The All-Rounder || Karina X Male Reader

Prologue S2

The hum of the jet engines filled the cabin, a steady reminder of the journey ahead. Jaeyoung glanced out the window as the city below became a patchwork of lights, the bustling life of Seoul growing distant. The weight of his decision to leave finally settled in, but instead of regret, he felt a quiet resolve.

Unwrapping the small package Daehyun had given him, Jaeyoung found a leather-bound notebook. Tucked inside was a handwritten note, scrawled in Jihoon's neat handwriting:

"Jae,
No matter where you are, the music we made together lives on. Write your songs, live your life, and when the time is right, bring them back to us. Until then, we’re holding the fort.

Locked/In Forever.

-Jihoon, Sanghoon, Daehyun.”

He traced the embossed letters on the cover, memories of late-night rehearsals and stage lights flashing through his mind. The notebook felt heavy in his hands, not because of its weight, but because of what it represented—a reminder of his roots, and of the people who believed in him no matter where he went.

Jaeyoung smiled faintly, slipping the notebook back into his bag. He pulled out his guitar, the one he couldn’t bring himself to leave behind, and strummed a few chords. The melody came easily, but it carried an undertone of nostalgia that he couldn’t shake. He began to hum, soft and low, words forming in his mind like a letter to everything he was leaving behind.

---

When the jet landed in Sydney, Jaeyoung was greeted by the bright Australian sun and the unfamiliar scents of a new country. His parents were bustling around, handling customs and gathering their luggage, but Jaeyoung lagged behind, taking in his new surroundings.

"Ready, Jae?" his father asked, giving him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Jaeyoung nodded, a small grin forming on his lips. "Yeah, I’m ready."

They stepped out into the airport's arrivals hall, where a chauffeur was waiting to take them to their new home. As they drove through the city, Jaeyoung let his mind wander. The streets were different, the sounds foreign, but there was something freeing about starting over.

---

That evening, after unpacking his belongings, Jaeyoung found himself sitting on the balcony of their new house. The stars were different here, scattered across the sky like strangers waiting to be known. He pulled out his guitar again, letting his fingers find their rhythm, and began to write.

This time, the music was different—not just nostalgic, but hopeful.

His phone buzzed beside him, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was a notification from Jihoon:

"The band's first gig without you. Wish us luck, traitor. 😜"

Jaeyoung chuckled, quickly typing a reply: "Don’t suck without me. Good luck, legends."

For the first time since he’d decided to leave, he felt at peace. Jaeyoung didn’t know what the future held, but he was ready to face it.

He strummed the final chord of his song, his voice soft as he sang the words:

"It’s not the end, just a different start—
Every goodbye leaves room for a new heart."

The melody lingered in the night air, carrying his hopes for what lay ahead.