On the days leading up to the Cultural Festival, Class 1-A continued to rehearse for their big performance. Talia began to play Pan's Syrinx pipes. Yaoyorozu and Jiro quickly recognize the pipes. 

Yaoyorozu: Is that....

Talia: Yes. This is Pan's beloved Syrinx. He lent it to me. I'll admit, it feels weird to be playing those pipes.

Bakugo: So what?! It's just a set of weird looking pipes! 

Yaoyorozu and Jiro were quick to disagree as they knew the tragic story behind those pipes. As Talia continued to play the Syrinx, she began to remember a story Pan told her. 

Talia: It's so odd. This reminds me of the story of Orpheus.

Kirishima: Orpheus?! Is he another manly hero?!

Talia: Not exactly. Orpheus was a musician and poet who was renowned for his music ability. One day, he fell in love with a beautiful woman named Eurydice. They were married soon after. All could tell that the two were deeply in love.

Mina: Aw! So romantic! 

Talia: But tragedy soon struck as Eurydice collapsed. Before Orpheus could reach her side, Eurydice was gone and the snake that had bitten her slithered away.

Upon hearing this, most of the class was deeply saddened by this. 

Talia: Following Eurydice's funeral, Orpheus was overcome with a sadness that none could ever truly feel. In his sadness, Orpheus decided to attempt the impossible and go to the Underworld to bring Eurydice back. 

Kaminari: Geez. This is depressing. 

Tokoyami: Going to the Underworld is certainly no easy task. How could he hope to bring his believed back?

Talia: When Orpheus reached the Gates of the Underworld, Orpheus began to use his unrivaled musical talents to his advantage. His music was so beautiful that it charmed the three headed guard dog Cerberus to sleep. He used his music to charm the Ferryman Charon into letting him ride passage through the River Styx without pay. Soon enough, Orpheus reached the palace of Hades and Persephone. As he stood before the lords of the Underworld, Orpheus sang a beautiful song of his love. His song was so beautiful that even Hades himself wept. But they weren't alone. Watching them was the soul of Eurydice. 

Some of the more romantic students began to tear up at the story. Talia herself began to weep as her eyes fell on Shoji. 

Talia: Moved by the music, Hades gave Orpheus a chance, but on one condition. 

Midoriya: What was the condition?

Talia: Orpheus would be allowed to take Eurydice back to the mortal world. But he must not turn around to check to see if Eurydice was there. If he did, Eurydice would be returned to the Underworld forever. 

At that point, the students of Class 1-A began to root for Orpheus. They wanted to see Orpheus get a happy ending that he deserved. 

Talia: With each step he took, he worried that Eurydice was not really there and that Hades was playing a cruel trick on him. He heard nothing but silence. He heard neither her voice or her footsteps. Finally, just before he stepped out of the Underworld and into the land of the living, Orpheus gave way to temptation and turned. When he did, the last thing he was the the face of his love being dragged back through the Underworld. He tried to go back to the Underworld, but he was denied entry. 

Upon hearing that, the students of Class 1-A were heartbroken. 

Ochaco: That's...that's terrible! 

Talia: Orpheus was heartbroken beyond words. On that day, Orpheus swore to never love another woman again. Instead, he sat in a grove of trees and sang songs about lovers. But his tragedy was not over. As he played his music, a group of maenads were outraged that he would not love them. In a state of frenzied jealousy, they destroyed poor Orpheus. 

Hagakure: Are you serious?! Poor Orpheus...

Talia: Only when he died, Orpheus was finally reunited with his beloved Eurydice. 

As Talia finished the story, everyone in Class 1-A were without words. Yaoyorozu and Jiro recalled Pan's words after telling his own tragic tale of love. 

Pan(Past): Love is truly a powerful thing. But it does not always lead to happy endings. 

Talia began to wipe the tears from her eyes and spoke. 

Talia: Love is truly a powerful thing. But it does not always lead to happy endings.

Hearing Talia repeat those words showed Yaoyorozu and Jiro just how alike Talia was with Pan. Bakugo soon broke the silence. 

Bakugo: Let's stop with the fucking crying, already?! One sad story and you all begin fucking sobbing like babies?! Pathetic! 

Mina: Don't be so heartless, Bakugo! That was more than just a sad story! 

Bakugo: In case you forgot, we got a musical performance to work on, Raccoon Eyes! Orpheus lost his wife and he still found time to make fucking music even if it was a bunch of sappy crap! Now let's go make some fucking music!

Talia: Bakugo's right. I'm sorry for going off topic. I'm sure Pan would've finished this story a lot quicker.

With that, Talia and the rest of Class 1-A resumed practicing for their performance at the Cultural Festival. The tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice deeply impacted Class 1-A. But as they practiced, Talia and Shoji locked eyes with one another, it seemed as if they were stricken the same way as Orpheus and Eurydice. Only time would tell on how Talia and Shoji would further their bond with one another.