"Another rumor spreading."
Noa murmured. Mio beside her. Silent as usual.
"Rumors are an interesting phenomenon."
Mio nodded slightly.
"What gets conveyed, what gets lost."
Noa was observing. Classmates' conversations.
"Same as the telephone game."
Mio wrote in her notebook. "Transformation."
"Yes. Information changes each time it passes person to person."
"Why change?"
"Imperfect memory. Interpretation differences. Intentional exaggeration."
Mio wrote. "Deterioration?"
"More transformation than deterioration. Not necessarily worse."
"Can improve?"
"Rare, but. Usually distorts though."
Noa continued, "Rumors have patterns."
Mio showed interest.
"Leveling, sharpening, assimilation."
"Leveling?"
"Details disappear. Can't remember everything."
Mio wrote. "Simplification."
"Yes. Complex stories become simple."
"Sharpening?"
"Impressive parts get exaggerated."
Noa gave an example. "'A bit late' becomes 'very late.'"
Mio nodded.
"Assimilation?"
"Changes to match the listener's existing perceptions."
"Stereotypes?"
"Yes. Information bends to fit expectations."
Mio wrote in her notebook. "Truth?"
"Difficult question," Noa thought. "Original truth gets lost somewhere."
"Lost?"
"Each person adds their interpretation. Original form isn't preserved."
Mio wrote. "Then why spread?"
"Because it has social functions."
"Functions?"
"Information sharing. Group cohesion. Entertainment."
Noa looked at the window. "Rumors are a form of communication."
Mio wrote. "Evil?"
"Good or evil depends on context. Some rumors are beneficial."
"For example?"
"Danger warnings. 'That road is dangerous,' etc."
Mio nodded.
"But many harmful rumors too."
"Slander?"
"Yes. Hurting people."
Noa's face turned serious. "Rumors carry responsibility."
Mio asked, "Responsibility?"
"Responsibility of spreaders. Sharing without verification."
"But everyone does it."
"That's the problem. Becoming unconscious perpetrators."
Mio wrote in her notebook. "How prevent?"
"Critical thinking. Habit of doubt."
"Doubt?"
"Don't immediately believe. Verify sources."
Noa continued, "But that's also difficult."
"Why?"
"People believe what they want. Confirmation bias."
Mio wrote. "Then can't stop?"
"Not completely. But awareness can reduce it."
Noa stood up. "Rumors show the power of words."
Mio looked up.
"Words can be weapons. Can be healing."
Mio wrote. "Depends on usage."
"Yes. So take responsibility."
Mio stood up and faced Noa.
Then, unusually, she spoke.
"Silence is also choice."
Noa was surprised. "Mio?"
"Not spreading rumors. That's also one answer."
Noa smiled. "That's right. Not speaking is also power."
Mio nodded.
"What do rumors convey? Not facts, but emotions."
"Emotions?"
"Fear, expectations, envy. Rumor content is emotion."
Noa understood. "That's why they spread."
"Emotions spread easily."
Mio opened the window. Wind entered.
"What do rumors lose?"
Noa thought. "Trust?"
"Yes. Trust between people."
"Once lost, can't recover."
Mio said quietly, "So be careful."
Noa nodded. "Choose words. Choose silence."
"Both require courage."
They left the classroom. In the corridor, someone gossiping again.
Noa said, "How to stand amid rumor swirls."
Mio answered, "Not swept away, quietly."
"Very you, Mio."
Mio smiled.
Rumors won't stop. But you can choose your words. That's responsibility.
Noa murmured, "Rumors are mirrors. Reflecting society."
Mio nodded. "Distorted mirrors."
"But something visible."
They kept walking. Sailing quietly through the sea of rumors.