Author's Note: This three-part ficcie is the sequel to 'The Ponta Connection'. In this story, Ryoma is now 18 years old while Fuji is 20 years old. For the first part of the ficcie, I give you a Fuji PoV.

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is the original work of Konomi Takashi. Only this fan fiction is mine.

GAME n. A way of amusing oneself; a past time; a diversion.

'Let us welcome the finalists to the Tokyo Open Men's Single, 1st seed Echizen Ryoma and Fuji Syuusuke!'

So here I am, playing in the finals. Who would have thought that a wild card like me could ever reach this far? Actually, they did not really expect me to be here. Passed me off to fail even before the quarterfinals, those losers. Very cocky, already expecting to move on to the next level. It has been quite fun to see them squirm for every smash I sent their way, every ace that I give and every return that they take. As I always tell them afterwards, 'better luck next time, not just this time.'

Today is my day. I just knew it, from the moment that I opened my eyes this morning until this moment when we walked on to the center court. And I am not talking about winning either. That could go either way. No, what has gotten me in high spirits is that once again, I get my chance to play with him. It has been three years since we have last played against each other that I have almost forgotten the thrill of a very good tennis match. Oh, there were still some amusements when I get to humiliate one or two egoistic players. Just being seeded already gives them the illusion of being tennis gods. Pathetic little creatures. But today, I know that I will be getting a very intense workout. Ryoma Echizen playing at court is much more passionate than Ryoma Echizen playing in bed. Yeah, right.

Concentrate on the game Fuji. Otherwise, you will be walloped to a pulp for slacking off in front of the king. That is what the press calls him nowadays, tennis king Echizen.

'Both players please approach the net,' the umpire called out.

He has changed a lot. The promise of a growth spurt in high school has now come into fruition. He was only as tall as I am when we were in high school. He was only fifteen then. Now, at eighteen, he is almost as tall as Tezuka. His body may have remained lean but it is now toned with muscles. Even his voice has changed, the way he called out 'heads' sent shivers down my spine. And the cuteness of his face has chiseled into handsomeness. Indeed, Ryoma Echizen definitely deserves the title 'King of Tennis', aside from being ranked as world number 1.

No wonder all the women (and the not so women) are going crazy over him. Ever since his debut on the pro tennis circuits a year ago, he has always been surrounded, mobbed and chased around by his loyal fans.

How do I know all these things? It's because my best friend has been regularly updating me with news on former Seigaku regulars. You see, Eiji and his ever-loyal partner Oishi are playing as a doubles pair in the same circuits as Ryoma's. Since Oishi has been consulting with Tezuka, who is currently Ryoma's coach, the two of them have ended up playing in tournaments where he plays in.

'Are you ready, Fuji-sempai?' His voice was so soft that at first I thought I have just imagined it. And his eyes, there was a look in them that gave me pause. I wanted to ask the meaning behind that look but realized that this is not the place or the time to be pensive. We have a championship game to play, after all.

'Let us get this over with,' I replied. I will definitely enjoy myself today.

'And now we present to you the XXXX Tokyo Open Men's Singles Champion, Echizen Ryoma!'

The match has ended and the title has already been won but my mind was still riding on the exhilaration of that game. As I had expected, it has been a very good workout. I really can't explain it, but playing with Ryoma always kicks up the intensity of my game to a higher level. I must be getting soft. Oh my! That doesn't sound good.

'At last, I have defeated the great Fuji-sempai,' I heard him say. Again, his eyes had that look in them that I can't explain. And it is making my heart flutter. Reign in, Syuusuke. Wrong vibes, bad interpretation. Ah, even I am quite so hard on myself. I wonder; would that qualify me as nuts?

'There is nothing great about me and you have already defeated my before.' Smile, smile. Let him think that the joke was on him. But his only response was a big grin, the naughty boy.

At last I found the opportunity to slip away. This is his moment and I can't take that away from him. I can feel his eyes on me though as I walked off the court. Eiji met me, while Oishi and Tezuka went directly towards Ryoma. No, I don't feel slighted. This is our Seigaku bond, to support each other no matter what.

'That was a great match, nya! You and Ochibi-chan really played intensely against each other nya,' Eiji said. Trust Eiji to talk your ear off. Oh well, I will just let him. It might take my mind off other things.

Fuji Syuusuke, the tennis prodigy. How many times have I ever heard that phrase? And they expected me to play great tennis just because I am labeled as such? I mean, come on. There is a lot more to this game than having the knowledge of it. The only great thing I have gotten out of this is the chance to kick some pompous butts. That and the fun of watching people scramble out of my way like I'm the Devil Incarnate. Really, Kirihara is much more diabolic than I could ever be. I don't torture people because I like it. Okay, maybe a little, but usually it's because I need to.

My tennis coach has been pulling his hair out a lot lately. Saying that I am losing my focus on the game. Well, that was new. I didn't know that I have a focus in it at all. The only focus I've ever had has been on one Echizen Ryoma, but that little secret will remain in the deep recesses of my mind.

Actually, no one has ever divined about the real relationship between Ryoma and myself. Everyone thought that it was just another one of those casual flirtations that I always have. You see, Fuji flirting with someone is always not a serious one and that was how it was supposed to be. Supposed to, until my seventeenth birthday came along. The best gift I received was from Ryoma, himself, willing and naked in my bed. That totally blew me away. But after a few months of intense (and very secret) relationship, I decided to call it quits. A day before I flew to London for college, actually. I told him that my craziness will rub off on him and cramp his tennis but in truth, I was afraid that his passion might rub off on me and turn me serious. Which was quite unacceptable.

I knew I should have parted ways with tennis the moment I entered college. As it was, I have let them bamboozle me into continue playing while I studied photography. So now they have the gall to complain that I am not focused enough? I guess it's okay, for I get a chance to play with Ryoma again, maybe for the last time. Because now is the time for a change. The way I wanted, no, wished it to be, for my own peace of mind.

'What are you thinking about Fuji? You haven't spoken a word for quite a while,' Eiji nudged me. I turned and looked at him, giving him a big smile.

'I am thinking that it's time for me to quit tennis.'

Afterthoughts: I hope that you enjoyed reading this one, even if Fuji has some OOC-ness in him. If this one is a Fuji PoV, can you guess whose PoV is up next time? So what happened with all the other Seigaku regulars by this time? Tune in next time for more of the lovable, umm... the 'King' and the 'Tensai'.

A 'Thank You' holler for those who have given their views on 'The Ponta Connection', namely: JMJV, Rinnikka, kurokioku, firedraygon97 and Cheeseburger of Doom. I hope you would also like this one (plus the next two parts, of course). Until next ficcie!