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My time, my wine, my spirit, my trust
Trying to find a part of me you didn't take up
Gave you too much but it wasn't enough
But I'll be all right
It's just a thousand cuts
-Taylor Swift, "Death By A Thousand Cuts"
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If Hyuga Hinata was asked how loving Uzumaki Naruto felt like, she would unhesitatingly answered that it was easy. It was as easy as breathing in a fresh air.
As long as she could remember, Hinata always was so fond of him. No wonder, after Naruto became the hero of the fourth shinobi war and more people started to admire him, was Hinata so glad.
It was Naruto's dream to be acknowledged by people and Hinata couldn't help, but be happy for him. Since Naruto's happiness was what mattered the most to her when it came to him.
For Hinata, Naruto was a huge part in her life. He's like the big sky hovering above her head. He's also like her own shadow towering and overshadowing her. His existence would always be there, in her heart, taking the biggest room of it and possessing it even without him knowing.
However, truth be told, as easy as breathing, loving Uzumaki Naruto was as aching as being breathless.
For years, Hinata thought that because she really, really, really liked him that it was okay for her to only love him from afar. That it was enough.
But, perhaps, Hinata was wrong. She knew it was a lie. A lie to mask her fear.
Because deep down, she was too scared, that one day Naruto would walk away and take that big and precious part of herself and left her only with her remnants.
But, today, seeing Naruto with those girls and a scarf enveloping his neck which was probably given by his loved one, Hinata thought that eventually it's time for her to accept.
Accept that Naruto and Hinata would be anything, but lovers. Accept that her intense feeling for him was unrequited.
Accept that it's the time to finally set him free.
Because his happiness was what mattered the most to her, right?
Her heart ached so bad. It was like there were thousand cuts shattered her heart. It was worse than the feeling of the physical wounds she got from trainings and battles. Because this invisible wound could not even be seen with her magnificent Byakugan.
She was clearly not fine. But, she was sure, she would be alright soon or later.
Her hands gripped the red scarf in her lap.
"I'm so happy for you, Naruto-kun," whispered Hinata as tears pouring down her face and down to the red scarf.