"It won't work anyway."
Kaito declared.
"It hasn't even started yet?" Sora pointed out.
"But it's always like that."
"Always?"
"Yeah. It'll fail anyway. It's no good anyway. I won't be recognized anyway."
Hiyori asked with concern, "Kaito, you use 'anyway' a lot, don't you?"
"Do I?"
"Lately, very much."
Sora wrote in her notebook: "'Anyway' = Expression of defensive pessimism"
"Defensive pessimism?" Kaito asked.
"A defense strategy that reduces the damage of actual failure by predicting failure."
"Defense?"
"Yes. If you think 'it's no good anyway' beforehand, the shock is smaller when it really doesn't work."
Hiyori understood. "If you don't expect, you won't be disappointed."
"More precisely, you're pre-empting disappointment," Sora explained.
Kaito countered, "But things really don't work out often."
"That might be a self-fulfilling prophecy."
"Self-fulfilling prophecy?"
"A phenomenon where your prediction changes your behavior, and as a result, the prediction becomes reality."
Sora drew a diagram.
"'It's no good anyway' → Motivation drops → Insufficient preparation → Failure → 'See, it was no good.'"
Kaito realized. "Am I making it fail myself?"
"Unconsciously, yes. But that's also a form of defense."
"Defense? Even though I'm failing?"
"Predictable failure is psychologically easier than uncontrollable failure."
Hiyori said gently, "But Kaito, you look like you're suffering."
"I am suffering," Kaito admitted. "But being disappointed after expecting is even worse."
"That fear creates 'anyway,'" Sora pointed out.
Kaito asked, "So what should I do?"
"First, become aware of 'anyway.'"
"Aware?"
"When you're about to say 'anyway,' stop. Then question whether it's really true."
Hiyori gave an example. "Not 'It's no good anyway' but 'It might not work. But there's a possibility.'"
"Possibility..." Kaito repeated.
"Think in gradations, not zero or a hundred," Sora explained.
"Gradations?"
"Between complete success and complete failure, there are countless results. 'Anyway' makes those invisible."
Kaito pondered. "True, sometimes things work out a little."
"Yes. But 'anyway' ignores that 'a little.'"
Hiyori asked, "When did you start using 'anyway'?"
Kaito remembered. "In middle school, in club... I failed many times."
"The defense from that time became habitual," Sora understood.
"Habitual?"
"It was useful then. But now it's binding you."
Kaito sighed. "How can I stop?"
"You don't have to completely stop," Sora said.
"What?"
"Defensive pessimism is sometimes useful. The problem is when it becomes your only strategy."
"Other strategies?"
"There's strategic optimism. Think 'It might work' and prepare."
Hiyori added, "Being able to use both is important."
"Yes. Being able to choose pessimism or optimism depending on the situation."
Kaito asked, "How do I choose?"
"When risk is high and preparation is needed, think pessimistically and prepare. But when something is worth challenging, act optimistically."
"Balance..."
"Yes. Not automatically using 'anyway,' but consciously choosing."
Kaito took a deep breath. "For tomorrow's test, I was thinking 'it's no good anyway.'"
"And now?" Sora asked.
"'It might not go well. But if I study from now, it might get a little better.'"
"Perfect," Hiyori smiled.
"I'm still a little scared though."
"Being scared is okay," Sora nodded. "Expecting is taking a risk."
"But that risk also opens possibilities," Hiyori continued.
Kaito smiled. "Not 'anyway' but 'maybe.'"
"Good reframing," Sora acknowledged.
The three decided to continue their journey to find balance between hope and reality.
"Anyway" was defense. But "maybe" is a key that opens doors.