<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br/>Ito answered about his sciences score, "I was in the top fifty percent and I count myself lucky--"<br/><br/>And Ryuu asked if he still had that speedo! Why would he ask that?! Ito's face erupted in a blush that threatened to overtake not just his face but his whole body. It wasn't an inappropriate question, not between two friends who'd been friends for a long time, but given how much he liked Ryuu, to be asked about it out of nowhere! God! Well, not out of nowhere, exactly--<br/><br/>But Ryuu was already off, having taken him up on the offer to race! Ito gave a happy shout; talking could wait until one of the emerged the victor by arriving first at home room! But he was thrown off by how <em>quickly</em> Ryuu had taken off! Maybe he'd just really underestimated his friend; his friend was perhaps a little....fluffy...but Ryuu was always surprising him it seemed! Ito rushed after, and he knew that he was getting water spots all over the hallway. He could hear a few girls shout at them as they ran, irritated that they were being rude.<br/><br/>Ito didn't care. It was amazingly fun, and soon enough both were at homeroom. He was pretty sure Ryuu had just barely gotten there first, but Ito considered it a fair race. Ito was naturally athletic, Ryuu not so much, and the little head start evened things up.<br/><br/>"You got faster," Ito said, puffing away to catch his breath. "And yes, I still have...that thing. Akagi got me to try it and if I throw it away, he'll probably be so upset. I've got no idea what to do with it--"<br/><br/>One of the more popular girls walked by both boys, heading into class. Takada Aoi. Ito didn't dare to think of her as anything other than 'Takada-san'; she was sort of like the resident Queen of the Classroom. While she had the same uniform as anyone else, her long hair was always perfectly styled and had the best accoutrements with it. Her eyes were always bright, her face was always clear, and she always had that ideal 'cute girl' vibe. Ito liked her as a friend but would never like her as anything more--this didn't change his perception of her power as a popular girl.<br/><br/>She cast a glance not at Ito but at Ryuu, saying, "Oh, you! I heard you did well in science. I need my scores to be higher or I can't get into my preferred programs. Can you help me?" The classroom fell silent. She had very notably not invited Ito or even looked at him. Takada-san had never once paid attention to Ryuu before; she had never been <em>mean</em>, but she'd never actually talked to him. Everyone paid attention when she did in that moment; Takada-san didn't talk to people without a good reason. Anyone she wanted to spend time with clearly had to be worthwhile in some way, so this was like her publicly declaring to the class that she thought Ryuu was the smartest in class.<br/><br/>There wasn't too much time to decide on an answer for Takada-san either; they had very little time left before the start of home room. Ito didn't interfere; this was up to Ryuu to decide. On the one hand, Takada-san talking to Ryuu might mean Ryuu would have an easier time of things socially for the rest of the year...on the other hand, it likely meant he and Ito would spend less time together if Takada needed the smart boy often for tutoring...<br/></span>