Seiyou Academy 1 - Meet Fuji Syuusuke

Disclaimed : I do not own Prince of Tennis.

I wrote this fanfic before "Everything started from that day". I think this one is more interesting than the sequel of "Everything started from that day", which I'm working on right now. So until then, please enjoy this one.

Summary: Fuji Syuusuke, heir to the Fuji family, prodigy child, top student of Seiyou Academy, respected by all, both students and teachers alike, had always had everything he could possibly want or desire. No one ever dared to say anything against him nor did they ever attempt to stand up to him. But despite his fortunate background, he was discontent with his life – he was bored. Until one day, a new student did the unexpected and the unforgivable: stand up to him. That student was Echizen Ryoma.

Majestic Hotel.

One night, a cocktail party was held in the one of the most magnificent ball rooms. All of the elites of the Tokyo had gathered. Social meetings like this were always a good opportunity to create bonds with influential people and to gain their favor in order to expand one's business.

A limousine stopped at the entrance of the hotel. The doorman opened the door to the car. From inside stepped out a young brunette who looked to be about 17. He was dressed in a grey pearl suit with a striped scarf as a necktie. The outline of the costume fit his svelte and elegant figure perfectly. It was obvious that the suit could only have been made by the best tailor of Japan.

"Konbanwa (1), Fuji-sama. Welcome to the Majestic Hotel," the doorman said as he bowed deeply.

"Arigatou (2), Nakano-san," Fuji said with a smile as he crossed the red carpet. Nakano, the doorman, smiled. It was always a pleasure to meet Fuji Syuusuke. The young heir even remembered his name. Unlike most elites, Fuji Syuusuke was polite and pleasant to everyone without exception, even to simple commoners like Nakano.

Photographers on the both sides of the carpet brandished their camera to shoot his pictures.

"Fuji-sama (3), this way please!" a photographer requested. Fuji did as asked, still smiling.

'He will be good for tomorrow/the next issue cover!' many of the journalists and photographers thought, happy with their shots.

At the doorstep, Fuji turned back to the journalists and inclined his head in greeting.

"I hope you have a nice evening," Fuji said, then entered the hotel doors. The small attention Fuji gave to the journalists filled them with their approval, once again.

'He definitely will be on the cover of tomorrow's paper/the next magazine issue,' the journalists thought.

It wasn't the first time they thought so and it wouldn't be the last time either. And it was good thing for them, too. Every time Fuji Syuusuke was on the cover, their newspaper or magazine issue was always sold out by the first day of its release. Their bosses made a change when Fuji Syuusuke was on the cover. They printed a third more, a half more, and sometimes even twice as many issues than their usual quantity. But even then, not a single one was left on the shelf. Among the young female population, he was more popular than a rock star or a rising actor. Surprisingly, even the older females had posters of him in their bedroom. He was also highly regarded by the elderly and by his peers.

Fuji Syuusuke was a business prodigy and the next heir to the Fuji Corp company. Ever since he began helping the family business, their profits had tripled and continued to steadily increase. He knew how to read the speculation of the business market and took the right measures to see that the family business prospered. Even during the economic crisis, the Fuji Corp was still at the top. Fuji's foresight prevented the family business from being affected by the inflation. He could detect which market shares would be promising in the future and bought a portion of their stocks beforehand. And he could prevent the lost of profit by predicting which shares would take a turn for the worst and sell them before it was too late. He was a genius in the business world. Not to mention he was the top student at Seiyou Academy, the private institution for the children of the elites in Tokyo, where he was respected by both students and teachers, alike.

"Konbanwa, Fuji-sama," a car producer greeted him.

"Konbanwa," Fuji greeted back.

"Ah Fuji-sama, it's a real pleasure to see you here tonight," a movie producer said.

"It is the same for me."

"Fuji-kun, congratulations on your purchase of the new software company."

"Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate it."

"Fuji-sama, my father, who could not be here tonight, asked me to give you his regards. And mine as well."

"Thank you. I will remember that."

"Ah Fuji-sama, my son will be attending Seiyou Academy next month. Please take good care of him," the owner of the first bank of Japan said. Fuji smiled gracefully, but didn't say anything.

"Fuji-sama, this is my daughter, Yuki. She will be starting at Seiyou Academy next month as well. She is a little scared because it will be a new school for her. Can you please talk to her about the school so that she will be familiar with it?" The girl named Yuki blushed and smiled shyly as Fuji looked down on her.

"Suzuki-dono, once Yuki-san starts school, there will competent and very good teachers who will properly guide your daughter, much better than I could. You won't have to worry."

"Fuji-sama, my daughter will be transferred to Seiyou next month. She will be a sophomore, your kouhai. She is worried because she just came back from England. Could I request that you show her around the school and advise her?"

"Kamuri-dono, since your daughter will be a sophomore, it is highly possible that I will not see her often. The sophomore classes are in the east building while the seniors' classes are held in the west. Thus, I will not be able to help her much. But rest assured, her classmates will take very good care of her. And I know my former teachers. They are all excellent teachers and take their work very seriously. They will take very good care of your daughter."

"Ah, Fuji-kun. This is my daughter Ayami. She will be a senior like you. Why don't you invite her to dance? The orchestra has an excellent conductor tonight."

"I'm sorry, Mitsubishi-dono (4), but I have to meet someone now. I must find him before he leaves. Please, excuse-me."

'Ah,' Fuji sighed as he escaped to one of the private lounges. 'Finally.'

He walked onto the balcony, thinking about his life. He was willing to take responsibility over the family business in exchange for his younger brother's freedom. Yuuta would not be pressured by their grand-mother as long as Fuji kept his promise. All these people who came to him came only for their own benefit. It was obvious. They ordered their sons to be friendly with him so they could gain future contribution for their businesses. They presented him their daughters in hope for a future alliance to reach a higher status among the world of the elites. He was disgusted by it all. He desperately wanted to spare Yuuta from that kind of life, but sometimes, Fuji wished he could escape it as well.

'Ah,' Fuji sighed again.

"If I knew of a way to escape, I would have already told you," a voice behind him said.

Fuji turned around to see Atobe Keigo.

"Atobe."

Atobe handed him a glass of punch.

"But there is no escape route for people like us. I have learned to accept this finality and deal with it. Once I had accepted it, life became much easier for me. You should do the same, Fuji."

Fuji didn't say anything. Fuji always had everything thing he had desired - except for freedom, the only thing he was ever denied. Even when he hadn't asked, just by laying his eyes on something, it was immediately brought up to him. Everyone wanted to get his attention, but no one dared to say anything against him or face him. Around him, it was only submission. He was bored, bored of everything, even bored with his own life.

Looking up into the night sky, he saw a shooting star. He made a wish.

'Please kami-sama, grant me something worthy of this life, something to put an end to my boredom.'

(1) konbanwa: good evening;

(2) arigatou: thank you;

(3) -sama: suffix of very high respect;

(4) -dono: another suffix of respect.

Re-posted on Tuesday July 3, 2012. Betae'd by PLF94.