A few glasses of Midleton’s on the rocks were almost enough for me to believe it had all been a dream, but not quite enough to make it true. She was still lounged on my couch when I got back, sipping on my last Black Ice.

I settled myself into the chair across from her. “Look, I don’t even know your—“

“My name is Mayuki.” She’d clearly been waiting for the question all night. She indicated the kanji on her shirt.

“‘Dancing snow,’” I translated. “That’s… lovely, actually.”

“Is it? I still do not fully comprehend human aesthetics.”

“Human..? Then what are you?”

“I am an artificial life form.”

“Artificial… you mean you’re a robot?”

“Technically yes, but not in the usual sense of the term. My body comprises the same organs and systems that make up a human’s. But the cells that compose my organs are entirely artificial.”

“So you have normal body functions? Ah… I mean… you eat? Food? For fuel?”

She gave her head a barely perceptible shake. “I derive energy from other sources. I only require food as raw material, to repair damage.”

“I see. So… the soda..?”

She gave the straw a final gurgling slurp. “It is delicious.”