I’m Glad I Met You - Vocaloid 神威がくぽx巡音ルカ

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 After leaving the coral reef, Kamui Gakupo still did not let go of Megurine Luka’s hand. Their fingers remained tightly intertwined as they slowly followed a current that descended deeper into the sea. The afternoon sunlight could still penetrate the surface, but as they went farther down, the bright golden rays gradually softened into pale blue-white beams. The vast coral reefs slowly disappeared behind them, replaced by ancient stone pillars covered in seaweed and shells. Luka was the first to stop. “Gakupo.” “Mm?” She lifted her head and looked ahead. “What is that?” Gakupo followed her gaze. In the deep blue water, an enormous ruin lay silently asleep. Dozens of towering stone pillars stretched toward the seafloor. Some had broken apart, while others were covered in white coral. A long staircase climbed along the rock face before disappearing behind a massive archway. Transparent jellyfish drifted slowly between the pillars. Their faintly glowing bodies looked like tiny lanterns scattered throughout the ruins. Sunlight poured through the shattered dome above, forming one clear shaft of light after another. Although no one had lived there for centuries, the entire structure still carried a solemn and peaceful beauty. Luka’s blue eyes immediately brightened. “It’s beautiful.” “This is one of the oldest ruins in the Moon-Tide Kingdom.” Gakupo slowly led her closer while still holding her hand. “It used to be a temple dedicated to the Sea God.” “Used to be?” “Before the royal city was built, ceremonies for the royal family were held here.” Luka looked around. “Then why isn’t it used anymore?” “There was an undersea earthquake several centuries ago.” Gakupo looked up at the broken arches. “Part of the temple collapsed. Later, the royal capital was moved to a safer location, and this place was gradually abandoned.” Luka looked at the ancient pillars. “Have you been here before?” “Yes.” “Many times?” Gakupo paused. “A lot when I was young.” Luka immediately turned toward him. “You used to sneak here when you were a child?” Gakupo glanced at her. “Why does it have to be sneaking?” “Because you hesitated.” “…” “I knew it.” Luka could not help laughing. Gakupo sighed helplessly. “When etiquette lessons and sword training became too exhausting, I would come here for a while.” Luka’s smile grew wider. “So His Highness really did skip lessons when he was little.” “I didn’t skip them.” “Then what do you call it?” “A temporary departure.” “That is skipping class.” “It was only a short break.” “All right.” Luka nodded with exaggerated seriousness. “So it was a ‘royal temporary departure.’” Gakupo turned his head toward her. “Are you especially fond of teasing me today?” “Stories about you when you were little are funny.” “You weren’t exactly well-behaved either.” “At least I never cut down my father’s favorite coral.” “…You can forget about that.” “No.” Luka laughed and gently swung their joined hands. “I’m going to remember it for a long time.” Gakupo looked at her. “How long?” “A hundred years.” “Then I hope your memory stays that good.” “Of course.” She lifted her chin proudly. “I’ll remember all your embarrassing stories.” Gakupo suddenly leaned a little closer. “What about the other things?” “What other things?” “Like today.” Luka paused. Gakupo raised their intertwined hands. “Looking at coral together.” “Talking together.” “Swimming all the way here.” His violet eyes rested quietly on her. “Will you remember those too?” The playful smile on Luka’s face slowly softened. “I will.” “For how long?” She copied her previous answer. “A hundred years.” Gakupo raised an eyebrow. “Only a hundred?” “Then…” Luka pretended to think. “Two hundred years.” “Still not enough.” “You’re greedy.” “Didn’t you say you had become greedy too?” Luka laughed. “All right.” Her fingers tightened around his. “Then I’ll remember forever.” They continued deeper into the temple. After passing through the first stone gate, even more jellyfish appeared around them. Their translucent bodies glowed softly in the water like tiny floating moons. Luka looked up at them. “They look like stars.” “You like them?” “Mm.” She reached out with her free hand. A tiny jellyfish floated slowly past her fingertips. Luka did not touch it. She simply watched quietly. “We don’t have this many in the northern waters.” “If you like them, we can come here often.” Luka immediately turned toward him. “Didn’t you say this was the place where you used to hide?” “Now I can share it with you.” “So generous?” “Mm.” “Then I want half.” “All right.” “No, wait.” Luka thought for a moment. “I want all of it.” Gakupo looked at her. “All of it?” “Because what’s yours is mine.” “When was that decided?” “Just now.” “Another new law from the Azure-Tide Kingdom?” “Exactly.” Gakupo laughed. “Then by the same rule, doesn’t that mean what’s yours is mine too?” Luka instantly fell silent. “Well…” “What?” “That part isn’t written into the law.” “How convenient.” “I’m the one making the laws.” “Then I object.” “Objection denied.” By the time their playful argument ended, they had reached the center of the temple. A huge circular platform stood there. A faded pattern had been carved into its center. Gakupo stopped. Luka lowered her gaze. “What is that?” “The ancient royal crest of oath.” “An oath?” “Mm.” Gakupo guided her toward the platform. “In ancient times, members of the royal family came here before formally ascending the throne and swore an oath to the Sea God.” “What kind of oath?” “To protect the kingdom, to safeguard the people, and never betray their responsibilities for the sake of power.” Luka looked down at the markings worn away by time. “That sounds heavy.” “It is.” She looked up at him. “Will you have to swear one too someday?” “The ceremony is held in the royal city now.” “I mean…” Luka asked softly, “Are you afraid?” Gakupo did not answer immediately. His long violet hair drifted behind him in the current. After a while, he said, “Yes.” Luka looked genuinely surprised. “You are?” “Of course.” “I thought you would say no.” “I probably would have, once.” Gakupo looked down at their joined hands. “I used to think that if I admitted I was afraid, it meant I wasn’t worthy of becoming king.” Luka listened quietly. “So even when I didn’t know what to do, I had to pretend I already knew the answer.” “If I was hurt, I said I was fine.” “If I was exhausted, I kept going.” “No matter what happened, my first thought was always to solve it alone.” Luka frowned slightly. “I knew it.” “What?” “You really are terrible at letting other people take care of you.” Gakupo smiled faintly. “I’m learning.” “Who’s your teacher?” “A certain princess who likes inventing strange laws.” Luka laughed. “Then you’d better study seriously.” “All right.” She looked at him. “So what are you afraid of now?” Gakupo was silent for a moment. “I’m afraid I won’t do well enough.” “I’m afraid that one day I’ll have to make a decision where no matter what I choose, someone will get hurt.” “And I’m afraid…” He stopped. Luka moved a little closer. “Of what?” Gakupo tightened his grip on her hand slightly. “That one day, my position will make you tired.” Luka’s eyes widened a little. “Why?” “Because if you stay by my side, it won’t always be like this.” Gakupo spoke quietly. “You’ll be watched by many people.” “You’ll have responsibilities.” “And sometimes, even when something isn’t your fault, people will still expect you to bear the burden.” “Sometimes I think…” He looked at her. “If you had never met me, perhaps your life would have been easier.” Luka was silent for several seconds. Then she reached out. And lightly flicked his forehead. Gakupo blinked. “Did that hurt?” “No.” “Should I do it again?” “Why?” “Because you’re deciding things for me again.” Luka looked straight at him. “Whether my life is easy or difficult is for me to decide.” “Whether I stay or leave is also my decision.” She lifted their joined hands. “When I gave you my hand, I had already made my choice.” Gakupo said nothing. “And besides…” Luka moved closer. “If I only wanted an easy life, I never would have come looking for you again and again.” “You’re troublesome.” “…” “Stubborn.” “…” “And you always try to act stronger than you are.” “Luka.” “And you keep getting hurt without telling me.” “That part doesn’t need to be repeated every time.” “But…” Her voice softened. “I love this troublesome Gakupo.” Gakupo looked at her. Luka smiled. “So stop wondering whether I would have been better off if I had never met you.” “Because the answer is simple.” “I’m glad I met you.” Just a few words. Yet the entire ancient temple seemed to grow even quieter. The jellyfish in the distance glowed softly. Sunlight slipped through the gaps between the pillars. Gakupo did not look away from her for a long time. Finally, he said softly, “Luka.” “Mm?” “Can you say that again?” Luka immediately smiled. “You’re starting to copy me now?” “Mm.” “I’m usually the one asking you to say things again.” “Now it’s my turn.” She pretended to think about it. “I’ll consider it.” Gakupo waited quietly. Luka tried to hold out for several seconds, but finally laughed. “All right.” She swam closer. Both of her hands held his. “Kamui Gakupo.” “I’m glad I met you.” The expression in Gakupo’s eyes softened completely. Luka continued, “I’m glad that when I got lost for the first time, you were the one I met.” “I’m glad I saw you again afterward.” “I’m glad that even after arguing with you, I always still wanted to come find you.” “And I’m glad…” Her cheeks turned slightly pink. “That the person I ended up falling in love with was you.” Gakupo gently pulled her hand. Luka followed naturally, drifting closer to him. The distance between them slowly disappeared. “Then let me tell you something too.” “What?” “I used to dislike this temple.” Luka blinked. “Why?” “Because every time I came here, it was because I wanted to be alone.” “I thought that only by hiding somewhere no one could find me could I stop being a prince for a little while.” He looked around. “So even though this place is beautiful, all my memories of it were memories of being alone.” Luka stayed silent. Gakupo looked back at her. “But today is different.” “How?” His arm slowly wrapped around her waist. “Today, you’re here.” Luka’s cheeks turned even redder. “So?” “So from now on, whenever I think about this temple…” Gakupo lowered his head slightly. His forehead gently touched hers. “I probably won’t think about those lonely days anymore.” “I’ll remember today.” Luka looked into the violet eyes only inches away. “What will you remember?” “You holding my hand.” “You talking to jellyfish.” “I was not talking to the jellyfish.” “And you teasing me.” “You’re going to remember that too?” “I’ll remember all of it.” “A hundred years?” Gakupo smiled. “More than that.” Luka smiled too. Their fingers intertwined again. She suddenly turned toward the deepest part of the temple. “Gakupo.” “Mm?” “What’s farther inside?” “Want to see?” “Yes.” “Aren’t you afraid of getting lost?” Luka raised their joined hands. “Didn’t someone say it already?” “If we don’t know the way, we’ll find it together.” “And if neither of us knows…” She smiled at him. “Then we’ll get lost together.” Gakupo looked at her and finally smiled too. “All right.” He took her hand and led her forward. “Then together.” Violet and pink hair flowed behind them in the sea. Their dark and light-colored tails swam side by side past the ancient pillars. The jellyfish around them slowly drifted aside as though creating a glowing path. Their figures gradually disappeared deeper into the temple. This time, Gakupo did not swim ahead of her. He did not tell her to stay behind him as he had when they first met. And Luka did not follow his back. They moved side by side. Holding each other’s hands. If there was light ahead, they would swim toward it together. If there was uncertainty ahead, they would discover it together. And if they truly became lost— then at least in that unfamiliar sea, they would still be able to find each other first. From the moment they placed their hands in each other’s, the meaning of “direction” had stopped being only about returning to a particular royal city. For Kamui Gakupo, as long as Megurine Luka remained beside him, he no longer needed to hide alone inside a sleeping temple. And for Luka, as long as she could still feel the warmth of his hand in hers, even the most unfamiliar depths of the ocean were nothing to fear. Holding hands, they slowly swam into the ancient ruins illuminated by sunlight and jellyfish. Neither of them knew what waited at the far end of the temple. But this time, neither of them was in a hurry to find the answer. The road ahead was still long. The ocean was still vast. And they still had more than enough time to keep holding each other’s hands and slowly continue forward together.