Stella stepped closer. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Kiki, she looked at Pakart again. "It's so late. Is it really okay for her not to go back? It's already past curfew check, isn't it?"
"I've already informed the school. They know Kiki is here," Pakart replied. "She can stay here all night. It's fine."
Realizing they were talking about her, Kiki could not help looking up. "Am I disturbing you?"
"Who said that?" Stella's mouth immediately turned down, as though Kiki's thought had made her angry. "You can stay here all night!"
Stella spread her arms as if "all night" were some enormous creature, and the gesture made Kiki laugh at once.
After a while, Kiki looked up and asked Pakart whether there were crayons in other colors. In a slow, gentle voice, Pakart told her there were lots of stationery supplies in the third drawer by the window in the inner room—and Kiki understood immediately.
Only Pakart and Stella remained in the living room. Stella watched Kiki enter the room, then turned to Pakart. "Was this the problem Silei discovered a few days ago?"
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps? Didn't you ask her?" Stella was somewhat surprised. "Or can't she explain it clearly in District 3 Language?"
"You can find someone who knows District 14 language to help. I also think that would be necessary, but we do not necessarily need to ask her what happened right now." Pakart looked into Stella's eyes. "Kiki said she 'doesn't want to talk about it' right now. She 'just wants to stay here.'"
Stella fell thoughtful, her gaze landing on Kiki's drawing. She bent down and picked it up. "What is this... a helicopter?"
"Yes," Pakart said. "She said she rode in one when she first came to District 12."
Stella smiled, then got