GoPro: On
Location: The laboratory at Hittora HQ
Record: 1-0
Dr. Rika steps back from the examination chair, sets a heating tool down on an instrument tray, and claps her hands together with a satisfied smile. “Good news, Hit-chan. Your synthetic skin held up pretty well in your first match,” she says in Japanese. We get English subtitles. “Only a few stress tears, and I was able to repair them without leaving marks.”
“Thank you, Dr. Ishida,” Hittora replies, sitting up.
Red Line Wrestling’s first robotic competitor appears to be unclothed, but the camera’s view is impeded by Dr. Rika Ishida: a somewhat short and chubby woman in her late 20s, violet-highlighted black hair pulled back into a sloppy ponytail, red-framed glasses that look a bit too big for her round face. She’s wearing a migraine-inducing outfit consisting of a pink Bad Batz Maru top, tartan skirt over black leggings, and neon yellow sneakers. The only concession to her status as one of the top roboticists in Japan is the white lab coat worn on top of everything else.
“Just Rika,” she says, exasperated.
“My apologies, Dr. Rika,” Hittora says with a small bow of the head. She stands up and pads barefoot across the tiled floor to the side of the lab, where a clothes rack stands near a wall-mounted mirror, and inspects herself. “You did an excellent job. The repairs are flawless.”
“When you have a perfect body like yours, you have to keep it well maintained,” Rika says. She puts her hands on her hips, lab coat spreading open. In case you’re wondering, we still can’t see Hittora naked. Perv. “A girl like you shouldn’t have scars.”
Hittora pauses, turns her head to smile at Rika. “Thank you for your compliment. My statistical analysis indicates that my body type and physical dimensions are within a range that is considered to be attractive for a woman. I am also aware that blemishes on skin are undesirable. However, I confess that I do not truly understand why this is so.”
Rika scoffs and rolls her eyes. “You’re so damn coy, Hit-chan.”
“I apologize, I did not realize I was being coy,” Hittora says and bows her head.
“God. Go figure, someone who looks like you doesn’t understand what beauty is.” Rika throws her hands in the air. “Obviously you’re hot! That’s how you were designed. A pretty girl has a much easier time in social interactions than an ugly one. People are more friendly and cooperative, especially men. And clothes look so good on you, too.”
“Do you think so?” Hittora asks guilelessly. She turns to her wardrobe and touches one of the hangers.
“I’ll show you!” Rika exclaims. She whirls on one foot, points directly at the camera, and in accented English she cries,
“Let’s montage!”
[Cue Iggy Azalea!]
♫I'm so fancy♫
[Cut: Hittora in her usual navy blue jacket and skirt, white blouse, and black pumps, hands clasped politely in front of her.]
♫You already know♫
[Cut: Hittora in a nearly identical grey jacket and skirt, a different white blouse, and black pumps, hands clasped politely in front of her.]
♫I'm in the fast lane♫
[Cut: Hittora in her silver wrestling singlet and black boots, hands clasped politely in front of her.]
[/Iggy]
Rika rubs her face thoughtfully. “I, uh, guess that’s it for your wardrobe, huh? We really need to take you shopping. Wait, I have one more…”
[Iggy!]
♫From L.A. to Tokyo♫
[Cut: Hittora in Rika’s mismatched outfit, hands clasped politely in front of her.]
[/Iggy]
“Is this ensemble ‘hot’ on me?” Hittora asks, looking down at herself.
“
Everything is hot on
you,” Rika grumbles. Her lab coat is buttoned modestly around her. “Unfortunately there’s no help for me. Let’s swap it back.”
♫I'm so fancy♫
After another cut, Hittora is dressed in her navy blue skirt suit, and Rika is back in her own clothes, looking faintly disappointed. “Yep,” she says, “you definitely wore it better.”
“Thank you, Dr. Rika, you are most kind,” Hittora says with a bow, oblivious to the roboticist’s loud sigh. “Forgive me, but I still do not understand. What is it about this physical appearance that humans think is beautiful?”
“A lot of it comes from societal norms,” Rika says. She leans against a cluttered counter and folds her arms. “How the media portrays body image. What people collectively believe. But deep down, I think it’s an evolutionary instinct. A young woman with a healthy body and clear skin looks like a good reproductive partner. She’ll have good, healthy kids.” Rika blows a wayward strand of pink hair out of her face. “Assuming you like kids.”
“Reproduction,” Hittora says. “So you are saying standards for women’s beauty are defined by male sexuality?”
“It sounds primitive, but there you go,” Rika replies with a bitter chuckle. “And I’d better warn you now, your next opponent at Slamtrack 9 is about as Neanderthal a male as you’re likely to find in the 21[SUP]st[/SUP] century.”
“You are referring to ‘Superb’ Dick Fury,” Hittora says. “I have not met him yet. Is he friendly?”
“He’s a pervert. He’s probably getting aroused just thinking about you,” Rika says.
Hittora turns to examine her image in the mirror. After a moment she says, “But my appearance is only an artificial simulacrum of a woman’s body. I am not a naturally born human being.”
“Doesn’t matter to scum like him,” Rika says, shaking her head. “All that matters to guys is appearance.”
“I see,” Hittora replies. She looks at Rika. “Forgive me, but could you please explain this term, ‘getting aroused’?”
Rika looks up at her, mouth hanging slightly open. She turns to the camera with a bewildered expression. “Am I really about to have this conversation?”
GoPro: Off