<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Ryuu smiled at his friend, handing him the umbrella since it made more sense for the taller person to hold it. He felt bad enough making him stoop. “Don’t hurt your back on my account. You still have swim practice, as you just reminded me.” He said seriously, not one for many jokes, especially not this early in the morning, or while they were doing something as mundane as walking to school. Which wasn’t to say he didn’t find Ito’s jokes amusing, he just… didn’t laugh out loud. He mostly just smiled, and hardly even that when other people were around.<br/><br/>They walked for a short while in silence, Ito evidently thinking something over, and Ryuu was content to let him do it until he was ready to bring up whatever it was. And then, sure enough, he was mentioning Akagi, the swim team captain.<br/><br/>“Is that the one who likes to wear overly tight speedos?” He asked dryly, smirking slightly. Making fun of people was one exception to the joking, and Ito was his only safe place to do so. “Someone should tell him to loosen them before he cuts off his own circulation.” He said, sounding rather serious, but ruining it with his smirk. “But yes, go on, I remember him. Tell me whatever it is you’ve been wrestling with on this lovely rainy morning.”<br/><br/>He had a feeling he knew where this was going. And, sure enough…<br/><br/>A party.<br/><br/>But it wasn’t like he could say no. Not when it very well could be the last one he and Ito attended together. And didn’t that make him sad? Ridiculous, really, considering he didn’t even like parties, but when he went with Ito… they weren’t so bad. Not that he would ever admit that.<br/><br/>“I suppose. I can’t very well let you go alone.”<br/><br/>And that was that. He was going to the party.<br/><br/>At the mention of the exams, he smiled as he mentioned doing well, genuinely happy for him the way only a close friend could be. “I knew you would do well, Ito. You work too hard not to. And you’re one of the fastest swimmers on that team.” Ryuu knew this from experience, as he attended every swim meet, standing on the sidelines as he cheered his best friend on.<br/><br/>“I did okay. Not the best, you know.” He shrugged slightly, affecting an upset expression for a moment, biting his lip on a cheeky grin. “I’m in the top 10% for science. Math was a little lower, but I still passed.” In the top 20%, but there was no need to brag. Besides, he was a little embarrassed by how nerdy he was, glancing down at the wet pavement by their feet and refusing to look at Ito. He was also proud of his achievement, but it was a lot easier to act embarrassed. “I have the pick of my top choices as well. Maybe we could go somewhere together.” He said wistfully, despite knowing that they had different interests. “But… you still want to go for a business degree, right?”<br/></span>