The performing arts was not a field to look down upon.

People who aspire to entertain, to create are some of the most resilient talents in the world. The ability to get back up after being beaten down, time and time again is awe-inspiring. How incredible they are to have the confidence to stand in the limelight for the sake of others, for the sake of themselves.

So why is it when a child tells their parents this, why is scorn the first reaction they get?

Not happiness, not love, not support, but worry. A sort of look will be exchanged between them as they then glance back at you, asking you to reconsider other career paths or outright refusing to acknowledge your ambitions. It becomes a struggle of questioning yourself and questioning those around you.

Is this really want I want?

Will I be able to make people happy this way?

There's no use thinking like that. No use thinking about the endless 'what if' scenarios, no use self-sabotaging and spiralling into an endless anxiety, agonising over your decision to follow the tough, cruel path to your dreams.

If your life is your own, why doesn't it feel that way sometimes?

___

There were four boys in class 1-A.

There was nothing particularly special about them, nothing that made them really stand out against the rest. They were usually loud, rambunctious and always laughing about something. Instead, today, they were sat in complete silence, their hands hanging low as tension swam through the air like a shark out for blood.

Either way, it was weird. So out of the norm that it felt like a bad omen.

"Hard men," Kirishima said out of nowhere, nervously glancing up to catch the reaction of his fellow band members. Alas, he was met with nothing but a disgusting glare from that angry blond one.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me, are you even trying at this point?"

"I haven't heard anything from you yet, acting all high and mighty aren't ya?"

Bakugou whipped around, prepared for life in prison if it meant giving that little midget what he deserved, "Do you ACTUALLY WANT TO DIE YOU FUCKING MAGGOT?!"

"LOL. You're gonna die a virgin!"

"Sero, shaddup!" Kaminari screeched, "Haven't you ever heard of a joke?! This is why the ladies hate you- I'M JOKING, I'M JOKING!!"

Draining all the effort they had, they slumped back onto their seats, all out of creativity and energy. It was like the switch in their brain was off, and there was nothing that could be done to turn it back on. Sometimes, it was just like that. You should never be harsh on yourself for not producing results all the time, we're only human.

"Why is it so hard to think of a band name? The girls were so quick with it, how is that fair?"

Sero grinned, "Let's see. It's 'cuz Kirishima has a rock for a brain, Denki over here short-circuited long, long ago and Katsuki-chan's mother tried to get an abortion a little too late."

Bakugou prickled up, "Huh?! Say that to my face!"

"I just did, dumbass! Let's just take a break and come back to it later or something, let's go get some dumplings."

Kaminari nodded, agreeing a little too quick, "Oh yes, yes, yes that's such a great idea! I'll hand the sheet back and write nameless on it for now hehehe..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing! I'll go hand it in to sensei!"

That was that.

They went about the rest of the day as usual, and then a few more days after that. Everything seemed to be back the way it was. Bakugou picking a fight whenever and with whoever he could, Kaminari starting said fight and then getting scared when he retaliates, Kirishima trying to calm them down and Sero basking in the chaos.

Everything seemed to make sense again.

That was until one fateful evening when Todoroki caught Bakugou on their way out of class.

"The hell you want, half-and-half? Looking for a fight, huh?!"

Todoroki sighed, the threat not affecting him at all. "Just wanted to know who came up with your band name."

Bakugou's body when rigid and somewhere in the school, Kaminari got a chill up his spine. He turned around and placed a hand on Todoroki's shoulder, trying his best to stay calm and using those breathing exercises his anger management therapist taught him when he was seven. He smiled, well, tried to smile. "What do you mean... 'band name'? We haven't come up with one yet???"

"Apparently, you did," Todoroki slapped his hand off his shoulder and took a step back. "Nameless. How creative."

He tried.

He really did try.

"DENKI, YOU LITTLE FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT."

~~~

The train had arrived.

This was finally it. It was like the air had turned to water, and time seemed to ripple and fade like an illusion. Taiga blinked once, then twice as she stared at the train, a part of her waiting for it to disappear along with the last bit of hope. When it failed to cooperate, a sinking feeling formed in her stomach, making her almost feel sick with joy.

Something is going to go wrong.

She turned to her father, his grey eyes watching her without saying a word. He looked sad? Worried? Confused? Angry? There wasn't a word for it.

Still, she stood there, waiting.

"You can come home whenever you want."

There it was.

The disappointment sank in, and Taiga felt small. Did that mean he thought this was just a whim? That she'd crack under the pressure and break instead of bend?

His eyes looked tired, "If you ever feel... stressed, or overwhelmed, there will always be a place at home for you."

Taiga gulped, a strange sort of lump forming in her throat as her eyes began to prickle. "Thanks, dad. I'll work hard."

"Your mother would be proud."

She didn't look up. She didn't dare look up. If she looked up at him, she would surely collapse into her stress, her unstable foundation cracking and breaking with just five words. Five words that wouldn't escape her head, like a curse.

He placed his large hand on her head, "Take care."

She nodded and hurried onto the train, thankful it wasn't too crowded. It shuddered and groaned, then began on its way, the way to her future.

Taiga sat there, with her head leaning against the window, staring at the direction she came from, watching it get smaller and smaller.

She knew her father would be standing there; standing there for a very long time, probably until he received the text from her telling him she had arrived at her station.

Closing her eyes, she decided to forget about it.

Forget about it all.

~~~

Why did I cry writing this 🤡