"You've been reassigned."

Mai's mouth fell open.

"What?"

"You're twenty now, so you've been reassigned. I've got the details of your transfer here."

The elderly woman passed over an envelope.

"Good luck, it's been nice knowing you."

Mai took the envelope and left the office. Her footsteps echoed down the corridor as she walked. Her hands trembled around the envelope, but she did not open it.

Her feet carried her to her shared accommodation. She let herself into the flat shared by two of her close friends. They had been found together after the fallout by the rescue teams and had stuck together ever since.

"Mai? You're home early," Keiko observed from the kitchen.

"Yeah, I've been reassigned."

"What?"

Keiko dropped the plates she had been washing into the sink and rushed to Mai's side. She snatched the envelope from Mai's hands and opened it.

"Give it back—"

"Oh! Wow, Mai!"

"What?"

"Look at him! He's gorgeous!"

Keiko flashed a mugshot photo in Mai's face.

"What?"

A confused Mai grabbed at the envelope and retrieved the letter from inside. Her hands were steady now, but her eyes struggled to focus on the paper. Mai took a deep breath and tried again.

Dear Mai Taniyama,

You have had your duties reassigned to motherhood. Inside this envelope you will find details of transportation and of your new partner.

Thank you for your hard work,

The Administration

"What does it say?" Keiko asked.

Mai handed her the letter and rifled through the rest of the envelope. She found a boarding card for a train for the following day and a piece of paper with details of her new partner.

Partner...

Mai blinked and tried to focus on the words in front of her.

Name: Oliver Davis

DOB: 19/09/XXXX

Age: 20

Position: Investigator

Hobbies: Reading

That was it. That was all she was given on someone she would now be expected to spend her entire life with.

Mai took the photo from Keiko and stared into his blue eyes. Keiko was right, he was handsome. But there was no smile present.

"It's a mugshot Mai, they aren't supposed to smile. I bet you look miserable in your photo too," Keiko said, as if reading Mai's mind.

"I do not!"

Keiko raised an eyebrow, then laughed.

"Are you excited?"

"I'm still shocked to be honest," Mai replied.

"I was hoping I'd be reassigned this year," Keiko admitted. "Most of these reassignments happen about now."

"You want to be reassigned?"

"Yeah, as much as I love living here with you guys and stuff. I want a family."

Mai smiled and hugged her friend.

"I'm sure you'll get one soon."

"Yeah," Keiko agreed. "Right, let's get planning!"

"Planning?"

"Well you're leaving tomorrow, right? We need to party before that! We'll surprise Michiru!"

Mai could not quite bring herself to be quite as happy as Keiko, but agreed. They spent the next few hours making their favourite meals and desserts for their makeshift party. These meals were nothing fancy. Nothing was fancy any more. But they would enjoy it nonetheless.

The front door and Michiru entered in a gust of warm summer air.

"What's the occasion?"

"Mai's getting married!" Keiko said.

"It's not marriage, Keiko!" Mai objected. "It's more like breeding partner."

"Eww, don't put it like that! They picked him using algorithms and stuff so that you'd be practically perfect together."

"Where do you get this stuff…?"

"Um, can I have more explanation?" a weary Michiru asked.

"I got reassigned," Mai said, passing over the envelope with the details.

"Oh… That's really exciting!"

Michiru hitched a smile on her face, but Mai saw straight through it. Guilt coursed through Mai's body though she knew it had no founding. She bit her lip and searched for a way to cheer her friend up.

"Michiru, I'll still be able to talk to you! Communications are so much better than it was when your sister left," Mai said quickly. "Come on, we've made food!"

"He's handsome," Michiru said, taking a seat. "You're lucky. My sister's partner was ugly."

"Really?" Keiko asked.

"Yeah."

They tucked into their meal, which consisted of mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables and mycoprotein steaks. Keiko had brought out the tomato ketchup in celebration.

"Just because he's handsome, doesn't mean he's a nice person," Mai mumbled. "What if he's horrible?"

"Mai! I told you, they do the algorithm thing!"

"That isn't real," Michiru said. "They just tell you that to shut you up."

"It's real! I met someone at work whose brother does it! They look at factors including ethnicity, education level, hobbies and stuff."

"But I have no hobbies?" Mai said, frowning as she struggled to think of one. "I just work, sleep and eat. Jeesh that is a depressing thought."

"You tell good ghost stories!" Michiru pointed out.

"That hardly counts."

"I wonder what they have told him about you," Keiko mused. "They haven't exactly given you a lot to go on."

"Well my job won't count any more, will it? So it will just be my non-existent hobby…"

"They might've put cooking," Keiko said.

"True," Michiru agreed, "You do cook a lot."

"Only because Keiko makes me!"

The three young women laughed, losing themselves in one last night together...

The next morning, Mai woke early and packed her last few belongings into her bag. Keiko worked the night shift, so was not about. Michiru, on the other hand, had woken just to make Mai a final meal before she left.

They ate in silence, tears running down Michiru's face throughout the entirety of it all. Mai could not ignore them, but hardly had the time to address her friend's pain in the way she would have wanted. Though she would starve if she did, the thought of rebelling and remaining with Keiko and Michiru had never seemed more appealing than when her friend was crying.

"It'll be okay! I'll send you a message somehow, I promise," Mai said as she pulled on her coat.

"Yeah."

Mai gave her friend one last hug, turned around and left. She swallowed back her own tears as she walked. She had been with Keiko and Michiru ever since the world had dissolved into a giant hellhole.

And now she was leaving.

The train station was not far. The streets were relatively empty at this time as most people did not leave for work for another hour. Mai stuck to the pavement at the side of the road, though she could not remember the last time she saw a vehicle use it. Every building was residential or a work place, with no expenses spent on the decor.

Soon Mai was waiting in a queue at the station, ready to be told which platform she would go to by an official. Train travel was only for those with permits, after all.

"Reason for travel?" the official asked as Mai reached the front of the queue.

"Reassignment."

"To?"

"Motherhood," Mai replied with a gulp.

"Congrats, platform one."

"Thank you."

Mai's eyes followed where the official had pointed and spotted a large number one written at the end of the concourse. She hitched her bag higher on her shoulder and started towards it.

Motherhood…

It was a big, scary word.

Mai boarded the train as instructed and found her seat. She stowed her bag under her seat and stared out of the window at the platform. It was empty save for one or two passengers hurrying further down the train before boarding.

The last time she had been on a train had been years ago, when her mother was still alive and society still functioned. They had been travelling to see her grandparents. They were dead now.

Yet the memory gave her some hope. Maybe one day she would take her own children on the train somewhere. Maybe somewhere nice like the beach. That is, if the beaches were still as nice as those in her memory.

Even in the few short years since the world destroyed itself, their quality of life had increased dramatically. Sure, food choice was limited but at least the portion sizes were sensible.

The train pulled away and within minutes Mai was staring out at the countryside. It alternated between land restored to grow crops and blank expanses of rubble and blackened dirt. But the green patches were numerous.

The last report she had heard was that everything was grey and hopeless, but it seemed to be a lie.

"Miss, would you like a drink or some food?"

Mai looked around, startled. A host with a trolley stood awaiting her answer. She gave the trolley a once over and spotted copious amounts of food. The train was several carriages long, and though her own was not packed, she suspected that there would be enough there to feed the entire train.

"I have no means to repay you, nothing to barter…"

"This is included as part of your journey," he told her, smiling in a way that led her to believe that she was not the first person to object in this way. "I have sandwiches and juice available."

"Bread? Real juice?"

"Yes, miss."

"Yes please then."

"I can offer you orange or apple juice, and then chicken salad or hummus and salad sandwiches."

Mai's mouth fell open. Chicken? Real actual meat?

"Orange juice and chicken salad, please."

Mai smiled in wonder as he handed over the requested items. Though she had eaten barely an hour ago, Mai opened the juice carton and glugged it down.

The orange juice was weak and obviously rehydrated from concentrate, but Mai did not care. It was the best thing she had tasted in years. The sandwich likewise was more salad than chicken, but Mai had no cause for complaint.

When the host returned down the train with a now empty trolley some time later, Mai caught his attention.

"Do you know how long the journey will be?"

Checked his watch, he answered, "We've got about another hour."

"Thanks."

"Are you still thirsty? I have a spare juice carton, if you want?"

Mai began to shake her head, but the host pulled the last carton from his trolley and put it on the table in front of her.

"Thank you."

"No problem," he said, and continued down the train.

Mai opened the new carton and sipped at the juice. She tried to savour the flavour, but the juice was gone all too soon. She took a deep breath as she spotted her new settlement in the distance. Mai supposed it was a city really, but nothing like the cities she used to know.

"It'll be okay," she mumbled to herself as the train slowed to a stop.

Disembarking, bag in hand, Mai scanned the platform for her next move. Her instructions had not told her anything past this point.

Luckily a large sign reading 'Reassignments' was visible above the heads of everyone getting off the train. Mai walked towards it and soon realised she was not the only person that had been relocated. People of all ages, genders and creeds stood under the sign with anxious faces, glancing around for someone in charge.

"Everyone, can I get your attention please?"

Mai spotted a woman on a small podium as the crowd turned their attentions to her.

"My name is Madoka Mori and I am here to help you get to your new accommodation. If you could please form a line, I will assist you all individually and get you started in your new lives here!"

Mai thought Madoka's smile to be fake, much like her fading pink hair. Nevertheless, Mai joined the forming queue and waited for her turn.

"Name?"

"Mai Taniyama."

"Bus three, here is your information pack," Madoka said, smiling. "I wish you luck."

"Thanks."

Mai followed where the previous people had gone; out of the station and to the waiting coaches. She quickly found bus three and climbed aboard, taking a seat at the front so she could see out of the large window.

"There is so much waiting," she whined.

"Tell me about it."

Mai looked around to see a pretty young woman about her age sitting opposite.

"Sorry, I don't mean to complain," Mai said quickly.

"It's okay, I've feel the same. I've been on this bus for a lot longer than you have."

"Oh, that sucks. I'm Mai."

"Masako, Masako Hara."

Masako shuffled closer.

"You can sit here, if you want?" Mai offered, indicating the seat next to her.

Masako smiled without showing her teeth.

"Thanks."

She crossed the gangway and sat down next to Mai.

"So why have you been relocated? New job?"

"Motherhood," Masako muttered with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. "You?"

"Same."

"Look at this guy though," Masako groaned, pulling a photo from her pocket. "This is the guy they have given me."

Mai looked at the photo. The man in question was dark haired, long faced and wore glasses.

"They aren't allowed to smile in the photos, you know?" Mai said. "He's not so bad."

"I know. But don't you think it's weird being told the face that you've got to wake up to for the rest of your life?"

Mai shrugged.

"Arranged marriages were a thing before the fallout."

"Yeah, but I wasn't going to be one of them," Masako stated. Then her shoulders sagged. "I guess I just watched too many Disney Princess films…"

"I miss those," Mai said. "I think my favourite was the Little Mermaid."

"Not Cinderella?"

"No, I never liked Cinderella."

"And to think I thought we could be friends. So what does your man look like?"

Mai pulled out her own photo and shared.

"Damn, you are lucky with this one."

Mai took the photo back and pocketed it.

"You don't look happy," Masako commented.

"I… It's been a long day and… I found out yesterday, you know? I just don't think it's all settled in my mind yet."

"You only found out yesterday?"

"Yeah, did you not?"

"No, I've known for a week."

"Lucky you!" Mai found tears welling in her eyes. "I had to say goodbye to the two people who were the closest thing I've had to a family since I lost my mum and…"

Mai broke down into sobs. Masako put an arm around her and let Mai sob into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Mai wailed. "I just…"

"It's okay, I cried when I first found out too," Masako whispered. "It's okay."

Before Mai could say anything else, the bus driver started the engine and closed the doors.

"We're off," Masako said.

Mai hiccoughed herself into silence and wiped her eyes on her sleeves.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, really."

"I should read this pack thing," Mai insisted.

"Don't bother, it'll only depress you."

"You've read it?"

"Yeah, all it says is that they want you to conceive before winter."

Mai spluttered.

"Excuse me."

"You are aware that motherhood means making babies right?"

"Well yeah, but before winter? That's only a few months!" Mai complained. "How am I supposed to get to know someone and fall in love with them in that time?"

Masako gave her an almost pitying look.

"You don't need to fall in love to… You know."

"I know that, but… I don't want to have kids with someone I don't…" Mai trailed off.

"I understand, but the people in charge want babies in the summer, when there is more food available."

"Is that why?"

"Yeah," Masako said. "It makes sense."

"I guess… But why can't I wait a year and then do it?"

Masako shrugged.

"I guess these people are looking long term, to have a five or six year gap with basically no children born is huge. We need children to be born to look after us when we are old."

Mai blinked and looked away out of the window. She suddenly felt very small; a tiny part in a very large machine.

"To think I was only thinking about surviving to the next week."

"Yeah, they prefer you to be thinking that way."

Mai frowned, but did not question Masako's thinking. She pulled the documents out of the envelope and found her new address, a list of expectations, a FAQ about relationships and a guide on how to conceive.

"Is this for real?"

"Some people didn't get sex ed before the fallout," Masako said. "And the internet is a thing of the past, so…"

Mai flicked it open.

"Oh jeesh, this is so cringey."

"Cartoons and all," Masako said, agreement evident in her voice.

"Listen to this, 'once aroused, place the penis inside the vagina and then'━"

Mai could not go on for her own laughter. Masako rolled her eyes, but giggled a little behind the sleeve of her jumper.

"Drop off point," the bus driver called suddenly.

As the bus slowed, everyone collected their belongings and departed from the bus. On either side of the otherwise empty road were apartment blocks, towering several stories high. Mai's eyes followed one up, counting the floors as she went.

"Where are you going now?" Mai asked Masako, who was eyeing the clouds as if worried about rain.

"Apartment block four, flat thirty four."

"I'm the same! But flat thirty six!," Mai said, sighing in relief. She was not alone yet.

"We're almost neighbours."

Masako linked her arm through Mai's and they started down the street. When they found block four, they let themselves in with the key provided in their envelopes and started up the stairs.

On the third floor, the started down the corridor, counting the doors as they went.

"This is me," Masako said, stopping in front of her flat.

Mai walked down to the next door on that side, number thirty six.

"Are you nervous?" Mai asked.

"A little, yes."

"If he turns out horrible, you know where I am, okay?"

"Likewise."

The two young women nodded to each other and took deep breaths. Then both raised a hand and knocked.

Author's note: Not much to say, so please review :)