Author's Note: After that spine tingling [?] Fuji PoV in the first part, this time I present to you the Ryoma PoV. So what have happened with all the other Seigaku regulars? Listen to the rants of the Tennis King. The Tensai isn't that far behind, of course.

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

SET v. To put into a position that will restore a proper and normal state.

'Welcome to the Kawamura Sushi House!'

My God, I still hate big crowds. And this sushi house of Kawamura-sempai is starting to look a bit packed. I haven't expected this many people here today. From what I understand, this is supposed to be a reunion for us former Seigaku regulars, although Oishi-sempai admitted to inviting some of the former regulars from rival schools. The press must have also gotten wind of it somehow because some of them are waiting outside.

Okay, here is a rundown on what the former regulars have been doing these days. Fuji-sempai, Eiji-sempai, Oishi-sempai and myself are now professional tennis players. The golden pair continued on to play in pro doubles after graduating from high school. Tezuka-sempai is my new tennis coach, since my old man decided to stay home and continue his temple duties. Kaidou-sempai is working as a trainer for the nationals. A pity for the chosen ones though, knowing how rigorous the training the sempai have set for himself before. Inui-sempai is a popular game analyst, still collecting data from players but is now terrorizing his colleagues with his 'energy drinks'. Thankfully, no one has been fatally poisoned yet. Kawamura-sempai has taken over the sushi house after high school, managing to enlarge the business into a more profitable one. Momoshiro-sempai has recently taken over the position of Ryuzaki-sensei as the Head Coach for Seigaku tennis men's team.

Hey! I am not a gossipmonger who takes tabs in following the lives of my sempais. I got all of that news from Eiji-sempai, who makes it a point to impart to me all these stories whenever we see each other, which is most of the time. Playing in the same circuits has made it hard for me to hide from Eiji-sempai. It's not that I don't want to hear news about my former teammates but being the keeper of all his stories is starting to creep me out. I allowed him to continue with it though because it kept me updated with one of the sempais.

'He said that he is going to quit playing tennis nya!'

This is what Eiji-sempai told me when I arrived here. He was still shaken by what Fuji-sempai has decided yesterday. Eiji-sempai have sat beside the tensai upon his arrival and never left his side ever since. I am guessing that Eiji-sempai thinks that he can still change Fuji-sempai's mind. I don't think so. Once again, Fuji-sempai managed to spring out a surprise for all of us.

I should have expected the constant changes by now. I mean, based on my previous experiences with him, being his lover and all. Of course no one knew about us, not even his best friend. But that is beside the point. What I am saying is that in dealing with Fuji-sempai, you have to expect the unexpected. I thought I was, until he did that 'goodbye and disappear' stunt three years ago. For more than two years I haven't heard anything about him and once again I thought myself immune to the Fuji surprise. But then I joined the pro circuits and met with Eiji-sempai and got hold of his news. Now, I just take things as they come.

Fuji-sempai looked pretty calm about his decision. It's been a long time coming though. He told me before that he would stop playing tennis after high school. Yes, he told me a lot of things when we were together. I knew that he has given me a lot more information than he did Eiji-sempai, even his thoughts on his brother Yuuta and Tezuka-sempai. Only I am in privy of those.

'Hey! Speech from the new tennis champ!' Momoshiro-sempai has hollered from the bar.

What can I say? I don't have any speech prepared so I only shouted, 'Kampai!' and raised a toast (secretly, of course) to a smiling tensai from across the room. He knew that it was for him because his eyes flickered open for a second before settling to its previous closed state.

'Congratulations on winning the Tokyo Open!'

'Great game you played yesterday!'

My acknowledgement to the greetings was automatic. It's a little trick I learned when I started playing pro. Otherwise, I would have gone crazy by now with all those nosy reporters and obsessive fans. The advantage of this trick is that it allows me to do some multi-tasking. My face looks quite attentive while my mind wanders somewhere else.

'Hey Echizen, tell us about those hot chicks that have been hanging around you a lot,' said Momoshiro. He moved to sit beside me by this time, leaving a scowling Ryuzaki Sakuno (his girlfriend and coach to Seigaku tennis women's team) behind. Yes, miracles never cease.

Did I say that I hate crowds? I also hate talking about my love life (or lack thereof) in front of people, a roomful of people inside, plus a pack of wolves waiting outside. Unless... my stories might capture someone's attention. Hmm. I let out a few tidbits here and there because there really is nothing much to talk about, and I am not the hentai like my father is. A few furtive looks towards Fuji-sempai proved to be quite fruitful. Being cognizant of the Fuji smile, I know that the small smile on his face meant that he is somewhat bothered by what he was hearing.

'Ochibi-chan, remember when we went to that wild party after the US Open nya?' Eiji-sempai had shouted.

I could have kissed Eiji-sempai right then for announcing that piece to everyone. Fuji-sempai is now glaring (both of his eyes are opened) at him with a scowl on his face. Wow! There has actually been something that Eiji-sempai has forgotten to tell his best friend? Ah, your face says it all Fuji-sempai and that is to my advantage. I say that I give you ten minutes tops.

Five minutes later Fuji-sempai stood up and started to move towards the door, who was immediately followed by Tezuka-sempai. Most people are now chattering around that you can hardly hear yourself from all the noise. I managed to follow outside a few minutes later. They were nowhere to be found. I was about to turn to a corner when I heard their voices.

'I will go ahead now. Just take care of yourself and Ryoma,' Fuji-sempai was saying.

'Your sudden concern is starting to scare me,' Tezuka-sempai replied, which was answered by a soft laughter by the other man.

Before, I was really curious about the real relationship between those two. But that curiosity disappeared when I started to date Fuji-sempai. It was true that he was interested in Tezuka-sempai for a time but the bouchou's indifferent attitude has quickly snuffed out that interest. I was a bit worried too that Fuji-sempai will just see me as a replacement for the bouchou but I was secured in his love after all those passion-filled months. If the others could hear me now, they would say that I was crazy. I still am though, crazy in love with him. That love is the force behind my evolution to become a better tennis player. It's what inspires me to push myself beyond the limits, so that when he sees me play, he will see the depth of my feelings and will try to meet them halfway.

I looked at his retreating figure. Heck, it seems that he won't even meet me halfway. That does it. Desperate time calls for desperate measures. As they say, if the mountain won't come to Buddha then Buddha will come to the mountain. How fitting. Here I come, Mount Fuji!

'Excuse me but I need to go somewhere for a while,' I told Tezuka-sempai.

He sighed and said, 'Are you sure about what you are saying?'

'Of course,' I replied. 'By the way, I have decided to make Tokyo as my home base.'

Afterthoughts: Wow, two parts already finished, only one more part to go. Maybe I can finally listen to more rambling of my Fuji-muses for more sequels, tee hee. Ah, but first I need to keep the next part as exciting [?] as the previous parts to have a wonderful [?] ending. Ending? Oh well. Gomen if I am saying that quote (on Buddha) wrong, but it's the thought that counts, ne?

Many thanks who to those who have read the first part of this story, especially to those who have given their reviews, namely: kasugai gummie, kurokioku, Ikyutakei, Cheeseburger of Doom, IchigoCake, Rinnikka and firedraygon97. Hope you will all like this one, too.