"Phew..."
Kaito let out a big breath. The results of his submitted report had come back, and his shoulders finally seemed to relax.
"Feel better?" Sora asked.
"So much better. It's like a weight just lifted off."
Hiyori smiled quietly. "That's called catharsis."
"Catharsis?" Kaito repeated.
"Emotional release," Sora explained. "A Greek word meaning purification. It's the phenomenon where accumulated emotions are released and the heart feels lighter."
"Huh. Yeah, it does feel like something was expelled."
Hiyori drew a diagram in her notebook. "In psychology, we believe that repressed emotions accumulate as stress."
"Repressed?"
"Holding back. Not being able to say what you want to say, or denying what you feel."
Kaito looked like it struck a chord. "Ah, yeah. While writing that report, I kept thinking, 'Why do I have to do this?'"
"You didn't express that frustration, but suppressed it," Sora analyzed.
"And when it was done, it all released at once."
"Exactly," Hiyori nodded. "Emotions are like energy. When you store them up, they need to be released somewhere."
Kaito looked out the window. "But you can't always release them, right?"
"That's right," Hiyori answered. "That's why it's important to find healthy ways to release them."
Sora started making a list. "Exercise, creative activities, talking to someone..."
"Crying is also effective," Hiyori added.
"Crying?" Kaito sounded surprised.
"Tears contain stress hormones. By crying, you can physically expel stress."
"Huh, there's scientific evidence for that."
Sora supplemented, "Laughter is the same. When you laugh, brain chemicals called endorphins are released, making you feel good."
Kaito thought for a moment. "So is it better not to hold back?"
Hiyori answered carefully. "Balance is important. If you release everything, you might damage relationships with others."
"At the appropriate place and timing," Sora added.
"That's difficult," Kaito smiled wryly.
Hiyori said gently, "But becoming aware of your emotions is the first step. Just recognizing what you're feeling makes a difference."
"Just recognizing it?"
"Yes. By putting emotions into words, the prefrontal cortex activates, making emotions easier to control."
Sora wrote in her notebook. "Emotional labeling."
"Right," Hiyori nodded. "Just saying 'I am angry right now' or 'I feel anxious' creates distance from the emotion."
Kaito tried it. "Right now, I'm... relieved."
"That's very good," Hiyori acknowledged.
Sora laughed. "Kaito, your expression looks so much softer than before."
"Really?" Kaito looked embarrassed.
Hiyori continued, "The moment when your heart feels lighter isn't just a mood—it's a chemical change in the brain."
"It can be scientifically proven?"
"Yes. The balance of neurotransmitters changes. Serotonin and dopamine increase, while cortisol decreases."
Sora summarized. "So when the heart feels lighter, it's the process of the brain regaining its natural balance."
"Correct," Hiyori acknowledged.
Kaito took a deep breath. "I feel like I understand my own heart better now."
"That's important," Hiyori smiled. "By knowing the mechanisms of your heart, you can manage it better."
Sora closed her notebook. "When the heart is heavy, there's a reason. And there are ways to lighten it."
"That's hopeful," Kaito said brightly.
The three sat quietly. Soft light streamed through the window. Understanding that both heaviness and lightness of heart are natural parts of brain function made the world look a little different.
"Next time I feel stressed, I'll try to properly recognize it," Kaito said.
"That's a good attempt," Hiyori encouraged.
The moment when the heart feels lighter isn't magic. It's science. And it's a possibility for everyone.