New semester, same old routine!

On the school bus heading towards Midtown High, Hawk learned how Peter and Harry had first met from the two of them.

Although, he had always known.

When Peter's parents were still alive, they were research scientists at Oscorp Biotechnology.

Both of them.

Because of their research, Peter's parents often brought him along to work at Oscorp Biotechnology.

It was during that time that Peter and Harry met and subsequently became close friends.

Later, after Peter's parents died in a plane crash, although Peter rarely went to Oscorp Biotechnology anymore, Harry, who already considered Peter a friend, would come to visit whenever he had free time.

Their bond had never broken. Even when they reached high school and Harry went to study in England, the two of them kept in touch by phone.

And so.

Today was Harry's first day transferring to Midtown High, so early in the morning, he had come to find his good friend Peter.

Harry was thrilled to be reunited with his old friend and even to be able to go to school together.

Peter was equally happy about the reunion with his old friend, as this was the best piece of news he had heard in the two months since his Uncle Ben passed away.

Yes.

Ben Parker was indeed dead, just a few days into the summer vacation, and because of that, a Spider-Man upholding justice and fighting for the people had emerged in New York City.

When Hawk heard this news, he couldn't help being slightly startled, and then offered his condolences.

"I'm sorry. My condolences."

"It's fine."

Peter smiled.

His Uncle Ben had taught him one thing with his life.

With great power comes great responsibility.

So...

These days, whenever Peter fought for justice, he always felt that Uncle Ben was right by his side, and consequently, he didn't feel quite as sad.

The school bus drove at a steady speed.

About half an hour later, the school bus, filled to capacity with students, was driven steadily by the bearded driver Hall into the parking lot of Midtown High.

As soon as the doors opened, the students disembarked one after another.

"Hey, good morning, Gwen."

"L, good morning."

"Gwen, long time no see."

"Long time no see."

"Gwen, please tell me we are having a homecoming dance."

"Yes, it's tradition, Mark."

Gwen, currently standing in the parking lot not far away, was smiling and talking to classmates stepping down from her car or arriving from all directions across New York City on the school buses.

At that moment.

Hawk walked out from behind Peter and the new student Harry, slinging his single-shoulder backpack over his shoulder as he got off the school bus.

Gwen's eyes lit up.

Just as she was about to rush over, she saw a flash before her eyes, and suddenly someone materialized right in front of Hawk.

A woman with a waterfall of thick, jet-black hair.

Jennifer Check!

The sexy, charming cheerleader of Midtown High with captivating fox-like eyes, who enjoyed widespread attention.

Gwen instinctively stopped in her tracks, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"Hey, Gwen." Mary Jane, who had also just gotten out of her own car, walked over to Gwen's side and patted her shoulder. "What are you looking at?"

As Mary Jane spoke, she followed Gwen's gaze.

She also saw Jennifer, dressed in revealing attire that highlighted her perfect figure, blocking Hawk's path.

"Uh."

"Jennifer."

"Good grief, she still hasn't given up."

Mary Jane glanced at them and then looked away, shaking her head speechlessly. "Is she genuinely aiming for the achievement of inviting Hawk to be her date every single year of their four years in high school?"

Gwen's voice beside her was cold.

"Not every year."

"Huh?"

Mary Jane was slightly taken aback, instinctively looking over at Gwen.

Gwen's tone was aloof.

"The junior prom back in June, Jennifer asked Hawk too, but Hawk didn't agree."

"As if Hawk would ever attend a prom."

Mary Jane retorted, then suddenly froze, feeling as though she had discovered something, and turned to look at Gwen.

Gwen said nothing, merely narrowing her eyes as she watched Hawk from afar, who was walking down from the school bus.

And...

That cheerleader Jennifer Check, who was happily greeting Hawk.

"Hey, Hawk, happy new semester."

"Happy new semester, Jennifer."

Hawk looked at Jennifer, who had materialized like a teleporting figure the moment he got off the bus, flashing her fox-like eyes and smiling at him, and greeted her with a smile.

He could roughly guess what Jennifer was here for.

After all, at the start of the past few new semesters, Jennifer would appear before him at the very first moment and ask the exact same question.

Knowing was one thing, but he had no intention of preempting her.

Just in case.

What if he answered in advance, but Jennifer didn't mean it that way? What then?

Jennifer used her captivating fox-like eyes to hook Hawk's attention. "Hawk, you turned me down in freshman year, you turned me down in sophomore year, and you turned me down in junior year too. Now it's senior year, the final year of high school. Surely you can't turn me down this time."

As the captain of the school cheerleading squad, Jennifer never lacked suitors around her.

Nor had she ever missed a single school dance.

It was just that none of those male dates were Hawk.

Perhaps back in freshman year, Jennifer had simply taken a fancy to Hawk's prominent, independent, melancholic, and handsome demeanor when she thought of inviting him.

Yet after Hawk's first refusal, the matter seemed to have become a sort of obsession for her.

Even though she knew it was unlikely Hawk would agree.

Still, what if? If Hawk agreed, it would only add luster to her charm.

After all, over the past three years, Hawk was universally acknowledged never to attend any party-style events.

Unfortunately, there were no "what ifs."

Hawk shook his head.

"Jennifer, you know I don't attend dances."

"But if you did attend the dance, you would invite me as your date, right?"

"Yes, if I were to attend, but I won't be attending."

"That's all I wanted to hear, Hawk."

"Goodbye."

That was the exact answer Jennifer wanted.

What she couldn't have, no one else would get either.

That was enough. This way, even if her invitation failed, she wouldn't suffer any loss.

Therefore, having obtained the answer she desired, Jennifer stepped close to Hawk with a radiant smile, kissed his cheek to leave a deeper impression on him, and then happily waved goodbye and left.

Hawk watched Jennifer, who had arrived like a gust of wind and departed just as quickly, shook his head in amusement, and then, noticing Gwen standing not far away, walked over.

Gwen smiled as she watched Hawk approach.

"Was she asking you to the dance?"

"Mm."

"Did you say yes?"

"No."

"Oh."