Night in the library. Mira sat alone.
Hiyori found her. "Mira-san, at this hour?"
Mira didn't answer.
Sora and Leo also approached. "What's wrong?"
"I can't trust anyone," Mira said quietly.
Hiyori sat next to her. "What happened?"
"Someone I thought was a close friend betrayed me."
Leo asked quietly, "In what way?"
"They told my secret to other people. I trusted them."
Sora thought. "Betrayal experiences fundamentally shake trust."
"I don't want to trust anyone anymore," Mira continued.
Hiyori said gently, "I understand that feeling."
"Really?"
"I had the same thing happen long ago," Hiyori confided. "Betrayed by someone I trusted."
Mira looked at Hiyori. "But Hiyori-san trusts people."
"Now, yes. But it took time."
Sora began explaining. "In psychology, there's a lot of research on trust formation and destruction."
"How is trust formed?" Mira asked.
"According to attachment theory, childhood experiences form the foundation," Sora answered.
Leo supplemented, "If parents and caregivers are trustworthy, it's easier to trust others."
"Conversely, if betrayed in childhood?"
"Basic trust doesn't form easily," Sora answered. "But that's not absolute."
Hiyori added, "Later experiences can modify it."
Mira asked, "How?"
"Little by little, accumulate small trusts," Hiyori explained.
"Small trusts?"
"Don't reveal everything at first. Gradually test the other person."
Leo gave an example. "Share a small secret. If they keep it, trust increases."
"Gradual self-disclosure," Sora supplemented.
Mira thought. "But what if I'm betrayed again?"
"That's possible," Hiyori answered honestly. "But not everyone betrays."
Sora presented statistics. "Research shows most people are trustworthy."
"Most?"
"No one is perfect. But the majority don't intentionally betray."
Leo added, "Many betrayals come not from malice, but from immaturity or misunderstanding."
Mira asked, "So this betrayal too?"
"Maybe," Hiyori said. "That person might not have understood the weight of the secret."
"Still, betrayal is betrayal," Mira objected.
"Of course," Sora acknowledged. "The fact that Mira-san was hurt is real."
"But distrusting everyone based on one experience?"
Mira answered quietly, "Overgeneralization, maybe."
"Sharp," Sora smiled.
Hiyori asked, "Mira-san, can you trust us?"
Mira pondered. "...A little."
"That's fine," Hiyori said. "Little by little is good."
Leo explained, "Trust is an exchange of vulnerability."
"Exchange of vulnerability?"
"Showing weakness to each other. That deepens trust."
Sora supplemented, "One-sided self-disclosure is risky. Mutual disclosure is safe."
Mira asked, "So if I know the other person trusts me too?"
"It becomes easier to trust," Hiyori answered.
"But how do I know?"
"Show through actions," Leo said. "Not just words, but consistent actions."
Sora added, "Trustworthy people keep promises. Keep secrets. Support you."
Mira thought. "That will take time."
"Taking time is natural," Hiyori said. "No need to rush trust."
Leo supplemented, "Rather, carefully building trust lasts longer."
Sora explained, "In psychology, trust repair is also studied."
"Trust repair?"
"Reconstructing once-broken trust."
Mira asked, "Is that possible?"
"Case by case," Hiyori answered. "If the betrayer sincerely apologizes and changes behavior."
"But it doesn't completely return to before," Sora said honestly.
"Scars remain," Leo added.
Mira said quietly, "Then what should I do?"
"Build new trust relationships," Hiyori proposed. "Different from the past, new relationships."
Sora supplemented, "Learn from past betrayal and trust more wisely."
"Trust wisely?"
"Carefully choose whom to trust, what to share."
Leo said, "You don't need to tell everything to everyone."
Hiyori added, "Trust has levels."
Mira understood. "A lot to close friends, a little to acquaintances."
"Exactly," Sora acknowledged.
Outside the window, the moon was rising.
"The night when I cannot trust others," Mira murmured. "But maybe someday I can trust."
"You definitely can," Hiyori smiled.
"Little by little," Leo added.
Sora said quietly, "Trust is the foundation of relationships. Without it, loneliness."
"But trust involves risk," Hiyori acknowledged.
"The courage to take that risk connects people."
Mira took a deep breath. "I'll try again."
"Don't rush," Hiyori said gently. "Start here."
The three quietly nodded. Trust is fragile and takes time to build. But still worth building.