Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader] (COMPLETED)

19. Supernova

Y/n's absence wasn't something that could be shrugged off easily. When he walked out, it left a gaping hole in the routine aespa had grown so accustomed to. He'd always been there—whether it was guiding them through their most chaotic days, managing schedules, or simply being a familiar, calming presence. But now, with him gone, they felt the full weight of just how much they relied on him.

It wasn't that Minji, Jihoon, and Joon weren't capable. They were more than competent and had helped Y/n on countless occasions in the past. But the dynamic had changed. Y/n understood them in a way that went beyond professionalism. He knew how to read Karina's quiet moods, Giselle's tendency to get lost in thought, Winter's bursts of mischief, and Ningning's boundless energy. He'd perfected the balance between keeping them on track and giving them the space to breathe.

Without him, cracks began to show.

It didn't take long for the first problem to arise. The choreography rehearsal for their upcoming comeback, "Supernova," was scheduled to start, but Karina was still tangled in a back-and-forth with one of the stylists. Normally, Y/n would have stepped in, smoothing out the disagreement with his usual diplomacy, but now the responsibility fell on Karina.

"We can't wear these for the teaser photos," Karina muttered, her frustration barely masked as she held up the outfit in question. "This isn't the vibe we discussed."

The stylist frowned. "But these were approved by the team. I can't change them now."

Karina sighed, glancing around the room. No Y/n to mediate. She felt the pressure of having to juggle leadership roles she wasn't used to.

Meanwhile, Giselle was struggling with the rehearsal schedule. Y/n had always kept them on track, gently pushing them when they needed it and easing off when they were exhausted. Now, the balance was off. They were either running over time or ending practice too early, with no real direction in between.

"I don't even know when we're supposed to finish today," Giselle muttered, flipping through the calendar on her phone. "Y/n would've had this sorted by now."

"Can we text him?" Ningning suggested, only half-joking. "Just ask him to come back?"

"Not yet," Karina said quickly, shaking her head. "He needs space. We can handle this."

But even as she said the words, Karina didn't feel confident. Every time something went wrong, she felt the absence of Y/n's quiet guidance more and more.

-

As days passed, the struggles only deepened. They were scheduled for a variety show taping, something Y/n usually prepped them for with background information, ice-breakers, and pointers on how to engage with the hosts. Without him, their nerves were high.

He might be an idiot, but Y/n did juggled with plenty of odd jobs.

"What if I say something dumb?" Winter asked, glancing nervously at the rest of the group as they waited in the green room.

"You won't," Giselle assured her, though she didn't sound too sure herself. "Just stick to the script, and we'll be fine."

Ningning sighed. "Y/n usually helps us come up with witty stuff. I'm not good at winging it."

The show went fine, but not great. They missed a few cues, didn't hit the flow of banter like they normally would, and the energy wasn't the same. It wasn't a disaster by any means, but they knew something was missing—their manager, their anchor.

The strain of trying to hold everything together was beginning to show, particularly in Karina. Her responsibilities as leader had doubled without Y/n's presence. She was trying to handle the logistics, manage the group's morale, and still give her best performance in rehearsals. It was too much.