"Mira always has walls."
At Leo's words, Mira froze.
Sora and Hiyori were also at the library table.
"Walls?" Mira asked back quietly.
"Emotional walls," Leo continued. "When I try to get close, you create distance."
Hiyori intervened quietly. "Leo, that might sound aggressive."
"Not an attack," Leo said. "I just want to understand."
Mira looked down. "I might have walls."
Sora said gently, "There are reasons for building walls."
Hiyori began explaining. "Psychological walls are defense mechanisms to protect yourself."
"Defense mechanisms?" Leo asked.
"Protection systems the mind unconsciously creates to avoid being hurt."
Mira said quietly, "I keep distance from the start because I don't want to be hurt."
"That's a natural response," Hiyori acknowledged. "Especially if you've been hurt in the past."
Sora opened her notebook. "But walls and boundaries are different, right?"
"Sharp," Hiyori nodded. "Walls block everything. Boundaries selectively let things through."
Leo understood. "Walls are defense, boundaries are management."
"Exactly," Hiyori continued. "Boundaries are healthy. Walls might be excessive defense."
Mira asked, "Are my walls excessive?"
"Only you can judge that," Hiyori said gently. "If walls protect you, they might be necessary."
"But," Sora added, "if walls create loneliness, it might be time to reconsider."
Mira thought. "I do feel lonely."
Leo apologized. "My initial words were harsh. Sorry."
"No," Mira shook her head. "It's the truth."
Hiyori explained, "You build walls because you don't want to show vulnerability."
"Vulnerability?"
"Weakness, imperfection, being easily hurt. Trying to hide those."
Sora added, "But vulnerability is also proof of humanity."
"No one is perfect," Hiyori continued. "Acknowledging vulnerability creates real connections."
Mira said softly, "If I show vulnerability, I'll be attacked."
"Did you have such experiences in the past?" Hiyori asked gently.
Mira nodded. She didn't put it into words.
Hiyori understood. "Then the wall might have been necessary protection."
"But now?" Sora asked.
"Is it still necessary?" Mira questioned herself.
Leo said, "We won't attack."
"How can I believe that?" Mira asked honestly.
"Trust takes time," Hiyori answered. "You can only try it gradually."
Sora suggested, "How about starting with small vulnerabilities?"
"Small vulnerabilities?"
"For example, saying 'I'm tired today.' Admitting 'I don't understand this.'"
Hiyori nodded. "In a safe environment, practice lowering walls gradually."
"Is this safe?" Mira asked.
"No place is completely safe," Hiyori answered honestly. "But here are people trying to accept you."
Leo said, "I also have walls."
The three looked at him in surprise.
"Walls of logic," Leo continued. "I block emotions and speak only with logic."
"That's also a defense mechanism," Hiyori understood.
"I'm afraid of showing emotions," Leo admitted. "Might be seen as weakness."
Sora said, "Everyone has some kind of wall."
"Yes," Hiyori nodded. "No one is completely open."
Mira felt a little relieved. "It's not just me."
"Not at all," Leo said. "All humans are vulnerable."
Hiyori explained, "What matters is being able to adjust the thickness and height of walls."
"Adjust?"
"Raising or lowering walls depending on the situation. You don't need the same wall for everyone."
Sora gave examples. "Low walls for close friends, high walls for strangers."
"Flexibility," Hiyori continued. "Fixed walls hinder growth."
Mira asked, "Is there risk in lowering walls?"
"There is," Hiyori answered honestly. "There's a possibility of being hurt."
"Then why lower them?"
"To connect," Sora said. "Real connection is born by sharing vulnerability."
Hiyori added, "There's risk, but also reward. The joy of being understood and accepted."
Leo said, "I'll try lowering my walls a bit too."
"How?" Mira asked.
"Put emotions into words. Saying 'happy,' 'sad,' 'anxious.'"
Hiyori smiled. "That's a good first step."
Mira thought deeply. "I'll try too."
"Don't rush," Hiyori said. "At your own pace."
Sora wrote in her notebook. "Walls aren't bad. But they shouldn't become a prison."
"Exactly," Hiyori acknowledged.
Mira said slowly, "Today, I'm a little scared."
The three waited quietly.
"But," Mira continued, "I'm glad I could talk."
Leo smiled. "That's the first step of lowering walls."
Hiyori nodded. "Small courage creates big change."
Sora said, "We can gradually get closer while respecting each other's walls."
The four sat quietly in the library. Carrying their own walls, yet trying to connect. Not perfect, but that might be what makes us human.
"Walls for self-protection," Mira murmured. "Sometimes necessary."
"But," Leo continued, "we don't have to stay inside walls forever."
"Sometimes venture outside the walls," Sora said.
Hiyori smiled. "We can support that courage in each other."
A quiet understanding flowed among the four. Even with walls, connection is possible. Slowly, at one's own pace.