You know when you hear absolute horror stories about a travesty that happened to someone who works with a friend of a friend, and you say 'oh! How dreadfully horrible!' and try very hard to feel sorry as you shake your head and look as if you're pitying them; but really, you're just secretly happy that you're not the one it has happened to?

Well, the very worst happened today...something I never thought would befall me, though I have heard of it occurring once or twice to unfortunates gossiped about at luncheons. What you may ask has happened? A most embarrassing, degrading, and downright humiliating scene, that's what.

Ore-sama's credit card was declined!!

...And in a public place no less! One that I frequent! Oh, I do not know how such a thing could have developed. Of course everyone was quite kind and tried to tell me it was all right and it must be a mistake and that it happens all the time. OF COURSE IT WAS A MISTAKE!! and things like this do NOT happen all the time to Atobe Keigo. EVER. Thus I called my father, and I called the bank and caused quite an overall commotion in the department store. It seems, and I was told this by the banker for whom it was easy to remain calm and act disdainful, that one of their foreign branches was robbed sometime the night before and that because of this their system has errors and BLAHBLAHBLAH, point being my assets are frozen until next week while they repair their funds transferable! Completely ridiculous. I've been assured my accounts are safely in order and a bank representative even visited the house this evening. It's not fair! It was only my spending account, my father says! At least he had the decency to spare me utter mortification by putting the items I had been currently purchasing on his tab.

*SIGH*

( private )

Oh. My. God. Of all the things I did NOT expect to find tacked to my door this morning and then plastered all over the Hyoutei hallways... I mean, I can't say I didn't KNOW, but being confronted with such...high-res images so very near my lunch was not how I would have chosen to start my afternoon.

...Although I must admit a fleeting sense of accomplishment, seeing the results of the extra workout I added to the menu. Toned, right? :D *snickers*

( Yuushi )

It took me a while to track down the person in charge of maintenance around here, seems there was a power surge affecting only a few breakers, but it's taken over a day to fix for some reason? Absurd. It was quite unnerving to wake up the other morning and not be able to dry my hair. Luckily I have the salon on speed dial, and the darling girl Ore-sama actually trusts with his hair was kind enough to get out of bed and open shop early enough for me to come in for an emergency style. I definitely left her a tip worth her trouble. It really is heartening to know there are people in this world who are so kind and also helpful in times of crisis. I've been assured we should have power again by tomorrow, thank god, tonight I was actually bored to the point of watching movies with Yuushi. (Iknow.) And also my cell phones need charging.

-Atobe

White Day again went over fairly quietly, I'm stunned that both romance holidays passed this year without any major catastrophes.

Imported Italian Amedei Porcelana from kantoku this year, signed only by the attachment of a red rose arrived early on (I really don't know why he even bothers with anonymity anymore). A lovely box of German darks from Kabaji, Not the most expensive, but he really does have amazing taste. I really must do something nice for him soon to show my appreciation; maybe I'll treat him to dinner sometime next week?

( private )

I am by choice, rather than by nature, a habitual person. I prefer things on a schedule and I function more efficiently when things are so. Everyone who knows (or knows of) me is aware of this, right? Yes, well, when I go to MY private courts at MY house to practice at precisely 10:15am like I do EVERY Sunday before lunch and find them being used by someone who is NOT myself, there is a problem.

Who would dare such an audacious deed? ...My mother it seems, and her new "Zennis" coach. What in the HELL is Zennis?! It is very lucky that Ore-sama has such great self-control, otherwise I fear my temper might have run away with me around the time the "instructor" (i use this terms SOVERY loosely) informs me that it is the art of tennis combined with the focus and self-inflection of yoga. He proceeded to try and tell ATOBE KEIGO that I should join them and play from my 'hara'. Oh, no. No.

Needless to say his "Zennis" techniques did not hold up against my Hamastsu, and I admit I take a bit of not-so-guilty satisfaction in sending the fool home with a bandaged wrist (overkill you might say, but I think it justified). Mother was duely upset, insisting she only wanted to learn tennis because she was bored and she'd thought she ought to at least know the basics so she could understand my game better. RIIIGHT. I know damned well she knows the workings of the game, whether she plays herself or not. Truly, I have the feeling it more because said "instructor" was 22 and wearing black spandex shorts (tacky! plus, no matter what he said, he was totally over 30 and has had good deal of work done. gross). Anyway, I think I impressed her, as she doted deservingly over me for a while before finally leaving. Not before I made her promise to stay off my courts though, thankfully. 'tch. So very annoying.

To dispell any rumors that might be floating about, I spent the day at the salon getting my hair trimmed.

( private )

Today turned out to be rather surprising. Observing Jirou's lack of interest in practices lately, I had been a bit bothered and even slightly insulted that he seemed to find our training so droll. After some pondering, I decided to challenge him to a match.

I admit that the thinking behind this originally could have been considered harsh- I had come to the conclusion that he may have become a bit over-confident in his skills after playing a few of our more talented rivals and since excelling in such matches, caused playing our own team and those who might be a step below him in skill to seemed dull. The solution I opted for was to have Jirou play a match against me. I would prove to him in his defeat that there are still many goals to be attained and that he has a long way to go before he is in a place that would even allow a decline in training, boring and basic as it may be. After all, even a player as great as myself is also great enough to know that one must continue to strive and work toward being the best. Even at the top, there is room for improvement and it can never hurt to put yourself miles above the competition.

In any case, I digress. What I was going to say is that I was pleasantly surprised by how much Jirou has improved. It seems he has surpassed my speculations, which is a feat in itself. Of course I still easily won the match and he has quite a ways to go if he ever plans to match my skill, but I admit it was more of a challenge than I had anticipated.

( private )

Well, Valentine's came and went smoothly this year; though the gift count was ridiculously high and totaled the last two years combined. I assume this can be attributed to my being a senior, aside from the obvious fact that I am, of course, the fabulous me.

After the problem with my birthday chocolates, I decided to have Kabaji dispose of all but the most expensive and/or non-perishable Valentine's gifts this year instead of redistributing them as an act of charity to the many less fortunate students who don't receive the plethora of gifts that I do. I'm sure everyone will understand.


Note to self: Have new photos taken to send out with the 'thank yous' next month, as the current ones do not sufficiently reflect the blue of Ore-sama's eyes.

There seems to be rumor of a case of head lice going around. I will be using my own private showers after practice until whoever is infested has that taken care of. Ore-sama's hair is too nice to take any chances.

Well...I'm back. As of last night actually. It's nice to have my room to myself again. I've already called my decorator to come and do some rearranging.

( private )

Atobe here, posting from a net cafe in Venice. Italy is nice. Slightly chilly for my taste, but it gives me an excuse to wear the white Italian leather coat I purchased when I was here last year. I don't usually wear fur, but the lining to this jacket is simply extraordinary.

What was I going to say? Ah. I was just thinking how sorry I was to be missing the Winter Ball this week. Normally I rather enjoy the event, and I hope everyone has fun. Probably a silly thing that I miss something as mundane as the Hyoutei Winter Social when I'm here and have tickets for the opera tonight, but as fabulous a time as I am having, I can't stop myself wondering what everyone else is doing at home.

My coffee is here. Later then.

-Atobe

Really, if I were anyone less than who I am, I do not see how I would still be passing the semester. Of course my grades are still perfect marks, but it has become more and more difficult to maintain my excellence and still find time to breathe! What spurred this confession, you ask? Well, I shall inform you. My dearest mother phoned yesterday to remind me of our annual European holiday. Of course, knowing such a vacation was approaching, I had already made careful plans to leave once school recessed for break in mid-December. However, to my dismay, her call was to let me know that she has decided we leave a month early because her sister, who is already in Paris, has broken her foot and insists that she cannot bear Europe a single day longer without us to keep her company. *sigh*

This is quite an inconvenience to say the least. I requested from my instructors this morning that I be allowed to take the finals prior to the other students and thus be released early. Of course they were incredibly accommodating, and I will be allowed to test tomorrow afternoon. That will be one less worry for me at least. As for tennis, our facilities abroad are outstanding, and I always welcome the opportunity to practice with foreign opponents. I have left the usual in charge of the Hyoutei team, and spent time making very specific special schedules and instructions to be followed in my absence; which I hope will not be exceedingly prolonged.

( private )

Spent the majority of yesterday at the private courts. It's been a while since I've had the time to devote and entire day solely to practice, and it was much needed and much enjoyed.

Lately I've chastised myself for my recent lack of intense training. I can not let my priorities slip and let other things usurp my already scarce time. With winter tournaments fast approaching, there is certainly no time at all to spare in preparation. I expect the rest of the team to put full effort into winter training this year, as we can not afford to idle in the off season. Thus I'm working on some new seasonal training menus that I will hand out after our next meeting, along with a few new schedules I've drawn up. Hopefully that will be helpful even to me, as I'm much more likely to make time for things if they're ordered.

-Atobe

There. are. insects. in. my. room. Disgusting! I have contacted an exterminator, and was informed he would be here this afternoon. And it is quite clearly PAST afternoon, and no one has arrived! Twenty minutes and I call that damned company again.

I had sorted the birthday gifts, but made the mistake of leaving the perishables that had started to smell in the trash can for Kabaji to take out. It seems it attracted bugs and I absolutely REFUSE to sleep in here if there is threat of ants in my bed. Uck. Vile. I apologize to Jirou, who is equally as put out by the situation. He keeps yelling about someone named Kakashi though, and I really have no idea what he's going on about. *sigh* I think I'm developing a migraine.


[edit] 7:30pm: I phoned the company yet AGAIN and let them know how much I strongly suggested they get here now do their jobs. Fortunately my influence over the phone can be quite a force to be reckoned with, and they FINALLY showed up and rid the room of the horrible crawling creatures. What a day it has been! At least I can sleep soundly tonight in my own room.

Mykonos was nice, a good 10 degrees warmer than in Tokyo and I was happy to wear lighter clothes one more time before I put them away. I still much prefer to go in the spring or summer though, there are so many places much nicer for vacationing in the fall. You can't argue that with mother though, she says she has to make use of the villa and keep up her social hold there. *shrugs* No matter to me really.

I think I was wrong about some of my birthday gifts being perishable. There is a definite funny smell. Ugh, I will have to have it taken care of tomorrow, as I'm pretty much falling asleep on my feet right now.

-Atobe

My birthday came and went much more smoothly than I had anticipated. I suppose I've become much more prepared for the mob over the last few years. I haven't had nearly enough time to sift through all the gifts though, and let Kabaji stack them in the corner until I can get around to it. I highly doubt there's anything perishable.

I'm taking off to Mykonos to visit mother at the villa again tonight. She insists upon seeing me for my birthday, although I think it's absolutely pointless for me to fly there and back for only the weekend. I'll have no time for anything except saying hello and receiving my gift from her before turning around and flying back. Well, that's slightly exaggerated, but after all the jetlag it will seem that way. Plus I'll have to do all my homework on the jet. *tragic sigh* Oh well, better to make her happy.

Well, off to pack. I'll write again when I return. ...Or from the plan if I'm bored enough.

-Atobe

The absolutely unimaginable has occurred over the last week. Ore-sama's schedule was sabotaged! ...Or actually I think there was a short in the charging cord for my Palm pilot. HOWEVER! The results were non the less disastrous! I don't see how this could have happened to a master of planning such as myself, outstanding circumstances are at fault, I suppose. I do apologize to those who were inconvenienced by my absence (everyone falls into that category, really) and had to try and function normally without me. I know it must have been difficult, but I commend you. The worst was the call I received from kantoku the other night. He was rather...perturbed. To say the very least. It is very rare that I am ever in the wrong, and I didn't mean to be so snappy with him, but really! It is I who keeps him on schedule most of the time and I do NOT need a lecture on responsibility! Ah well, I won't get into it here as I know he probably reads this, but it was a bit upsetting. Things are fixed now, and I have certainly returned to my usual well-timed day.

On a MUCH happier note, I'm sure you are all aware that tomorrow is October 4th, the vastly celebrated date of Ore-sama's birth. In order to avoid the commotion they suffered last year, it seems my fanclub has released an official list of things to get me. I should say that I don't personally endorse or sponsor such pointless doings. Of course I am flattered by the affections I receive, but it's a rather unnecessary measure. The people that give you the best gifts should know you well enough not to have need of consulting a list anyway. Or so I am prone to think. Then again, having so many aficionados nullifies that point, since it would be impossible to know them all personally anyway. But now I'm just musing aloud, so I should probably go.

-Atobe

Oh. The week I have had! Its been a wonderful week for tennis, but really, that's about all. Last semester I was given special permission to take a few college level courses this term; since I already tested well above the junior high level. Of course I'm doing well, as studying comes naturally to Ore-sama and I would never settle for anything less than the highest marks, I'm afraid my free time has been cut to almost zero. I know that ordinary people would not be able to function at all on the schedule that I keep, but then, they aren't Atobe Keigo. Anyway, I was asked by one of my instructors yesterday if I would be interested in tutoring students after school. There was much approbation to follow, but really, I simply had to turn him down. I just do not have the time (not to mention will) to hand feed every student with a lower average (which is pretty much everyone).

It seems that the freshman I usually tip to pick up my mail at the student centre has been ill lately, and I had to actually go down there myself. I usually avoid this at all costs, as I get bombarded by screaming girls. However, the ordeal was rather uneventful (as people do not seem to recognize me in a hat for some reason?) and I retrieved my mail without problem. Or, so I thought until I went through the mail! That charity that showed up at my house a few weeks ago? Apparently they are completely insane and have been trying to reach me for weeks. Something about turning against me for not supporting their cause? Quite honestly I read the letters and I'm still not sure what their cause IS! I have never seen so many notices, most quite rude! They say they've been to the dorm? I wonder when that was, and if Jirou knew of it? I'm really past the point of caring however, and have decided to take the weight off of my own mind and pass it on to one of my lawyers.

Ah, I have exactly 8.32 minutes before I am late for class.

-Atobe