I don't own Prince of Tennis.
For Atobe: Playing Perfect
By:
CrazyGirlOfManyNames
High expectations are given to the only child (or oldest, it depends) of a family. In Atobe Keigo's case, he is an only child. However he is just not an only child but the only child of the Atobe family. His parents and grandparents expect him to be the pinnacle of perfection, actually everyone does.
He tries his best to be the perfect son, grandson, student, captain, tennis player, businessman, and person. But what exactly is 'perfect'? Atobe sometimes thinks that and doubts himself. Now, that does not sound like the Atobe we all know, the egotistical, spoiled King of Hyoutei. But he is human too.
People naturally dislike him, because of his attitude. It does not help that he flaunts his father's money. Atobe does not do it on purpose. Do you actually think that his father let him have anything he wanted without working for it first? Hell no. He works with his father as training to prepare him to take over the family business one day. Atobe, a fourteen year old boy, must sit through old men talking about business for hours on end. That is boring. Of course those old men complain about the lack of work ethics in the younger generation. Atobe scoffs at this. Old fools put too must pressure on the young. It is just their best, his best, is never good enough.
One thing that is easy for Atobe to be perfect at is school. He is naturally smart and his father hired the best tutors to assist him. Perfect scores on every test and assignment are to be expected. Teachers praise him; classmates loathe him. But it can not be helped.
Tennis is his favorite thing to do in the world. He loves the thrill of completion. He is one of the best for his age, but that is a problem for his father.
"You are not to be one of the best but THE best." Now that sport he loves is just another thing his father placed an expectation on. Atobe truly hates this. He admits that Yukimura Seichii, Sanada Genichirou, Tezuka Kunimitsu, and recently Echizen Ryoma are better than him (even though he did manage to beat Tezuka). And his team is no help at all, yes they are good but they lack the skill he has. Not to mention but they give him a headache.
"Buchou!" It was then Atobe thought of many different profanities to scream. Btu he would not, he was more dignified than that. He just sighed internally and prepared himself for another day of playing perfect.
End.