Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of tennis or any character used in this story

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Saturday, Fuji S. had an important brunch date with his dear brother Yuuta. Fuji S. was really looking forward to it, as he hadn't seen his brother since move in day (one whole week ago). There was so much they had to catch up on!

Midday Saturday, they met up for brunch at a small bistro near campus. With all those artsy fartsy people around, there were loads of neat little cafes and bistros to choose from. Fuji S. decided to take Yuuta to the Dali Deli. The sandwiches there were said to be surreal.

"Yuuta! It's been so long! How have you been? Are you sleeping well?" Fuji chattered excitedly.

"Aniki, I literally just saw you last week. Nothing's changed. I'm doing the exact same." Yuuta rolled his eyes. "How's university treating you so far, anyhow?"

A young waiter, early college aged or maybe still in high school, set down a plate of strawberry chocolate crepes in front of Yuuta. Yuuta noticed that his crepes looked like they were supposed to have some kind of design on them. The strawberries were nicely sliced into thin oval shapes and placed delicately on top of the crepe. Then, chocolate sauce was used to draw a little clock design. It could have been cute, but the crepe was too hot when they drew it, so the clock looked like it was melting. Well, they tried.

Eyes closed, Fuji S. rested his head on his hand looking up at his little brother.

"It's supposed to look like that. The clock. It's a play on Salvador Dali's painting, 'Persistence of Memory.' " Fuji S. casually remarked.

"Oh…" Yuuta looked down at his plate. He still didn't see it. It still looked like messy melted chocolate on a strawberry crepe.

"It's a famous painting, Yuuta! What kinds of things are you learning at that school?" Fuji shook his head in disappointment.

"Aniki, are you turning into one of those art nerds?!" Yuuta teased, gesturing to a group of fashionably dressed girls and boys, wearing thick framed black glasses, and analyzing the rather creepy looking paintings on the walls.

The waiter brought out the older Fuji's order, some kind of mysterious sandwich Yuuta was sure he didn't want to try. It was green. With Fuji S., that was never a good sign.

"So, what kind of art piece is your sandwich supposed to represent?" Yuuta inquired.

"What? This is just a normal wasabi tomato pesto arugula sandwich, silly" Fuji S. laughed.

Yuuta gave his older brother 'a look' and returned to eating his melted chocolate crepes. He was never letting his brother pick what restaurant they went to again.

"Yuuta, I joined the tennis team again, by the way!" Fuji S. announced, somewhat out of the blue.

"Aniki, I thought your school didn't have a tennis team!" Yuuta stated in surprise.

Well actually he had heard about the forming of a makeshift tennis team from a friend of his that attended the school. But, he decided to keep this a secret from his older brother. His older brother would be angry if he found out he was still in touch with that particular friend.

"You're right, the school doesn't have one right now, but Yukimura is determined to make one. Remember him? The former captain of Rikkai-dai? I thought it was silly at first, but now I'm kind of itching to play tennis again. Not just play tennis, but really play tennis. Yukimura even wants us go all the way to nationals, Yuuta." Fuji S. answered.

"Forming a team from scratch and going all the way to nationals. That's kind of ambitious don't you think?" Yuuta questioned.

He took another bite of his crepe. Okay, despite the fact that it looked ugly, it tasted pretty spot on. Maybe his brother's tastes weren't so off after all…

"Very, but it is Yukimura. Sanada is also on the team. And, they're going to try and convince Shishido to join. So, we just need 3 more people." Fuji explained calmly, voice unwavering.

A couple minutes of silence passed before Yuuta spoke up again.

"I know someone at your school who plays tennis."

"Really? Who is it?" Fuji S. asked curiously.

Yuuta frowned. Debating whether or not to tell his older brother the next part.

Noticing Yuuta's expression, Fuji S. asked, "Yuuta, what's wrong?"

"I don't think your gonna like this" Yuuta hesitated, finally blurting out, "Mizuki. Mizuki Hajime, remember him? He goes to your school, he's majoring in opera…"

Fuji's muscles tensed. "I see…" after a long pause he started speaking again

"I thought you were going to stop seeing him after he graduated Yuuta. Tell me, did you really come all this way just to see me? Or do you have some other business here?" The older Fuji's tone was pointed, cold, and icy.

"Aniki, for the umpteenth time, I told you already, Mizuki is just a friend! And I came here just to see you. I promise!"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." Fuji S. apologized. He didn't want to risk another fallout with his favorite and only brother. They continued their meal in peace and avoided talking about unpleasant things, like that former manager of Yuuta's tennis team.

But now, Fuji was more motivated than ever to convince Shishido to join the team and quickly find 3 other members to join before it was too late. With Mizuki as a potential teammate, Fuji S. knew they were going to have to seriously amp up the antics if they wanted to avert this crisis. After saying his goodbyes to Yuuta, Fuji S. dialed the number of an old friend.

It was his last resort.