BL-No Matter How You Change - Vocaloid 神威がくぽx巡音ルカ

However, lately, Luka had been feeling a little self-conscious about his appearance. “Gakupo.” “Hmm?” “Do you think I look good dressed like this?” Gakupo put down his book and turned toward him. Luka was wearing a light blue shirt, with the top two buttons undone. Over it, he had put on a neatly tailored ivory jacket. His dark trousers complemented his long legs, and a simple pair of leather shoes completed his outfit. His clothes were not particularly extravagant, yet they suited his natural elegance perfectly. Gakupo did not answer immediately. He simply looked at Luka, his violet eyes filled with undisguised admiration. “What is it?” Luka asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable under his gaze. He raised a hand to touch his face. “Is something wrong?” “No.” “Then why do you keep staring at me?” “Because you look beautiful.” The simple answer left Luka momentarily speechless. His eyes widened slightly before he turned his face away, the tips of his ears gradually turning red. “...You really enjoy saying things like that lately.” “I said them before, too.” “Not this often.” “That is because I have even more opportunities to say them now.” Luka turned around and glared at him, only to discover that Gakupo looked far too serious to be joking. He couldn't help laughing. “You're really devious.” “Is that a compliment?” “Figure it out yourself.” Gakupo closed his book and stood up, walking over to him. He did not rush Luka to leave. Instead, he first straightened the collar of Luka's jacket before gently brushing a stray pink strand of hair behind his ear. The gesture came so naturally that it seemed as though he had done it countless times before. “There,” Gakupo said. “Where would you like to go today?” Luka thought for a moment. “Let's go downtown. I heard a new dessert shop just opened there, and there's a beautiful pedestrian street nearby. I'd like to have a look around.” “Sounds good.” “You're not even going to ask what I want to buy or eat?” “If you want to buy something, I'll go shopping with you. If you want to eat something, I'll eat with you.” “What if I want to buy every single cake in the dessert shop?” “Then we'll have to check whether our refrigerator is big enough first.” Luka laughed so hard that his shoulders trembled. “You're going to spoil me rotten.” “I think you're the one who keeps spoiling me.” After saying that, Gakupo extended his hand toward him. Luka looked at the familiar palm before placing his own hand in it. Their fingers intertwined naturally. “Let's go,” Luka said softly. “Your wish is my command.” Gakupo led him out of the house and closed the door behind them. The afternoon sunlight fell across their shoulders, making their pink and purple hair look especially vivid. Hand in hand, they walked along the familiar streets. They had no particularly elaborate itinerary and no destination they absolutely had to reach. To them, simply going out together was already a date worth looking forward to. When they reached the street corner, Luka suddenly slowed down. Gakupo stopped with him. “What is it?” Luka did not answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze to their joined hands. After a while, he finally spoke in a quiet voice. “Gakupo, does it really not feel strange to you?” Gakupo paused slightly. “What doesn't?” “It's just... the way I am now.” Luka raised his head, his blue eyes no longer as composed as usual. A trace of uncertainty had crept into them. “My body has changed. The way I dress has changed, and some things aren't the same as before. Everyone says I'm still me, but sometimes, even I feel like a stranger to myself.” He paused, forcing a small smile. “Especially when I'm standing beside you. Sometimes I wonder whether you also need time to get used to me again.” Gakupo did not answer immediately. Instead, he tightened his hold on Luka's hand and stepped a little closer to him. “Luka, look at me.” Luka did as he was asked. Gakupo's expression was completely serious. “Do you know why I fell in love with you in the first place?” “Because of my appearance?” “Your appearance certainly attracted me.” “...Can't you deny it first, just once?” “Why should I deny the truth?” Luka laughed helplessly, and some of his earlier nervousness faded. Gakupo continued. “But what made me stay by your side all this time was never just your appearance.” He lifted his other hand and gently held Luka's fingertips. “It was the way you always noticed my feelings first, even when you were hurting yourself. It was how you claimed not to care about something, yet remembered every little thing I'd mentioned in passing. And it was how, whenever I came home, you'd sit on the sofa waiting for me, even when you were so sleepy you could barely keep your eyes open.” Luka's gaze began to waver. He had long forgotten how many times he had done those seemingly insignificant things, yet Gakupo remembered every single one. “Your body has changed,” Gakupo said gently, “but you're still the person who gets happy over a piece of dessert, glares at me when I deliberately tease you, and sits beside me without asking any questions when I'm in a bad mood.” He leaned forward slightly, keeping their eyes at the same level. “I love you, Luka.” “Not just one particular version of you, and not a version of you that has to meet certain expectations.” “I love the person standing in front of me right now.” The pedestrians continued passing by them. Somewhere in the distance, a bicycle bell rang, and music drifted out of a nearby café. Yet Luka could barely hear any of it. He stared at Gakupo, his eyes growing warm as the smile he had struggled to maintain finally became a little fragile. “...You always do this.” “Do what?” “You're so good at teasing me normally, but when it comes to moments like this, you always know exactly what to say.” Gakupo smiled faintly. “That's because I listen to you carefully.” Luka looked at him silently for a moment before taking a step forward and resting his forehead against Gakupo's shoulder. Gakupo did not ask any further questions. He simply wrapped his arms around Luka's back, as naturally as breathing. With his face buried against Gakupo's shoulder, Luka spoke in a muffled voice. “I don't want to walk too fast today.” “All right.” “And I don't want to visit too many places.” “All right.” “If I see something I like and want to stop and look at it for a long time, you can't rush me.” “When have I ever rushed you?” “The last time we went to the bookstore, you said you'd only look at one more book, but then you picked up three more.” Gakupo fell silent for a moment. “...That was an accident.” Luka finally burst out laughing. “It absolutely wasn't.” “All right, fine. I didn't want to leave either.” His honest admission made Luka laugh even harder. After a moment, Luka slowly lifted his head and reached out to straighten Gakupo's slightly windblown hair. “Then let's take our time today.” “Mm.” “And you have to keep holding my hand.” Gakupo glanced at their hands, which had never separated, and deliberately adopted a thoughtful expression. “That sounds rather difficult.” Luka immediately narrowed his eyes. “Kamui Gakupo.” “Because I was planning to hold your hand all day anyway.” As soon as he finished speaking, Luka blushed and lightly smacked his arm. “You're absolutely terrible!” “But you're still holding my hand.” “...That's because I don't want to let go.” This time, Gakupo was the one who fell silent. Luka realized what he had just said and immediately turned his face away, the tips of his ears turning red. Gakupo gazed at him, the amusement in his eyes gradually melting into deep tenderness. He did not tease Luka any further. Instead, he gently lifted their joined hands and placed a soft kiss on the back of Luka's hand. “Then don't let go.” Luka's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Then, in a small voice, he answered, “...Mm.” They started walking again. This time, Luka moved closer to Gakupo, his shoulder resting lightly against Gakupo's arm. Their pace was unhurried. Occasionally, they stopped to look at a shop along the street, and sometimes they laughed over the same amusing little thing. When they passed a flower shop, Luka noticed a bouquet of purple and pink flowers displayed in the window and couldn't help stopping. Gakupo followed his gaze. “Do you like them?” “They're beautiful.” “Then let's buy them and take them home.” Luka turned to look at him. “But we already have roses in the vase at home.” “We can buy another vase.” “How do you always find a reason to buy everything?” “Because you like it.” In the end, they left the flower shop carrying a bouquet. Luka held the flowers while Gakupo continued holding his hand. As they passed a glass storefront, Luka happened to catch their reflections. A man with long purple hair and a man with long pink hair walked side by side, their fingers intertwined. Perhaps the sight was not exactly the same as the one Luka had once imagined for himself. But then he looked at Gakupo in the reflection. That man still accompanied him whenever he stopped walking, held his hand whenever he felt uncertain, and agreed to every one of his unreasonable requests with a fond smile. Luka suddenly realized that he did not need to hurry to get used to every change. No matter how much time it took, he could take things slowly. Because Gakupo would be there with him. “Gakupo.” “Hmm?” “When we get to the dessert shop, I want chocolate cake.” “All right.” “And a strawberry tart.” “All right.” “If I can't finish them, you have to help me eat them.” “Of course.” Luka tilted his head toward him, a mischievous smile appearing in his eyes. “Then I also want to eat your portion.” Gakupo finally stopped walking and looked down at him. “So this was your real plan all along.” “It's too late to change your mind now.” “I wasn't planning to change my mind.” Gakupo reached out and gently ruffled his hair. “However, I have one condition.” Luka regarded him warily. “What condition?” “After we finish eating cake, you have to accompany me to choose a new book.” “That's all?” “That's all.” Luka blinked before smiling and nodding. “Deal.” They continued walking hand in hand. The sunlight gradually shifted westward, and warm lights began illuminating the shops along the street. The city slowly took on the colors of evening. Gakupo lowered his gaze toward the person beside him. Luka was enthusiastically telling him about the dessert shop's signature treats, occasionally lighting up whenever he remembered another interesting flavor he wanted to try. His pink hair swayed gently with each step, and his blue eyes reflected the light around them. Gakupo suddenly remembered that, both in the past and in the present, he had always found himself drawn to Luka in moments like this. Not because Luka would always be beautiful, nor because he would always be gentle. It was because even when faced with unfamiliar changes, Luka was still willing to move forward with him, carrying a little uncertainty and a little courage, while holding his hand. “Luka.” “Hmm?” “I'm happy today.” Luka looked at him in surprise. “We've only just left the house.” “That's why I'm already looking forward to the rest of the day.” Luka remained quiet for a few seconds before slowly breaking into a smile. He tightened his grip on Gakupo's hand and deliberately moved closer, letting their arms rest more firmly against each other. “Then you should look forward to it properly.” “I will.” “Because today is only the beginning.” They exchanged smiles. Neither of them needed to apologize for who they were, and neither had to prove that they deserved to be loved. In this brand-new world, Luka was still Luka, and Gakupo was still deeply in love with him. As for the days ahead, they still had countless places they wanted to visit together, countless desserts they wanted to share, and countless ordinary afternoons waiting for them to spend side by side, walking slowly with their hands intertwined. As long as the person beside them remained the one they loved, every outing could become a brand-new date.