A Name From a Box

“You want to…be a teenage girl?” Asked Dr. Nakamura, confusion clear on his face. “But Dr. Zaiyabōto, you are a teenage girl. You died and were subsequently brought back at nineteen.”

Himeko shook her head, fist still clenched. “I never got to be a real teenage girl, not like everyone else. My education was finished before I was even sixteen. I was working by the time I was. I never was alive.” She wiped at her face. “I want to go to school like a normal girl. I want the chance to live.”

The scientist went silent, contemplative as Dr. Tsuru smiled and squeezed Himeko’s hands in her own. “Then we’ll have to get you registered in the city’s administrative district.”

“Not to mention where you’ll be staying. There was an apartment prepared for you nearby, but I can guess you wouldn't want to stay on the lab’s grounds.” Said Dr. Nakamura.

“Are there any Zaiyabōtos left?” Himeko asked, hopeful despite herself. The family she once knew was gone, but maybe their descendants lived on. She wasn't the only one of her generation who survived the fall of Urania; She'd had an older brother and cousins, after all. “I could stay with them at our family home.”

“Your family home is now a museum dedicated to your accomplishments and the last of the Zaiyabōtos died a few years ago. I’m sorry.”

“Oh.” She said, empty. “I see.”

With her finger crooked over her lips and wearing a sly grin, Dr. Tsuru’s eyes met Dr. Nakamura’s. “Why don't you take her in, Kōji? You have the space, and it was you who resurrected her. Heh~ You’re like her new father.”

“Kaede!” Dr. Nakamura exclaimed, his face aflame with crimson. Dr. Tsuru grinned harder. She laughed, a charming sound surrounding the three of them, and as the scientist leaned in, Himeko suddenly felt like she was intruding on something. She smiled to herself.

Dr. Tsuru, clearly satisfied with herself, turned her attention to Himeko. “Well then, lovely, are you ready to start your new life?”

✦✦✦

“I’m coming with if you're going to town hall.” The pink hair girl announced the moment the three returned to the lab. She sat on a stool by the amniotic chamber, tossing an apple into the air every few seconds before catching it, taking a bite, and throwing it again, and punched into the chamber’s screens. Her many piercings glimmered under the sterile light of the lab as she kicked her feet.

“No, you aren't?” Dr. Nakamura said, his eyebrow arched. “You’re supposed to be learning while you're here.”

“And I did, earlier today when I helped. I watched you resurrect her! Doesn’t that count as ‘learning,’ or do you consider your work to not be educational?”

“Hanami, you…” He sighed, clearly tired of dealing with the teenager, who cheekily grinned in response.

“See? My logic is sound. That alone means I get to come with. Besides, if she’s so sure about wanting to be a normal girl, shouldn't you have one with you to explain the many intricacies of being one in the ultramodern age? I mean, Zaiyabōto Himeko is as ancient history as climate change in our textbooks.” Hanami laughed.

“Hey,” Himeko protested. “I'm not that old.”

“But you are. Actually, you're even more ancient, now that I think about it-!”

“Maybe if the girl in question wasn't determined to be as much as a nuisance as possible.” Dr. Nakamura spat pointedly, digging through the mess on one of the desks closest to the amniotic chamber. Hanami stuck her tongue out. He glowered at Dr. Tsuru. “Control your niece or, at least, scold her.”

“There's no reason to scold me, because I’m an angel~” Hanami said in a sing-song voice, sticking her tongue out further when Dr. Nakamura began to grumble at Dr. Tsuru’s quiet laughter.

“Hana-chan,” She murmured. “Be nice to Kōji. His old heart can't take too much teasing.”

“We're the same age. You're just as terrible as her.”

Dr. Tsuru smiled again. Sighing in defeat, Dr. Nakamura turned his attention back to Himeko and presented her with a parcel. “These are for you. Hanami designed them with the help of a classmate, so they should be reasonably stylish. If nothing else, they’ll cover you enough to traverse the city in.”

“I’m not like you, old man. I know how to dress outside of work.”

Himeko accepted the parcel and looked down. She felt herself flush. The whole time, she’d been completely naked beneath the lab coat-and her body had been recreated faithfully.

Dr. Tsuru laughed, striding over to ruffle her hair before pulling Dr. Nakamura away with her. “Come everyone, let's give Hime-chan some privacy.”

Himeko opened the parcel after watching the three of them exit the lab. She laid out the provided clothing on a desk-a tee, a long skirt, and a pair of broken-in sneakers-before slipping out of the lab coat. Her body was a beautiful thing, made with care and awe, but still…it wasn't her. Not yet. Not without her glasses, even if she didn't need them anymore.

Himeko pulled on the clothes and smoothened out the wrinkles, catching her reflection in the amniotic chamber. She offered her reflection a small smile. Her cuteness was surprising. She spun once, laughing, and spun again before bidding farewell to the chamber, thanking it for taking care of her before her resurrection.

The lab coat returned to Himeko’s shoulders, and she hurried to join the others, listening along as Hanami and Dr. Nakamura bickered the entire way out of the building and into the warm light of day.

This was day one of her new life. The life she chose for herself.

✦✦✦

Like much of New Urania City, the town hall was made of white hard-light and traditional materials. A magnificent staircase and ramp led to its imposing doors. Gold trim reflected the sun, and wheeled robots with cylindrical bodies milled about, taking care of the flower beds, cleaning the pristine streets, and aiding the people around. Holographic projections danced on its sides. Even from the glimpses Himeko caught of it from the bullet train’s window, it was breathtakingly beautiful. The entire city was a far cry from what New Urania had been in its infancy during her era.

Her memories of that time struck her like a discordant chord: the fires, the unending disaster, war and strife, the endless wails of hungry children, the falling stars of catastrophe-

A chime sounded above to announce the train's imminent stop at Shiroume Station. Himeko sighed and tried to clear her head. That time was over.

The train’s speakers began to play a small speech about the history of the station, ending with a heartfelt thank you to the Gakugi family for their donation. As it rolled to its stop, another chime sounded to announce its departure, and people began to stream in and out. Dr. Nakamura pulled Himeko along so she wouldn't get lost.

He led the group of four into a small subsection of the station, where another, smaller train idled. A gate guarded it from entry.

“This one will take us directly into city hall,” he explained. “Instead of having to leave the station.”

“Pretty cool, right?” Hanami chimed in, swiping a card attached to her lanyard. The gate sprung open, sliding shut after she entered. Dr. Tsuru followed her.

Himeko nodded. Dr. Nakamura swiped his lanyard once, pushing her through, and then again, letting himself through. They boarded the smaller train, which had only a few other patrons, and holograms popped up over the windows to hide the stone and hard light constructs behind it. Himeko swiped through the one closest to her and laughed to herself. Ads hadn't changed one bit.

The tiny train stopped a few minutes after it started, chiming as its doors opened in the middle of town hall’s grand foyer. Crystal chandeliers hung from the tall ceiling and gold-trimmed curtains covered the long, gothic windows. Plaques of the city’s history hung on the walls. There were a few trophy cases, full of awards granted to both New Urania City and her inhabitants, and a massive circular desk took up most of the center, staffed by several uniformed workers surrounded by robots and holograms. The line was moderate, and Himeko’s eyes drifted over to the nearest trophy case while they waited. She'd been awarded more than a few things posthumously.

“We need to register a new family.” Said Dr. Nakamura upon reaching the counter, subtly pushing Himeko in front of him. He handed her another parcel, this one full of her records. She flicked through it before looking back at the scientist in confusion. How’d he even get a hold of these?

“A new family?” Asked the worker, a waifish and short young woman. “Rare, but it happens from time to time. I’d be happy to assist, but I’ll need supporting documents as your birth certificate and a national identification pin.”

Himeko presented these wordlessly. The worker took them, punched their information into one the holograms, and frowned after, pushing the projection to the side. Her expression quickly morphed into an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry; I need up-to-date documents that are in your name, not the deceased, and especially not from a family who hasn't had a living member in over half a century.”

A sting prodded at Himeko's heart, but she shook her head. “That is me. I’m Himeko Zaiyabōto.”

“I'm sorry, but I won't help you attempt to impersonate a historical figure.”

“Check her biometrics. They’ll surely prove that Miss Himeko here is exactly who she says she is,” Suggested Dr. Tsuru. She cocked an eyebrow at Dr. Nakamura. “Unless you didn't add her basic biosignatures to her body?”

Shaking his head, Dr. Nakamura looked at Himeko. “You have your original fingerprints, Himeko. Let's try verifying your identity with that.”

Fascinated and perhaps a little fearful, the worker pulled down a thin blue hologram and spun it to face Himeko, tapping a nail on its surface. Her nail polish moved as she did, and Himeko gasped. Hanami poked her head around to show off her own moving nails, though hers were simply dots bouncing around, while the worker's were of the ebb and flow of a simulated tide.

“Neat, right? We’ll have to get you some after this.” She said.

“On who’s dime?” Asked Dr. Nakamura. Hanami grinned.

Himeko pressed all ten of her fingertips into the hologram and shivered as gel oozed around and molded to them before disappearing back into the hologram. The worker's brown eyes were blown wide open.

“I can't b-believe it. How can you possibly be the renowned Himeko Zaiyabōto? You died over a century ago!”

“I was brought back today.” Himeko said simply. “It's a bit of a shock to me, too.”

The worker mumbled to herself as she frantically entered various inputs on her screens. She turned around, murmuring lowly to one of her robotic assistants. It spoke back before rolling off. The worker faced the group again, hands clasped together. Her expression was strained. “My boss is going to assist you further. Follow me!”

The worker, flanked by one of the robots, left the protective bubble of her desk and began leading them down the foyer. Her heels clicked against the floor as she did. She looked back nervously at Himeko so often, like her mere existence terrified her, and she trembled as they entered an elevator and went up a story.

Himeko supposed it made sense to be afraid of her. She was sort of like a zombie. Did people these days like zombies? They'd been coming back into popularity when she'd died, but trends didn't last, and certainly not as long as she'd been dead. Perhaps Hanami would know? And if she didn't, then maybe they could go to a movie so Himeko could learn what was trendy. She felt a little giddy at the thought.

The town hall worker and her robot stopped in front of a pair of double doors with sparkling holograms dancing around it. Two robots flanked either side of it like knights of old, though instead of swords they held two gun-like armaments. Himeko held back to observe them, unable to resist her curious nature.

Dr. Nakamura noticed her hesitation, placed a hand on her shoulder with a squeeze, and smiled in a fatherly way. “Don't worry, Dr. Zaiyabōto; they aren't guns, at least not the ones you might remember.”

“I’m not afraid. Just curious. My work in the past didn't incorporate weapons much, and and when they did…well, I never really got a chance to look at them when they weren't meant to kill people.” Himeko replied.

“And it’s because of you that the world is no longer like that. People aren't afraid of war or poverty, or of bringing their children into a world on the cusp of dying. I don't think anyone's properly thanked you, so let me be the first. Thank you, Himeko.”

“No need to thank me.”

“The life we live now is only because of you. I only think it's fair to do so.”

Himeko stood awkwardly. Dr. Tsuru stepped next to her, greeting the two robots and nudging Hanami to do the same, and twisted one of the doorknobs as the worker did the same to the other.

“If you’d like, Hime-chan, we’ll get one later so you can get a closer look,” she said, trying to bridge the strange gulf now between Himeko and Dr. Nakamura. “But let's get going. We wouldn't want to keep Madam Nahaku waiting~”

Dr. Tsuru pushed the office’s door open, holding it open for everyone else as she entered. The worker, with one last fearful glance at Himeko, bowed and walked off. Himeko followed and looked around. It was clean and spacious, and its curtains and windows were open. A large green rug with sky-blue tassels on each corner softened the group’s steps. On the walls were portraits of the previous mayors of New Urania City. She stopped beneath them; her hands clasped together as a pang of longing reverberating through her chest. She’d been there when its first mayor was inaugurated, and now there were over a dozen portraits.

It hurt. It made her chest ache.

“I see you were successful, Kōji,” said a quiet, calm voice in the back of the room. Himeko looked over to its owner, Madam Nahaku. She had short hair and piercing jadeite eyes, and she wore an outfit of long, loose fabric that draped off of her body and onto her desk. A pen was tucked behind her ear. The white teacup she held had no liquid, nor did she have a kettle nearby, and she set it down when she looked at Himeko. “And you are that success. I was informed that you’re here to register yourself? A necessary step for accessing modern life, designed for simplicity yet complicated in your case. Tell me, if you don't mind: what’s it like to be dead?”

Himeko thought to herself for a moment. “It’s nothing, nothing at all. If there is something, I can’t remember it right now. Maybe I will soon, though. Everything is a little hazy still.”

Madam Nahaku sighed, picking her teacup once again to watch its golden cracks catch the late afternoon sun. “So, the gods give Kōji one secret and keep the rest to themselves yet again.”

“Eva, is it possible to restore Dr. Zaiyabōto’s position in the registry? She’d like to attend school once again, and getting the documents for it would prevent her from doing it for months.” Dr. Nakamura asked after sitting in one of the plush armchairs in front of Madam Nahaku’s desk. He rested his hands on his knees, leaning forward as he bounced the right one.

“Anything’s possible in this day and age, Kōji.” Murmured the madam, placing her teacup down once again and beckoning Himeko over with a thin finger. “Come here then. Let’s you registered.”

Himeko obliged. The process of restoring her records didn’t take long at all, and before she knew it, a holographic screen was spitting out an updated identification card and proof of birth-though aptly renamed to proof of rebirth-into her lap.

“You’ll be able to do everything in New Urania now.” Madam Nahaku said.

“Thank you very much.” Himeko said, bowing in her seat. She picked up her identification card, her fingers still sticky with gel from fingerprinting, and held it up to the light to compare it to her last one before stopping after once glance at her hands.

A microcosm of her artificiality.

She closed them around the newly issued cards and tore her eyes away from them, putting her hands down. The haptic sensors in Himeko’s palms responded to the sensation, and she paused as she noticed the madam looking at her from behind several translucent hologram screens.

Madam Nahaku traced the rim of her teacup. “My entire career before becoming mayor and the keeper of the family register was focused on one question: what is life, and what does it mean to live? Why do you live, Himeko Zaiyabōto? Why did you decide to take a different path with your new life?”

“I don't know,” Himeko said after a while, because she truthfully did not know what her wish truly meant. She felt everyone's gazes bore into her neck. Would her answer disappoint them? “I’m hoping to find out.”

Madam Nahaku didn't say anything. The translucent screens filled in until they were opaque, and Himeko stood from her seat. She made way to follow Dr. Nakamura, Hanami, and Dr. Tsuru out of the room when Madam Nahaku cleared her throat. “Zaiyabōto.”

“Yes, Madam?”

“Live a life free of regrets. You have my blessing.”

“Thank you, Madam.” Himeko replied, even if she didn’t quite understand.

“Don't mention it.” Said Madam Nahaku, her attention turned back to her work, and she sipped from her teacup with a strange sigh.

Himeko smoothened out the newly formed wrinkles of her long skirt, pocketed the documents, and began making her way to the door. The rug, its surface a sea bursting with spring constellations, shifted as she did, each step causing a new one to project onto the domed, jade ceiling. Ripples spread across them as Himeko glided through them. They changed with her movements, until they were all new; constellations that had never existed nor ever would, full of stars that that were not real. Himeko watched them, about to step out of Madam Nahaku’s office when she heard a clink of her teacup hitting porcelain. She lingered under the doorframe as Madam Nahaku spoke to herself, but even with her new ears, she couldn't hear what she said.

The group of four left town hall the same way they came, though the station was far busier now than it had been. The gulf between Himeko and Dr. Nakamura felt wider, even wider so they pushed and wove their way together for a while before Dr. Tsuru and Hanami stopped at one.

“This is us,” Dr. Tsuru said, swiping her subway card over the terminal and passing through the gate. “Where are you going to go for the night, Hime-chan?”

“She can come with me like you suggested, Kaede…if you want to.” Said Dr. Nakamura, looking at Himeko from his peripheral vision.

She pondered for a moment. “I’d like to.”

“Meet me here at 8:30 sharp, Himeko! Don’t be late! We gotta make sure you look cute for your first day back in over a century!” Hanami said, waving as she followed her aunt.

“Hime-chan looks plenty cute already~” said Dr. Tsuru, smirking when Himeko’s face went the same shade of crimson as her own hair. “See you later~”

“Well then, Dr. Zaiyabōto, are you ready to go home?” Dr. Nakamura asked.

“Yes, but…” Himeko trailed off.

“But…?”

She pointed at her eyes with a sheepish smile and let out a tiny, awkward laugh. “Can I get a pair of glasses first? I don't feel right without them.”

Dr. Nakamura laughed, ruffling her hair as the two of them started walking down the station again. “Sure, Himeko. We can get you some glasses first.”