Kpop Sickfics & Hurtfics

Silenced (Tomoya)

Tomoya had always taken pride in his voice. It was something he had worked on for years, refining each note, mastering his range. As the leader of NEXZ, it was one of the ways he could carry his group. But over the past few days, his voice had felt off. The familiar smoothness wasn't there, replaced by a tightness in his throat that refused to go away. He knew the warning signs—he wasn't a rookie anymore. But there wasn't time to rest. NEXZ was preparing for their comeback, and with only days left before their live performance, Tomoya kept pushing through, telling himself it was just a phase.

"Tomoya-hyung, you sure you're okay?" Yuki asked during rehearsals, his brow furrowed as he watched Tomoya cough after running through their new choreography.

Tomoya gave a strained smile, waving off the concern. "I'm fine. Just tired, that's all."

The youngest member, Yuki, was always the one to worry. He had an uncanny ability to sense when something was off, but Tomoya was determined not to burden him or the others. As the leader, he couldn't afford to show weakness. It was his job to be strong, to push the group forward, especially with the intense pressure of their comeback looming.

Yu, who had been practicing in the back, overheard and gave Tomoya a glance as well, his eyes narrowing slightly. Tomoya pretended not to notice. He couldn't afford distractions—not now. They had their first live performance in less than 48 hours, and everything had to be perfect.

The practice stretched late into the night. Tomoya could feel the strain in his voice worsening, but he pressed on. Every time he hit a high note, it felt like sandpaper scraping against his throat. When he faltered during one of the harmonies, Seita, their main vocalist, raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. The other members seemed to be on edge, sensing something wasn't right, but Tomoya wouldn't allow any interruptions. They had worked too hard to let something like his scratchy throat get in the way.

Finally, they called it a night. Tomoya's throat burned, but he kept the smile on his face, giving everyone a thumbs-up as they packed up. "Good job, guys. Tomorrow, we nail it."

He couldn't ignore the way Yu and Yuki exchanged a glance as they left the practice room.

The day of the performance came quickly. As they prepared backstage, Tomoya's chest tightened with nerves, but it wasn't the usual pre-show jitters. His throat felt raw, and even speaking was starting to feel painful. He downed another bottle of water, silently praying that his voice would hold out just a little longer.

"We've got this," he told the group, forcing his usual calm confidence. "Let's give them a show they won't forget."

The members nodded, each one of them focused and determined. But Yuki lingered by Tomoya's side, his wide eyes filled with worry. "Are you sure—"

"I'm fine, Yuki," Tomoya cut him off with a reassuring smile. "Really. Let's focus."

Yuki didn't look convinced, but he nodded and went to join the others. Tomoya exhaled shakily, trying to ignore the growing pain in his throat.

The music started. The lights blazed, and the crowd erupted into cheers. Adrenaline pumped through Tomoya's veins as he took the stage, falling into the familiar rhythm of the performance. The choreography was flawless, each movement sharp and precise, and for a moment, he allowed himself to believe that everything would be okay.

But then came his solo.

Tomoya stepped forward, the spotlight burning down on him as he prepared to hit the high note. He opened his mouth, and—

Nothing.

His voice cracked, sputtering out in a breathy rasp. Panic surged through him as he tried again, but the sound barely made it past his throat. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he fought to continue, but the pain in his throat was unbearable.