Indeed, Hyuga Miyu had no place in Senju Wakama's world.
However, if Hyuga Miyu wished, she could still enter Senju Wakama's world.
Senju Wakama didn't demand it.
Many things were left unsaid, relying entirely on her imagination.
But Hyuga Miyu believed her line of thought was correct.
If she was willing to let go of everything and seek refuge with Senju Wakama, he wouldn't abandon her.
All initiative lay in her hands.
Thinking this, Hyuga Miyu's mood improved considerably.
"I'm sorry, Wakama." Hyuga Miyu finally spoke the words she had held back for years. "I should have listened to you back then."
"Time cannot be turned back, so don't dwell too much on the past," Senju Wakama's tone remained gentle. "Since you've already chosen the path you want, then find a way to make it the right one."
"Your sister said..." Hyuga Miyu's brows furrowed slightly as she finally spoke her true feelings. "She said you never liked me from the beginning, that you only humored me because you were afraid of hurting me. And at the same time, to spare yourself discomfort, you tried to change me, but failed... I'm sorry to have disappointed you."
As she spoke, Hyuga Miyu cautiously looked at Senju Wakama and said, "From now on, if anything happens, I still hope you'll tell me clearly, so I know what to do."
Senju Wakama smiled without speaking.
At that moment, he felt a little bewildered.
Although Tsukuyo had already told Senju Wakama that she had 'trained' Hyuga Miyu several times.
Senju Wakama wasn't very clear on the details of Tsukuyo's 'lectures' to Hyuga Miyu, but he trusted Tsukuyo implicitly.
Senju Wakama truly hadn't expected Tsukuyo to tell Hyuga Miyu so directly that he disliked her scent.
However, since Hyuga Miyu brought up the topic, Senju Wakama went along with it.
"I once thought about changing you, but Tsukuyo said that trying to change a person who already has self-awareness and strong opinions is wrong."
Senju Wakama honestly stated, "She said that with her protection, I could do whatever I pleased in the future."
Hearing this, Hyuga Miyu's hands on her knees clenched.
Senju Wakama continued, "I don't like your scent. It's not a bad smell or a perfume, but your unique scent."
Hyuga Miyu's heart tightened.
"Disliking is disliking; I cannot deceive myself," Senju Wakama whispered. "I told my sister about my troubles, and she asked me: Am I willing to change my habits or lifestyle for you, to adapt to that scent I dislike? Would I feel pain after changing? Could I endure it for a lifetime?"
Sadness washed over Hyuga Miyu's heart.
Senju Wakama continued, "My sister said that if I could accept it, then the problem would be solved—I would change myself."
"If I couldn't accept it, then we would part ways, and the problem would also be solved."
Hyuga Miyu's eyes were red, her lips quivering, but she couldn't utter a single word.
"This problem was very easy to solve," Senju Wakama looked at Hyuga Miyu and said, "But I chose the difficult path. I asked my sister to make an herbal hydrosol and tricked you into drinking it."
"Your scent changed because of it, but... your way of thinking didn't."
"It was then that I realized our ways of thinking, lifestyles, and preferences were fundamentally incompatible."
"I could change your scent, but I couldn't change your thoughts."
"My sister told me not to try and change a person's thoughts and habits. A person who is already set in their ways doesn't need to change, and cannot be changed. Forcing a fit will only lead to mutual torment. Let go of myself, and let go of you."
"There's no right or wrong in this, no need to get caught up in who's to blame. I'm not wrong, and you're not wrong, but us being together, that is wrong."
"Two people incompatible in all aspects, forcing themselves to be together, will only destroy each other."
"I don't want to deceive myself, nor do I want to blame you for not understanding me. It's normal for you not to understand me; our living environments, family backgrounds, growth experiences, and social habits are all different."
"It's logical for you not to understand me, and it's perfectly normal for you not to comprehend me."
"Therefore, what we should do is filter and choose people compatible with ourselves."
"When I was naive, my sister taught me a lot. She once said that the world is cruel and doesn't need to be understood. What I need to do is enjoy this world, not understand it."
"All ways of life are valid; there's no need for mutual understanding."
"I, who can do whatever I please, shouldn't suppress my personal preferences. You can have your cake and eat it too."
"Only by following one's true heart can life be happy."
"Having grown up, looking back at my brief teenage years, everything from these past few years that I deeply remember has shown me that the things that will never betray me in life are my hobbies and habits, and the things that brought me joy and accompanied my growth since childhood."
Hyuga Miyu looked at Senju Wakama, remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled, "You didn't have to come see me, but... you still came."
Senju Wakama still smiled, "Yes, I followed my true heart. I felt I should see you once, so I came."
"Thank you, Wakama..."
Hyuga Miyu understood.
Even if Senju Wakama felt unhappy when with her.
She was, in fact, still a part of Senju Wakama's life.
Just that, was enough.
Hyuga Miyu felt enlightened, seemingly at peace; she bore no hatred, nor did she lose her fighting spirit.
Senju Wakama smiled and told her that one day, the Senju clan would merge with the Hyuga clan, working together to create a future, and that day wouldn't be far off.
This way, their living environments and social circles would become infinitely closer, and perhaps what was originally incompatible would, by chance, become compatible.
Finally, Senju Wakama was seen off by Hyuga Miyu from her lodging, and the two smiled and bid farewell at the entrance.
During the process, neither of them brought up the concept of "breaking up." It looked like a reunion after a long separation, a very polite meeting.
After leaving, Senju Wakama let out a sigh of relief.
In fact, Senju Wakama's words and actions towards Hyuga Miyu today were all imitations of Tsukuyo.
This was how Tsukuyo interacted with Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara had many bad habits, but Tsukuyo never intended to change him. Because of this, Uchiha Madara's feelings for her grew even deeper.
Not accepting, yet continually coexisting, without losing the other person, nor losing oneself.
By chance, Senju Wakama encountered Hyuga Miyu as a 'subject' and decided to try this method on her.
It must be said, his sister Tsukuyo was truly a menace, and Senju Wakama had now also become like his sister.
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