She'd heard the question before, so it didn't catch her by surprise when she asked. This Japan place must've been one heck of a place to have such a variety of people, and that's taking possible time sequences into account.

"I've actually never heard of Japan before I came here, and not for lack of knowing my geography. I'm from a place called Republic City, capital of the United Republic of Nations," she said, articulating her words in a light and succinct way as if not to expect Asuka to know what she was talking about. "Are you?"

She finished off her braid with a tie at the bottom and tucked the elastic band at the top into a weave.