The break had arrived. Everyone was heading home some for a few days, some for over a week. For Kai, the idea of leaving the dorm was both thrilling and terrifying. He hadn’t seen his family properly since joining the program. He hadn’t spoken to them about Echo, or about the voice that had once disappeared completely.

Ren nudged him at breakfast. “So… going home, huh? Going to see your folks?”

Kai nodded. “Yeah. I guess it’s time. It’s been… a while.”

Min smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re scared they’re going to recognize you as Echo.”

Kai laughed softly, the first real laugh in days. “They’ve always known. They just didn’t know I was… still trying.”

Toma clapped him on the back. “Well, don’t forget us while you’re gone. And don’t get too comfortable with home food you’ll regret it when practice starts again.”

Sora smiled quietly. “Take your time. Recharge. We’ll be here when you come back.”

The bus ride to the city Kai had grown up in felt surreal. Familiar streets blurred past, neon signs replaced by small storefronts, bustling markets, the smell of grilled street food that reminded him of childhood evenings.

At home, his mother hugged him tightly. “Kai! You’ve grown so much.”

His father clapped him on the shoulder, smiling in a way that made Kai’s throat tighten. “We’ve been worried about you. But I hear you’re doing well?”

Kai hesitated, then nodded. “I’m… learning. Slowly.”

His younger sister peeked from behind the couch. “You’re still singing, right?”

Kai swallowed hard. “I… I’m working on it. Slowly.”

The next few days were a mix of comfort and subtle anxiety. He caught glimpses of himself in mirrors, thought about Echo, thought about the dorms and the friends he’d left behind. He practiced gentle humming in the privacy of his room, careful not to push his voice too far.

Ren called one evening. “Hey, idiot. You’re not going to disappear on me while you’re home, right?”

Kai smiled, resting his phone against his chest. “I won’t. I promise.”

Ren laughed softly. “Good. We need you back in one piece… not just physically, but… you know, emotionally too.”

Kai looked out the window at the familiar city skyline. He thought about the program, about the stage, about the quiet strength in the voices of the people he’d left behind. He felt a strange mixture of peace and anticipation.

Home wasn’t the end of his journey. It was just a pause a chance to breathe before the next part of the climb.

He closed his eyes and let the night wash over him.

The voice would come back. Slowly. But it would come back.