Mira showed her notebook. Words were erased and rewritten many times.
"What's wrong?" Hiyori asked.
Mira shook her head. She seemed unable to speak.
Sora observed. "There are emotions you can't put into words."
Mira nodded. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Hiyori sat quietly. "You don't have to force them into words."
Mira looked surprised.
"Emotions don't always become words," Hiyori continued.
Sora supplemented. "In psychology, there's a concept called 'alexithymia.'"
"Alexithymia?" Hiyori asked.
"A characteristic where recognizing or verbalizing emotions is difficult."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "Is that me?"
Hiyori said gently. "It's a characteristic, not a disorder. Everyone has it to varying degrees."
"Sometimes I don't understand my own emotions either," Sora said.
Mira's expression showed relief.
"For example," Hiyori continued, "when you're not feeling well, you might not be able to distinguish if it's from anxiety or sadness."
Sora nodded. "Emotions and bodily sensations mix together and can't be separated."
Mira wrote. "My chest hurts. But I don't know why."
"Exactly that," Hiyori acknowledged.
Sora asked. "Mira, what are you feeling now?"
Mira pondered. A long silence.
"I don't know," she wrote.
"Not knowing is an answer," Hiyori said.
Mira showed a confused expression.
"Emotions aren't always clearly identifiable," Hiyori explained. "Accepting ambiguity is also important."
Sora asked. "But if you can't put it into words, you can't convey it, right?"
"Words aren't the only means," Hiyori answered.
Mira looked up.
"Music, pictures, movement, silence. There are many forms of expression."
Mira began drawing in her notebook. Abstract lines and colors.
Hiyori and Sora watched quietly.
After a few minutes, Mira stopped.
"Is this your current feeling?" Hiyori asked gently.
Mira nodded.
Sora looked at the picture. "Confusion and a little hope. That's the feeling I get."
Mira looked at Sora with surprise. "Yes," she wrote.
"Even without words, it was conveyed," Hiyori smiled.
Tears fell from Mira's eyes. But they didn't seem to be sad tears.
"Verbalizing emotions is a skill," Sora said. "It can improve with practice."
"How do you practice?" Hiyori asked.
"First, increase emotion vocabulary. Not just happy and sad, but knowing more detailed words."
Mira started taking notes.
"For example," Sora continued, "sadness also has types like loss, disappointment, melancholy, despair."
Hiyori supplemented. "And connect bodily sensations with emotions."
"Bodily sensations?"
"Like a tightening stomach is anxiety, warmth in the chest is joy."
Mira wrote. "Heavy chest = sadness?"
"Possibly," Hiyori said. "But it varies by person. Listening to your body's voice is important."
Sora proposed. "Keeping an emotion journal is also effective."
"What kind of content?"
"At the end of the day, write three emotions you felt. Simple words are fine at first."
Mira showed interest.
"Then record why you felt those emotions and where in your body you felt them."
Hiyori said. "Over time, you'll see your emotional patterns."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "I'll try it."
"Don't push yourself," Hiyori said gently. "It's okay to have days when things won't become words."
Sora nodded. "Rather, acknowledging what can't be worded is the first step in self-understanding."
Mira wrote a question. "Why do we need to put emotions into words?"
Hiyori thought. "Good question."
"It's not always necessary," Sora answered. "But putting them into words makes emotions easier to control."
"Control?"
"Rather than being swallowed by emotions, you can observe them."
Hiyori gave an example. "If you can say 'I am angry,' you can separate anger from yourself."
Mira showed an understanding expression.
"Verbalization is a means to distance yourself from emotions," Sora supplemented.
Hiyori said quietly. "But not all emotions can be verbalized."
"The limits of words?" Sora asked.
"Yes. Especially when complex emotions or conflicting emotions mix, words can't fully express them."
Mira nodded. It seemed to overlap with her experience.
"So," Hiyori continued, "having multiple forms of expression is important."
Sora said. "Words, art, bodily expression, connection with people."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "I have pictures."
"That's a wonderful strength," Hiyori smiled.
Sora asked. "But sometimes words are necessary too, right?"
"That's true," Hiyori acknowledged. "Especially to connect deeply with others."
Mira wrote. "I'll practice, little by little."
"Don't rush," Hiyori encouraged. "Verbalizing emotions is lifelong learning."
Sora looked outside. "Words are imperfect, but they're tools to build bridges."
Mira smiled. Today, she faced emotions that couldn't become words. She couldn't express them perfectly, but she felt understood.
"Thank you," Mira said softly.
Those two words held many emotions. Even with few words, hearts can connect.
Hiyori answered gently. "Likewise. We learned together."
Days when emotions can't catch up with words. But even so, people can connect.