"I couldn't refuse a request again."
Hiyori said in a tired voice. Her usual smile was gone.
Sora looked worried. "Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"
"I'm fine," Hiyori tried to smile. But the smile was awkward.
Kaito asked bluntly, "You don't look fine at all."
Hiyori fell silent. After a while, she said in a small voice, "I'm tired."
"Of what?" Sora asked gently.
"Of being expected."
Sora and Kaito looked at each other. For the always-devoted Hiyori to say such a thing.
"Hiyori, everyone relies on you," Sora said.
"That's... heavy," Hiyori answered honestly. "They always say 'if it's Hiyori.'"
"Isn't that being trusted?" Kaito asked.
"Maybe so," Hiyori nodded. "But the pressure to meet their trust..."
Sora opened her notebook. "It might be social role overload."
"Role?"
"Hiyori has taken on the role of 'listener' and 'supporter,'" Sora explained. "Everyone unconsciously expects that."
Hiyori listened quietly.
"But roles aren't fixed," Kaito said. "Can't you change them?"
"In theory, yes," Hiyori answered. "But I'm afraid of betraying expectations."
"Why?" Sora asked.
"They might dislike me. I might not be needed anymore."
Kaito was surprised. "Even you think about that?"
"Everyone does," Hiyori laughed a little. "No one is perfect."
Sora asked, "Hiyori, what do you really want to do?"
Hiyori thought deeply. After a long silence, she answered, "I don't know. I've only thought about meeting others' expectations."
"You've lost sight of your own wishes?"
"Maybe so."
Kaito said straight, "Isn't that dangerous?"
Sora supplemented, "It might be a precursor to burnout."
"Burnout?" Hiyori asked.
"Burnout syndrome," Sora explained. "A state where emotions become numb from excessive stress."
Hiyori reflected on herself. "Recently, nothing feels enjoyable. No sense of accomplishment either."
"That's a warning sign," Sora had a serious face.
Kaito suggested, "How about practicing saying no?"
"Saying no?" Hiyori sounded anxious.
"Not everything," Sora said. "Start small. Only when it's truly impossible."
"But if I refuse..."
"Nothing will happen," Kaito declared. "I refuse all the time, and people still talk to me."
Sora laughed. "That's true."
Hiyori thought. "But if I refuse, they might be disappointed."
"That might be your assumption," Sora pointed out. "A cognitive distortion."
"Assumption?"
"Yes. The belief that 'if I don't meet expectations, I'll be disliked.' But is that really true?"
Hiyori thought silently.
Kaito said, "Even if you refuse, Hiyori, I'd still like you the same."
"Me too," Sora nodded. "Rather, seeing you push yourself is more painful."
Tears welled up in Hiyori's eyes. "Really?"
"Really," Kaito said. "You don't have to be perfect."
Sora said gently, "Hiyori, your value isn't in 'what you do.' It's in 'being here' itself."
Hiyori cried quietly.
After a while, Hiyori looked up. "Thank you. No one has ever said that to me."
"We might have thought you knew without saying," Kaito reflected.
Sora wrote in her notebook. "Self-worth is based on being, not doing."
Hiyori looked at it. "It's difficult, but I'll remember."
"Take it slow," Sora encouraged. "Next time, try refusing a small request."
"I'll try," Hiyori decided.
Kaito laughed. "Want to practice how to refuse?"
"Eh?"
"Role-play. I'll make an unreasonable request, and you refuse."
Hiyori laughed. A real smile. "That might be good."
The three began practicing. It was awkward at first, but gradually became easier.
"Sorry, I'm a bit busy today," Hiyori said.
"Oh, that's good," Kaito applauded.
Sora smiled. "You're refusing without guilt."
Hiyori looked relieved. "I might actually be able to say it."
The sunset was falling outside the window. Being expected is nice. But that's not everything. Knowing and communicating your limits. That's important growth too.
"Today, I moved forward one step," Hiyori said.
"Keep going without pushing yourself," Sora answered.
Kaito nodded. "Hiyori can just be Hiyori."
Hiyori took a deep breath. Meeting expectations is important. But protecting yourself is also important. The journey to find that balance had begun.