"Mira really never says anything."
Kaito said with slight irritation. In the cafeteria, Mira was just drinking her tea.
Sora quietly observed. "Silence has various meanings."
"But I have no idea what she's thinking," Kaito continued.
Hiyori calmly intervened. "Kaito, isn't that anxiety about the other person not speaking?"
"Anxiety?"
"People want to fill silence," Sora explained. "Emptiness creates anxiety."
Mira wrote something in her notebook. "Thinking."
Kaito read it. "Thinking about what?"
Mira wrote again. "How to put it into words."
Sora nodded. "For introverts, the process of choosing words takes time."
Hiyori supplemented, "Extroverts think while talking, but introverts tend to think before talking."
Kaito was a bit surprised. "There's such a difference?"
"In psychology, this is called a difference in information processing style," Sora explained. "Neither is right or wrong."
Mira showed a new note. "Silence isn't rejection."
Hiyori read gently, "That's right. Silence doesn't necessarily mean no."
"Then what does it mean?" Kaito asked.
Sora enumerated, "Thinking, organizing emotions, searching for appropriate words, or simply preferring quietness."
"I don't understand, so I want to tell them to speak up," Kaito admitted.
Hiyori explained, "That's a manifestation of communication anxiety. Being afraid of silence, so trying to fill it with words."
Mira stared at Kaito. Then wrote, "When rushed, I can't speak even more."
Kaito had a realization. "I see. Sorry."
Sora analyzed, "When you pressure silent people, psychological safety is lost."
"Psychological safety?"
"An environment where you feel it's okay to express yourself," Hiyori answered. "Without it, people retreat further into their shells."
Kaito reflected. "I was cornering Mira."
Mira shook her head. Then wrote, "I'm happy you're trying to understand."
Sora smiled. "Understanding differences in communication styles is the first step."
Hiyori asked Kaito, "Why does silence make you anxious?"
Kaito thought. "Probably... because I think I'm being disliked."
"You interpret silence as rejection," Sora understood.
"But Mira doesn't actually dislike me."
Mira nodded. Then wrote, "I think of you as a friend."
Kaito showed a relieved expression.
Hiyori explained, "In some cultures, silence is an expression of empathy and consideration. Japan's concept of 'understanding without words' is like that."
Sora added, "Even without words, there's value in sharing existence."
Kaito looked at Mira. "So I don't need to force her to talk?"
"Exactly," Hiyori nodded. "Waiting is also part of communication."
Mira slowly wrote, "Someday, I want to be able to talk more."
"You don't need to rush," Hiyori said gently. "At your own pace."
Sora shared her observation. "Silent people are often deep thinkers. They seek meaningful dialogue rather than superficial conversation."
Kaito understood. "So that's why Mira doesn't engage in idle chat."
Mira smiled. An unusual expression for her.
Hiyori concluded, "Respecting silence is respecting that person."
Sora added, "And there are many messages in silence too."
Kaito said to Mira, "From now on, I'll wait patiently."
Mira nodded slightly. Then wrote, "Thank you."
The four quietly drank their tea. Silence is never empty. It can sometimes convey something beyond words. Today, they learned that.