"The relationship between senior and junior is not equal, right?"
Ren said. In the club room, alone with Simon.
"Do you think it should be equal?" Simon asked back.
"...I do not know. But inequality feels wrong."
"Interesting premise," Simon smiled. "Why is equality good?"
Ren thought. "Kant said to treat humans as ends, not means."
"The categorical imperative. But does that mean equality?"
"In the sense of respect."
Simon nodded. "Respect and equality are different. Are parent and child equal?"
"...Not equal. But can respect."
"Yes. Relationships have natural asymmetry."
Ren objected. "But asymmetry leads to domination."
"Not always," Simon countered. "Levinas said, 'The other is higher than me.'"
"Higher?"
"In ethical sense. The face of the other imposes responsibility on me."
Ren was confused. "But that is not equal."
"A deeper relationship than equality," Simon said seriously. "Equality means exchangeability."
"Exchange?"
"Market logic. Equivalent exchange. But human relationships are not equivalent exchange."
Ren began to understand. "What is given and received are not the same?"
"Yes. Parents give to children. Without expecting return."
"But is that not inequality?"
"Quantitative inequality. But qualitatively may be equal."
Noa came in. "What are you talking about?"
"Equality in human relationships," Ren answered.
Noa sat down. "Difficult theme."
"What do you think, Noa?" Simon asked.
"Relationships have various dimensions."
"Dimensions?"
"Dimension of power, dimension of emotion, dimension of ethics."
Ren showed interest. "Think separately?"
"In terms of power, senior and junior are not equal. But emotionally may be equal."
Simon supplemented. "Foucault said, 'Power is ubiquitous in all relationships.'"
"In all relationships?"
"Yes. Completely equal relationships do not exist. There are always subtle power differences."
Ren resisted. "So equality is impossible?"
"Formal equality is possible," Noa said. "Equality before law, equality of voting rights."
"But substantially?"
"Always differences. Knowledge, experience, physical strength, wealth."
Simon continued. "Rawls proposed 'justice as fairness.'"
"Fairness?"
"Not complete equality, but inequality is permitted only when it benefits the least advantaged."
Ren thought. "The teacher-student relationship?"
"Teacher has more knowledge. But that inequality benefits the student."
"So permitted?"
"In Rawlsian terms, yes."
Noa offered another perspective. "But the desire for equality is important."
"Why?"
"Buber said, 'I-Thou relationship.' See the other as subject, not object."
"Subject?"
"Being with will and emotion. That is 'Thou.'"
Ren understood. "Not treating as thing."
"Yes. That is respect," Simon nodded. "Even if not equal, can respect."
"So the ideal relationship is?"
Noa answered. "I think reciprocity."
"Reciprocity?"
"Neither only giving nor only receiving. Bidirectional flow."
Simon gave an example. "Senior gives knowledge. Junior gives fresh perspective."
"Not equal but reciprocal?"
"Yes. Exchanging different things."
Ren was convinced. "Not quantity but quality."
"Ricoeur taught 'mutual recognition,'" Noa continued. "Recognizing each other."
"Recognize?"
"Existence and value. That is the foundation of relationships."
Simon said quietly. "Equality is not the goal. Mutual respect is the goal."
Ren took a deep breath. "I was too fixated on equality."
"Humans are essentially different," Noa smiled. "Acknowledge and respect the differences."
"Affirm differences?"
"Yes. Diversity creates richness."
Ren looked at the window. "So my relationship with Simon-senpai too."
"Not equal. But reciprocal," Simon said. "I also learn much from you."
"Really?"
"Really. Your questions are sharp. They stimulate thought."
Noa laughed. "That is a good relationship."
Ren smiled. "Even if not equal, can dialogue."
"That is the essence of human relationships," Simon nodded.
The three sat quietly.
Different positions, different experiences, different perspectives.
But in the same space, thinking about the same theme.
That may be the beauty of relationships.