Framed Sunset

- Frame Eight -

Sugawara was still at Kageyama's an hour or two later. They were on the phone trying to reach Akaashi after a recent discovery.

Earlier, once they'd calmed down (and Kageyama stopped beating himself up), Sugawara prepared tea while the photographer absentmindedly scrolled through his phone only to receive the notification about Nishinoya and Hinata's live broadcast. It clicked in his brain immediately; this is why they had an impromptu departure. He tuned in while Sugawara was finishing up the tea, his older friend sitting down just as two voices filled the room through Kageyama's BlueEar speakers.

"I hope everyone is having an amazing afternoon! Today we are doing a special live show to talk about some new talent that's caught our eye, right Sho?"

"You're one-hundred percent right, Nishi!" Hinata's cute, warm, bubbly voice filled Kageyama's living room. "Before the nighttime broadcast comes on, we'll be talking about a new modeling talent; Keiji Akaashi!"

And that was the 'recent discovery' that brought them to their current situation. Kageyama was trying to reach one of his (only) friends, Akaashi, to let him know about the broadcast. Not only did he feel it was his responsibility as a friend, but because it felt like a sign - Hinata, who he finally met, was now talking about one of his (few) friends.

Call him childish, but the live transmission gave him hope.

Akaashi picked up after six rings, the model's voice smooth and calm despite the random call. "Kageyama? Is there something I can do for you?"

"Akaashi!" Sugawara chirped, taking the phone from Kageyama. "Are you busy right now?"

"...I was napping..."

"But not anymore, right?"

"Well, no..."

"You should listen to Sunset Sounds!"

On the other end of the phone, Akaashi's eyebrows rose. "The radio station?"

Kageyama, who was comfortable around Akaashi, finally chipped in. "They're doing a segment about you right now."

Akaashi, a patient man who did his best to always keep a cool head, found himself a little excited after hearing that. He complied with Sugawara's suggestion, tuning into the popular radio to listen to the segment 'all about him.'

"He's not well-known like Wakatoshi Ushijima or Tooru Oikawa, but this guy's got some real talent, he pulls off the style he goes for really well, and the photographers he works with really know how to make him look his best."

"You forgot to mention that he's pretty, Nishi!" A pause while they giggled, the sound lifting Kageyama's spirits. "Mr. Akaashi himself has mentioned, in various interviews, that some of his best photoshoots were with a certain photographer - actually, it seems to be the same guy who worked with Natsu Hinata, a MeToob-er who happens to be my sister!"

Kageyama noticed the subtle mention of himself in the broadcast, perking up. Sugawara gave him a smack on the back that was meant to be encouraging (it wasn't).

"They must've done their research," Akaashi murmured over the phone, his voice startling Kageyama.

"T-They always put in a good effort," Kageyama replied, the hint of pride in his tone making Sugawara smirk. The photographer was defending a duo he met once from a comment that wasn't even an insult. He was either a hardcore fanboy or whipped after a single in-person encounter.

Sugawara smiled at the side of Kageyama's face in a motherly, loving way. His younger friend was still focused on the man on the phone and the men doing the live stream, though unfortunately for Akaashi, there was no doubt that his focus was glued to Hinata and Nishinoya.