By Day 30, Yasuhara was starting to get annoyed. By Day 40 he had had enough.
"Look!" he exclaimed as he burst into the dining area. "Look at it!"
Mai, Masako and Amy, who'd been working on a crossword together over breakfast, all looked around.
"What?"
Yasuhara swished his fringe from side to side.
"It is in my eyes. I cannot see anything. It is driving me insane!" Yasuhara grabbed a bit of the hair and pulled it down. "It is almost down the bottom of my nose!"
"Why don't you cut it then?" Mai suggested.
"He's complaining about his hair?" Amy guessed.
"Yes, he says it is too long."
Amy nodded in understanding while Yasuhara continued to wail, obviously distraught.
"I can't cut it myself!" he declared. "I need a hair bunchie! Girls, you must have one! Mai!" Yasuhara plonked himself down next to Mai. "Plait my hair."
Mai giggled.
"I could cut it for you," Masako offered.
Yasuhara squinted at her, looking for any hint of a joke.
"You cut hair?" Mai asked.
"I used to cut Gene's," she replied. "I can't do many styles or anything, but I think I could stop you looking completely ridiculous."
"It is true," Oliver said as he joined them. "He did not look ridiculous."
"Wow, Oliver that was almost a compliment."
"I think it would be rather biased of me to suggest my twin brother looked good, don't you think?" He raised an eyebrow at Mai.
"So you did think he looked good?" she countered.
"He has my face, of course he looked good."
"So are we doing haircuts today?" Amy asked, who was only half following the conversation.
"Yes! Sorry," Mai said quickly. "Oliver was just being… What is the word?" She looked around at the other's for help.
"Vain?" Yasuhara offered.
"Narcissistic?" Masako tried.
"Narcissistic!" Mai repeated. "I like the sound of that."
Oliver rolled his eyes at Mai's enthusiasm but wasted no time in sitting in between Yasuhara and Mai to finish his tea.
Masako had converted some of the activity room into a makeshift barbershop. The ship had been equipped with clippers and scissors for this eventuality.
Houshou had refused the haircut, as he wanted his long anyway. Lin had begrudgingly agreed to a trim, while Yasuhara, Oliver, John and Joon had signed up almost immediately.
Madoka had instructed Masako on how to do Lin's hair, while Lin grumbled that she was cutting it too short at the front.
"Oh shh you, it'll grow back in a week."
Yasuhara had eagerly replaced Lin in the makeshift barber's chair.
"Take it all off!"
Mai laughed from the other side of the room, where she was continuing with the crossword from breakfast with Amy.
Masako did not take it all off, but reduced the length by a good two inches.
"I can see!" Yasuhara exclaimed when she was done. "I could kiss you! This is amazing!"
"You're such a prat," Mai said, laughing.
John went next. His hair had begun to form curly ringlets as it had grown. Mai thought it was very cute, but he'd insisted that it was annoying to wash.
Masako had once again got to work. Mai thought she was surprisingly deft with the tools despite Masako's insistence that she was 'no good'. Even with John's hair, which was definitely harder to handle, Masako managed to create a smart end result.
Joon followed John and disappeared off to help with navigation as soon as he was done thanking Masako profusely.
Finally, Oliver took to the chair. Mai wondered if he had waited until last to avoid the physical contact, but he seemed relaxed as Masako began her work. Mai supposed he had to get haircuts regularly enough to be used to it.
Once she was done, Oliver opened up the camera on his tablet and admired his reflection.
"You've made me look just like Gene," he muttered.
"It's the only hairstyle I know," Masako replied, slightly defensively.
"Mai, is it acceptable?"
"Judging from the smug look on your face, you still think you're handsome enough," Mai replied and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Thank you, Masako," Oliver said. "I will clear up this mess."
"It's okay!" Masako said.
"I insist."
Oliver proceeded to sweep up all the hair and dispose of it. Masako returned the chair to their rightful places. Mai had watched this happen with a slightfrown, but did not speak.
On Day 42, Mai received an email with a large attachment from Earth. It read like so:
Dear Mai Taniyama,
The executive decision has been made to further your education through our own means. We have prepared an interactive course for you to complete in order to train as a psychotherapist. Enclosed is the first module, out of a total six.
Should you chose to complete this course, this will become your occupation when on Mars.
Your fellow colonist John Brown has also shown interest in completing this course, you may find it advantageous to study together.
Thank you,
IMM
Mai read it twice before it sank in.
She opened the attachment, which downloaded as an app that automatically loaded. Mai navigated to the first section.
Section 1: Basics
Subsection 1: Terminology
There was a video, a notes section and a multiple choice quiz. Mai stared for a moment and then put her tablet down.
"Oliver?" she looked around there room, but he'd left at some point. "Oliver?" she repeated, louder. As if he'd then be able to hear her.
Struck by a sudden urge, Mai jumped up and ran out of their room. She sprinted down the corridors, searching the communal rooms until she found him in the gym on the treadmill.
"Oliver!"
He paused the treadmill and looked around.
"Yes?"
"I got an email! They want me to train as a psychotherapist!"
Oliver frowned momentarily.
"And you're happy about this?"
"Yes! I mean it's not a degree but at least I'll be useful!"
"You are useful," Oliver said and stepped off of the treadmill. "I thought you were interested in psychology research?"
"I am, but if I am listening to the problems of everyone on Mars, what better way to gather data?" Mai countered. She frowned at Oliver's lack of enthusiasm. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I am happy for you," Oliver said. He even attempted to smile.
"I will be able to do my research," Mai said and stared down at her shoes. "Maybe not in the same way as traditional research, but it might help someone."
"As long as you are happy," Oliver said. He offered Mai a hug, that she accepted.
"Eww, you're all sweaty!" Mai tried to back away, but Oliver held firm.
"I am trying to express my happiness for you, Mai," he said sternly.
"But it's gross!" Mai whined in between her giggles. "I'm going to need a shower now!"
Oliver released Mai, who backed away and tried to wipe away the sweat.
"If you are already sweating, you could join me?"
"Oh, no, Masako wanted to come later, so we were going to work out together," Mai said. "Sorry."
Oliver nodded and stepped back on the treadmill.
"I'll see you later," he said.
Mai waved and left, feeling somewhat like she'd missed something.
"I wish these damn storms would ease up," Gene muttered as he stared out the window. They'd been unable to leave the base and move rocks for three days. While it hadn't been an interesting task, it had felt like they were trying to do something towards their situation.
"What are you mumbling about?" Blake asked.
"The weather," Gene replied.
"How British of you," Blake said with a laugh.
"Someone has to complain about it, you may as well have the person who will do a good job."
Blake's laughter slowly died out.
They sat in silence for a while on their individual bunks.
"Marie is talking about rationing the food," Blake said. "She's worried."
"Yeah, I understand that. But they must be almost here now. We've got at least another month's worth right?"
"Yeah, just over a month. I thought we had more when we arrived but we should have enough," Blake said. "But rationing wouldn't do us much harm. You know, just in case."
Another longer silence fell between them.
"Want to play a game?"
"Like what?"
"I spy with my little eye something beginning with S," Gene sang.
"Is it Sandstorm?"
"Damn, how did you guess?"
Blake laughed again, but it faded quickly.
"I hope they do get here quickly," he said quietly. "Like I love you guys, but…"
"I understand," Gene said with a sigh. "There isn't a lot of privacy in this base. At least the main base was bigger."
"Yeah, and when the new lot arrive they'll have the expansions and stuff, right?"
"I think so."
Another long silence.
"Wanna play chess?" Gene offered.
"So you can beat me again?"
"You can give me a handicap?" he suggested and Blake laughed.
"Sure, play blindfolded."
"Deal."
Author's note: I literally cannot thank my reviewers enough. Some of you - and I hope you know who you are - send me such lovely long reviews and I don't know what I have done to deserve them.
Please review :)