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Your POV:
September.

School had started again, it's been months since rainy season ended, yet Kuchel never fails to cross my mind.

Maybe I should've texted her a while ago, by now she's probably forgotten about me. Levi's probably gotten bigger, I wonder if she's gotten any better at cooking...

Surprisingly, I hadn't gotten kicked out RU last school year. I felt bad still since Kuchel got kicked and I didn't.

When I arrived on campus I got my schedule and headed to my first class. I walked through crowds of people, usually when I'd go to class last year I'd block out the conversations around me. But this time I didn't,

"Did you hear about the new 1st year with the kid?"

"That new girl really brought a baby?!"

"I swear dude, it's a good thing I'm not in the buisness program, hearing a baby cry all lecture would drive me off the rails"

"I've never seen a teen mom before"

"The babies pretty cute though, I guess that's why the news is spreading across campus. Usually no one really talks about things like this"

"She's a total babe and her kid is cute too, well not in that way of course"

"I heard she switched from SU after getting kicked out."

"Probably got kicked out for having a kid"

"Must've gotten knocked up or something"

"Either that or a total whore"

"If I was her I would've gotten rid of him"

Rumors.

That's all it was, rumors and gossip. All of which were about a transfer student with a kid.

I wonder... could it be her?

"Oh look! There she is!"

I looked up from the textbooks in my hand, my eyes focused on a black haired girl with steely blue eyes and a baby attached to her hip. She looked like she might cry, everyone around her was quiet, whispers filling the hot air.

It was her.

It was Kuchel.

We locked eyes for a moment but she kept walking, Levi stuck his hand out for me but the person behind me bumped into me, forcing me to keep walking.

Did she really forget about me?

Maybe she's mad at me for not reaching out to her.

Time Skip to Class.

I had completely tuned out the lecture, instead of working on my sketches I was doodling in my notebook, my mind was focused on Kuchel once again.

A conversation between two girls coming from behind me made me turn my ears back on. They were talking about Kuchel.

"Yeah, I'm from Underground High School. That girl everyone's talking about, I knew her. She was in my class junior year."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she was a major slut. Most of the Juniors that year had already slept with her, myself being one of them. Her nickname was Kinky Kuchel since she'd basically agree to anything. She was a party animal indeed, but about the baby her boyfriend at the time got her pregnant. She obviously decided to keep the kid ands her parents kicked her out. She was a loner for the rest of high school, people would write words on her locker, calling her by the nickname she was given. It was awful."

"Damn, if that happened to me I'd be depressed as hell."

"Oh dont worry she was. I always watched by the sidelines like an idiot but I'd catch her crying in the bathroom or sleeping through class. It seemed like a lot so i didn't blame her. She was always alone."

So that's what she went through? That's why she was in so much pain? Well, is. How could I have just ghosted her after the rain stopped? I'm such a bitch what was I thinking?

Those people have the audacity to talk about her like she has no emotions. Like she hasn't gone through things.

Maybe I'm just as bad as them... I left her alone for months just like everyone ditched her back then.

No, I won't be like them. I'll find her and I'll make everything right. Yes, she's probably in the business course right? I won't leave her alone by herself again.

I'll be there for her, as best I can.

I stood up, ignoring my professors calls for me sit back down. I gathered my materials and left, "I'm having a family emergency, My mom needs me to come home, sorry!" It was a lame excuse but the best thing I could come up with on short notice.

I was in the art wing, business was on the opposite side of this building.

I ran as fast as I could, not necessarily sure why since I'd probably have to wait until after class anyways. Now that i think about it, leaving my class was probably a bad move. Oh well, not like I didn't skip most days last semester anyway.

I was breathing deeply as I ran down the hall, determined to find the correct room. To be honest I had no idea where I was going and was just winging it for the most part.

I turned the down the hall, immediately stopping as I almost stepped on, Levi? What's he doing crawling around the hall like this?

"Once a slut, always a slut"

"Kinky Kuchel is back again? I thought you got scared and ran away?"

"What's the matter? Does this hurt? Well too bad, you've been through birth so what's a little kicking"

"Please stop! What the hell is wrong with you, this is college grow up"

"Shut it Kuchel, your little baby crawled away, hopefully he gets lost. This is what you get for sleeping with Itō."

I picked Levi up and walked around the corner, seeing a couple girls kicking Kuchel as she sat up against the wall.

"Hey what the hell are you bitches doing?! Kuchel's right what is this? Junior high?"

I run up to them, pushing one of the girls away and the others stopped. I grabbed Kuchel's hand and pulled her to her feet. She had small bruises scattered on her arms from shielding her face and her hair was messy.

I handed her Levi, gritting my teeth as I glared at the immature ass bitches standing before me.

"Who are you? Did you sleep with this whore too?"

I gasped and reflexively slapped the girl as hard as I could. One of the other girls grabbed my hair and yanked me back, onto the ground.

"What are you doing? Stop!" Kuchel shouted, I looked at her, my eyes telling her to leave while she had this opening to go.

"What's your deal?" One of the girls asked, I partially stood up, charging at her and wrapping my arms around her waist so she'd slide across the floor.

"Hang tight (y/n), I'll go grab a teacher!" Kuchel said, I nodded as I threw punches at the girl, I had completely forgotten about the other two though.

I didn't care if I got hurt as long as Kuchel and Levi were safe. I owe it to her anyway, she's been through enough.

"Oh you'll pay for that bitch!"

"Wanna bet? Dont lay your hands on Kuchel again here me?"

"What is she your little girlfriend? Dont worry she's only in it for the sex anyway!"

"Goddamn it shut the fuck up you immature ass cunt! Your lucky I found Levi or you bitches would be dead right now."

"Ooo~ I'm so scared."

"You will be when I screw your head off you weak ass bitch!"

I felt someone pull my hair back again, this time a fist immediately collided with my face. I swore I almost passed out, my nose felt like it was gonna crack off.

"What are you ladies doing?!"

"Oh shit, a professor"

Time Skip to on the way home.

After the fight I didn't see Kuchel again.

The professors yelled at us, talking about the school policy and shit. When I told the principal that the others started it they let me off the hook and gave me some bandages. RU was very strict in keeping a good image so the others got a 2 week suspension.

After that I got onto the subway to Shinjuku station, staring up into the sunny, clear, blue skies through the window.

When I arrived I went down the usual path to the garden, paying the crosswalk toll and crossing at traffic lights on the main roads.

When I got there I walked over the same bridge as before, everything was the same except there was no rain.

I stood in front of the gazebo, seeing it was empty as well. I had really hoped she'd be there, I just wanted to talk to her, to apologize for being a bitch.

I turned around to walk home, a figure only visible out of the corner of my eye caught my attention though.

It was her.

It was Kuchel.