"Lately, I've been feeling heavy."
Kaito murmured on the rooftop.
Hiyori sat next to him. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing in particular. That might be the problem," Kaito looked up at the sky.
Sora was observing quietly. "A vague heaviness?"
"Yes. Can't explain it, but my heart feels heavy."
Hiyori said gently. "I understand that."
"Hiyori-san too?" Kaito was surprised.
"Yes. There are days when my heart feels heavy for no particular reason."
Sora explained. "Psychological burden doesn't necessarily have a clear cause."
"Then what should I do?" Kaito asked.
Hiyori thought. "I try to focus on small things."
"Small things?"
"For example, right now, the wind feels nice."
Kaito felt the wind. "True... it feels nice."
Sora added. "That's the mindfulness approach. Directing awareness to this present moment."
"But does that make your heart lighter?" Kaito wondered.
Hiyori smiled. "It might not change immediately. But even for just a moment, it becomes lighter."
Sora explained. "Heaviness of heart often comes from thoughts about the past or future."
"Regret and anxiety," Kaito understood.
"Yes. But this present moment often has no actual problems."
Kaito looked around. "True, right now is peaceful."
Hiyori said. "Moments when the heart lightens might not be things to search for, but things to notice."
"Notice?"
Sora gave examples. "Morning coffee aroma, favorite music, a friend's smile."
"Small joys in daily life," Hiyori added.
Kaito thought. "But when feeling heavy, I can't notice those things."
"Exactly," Sora acknowledged. "That's why conscious practice to look for them is needed."
Hiyori suggested. "Today, would you try finding three moments when your heart lightened even a little?"
"Three?" Kaito asked.
"Just three is fine. They don't have to be big things."
Sora supplemented. "By recording, the ability to notice grows."
Kaito opened his phone's memo. "I'll try."
"You already found the first one," Hiyori smiled.
"Huh?"
"Just now, the wind feeling nice."
Kaito wrote it down. "Rooftop wind."
Sora said quietly. "Moments when the heart lightens don't need to be special."
"Rather, there are many in daily life," Hiyori added.
Kaito looked out the window. "But I was missing them."
"Everyone misses them," Sora said. "That's why being conscious is important."
Hiyori asked. "Kaito-san, is there anything you're looking forward to this week?"
"Looking forward to..." Kaito thought. "There's a show I like on Friday."
"That's also a reservation for a moment when your heart will lighten," Hiyori said.
Sora explained. "Anticipation for the future also reduces present heaviness."
Kaito's expression brightened a bit. "Come to think of it, I'm looking forward to tonight's dinner too."
"That's good," Hiyori smiled.
Sora added. "Heaviness of heart doesn't need to disappear all at once. It's fine if it lightens little by little."
Kaito took a deep breath. "I feel like my shoulders relaxed."
"That's also a moment when the heart lightens," Hiyori pointed out.
"This present moment," Sora said quietly.
The three sat quietly. The rooftop wind, distant bird sounds, the presence of friends.
Kaito wrote in his memo. "Second: talking with Hiyori-san and Sora-san."
Hiyori said happily. "Thank you."
Sora continued. "Connection with people is also a major element that lightens the heart."
Kaito asked. "But will this lightness last?"
"It might not last," Sora answered honestly. "But you can find it again."
Hiyori added. "There are infinite moments when the heart lightens. If you keep noticing."
Kaito looked up at the sky. "Not seeking, but noticing."
"Exactly," Sora nodded.
Hiyori said. "It's okay to have days when your heart feels heavy. But there are always moments when it lightens."
Kaito closed his phone. "The third, I'll find from now."
"Good attitude," Sora acknowledged.
The three left the rooftop. Their hearts weren't completely light. But the air felt a bit lighter. That was enough.