19. Spider-Man is talkative, but the Spider Spirit is not.
Page (1/3)
Soon after the matter was settled, the three rose from the sofa, bid Mrs. Snow farewell, and stepped out from her office behind them. Gwen glanced toward Hawk standing nearby.
“Do you want me to take you to the bioelectric department later?”
“No need, I’ll go by myself,” Hawk replied, slinging his bag over one shoulder and heading out of the office building without hesitation.
Time was running short for him.
The afternoon classes were about to start, and he needed to shower at the gym first.
Peter, who had followed the two out of Mrs. Snow’s office, watched Hawk's retreating figure intently.
Hmm.
He seemed quite absorbed.
Suddenly, Gwen, who had been observing quietly, spoke up.
“Peter!”
“...Ah!”
Peter looked toward Gwen with a somewhat dazed expression, his pupils quickly focusing before he came to his senses. “Gwen?”
Gwen smiled faintly. “Nothing much. By the way, are you going to the senior prom this year?”
Peter smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, probably not.”
If Hawk avoided the prom because he lacked money and a date, Peter simply had no date at all.
But Hawk’s reason was his own laziness in seeking one.
Given his looks, physique, and the aura honed from years of boxing, it wouldn’t be hard for him to find a girl willing to accompany him.
Peter, on the other hand, just couldn’t find a date.
More precisely, it was unfortunate that Peter’s affections were pinned solely on Mary Jane.
Mary Jane was Peter’s neighbor and also a fellow eleventh grader.
Perhaps Peter thought his secret crush on Mary Jane was unknown, but in fact, most people already knew.
After all, people’s eyes weren’t blind; under these circumstances, any girl would refuse to be Peter’s stand-in for Mary Jane.
And the real Mary Jane wouldn’t accept Peter’s prom invitation.
Peter didn’t want to attend the prom alone and watch his dream girl dance with another man.
Gwen wasn’t surprised by Peter’s answer.
She was friends with Mary Jane, and when the prom was confirmed, Mary Jane had already given Gwen her and her date’s names.
Harry Osborn.
Yes.
Quite fitting Mary Jane’s usual type.
Gwen thought this but didn’t say more. After hearing Peter’s reply, she nodded and turned to leave.
However...
After turning away, Gwen seemed to recall something. She instinctively glanced back.
Peter was still standing there, staring blankly in the direction Hawk had just left.
Page (2/3)
A few days later.
Cheers suddenly erupted at Midtown High.
Summer vacation—students’ favorite time—had finally arrived.
“L, have you planned your summer schedule?”
“Yeah, heading to Hawaii.”
“Tom and I are going to Slovakia.”
“Whoa, Slovakia? Didn’t you see the news?”
“What?”
“Last week, they said some tourists went missing there.”
“Fake news. Besides, Tom and I are tough; nothing will happen to us.”
As vacation began, groups of students chatted excitedly about their plans while heading toward the parking lot.
Cars started up one after another, and soon Midtown High seemed deserted.
The usual cacophony throughout the school vanished.
Only the rhythmic sound of strikes echoed from the old gymnasium.
About ten minutes later.
The striking sound ceased.
Hawk stood still, adjusting his breathing as he looked down, removing the bandages wrapped around his hands.
Though his bare knuckles no longer reddened from hitting steel plates, the habit formed over a thousand days remained, so he still wrapped his hands out of habit while boxing.
As Hawk removed the bandages, his brow arched.
The next moment.
A voice came from behind.
“They say this gym will be converted into a swimming pool next semester.”
“…Peter.”
Hawk turned to see Peter standing not far away, his face resembling Tobey Maguire’s.
“It’s not just a rumor. It’s true.”
Peter smiled quietly, saying nothing.
This was another reason Hawk admired the original Spider-Man.
Compared to the talkative nature of the Amazing Spider-Man and the tech-savvy Spider-Man’s incessant chatter, Hawk preferred the original’s reserved demeanor.
Like himself.
Talented yet restrained.
Not given to idle talk.
Hawk thought, then stuffed the bandages into his pocket and looked back at Peter.
“You didn’t come here just to tell me the gym is becoming a pool, did you?”
Peter shook his head quickly.
“Then what is it?”
“Uh…”
Peter opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, looking at Hawk as if wanting to say something but holding back.
Hawk smiled.
Page (3/3)
Seeing Peter’s hesitant expression, Hawk said nothing but reached for his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder before heading toward the exit.
“Happy summer vacation, Peter.”
“Psst!”
Almost at the door, Hawk heard a sound like a spider’s silk near his ear. Turning quickly, his right fist shot out.
Peter, sensing the attack through his spider sense, instinctively dodged sideways.
The next moment.
“Bang!”
A bench in the old gym shattered suddenly.
Peter’s eyes widened as he stared at the broken bench.
Hawk removed the sticky spider silk clinging to his shoulder bag.
It was very sticky.
He shook it vigorously before flinging the tangled silk away.
Peter had snapped out of his daze and looked at Hawk again.
“Hawk, you also...”
“I’m not.”
Hawk cut him off firmly.
His strength today was earned through relentless effort and perseverance over a thousand days.
Of course.
The ‘cheat’ might have helped a little.
But not much.
Hawk firmly believed that even without it, he would still awaken his inner cosmos.
Yes.
Moreover, the ‘cheat’ had left and no longer had a say, so his words were unassailable.
But that wasn’t why he interrupted Peter.
Hawk gave Peter a meaningful look.
Peter, with his spider sense, immediately understood.
Hawk smiled slightly.
“Have a great summer, Peter. See you next semester.”
“…Yeah, see you next semester.”
Peter swallowed the words he wanted to say and nodded in reply.
Hawk said no more and turned to leave the gym.
Then...
He saw Gwen outside the door and was momentarily surprised.
“Gwen?”
Gwen said nothing in response.