"I'm bothered by people's eyes."
Haru murmured softly.
Simon asked with interest, "Why does it bother you?"
"I feel like I'm being evaluated."
Noa said gently, "That's natural. Humans are social animals."
"But," Haru continued, "I don't like being defined by others' eyes."
Simon quoted a philosopher. "Sartre said, 'Hell is other people.'"
"Scary words."
"Others' gaze objectifies me. It steals freedom."
Noa supplemented. "But Sartre himself acknowledged it. Without others, the self doesn't exist either."
Haru was confused. "Is that contradictory?"
"Not contradiction, but ambiguity," Simon said. "Others are both enemy and ally."
"What do you mean?"
Noa explained. "You can't see your own face without a mirror. Others' gaze is the mirror of self-awareness."
"I see," Haru began to understand.
Simon continued. "Hegel's 'dialectic of recognition.' The self is established only when recognized by others."
"Recognition?"
"Being acknowledged. Having your existence affirmed."
Noa gave a realistic example. "Babies know themselves through their parents' gaze. By 'being seen,' they realize 'I exist.'"
Haru nodded deeply. "But when you become an adult, that gaze becomes heavy."
"Expectations, evaluations, criticisms," Simon listed. "Others' gaze isn't simple."
Noa asked, "Are you too conscious of others' eyes, Haru?"
"Probably."
"That's because you lack your own axis," Simon pointed out.
"Axis?"
"The core of self. The part not swayed by others' evaluations."
Noa said gently, "But no one is completely unswayed. It's a matter of degree."
Haru asked, "How do you balance it?"
Simon answered. "Distinguish between important others and others who aren't."
"Important others?"
"People you respect and trust. Their gaze is worth accepting."
Noa added, "But you don't need to worry about strangers' gazes."
Haru smiled wryly. "Easy to say, hard to do."
"Hard," Simon admitted. "But you can train for it."
"Train?"
"Stoic philosophy's teaching. Distinguish what you can control from what you can't."
Noa explained. "You can't control others' evaluations. But you can control your own actions."
Haru understood. "Instead of worrying about others' evaluations, focus on my actions?"
"Exactly," Simon smiled.
Noa showed another perspective. "But ignoring all gazes is also dangerous."
"Why?"
"You become self-righteous. Others' gaze is also an opportunity for self-correction."
Simon nodded. "Balance between humility and confidence."
Haru looked out the window. People walking the street.
"Everyone lives while worrying about someone's eyes."
"Yes," Noa said. "But that's not weakness. It's sociality."
Simon added, "The question is whether you follow blindly or accept critically."
Haru asked, "What does accepting critically mean?"
"Treat others' gaze as information. Not absolute command."
Noa gave an example. "When you receive criticism, think 'I heard one opinion' instead of 'I was completely denied.'"
Haru took a deep breath. "Take distance."
"Psychological distance," Simon said. "Don't identify with others' gaze."
Noa said quietly, "Haru is Haru. Others' evaluations aren't everything."
"But they're part of it?"
"Yes. Neither ignore nor be dominated."
Simon said finally, "Others' eyes define me. But ultimately, I decide myself."
Haru smiled. "A difficult balance, but important."
The three nodded quietly to each other. Understanding a little about the delicate relationship between others and self.