“Katrina,” Shizuka said evenly, “sometimes, I would be in front of a crowd and feel that everyone hated me.”

“You?”

Shizuka nodded.

“But I knew someone out there was smiling for me, rooting for me.”

“But I am trans, they—”

“I didn’t notice any hate from Cinnabon girl. Did you?”

Shizuka watched Katrina relive a simple moment with a nice cashier.

“And I saw her smiling as we passed by earlier.”

“Really? I didn’t notice.”

“That’s why I’m telling you now. That’s what you look for. A friendly face. A supportive glance. That’s whom you hold on to. That’s whom you play to when onstage. It doesn’t change a terrible situation, but it can help you survive it.

“By the way, did you notice that one of the boutiques we passed had a nice boy with prettier makeup than you?”

“Huh?”

“He was almost as pretty as me. Let’s go there next.”

Katrina licked her fingers and stared at the gooey mess in front of her. Cinnabon was perfect, at least for the first few bites.

“Next time, can we get MiniBons?”

Katrina followed Miss Satomi to the boutique with the pretty boy. Katrina wondered why she had not noticed him the first time. Surely she would have noticed a queer boy like that. And then she understood. The boutique was not in the mall, but in the courtyard. And it was not shiny hip.

It was high-end expensive.

But her teacher did not seem worried as she bade Katrina to follow her through the frosted glass door. Once inside Katrina could not help but stare. Brush paintings decorated the walls. There were Chinese vases, a marble statue of Kuan Yin, a gentle stream running through the middle of the store.

How was this a clothing store?

“Hi! I’m Kev,” he said. “Would you like some tea?”

Katrina anxiously looked away, but Shizuka accepted gracefully.

“Thank you, Kev. This is my violin student. She has her first competition coming up, and I want her looking beautiful for the judges.”

He focused on Katrina immediately. “Yes, I see … Maybe soft and flowy. She/her?” Kev looked in Katrina’s direction for approval.

Katrina nodded.

“They/them, by the way. Any color preferences?”

Had he just checked her pronouns? And they/them? Did he—no—did they just say they/them?

“Saturated, and not too busy,” Miss Satomi said easily. “Oh, and no sequins near the neck—they’ll scratch the instrument and might snag. It’s her first public recital, so I want her to be comfortable. But striking. She deserves to look special on the stage.”

“Absolutely. Something strapless, maybe?”

“That might work.”

Strapless? Katrina looked over at her, then at Kev. They weren’t laughing.

“Let’s try a few things,” Kev said. “Come with me and see what you think.”

Shizuka followed them.

“Yes, yes. I have a few things in mind. Tell me more about your student?”