Addressee(s): Citizens of the World
Subject: The State of My Affairs
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I have not been communicating with the outside world for several months now, having been out of the country. This is my way of stating what I need to explain, and how I shall give one last message to all whom it may concern.
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In general:
I am fine where I am living now, my accommodations being, though not as opulent as my previous ones in Japan, adequate for one person, certainly. My company brings in quite a lot of business, obvious, as I am its president. I am content.
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To my father:
I am still proud to be bearing my family name, but only because of the name I've made for myself, as Atobe Keigo. I want no part in the Atobe Company; I am happy with my own work, which reaps more profit than your Atobe Company anyway, and the profits were not reaped by means of bribery, blackmail, or things of the like.
Also, please leave Mother alone. She doesn't love you, and you don't love her. I can take care of her myself.
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To Mother:
Forgive me for abandoning you if you can. I can and will wait forever for your forgiveness if you choose to give it to me.
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To my teammates and coach:
I am sorry for disappearing, but I had to. You understand the circumstances. I needed to make a name for myself outside of Japan, and I have done that, as you can clearly see. I will search all of you out eventually, of course, to thank you. I am sure that I would not be where I am today without your help, even with my own intellect and influence.
Sakaki-sensei, I have heard some news of how Hyoutei is doing. I understand that there is nobody with the same commanding presence as myself on the court, but I think that a bit more discipline is in order if Hyoutei continues losing to Rikkai Dai and Seigaku.
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To all my previous opponents:
Thank you for playing me. With each game that I played, I grew stronger, and I would not be the same person without the games that I've lost and won.
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To the citizens of the plebeian world:
I thank you for your support of my company, as my company would not be where it was without your help.
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To Echizen Ryoma,
I bet you laughed when you were reading my letter. I can imagine the telltale smirk on your face without even seeing it, the slight raise of your lips when you think of how stupid I am, and how strange it is that I, the Monkey King, am actually thanking all these people instead of being my usual egocentric self, as you like to think of it. And then your golden eyes cloud over, because you remember that I had left you, all those months ago, all alone as you stood in that crowd that was equally as surprised about my leaving as you were.
I know that you are seeing Tezuka now, and no matter how I try and make myself not believe it, he is much more suited to you than I am. He was the one to make you stronger, to make you whole after I had left you, to bring you up to the level of the stars as you are now.
But I will be worthy of you eventually, Ryoma, and when that day comes, I will buy an express ticket back to Japan and I will come home. My true home.
Because home is where the heart is, and my heart is with you.
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Sincerely, Atobe Keigo.
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The sun was still low in the greyish-blue sky, tinting the horizon with hints of warm orange, as the private jet slowed to a stop on the asphalt runway. It was quite appropriate, returning to the Land of the Rising Sun whilst the sun was still rising.
Many people exited the plane, mostly middle-aged businessmen, some of them with families in tow. They walked down the stairs connected to the jet's door, single-file, on to the runway, like a parade of people with different ethnicities and ages. There were old Caucasian women who had come along with their sons and wives of different descents, some African, others North European. There were the very young children, some Chinese, some Mexican, but all a bit confused as to why they were here and not elsewhere, though some of them were content, their hands being held by their mothers. Last of all, there were the businessmen themselves, some bedecked in suits and ties, others in casual wear, but all with smiles on their faces.
And after this procession of people had filed out completely, all the stragglers included, there was one man who walked down the stairs slowly, with a steady gait. He walked with his right hand on the railing, his left one reserved for his briefcase. He simply had an aura of confidence to him, an air of charisma, that made all the eyes of the other passengers turn to him, even those of the young children. He had a determined look in his own dark blue eyes - he knew what he wanted, and he was going to do everything possible to get it - but to offset his otherwise hard expression, there was a small smirk on his face, as if his objective was already within his grasp, and all he needed to do was tighten his hold.
'The limousines out front will bring you to your accommodations,' the man announced, addressing the crowd. 'There will be assistants to aid you if necessary.' The crowd understood this to be a dismissal.
Gradually, the crowd dispersed, leaving the man by himself, standing on the stairs, not yet off the plane, but no on the ground yet either.
Finally given solitude, the man let himself smile slightly. He was home.
But there was nobody here to greet him - he'd have to do it himself. His voice soft, he said, barely above a whisper,
'Welcome home, Atobe Keigo.'
-to be continued.
