"Thanks," he replies quietly, and somehow, the compliment means a great deal. Of course, all compliments are colored differently. Those that come from people who toss compliments left and right aren't necessarily meaningless. Sometimes, that kind of fervor is inspiring in of itself, learning that there's some good to be found in almost anything. Compliments from close friends and family mean all the more for the unconditional love that they make a show of. Compliments from experts, from professionals, they leave his ego boosted.

But it's compliments like these, from people who haven't shown any inclination for music, or dance, or fashion— somehow, these hit him closest to the chest. Isn't all that he's been working on been in the effort to reach these people, after all?

You step on a stage to reach a wider audience.

Tonight, he feels like maybe he has.

"It's what I want to do, eventually. Professionally. One of those dreams set for the distant future."