Mira was alone in the library.
Sora called out, "Mira, another psychology book?"
Mira nodded. The title was "Psychology of Secrets."
Hiyori sat next to her. "Is something on your mind?"
Mira hesitated a little, then wrote in her notebook. "There's something I can't tell anyone."
Sora and Hiyori looked at each other.
"If you don't want to say it, we won't force you," Sora said gently.
Mira shook her head. "I want to say it. But I'm scared."
Hiyori asked quietly, "What are you scared of?"
Mira slowly wrote. "Being disliked. Being despised."
"No one would dislike you, Mira," Sora said.
"But if they knew the real me..."
Hiyori thought. "Keeping secrets is heavy, isn't it."
Mira nodded strongly.
Sora opened her notebook. "In psychology, keeping secrets is said to cause great stress."
"Why?" Hiyori asked.
"You have to constantly hide it. Be careful not to let it slip. That creates fatigue."
Mira nodded empathetically.
Hiyori said gently, "Mira, you don't have to reveal all your secrets. But if you can talk to even one person, it might be easier."
"Really?" Mira looked anxiously.
"Self-disclosure deepens relationships," Sora explained. "By showing weakness, trust is actually created."
Mira thought deeply.
"You don't have to tell us," Hiyori said. "But I hope you'll tell someone you trust."
Mira wrote quietly. "I want to tell you two."
Sora and Hiyori were surprised.
"Really?" Hiyori confirmed.
Mira nodded. Her hands were shaking.
"Don't push yourself," Sora said.
Mira slowly began to write. The letters were trembling.
"I... have been pretending to be perfect."
Hiyori and Sora listened quietly.
"The me that everyone thinks. Quiet, calm, capable of anything. But it's not true."
Mira wiped tears.
"Really, I'm anxious, scared, not confident. Every day is an act."
Sora held her hand. "That must have been painful."
"I couldn't show my real self to anyone," Mira cried.
Hiyori gently hugged her. "It's okay. You can be yourself."
Mira continued crying for a while.
Eventually calming down, Mira wrote. "I was scared. But I feel a little lighter."
"Thank you for telling us," Sora expressed gratitude.
Hiyori smiled. "Imperfect Mira is wonderful too."
Mira looked disbelieving. "Really?"
"Really," Sora nodded. "Rather, you're more human and relatable."
"Won't you dislike me?"
"Of course not," Hiyori declared.
Mira smiled a little. Tears kept falling, but she was smiling.
Sora explained, "Psychologically, moderate self-disclosure improves relationships."
"Moderate?"
"You don't have to tell everything. But show a little of your real self to important people."
Hiyori added, "By doing so, the other person also finds it easier to show their real self."
"Mutual self-disclosure," Sora said. "That's the foundation of trust."
Mira thought. "Since I shared my secret, will you two share something?"
Hiyori laughed. "That's fair."
Sora said honestly, "Actually, I also pretend to be perfect sometimes."
"Me too," Hiyori admitted. "Always pretending to be kind, but sometimes I'm really tired."
Mira was surprised. "Everyone's the same."
"Yes. No one is perfect," Sora said.
Hiyori continued, "But that's okay. Because we're imperfect, we can support each other."
Mira wrote in her notebook. "Sharing secrets reduces loneliness."
"Exactly," Sora nodded.
Mira asked, "But I shouldn't tell just anyone, right?"
"Smart question," Hiyori acknowledged. "Choosing trustworthy people is important."
"How do I choose?"
"Take time, test little by little," Sora explained. "Start with small secrets and see their reaction."
"And if you feel safe, talk about deeper things," Hiyori continued.
Mira understood. "Gradual self-disclosure."
"Yes. Telling everything at once is dangerous."
Mira looked relieved. "I'm glad I could talk to you two today."
"We're happy too," Hiyori smiled.
Sora said last, "Don't carry too many secrets. Burdens can be shared."
Mira nodded. "I'll remember."
Sunlight streamed through the window. Talking about secrets is scary. But after talking, it becomes lighter.
"Worries you can't tell anyone," Mira wrote, "become worries you can tell someone once you tell them."
"Beautiful words," Hiyori acknowledged.
The three sat quietly. The secrets decreased. But the connections increased. That was today's harvest.