<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">"You're a lifesaver, Ryuu," Ito said happily. One thing that notable about Ito was his desire to go by his own last name, but he was happy to call others just about anything. It was perhaps the only thing about him that didn't immediately read as being open and warm; it made him seem a little formal. But that was mostly because his father had drilled it into his head that all interactions should start from a place of politeness and respect, and if someone was close enough to be calling him Kazuhiro, then that was something that should be private. Ito never really understood his father's formality, but maybe that was why his father was such a successful businessman and Ito was figuring out this whole university thing.<br/><br/>He ducked under the umbrella; the rain was coming down like a torrent. Ito had gotten fairly wet, but it hadn't seeped all the way down, which was helpful. He grinned and said, "I think the sky is mistaken about swim practice for me; I'm not supposed to get drenched until afternoons. And only in pools."<br/><br/>He walked with Ryuu, slightly hunched over since his friend was a bit smaller than him, and he considered how to broach the subject of the party. <br/><br/>Awkward. He couldn't imagine Ryuu saying no, but he also hated asking Ryuu to do things he didn't like to do...but this might be their last party this year, given how Ryuu didn't like going to them.<br/><br/>"So....um. Akagi texted me. You remember Akagi, right? Swim team captain? Everyone's done with exams, and a lot of people did well," Ito started out. How to word it? How to word it? "Uh, there's a party this Saturday; a lot of people are going. I'd hate to go to a party all about celebrating doing well on exams and not go with my best friend." He perked up and said, "By the way, how well did you do? I did pretty well. I did well enough that my top three university picks are all still options for me; I should get into my number one pick. I think I'm going to get a swim scholarship, too! How about you? I guess we never really talked about university too much; I feel like I've got no idea what's going on with you. Tell me about it!"<br/><br/>Some of that was him trying to make conversation as they headed to school in the rain.<br/><br/>Some of that was Ito being nosy, because...were they even going to the same place after this last year ended? Somehow he felt like they might not, which might be why neither had said anything. They did have differing interests, and that meant divergence as they got older.<br/><br/>It depressed the absolute hell out of Ito, but he hadn't stood in front of a mirror all morning just to box Ryuu and Ryuu's future totally out of his life...even if life might be trying to box him out of it instead. </span>