III. St. Rudolph – Fuji Yuuta

Yuuta's moment of epiphany came when he completed the Double Twist Spin Shot.

He'd been playing Mizuki-san, and losing 5-3. At Mizuki-san's match point, he figured what the hell, he might as well give it a shot. The next moment, Mizuki-san's startled eyes stared back from across the net as his racquet careened into the fence behind him. After a brief pause, Mizuki-san's lips curved in a faint smile, and said: "You've finished it."

The thing about Mizuki-san was - and Yuuta was just beginning to understand these things - that you had to earn his respect. Yuuta had won it after their Prefectural Quarterfinal, when he bowed to Mizuki-san with an apology and a request for further guidance. He'd been sincere, too; he knew he wanted to be stronger, and Mizuki-san had helped him. That was why he approached Mizuki-san shortly after the Kanto Regional Final to ask if Twist Spin Shot could be done with two hands, and whether it would reduce the burden on his shoulder to an acceptable level.

Two days later, he found a detailed instruction printout (with color-coded diagrams) in his cubby.

Give and take. Yuuta accepted Mizuki-san deliberately misled him, even used him, because he'd gained something in return. But at that moment, when he recognized the undisguised pride in Mizuki-san's smile, it hit him. He'd thought being Fuji Syuusuke's younger brother was nothing but a burden, because his brother's reputation would always precede him and leave him to suffocate under its shadow. Mizuki-san had seen his potential, but he'd grown so fast - enough to pique Mizuki-san's interest - because of his brother. Because he was so desperate to defeat his brother, he'd been able to push himself beyond his limits.

There was no need to resent being "the younger Fuji," not when it meant his greatest rival was right next to him, always pulling him up higher. The stronger aniki became, the faster Yuuta would evolve.

At long last, Fuji Yuuta was proud to be the Prodigy Fuji Syuusuke's little brother.