"I lied."
Simon confessed. Corner of the library, just three people.
"To whom?" Noa asked.
"To the teacher. That I did my homework."
Haru was surprised. "Simon lied? That's unusual."
"Yes. That's why I'm concerned."
Noa quietly asked. "Why did you lie?"
"I didn't want to be scolded."
"That's all?"
"...Yes."
Haru thought. "But everyone lies, right?"
"Frequency varies," Simon said. "But no one is at zero."
"Why?"
Noa answered. "Lies have functions."
"Functions?"
"Self-defense, consideration for others, social harmony..."
Simon gave a concrete example. "When asked 'Does my hairstyle suit me?' you say 'Yes' even if it doesn't."
"Is that a lie?" Haru asked.
"It's not truth."
"But isn't it kindness?"
"Exactly," Noa said. "Lies aren't necessarily evil."
Simon asked philosophically. "Kant considered lying absolutely evil."
"Absolutely?"
"For any reason, lying is wrong. Even to save someone."
Haru objected. "That's strange. To save a life, lying is acceptable."
"For example?"
"If a murderer asks 'Where's your friend?' you lie to protect them."
Simon nodded. "Even Kant debated this example."
"Why doesn't Kant permit lies?" Noa explained.
"Respect for reason," Simon answered. "Lying treats the other as a tool. It violates autonomy."
"Tool?"
"When you lie, the other can't make correct judgments. They're being manipulated."
Haru understood. "So it's evil?"
"From Kant's perspective."
Noa showed another position. "But utilitarians emphasize results."
"Results?"
"If a lie brings good results, it's permissible."
"So my lie?" Simon questioned himself.
"What's the result?" Noa asked.
"I deceived the teacher. Guilt remained. But I wasn't scolded."
"Which is larger, plus or minus?"
"...I don't know."
Haru showed another angle. "But society can't function without lies."
"What do you mean?"
"If you always answered 'terrible' to 'How are you?' conversations would be heavy."
Noa smiled. "Social courtesy."
"That's also a lie?"
"Strictly not truth. But social lubricant."
Simon pondered. "So there are types of lies?"
"Many," Noa answered. "Malicious lies, well-intentioned lies, self-defensive lies, social lies..."
"Which are permissible?"
"Depends on context."
Haru had doubts. "But aren't boundaries vague?"
"Vague," Simon admitted. "That's why ethics is difficult."
Noa got to the core. "What's important is being aware of why you lie."
"Aware?"
"Lying unconsciously and choosing consciously are different."
Simon understood. "I lied unconsciously."
"Next time?"
"I'll be conscious. Think about whether I should lie."
Haru laughed. "But if you think every time, you'd be exhausted."
"Yes. So habits are important," Noa said.
"Habits?"
"If you're usually honest, you can choose to lie when necessary."
Simon nodded deeply. "Not lying is the default. But there are exceptions."
"What's the criterion for exceptions?" Haru asked.
"To protect others. When truth brings unjust harm."
Noa supplemented. "But for self-interest only, it should be avoided."
"My lie was self-interest," Simon admitted.
"What will you do next time?"
"Be honest. Even if late, say I haven't done it."
Haru encouraged. "That's integrity."
Noa said quietly. "No one never lies perfectly. But you can face lies."
"Face them," Simon repeated.
Rain fell outside the window. Like rain, lies are sometimes necessary, sometimes to be avoided.
"Thinking about lies itself might be integrity," Haru said.
"Good perspective," Simon smiled.
The three fell silent. On the boundary between truth and lies.