"I have a presentation tomorrow."
Mira spoke up unusually. In the library, Sora and Leo looked up in surprise.
"Presentation?" Sora asked.
"In psychology class. But..." Mira trailed off.
"Anxious?" Leo sensed.
Mira nodded slightly.
Sora said quietly. "It's surprising that Mira-san feels anxious."
"Why?" Mira asked.
"Because you're always calm."
Mira smiled bitterly. "Appearance and interior are different."
Leo showed interest. "What are you anxious about?"
"I feel I can't do it perfectly," Mira answered honestly. "I should have prepared enough. But I'm still anxious."
Sora thought. "Perfectionism?"
"Probably," Mira admitted.
"Perfectionism becomes a source of anxiety," Sora explained. "When you seek perfection, you constantly feel inadequate."
Leo supplemented. "Because perfection is a non-existent goal."
"But," Mira said. "I have to present even though I'm anxious."
Sora nodded quietly. "That's reality. If you wait for anxiety to disappear, you can't do anything."
"Moving forward with anxiety," Leo said. "That's the definition of courage."
Mira was surprised. "Courage?"
"Courage isn't the absence of fear," Leo explained. "It's acting despite fear."
Sora gave an example. "Actors also get nervous before going on stage. But they still go on stage."
"Not trying to eliminate anxiety, but acting together with anxiety," Mira understood.
"Exactly," Sora acknowledged.
Mira thought. "But doesn't anxiety decrease performance?"
"Interesting question," Leo said. "Moderate anxiety actually improves performance."
"Really?"
Sora explained. "The Yerkes-Dodson law. Moderate arousal level produces the best performance."
"Without any anxiety, you lack focus," Leo added. "But if anxiety is too strong, function decreases instead."
"Balance," Mira murmured.
"Yes. Your anxiety is probably at a moderate level," Sora said.
Mira wrote something in her notebook. "Anxiety is not an enemy."
"Rather, it's proof that you value the presentation," Leo said.
Sora continued. "You don't need to aim for perfection. Doing your best is enough."
"Best and perfect are different?" Mira asked.
"Perfect is an absolute standard. Best is the optimal you can do right now," Sora explained.
Leo nodded. "Best is achievable. Perfect is an illusion."
Mira took a deep breath. "I feel a bit lighter."
"By accepting anxiety, paradoxically anxiety decreases," Sora said.
"Why?"
"Because fighting anxiety strengthens anxiety. By accepting, you don't waste energy."
Mira smiled quietly. "Tomorrow, I'll present together with anxiety."
"Good resolution," Leo acknowledged.
Sora added. "After the presentation, regardless of the result, praise yourself."
"Why?" Mira asked.
"For the courage to act despite anxiety."
Mira nodded. "I understand."
Leo said. "I'm always anxious too. As an exchange student, I can't speak perfect German or Japanese."
"But Leo-san always seems confident," Mira said.
"That's not because I have no anxiety. It's because I accept anxiety."
Sora supplemented. "Growth always comes with anxiety. It only exists outside the comfort zone."
Mira closed her notebook. "Days of moving forward with anxiety. Those are days of growth."
"Exactly," Sora smiled.
Leo stood up. "I'll be cheering for you tomorrow."
"Thank you," Mira said quietly. "Talking with you both, I feel I understand how to deal with anxiety."
Sora said. "Anxiety isn't something that stops you, it's a sign of growth."
The three left the library. Tomorrow's presentation, Mira will face it with anxiety. But that's okay. Moving forward with anxiety is true courage.