Kaito leaned forward slightly, pen poised over his notepad. “It sounds like the stress from your work is accumulating in a way that rest alone can’t resolve. You’re managing high-pressure situations constantly, long surgeries, critical decisions. That takes a toll.”

Haru let out a dry laugh, bitter but soft. “Yeah. I’m used to responsibility. But lately, even small things… irritate me, or I just can’t focus. Sometimes I feel… numb.”

“That’s a common sign of depression,” Kaito said gently. “You’ve probably been running on stress for so long your brain doesn’t really know how to slow down anymore. There are a few approaches we can take, for example lifestyle adjustments, planned routines, and sometimes medication to help reset your mood while we work.”

Haru frowned, fingers tightening around the chair. “Medication… I’ve never really… thought about that. I thought I should be able to handle this on my own.”

“Many feel that way,” Kaito said. “But taking medication doesn’t mean you’re weak. You wouldn’t expect a patient to recover from everything through willpower alone alright? It helps your mind stabilize so you can function and recover.”

Haru exhaled slowly, letting the idea settle. “Alright… I can try that.”

Kaito nodded, flipping through his notes. “We’ll start with something mild,” Kaito said. “If the side effects are manageable, we’ll see how you’re doing in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, small steps, maintain a consistent sleep schedule, a brief daily breaks, oh and try to keep a journal of moods or stressors. It helps track patterns.”

Haru gave a short nod. “I can do that.”

“That’s all for today,” Kaito said, closing his notepad. “Don’t hesitate to reach out if anything feels overwhelming before our next session. Here is my number in my business card” as Kaito give his card to Haru and Haru accepted it.

Haru stood, tucking the bag over his shoulder. “Thank you… Dr. Tanaka. I’ll try to follow your advice.”

Kaito offered a reassuring smile. “You’re welcome, Dr. Sato. We’ll work through this, step by step.”

With that, the session ended in calm, professional, and purposeful. Haru paused at the doorway before leaving, adjusting the strap on his shoulder again.

“Two weeks, then,” he said quietly.

“Two weeks,” Kaito replied.