"Ren is alone again."
Haru looked down from the window. Ren was reading in the courtyard.
"He is correct," Simon said. "But lonely."
"Despite being correct?"
"Maybe because correct."
Haru was confused. "What do you mean?"
Simon began explaining. "Ren says logically correct things. But people don't necessarily seek correctness."
"Then what do they seek?"
"Empathy, harmony, comfort."
Haru thought. "Emotions over correctness?"
"In many cases, yes."
"But that's wrong, isn't it? Prioritizing emotion over truth."
Simon smiled. "Rationally wrong. But humans aren't only reason."
Ren came up from the courtyard.
"Were you talking?" Ren asked.
"About you," Simon answered honestly.
"Isolation talk again?"
"You're aware," Haru said.
"Obviously," Ren said flatly. "But better alone than saying wrong things."
Simon asked, "Why?"
"Lies are insult to intelligence."
"But isn't loneliness painful?"
"Painful," Ren admitted. "But compromise is more painful."
Haru intervened. "But speaking more gently would get through, wouldn't it?"
"Gently?"
"Maintaining correctness while speaking kindly."
Ren shook his head. "That's manipulation. Diluting truth."
Simon said quietly, "That's the problem. How truth is presented is also part of truth."
"What do you mean?"
"Same fact, but how it's said changes reception. Ignoring that is refusing communication."
Ren objected. "But facts are facts. No need to decorate."
"Not decorating, but considering," Haru said. "Thinking of other's feelings."
"Emotions irrelevant to logic."
Simon nodded deeply. "That makes you lonely."
"Explain," Ren demanded.
"Human relationships aren't built on logic alone. Trust, empathy, respect. These are emotional elements."
"But truth shouldn't be bent."
"Not bending," Simon corrected. "Choosing timing and method."
Haru gave example. "Friend gets new hairstyle, asks 'How is it?' Even if you think it doesn't suit, don't immediately say 'weird.'"
"Isn't that lying?" Ren pointed out.
"Not lying, matter of priority," Simon explained. "In that moment, friendship more important than aesthetic truth."
Ren pondered. "Prioritize relationship over truth?"
"Depends on case," Haru said. "If serious problem, should tell truth. But trivial things, choose harmony."
"I don't understand that boundary."
Simon said gently, "That's social intelligence. Can be learned."
"How?"
"Observe others' reactions. Find patterns."
Haru added, "And think about intention. Why is that statement necessary?"
Ren thought deeply. "Pursuit of correctness had become the goal."
"That itself isn't bad," Simon admitted. "But correctness alone can't create community."
"Why?"
"Correctness often accompanies criticism. Only criticism exhausts people."
Haru empathized. "What Ren says is correct, but I'm always tense."
"I see," Ren said quietly.
Simon presented another angle. "Aristotle's 'mean.' Extremes should be avoided."
"Pursuit of correctness is extreme?"
"If sacrificing other values, yes."
Ren asked, "Other values?"
"Kindness, flexibility, humility."
Haru added, "And accepting uncertainty."
"Uncertainty?"
"Absolute correctness is rare," Simon said. "Most problems are gray zones."
Ren objected. "There are logically correct things."
"Logically, yes. But ethically complex."
Haru gave example. "Utilitarianism and deontology. Both logical but different conclusions."
Ren admitted. "...True."
Simon continued, "So wielding 'correctness' sometimes becomes violence."
"Violence?"
"Excludes other perspectives. Closes dialogue."
Ren took deep breath. "I think I understand why correctness makes people lonely."
"How?" Haru asked.
"Asserting correctness creates distance from others. Message is 'I'm right, you're wrong.'"
Simon nodded. "Becomes declaration, not dialogue."
"Then what should I do?"
"Make it question form," Haru suggested. "Not 'This is correct' but 'What do you think about this?'"
Ren understood. "Dialogical attitude?"
"Yes," Simon smiled. "Make truth pursuit collaborative work."
Ren looked outside. "Difficult. But I'll try."
"Doesn't have to be perfect," Haru encouraged. "Little by little."
Simon added, "Correctness and connection. Okay to seek both."
Ren laughed a little. "Philosophy is also life's technique."
"Exactly," Simon answered.
The three smiled quietly. Sword of correctness and shield of kindness.
Perhaps wisdom is having both.