"Without friends, I get anxious."
Haru said softly.
"That's a natural emotion," Simon answered.
"But," Haru continued, "is this dependency?"
Noa asked with interest, "How do you think love and dependency differ?"
"...I don't know."
Simon asked, "Without that friend, can you not function?"
"Function?"
"Can't live daily life, can't maintain yourself."
Haru thought. "Not that extreme. But I feel very lonely."
"Loneliness isn't dependency," Noa said. "Humans are social animals."
"Then what is dependency?"
Simon explained. "A state where self cannot exist without the other."
"Self cannot exist?"
"Identity depends on the other. Their evaluation becomes your value."
Haru became anxious. "I might be like that."
Noa said gently, "It's a matter of degree. Everyone depends on others somewhat."
"Degree?"
"There's healthy dependency and unhealthy dependency."
Simon supplemented. "Interdependence is healthy. Only one side depending is unhealthy."
Haru asked. "Interdependence?"
"Supporting each other. But both also independent."
Noa gave an example. "Can live alone. But together is richer."
"That's love?"
"One form of love," Simon acknowledged. "Complete definition is difficult."
Haru pondered. "So 'I can't live without you' is?"
"Romantic but perhaps dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Noa explained. "Places excessive responsibility on the other. And takes away your own power."
"My own power?"
"Self-determination ability. Power to choose and act alone."
Simon added, "Dependency is also abandoning freedom."
Haru was surprised. "Abandoning freedom?"
"Following the other's judgment. Not deciding yourself."
Noa said quietly, "That might be easy. But you don't grow."
"Growth?"
"Thinking yourself, failing, learning. That's growth."
Haru asked. "But respecting a loved one's opinion?"
"Respect and subordination differ," Simon answered.
"Difference?"
"Respect is considering. Subordination is not having your own opinion."
Noa supplemented. "In healthy relationships, it's okay to disagree."
Haru said anxiously, "If we disagree, they might dislike me."
"That fear is a sign of dependency," Simon pointed out.
"Huh?"
"Excessively seeking the other's approval. Fearing rejection too much."
Noa said gently, "But true love accepts differences."
"Differences?"
"Acknowledging you're separate people. No need to be completely the same."
Haru thought. "So distance is also necessary?"
"Appropriate distance is healthy," Simon nodded.
"Always together isn't good?"
"Time together is also important. But time alone is also needed."
Noa said, "Time being yourself. That maintains individuality."
Haru asked. "Can you maintain individuality while being intimate?"
"That's mature love," Simon answered.
"Sounds difficult."
"Difficult. But possible."
Noa said quietly, "Two independent people choosing to be together. That's beautiful."
Haru understood slightly. "Not together because needed, but because desired?"
"Yes. Not obligation, but desire."
Simon added, "But healthy desire. Not possessing the other, but being together."
Haru laughed. "Too philosophical."
"Love is a philosophical problem," Noa smiled.
"So what should I do?"
Simon advised. "First, practice being alone."
"Alone?"
"Enjoy your own company. Be fulfilled alone."
Noa continued. "And reconsider relationships with friends. Equal or dependent?"
Haru took a deep breath. "Scary, but I'll try."
"Courageous choice," Simon acknowledged.
Noa said lastly, "Love is choice between free people. Not bondage."
Haru looked at the window. "Only after standing alone can you truly walk with someone."
Simon nodded. "Poetic but true."
The three smiled quietly. The boundary between love and dependency lay in the balance between independence and intimacy.