Silhouette Chapter 1

A day like any other; Atobe Keigo, the pride and joy of the Atobe household, awakens to dawn’s red rose fingers. He arises slowly, stealthily. Pondering quietly to himself, Keigo paces around his room, wondering. Slipping on a comfy bathrobe, he wanders out of his room and glances back once before closing the door behind him. Standing outside the door, he stares at the ground solemnly; awaiting the consequences and as he heaves a heavy sigh, he is unaware of what lies ahead.

xo

“Ah, Atobe, there you are.” Oshitari Yuushi, with his strong kansai accent, walked over to the Hyotei Captain.

Without a word, Atobe looked up.

“Oshitari…” He started in a whisper, “I made a mistake. A huge mistake.”

He confided in this man; Oshitari Yuushi was the only one he opened up to. This man was the only one who knew that Atobe’s narcissism was an act; a wall that held fast, protecting him from falling; protecting him from everything, everyone.

“…What are you talking about?”

“I made a mistake Oshitari. I made a mistake.” His voice began to crack; uncharacteristic of the very proud Atobe Keigo.

“Look…Atobe…Whatever it is I’m sure that…”

Atobe cut him off briskly. He shook his head in a disapproving manner and pointed in front of the two gentlemen. There came the Hyotei Tennis Team; laughing joyfully. Gakuto, with his unlimited supply of energy, Shishido and his partner, Choutarou, talking animatedly, Kabaji, his strong shoulders thrown back, Jirou, his eyes half-asleep, yawning constantly, Hiyoshi, the fire in his eyes glowing, and in front of him stood the genius of Hyotei, one who could counter the prodigy Fuji Shuusuke of Seigaku, Oshitari Yuushi himself, and the proud one, he who would lead his team to victory, Atobe Keigo, of arrogance and narcissism, how could he show his weaker side to those who believe in him?

The Kansai man clenched his fists but kept silent. This was a matter that Atobe could figure out himself. The group approached the two men and after many greetings, they moved along to class; one man still brooding deeply over the consequences that constantly haunt him and another man holding his tongue; the others blissfully unaware.

xo

Arriving late at home due to his extended tennis practice, Atobe Keigo strode through the halls of his massive mansion.

“Che,” He scoffed, “I’m surprised they haven’t called or said anything yet.”

He slicked his hair back and stared at a painting on the wall. It depicted a vast emptiness surrounded by dark looming clouds and in the mist of it all, stood a lone burst of light. It related to the story of Pandora’s Box, in the mist of all the pain, suffering, unhappiness, stood hope but in the story, Pandora closed the box; keeping hope contained in darkness. Keigo thought about how this applied to his own life when his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a call from his mother.

“Keigo.”

“Yes, mother?”

“Would you come here for a moment? Your father and I have something to discuss to you about.”

Keigo’s heart began to beat faster with every step he took as he quickly strode to his father’s study.

He whispered silently to himself, “Do they know?”

The thumping of his footsteps in the silent corridor caused his heart to beat even more wildly. Once he reached the door to his father’s study, he grasped the doorknob tightly, his hands beginning to clam up. He politely knocked.

“Keigo?”

“Yes, father.”

“Come in.”

He opened the door slowly, its hinges creaking ever so slightly. As he stepped into the room, he held his breath. To his dismay, his nightmare had come back to haunt him. He could make out the silhouette and taking a deep breath, he closed the door behind him.

xo TBC.