I do not own PoT or its characters. This is a purely fan made story.

Chapter 10- Worthy Rival

The Fuji brothers walked side by side as they made their way home.

"Aniki?"

"Yes, Yuuta?"

"What were you doing in Seigaku anyways?"

"Watching your match of course, silly" chuckled Syuusuke.

"Not that. Don't you have tennis practice yourself?"

"Ah, I excused myself from practice after I fainted drinking Inui's vegetable juice. Even our senpai-tachi fear it."

"But you like Inui-san's vegetable juice right?"

"Yes, but my senpai-tachi don't know that do they?" smiled Syuusuke.

"I guess not" Yuuta sweat dropped.

"I thought it would be important to see how much you have improved in person. Your special training in Kyuushu and in Kansai over the summer wasn't just for nothing right?"

"..."

Syuusuke put on a serious face. "I have the feeling that you didn't go all out yet back there. Is it that you don't want anyone to know your true strength so you can ambush me in a match?"

"A-aniki?!"

"Just kidding" Syuusuke smiled.

Yuuta sweat dropped. "You've got a horrible sense of humor."

"Well just so you know, please don't take it the wrong way, I don't think Momo went all out either."

"Yeah, I kind of sensed that too."

"You guys are stingy alright."

--

Meanwhile in an empty classroom, Ryuzaki-sensei and Kaidoh were discussing team matters.

"Where is Momoshiro?" asked Ryuzaki-sensei.

"Probably moping around somewhere" answered Kaidoh. 'While probably devouring ten burgers' he secretly thought.

"Yuuta-kun is a lot stronger then we first estimated ne?" commented Ryuzaki-sensei.

"Fussshhhuu, he will definitely be playing singles right?"

"Of course, his presence gives us a bit of a safety net in the Singles department" said Ryuzaki-sensei. "We have never been strong in doubles, but last year we at least had the Golden Pair to take pressure off our singles players."

"So what's the line-up going to be like?"

"Our Kachiro-Katsuo pair is definitely our Doubles 1 as they are the most reliable pair available to us, Doubles 2 could be a makeshift pair of Suoh and Arai, but I still have to think about that further."

"Fussshhhuu, looks like we can't afford to lose our Singles matches huh."

"It looks that way."

"Still, there's nothing to worry about. Just as you said, Fuji-san is really strong, and our idiot Fukobuchou is actually pretty reliable when it comes right down to it."

"And you?" mused Ryuazaki-sensei.

"I won't lose to anyone."

"I don't doubt that one bit" smiled Ryuzaki-sensei.

--

After walking for a while in silence, Yuuta broke the ice.

"How's high school aniki?"

"Saa, it's fun. Although it is a bit tough adjusting to being a freshman and having to use the suffix 'senpai' again" laughed Syuusuke.

"Your school is pretty strong right? I mean in tennis."

"That's right, especially with the abundant fresh talent this year. We've got really strong recruits like Fudomine's Tachibana, Rikkai's Yanagi, and of course Inui."

"And you…" piped in Yuuta.

"That's very flattering Yuuta" smiled Syuusuke pretending to blush.

"You're not funny you know" pouted Yuuta.

They both laughed. After a while they reached the front of their house.

"Saa, looks like we're home" said Syuusuke.

"Aniki?"

"Yes?"

"Sorry…"

"Whatever for?"

"Using your move."

"The Higuma Otoshi?"

"Yeah."

"You don't have to apologize for that."

"I've been trying hard to develop my own play style, but my body just used the Higuma Otoshi by instinct."

"You don't have to apologize for that" repeated Syuusuke.

"Thanks" Yuuta smiled weakly.

"Yuuta?"

"Yes aniki?"

"How long have you mastered the Higuma Otoshi? You weren't in the Muga no Kyouchi, meaning you must have learned it consciously to have been able to use it."

"..."

"Saa, it really doesn't matter" smiled Syuusuke. "C'mon I'm sure mom is waiting for us."

Yuuta went in first. "Tadaima" he announced passing through the door.

'Yuuta, exactly how many of the counters have you already unlocked?' wondered Syuusuke.

"Aniki?" Yuuta called from inside.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming" said Fuji putting on his usual smile before entering the house. 'Looks like I've finally found a worthy rival.'

Thanks to everyone who dropped comments and/or added this story to their favorite list or story alert. It's much appreciated. Hope you enjoy this chapter too.