Kpop Sickfics & Hurtfics

Silent Voice (Ryo)

Ryo sat in the practice room, staring at the piano keys in front of him. His fingers rested lightly on them, but he didn't play. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only sound breaking the stillness of the room. Normally, this quiet moment would be comforting, a chance to center himself before another grueling day of rehearsals. But today, the silence felt suffocating.

He had been rehearsing for weeks, preparing for one of NCT Wish's most anticipated performances—a showcase celebrating their latest comeback. The members had poured their hearts into this project, and Ryo had pushed himself especially hard, determined to give his all in both the vocals and choreography. His mind raced with thoughts of hitting every note perfectly, ensuring every move was flawless. The fans deserved nothing less.

But something had shifted a few days ago. His throat had started to feel strange—a slight tightness, like the beginning of a cold. At first, he had brushed it off. He'd been through plenty of vocal strain before. A bit of extra rest, some ginger tea, and honey, and he would be fine.

Yet, the discomfort hadn't gone away. It worsened.

Each rehearsal seemed to drain him faster. His voice, once so clear and strong, felt fragile. Singing became an effort, every note feeling forced. The soreness was one thing, but it was the weakening of his voice that scared him the most. By the end of yesterday's practice, he could barely speak without wincing.

Still, Ryo refused to stop. The performance was too important, and the fans were counting on them. He couldn't afford to let anyone down.

I'll push through, he had told himself. I just need to keep practicing.

But deep down, he feared what might happen if he ignored the signs any longer.

The next day, the group gathered in the studio for a final run-through before the big show. Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Sakuya and Ryo moved through the choreography with precision, their synchronization impeccable. The team had worked hard to perfect every move, and it showed.

However, as they transitioned into the vocals, Ryo's anxiety flared. His throat felt raw, and every attempt to sing sent sharp pangs of pain through his chest. But he bit his lip and pushed forward, forcing his voice to obey.

Sion, ever the observant leader, glanced over at Ryo mid-rehearsal, noticing the strain etched on his face. Ryo's usual vibrancy was missing, replaced by a look of sheer concentration and, underneath it, pain. He frowned but held off on saying anything, trusting that Ryo would let him know if something was wrong.

When the music for their final song began, Ryo stepped forward for his solo. The piano keys filled the air, soft and melodic, and it was his moment to shine. He took a deep breath, willing his voice to hold out just a little longer.

But the moment he opened his mouth, nothing came out.

His voice cracked, faltered, and then disappeared entirely. The once beautiful, soaring notes were gone, replaced by a painful rasp.

Ryo froze, panic rushing through him as the music continued without him. The rest of the members stopped as well, the room falling into an awkward silence.

"Ryo?" Riku's voice cut through the quiet, soft with concern.

Ryo swallowed hard, but his throat burned. He shook his head and tried again, but the result was the same—nothing. His voice was completely gone.

The weight of his failure hit him like a tidal wave. He had pushed himself too hard, and now he couldn't even sing the most important part of their performance. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, but he quickly turned away, his hands trembling as he clenched them into fists.