Finally! The rewrite is here guys! By the end of this chapter, you can already notice some huge changes I made! But fear not- I've got some great things in store for this version. *rubs evil villain hand sanitizer*

I'm sorry for any glaring errors. I was too excited to post this and my beta was taking forever. -.-

"Ehh? Class 1-A's Rin Kagene? I always knew she was strange!"

"Yeah," a voice responded fearfully. "And… did you hear? Hiyama accidentally touched a spot she put her hand on and it was super cold! The retard even sat on her desk and started tripping everywhere he went!"

A shriek erupted from the other's throat. They hoarsely added, "And I heard that she makes deals with devils. She gained the ability to see ghosts in exchange for her voice!"

"I knew she had supernatural powers! Looking into her eyes can probably turn you into nothing but stone!"

"A-And if you touched her, you're cursed for seven years!" The pair shuddered at the horrible thought.

"Ah… I'm pretty scared now, honestly. Maybe we shouldn't approach her…"

"Definitely…"

Chapter 1: Rainy Days (Len)

Our two main characters are assigned for cleaning duty together, but Rin apparently ditched.

The loud tap-tap of a fallen pencil and clinking of shoes were all that resounded in the nearly-vacant corridor downstairs. The length of teal and lead rolled forward, onward, and away from its extremely irritable owner. Gumi growled, violently cursing the bad luck she's had since last week as she hastily chased her favorite pencil. It rolled and rolled when finally, the green-haired first-year tripped on nothing but thin air for the third time since last week.

"This little wench-!" she screamed in fury. "OW!"

Len P.O.V.

Scribble. Scribble.

Class 1-A of Crypton High is possibly the most intimate class you have ever seen. Everyone is so close and friendly with each other since most of us came from the same junior high school and elementary. Although there are still those groups and cliques that exist within our classroom, we resemble a happy family. We all have each other's backs, and that bond between us is what keeps me from blowing my head off from stressing over homework and tests. Heh. But, there was one exception to this "friendly" air that lingered over our class…

Scribble…

The image of her appeared in my head, stuck there like dried concrete.

For one thing, I already knew that Rin Kagene was different. But what set her apart from the rest weren't the more obvious reasons like how she doesn't speak and puts vanity way behind her; actually, she was different from us because she just was. You could immediately tell that she wasn't what others considered "normal", though that's what intrigued me.

Squeak.

Her shady, cerulean eyes were always downcast and didn't dare to look up unless she had to. Her blonde bangs covered the left half of her face. Everything Rin Kagene did was silent, steady, and careful. It was as if one wrong move from her could destroy everything. For the past half-year that we've attended the same high school together, I've never seen her smile at all. Her aura was always just so gloomy and she had these huge walls built around her to keep everyone away. I guess that's the reason why people decided to start these nasty, untrue rumors about her.

It's actually kind of tempting, really. To challenge her walls, I mean. I've never really tried to reach out to her after that one encounter but I've always been curious…

Scribble. Squeeeaaaak.

Just what is that noise? How nostalgic.

"'There are monsters out there in the rain'…?"

"Did you even hear me, Len?!" Kaito, my nosy, blue-haired, ice-cream-freak of a best friend, groaned loudly, apparently irritated with my lack of focus on him. "I was asking if you were even doing anything about our final exams. We'll be second-years soon, after all. It's already March!"

I blinked, piecing my thoughts together after realizing that Kaito was expecting an answer from me. I laughed shakily into my palm, muttering an insincere apology and a "yeah, I'm getting to it". He huffed in response, furiously tapping his fingers on the teacher's podium at the front of the classroom. I was directly across from him on the other side of the room, sitting on Teto Kasane's desk in the last row, second column. Written on the chalkboard behind Kaito were the names of those who were assigned for this week's cleaning duty: Rin Kagene and Len Kagamine. I exhaled and nodded my head from side to side. School ended just a little while ago. Kaito stayed back to wait with me. But I guess she bailed… Or maybe something important came up.

I bent over, gathering crumpled up pieces of paper and other stray trash around the empty classroom. I'd might as well start without her.

I pursed my lips, swiveling my head around to gaze at the small, fading amounts of sunlight that kissed the thin film of the glass windows. A few puffy, gray swirls of vanilla roamed the darkening sky freely.

"Anyways, you need help with cleaning? I actually have to head to cram school soon but still," Kaito muttered after checking his watch. He already began to wipe the contents of the chalkboard off and easily reached the top because of his tall stature.

A wide smile broke through my cheeks. After dumping the contents piled on my arm into the trash, I answered cheerily, "Thanks for the offer. But no, I'll do it on my own. You don't get this privilege just yet, mister." I turned my head back to the window. The sky looked pretty threatening. "And it looks like it'll rain soon…" I muttered more to myself than him.

Kaito smiled sympathetically at me. "That's right… You don't like the rain at all. I forgot."

I echoed his weak grin, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck. "It's a bit too gloomy for my taste. I bet you just like it because it soaks through clothes, you perv." I wiggled my eyebrows in a sly motion and snickered at the thought of Kaito's slightly perverse side.

"Well, there's that too…" he sighed longingly, raising his chin as he reminisced dramatically. "I once used an incredibly clichéd move on Kokone on a rainy day. 'Gosh, I'm so stupid to forget my umbrella at home. Mind sharing?' But… she ended up giving me her umbrella and walking with her friend. I didn't even get a chance to give it back to her because her damn friend grabbed it for her!"

Shaking my head, I chuckled at his story. "Now that's just unfortunate."

"I know… Well, stay dry then, Lenners," Kaito replied with a laugh as he dropped the chalk eraser. His smile dropped once he shook his head disapprovingly. "But… I didn't peg that Kagene as delinquent-like. To think she'd skip out on her school duties. Well, she's creepy anyways."

"Hmm?" I raised a brow questioningly and narrowed my eyes at my best friend. "You scared of her or something? She really doesn't resemble the boogey monster at all..." I motioned my arms into an 'x'.

Kaito flinched, dropping his school bag on the podium. With a twitch of his eye and a shudder, he raised his voice through cold sweat, "O-Of course I am! Have you not heard those scary rumors?! She's so creepy."

"You mean the rumors that she's made deals with devils and lost her voice as a result? The one about looking into her eyes and turning into stone? The one where she can give you seven years of bad luck?" I raised my eyebrow even higher and crossed my arms with a pout. "I doubt they're true. Yet I can't help but wonder why she doesn't talk."

"C'mon, you have to admit that she's a little weird," Kaito groaned, leaning on the podium with a sigh. After glancing at the window, he began to panic and squeaked out, "Crap, it's already raining. I gotta go! See you tomorrow, lover boy!"

"L-Lover boy?!" I called back in confusion. But my cry was unheard as the door slid to a loud shut. Well, I guess I really am alone. I hope she doesn't ditch for the next few days though. That would be troublesome. Actually, I haven't seen her since lunch. I guess she ditched class too.

With another sigh, I grabbed a rag from the corner of the room and proceeded to wipe the windows clean. I felt my heart sink as I peered at the already tar-blackened sky through the protective glass. Wind whispered along, an intense sheet of rain drizzling over the facility. Large pillows of grim clouds mixed and blotted out the sun's golden rays. The setting sky was dark and vengeful, as if a curse had been cast upon the area. A thick wall of water pelted in diagonal lines and splattered onto the windows.

Crap. I forgot my umbrella.

Later, just as I finished cleaning the chalk eraser, Miku Hatsune, one of my good friends, popped her head in through the opened door, her unbelievably long teal pigtails being the first thing I saw. She smiled and waved giddily, calling, "Bye Len, you slowpoke! I finished cleaning before you! Well, see you tomorrow! I'm turning in for the day!"

My smile faltered a bit. T-That was surprising. Composing myself, I grinned back and waved. "See you tomorrow, Miku."

"Oh, and don't stay out too long before the weather gets worse," she added happily before slamming the door to a close.

I sighed, my grin collapsing into a thin smile. This girl- how can she play with my feelings like this? Ever since junior high…!

The vehement vibration of my phone disconcerted me for a few seconds. I snapped out of my thoughts and, with a shudder, drew out my smartphone. I delicately traced my sunny, golden banana case and checked my texts with a few dainty taps here and there. Unsurprisingly, it was from Lenka, my troublemaking younger sister.

[Lenka: You officially fail at life lol I can't believe you forgot your umbrella today . I even told you this morning before I left . Hurry up and come home , big bro . ]

I chuckled quietly to myself once I read her text. After I finished typing up a short reply, I tapped the 'send' button on the screen and smiled.

[Len: Ope my bad. I'll come home soon. I'll cook dinner tonight in exchange for making you wait again, 'kayyy?]

I snorted when a vibration came soon after I sent that text. She was probably excited at the mention of me cooking again. This lazy child-!

[Lenka: YESSHHHH . We'll have some of your curry then . Oh , and I forgot to say but mom sent us a letter again ! She's doing well ! And her latest experiment had something to do with octopuses . xD]

Mom? I smiled warmly at the mention of our mother. She's been sending us letters every month to let us know that dad and her are doing great, she misses us like crazy, and then proceeds to talk about her abnormal research.

[Len: Curry's good. Now go study, lazy girl. And that's great. See you soon.]

…

I scanned the room with a critical eye. I was nearly finished with the cleaning now. All stray bits of trash were disposed of, both the chalkboard and eraser was clean, the windows were wiped, the floor was swept, and the desk surfaces were also wiped.

I glanced at the clock overhead, which read 4:07. Wow, I really am slow. And… it's still raining. I stood silently, rigid, in the center of the room and listened to the soft pitter-patter of the raindrops as they bounced onto glass.

The rain is too sad. It's beautiful, but leaves you to dwell on unnecessary thoughts.

"This means… all that's left is to mop up and notify Bruno," I said to myself.

Bruno was the school janitor. He had the mop I needed to finish this and also held some degree of power over students assigned on cleaning duty. Before students left, they had to get Bruno to inspect their work and approve. But… that guy is known for his laziness. I internally sweatdropped at the thought.

"Oh? Talking about me, I see," the sound of a gruff voice and a sliding door caused me to swivel around on my heels in panic.

Speaking of the devil! Bruno appeared before me, slouching and all. His mousy hair was a mess under that black fedora hat. Cerulean eyes pierced my own –though his was a lighter shade-, narrowed along with thick, bushy eyebrows. I sighed, wondering what I got so worked up for.

"Bruno," I grinned sheepishly. "Keys, please? I need to mop this place up."

He pursed his lips in suspicion. "Where's the other one? There's two kids for each classroom."

I flinched, inching back. I can't get Kagene in trouble. She must've had a reason for ditching. With an exasperated sigh, I told him," She went to the bathroom a little while ago."

I dearly prayed that he hadn't locked the girls' bathroom yet. Otherwise, I'd be caught in a lie. Gah, maybe this wasn't a good idea after a-

"Oh?" he shifted his gaze to the chalkboard. "Rin Kagene, eh? I've heard of her. She's a weird one, all right. Caught her in the boys' bathroom once. I guess she was hiding from bullies or somethin'. Well kid, I know you're lying but whatever. Just hurry up and finish this so I can go home."

With an awkward laugh, I bowed down in respect for the adult. "Thanks."

"Well, hurry up or this rain's gonna get worser than it already is," Bruno instructed in his deep, scratchy voice as he tossed a single, blemished key to me.

"'Worser' isn't a word," I corrected him after rising, catching the key in my palms and cupping it with a small smile.

"Shut up, kid," he growled and glared at me with an annoyed humph. Bruno cheekily crossed his arms, pointing his chin in the air.

Totally unfazed by his threatening aura, I sent him a wide, sloppy grin and saluted. "Yes, sir!"

A light chuckle emitted from his throat. "Just go grab the mop."

After nodding, I ran out of the classroom and quickly slid the door shut, enthusiasm flowing through me. I can finally finish this! Jeez, Kagene. Where are you when I need you?! I wound around to my right, knowing that the janitor's closet was placed at the end of the hall. The endless clicking of my indoor shoes slightly bothered me as I briskly strode towards the blue-framed door. While twiddling with the bronze, rusted key, I tightened my lips into a thin, firm line and scratched at the back of my head.

"How am I supposed to get home in this weather?" I moaned noisily, jabbing the key into its hole. I can't believe I actually forgot my umbrella-! Lenka even told me this morning before she left. Even now, I can still hear the rain's soft tapping on the windows.

"There are monsters out there in the rain."

I momentarily shut my eyes and shivered at those words –or maybe the cold-, which were spoken by me, and twisted the closet's wooden knob with another long sigh. I instantly gasped once I pushed it open, though, and wasn't exactly sure what to think of what I had seen.

"K-Kagene?!" I gawked, eyes widening considerably and my expression immediately contorting into that of incomprehension and astonishment.

There she so peacefully sat, leaning beside the closet's edge and her shoulder. Sealed eyelids revealed just how long her lashes actually were. Blonde, thin strands of hair breezed just past her shoulders and concealed some of her pale, round face. Slackened fingers curled upwards at each of her sides and her legs bent up in front of her body.

I swallowed hard, shuffling back in horror at the sight of Rin Kagene, my mysterious classmate who I'd thought bailed on me for cleaning duty.

"I-Is she dead?!"

Well… on a brighter note, the mop I came for was right behind her… Gosh, I am such a terrible person.

Len, you're absolutely terrible. C:

Feedback/constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, thanks. Rin's perspective on this will be on the next chapter. So how was my introduction to Umbrella Girl?

Thanks for reading. :D