"I was misunderstood again."
Haru said in a sunken voice.
"How?" Noa asked.
"My joke was taken seriously."
Simon showed interest. "Classic communication problem."
"Why do people misunderstand?"
Noa answered, "Because perfect understanding is impossible."
"Impossible?" Haru was surprised.
"Others' minds aren't directly visible. Can only infer."
Simon added, "In philosophy, called 'problem of other minds.' Can't even prove others' consciousness exists."
"But other people exist, right?"
"Whether they have consciousness is unknowable," Ren said quietly. "Your consciousness is knowable only to you."
Haru was confused. "Then is communication meaningless?"
"No," Noa denied. "Though imperfect, partial understanding is possible."
"Partial?"
"Can't achieve hundred percent understanding, but maybe seventy percent possible."
Simon added, "So misunderstanding is inevitable. Should accept as premise."
Haru voiced anxiety. "But I fear being misunderstood."
"Why fear?" Noa asked.
"...Feels like self is being denied."
"That's the core," Simon pointed out. "Fear of misunderstanding reflects self's instability."
"What do you mean?"
"If self is established, misunderstanding doesn't shake you."
Haru objected. "But others' evaluation matters too?"
"Of course," Noa admitted. "But balance is important. Depending too much on others' evaluation makes misunderstanding threatening."
"Then what should I do?"
Ren answered, "Deepen self-understanding. Know yourself who you are."
Simon gave example. "Socrates' 'Know thyself.' Self-awareness creates resistance to misunderstanding."
Haru thought. "But how to prevent misunderstanding?"
"Can't completely prevent," Noa said honestly. "But can reduce."
"How?"
"Speak clearly. Provide context. Confirm."
Simon added, "But misunderstanding still happens. Language's limits."
"Language's limits?"
"Words aren't perfect copy of thought. In translation process, something is lost."
Haru nodded deeply. "What's in my head differs from words from my mouth."
"Yes," Noa admitted. "So try multiple expressions. Explain changing angles."
"But that takes time."
"Deep understanding requires time," Simon said.
Haru stated another anxiety. "Being misunderstood makes me lonely."
"That's true," Noa empathized. "Not being understood creates isolation."
"How to cope?"
"Cherish those who understand you," Simon advised. "No need for everyone to understand."
Haru was surprised. "Not everyone?"
"Rather, being understood by everyone is impossible," Ren said. "Diversity creates misunderstanding."
Noa added, "But diversity is also richness. Much better than homogeneity."
"So accept misunderstanding?"
"Selectively," Simon answered. "In important relationships, make effort to resolve misunderstanding. In others, leave it."
Haru was convinced. "Energy allocation?"
"Yes. Responding to every misunderstanding is impossible."
"But being left misunderstood feels uncomfortable."
"That's natural emotion," Noa admitted. "But time sometimes solves."
"Time?"
"Misunderstood now, but understood later. Because people change."
Simon gave example. "Artists misunderstood during life. Reevaluated after death."
Haru smiled wryly. "After death is too late."
"So while alive, find few who understand."
Haru took deep breath. "Nature of fear of being misunderstood is self's instability?"
"Partly," Noa answered. "But need for recognition also relates."
"Need for recognition?"
"Desire to be recognized, understood. Humans' basic desire."
Simon nodded. "So fear of misunderstanding is universal. Everyone has it."
Haru felt relieved. "Not just me."
"Not at all," Ren smiled. "But coping methods can be learned."
"Like what?"
"View misunderstanding as dialogue opportunity," Noa suggested.
"Opportunity?"
"By asking 'Why did you think so?' you learn other's perspective."
Simon added, "Misunderstanding becomes entry to understanding others."
Haru looked outside. "Don't fear misunderstanding, dialogue?"
"Fear won't disappear," Noa said honestly. "But can face it."
"One step at a time."
"Yes," Simon smiled. "No perfect communication. But effort has value."
Haru stood up. "I'll try talking to person who misunderstood again."
"That's brave," Noa acknowledged.
"Transform fear into action," Haru laughed.
They saw Haru off.
"Battle with misunderstanding never ends," Simon said.
"But worth fighting," Noa answered.
Fear of being misunderstood. It's the flip side of desire to connect.