A Hanfu Journey with You - Vocaloid 神威がくぽx巡音ルカ

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 The morning sunlight crossed the distant mountains and slowly fell upon the ancient city walls. The gray stone bricks bore the marks of time, their surfaces weathered by countless years. A stone-paved road stretched from the city gate into the heart of the old town. Along the streets, shopkeepers were beginning to prepare for the day, while white steam rose from bamboo steamers and mingled with the gentle fragrance of tea, bringing a warm sense of life to this quiet, historic city. Kamui Gakupo and Megurine Luka stood together in front of the city gate, holding a tourist map they had prepared in advance. They had deliberately chosen to wear hanfu for their visit today, hoping to set aside their busy routines for a while and spend a leisurely day exploring a city filled with history and Eastern cultural charm. “So there are even more places to visit once we pass through the gate than I expected.” Luka unfolded the map and carefully examined the streets and attractions marked on it. The ancient city was much larger than she had imagined. In addition to its well-preserved traditional architecture, there were old marketplaces, teahouses, courtyards, and covered walkways built along the river. If they wanted to visit every place, they would probably need an entire day. Standing beside her, Gakupo studied the map as well. “We don't have to rush through everything,” he said. “Today is entirely ours. We can take our time exploring. Whenever we find somewhere interesting, we can stop and have a look.” Hearing this, Luka smiled and folded the map again. “Then it's settled. We have no schedule to complete today and no time limit.” “Mm. That sounds wonderful.” Gakupo naturally took the map from her and placed it in the cloth bag he was carrying. Then he held out his hand to her. Luka glanced at him without saying anything and simply placed her hand in his palm. Hand in hand, they passed through the ancient city gate. The streets inside were livelier than those outside. Several visitors dressed in traditional clothing were chatting with shopkeepers, while wooden signboards swayed gently in the breeze. Flowerpots lined the streets, filled with various plants and blossoms. From somewhere in the distance came the sound of melodious traditional music. Perhaps a nearby teahouse was hosting a performance. The tune drifted through the crowd and lingered beneath the eaves of the buildings on either side of the street. Luka instinctively slowed her steps. “The atmosphere here is wonderful.” She looked toward a small shop facing the street. Several lanterns hung by its entrance, and delicate wooden carvings were displayed beside the window. Inside, the shopkeeper was arranging the shelves. When he noticed the two visitors, he greeted them with a smile. “Is this your first time visiting the ancient city?” “Yes,” Luka replied. “We'd like to explore the place properly and learn more about its traditional culture.” Hearing this, the shopkeeper enthusiastically introduced the city's history and pointed toward the other end of the street. “If you follow this road, you'll pass an old ceremonial archway. Behind it, there's a narrow alley with several shops specializing in traditional crafts. If you're looking for unusual souvenirs, you should have a look there.” “Thank you. We'll be sure to visit.” Gakupo thanked the shopkeeper, and Luka smiled and nodded as well. After leaving the shop, they continued along the route he had recommended. Along the way, they passed a traditional pastry shop. Its display window was filled with all kinds of treats. Some were decorated with intricate patterns, while others had been shaped into small animals. A faint sweetness drifted from inside, and Luka, who had originally intended to keep walking, couldn't help stopping. Gakupo noticed her gaze and followed it toward the display. “Would you like some?” “A little,” Luka admitted. “But there are so many varieties that I don't know which one to choose.” “Then let's each pick a few that interest us and find somewhere to sit down and enjoy them.” “What if I want to try every kind?” Gakupo turned toward her with an amused smile. “Then we might end up spending quite a long time here.” “Would you mind?” “I never said that.” His answer was so natural that Luka couldn't help laughing. In the end, they chose several pastries with different flavors and asked the shopkeeper to pack them separately. The owner even gave them a small packet of tea leaves as an additional gift, saying it was a token of welcome for visitors who had traveled from afar. After thanking him, they continued their search for a pleasant place to rest. After passing through the bustling marketplace, the surrounding noise gradually faded. A small stone bridge appeared before them. Beneath it, the river flowed slowly, reflecting the old buildings along both banks. Several simply decorated boats were moored nearby, and their boatmen were arranging the ropes in preparation for the visitors who would arrive later. Luka walked onto the bridge and stopped in the middle. Resting her hands on the stone railing, she looked down at the reflections wavering on the water. “If we could stay somewhere like this all the time, I think it would be easy to lose track of time.” Gakupo stood beside her and gazed in the direction of the flowing river. “Perhaps it's because we're always chasing after time in our everyday lives that places like this feel so relaxing.” Luka turned to look at him. “Have you been feeling tired lately, too?” The question came unexpectedly, and Gakupo fell silent for a moment. Over the past few months, they had both been busy with work, often finding time to contact each other only after nightfall. Sometimes, they exchanged just a few brief messages to make sure the other had arrived home safely before returning to their unfinished tasks. Even when they occasionally met in person, they usually had to keep their upcoming schedules in mind. Truly relaxing together had become a rare luxury. “A little,” he admitted honestly. “But I feel much better today.” “Because the ancient city is beautiful?” “Because someone was willing to come here with me.” Luka was momentarily taken aback. The breeze swept across the river, and somewhere in the distance came the gentle sound of oars moving through the water. Gakupo wasn't deliberately looking at her, and his tone was no different from usual, as though he had merely expressed an ordinary thought. Yet Luka knew he hadn't said it casually. She gently tightened her hold on his hand. “Me too.” Only then did Gakupo turn toward her, and they exchanged a warm smile. They remained on the bridge for a little longer, until several visitors passed along the riverbank. Then they continued along another path. The alley mentioned by the shopkeeper was indeed filled with interesting little shops. One workshop specializing in traditional paper crafts caught Luka's attention. Inside were displays of paper-cuttings, paper lanterns, and delicate origami creations. Several unfinished works also hung on the walls. An elderly woman sat at a worktable, carefully trimming a paper-cutting decorated with flowers and birds. Luka lingered in front of a display case, her gaze settling on a matching pair of paper artworks. Two birds perched side by side on a branch, surrounded by delicate leaves and flowers. The design was intricate without being overly elaborate, simple yet elegant. “Beautiful, aren't they?” the craftswoman said with a smile when she noticed Luka's interest. “These two pieces belong together. They symbolize companionship and cherishing the people who matter to us.” Hearing the explanation, Luka's eyes brightened with appreciation. “Does it take a long time to make something like this?” “That depends on how complicated the design is. Some pieces can be finished in a day, while others take several days. The most important thing is patience. You mustn't rush through the work and leave out the details just because you want to finish quickly.” Gakupo listened quietly, suddenly feeling that her words could describe certain things in life as well. Love could be like that, too. There was no need to rush toward a particular outcome or constantly prove something. As long as two people were willing to take the time to understand each other and sincerely cherish the moments they shared, even the most ordinary days could gradually become precious memories. He looked at Luka, who was asking the craftswoman about the techniques involved in making the paper art, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips. In the end, they purchased the matching pair, intending to keep them as a treasured reminder of their visit. When they left the workshop, the sunlight had risen beyond the rooftops, and the lanterns hanging along the street looked particularly vivid beneath the bright sky. They continued wandering, occasionally stopping to admire the goods displayed outside shops or listen to shopkeepers explain local customs. Eventually, they settled down at a small teahouse to enjoy the pastries they had bought earlier. The teahouse had a courtyard shaded by several old trees. A ceramic vase stood beside one of the wooden tables, holding a few freshly picked flowers. They chose seats near the courtyard, and the owner brought them hot tea. Its fragrance gradually spread across the table. Luka divided the pastries into two portions and pushed one toward Gakupo. “Here, this one is for you. I think you'll like it.” Gakupo took a bite and savored the flavor for a moment. “It's quite good. How did you know I'd like it?” “Because I've secretly observed you when we've eaten together in the past.” “Is that so?” “How come you're only finding out now?” “I was just thinking that, since you've been paying such close attention to me, perhaps I should work harder, too.” Luka looked at him curiously. “Work harder at what?” “Remembering the things you like.” After saying this, he picked up his teacup, his expression as composed as ever, as though he had just mentioned something entirely ordinary. Luka lowered her head, unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips. A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, carrying the soft rustling of leaves. Looking at the pastries they had carefully divided between them, Luka raised her eyes toward Gakupo sitting opposite her and suddenly realized that the most precious things she would take away from this trip might not be the exquisite crafts displayed throughout the ancient city. They might also be these uninterrupted moments spent together. They talked about amusing incidents from previous trips and discussed all the places they had always wanted to visit but had repeatedly postponed for one reason or another. Gakupo made a note of several destinations Luka mentioned, while Luka wrote down the names of their favorite shops on the back of the map. Only after their tea had been refilled for the second time did they finally leave the teahouse. The ancient city remained lively in the afternoon. Someone was playing music in the street, visitors were taking photographs along the riverbank, and the distant clock tower rang out with a long, resonant chime. Luka handed the map to Gakupo and then took his hand again. “Where shall we go next?” Gakupo glanced at the map before looking farther down the street. “There seems to be an old courtyard ahead. Let's go and have a look. If we like it, we can stay for a while.” “All right.” Side by side, they walked into the afternoon light. There were no tasks they had to finish today and no messages they needed to answer immediately. They could wander through unfamiliar streets at their own pace, stop whenever they heard music they liked, and spend as much time as they wanted exploring anything that caught their interest. And in this ancient Eastern city, steeped in centuries of history, they were also quietly collecting the little expressions of affection they had often overlooked in their everyday lives. For Gakupo and Luka, this journey had only just begun. There were still countless streets to wander through, countless views to admire, and countless peaceful moments waiting for them to share together.