Harley packed up her workbench and put away the last of her tools. Botley crawled across the expanse of the bench, seeing it clean and organized for the first time in his entire existence. Harley was skilled at many things, but organization was not one of them.

“Sorry, Bottles, don’t get comfy,” Harley said. “Some loser freshman is going to own this place starting next year.”

She gave the workbench one last affectionate pat before leaving it behind for good. There were other people packing who needed a hand.

“Coming in behind me yet again, Himiko,” Harley said. Her fellow roboticist was still packing up her things.

“There are worse places to be,” Himiko said. “Good view, at least.”

“Heh. Need any help?”

“Nope, just finishing up now.”

“Great. Then while you’re still stuck here, I got to ask one more time,” Harley said. “You sure you don’t want to join us? We just got another preliminary contract, we could talk about raises-”

“Again, thank you, but no thanks,” Himiko said. She had refused the offer of a job at Harlan Industries before, and continued to do so. “I want to work with my sister, back home.”

Matsuki used robotic models in her fashion shows, which required constant expert maintenance. Himiko intended to be that expert.

“But you know, she’s talking about replacing her models soon,” Himiko said. “Maybe we can...collaborate.”

“Any time,” Harley said. She held her arms out, and Himiko eagerly dove in for a half-metallic hug, carefully avoiding crushing Harley with her massive prosthetic.

“Harley! Himiko!”

Kanya dove through the door to the lab. Though she had packed up her workspace hours ago, she dove through the door with a frantic look in her eyes.

“Kanya! Just in time,” Harley said, without breaking off the hug. “Bring it in, we’re hugging.”

“Well, cut it out, this is important,” Kanya said.

“What could possibly be more important than friend hugs?”

“Sarah’s parents are here.”

Harley and Himiko broke apart and followed Kanya in a mad dash towards the docks. An unsuspecting couple were looking around and taking in the sights of the island when the three students skidded to a halt in front of them.

“Hello...can we help you?”

“Yeah, yeah, please,” Harley said. “We’re Sarah’s friends.”

“Oh! Of course,” the woman said. “You must be Harley, Kanya, and Himiko. I should’ve guessed from, you know, the arm.”

“Yeah, very distinctive,” Himiko said.

“Anyway, listen, and please know, I love your daughter, wonderful person, intelligent, great friend,” Harley said. She then lowered her voice and leaned in conspiratorially. “But like, what the fuck is her deal?”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Oh,” Sarah’s father said. “Oh, do you not...do you not know?”

“No! Should I know?”

“Well, no, probably not,” Sarah’s mother sighed. “We were kind of hoping you did, though.”

Harley was baffled by the look of disappointment on the faces of Sarah’s parents.

“Wait, do you not know?”

“Not really,” Sarah’s mother said, her confusion obvious. “We were kind of hoping since she talked about you guys so much, maybe you knew something we didn’t.”

“She’s your daughter,” Kanya said. “How do you not know?”

“That is very complicated,” Sarah’s father said. “We do love our daughter, but...well, let me say it like this. When she was born we named her Valeria.”

“Then on her third birthday, she looked me dead in the eyes and said ‘Mother, you have been incorrect in naming me. I am Sarah.’”

“And, keep in mind, first words,” Sarah’s father said. “Never said ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ or anything before that.”

The three robotics students shared glances of deep concern among one another, as confused parents looked on.

“Mother. Father.”

All five bystanders to Sarah’s strange existence jumped with surprise as Sarah herself appeared as if from nowhere, just behind her parents. After the shock wore off, the two parents went in for a hug, which Sarah allowed, though she did not return the hug and stood as straight and flat as a plank of wood. Despite her oddities, her parents had always taken care of her and loved her, something Sarah may or may not have appreciated. She never answered them any time they asked.

“Seeing you is good,” Sarah said, once the hug was done. “I finished emptying my dormitory hours ago, but you are welcome to stay there until the graduation. I would like to do the rest of preparing with my classmates.”

“Of course, dear,” Sarah’s mother said. “We’ll see you after the ceremony.”

Sarah allowed her parents to hug her again and waved goodbye as they headed off, watching them as they left from behind her perpetually present sunglasses. She turned those dark lenses towards her friends momentarily.

“I feel sorry,” Sarah said. “I know you had expectations of answers.”

“Eh, we’ll live,” Kanya said.

“Yeah, we haven’t known shit about you this whole time,” Harley said. “Doesn’t change anything.”

“Speak for yourselves,” Himiko said. “I was scoping out your parents. I know your secret.”

Himiko raised a metal finger and pointed it accusingly at Sarah, who never flinched.

“I know what you’ve been trying to hide this whole time, your dark truth. You...are...Italian!”

Himiko stepped back and crossed her arms.

“Spotted the tag on your parents luggage,” Himiko said. “That’s all I got. Which still doesn’t explain shit.”

Kanya tried to stifle a giggle and failed, so Harley joined her. Sarah continued to stare impassively.

“Alright, that’s a wrap, bitches,” Harley said. “I promised Lee I’d do all the graduation prep stuff with her, so I got to get a move on. Love you all, see you later. Especially you, Kanya, your ass works for me now.”

Unlike Himiko, Kanya had accepted the offer to work at Harlan Industries. Harley gave a quick round of hugs to everyone, ending with Sarah. She ended the hug quickly, as Sarah usually stood around like a plank of wood when hugged. This time, though, Harley was surprised to feel two arms quickly wrap around her and pull her back in, if only for a moment.

“Sarah?”

Harley pulled back and watched the normally stoic face of Sarah quiver slightly. With two trembling hands, Sarah reached up and removed her sunglasses, revealing two bright blue eyes, full of tears that were starting to roll down her cheeks.

“Th-th-thank you,” Sarah said, her voice straining as if with great effort. “F-f-for not treating me l-like a freak.”

“Of course,” Harley said. Curiosity burned in her chest, but she ignored it. “After all -we’re friends, right?”

Sarah lowered her sunglasses further, and bent her expressionless face into a smile. Her jaw clenched with concerted effort, but she managed to force out one more word. The first and only question she would ever answer.

“Yes.”

With the only question that really mattered to her answered, Harley grabbed Sarah’s sunglasses, put them back on her face, and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

“Love you, Sarah,” Harley said. “See you at graduation.”

Harley waved goodbye again and left, leaving Kanya and Himiko to curiously flank their enigmatic friend.

“That was sweet,” Kanya said.

“There has been no sugar present,” Sarah said.

Kanya and Himiko nodded to each other. Back to “normal” already.