A week of holiday meant no classes, no responsibilities to keep up with school-related activities, and, for me, plenty of uninterrupted time in my lab. I'd planned to work on organizing my journal project, laying out a clear structure for different complexity levels. After all, I wanted it to be something people could understand, no matter their knowledge of space. I'd have time to refine every detail without distractions. Or at least, that was what I thought.
On the first morning of break, my mom pulled me aside in the kitchen, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at me. I could already tell this wasn't going to be about my schoolwork or projects.
"Reina, dear," she said, her tone softer than usual but still firm. "You can't just spend every day in that lab of yours and ignore taking care of yourself."
I glanced down, confused. "But… I do shower," I replied, a bit too literally.
She sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's not just about showering. You're growing up, and it's important to look after your appearance as well. Your skin, your hair… you're such a beautiful girl, Reina, but you hide it."
The conversation ended with her insisting I go out and buy "the essentials," which, to her, included things like skincare products, hair treatments, and even a perfume. I'd never cared much about any of those things—my focus was always on my work, on expanding my knowledge. But seeing her concerned, I reluctantly agreed. It was strange, but a part of me was curious about how different it might feel if I took better care of myself.
That evening, I returned to my lab, tidying everything meticulously as I mentally prepared for a day of… shopping. I couldn't believe it. But before I left, I wanted to make sure my workspace was spotless, organized, and ready for when I returned to dive back into my work.
Once back home, I changed into what I thought were suitable clothes. But the only "suitable" look that came to mind was… my lab coat. It was my usual attire, and I couldn't think of anything else that felt as comfortable. But then I stopped and realized that maybe walking around the mall in a lab coat might draw more attention than I was comfortable with.
After a few minutes of struggling through my wardrobe, I settled on a simple hoodie and jeans. It felt odd, like I was leaving part of myself behind by not wearing the lab coat, but it would have to do. As I put on my shoes, I realized there was one more obstacle: I'd never really shopped for things like this before. And I had no idea where to start.
Since I didn't have a smartphone and no contact information for any classmates, I didn't have many options. I sighed, thinking about the last person I could ask. My little brother, Hiro. He was usually a handful, but he knew a lot more about shopping than I did.
"Hiro," I called, finding him reading a comic in the living room. "Would you… would you like to come with me to the mall tomorrow? I need to… get some things."
Hiro looked up, his eyes bright with excitement. "You want to go shopping?" he asked, clearly astonished.
"Yes. Mom wants me to get some… skincare and hair things," I explained, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Of course! I'll come with you, Rei!" he said, using the nickname he'd given me years ago. "And I know exactly where to go!"
The next morning, we set off for the mall, which was about a fifteen-minute walk from our house. Hiro was chatting excitedly about all the shops we'd visit, but I found myself struggling to keep up with him. My stamina was… not great, to put it mildly. I'd spent so much time in the lab that any exercise was minimal, limited to walking between classrooms and the lab. Hiro noticed my pace slowing and offered to hold my arm, something that embarrassed me a bit but that I secretly appreciated.
Finally, we reached the mall, and I took a few moments to catch my breath. Hiro was already tugging at my hand, eager to get started.
"Come on, Rei! We're starting with the clothes section. You have to try on some real outfits first."
I sighed but let him lead the way. Inside the clothing store, Hiro started picking out things for me to try on, ranging from dresses to blouses and skirts. I felt like an alien in a strange new world, surrounded by all these unfamiliar garments. After trying on a few outfits, Hiro seemed satisfied that I had a mix of practical and casual clothes.
Next, we moved to the skincare section. Rows of creams, lotions, and potions greeted me, all promising to make my skin "radiant" and "smooth." I wasn't quite sure what "radiant" skin looked like, but Hiro seemed confident, picking out some cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreen for me.
"You'll thank me for these," he said with a grin. "You need to protect your skin, Rei!"
After that, we wandered to the hair products aisle, where Hiro insisted I get some shampoo and conditioner that would help make my hair "silky and shiny." I didn't see the need, but he looked so enthusiastic that I couldn't help but agree. Finally, we went to the perfume section, where I tried a few different scents. Most of them were too strong or floral for my taste, but I eventually found one that was light and fresh.
By the time we finished, my shopping basket was full of items that I hadn't even known existed, and I'd spent more than half of the money I'd earned from my part-time work with the principal. But as I looked at Hiro's satisfied smile, I couldn't find it in myself to regret it. Besides, with my current projects on hold, I didn't have much else to spend my earnings on.
The walk back home felt even longer, with bags weighing down my arms and legs that were already sore from the trip there. Hiro happily carried a few of the lighter bags, and we eventually reached home as the sun started to set.
I took the bags to my room, looking at the unfamiliar products. Part of me wanted to set them aside and get back to work on my journal, but something about the fresh smell of the new shampoo and the soft touch of the lotions intrigued me. I decided to give them a try.
After a long shower, where I used each product as carefully as I could, I noticed something different. My hair felt smoother, almost silky, and my skin had a soft, clean feel. I stared at myself in the mirror, feeling… refreshed. It was a strange sensation, like I was seeing a different version of myself—one that cared about more than just my studies and projects.
But it had been a long day. I washed everything off and changed into my usual pajamas, feeling oddly tired but satisfied. For the first time, I could understand a little bit of what my mom had been talking about. Taking care of myself wasn't as pointless as I'd thought—it was, in its own way, a different kind of project.
As I lay down in bed, I thought about Hiro's enthusiasm, my mother's gentle scolding, and even the strange, unfamiliar feeling of caring about something other than my work. Tomorrow, I'd go back to the lab, back to my journal, and maybe even use the new products again. But for now, I closed my eyes, feeling more at peace than I had in a long time, and drifted off to sleep.