Eventually, they decided to order vegan pizza. Katrina offered to buy. It was not exactly in her budget, but she was a new guest.

Once they heard that, they added toppings and ordered some wings.

This happened the night after, and after. They ordered vegan pizza. They smoked. They talked about shows they were binge-watching. They smoked. Once in a while, someone would mention some sort of creative project. They’d either dismiss it or say it was badass and fierce, and then they talked and smoked some more.

Evan scratched his beard. “I want to start a crowdfund for a web series—like The Asian Whisperer or something, where I show people all this weird shit that’s here. Kind of a David Attenborough thing.”

“That’s appropriation, Evan.” Skylar said.

“Though it’s not like Asians don’t appropriate other cultures. And besides, they aren’t really people of color people of color.”

“Anyway, I saw this video where someone explains how to explore an Asian supermarket.”

“That’s so badass!”

Katrina found the bathroom and locked the door. She began to itch. She looked in the shower. She wished she hadn’t.

Yet at least the bathroom was quiet. At least she couldn’t hear them talking about Asians, about Mexicans. Katrina sat there, confused.

Yes, queers were not the most stable, and she hadn’t seen Evan in person for two years. But still, hadn’t he told her he thought she was beautiful? Hadn’t Evan told her that they were family?

Finally, Katrina wiped herself, flushed, then washed her hands as best she could, grateful that some parts of her, at least, could be cleaned.

Of all the times to get careless!

Yes, any teacher or contestant in Arcadia that day would have known “Shizuka Satomi.” But the world was a far bigger place than the violin community in Arcadia, or the violin community anywhere, for that matter.

How could you have been so stupid?

The girl must have thought she was crazy. And honestly, could anyone blame her?

And now how was Shizuka supposed to find her? Put a call out to the violin community? As if. Those people had too much to chatter about as is.

Besides, the girl was not part of that community.

Astrid brought out breakfast.

“I think you’ll like the tangerine jam. The Aguilars brought so much fruit, and I didn’t want it to go to waste. It’s quite good with toast. But still don’t know how to prepare the bitter melon. I’ll check my cookbooks—I’m sure…”

Astrid stopped.

“I am sure you will find her, Miss Satomi.”

“I’m sorry, Astrid. The jam is quite tasty.”

Astrid shook her head. “Please don’t apologize, Miss Satomi. I am thrilled that you have found the student that you want. In the park, of all places! It is difficult to believe.”

“Isn’t it, though?”