"Which do you choose: what you want to do or what you should do?"
Kaito suddenly asked. In the club room, Hiyori and Mira looked up.
"You're getting philosophical again," Hiyori smiled wryly.
"No, I'm seriously troubled. Band practice and exam prep."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "Internal conflict"
"Yes, that!" Kaito pointed. "Like there's a battle inside my heart."
Hiyori began explaining. "In psychology, when multiple motivations conflict, it's called internal conflict."
"Motivation?"
"Reasons for taking action. Desires, goals, values, etc."
Kaito thought. "In my case, my desire for music and anxiety about the future are fighting."
"That's a typical approach-approach conflict," Hiyori classified.
"Approach-approach?"
Mira drew a diagram. Two circles with a person's drawing in the middle.
"When there are two attractive options," Hiyori explained. "Choosing one means losing the other."
Kaito nodded. "I want both. But there's not enough time."
"Resource constraints," Hiyori said. "Time, energy, money. It's impossible to satisfy everything."
"So what should I do?"
Mira wrote on a new page. "Maslow's hierarchy"
Hiyori understood. "Hierarchy of needs theory."
"What's that?" Kaito asked.
"A theory that human needs have priorities. Physiological needs, safety needs, belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs."
Kaito thought. "Band is self-actualization, and exams are safety needs?"
"In a sense, yes. The desire for future stability versus the desire to live now."
"Which is more important?"
Hiyori said calmly, "Both are important. But there are stages, according to this way of thinking."
Mira completed the diagram. A pyramid-shaped hierarchy was drawn.
"When basic safety is threatened, self-actualization is difficult," Hiyori explained. "But safety alone isn't fulfilling."
Kaito looked confused. "So?"
"It's a matter of balance," Hiyori answered. "Completely ignoring exams or giving up the band—both are extreme."
"Look for the middle ground?"
"Yes. For example, 70% exam prep, 30% band during the week."
Kaito pondered. "But that seems half-hearted."
Mira wrote. "All-or-nothing thinking"
"Good point," Hiyori acknowledged. "The perfectionist trap. Thinking it's meaningless if it's not 100%."
"I might be like that," Kaito admitted.
"But in reality, in most cases, 60% or 70% functions well enough."
Kaito looked out the window. "Wavering between desire and reality. Is that normal?"
"Very normal," Hiyori declared. "There's no life without conflict."
Mira nodded. Then wrote. "I'm wavering too."
Kaito and Hiyori were surprised. It was rare for Mira to talk about herself.
"Between what?" Hiyori asked gently.
After hesitating slightly, Mira wrote. "Want to connect with people. But don't want to get hurt."
Hiyori showed understanding. "Avoidance-avoidance conflict. Choosing between things you want to avoid."
"Loneliness is unpleasant, but relationships are scary too."
Kaito said, "I totally get that."
Mira looked a little surprised.
"I'm scared of performing in front of people too. But I don't want to quit music."
Hiyori smiled. "Everyone's fighting something."
"How should we resolve conflict?" Kaito asked.
Hiyori thought. "Maybe you don't need to completely resolve it. Rather, coexist with conflict."
"Coexist?"
"While continuing to waver, make choices each time. Study today, band tomorrow. Adjust flexibly."
Mira wrote. "Don't fix it."
"Yes. Not deciding once and forever, but changing according to circumstances."
Kaito felt a little relieved. "So I don't have to decide now?"
"Big decisions will come when necessary. But daily choices can be trial and error."
Mira wrote. "Don't deny desires."
Hiyori nodded. "Both desires are parts of yourself. Don't deny them, acknowledge and adjust."
Kaito stood up. "Somehow, I feel better."
"Conflict isn't bad," Hiyori said. "It's proof of having multiple values."
Mira smiled. Wavering isn't weakness. It's being human.
The three left the club room. Days of wavering between desire and reality continue. But that's okay. Moving forward while wavering. That's what living means.