Shūsuke and Kunimitsu Tezuka

Fuji Shūsuke is a third-year student at Seishun Academy and is widely recognized as a tennis prodigy, often referred to as tensai (天才), or genius, due to his exceptional strategic abilities on the court. He shares a class with Kikumaru Eiji, with whom he has a close friendship. Despite his cheerful and easygoing demeanor, Fuji is occasionally described as sadistic, as he enjoys teasing and playfully frustrating those around him, particularly his teammates and close friends.

Fuji is the middle child of the Fuji family. His father, whose name is never mentioned, works overseas and does not appear in the series. His mother, Yoshiko, is a 49-year-old gentle and dedicated Japanese housewife who, like Fuji, is often depicted with her eyes closed. Fuji has two siblings: an older sister, Yumiko (24 years old), who is widely considered beautiful and popular, and a younger brother, Yūta, who plays tennis at St. Rudolph.

Originally, Fuji grew up in Chiba, where he became friends with Saeki Kojirō, who is now the vice-captain of Rokkaku Middle School’s Tennis Club. Later, he moved to Tokyo and enrolled at Seigaku, where he quickly became one of the strongest members of the team.

Fuji typically plays Singles 2 (S2) but occasionally partners with Kawamura Takashi or Kikumaru Eiji in doubles matches. When he and Kikumaru pair up, they are referred to as the Dream Pair. Additionally, Fuji and Echizen Ryoma sometimes rotate for the Singles 1 (S1) position whenever Tezuka Kunimitsu, Seigaku’s captain, is recovering from his injuries.

Despite being ranked No. 2 in Seigaku, second only to Tezuka, Chitose Senri of Shitenhōji believes that Fuji is more terrifying than Tezuka in terms of unpredictability and hidden strength. Interestingly, while Fuji considers Chitose to be Shitenhōji’s strongest player, Tezuka believes that Shiraishi Kuranosuke is actually the greater threat.

Fuji is also one of the few Seigaku Regulars, alongside Oishi Shūichirō, who shares a close bond with Tezuka Kunimitsu. The two are often seen together, and Fuji seems to genuinely respect and admire Tezuka, despite his tendency to tease others.

Fuji Shūsuke is often seen with a calm and content expression, his eyes seemingly closed due to his characteristic light smile. This gives him an easygoing and approachable aura, making it difficult for others to gauge his true emotions. However, when he becomes serious or excited, particularly during intense tennis matches, he opens his sharp eyes, which are blue in the anime and light brown in the manga.

Fuji has well-layered, chin-length light brown hair, with long bangs that cover most of his forehead. His pointed chin gives his face a sharp yet delicate appearance. He possesses a slender and pale physique, which, combined with his relaxed posture and gentle expressions, adds to his graceful and elusive presence. Despite his lean frame, Fuji is incredibly agile and physically capable, making him one of the most unpredictable and formidable players on the court.

Fuji Shūsuke is an enigmatic and multi-faceted individual, often described as a prodigy or “tensai” due to his seemingly effortless mastery of tennis. He maintains a calm, easygoing demeanor, often smiling regardless of the situation, which makes it difficult for opponents to gauge his emotions. His relaxed nature leads many to believe that he does not take tennis seriously, but in reality, Fuji is highly analytical and conserves his energy, playing at a level that allows him to control the pace of the match while still remaining unpredictable.

There are very few opponents who can “wake” the true player in Fuji and force him to play at his maximum potential. Among these rare individuals are Tezuka Kunimitsu, Echizen Ryoma, Shiraishi Kuranosuke, and Niō Masaharu, all of whom have challenged Fuji in ways that pushed him beyond his usual boundaries. He relishes the thrill of a challenge, but for much of the series, he lacks the motivation to actively seek out victory, focusing more on enjoying the match itself. This changes after witnessing Tezuka’s grueling match against Atobe Keigo, which awakens a newfound determination in him.

Fuji is extremely protective of his younger brother, Yūta, often taking a vengeful stance against those who harm or belittle him. This is evident in his contrasting reactions toward Jirō Akutagawa and Mizuki Hajime while he holds no resentment toward Jirō for defeating Yūta fairly, he harbors a strong grudge against Mizuki for manipulating and exploiting his younger brother. Similarly, Fuji reacts with cold fury when he learns that Kirihara Akaya injured Kippei Tachibana, making it clear that he will not tolerate underhanded tactics or unnecessary cruelty.

Although Fuji rarely expresses strong emotions, his first official loss in singles to Shiraishi Kuranosuke is a pivotal moment in his character development. For the first time, he openly displays visible frustration and disappointment, shedding a tear as he experiences the pain of truly giving his all yet still being defeated. This match deepens his drive to improve, and from that moment on, he strives to win not just for the sake of playing but to prove his own strength.

Outside of tennis, Fuji exhibits a mischievous side, often teasing those he cares about, particularly Yūta. His sense of humor is playfully sadistic, as seen in the dating sim game Gakuensai no Oujisama where he enjoys teasing the heroine, making flirtatious remarks, and even joking about exchanging diaries with Tezuka to imply an intimate relationship.

Fuji is also known for his peculiar taste in food, enjoying wasabi rolls, honey mustard, and horseradish. Despite being seemingly immune to most of Inui Sadaharu’s dreaded health drinks, he succumbs to “Aozu”, a horrifying blue concoction of vinegar and cod liver oil, which causes his only blackout in the series. Over time, he becomes more cautious about avoiding these bizarre drinks, though his tolerance for extreme flavors remains unusually high.

Ultimately, Fuji’s character is defined by his duality, a calm and carefree exterior masking a highly competitive and formidable player, whose true potential remains limitless and untapped, making him one of the most intriguing and unpredictable players in the Prince of Tennis series.

Fuji Shūsuke is widely recognized for his unrivaled mastery of counter techniques, using his speed, precision, and keen anticipation to neutralize even the most powerful opponents. His ability to turn an opponent’s strength against them makes him one of the most unpredictable and formidable players in Prince of Tennis. His signature “Triple Counters” showcase his refined technique, allowing him to break an opponent’s rhythm and control the flow of the match. The first of these, Higuma Otoshi (Bear Drop), absorbs the impact of an opponent’s smash and redirects it into a soft drop shot, completely neutralizing their power. The second, Tsubame Gaeshi (Swallow Return), is a shot infused with such extreme backspin that it does not bounce, making it nearly impossible to return. The final counter, Hakugei (White Whale), is a slice shot that manipulates wind currents, curving in mid-air and bouncing back toward the net instead of forward, leaving opponents completely unable to respond.

As the series progresses, Fuji evolves beyond his initial defensive playstyle, developing stronger variations of his original counters while integrating new and more deceptive techniques into his arsenal. One such move is Kagerou Zutsumi (Dragonfly Illusion), a deceptive shot that creates multiple feints, forcing opponents to misread the ball’s trajectory and lose their timing. Another advanced technique, Hoshi Hanabi (Star Fireworks), is a volley return that generates a sharp downward spin, making it incredibly difficult to counter. Additionally, when facing formidable opponents, Fuji enters a state known as Tensai Mode, where his reactions and reflexes become near-perfect, allowing him to counter any shot with extreme precision and near-effortless control.

Although Fuji is best known for his defensive counter-based style, he is fully capable of adopting an aggressive approach when necessary. Against players like Shiraishi Kuranosuke and Akaya Kirihara, Fuji abandons his passive style and takes the offensive, proving that he is just as lethal in direct attacks as he is in counterplay. This full-power mode, combined with his strategic genius and exceptional adaptability, makes him one of the most complete and dangerous players in the series.

Yūta Fuji
Fuji deeply loves his younger brother and has been protective of him since childhood. However, their relationship is initially strained due to constant comparisons between them, with Yūta often living under Fuji’s shadow. This frustration is what led Yūta to leave Seigaku and transfer to St. Rudolph, hoping to forge his own identity. Despite this, Fuji never harbored any resentment and continued to support his younger brother from afar. Over time, Yūta comes to understand Fuji’s intentions, and their relationship gradually mends. Fuji finds great happiness in watching Yūta grow stronger on his own, taking pride in his younger brother’s progress as a tennis player.

Tezuka Kunimitsu
Fuji and Tezuka share a strong, unspoken bond that has existed since their first year at Seigaku. Despite their differing personalities, Tezuka being serious and disciplined, while Fuji is more carefree—they have a deep mutual respect for each other. Fuji views Tezuka as his greatest rival, pushing him to surpass his own limits. Their rivalry reaches its peak during the U-17 camp, where Fuji challenges Tezuka in an intense match, ultimately losing to him. However, Fuji does not shed tears for the loss itself, but rather for the farewell to his closest friend, as Tezuka soon leaves for Germany to pursue professional tennis. Their friendship is evident throughout the series, as they are rarely seen apart, often exchanging knowing smiles and understanding each other without words.

Yumiko Fuji
Fuji and his older sister Yumiko share a warm and supportive sibling relationship. Yumiko is often seen looking after her younger brothers, offering Fuji advice and giving him rides to school. Though she appears sparingly in the series, her presence highlights Fuji’s strong family ties.

Seigaku Senior Regulars (Eiji, Oishi, Inui, and Kawamura)
Fuji has a strong camaraderie with his fellow third-year teammates, having known them since their first year at Seigaku. He often pairs with Eiji Kikumaru and Takashi Kawamura in doubles matches, forming well-coordinated teams. Fuji and Eiji are also classmates and seatmates, further strengthening their bond.

His relationship with Sadaharu Inui is quite unique, as Fuji is the only one on the team who can stomach Inui’s infamous vegetable juice, taking pleasure in drinking what others consider undrinkable. Oishi Shūichirō also earns Fuji’s respect, particularly for his leadership and ability to keep the team united especially during Tezuka’s absence.

Seigaku’s Younger Members (Ryoma, Momoshiro, Kaidō, and the Freshmen Trio)
As a senpai, Fuji cares for the younger members of the team, despite often playfully teasing them. His relationship with Echizen Ryoma is particularly interesting, as they share both a rivalry and a brotherly dynamic. Fuji acknowledges Ryoma’s incredible potential and often pushes him to his limits in matches. He also displays a protective nature toward Ryoma, similar to how he treats Yūta, since Ryoma is the youngest member of the team.

With Takeshi Momoshiro and Kaidō Kaoru, Fuji maintains a lighthearted but authoritative relationship. While the two often clash, Fuji seems to be one of the few who can calm them down and mediate their arguments. Additionally, he shares a friendly rapport with the freshmen club members, treating them with kindness and encouragement.

Duke Watanabe
Although Fuji and Duke Watanabe never directly interacted before the Pre-World Cup Exhibition Match, they quickly form a formidable doubles team. Despite their contrasting play styles, they complement each other seamlessly and defeat their opponents through strong coordination. Their teamwork showcases Fuji’s adaptability in doubles, proving that he can work with anyone, regardless of their playstyle or background