"I don't want to choose either."
Haru covered her face with both hands.
Ren quietly asked. "Two options?"
"Club activities. Which to join, A or B."
Simon became interested. "What about not choosing?"
"That's easier, but..." Haru hesitated.
"But you think it's not allowed?" Ren pointed out.
"Yes. Feels like running away."
Simon philosophically questioned. "Is not choosing really not a choice?"
Haru looked up. "Huh?"
"Sartre said, 'Not choosing is also a choice.'"
"But I'm not deciding anything."
Ren explained. "No, you're choosing the position of 'neither.'"
Haru thought. "Position?"
"Neutrality is also an attitude."
Simon supplemented. "In political science, there's a concept called 'decision by inaction.'"
"Inaction?"
"Not acting. But it also produces results."
Haru asked anxiously. "Bad results?"
"Sometimes," Ren admitted. "For example, ignoring injustice."
"That's... bad."
"Why bad?" Simon questioned.
"Could have helped, but didn't."
"So not choosing has responsibility."
Haru understood. "Not choosing also has responsibility?"
"Yes. This is called 'ethics of inaction,'" Ren explained.
"So I absolutely must choose?"
"No, depends on the situation," Simon said.
"Situation?"
"Whether you have the right to choose. Whether you have the duty to choose."
Ren gave an example. "You don't need to decide other people's matters."
"But for my own matters?"
"For your own matters, not choosing is also a choice."
Haru was confused. "Isn't that contradictory?"
"Not contradictory. Difference between rights and duties," Simon clarified.
"Rights and duties?"
"You have the right to choose. But sometimes no duty."
Ren added. "Club activities aren't a duty. Not choosing doesn't trouble anyone."
"But I'm troubled."
"That's important," Simon nodded. "Impact on others versus impact on self."
"If it impacts others, I must choose?"
"More precisely, you have a duty to consider the impact," Ren said.
Haru thought deeply. "So if it doesn't impact anyone?"
"It still impacts your life."
"Impact on life," Haru murmured.
Simon said philosophically, "Heidegger made 'decision' the essence of humanity."
"Decision is essence?"
"Humans are beings who constantly decide among possibilities."
Ren supplemented. "Not deciding is also a decision. But it's passive."
"Passive?"
"Going with the flow. No agency."
Haru asked. "Is agency important?"
"Important," Simon asserted. "Living your life means choosing."
"But what if I'm wrong?"
"Fearing mistakes and not choosing might be a bigger mistake," Ren said.
Haru was surprised. "Not choosing is the biggest mistake?"
"Sometimes. Kierkegaard said, 'Lack of decision is despair.'"
"Despair..."
Simon said gently, "But no need to rush. Time for deliberation is also important."
"Deliberation and avoidance are different?"
"Yes," Ren nodded. "Deliberation is active. Avoidance is passive."
Haru began to understand. "Choosing after thinking versus not choosing are different."
"Accurate," Simon acknowledged.
"Then how long should I think?"
"Can't get perfect information," Ren said. "Decide at some point."
"Scary."
"Naturally scary," Simon smiled. "But that's what living is."
Haru took a deep breath. "Is choosing not to choose permitted?"
"Depends on situation," Ren answered. "But in many cases, it's just escape."
"Being honest with yourself is important," Simon added.
Haru's face showed determination. "Then I'll choose."
"Which?"
"That's... not decided yet," Haru laughed. "But I decided to choose."
Ren and Simon smiled.
"That's the first step."
Choosing not to choose. Sometimes permitted. But in your own life, have the courage to choose.
That was living with agency.