"Kaito-kun, did you pull an all-nighter again?"
Hiyori asked worriedly. Dark circles showed under Kaito's eyes.
"I wanted to make the report perfect," Kaito answered in a tired voice.
Sora observed. "Is there a reason it must be perfect?"
"Yes," Kaito answered immediately. "I don't want to do half-hearted work."
Hiyori said quietly. "But there's no point if you break your body."
"I'm fine," Kaito denied. "This much is okay."
Sora opened the notebook. "I learned about perfectionism."
"Perfectionism? Me?"
"Yes," Sora answered. "Perfectionism is setting high standards and being unable to accept anything else."
Hiyori supplemented. "There's healthy perfectionism and unhealthy perfectionism."
"What's the difference?" Kaito asked.
"Healthy perfectionism has high goals while maintaining flexibility," Sora explained.
"Unhealthy perfectionism thinks you have no value if not perfect."
Kaito fell silent.
Hiyori asked gently. "Why do you seek perfection, Kaito-kun?"
Kaito thought before answering. "Because I want to be recognized."
"By whom?"
"Teachers, friends, parents... everyone."
Sora pointed out. "In other words, you think perfect work = your value."
Kaito nodded. "Isn't that true?"
"No," Hiyori asserted. "Your value is separate from results."
"But without results, I won't be recognized."
Sora objected. "That might be an assumption. A cognitive distortion."
"All-or-nothing thinking," Hiyori explained. "Thinking there's only perfect or failure."
"Actually, there are countless gray zones in between."
Kaito said with a tired face. "But I can't stop. I'm anxious if I don't try hard."
"That's the problem," Sora said. "Perfectionism leads to burnout syndrome."
"Burnout?"
Hiyori enumerated. "Extreme fatigue, loss of achievement, cynical attitude."
"If you keep working at an unsustainable pace, mind and body collapse."
Kaito listened quietly.
Sora asked. "Kaito-san, are you enjoying it now? Studying and activities?"
Kaito thought. "Enjoying... I don't know. It feels like duty."
"Something I have to do."
Hiyori said sadly. "That's not a healthy state."
"Then what should I do?" Kaito asked.
Sora suggested. "First, reconsider the definition of perfect."
"Sometimes 80 points is enough even if not 100."
Hiyori continued. "Next, recognize rest as valuable."
"Resting ≠ being lazy."
Kaito resisted. "But everyone else is trying hard."
"Comparison with others is also a problem," Sora pointed out. "You have your own pace."
Hiyori said gently. "Kaito-kun, please be kind to yourself."
"Kind to myself?"
"Yes. Care for yourself instead of criticizing. Self-compassion."
Sora supplemented. "Don't blame yourself too much for failures. Accept human imperfection."
Kaito said quietly. "But then I won't grow."
"The opposite," Hiyori asserted. "Self-criticism hinders growth."
"Motivation from fear doesn't last."
Sora gave an example. "'I did well again today' is more sustainable than 'I'm worthless if not perfect.'"
Kaito pondered. "Difficult... I've always aimed for perfection."
"Changing habits takes time," Hiyori admitted. "But it's necessary."
Sora suggested. "First, today, go home early and rest."
"The report can be submitted even at 80 points."
Kaito hesitated. "Is that really okay?"
"It is," Hiyori smiled. "Even if not perfect, you have value."
Kaito nodded slightly. "Okay. I'll go home."
Sora and Hiyori saw him off. Letting go of perfection is gaining freedom.