"Having to choose feels heavy."
Haru was staring at career counseling documents.
"Choice is heavy," Ren acknowledged. "That's why many people avoid it."
"Avoid?"
Simon explained. "Have someone else decide. Go with the flow. That's also a choice, but."
Haru looked up. "But that's not okay, right?"
"Not so much not okay, as abandoning freedom."
"Abandoning freedom?"
Ren said, "Sartre said 'Man is condemned to be free.'"
"Freedom is condemnation?"
"Must choose. Can't escape choice. That's the human condition."
Simon supplemented. "And choice comes with responsibility."
Haru asked anxiously, "Responsibility means being blamed if you fail?"
"Not just that," Ren answered. "Taking ownership of your life."
"Taking ownership?"
"Accepting consequences. Not blaming anyone."
Simon added, "The core of existentialism. Taking responsibility for your existence."
Haru pondered. "So if I don't choose, no responsibility?"
"No," Ren denied. "Not choosing is also a choice. And it also has responsibility."
"The choice not to choose?"
Simon gave an example. "Not voting. That's choosing 'I'm fine with whoever wins.'"
"But I just don't want to choose..."
"Intent doesn't matter. Responsibility for consequences remains."
Haru sighed deeply. "No escape."
"That's freedom's price," Ren said quietly.
"Price?"
"Being free means bearing responsibility. They're a set, inseparable."
Simon added, "That's why freedom is heavy. Why many choose bondage."
Haru was surprised. "Choose bondage?"
"Follow rules, tradition, authority. That way, you're freed from the weight of choice."
Ren explained. "But that's self-deception. Ultimately, you're choosing to obey."
Haru was confused. "So what should I do?"
Simon said gently, "Accept the weight of choice."
"Accept?"
"There's no perfect choice. But choosing yourself has meaning."
Noa quietly approached. Apparently she'd been listening.
"Which comes first, freedom or responsibility?" Noa asked.
Ren thought. "...Simultaneous."
"Yes. You have responsibility because you're free. You're free because you have responsibility."
Haru asked. "But if responsibility is too heavy?"
"Heaviness is proof of value," Simon answered.
"Value?"
"You don't feel responsibility for things that don't matter. It feels heavy because it's important."
Noa added, "And freedom is being able to choose important things."
Haru understood slightly. "Freedom isn't doing whatever you want?"
"No," Ren declared. "Freedom is choosing according to your values."
"Values?"
"What you cherish. Deciding that yourself."
Simon said, "Having someone's values imposed is unfreedom."
Haru asked. "So what are my values?"
"Finding that is your task," Noa said quietly.
"Difficult."
"Difficult. But unavoidable," Ren acknowledged.
Simon encouraged. "No need to rush. Choice isn't once-only."
"Huh?"
"Today's choice creates tomorrow's choice. Life is a chain of choices."
Noa supplemented. "And you can also choose again."
Haru was surprised. "Can choose again?"
"Can't completely go back. But can change direction."
Ren said, "So don't seek perfection. Just do your best."
Haru looked at the documents. "So this doesn't have to be perfect?"
"Perfect choice doesn't exist," Simon declared.
"Then what's the standard?"
"The present you, choosing honestly."
Noa said quietly, "Your future self will understand your present self's choice."
Haru smiled. "I feel a bit lighter."
Ren laughed unusually. "That's good. Too heavy and you can't move."
Simon stood up. "Freedom is both blessing and curse. But that's human."
Haru put pen to paper. Not perfect, but honest choice.
Noa said lastly, "By choosing, you become free."
"Choosing is freedom?"
"Yes. In the moment of choice, you're most free."
The three watched. The moment Haru chose her own life herself. That was the divergence point between responsibility and freedom.