You ever like think Itachi, at one point in his life, sought for attention and recognition from his parents. This could be through academics, the little stars or prizes teachers would give out to their students for doing a good job.
I don't think he would he a happy kid, he feels like those calm, quiet ones, that's probably a tad too opinionated for his age sometimes. They'd be happy about it, but he never quite gets the reactions he wanted. It never quite lived up to his expectations. Y'know the type, good deeds have these mild lackluster reactions, anything remotely bad no matter how small gets an explosion.
Until eventually he stopped showing or sharing these prizes. He doesn't invite his family to the school festivals or competition events, especially if it isn't required. Gets their signature and skiddadles. He just comes home lugging a trophy or a medal home one day and that's that. Sometimes his mom only sees it when she enters his room to tidy up.
The canon makes it out that he has an independent source of confidence. He doesn't care for other people's opinion, in a way, I think he's looking for concrete proof that he's the best by constantly winning. Validation from other people was never quite reached, especially to those that matter, so he gets it from the rationale that he is the best, bc he can back it up physically.
That said, I wonder what his opinions on school spirit. Does Itachi find it as hollow as any type of validation bc they don't actually quite care about him, they care about their school winning? Does he secretly care for it, does he cancel it out in his head? Bc I honestly think despite being the better player, there's probably a weaker link that gets more support bc they're for one a lot more nicer or socially popular. I also feel that there's a part of him that's uncomfortable with cheering, that he blocks it out but I also feel he likes it.
Here comes the point, I feel like he would be really jealous or hate the fact he's angry over say a friend team member having such an affectionate family who celebrates the littlest of things. And then actually having someone actually "see" him, giving him affection meant just for him. Ughhhh
Anyway. Itachi is such a messy ahh character and so... angst
Idk man i woke up from a sick nap and that for some reason willed me to type this in the bathroom so... ye have a gud one
Have doodle cus this deserved it, FIRST OF ALL thx for letting me yap a little
(oooo headcannons warning a part of my brain might explote rn, everything is a headcannon and i got no head, just peanut)
There's always the "They used to do this/that" phrase that sticks with me because of the story he has with his parents, always think abt it :'l Its a dynamic that I'd love people to think abt more instead of just seeing the "cover of the book" of Itachi's character.
The love he received from his parents was an unwritten, conditional agreement until he reached a certain stage of his youth. I'm referring to things that aren't usually consciously considered when dealing with one's own children (affection, pet names, etc.). Itachi is naturally very aware of his surroundings, it's not like they hid these kinds of things from him ("we stopped treating you this way because you don't need it anymore"). However, he was still a child, and his parents weren't very expressive in their way of caring for him.
Personally I think this behavior was mostly instigated by his father, as the head of the household... subconsciously it was his fear(bother) that his son would become too soft, he doesn't want a kid that can't follow the future he planned, Itachi's life plan was WAY AHEAD. I find it ironic that this type of parenting does the opposite of what they want because men tend to become way more emotional for repressing themselves and shows with that short temper of his.
Physical abuse for minor inconveniences was part of that temporal attention seeking, his mother would simply scold him and his father was the one who gave the beat up as usual... SO lets say around the age of 11-15, he would fight with his father alot, if its just spontaneous or not either way its what happends though something really BAD would have had to happend for Itachi to stop rebelling against his parents and totally lose hope completely of what he wanted from them.
(That is also a very specific headcannon of his childhood I have ok I'm not gonna get much into it rn)
Anyway, I agree that there was a long period of time when he desperately wanted his parents' attention but instead his achievements were recognized more than him, giving more importance to a trophy than to the son. I have this mental image in present day of his father making him show him his championship awards, trophies and such, things like that at least once just to "be sure," and they don't even exchange a word lol, he just wants that confirmation.
I don't know if you remember that at some point I referred to their interactions as rllly tense and that his father, when Itachi says something even slightly untasteful (aka whatever dad doesnt like), would hit him on the head with his palm or something similar, although not as hard as he used to haha, little reminder that these scoldings are nothing compared to the severe damage he could inflict on Itachi when he was younger. The only reason it hardly ever happens now is because Itachi "stabilized."
All these factors make you realize that, indeed, as you said, he thinks very unenthusiastically about this sense of company among other students/clubmates! Its funny that he's attentive in silence about others but acts like a total schizoid.
It's one of those cases where you get so used to being looked down upon in one way or another even when you're successful in what you do and when you receive even a little admiration or support from someone else, you feel a very... strange kind of rejection to it. It would be that case with Hojiro (and Asu sort of) because even if the guy really sees Itachi as a FRIEND besides the athletic role they have, Itachi cannot handle such foreign bond and doesn't feel all of it is genuine with anyone just like with his parents, well, what he percieves.
Same kinda does make him have that perception of himself just by what he's good at rather than what builds him as a whole so sometimes he doesn't see himself as a person, THUS when people seems to like better someone thats socially extroverted/likeable it gives a bittersweet taste.
Why like them when he was more efficient, faster, more disciplined? Why can't they show more recognition to him when he has worked up so hard and has shown that he's better in every aspect? What else he has to do to even have parents like that and friends like that but also HATES intimacy and bonds and connection and would rather break a leg than be able to accept a "I like you" from anyone? Y'know what I mean? He's complicated, I like, LOVE complicated, emotionally unstable characters that are a-holes and even if their lives don't justify how they treat others it feels so nice to indulge further. He just need that push...
Dat why we love someone that invades that brickwall he built for none to pass in with a love hammer :) Hi Ayano.
