"Counting 'likes' again."
Leo said exasperatedly. Kaito was checking his smartphone repeatedly.
Kaito pushed back. "What's wrong with that?"
Sora quietly observed. "Does it bother you?"
"It bothers me," Kaito admitted. "When I post and there's no response, I get anxious."
Hiyori asked, "What makes you anxious?"
Kaito thought. "That I'm... worthless."
Leo pointed out. "Is your worth determined by the number of likes?"
"I know it shouldn't be," Kaito said irritably. "But I can't help caring."
Sora said, "Need for approval."
"Need for approval?" Kaito asked.
"The desire to be recognized by others," Hiyori explained. "One of humanity's basic needs."
Kaito felt a bit relieved. "So it's not weird?"
"Not weird," Hiyori said. "But the degree matters."
Sora supplemented. "When the need for approval is too strong, your actions are controlled by others' evaluations."
Kaito fell silent.
Leo asked, "Know Maslow's hierarchy of needs?"
"Heard of it," Kaito answered.
Hiyori drew a diagram on the whiteboard. Pyramid-shaped.
"From bottom: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem needs, self-actualization."
"Esteem needs are second from the top," Sora pointed out. "Important, but not sufficient alone."
Kaito asked, "What do you mean?"
"Even when esteem needs are met, ultimately self-actualization is necessary," Hiyori explained. "Living by your own value standards."
Leo added, "The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation."
"Extrinsic motivation?"
"Acting for others' evaluation," Sora explained. "Intrinsic motivation is acting for your own interests and values."
Kaito understood. "I'm all extrinsic motivation."
"Realizing that is the first step," Hiyori encouraged.
Leo asked, "Kaito, what do you really want to do? Even without likes."
Kaito thought deeply. "I don't know. I've always only thought about how others see me."
Sora said gently, "You can search for it from now."
Hiyori suggested, "How about trying to create something you won't show anyone?"
"Won't show anyone?" Kaito was surprised.
"Yes. Completely for yourself," Hiyori said. "Observe what you feel without any reaction."
Kaito said anxiously, "But does that have meaning?"
"Very much," Leo declared. "It's practice listening to your inner voice."
Sora added, "The need for approval itself isn't bad. But depending only on it makes you fragile."
"Fragile?"
"If others' evaluations change, your self-worth wavers," Hiyori explained. "But with internal value standards, you're stable."
Kaito asked, "How do I create internal standards?"
Sora answered, "Ask yourself. Is this what I really want to do? Is it fun? Is it meaningful?"
Leo gave practical advice. "How about staying off social media for a week?"
Kaito panicked. "A whole week?"
"It's an experiment," Leo laughed. "Observe what changes."
Hiyori said gently, "By recognizing the need for approval and distancing from it, you begin to see yourself."
Kaito hesitated. But slowly nodded.
"I'll try."
Sora encouraged. "Shall we do it together?"
"Huh?"
"Social media detox. One week," Sora suggested.
Leo agreed. "Interesting. I'll do it too."
Hiyori smiled. "Then it's an experiment for all four of us."
Kaito said a bit happily, "Maybe I can do it if we're together."
One week later.
Kaito reported. "I was anxious at first, but gradually felt better."
Sora asked, "Any discoveries?"
"Even without likes, I exist," Kaito laughed. "It's obvious, but I'd forgotten."
Leo said, "The need for approval doesn't disappear. But you stop being controlled by it."
Hiyori added, "Self-worth is decided by yourself, not others. Remembering that is important."
Kaito looked at his smartphone. But put it away immediately.
"Checking occasionally is fine. But it's not everything."
Sora smiled. "Balance."
A heart swayed by need for approval. That's also part of being human. But the strength to not be bound only by that. The four began to learn it.