Does Affection Need a Reason?

"I don't know why I like them."

Haru murmured. Talking about someone.

"Does affection need a reason?" Noa asked.

"Without a reason, it feels uncertain."

"Why?"

"With a reason, I can accept it. Without one, it's uncertain."

Noa thought. "But isn't seeking reasons for emotions strange?"

"Strange?"

"Emotions come before reason. Reasons might be post-hoc."

Haru was surprised. "Post-hoc?"

"In psychology, it's called 'affect heuristic.' Feel first, then search for reasons."

"The order's reversed?"

"Yes. 'I like, so I search for reasons,' not 'I have reasons, so I like.'"

Haru pondered. "So the reasons I give aren't real reasons?"

"They might be real, or might not."

"Ambiguous."

"Because emotions are ambiguous."

Haru asked, "But can we trust affection without reasons?"

"Trustworthiness and presence of reasons are separate."

"Separate?"

"Even with reasons, if those reasons disappear, does affection disappear?"

Haru thought. "Conditional affection?"

"Yes. 'I like because they're kind' — if they're no longer kind?"

"I stop liking."

"That's not affection, but transaction."

Haru was surprised. "Transaction?"

"Like if conditions are met. Dislike if not."

"Harsh."

Noa continued, "Unconditional affection transcends reasons."

"Transcends reasons?"

"Whatever reasons exist or not, you like."

Haru laughed. "Isn't that blind?"

"Blind love. Romantic but also dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Losing judgment. Can't see the other's flaws."

Haru nodded. "Idealization."

"Yes. But some idealization might be necessary for love."

"Necessary?"

"No one's perfect. Idealization helps accept flaws."

Haru thought. "But isn't that false?"

"Not false, but selective attention."

"Seeing the good side?"

"Yes. See the whole, but focus on the good."

Haru asked, "So affection doesn't need reasons?"

"Not necessary, but okay to have."

"Ambiguous."

Noa smiled. "Because affection itself is ambiguous."

"Unverbalizable emotions."

"Limits of verbalization. Wittgenstein's domain."

Haru looked at the window. "Seeking reasons is wanting control?"

"Sharp. Knowing reasons makes you feel you can manipulate."

"But you can't."

"Emotions can't be fully controlled."

Haru pondered. "So just accept affection."

"Acceptance. That's the first step."

"Even if unexplainable?"

"Even if unexplainable. Not everything needs verbalization."

Haru nodded. "Domain of silence."

"Yes. The richness of unwordable emotions."

Noa offered another perspective. "Sartre said, 'Love is absurd.'"

"Absurd?"

"Can't be explained by reason. But it exists."

Haru laughed. "Exists, so it's right?"

"Not about right or wrong, but reality."

"Accept reality."

"Existentialism's foundation."

Haru stood up. "I'll stop searching for reasons."

"You don't have to stop. But don't obsess."

"Reasons are bonus?"

Noa laughed. "Good expression. Not required, but additional."

Haru smiled. "Affection remains a mystery."

"Mystery is good. If everything's known, it's boring."

"Mystery."

"Part of affection's charm."

They left the classroom. Searching for reasons for affection, but no answer found.

Haru murmured, "Like is like. That's all."

"Simple but profound," Noa answered.

Affection beyond reasons. That too is part of being human.