Author's Note: This little drabble-like piece is based on the St. Rudolph-Seigaku match at a point where Yuuta has just been forced to admit defeat to one Echizen Ryoma. I know that this is really short – it's a reflection and those can be short, right? – but I think it's nice to try different styles of writing once in a while. Either way, I hope it turned out okay!

Disclaimer: I definitely do not own The Prince of Tennis.


Only Time Could Tell

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The white-and-brown clad figure, mused Fuji Syusuke quietly to himself from his prime position at the fence, the one that was walking towards the net to thank his opponent for a good game, was no longer the little boy from his memories. That little boy seemed to have been growing up a lot lately, and was beginning to change into something much less definite.

Something that had been apparent to most spectators of the match was just how much Fuji Yuuta had grown as a tennis player. He could hear Inui and Oishi discuss the speed and power of his Super Rising, which had even Echizen troubled for a moment, however brief. And then there was the Twist Spin Shot, of course, but that was a different story altogether – Fuji's eyes narrowed as he glanced over at the responsible third-party – and one he would make sure to settle with that Mizuki Hajime as soon as possible.

But then there was something that could be obvious only to a brother, just how much Fuji Yuuta had grown as a person. The small smile as he moved to congratulate his opponent after the match was genuine, and Fuji had never seen his little brother (who hated to lose so, so much!) admit defeat so gracefully before.

Fuji was proud over Yuuta's accomplishments and happy for him, of course he was! But the realization that his brother had come this far, already reaching a point where he surpassed his old self, made him feel more than a little strange. Where had he been when Yuuta underwent the first stages of his gruelling transformation, and what part had he played in it all?

The answers were nowhere and none.

And that… saddened him a bit, he supposed, and Fuji could feel his lips straighten out to a thin line accordingly. He wondered if Yuuta would notice that he was no longer smiling, but the St. Rudolph player was too busy trying to attract the attention of his friend, mentor and manager.

Ah, but of course... Fuji could only nod understandingly. After all, that was only natural.

Yuuta.

His little brother who no longer was so little, and on the verge of developing into something fantastic.

But even so, Fuji couldn't help but to wonder, even after all the hard work and obvious progress, would it be enough?

Saa…

His perpetual smile returned with a vengeance at the thought of finally being challenged by the only person he was certain he wished to receive a challenge from.

Or perhaps, not quite yet.

But who knew?

Only time could tell.