A big update after so long! It's approaching the end actually. I plan to end it up after a chapter. Please enjoy yourself and support! XD I will go through the whole story and made overall amendment after I have finished it, so please don't mind if you still see some careless mistake in the fiction.

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Chapter 11

It was a week after that Fuji was finally able to enter the campus again. As Fuji's best friend and classmate, Kikumaru doubtlessly was given the priority to jump around Fuji and asked about his absence. All the way long, Fuji just smiled and didn't mention anything. Seeing that, all the others dared not to approach him with questions cleverly, since they knew very well that if Fuji himself didn't want to tell, they could never get answers from him. Kikumaru surely understood, but he just couldn't help bugging Fuji. Fuji didn't mind anyway, and succeeded in switching the topic of their conversation easily.

Life went on. After that event, a massive improvement can be spotted in Fuji's physical fitness. His health has been greatly restored to his best condition and he could attend regular practice with his fellow teammates just like before, of course with much assistance by his captain and his beloved brother. Together, the Seigaku Tennis Club continued to shine in different tennis tournament and beaten their opponents with her hard efforts. Eventually, they gained the entrance to the National Tennis Tournament and succeeded in winning the championship against all odds. Everybody was extremely delighted. Their sweats and tears have finally paid off. They have achieved their ultimate goal. Fulfilling his promise to Yamato Buchou, Tezuka has led Seigaku into golden and glorious era out of success.

So after everything was over, Tezuka left behind the tennis team for Momoshiro and Kaidoh to manage. Ryoma, aiming for a higher goal, left for America to participate in important competitions and receive training to become a professional tennis player. All the third grader, due to the fact that they have to concentrate on preparing for the upcoming examination to secure places in high schools, have retired from their regular status and became normal secondary school students again.

Generally speaking, even without the intensive tennis practice, third graders should be extremely busy at the moment. As role models and good students, Tezuka and Oishi have been working hard since the day they entered the school. Kikumaru, having been quite lazy throughout year, had a tough time catching up with the relentless curriculum and always asked Fuji and Oishi for help. Kawamura cast doubts towards his own ability frequently, but after a racquet was handed to him every time, he was filled with power and confidence again. Inui, the data man, started to collect statistics about former examinations and carry out investigations.

There remained Fuji. Among his fellow graders, he seemed to be the one with most spare time. Being a prodigy didn't mean that he didn't have to work hard, but he was really able to spend relatively less time on revision than the others while maintaining high marks. Besides, we know very well that Fuji wasn't the kind of person who would be serious easily. If he were satisfied with himself, he would seldom work harder to strive for more. Therefore, without tennis practice, Fuji became much more free than before.

It was a fine Sunday while Fuji was tired of staring at his textbooks. Stretching his hands, he decided that he could no longer stay indoors. Reaching for his cell phone, he dialed a series of numbers. After making a phone call, he grabbed his camera and headed for Yuuta's room. The practice schedule of St. Rudolph Tennis Club has been much more relaxed after Mizuki was no longer the organizer. Yuuta stayed in his room, playing his own video games.

"Yuuta! Let's go dating!" announced Fuji as he entered the room.
"What… What are you talking about? Baka Aniki?" yelled Yuuta, blushing and jumping up immediately.
"See how energetic you are! Look, can't you see the fine weather outside? How can you lock yourself at home? Come on, let's go!" Seizing Yuuta's wrist, Fuji was already dragging his brother downstairs before his brother gave him any response.
"Wait a minute! Who said that I am going out with you? And don't you need to study?"
"Never mind with me! We haven't been out together for very long anyway! Don't be shy!"
"Ah la, what is happening here?" Yumiko's head popped out from the kitchen door when she heard the two brother arguing.
"Nee-san! Aniki is forcing me to go out with him!"
"Oh what a great idea! I just want to ask you two to do some shopping for me. You know, it will be too heavy for only one to carry those goods! You should get more chance to communicate with your brother too, shouldn't you, Yuuta?" Smiling brightly while handing them a long shopping list, Yumiko gave Fuji a thumb-up sign.
"We will be back before dinner. See you, Nee-san!" The next moment, poor Yuuta has already been dragged out of the house.

They took a bus and reached a small park quite far away. There at the entrance, Saeki waved to them as they approached.

"Saeki-san! Why are you here?" It was Yuuta who spoke first in astonishment.
"Didn't Fuji tell you? It was him who asked me out."
"Gomen, Saeki, to have called you out all of a sudden," apologized Fuji with a big smile on his face.
"You know I won't mind, old friend. I am free now anyway."
"By the way, shouldn't you be in Chiba? How can you get to Tokyo within such a short period of time?" asked Yuuta.
"Oh, I just got something to do and I have to come here for a short period of time. I have mentioned that to Fuji some time ago."
"But why… here?" All of a sudden, Yuuta's head was filled with question.
"Don't you remember? It's the park where we used to play in when we were little. It was my odea coming here. Fuji said in the phone that he would like to have a reunion and take some photos. And I think that this park would make an ideal place." Explained Saeki.
"Ne, I suppose you both wouldn't want to stand here to have our reunion, right? Let's find somewhere to sit down and have a good talk!" suggested Fuji.

So they came to a sidewalk café and ordered some drinks. After a few hours of casual chat, they left the shop and started to take photos, as well as being taken photos of.

It has been a harmonious day when the childhood friend spent time together just like what they did when they were little. Well, that was until somebody not very welcomed appeared.

"Mizuki-san!" Spotting his senpai, Yuuta called out his name and approached.
"How surprising it is meeting you here, Yuuta-kun. What are you doing?" responded Mizuki politely, keeping his manners.
"Ah… Just having a walk with Aniki and Saeki-san."
"Fuji Syusuke…" Not until then did Mizuki notice the brother of his fellow teammate coming forward to them from a distance.
"What's matter, Yuuta?" As if he couldn't see the person next to Yuuta, Fuji asked.
"Fuji-kun, we haven't seen each other for some time. It is good to meet you here," said Mizuki in a kind of uneasy tone. Turning to him, Fuji just kept silent. Seeing that, Mizuki continued, "ano… I know that you may still be angry with me now. I can understand. After all, I was one of the cause leading to the accident at that time." He still couldn't forget the scene when Yuuta was coming for him and Fuji was chasing behind him, the car bumped straight into Fuji. Though the incident wasn't directly related to him, he has been drowned in guilt since then. He would like to apologize, but he couldn't find the chance.

Still, Fuji didn't utter a word. He just remained quiet and stared at Mizuki.

"I am not begging for your forgiveness, as I am not qualified. You have every reason to blame me. Nonetheless, I only want to express my apology to you: I am sorry!" Mizuki bowed deep down after making his statement.
"Excuse me…" started Fuji, "but do I know you?"
"Eh?"
"Who are you?" Placing a hand on his forehead, Fuji asked in confusion. He frowned slightly.
"… Fuji Syusuke!" Hearing that, Mizuki almost exploded. He has put down his pride to apologize. He thought that Fuji was teasing him like before. Filled with fury, he has ignored the fact that Fuji has actually lost his memory after the accident.
"Oh no! Aniki must be suffering from headache again. Why couldn't Mizuki-san understand that Aniki really couldn't recognize him? What should I do now?" Thinking deeply, Yuuta eventually decided to drag his senpai away and make clarification. Saeki took action fast as well. Seeing such a situation, he immediately came up to support Fuji in case he fainted. After making sure that he was all right, Saeki brought him to a bench nearby to sit down and take a rest.

"Are you okay? Have you brought your medicine?" asked Saeki anxiously.
"Yes… yes… I am fine, Saeki. Don't worry! Just very slight pain actually and besides," answered Fuji with a weak smile, "I only want to drive somebody unwanted away. Leaving the job for Yuuta is okay I think. He won't do any harm to him anymore, will he?"
"You remember… him?" Saeki asked his question carefully. None of them has ever told Fuji about Mizuki during his recovery. They all understood Fuji's protectiveness towards his brother and were reluctant to let him come up with the painful experience. Last but not least, Yuuta didn't want his brother to hate his respected senpai anymore. Unless Fuji himself has restored the memory by his own, he shouldn't know that.
"Mizuki, St. Rudolph 3rd year, Yuuta's senpai, right?"
"…" At that moment, Saeki was simply too shocked to speak.
"Hey, come on! You don't need to be so amazed, do you? I am a so-called tensai after all! You shouldn't expect that I will forget about the past forever."
"… You are right…you have been a prodigy since we were little. Remembering your past should be just a piece of cake for you!" agreed Saeki, smiled embarrassingly.
"Don't tease me, Saeki. Sometimes being a genius isn't as great as you think. At least that's the cause for Yuuta's hatred towards me in the first place." Suddenly Fuji's tone became very serious. He opened his eyes, revealing the sky blue iris. Though Saeki was looking at him on sideway, he could spot the sorrow inside them.
"Shouldering the name as a prodigy is no easy task. When people think that you are different, they will try to keep a distance from you. You also need to put up a front in front of everybody to show that you are prefect. Sometimes, I just get tired of smiling all the time in order to shelter my inner feelings and loneliness." Grabbing his fist, Fuji kept his head down and smiled bitterly. Remaining silent, Saeki listened to his friend attentively. So far he came to know him, Fuji never told anybody about his own feeling at all, not even to his precious brother. It would be an excellent opportunity for him to express himself to whom he trusted.
"You know, I have almost regained all my memories after the game with Tezuka. I don't have headaches as often as I have been before as well after the coma. It's just that… I am considering if I should change over to be a new Fuji Syusuke using this chance. If Tensai Fuji would only bring along pain to the others, especially Yuuta, I would rather transform myself to…" Fuji failed to finish what he wanted to say as Saeki threw him a big hug abruptly. The hug was warm, and very comforting.

Saeki didn't release him until a minute has passed. Using both hands to hold Fuji's shoulders, Saeki turned Fuji face to face with him. Looking straight into his eyes, he started slowly and mildly, "Fuji, you are living your own life for yourself, not for the others. You don't need to transform yourself into another being for the others as long as you are comfortable with yourself. Fuji Syusuke is Fuji Syusuke. Don't mind what the others think about you. You are yourself, and you still have the Seigaku members and I and many others who accept you as what you are and try to understand you. If you ever want to change, perhaps you only need to put down the façade in front of us. Moreover," Saeki turned his head and saw Yuuta running back to them, "Yuuta has come to terms with you eventually, hasn't he?"
"Aniki! Saeki-san!" shouted Yuuta energetically at them.

Seeing this, Fuji gave Saeki a firm nod. They joined Yuuta and enjoyed the rest of the day in sunshine, just like what they did before.