?” “Extremely!” “I was punished for three days.” “What did they make you do?” “Clean and reorganize the entire training ground.” “By yourself?” “Mm.” Luka laughed until tears nearly appeared in her eyes. “I always imagined you were one of those perfectly behaved princes when you were little.” “Sorry to disappoint you.” “You didn’t.” She lifted her head and looked at him. “I actually like you even more now.” Gakupo paused. “Why?” “Because this feels more like the real you.” Luka smiled gently. “Not the prince everyone talks about.” “Not the strongest warrior.” “Not the future king.” “Just Gakupo—the one who makes mistakes, gets punished, secretly sulks about it, and occasionally lets me bully him.” Gakupo stared at her for a while. “I think you added that last one yourself.” “But it’s true.” “When have you ever bullied me?” Luka immediately leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. Then she quickly swam away. “Just now.” Gakupo remained frozen for a moment. Luka was already several meters away, smiling as she waved at him. “Catch me first, then we can argue about it!” Gakupo lowered his head and laughed. His deep-purple tail swept powerfully through the water. “Luka.” “Mm?” “You’d better swim faster.” “Why?” “Because I’m coming to catch you.” “You can’t use a prince’s strength to bully a princess!” “Didn’t someone just say there were no princes or princesses here?” “Wait! That doesn’t count anymore!” Laughing, Luka sped toward the deeper part of the coral sea. Gakupo followed close behind. Their pink and violet hair traced two soft ribbons of color through the bright water. Their laughter traveled with the current across the entire coral reef. That afternoon, they did not discuss a single important matter of state. They exchanged no solemn vows. They did nothing that would ever deserve a place in the official chronicles of either royal family. They simply watched fish together. Talked about dinner. Shared embarrassing stories from their childhoods. And imagined what kind of lives they might have lived if neither of them had ever worn a crown. Yet even many years later, Luka would still remember that afternoon. Because little by little, she came to understand that the moments that made someone want to remain beside another person forever were not always the grand, breathtaking ones. Sometimes, it was simply sitting beside the person you loved at a coral reef glowing beneath the sunlight. Being able to talk about anything. Having no reason to hide anything. Laughing and teasing each other now and then. And after spending hours talking about countless insignificant things, still finding yourself thinking— **If tomorrow could be just like today, that would be wonderful.**