Disclaimed. AU

Written from the other character's different perspectives. I've used some original dialogues from the manga itself, should've noticed it sooner, since the first part.

Originally written back in 2013, and I've never felt so obliged to follow my intuition to write another chapter for it.

Hinata's POV

Importance

by: you are my math

- Love is not self-seeking -

. . .

I live the rest of my life thinking that we have different stories to tell.

If only we think beyond of what we see, we would know that all of us have different perspectives to see.

Back then, I was a timid, wallflower person. I didn't have any friends to begin with. I was an introvert, and I never wanted to socialise with the others. It was a difficult task for me to do so, despite being raised into a well-known clan.

I was the heiress, but they doubted me. I was treated well, but it was ironic to think that people around me didn't.

And that was when he came.

When I felt like giving up, he was there.

"Leave her alone!" Was his first words he uttered in front of me—in front of the people who despised me. When they hit him, I was quick to get into his aid. But he sheltered me, holding me close to his chest, as he took the full comeback hit from the person.

I watched as he protected me. He didn't let even a scratch to land at me. He protected me in any way a person can be saved. At that moment, father's words were seemed to be so true to me, I was indeed useless, I couldn't do anything.

But then he looked at me. That was my first time of seeing a bright sapphire eyes. Without having full control of what I've felt at that time, I felt warm liquid on my cheeks. I soon realised that I was already crying from the reason I wouldn't know.

"Eh? Why? Are you hurt? You didn't get struck by their hit. Did you?" His voice was gentle, it was calming. I would never get tired of hearing it. But what took me aback most was, he didn't care about his swollen face, nor his fresh wounds on his arm.

His top priority was me.

I was dumbfounded for I didn't even know his name to begin with.

When I couldn't blurt out coherent words, he held my face so I would look at him once again. "Hey, are you okay?"

His face was so close to mine. I felt my face warmed, as I nodded absently.

I sniffed. He laughed. "Don't cry. A girl shouldn't cry, c'mon." He reached for the hem of his uniform to wipe my tears from my face. "Let's go! Teacher Iruka must have been waiting for us!" He grabbed my free hand, as he led the way.

I was 8 at that time, and I didn't understand why my heart ached, despite the happiness I have.

It was my first time I've felt my importance to someone.

.

.

It wasn't long till I came to learn who he was.

We went in the same junior high in Tokyo. For the 2 years, he was in the same class as mine. At first, I thought, he wouldn't recognise me, but when he started talking to me, I realised that it was just me who thought that, maybe, he may have forgotten my existence.

He knew me by face, not by name. But gradually, he learned to know who I was. It came by surprise to me, when he addressed me by my first name without any honourifics. It was our very first conversation, regardless of that time he saved me from bullies, after he changed school, and came back 3 years later.

Despite my natural timid behaviour, we became good friends.

"Naruto-kun," I was hesitant—always. And, I wondered if I could really overcome this meekness I have whenever I'm with him, someday in my life.

He gave me his attention, with his usual bright smile. "Hinata?" He was always considerate to me.

"Good luck on your competition." I was in my frailest voice, but I wished that he'd hear me.

I didn't know the next thing that happened, when I was suddenly in his arms. My heart rattles; I couldn't breathe. It didn't take a second, but it felt forever. I was lost of words, just like always.

"Thanks, Hinata!" He let go. I was left breathless.

"A person like you, I really like."

I prayed to God that whatever this feeling might be is, I thought, it must be true.

Because only Him would know this admiration I have for my friend.

.

.

I never thought it'd grew by the time we entered high school.

Although, I was contented of admiring him from afar, he and I, for some reason, have built a bond that only our connection with each other would held. I was changed when I met him. I learned to stand up for myself, and just maybe, I thought for a second, that maybe I also learned to love my flawed self.

We got each other's back, until she came.

That was the beginning of change when his focus shifted from our friendship to her very existence.

We were in high school when I met her. For years, I was confident to think that he doesn't have anyone he likes. For years, I thought he wouldn't share that look he has for me to anyone else.

But I was wrong. I might have probably assumed things beforehand. Maybe it was only my self-satisfaction that feed my ego enough.

For years, I thought that the only person who suited his personality was me. I was guilty over this feeling of selfish desires.

She was charming, beautiful, bold, pure, and bright. Not only I was completely different from her, but I was the opposite of her, I was far from being close to her image. She can have any boy she wanted. But she has him instead.

I've never felt so insecure with my own self.

.

.

It was Sakura-san who approached me first, when Naruto-kun introduced me to her.

Regardless of what I felt, she was a good person to start with. She knew what else to talk about. She never ran out of ideas to talk about. It made me to think that she was the female version of Naruto-kun, but with such femininity, and openness which I could never attain to myself.

I disregard what I felt at that time, and decided to be friends with her, because if she was the person he chose—even though he hasn't yet officially admitted, I could see by the way he looked at her—then she must've been more than what a person meets in the eye.

I learned that she was the first person Naruto-kun met when he urgently needed to change school when we were still grade schoolers.

It became clear to me, for some reason.

I knew Naruto-kun had problems to share at that time. He had been through a lot of hardships, even when he wouldn't say something, back when I first met him. I thought, maybe she was the only one who could help him out. Maybe she was the sole person who understood him, and eased him when he needed someone most.

Because I didn't think I would have done a better job myself if he ever stayed.

I was so much of a coward back then.

.

.

I have longed accepted my despondent defeat.

But I did long for an upside down event. It didn't happen.

They became official, and I'd be lying to God if I told Him that I was genuinely happy in front of them. A part of me, perhaps, were glad that he had found the right person, but the other part of me was dying.

No matter how long I might have been in love with him compared to her, I was still no match of how strong her feelings she had for him.

That was why I thought for myself that they deserved to be with each other. It didn't come as a wonder to me that after years of courtship and adjustments to one another, they, indeed, ended up engaged.

I cried a few times after knowing that, maybe because deep down I knew, I was still waiting for that very selfish thought. I hated myself for that.

But he had already helped me enough.

He made me to a new person with a few turns.

He protected me so many times.

My childhood had became better than I would've expected it to be before.

And, he made me feel how important I could become to someone—to him.

I think, now isn't the right time to think about my selfish desires. It's time to think first of him once and for all. Because that isn't the thing I wasn't so willing to give to him before.

.

.

I went to France for a change.

Fin.

A/N: It was shorter than I'd have expected it to be. I, somehow, had this entire sketch of what should've happened here, but I was too caught up on the idea of how to put those into words. Thus, eventually losing my motivation on the process so.

Anyway, for my reviewers, readers, and all, I'd just like to say that I'm not putting down any ships here. I actually love SasuSaku, and NaruHina for the most part, would've even considered those as my otps, tbh. But, ofc, I sort of have this kind of fetishness on things about unrequited love, so, you get the point. I like NaruSaku, too, as brotps.

Please be thoughtful, people! It's one of the least difficult things to do, really.