"I'm so annoyed!"
Haru shouted upon entering the club room.
Ren asked calmly. "What happened?"
"Someone cut in line at the library. And didn't even apologize."
"So you're angry."
"Of course!"
Noa intervened quietly. "Where does anger come from?"
Haru was confused. "What? Because there was an injustice."
Ren began analyzing. "The perception of 'injustice' comes first. Not objective fact."
"But cutting in line is unjust."
"In some cultures, it's different," Ren said. "Some societies don't have the concept of lines."
"Here it's unjust," Haru insisted.
"Yes. The expectation of 'should' creates anger."
Noa supplemented. "The gap between expectation and reality. That's the source of emotion."
Haru thought. "So if I don't expect, I won't get angry?"
"Theoretically," Ren said. "The Stoics aimed for that."
"But that's not human," Haru resisted.
Noa said gently. "No need to deny anger. The question is how to handle it."
"How to handle it?"
"Anger has a function," Ren explained. "It's a warning signal against injustice."
"So I should be angry?"
"It's not simple," Noa said. "Feeling anger and acting on anger are different."
Haru was confused. "Can they be distinguished?"
"With training," Ren answered. "Observe emotions. But don't be dominated by them."
"Buddhist mindfulness?"
"Close. Don't deny emotions, but maintain distance."
Haru took a deep breath. "Sounds difficult."
Noa showed another angle. "But anger also has legitimacy."
"What do you mean?"
"Anger at injustice is an expression of moral sense. Not bad in itself."
Ren nodded. "Aristotle considered it virtuous to 'be angry for the right reasons, to the right degree.'"
"Right degree?"
"Neither excessive nor deficient. The middle way."
Haru pondered. "So was my earlier anger...?"
"What do you think?" Noa asked back.
"Probably... excessive. No need to get this angry over line-cutting."
"Self-awareness is important," Ren said. "Understanding the cause of anger."
"The cause? The gap in expectations, right?"
"Deeper," Noa said. "Why did you have that expectation?"
Haru reflected. "Because I value fairness...?"
"Yes. Anger is a mirror reflecting your values."
Ren added. "So by observing anger, you understand yourself."
"Learn from anger?"
"Yes. What angers you reveals what you value."
Haru was almost convinced. "So anger isn't evil?"
"It's a tool," Noa said. "Depends on how you use it."
"Can be destructive or constructive," Ren supplemented.
"Constructive anger?"
"Many social movements begin with anger," Noa gave an example. "Anger at injustice creates change."
"But control is necessary?"
"Absolutely," Ren asserted. "Blind anger only destroys."
Haru wrote something in their notebook. "When I feel anger, pause. Think about the cause."
"Good habit," Noa smiled.
Ren added. "Then choose whether to use anger as fuel, or extinguish it."
"Choice..." Haru murmured.
"Emotions are automatic. But reactions are chosen."
Haru looked out the window. The earlier anger was already fading.
"Anger is temporary."
"All emotions are," Noa said. "They come and go like waves."
"So it's important not to be swallowed by waves," Ren concluded.
Haru laughed. "Anger is also a subject of philosophy."
"Everything is a subject of philosophy," Ren answered.
The three quietly reflected. On anger, a human emotion.