Between Sunlight and Coral - Vocaloid 神威がくぽx巡音ルカ

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 The daylight sea was as clear as an endless expanse of blue crystal illuminated by the sun. Sunlight poured down from the surface, passing through layer after layer of rippling water and casting swaying golden patterns across the seabed. Vast coral reefs stretched along the gentle slope of the shallows, where pink, orange-red, pale violet, and creamy white corals intertwined. Tiny tropical fish darted between them, while schools of silver fish occasionally passed overhead, making the whole sea feel bright and peaceful. Far away from the royal palace, far away from guards and banquets. Here, there was only the sound of the flowing sea. And each other. Kamui Gakupo hovered beside a massive pink-and-violet coral reef. His long violet hair drifted behind him with the current, while the two distinctive strands before his ears extended all the way to his waist, glowing softly beneath the sunlight. His deep-purple tail swayed lazily, the fin occasionally brushing against the soft seagrass nearby. Megurine Luka was right in front of him. Her long pink hair floated gently through the crystal-clear water, and her brilliant blue eyes seemed even brighter than the sea behind her. Her pale-blue tail curved slightly, while the pearls and aquamarine ornaments around her shimmered with every movement. Neither of them was in any hurry to speak. They simply gazed at one another. Luka was the first to break into a smile. “Why do you keep staring at me?” Gakupo did not look away. “Because I want to.” Such a simple answer made Luka pause. “That’s all?” “Mm.” “Your Highness, aren’t you being a little lazy today?” She deliberately moved closer. “You used to say all sorts of formal things.” “Such as?” “Like ‘Princess of the Azure-Tide Kingdom,’ or ‘Please do not leave my sight.’” Gakupo raised an eyebrow slightly. “There was nothing wrong with the second one.” “There’s no danger here.” “So?” “So you don’t have to keep watching me.” Gakupo remained silent for two seconds. Then he reached out. His fingertips gently caught a strand of Luka’s pink hair that had drifted across her face and slowly tucked it behind her ear. “Who said there has to be danger for me to look at you?” Luka blinked. Every teasing reply she had prepared disappeared instantly. “You’ve been…” “Mm?” “…getting much better at saying things like that lately.” Gakupo smiled faintly. “Don’t you like hearing them?” “I do, but…” Luka’s voice grew softer as warmth crept into her cheeks. She turned away and looked toward the coral reef instead. “When you suddenly say things like that, I don’t know how I’m supposed to answer.” Gakupo slowly swam to her side. “Then you don’t have to answer.” “That’s allowed?” “It is.” He reached out and took her hand. “Just don’t let go.” Luka lowered her gaze to their joined hands. Their fingers naturally intertwined. Sunlight rippled over the backs of their hands. She could not help tightening her fingers around his. “Gakupo.” “Mm?” “You really like holding hands.” “Do I?” “You do.” Luka began counting with a very serious expression. “When we go for walks, you want to hold hands.” “When we patrol, you want to hold hands.” “Even when we’re just looking at coral, you still want to hold hands.” Gakupo listened quietly. “Do you dislike it?” “…No.” “Then there’s no problem.” Luka immediately turned to stare at him. “What kind of conclusion is that?” “A reasonable one.” “It is not reasonable at all.” “But you haven’t let go.” Luka opened her mouth. Then realized she had absolutely no reply. Seeing the slight pout on her face, Gakupo’s eyes filled with unmistakable amusement. “Cute.” “What?” “I said you look cute right now.” “Gakupo!” Several little fish nearby were startled by her raised voice and quickly hid inside the coral. Gakupo could not help laughing. Luka immediately smacked him lightly on the chest. “You’re still laughing!” “Sorry.” He apologized with his words, though the smile in his eyes did not fade in the slightest. “You’re not sorry at all.” “Because I was telling the truth.” “How did I never notice before that you enjoy teasing people this much?” “I didn’t dare to before.” Luka paused. “You didn’t dare?” Gakupo looked at her. His violet eyes appeared especially clear beneath the bright sea. “Before, I didn’t know whether I was allowed to be this close to you.” The smile on Luka’s face gradually faded into something softer. Gakupo continued holding her hand. “You were the princess of the Azure-Tide Kingdom.” “And I was the prince of the Moon-Tide Sea.” “There were two kingdoms between us, along with too many things left behind by the past.” He looked toward the distant coral fields. “Back then, I didn’t even know whether I would get to see you again.” Luka did not interrupt. “So every time I saw you, I would think…” Gakupo looked back at her. “If today were the last time, I should remember exactly what you looked like.” Luka’s heart gave a sudden jolt. “You were thinking about things like that?” “Mm.” “And you never told me?” “What would telling you have changed?” “At least I could have told you that you were thinking too much.” Luka swam directly in front of him. She lifted both hands and gently held his face. “You were always thinking about kingdoms, duty, and status.” “But you never asked me.” “Asked you what?” “Whether I wanted to see you.” Her blue eyes looked directly into his. “Then I’ll ask now.” Gakupo’s voice softened. “Did you want to see me?” “Yes.” There was no hesitation at all. “Every day?” “Every day.” “What if you get tired of looking at me?” “Then I’ll look from a different angle.” Gakupo blinked. Luka laughed first. “See? Right now I’m looking at you from the front.” She swam to his right side. “I can look from here too.” Then she circled to the left. “And from here.” Finally, she peeked at him from behind. Her pink hair tangled with a small strand of Gakupo’s violet hair. “That way, I’ll never get tired of looking at you.” Gakupo turned his head toward her. “I see.” “Clever, aren’t I?” “Mm.” He suddenly slipped an arm around her waist. Luka was pulled back in front of him. “Ah—!” She instinctively placed her hands on his shoulders. The distance between them vanished. They were so close that their noses would touch if either leaned forward just a little. “What about now?” Gakupo asked. Luka blinked. “What about now?” “This angle.” His hand remained securely around her waist. “Will you get tired of it?” Luka looked into his eyes. Her own reflection filled those violet irises. Then she smiled. “This angle is the best.” Gakupo smiled too. “I agree.” They remained there beside the coral reef. Neither looked away. Sunlight fell over them, casting delicate shifting patterns across their faces. Luka suddenly asked in a small voice, “What exactly do you like about me?” “Everything.” “That answer is too easy.” “It isn’t.” “Then be more specific.” Gakupo thought for a moment. “I like your eyes.” Luka immediately smiled. “Because they’re blue?” “Because when you look at me, I know I’m not alone.” Her smile stilled slightly. Gakupo continued. “I like your hair.” “Because it’s pink?” “Because now, whenever I see something pink, I think of you.” “So if you see pink coral, you think of me too?” “I do.” Luka glanced toward the enormous stretch of pink coral beside them. “Then this place must be very dangerous for you.” “Why?” “Because I’m everywhere.” Gakupo looked at her. “That sounds wonderful.” One sentence was enough to make Luka blush again. “What else?” She deliberately pressed him. “I like it when you smile.” “I like it when you’re angry.” “You even like it when I’m angry?” “Because when you’re angry, you keep saying my name.” “…That’s a strange reason.” “I also like it when you’re worried about me but pretend you’re only asking casually.” “I do not.” “You do.” “I don’t.” “You do.” “Kamui Gakupo.” He laughed. “See?” Luka immediately realized she had fallen for it. “You did that on purpose.” “Mm.” “You admitted it way too quickly!” She lightly hit his shoulder again. Gakupo took the opportunity to catch her hand. This time, he stopped teasing her. Instead, he gently placed her hand over his chest. “There’s one more.” “What?” “My favorite.” Luka’s expression gradually became serious. “What is it?” “You always choose to come back to me.” She fell quiet. Gakupo’s heartbeat traveled through her palm. Steady and clear. “When we first met, after I saved you, I thought it was only chance.” “The second time I saw you, I thought it was luck.” “The third time…” He gently held her wrist. “I started hoping it wasn’t a coincidence.” Luka watched him. “And after that?” “After that, I became greedy.” “How greedy?” “I wanted you to appear every day.” “I wanted to see you whenever I turned around.” “I wanted to hear you say my name.” “I wanted to hold your hand.” He paused. “And eventually, I even wanted…” Luka moved slightly closer. “Wanted what?” Gakupo lowered his voice. “I wanted you never to leave me.” The world around them suddenly seemed silent. The fish were still swimming through the coral. The sunlight still shimmered through the sea. And yet Luka could hear nothing but the beating of her own heart. Slowly, she placed her other hand against his chest as well. “Then you’re in trouble.” Gakupo raised an eyebrow. “Why?” “Because I think I’ve become greedy too.” “What do you want?” Luka looked at him. “I want to see you every day.” “I want to be the first one to find you when you come back from patrol.” “I want to know whether you were hurt.” “Whether you pushed yourself too hard.” “Whether you secretly hid away something painful again.” She reached up and gently touched his face. “And whenever you think you have to carry everything alone, I want to tell you…” She smiled softly. “You’re not alone.” Gakupo did not speak for a long moment. Luka blinked. “What?” “Nothing.” “There is definitely something.” “I just suddenly realized…” He pulled her closer. “I may love you even more than I thought.” Luka’s cheeks instantly turned red. “Who says something like that without warning?” “Weren’t you the one who wanted to hear sweet words?” “Well… yes.” “Should I continue?” She answered quietly, “…Yes.” Gakupo lowered his head. “I like you.” “That’s too simple.” “I love you.” “That’s also simple.” “Then…” He deliberately stopped. Luka waited. “Then what?” “If I have to explain it more clearly…” His forehead gently touched hers. “Even if the entire ocean fell into darkness, I would still recognize you.” Luka froze. “Even if ten thousand merfolk swam past me, I would only search for that one pink silhouette.” “Even if you swam far away…” “I would still follow you.” Luka’s blue eyes softened. “What if I deliberately hid?” “I’d find you.” “What if you couldn’t?” “I’d keep looking.” “For a hundred years?” “A hundred years.” “A thousand?” “A thousand.” Luka smiled. “Idiot.” “Mm.” “Who would be that foolish?” “What about you?” “Me?” “What if I were the one who disappeared?” She barely needed to think. “I’d find you faster than you could find me.” “That confident?” “Of course.” Luka reached out and held a strand of his violet hair. “With such beautiful violet hair, you’re pretty easy to spot in the sea.” Gakupo laughed. “So it’s because of my hair.” “And your eyes.” “Your tail.” “Your voice.” She stopped. “And…” “And?” Luka placed her hand over his heart again. “This.” “No matter where you are…” “I think I would find you.” They gazed at each other again. This time, Gakupo moved slightly closer first. Luka did not retreat. Instead, she gently wrapped her arms around his neck. “Luka.” “Mm?” “May I kiss you?” Luka deliberately made a troubled expression. “You’re asking again.” “It would be wrong not to.” “But asking every single time is strange too.” “Then what should I do next time?” “Next time…” Her blue eyes curved with amusement. “Just look into my eyes. You’ll know.” Gakupo really did look at her. “What about now?” “Guess.” “I think the answer is yes.” “Correct.” Luka smiled and closed her eyes. Gakupo lowered his head and gently kissed her. Sunlight poured down from the sea’s surface. Countless golden ripples danced around them. Pink and violet hair intertwined in the current, while deep purple and azure tails rested naturally against each other. Several curious little fish peeked out from behind the coral before quickly swimming away together. When the two finally parted, Luka still did not loosen her arms from around him. She opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was still the same pair of violet eyes looking only at her. “Gakupo.” “Mm?” “Can we come here often from now on?” He glanced at the bright coral reefs around them. “You like it here?” “I do.” Luka rested against his chest. “No palace.” “No envoys.” “No prince and princess.” “Just us.” Gakupo gently stroked her pink hair. “All right.” “Really?” “Whenever you want to come.” “What if I want to come every day?” “I’ll come with you every day.” “What if I want to stay all day?” “I’ll stay with you all day.” “What if I don’t want to do anything and just want to stay beside the coral and look at you?” Gakupo looked down at her. “That would be best.” “Why?” “Because I want to keep looking at you too.” Luka laughed. She held out her little finger. “Then it’s a promise.” Gakupo looked at it. “What is this?” “A promise.” “Do we have to do it like this?” “We do.” With a slightly helpless expression, he extended his hand and hooked his little finger around hers. Luka immediately smiled with satisfaction. “No taking it back.” “I won’t.” “Forever?” “Forever.” “Promise?” Gakupo took her hand, turning the childish pinky promise into fingers intertwined tightly together. “Promise.” Sunlight illuminated the entire coral sea. Two figures remained close beside the colorful reef. Luka looked up at Gakupo. Gakupo looked back at her. At that moment, neither of them saw distant kingdoms nor the responsibilities waiting in their future. Only each other. Luka suddenly smiled. “You still haven’t finished.” “Finished what?” “The things you like about me.” “You still want to hear more?” “Of course.” “It might take until sunset.” “Then continue tomorrow.” “And if I still haven’t finished tomorrow?” “The day after.” “And after that?” “Then keep going.” Luka intertwined her fingers with his, her blue eyes filled with bright affection. “We still have a very, very long time.” Gakupo looked at her. Then he gently kissed her forehead. “All right.” His voice was as soft as the current flowing through the coral reef. “Then I’ll spend all the days ahead of us slowly telling you.” Luka moved closer to him. “Promise.” “Promise.” The daytime sea remained bright. Schools of fish swam past them as sunlight glittered between the corals. And there, in that warm and brilliant blue world, Kamui Gakupo and Megurine Luka simply remained beside one another. To him, no matter how vast the ocean became, she would always be the person he could find with a single glance. And to her, as long as he was still holding her hand, even the farthest reaches of the sea could be called home.