After writing Bravado, I simply had to look at post-Kanto Atobe, and see what he would be like after actually winning against Tezuka. I hope I managed to keep the voice and idea that Bravado was written in alive.
Although most of my drabbles are stand alones, this one is more of a sequel to Bravado, so it might make more sense if you read that one first.
Disclaimer: Don't own Prince of Tennis.
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"Hyotei -Atobe- will be the winner!"
It's their war cry; it's his promise.
When you focus everything on one simple goal, what happens once you achieve it?
Atobe's dream of beating Tezuka had long since turned into obsession, by the time he finally stood on the Kanto courts and faced his bitterest rival. He had bet so much on this one match, this single moment, that he can hardly believe that it has finally arrived.
Outwardly, he's serious, confident, determined. But inside, he can feel the doubts grow. Atobe has changed since the last time he faced Tezuka on a tennis court; he's gotten stronger, even fought his way up to the coveted position as captain of his team. But Tezuka has grown as well, become a captain too. And deep, deep down, Atobe fears that despite how things have changed, in the end everything important will have remained the same. Some small part of him remains convinced that now, at this last test, he will fail; that Tezuka will beat him again, and life will simply continue on in the same vein it always has.
But despite his well hidden doubts, Atobe steps onto the court, and looks his opponent in the eye. For an instant, it's as if he has been thrown back in time, to that first match. And even though he knows he can't change the outcome of that long ago match, he is determined that today will end differently.
To even Atobe's own surprise, it does. Atobe Keigo, King of Hyotei, has won against Tezuka Kunimitsu, Seigaku's Pillar.
It's all he can do to keep the racket from slipping from his fingers as he stands, panting. The day he has imagined for so long is finally here, but instead of sweet victory, all he can taste is ashes.
Because, despite everything being different, the ice in Tezuka's eyes never even faltered. The icy terror the brunet player can invoke is still seared into Atobe's soul, and nothing Atobe can do will ever get rid of it.
Tezuka broke him all those years ago; winning this match hasn't changed that.
For so long, his dream was to utterly defeat Seigaku's Pillar. The letter of that dream has been fulfilled; Atobe won their rematch on the courts. But for all that Atobe had triumphed, Tezuka had not bowed to defeat. Tezuka had not broken, had not crumbled as Atobe had in that first match.
Atobe won, but his victory is empty.
So, What do you think? I know that after Atobe beat Tezuka, he acknowledged Tezuka as a worthy opponent and all, and that probably still happened here. But I've always viewed the Seigaku's Insanity universe as an AU that twists through the corners of canon by placing my version of Seigaku in canon situations. It's a very introspective series, and it's been a long time since I've watched PoT, so forgive me if I'm a bit fuzzy on some of the details.
Read and review?