"Kazuko? You all right?" Kaoru took two steps toward her.
My home… I–I'll never see it again… Kazuko sat stunned.
"What's wrong?" Kaoru insisted.
"I…" Kazuko whispered. "I'm… an Earthling. I swear I am."
Kaoru laid a comforting hand on Kazuko's arm, her anger gone. "It's okay. You can go home soon; I'll do everything I can to help you."
Kazuko wrapped herself in trembling arms.
"Are you cold?" Kaoru said. "Your skin is freezing."
"No. I'm fine."
"Can you tell me where you were born?" Kaoru leaned against the table Kazuko sat on.
"Tokyo," she whispered. "I was born in Tokyo."
"So, you were born Japanese, but you can't understand us?" Kaoru crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at her. Then her eyes sparked in understanding. "Exactly when were you born?"
Kazuko took a deep breath. "May 11, 2961… I'm nineteen."
Kaoru's interlocutor caught her eye, and she stared at it. "I… think we're done here for now. Please, follow me." She led Kazuko to a small room at the back of the medical ward. "Wait here. I'll be back soon."
As Kaoru left, Kazuko heard the distinct click of an engaged lock.
The room was small, empty except for a table and three plain chairs—no bed or washroom.
I hope I'm not stuck here for long. Weariness washed over her, and she took a seat in the nearest chair.
A while—two or three hours, Kazuko thought—a young man brought her soup and bread. He introduced himself in Japanese as Hirata. Kazuko thanked him, but when he gave her a puzzled look, she carefully pronounced her gratitude in Japanese.
She couldn't converse with him, but she appreciated his presence and the kindness in his face.
He left too soon, and Kazuko sat in her chair, alone again.
"That's what she said," Niimi insisted.
"And you believe her?" Sanada looked up from his desk.
Niimi nodded. "I believe she was born on Earth and knows it as her home. But… I wonder if she's human."
Sanada folded his hands. "What did she tell you?"
Kaoru repeated what Kazuko said.
"Hm," Sanada said. "Interesting. She won't reveal her name but gives her birthday and says she's from Earth. Are you sure she's not psychotic?"
"I'm sure." Niimi tucked her interlocutor under her arm. "I don't know why she won't tell us her real name, but she didn't lie about the rest."
"You think she's an alien?"
"Maybe. I can't swear to it, but she's… strange. Her skin is so white—and cold, and her eyes…" Niimi pushed up her glasses. "They're so bright—almost luminous."
"Doctor Sado thinks she's human," said Sanada. "Her DNA matches ours."
"With all due respect, Sir, that was the case with Melda too."
Sanada nodded. "True." He pulled up a report on his own device and slid it across the desk for Niimi to see. "I examined the wreck. They built it with the same materials we use, only better—stronger. And I found the remains of a small warp engine."
Niimi scrolled through the document. She stopped mid-page and her gaze snapped back to Sanada. "They did a warp, and something went wrong."
"Probably."
"Now they're here. He's dead, and she's alone."
Silence.
"Does… she know he didn't make it?" Sanada asked.
"No," Niimi said with a sad sigh. "Sir, is there any way for her to get back home?"
Sanada let his hands drop to the smooth desk. "None that I know of." He met Niimi's sad eyes. "She's one of us now. There's nothing more we can do for her."
That night—or, what felt like night to Kazuko—Kaoru returned with a young man who looked a little like Tadashi with his tousled brown hair and big, brown eyes. The charming smile didn't hurt either.
"This is Kodai." Kaoru gestured to the young man and stepped aside to let him take a seat opposite the table from Kazuko.
"Hi," Kazuko said.
"Hello," he replied.
"So, why are you here?" she asked him.
He tapped something on his neck, tucked just under his ear.
Is that… Kazuko saw a small device attached to his skin. Does he have a translator?
"I'm Kodai Susumu," he said. "And you are… Kazuko?"
"I like that name; it's pretty," she replied.
Kodai have her a questioning look but said, "Maybe you'll remember your name soon." He leaned forward and clasped his hands atop the table. "Do you recall anything about what happened?"
"A little…"
"And the young man with you?" Kodai asked.
Tears welled up in Kazuko's eyes as she remembered how he looked, twisted and broken inside their plane. She laid her head on the table. Folded arms muffled her answer, "His name is Tadashi, Daiba Tadashi."
"Who was he to you? Your brother?" Kodai said.
"Brother?" Kazuko looked up. I don't look anything like him. "No, we're not related, but he's… a close friend."
"Do you have any family?"
My parents—aunt—sister… She shook her head. All that's left are my friends. The look in Kodai's eyes sent an icy jolt through her heart. "He's–" she choked back a sob. "He's dead, isn't he?"
Kodai nodded. "Here." He held Tadashi's harmonica out to her. "This was all he had with him."
She took the little instrument and clutched it to her heart as she wiped away tears. "When will you bury him?"
"We'll make sure you can be there," Kodai assured. "If you agree to it, we'd like to send him off like one of our own—into space."
"Yes," Kazuko managed. "He'd be happy out in the sea of stars."
Kodai gave her a sad smile.
"Does Sato Kazuko suit you, or would you prefer Daiba's name?" Kaoru asked.
Her hand tightened around Tadashi's harmonica. His father gave him this… He said it was a family heirloom. I wish I could give it back to him before… his funeral, but there's no way I can do that. She tucked the instrument into her pocket. I could be Tadashi's sister. Why not? "Daiba," she declared. "Daiba Kazuko."