"I'm sorry."
Haru apologized to Mio. She had stained a borrowed book.
Mio quietly nodded. Seemed to be forgiven.
Simon asked with interest, "Why did you apologize?"
"Because I did something wrong."
"That's all?"
Haru thought. "Can't return the book to its original state. At least apologize."
"What does apology mean?"
"Acknowledging responsibility?" Haru answered.
Simon nodded. "That's part of it. But there might be deeper meaning."
"Deeper meaning?"
"Apology is an act seeking to repair relationships."
Haru began to understand. "I apologized because I don't want to ruin my relationship with Mio."
"Yes. Apology shows consideration for the other person."
Mio opened her book. Didn't say a word, but was listening.
Simon continued. "In the West, apology has legal meaning too. Admitting guilt."
"So some people don't apologize easily?" Haru asked.
"Yes. Apology can constitute admission of legal liability."
"In Japan, people apologize often."
"Japanese apology is more expressing empathy than admitting responsibility."
Haru was surprised. "Empathy?"
"Conveying 'You're troubled. I'm concerned too.'"
"True, station staff apologize even when trains are delayed."
"That's not legal responsibility. But empathizing with customer inconvenience."
Mio nodded slightly. Simon noticed.
"Mio accepted your apology. Why do you think?"
Haru thought. "Sincerity got through?"
"How do we measure apology's sincerity?"
"Not just words, but attitude."
Simon supplemented. "Aristotle taught virtue ethics. Character matters more than actions."
"The apologizer's character?"
"Yes. Apologies from consistently sincere people are trusted. Apologies from liars are doubted."
Haru understood. "So daily conduct is important."
"Apology is not just about past actions, but future promises too."
"Future promises?"
"Expressing will to 'never do it again.'"
Haru said seriously, "Then apologizing alone isn't enough. Must show through actions."
"Exactly," Simon acknowledged.
Mio held out a book to Haru. A different book.
"You mean I can borrow this?" Haru was surprised.
Simon smiled. "An expression of forgiveness."
"Forgiveness..."
"Apology and forgiveness are a set. Apology alone doesn't repair relationships."
Haru thought. "What if the other person doesn't forgive?"
"You can apologize unilaterally. But reconciliation is bidirectional."
"Is forgiving difficult?"
"Very. Derrida said true forgiveness is 'forgiving the unforgivable.'"
Haru was confused. "Forgiving the unforgivable?"
"Logically contradictory. But that might be forgiveness's essence."
Mio quietly stood and opened the window. Wind entered.
Simon continued. "Forgiveness is letting go of negative emotions."
"Discarding resentment?"
"Yes. Also for yourself. Resentment makes you suffer."
Haru looked at Mio. "Mio doesn't resent."
"Because she's someone who doesn't cling," Simon said.
"Not clinging makes forgiving easier?"
"In Buddhism, attachment is the source of suffering. Forgiveness is liberation from attachment."
Haru took a deep breath. "Apology acknowledges responsibility, repairs relationships, promises the future."
"And forgiveness lets go of the past, starts a new relationship."
Mio looked over and smiled faintly.
Haru said, "Thank you, Mio."
Simon said quietly, "Only humans can apologize and forgive."
"Why?"
"Because we can reflect on the past and imagine the future. And because we value relationships."
Haru nodded. "Why do people apologize? Because we're human."
The three quietly laughed. Apology wasn't weakness, but human strength.