Chapter Text
"Shotaro, your phone is ringing." Is what the manager shouts in the midst of the hectic dressing room. His members were too engrossed in disrobing themselves off the heavy, sticky concert uniform, surrounded by a team of stylists swarming over them like ants on a mission. There's about 25 people standing stationary in a 5x5 space, with the occasional people coming in and out the room. Various scents mingled with each other despite the scent-neutralizing incense working full-time. Knowing the members, they were probably too overstimulated to take note of all the shouting around them, treating it as white noise.
Shotaro's the first to get changed, already snugly seated and half-asleep in his personal make-up station. Frankly he's too tired to get up from his already seated state. And he doesn't think the phone call is anything important. In fact, he's been getting a lot of spam calls lately, despite already turning on spam call protection. He'd hate to pick up the phone just to hear annoying renditions of his "car's extended warranty". On top of that, anyone close to him would know that it's concert day for him, so even emergency calls should go through his manager, and not his own phone. "It's okay, hyung! It's probably just a spam call. Just give me a second, I'll mute it," Shotaro shouts back with no urgency in his voice. His back is still facing the manager, unable to move a single millimeter in the makeup station as per the stylist hyung's instructions.
From the mirror, he saw his manager tilt his head in uncertainty. Oh maybe it is an important call, Shotaro thought to himself. "It's been the same number calling. Say, you don't happen to have a sasaeng tracking you do you, Shotaro?" The manager frames it as a joke but there's no missing the unease in his voice. Now half the room gets quiet. He can practically feel their questioning stare, some with worry, and some with plain curiosity. But the only thing going through his mind is, Is this his first sasaeng experience? He thanks the stylist that's taking care of him internally for pausing his work, giving him time to think about whether or not he wants to face that daunting phone call or not.
He politely asked the manager to bring him his phone, if only to mute it. Investigating could be done later in a less stressful situation. Is what he thought until he saw a very familiar set of numbers on his phone screen. "Oh! It's a friend. I'm really sorry, Jay hyung, but can I take this for a second?" He pleaded with his stylist. He never purposefully uses his puppy eyes but he's heard he's generous with his aegyo when he's asking for things. That earned him an amused sigh and a stern reminder for him to hurry up. Wasting no time, he heads outside where he knows there'll be less eyes and ears. More so for manners than privacy, a habit of his that hasn't phased out from his years of living abroad.
The voice plays the instant he picks up the phone.
"Shotaro! You finally picked up."
A smile creeps up his cheeks before he can say anything. "Kei-kun, it's been so long! How've you been? How did you get my number? Why did you call?" Shotaro knows he's rambling at this point. For some reason, he feels the post-concert adrenaline pumping in him again. It really has been a long time since he's heard Keishin's voice. His abrupt move to Korea unfortunately perfectly aligned with Keishin's increasing workload in both his job and his family life. Despite being tight during their EXPG days, life soon pulled them to all sorts of directions. And as an omega in a relatively big idol company, Shotaro is still trying to learn how much of his past relationships he is allowed to catch up on before it starts a scandal. But he thinks the idol industry isn't solely responsible for him failing to reconnect with Keishin. He also has his own personal reasons too.
Despite being impossibly giddy from getting this phone call, he wonders if it was a mistake. If he should've waited till he reached the hotel room before picking up. Hell, if he should've just just muted his phone and let it ring till the other boy got tired of waiting for a response. But Shotaro's never been the type to run on logic. And his feelings told him he'd rather drop dead than miss the opportunity to reconnect with an old. . . friend.
"Shotaroooo, calm down. What, didja run a marathon or something?" Keishin laughed under his breath on the other line. Shotaro thinks his words are more slurred than usual.
"I just finished a concert actually," Shotaro replied sheepishly. He wants so badly to blame his out-of-breathness on the hours of dancing he did. "I was gonna get my make-up off until you called. Terrible timing, by the way. How did you even get my number?"
"Ah, riiight. How's idol life treating you Sho-chan? I knew there was no way the idol industry wouldn't snatch you when you shine so brightly." Keishin is using flattery to change the topic. Shotaro forgot the alpha was a serial-flirter. So, he answers him the only way he knows how.
"So you've been paying attention, huh?" He flirts back.
Shotaro sees him smirk before he hears him laugh. "Who isn't paying attention to you, princess?" The alpha barks back. A swarm of butterflies invaded his stomach from the mention of his petname. He doesn't know if distance really did make the heart grow fonder, or if he's never gotten over what happened years ago. Why did Keishin wait this long to call now? Did he also have his own reasons? He can't seem to ask because every pointed question is expertly churned into casual small talk. And now flirting. As if it hasn't been a handful of years they haven't seen each other. As if they both didn't make the conscious decision to create distance themselves. Shotaro doesn't know how this phone call will turn out, but if he went along with Keishin's whims, he's sure— he hopes— they'd reconcile by the end. Go back to how they were before life pulled them away from each other. Friends, of course. Good friends.
"You're acting real sweet, huh? You hoping I'd treat you somewhere nice just cause you flattered me a little?"
"Well, I was actually thinking of taking you out. My treat," Keishin offered matter-of-factly. Shotaro's cheeks hurt from smiling.
"And how did you know I'm back here in Japan, mister?"
"That's a secret you can only find out if you accept my offer." He wants to wipe that smirk off that damn alpha's face. “But I know you're busy, so you can answer me whenever you want. Just focus on cleaning up, your make-up team is gonna be pissed with you for making them work overtime.”
Shotaro finds it sweet when he's being considerate. He thinks he would've forgotten the time if Keishin hadn't reminded him.
“Alright, Keishin. See ya later,” Shotaro tries not to sound as giddy as he feels.
“Goodnight, princess. Say hi to your members too for me.”
The omega feels a bit empty hearing the line cut off. But he really doesn't wanna make Jay hyung wait any longer. After rushing back to his chair, he realizes he can't avoid the questions that are gonna be thrown at him. Especially not from his members, who've grown too close not to ask nosy questions about his private life. Surprisingly, his stylist, Jay hyung, spoke first.
“I'm pretty sure I already took off your blush. Why are you still red?” The question seems innocent, but omega-to-omega, he knew exactly what answers the stylist wanted.
Wonbin, who's usually on autopilot mode after concerts, is now leaning over his chair to eavesdrop on the conversation. He doesn't exactly have the energy to go full-on investigation mode like Jay hyung, but his stare already speaks a thousand words.
“I just ran, that's all. I didn't wanna keep you waiting, hyung,” Shotaro managed to mumble an excuse. He knows it's a stupid answer, 6 hours of dancing will not give the same effect as a 5 minute call with Keishin. But his stylist (and Wonbin) would have to be satisfied with that answer. He thinks he feels a pair of eyes burning through the back of his head, he thinks it's probably his manager.
Jay-hyung got the hint and stopped the investigation without even starting. Wonbin didn't seem satisfied with the cliffhanger though. And Shotaro knows there will be a QnA session back in the hotel room. Sinking into the not-so-comfortable chair, Keishin's words echo through his mind. He doesn't think he can relay Keishin's “hi” to the members. He needs to figure out how to act normal first before he makes a fool of himself.