"I can't do this anymore."
Kaito slumped over his desk.
Sora was surprised. "What happened?"
"In the next match, I have to win as captain," Kaito said painfully. "Everyone's expecting it."
Hiyori looked worried. "That's become pressure."
"It's more than pressure," Kaito looked up. "It's a burden."
Leo approached. "Expectations turned into a burden."
"I was happy at first," Kaito said. "Being trusted. But now..."
"Suffocating?" Sora asked.
Kaito nodded. "What if I can't meet expectations?"
Hiyori said quietly, "That's the fear."
Leo opened his notebook. "Expectations have two aspects."
"Two?"
"Expectations as motivation and expectations as pressure."
Sora supplemented, "Moderate expectations improve performance."
"But excessive expectations?" Kaito asked.
"Lower performance," Leo drew a diagram. "An inverted U-shaped relationship."
Hiyori explained, "Too little or too much aren't good. Moderate is best."
Kaito thought. "In my case, too much?"
"That's how you feel?" Sora asked.
"Completely," Kaito admitted. "Even during practice, I keep thinking 'can I meet expectations?'"
Leo pointed out, "That's the problem. You're focusing on results rather than process."
"Aren't results important?"
"They're important, but only thinking about results increases anxiety," Sora said.
Hiyori said gently, "Focusing on what you can do now is more effective."
Kaito tilted his head. "But expectations won't disappear."
"You don't need to erase them," Leo answered. "Change how you receive them."
"How do I change?"
Sora suggested, "Instead of 'I must meet expectations,' think 'I'm grateful for their expectations.'"
Kaito thought. "That's difficult."
"One more thing," Leo continued. "Clarify ownership of expectations."
"Ownership?"
"Whose expectations are they? Others' expectations or your own expectations?"
Kaito pondered. "I thought they were everyone's expectations."
"Are they really?" Hiyori asked. "Aren't you maybe making the expectations bigger on your own?"
Kaito had a realization. "True... no one said 'you must win.'"
"It might be a self-fulfilling prophecy," Sora explained. "You think you're expected, so you feel pressure. Pressure causes mistakes. Then you can't meet expectations."
"A vicious cycle," Kaito understood.
Leo asked, "Have you directly asked your teammates? What they expect?"
"I haven't."
"Then try asking," Hiyori suggested. "The pressure might be less than you think."
Kaito had a little hope. "Maybe so."
Sora spoke from another angle. "Even if you really are expected, that's proof of trust."
"Trust?"
"They expect because they think you can do it," Leo said. "That's not a bad thing."
"But if I fail," Kaito showed anxiety.
"Even if you fail, your value doesn't change," Hiyori declared.
Kaito was surprised. "Really?"
"Really," Sora nodded. "Your value isn't determined by match results."
Leo added, "Doing your best. That's the only thing you can control."
Kaito took a deep breath. "Do my best, huh."
"Results also involve luck," Hiyori said. "But effort is up to you."
Sora encouraged, "And everyone sees you trying, Kaito."
Kaito laughed a little. "I feel lighter somehow."
"You just changed how you receive expectations," Leo said. "The expectations themselves haven't changed."
"But how I feel is different."
"That's the power of cognitive restructuring," Sora explained.
Hiyori said last, "Expectations are proof that people believe in you."
Kaito nodded. "When I think of it that way, it's not so bad."
Leo suggested, "Before the match, remember this."
"Expectations are trust. Just do my best," Kaito summarized.
Sora applauded. "Perfect."
Kaito stood up. "Okay, back to practice."
"Good luck," Hiyori encouraged.
"But don't push too hard," Sora added.
Kaito laughed. "I know."
Wind blew outside the window. Expectations can become burdens. But depending on how you receive them, they can also be encouragement.
"Thanks, everyone," Kaito turned around.
"You're welcome," the three answered.
Leo said last, "Fight not to meet expectations, but for yourself."
Kaito nodded deeply. It was the moment expectations turned from burdens into energy.