"Hiyori, are you okay?"
Sora asked with concern. Hiyori didn't look well.
"I'm fine," Hiyori smiled. But the smile was weaker than usual.
Leo had been observing. "You look tired."
"A little... I've been listening to a friend's problems."
Sora asked. "Again? Isn't that the third person this week?"
Hiyori nodded. "Everyone seems to be struggling..."
"You also seem to be struggling," Leo said frankly.
Hiyori looked surprised. "I'm fine. Others have it worse."
"That might be the problem," Leo pointed out.
"What do you mean?" Sora asked.
"Empathy fatigue," Leo answered. "A state where you become exhausted by over-synchronizing with others' emotions."
Hiyori tried to deny it. "But I can't leave people in trouble."
"I'm not saying to abandon them," Leo explained. "But you don't need to sacrifice yourself."
Sora understood. "Hiyori, are you exceeding your limits?"
Hiyori was silent for a moment. "...I don't know."
Leo said quietly, "There's a concept called boundaries. Psychological lines drawn between yourself and others."
"Boundaries?"
"Deciding how far you get involved, where to draw the line."
Sora added. "Maybe Hiyori doesn't have that line."
Hiyori pondered. "But if I draw a line, won't they think I'm cold?"
"That's a misunderstanding," Leo answered. "Healthy boundaries are necessary to protect relationships."
Sora gave an example. "Like oxygen masks on airplanes. You have to put yours on first before helping others."
Hiyori looked a bit surprised.
Leo continued. "If you become exhausted, you can't help anyone. Self-care is a prerequisite for serving others."
"Self-care..." Hiyori murmured.
Sora asked. "Hiyori, have you done anything for yourself lately?"
Hiyori thought. "...I can't remember."
"That's the problem," Sora said gently.
Leo explained. "Self-care isn't selfish. It's necessary for sustainable support."
Hiyori said quietly, "But if I refuse, my friends might get hurt."
"It's about how you refuse," Leo answered. "Just say honestly 'I don't have capacity right now.'"
Sora agreed. "Real friends will understand."
Hiyori asked anxiously, "But without me, what will that person do?"
Leo said seriously, "That's their problem. You don't have to take full responsibility."
"But..."
"Hiyori," Sora said. "You're not a savior. You're one person."
Hiyori held back tears. "I want to be useful to someone."
"That's wonderful," Leo acknowledged. "But it's not something to do at the cost of destroying yourself."
Sora said quietly, "Kindness should include yourself."
Hiyori cried a little. For the first time in a while, she expressed her own emotions.
Leo brought water. "Empathy and sympathy are different."
"How are they different?" Hiyori asked.
"Empathy is understanding someone's emotions. Sympathy is being swallowed by them."
Sora supplemented. "Empathy is healthy. Sympathy hurts both parties."
Hiyori began to understand. "I might have been sympathizing."
"Probably," Leo nodded. "You were making their suffering your own."
Hiyori took a deep breath. "How can I have healthy empathy?"
"Maintain distance," Leo answered. "Understand the other person while protecting your own emotions."
Sora gave an example. "Therapists empathize with clients but don't assimilate."
Hiyori nodded. "I understand. I need boundaries."
"Yes," Leo confirmed. "And it's for both yourself and others."
Sora smiled. "Your kindness is precious, Hiyori. But don't forget kindness to yourself."
Hiyori smiled slightly. "Thank you. I learned something important today."
Leo said, "When kindness hurts, it's a sign to review your boundaries."
The three sat quietly. They understood today that true kindness is consideration for all people, including oneself.