Silence had never been this loud.

Kai sat on the edge of the vocal studio, hands folded tightly in his lap, eyes fixed on the mirrored wall across from him. His reflection stared back tired eyes, pale skin, the faint outline of the scar at his throat just visible above his collar.

Around him, the room buzzed with sound.

Ren laughed too loudly as he warmed up, his voice bouncing wildly between notes.

Toma argued with the dance coach about counts and tempo.

Min practiced scales under his breath, precise and controlled.

Sora leaned against the wall, humming a melody so soft it barely existed.

And Kai listened.

Every sound stabbed deeper than the ache in his throat.

Ms. Hoshino’s heels clicked sharply across the floor as she approached him. She stopped directly in front of him, arms crossed, eyes unreadable.

“You are not singing today,” she said flatly.

Kai looked up, nodding immediately.

“If I hear even a single note from you,” she continued, “you will be pulled from all training for the week. Vocal rest means rest. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kai whispered.

Even that small word burned.

She walked away without another glance.

Kai exhaled slowly, shoulders slumping. A week. A whole week without singing in a competition built entirely around voices. He pressed his fingertips into his palms, grounding himself.

This is temporary, he told himself.

You’ve survived worse.

But the doubt crept in anyway.

Across the room, Rei stood stretching near the mirrors. His movements were clean, efficient, disciplined. When Kai glanced up, their eyes met.

Rei didn’t look away.

There was no smugness in his gaze. No superiority.

Only sharp awareness.

Kai turned his eyes down quickly.

During break, Ren plopped down beside him, shoving a protein bar into his hands. “Eat,” he said. “You look like you’re about to evaporate.”

Kai gave a small smile. “Thanks.”

Ren hesitated. “Hey… you don’t have to answer, but—your voice. You okay?”

Kai paused, fingers tightening around the wrapper. “I will be.”

Ren didn’t push. He just nodded, leaning back beside him.

Rei watched from across the room.

And this time, Kai knew he wasn’t imagining it

To be continued...