Loyalty
Yuuta is always secretly pleased when Syusuke chooses to spend the day with him instead of playing tennis. Of course, they end of playing tennis on the clay courts, but that isn't the point. Yuuta will never say so, if only because it will upset Syusuke, that he doesn't like Syusuke's friends at the club. Oishi is okay but the rest scare him. Yuuta doesn't understand how a person can be so flexible, the hissing freaks him out, he' never seen a person eat so much so quickly (good thing he has his Dunk Smash otherwise he'd completely lose Yuuta's respect), the 'burning' scares him, and the brat is just damn annoying (ignoring the fact that said brat beat him is apropos of othing). All in all, apart form his brother, the Seigaku regulars are strange. Eiji clings to him (Syusuke needs space), the aforementioned plus Momo and Kaidoh are too loud (Syusuke needs quiet for his mind to think) and most of all, Syusuke needs someone who will understand him as much as Yuuta does. He wonders if it is bad that it heartens him to know that such a person doesn't exist.
Oishi can try to understand Syusuke, but it's not the same and Tezuka… Yuuta doesn't really know why but he does not like Tezuka. It's surprising; Tezuka seems to be an excellent buchou, if a little cold. And yes, there is the fact that Tezuka doesn't seem to have feelings at all (Yuuta has heard rumors but has yet to see him smile or laugh or do anything other than stare off into the distance), but aside from finding sardonic amusement in making people run laps, Yuuta is mystified. There's nothing wrong with a warped sense of humor, if his brother's anything to go by, but Yuuta can honestly say that he does not like Tezuka and, just as strongly, hasn't the faintest clue why.
Blasphemy
Yuuta doesn't know it, but Syusuke is well aware of how Yuuta feels. It is for this reason that Syusuke deliberately chooses Yuuta over the tennis club. He doesn't care that Tezuka will make him run laps the next day; he knows Tezuka will never kick him off the team. Besides, Tezuka is aware of the bond between the brothers. When Tezuka asked (in a rare display of emotion) heatedly which was more important, tennis or Yuuta and all he got were two blazing chips of azure…Well, no one could say that Tezuka didn't know a lost cause when he found one. Syusuke learned something that day, too. Apparently, even Tezuka knew when to step off.
Tensai
Syusuke will always outshine him. Always. With girls (or boys), sports, grades, and their parents' approval. If this is a game, Syusuke wins every time. Yuuta likes to think he lets Syusuke win, but knows it isn't true. All Yuuta can do is try to keep up and not get left behind. But, if Syusuke ever truly wanted to leave, Yuuta knows he will lose that game, too.
Abandon
Yuuta runs home after school. It is a two mile walk and he sprints the entire way. He can't remember why he's annoyed at Syusuke, just that he is, and then decides it doesn't matter anyway. All that does matter is getting things straightened out. Because Syusuke is not going to America for college. He doesn't care that it's for photography, the proclaimed love of Syusuke's life. (This part admittedly confuses Yuuta as well as several others. Yuuta wonders, never aloud, wasn't Syusuke all about tennis?) He isn't. Yuuta won't allow it.
He meets Syusuke coming off the bus. The fact that his eyes are open tells Yuuta that Syusuke knows he knows. Syusuke doesn't say anything but he looks apologetic, resigned. Suddenly, Yuuta remembers why he is mad and stalks away. If he had stayed a moment longer, he would have broken down and begged for Syusuke to stay. It goes without saying that this is unacceptable. Yuuta wants to howl, but doesn't because he doesn't want Syusuke to think he cares.
Syusuke is gone before Yuuta is awake. Yuuta doesn't cry; Syusuke wouldn't approve.
Rain
Yuuta has never seen Syusuke cry. Never. He isn't sure Syusuke is able to. Crying is beneath him, Yuuta has decided. He tries to be like that, stoic and indifferent. Nonetheless, the tears come, refusing to heed him; Yuuta can always blame it on the rain.