"Welcome, everyone, to a high-energy day in the life of America's... no, New York City's... no, Queens' only superhero, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."
"All right, maybe not that high-energy, because less than a year ago, I was the only superhero around besides Captain America's Ass. But ever since that smug billionaire showed up, the whole world has gone completely off the rails."
"But that's fine. Even if everyone mistakenly thinks I'm just a vigilante in Queens, Spider-Man will solve all your problems, including finding the bike that the pizza shop owner lost."
A lean red-and-blue figure flashed between the high-rises of Queens.
Everywhere he passed, startled cries rang out behind him.
"I hear cheers like that every day now. After all, I'm basically a small-time celebrity."
The red-and-blue figure swung through the air in a beautiful arc. After leaving the public's view, Peter Parker lightly landed on top of a building.
"Of course, some people with weaker hearts don't exactly like me. Nothing I can do about that. I can only try to avoid them as much as possible."
"Who told me to be the kindhearted Spider-Man?"
Spider-Man braced one hand on the top of the high-rise, flipped nimbly, and hung upside down from the edge of the building before settling there.
After casually lifting his mask, Peter's deliberately relaxed tone suddenly sank, revealing a young and handsome face.
"Sigh..."
Because he was upside down, the high-rises and sky were reversed in Peter's vision.
He quietly felt more and more blood rushing to his brain. Ever since becoming Spider-Man, Peter had grown increasingly fond of thinking in this position.
"This is so hard. So hard!"
He casually stuffed the phone he had been recording with into his waist. His eyes were swollen and red, and the dark circles beneath them were especially obvious.
It was as though all the liveliness he had shown in the video had vanished in an instant. Venting, he shouted twice toward the sky above his head.
The pizza shop owner had fired him because he was always late on deliveries.
Fortunately, Fenris had left him tens of thousands of dollars, so making money was not that urgent.
However, Dr. Otto, the nuclear physicist, had already warned him more than once because he was always late.
The only people who would not blame him were the ones he saved as Spider-Man.
"Of course they wouldn't blame me. I saved them, after all."
"Ha. Ha!"
After a dry laugh, Peter seemed to lose all his strength. He weakly pressed both hands against his eyelids, exposing reddened inner rims.
"Late. Late!"
"If I keep being late, there's no point going to school anymore!"
"Shit!"
"I quit being Spider-Man. Whoever wants the job can take it!"
"I'm going back to a normal life!"
Ding.
A pleasant ringtone sounded, instantly jolting Peter out of his powerless rage. In a flustered scramble, he nearly flung his phone out into the air.
"Hello?"
"Gwen, are you okay? Did something happen for you to call so suddenly?"
After forcing his voice into a softer tone, Peter finally pressed the answer button.
"Peter, what are you doing right now?"
A gentle female voice came from the other end of the phone, except the tone was not gentle at all. Instead, it was filled with a faint, ominous chill.
Crap!
"I'm, uh..."
Peter glanced at the surrounding landmarks. His heart jumped. He quickly pulled his mask back on and swung toward Midtown School of Science and Technology.
"I've got a bit of a stomachache. I'm in the bathroom."
Peter blinked.
Ever since personally witnessing Dr. Connors crawl out of a bathroom, he had grown increasingly fond of using the bathroom as his cover story.
"Peter!"
The woman's voice on the other end abruptly rose several octaves. "Judging by the wind around you, you're moving at least two hundred miles per hour. What, do the school toilets fly now?"
"Dr. Otto is about to take attendance, and he specifically asked to see you. You're on your own!"
Gwen hung up in a huff, still gritting her teeth.
"You're dead."
"Gwen, is Peter almost here?"
A vigorous male voice sounded behind Gwen.
When Gwen turned around, she saw a plump, mild-looking middle-aged man asking her with concern. "Tomorrow is my controlled thermonuclear fusion experiment. Even Dr. Connors will be coming. If Peter still doesn't show up, I'll have no choice but to hand his preparation work to someone else."
"He's coming!"
Gwen's eyelid twitched, and she answered firmly. "Peter has an upset stomach right now. He's in the bathroom on the second floor."
"He'll be here any second!"
...
A moment later.
"Thank you, Gwen."
At the entrance of Midtown School of Science and Technology, Peter grinned as he leaned against Gwen's shoulder, showing a neat row of white teeth. "If you hadn't covered for me this time, I would've gotten yelled at again."
"You think Dr. Otto is an idiot? He knows perfectly well!"
Gwen looked helplessly at Peter, who kept leaning into her and acting shameless. She was angry, but when she saw the haggard exhaustion on his face, she could not help feeling her heart ache.
"You know, if this is too much, we can take a break for a while..."
"No!"
The moment that subject came up, Peter's expression changed. His tone also hardened instantly, as if he had not just been shouting upstairs that he would never be Spider-Man again.
"Dr. Otto wants us to go meet Dr. Connors ahead of time. We don't have much time. Let's try to come back early."
Perhaps realizing his tone had been too harsh, Peter's attitude softened at once when he saw Gwen looking hurt.
"I'm sorry, Gwen. Let's go."
Peter gently kissed Gwen on the forehead.
"Sigh..."
Gwen sighed helplessly.
But as she felt the warmth on her forehead, her voice softened at once.
This kind of conversation had already happened countless times between them. Unfortunately, every time, it had ended unhappily.
"Come on, come on."
Beep, beep!
Just as Peter was rubbing against Gwen and the two of them were preparing to call a cab and leave, a melodious honk suddenly came from behind them.
"When are you two going to be able to separate for even a little while?"
A young male voice full of magnetism sounded. Peter instinctively turned back, just in time to see a tall, handsome young man stepping out from the driver's seat of a Rolls-Royce.
The young man leaned lazily against the car door, smiling as he teased the two of them. "Peter, don't let Captain Stacy see that, or he really might break your legs."
"Harry! Why'd you suddenly drive this car out?"
Seeing who it was, Peter immediately broke into a bright smile and did not care about the teasing at all. "Being this flashy isn't your style."
"It's nothing serious. I just recently discovered I have a minor condition."
Harry Osborn walked over cheerfully and hugged Peter, then very gentlemanly took Gwen's fingertips in greeting. "A hereditary disease. I'm dying, so I need to find someone to save me."
"I heard Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters has a very capable Dr. Connors. He also happened to leave our Osborn Group, so he should be able to help me."
"What? You're dying?"
Seeing Harry speak of something so serious so casually, both Peter and Gwen's expressions changed at once.
"What's the big deal? I have money. It can be treated."
Harry shrugged, maintaining his graceful smile without a care.
He lightly beckoned to the two of them. "Get in. You're going to see Dr. Connors too, aren't you?"
"This young master will give you a ride."
(End of Chapter)
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