Look, That Spider

"Wow, the Daily Bugle's HR department is really up early," Peter Parker said, opening his phone as he reached the school entrance, the morning sun slanting across the asphalt. He looked at the internship resume he'd sent and the surprisingly negative reply. "Uh... they said they don't need anyone for that position. Maybe I was too late and they already found someone. I was planning to use the salary to buy my costume for spirit day before homecoming."

"Even if you got the job, you wouldn't get paid this month, would you?"

"I was planning to ask for an advance."

Gwen couldn't help but roll her eyes at Peter, her blonde hair whipping in a arc under the sun. "An advance on your first day to buy a superhero costume? Good thing your resume didn't pass, or when the interviewer asked, 'What is your passion for journalism?' you'd have to answer, 'It lets me buy Spider-Man merchandise at a discount!'"

"Why Spider-Man?"

"Everyone knows Jameson loves Spider-Man. He yells about him on TV every day."

Peter wasn't interested in Jameson and Spider-Man's drama. He just said helplessly, "Then I won't be able to participate in spirit day this year."

"You can still participate in the homecoming day activities. I'm guessing you don't have a date either..."

"Hey! Gwen!" A red-haired girl crashed into Gwen's back like a ball of fire, greeting her cheerfully. It was only then that Mary Jane noticed Peter. "Hi, Peter. Is this the first time I'm seeing you and Gwen walking to school together?"

"I usually wake up pretty early, so... How's the part-time job at the Daily Bugle? Any news?"

"It's going pretty well," Mary Jane said, letting go of Gwen. "They gave me an interview opportunity. Maybe I can really become an intern reporter for the Daily Bugle?"

"I believe you'll pass the interview. Good luck, Mary Jane," Peter said, smiling.

After Peter bid them farewell with a smile, Gwen lightly elbowed Mary Jane, who looked confused. Then, Gwen whispered something in her ear, and Mary Jane finally understood what had happened.

"I didn't mean to. Should I apologize?"

"No need. He brought it up himself, after all. Just... be mindful."

Peter didn't pay them any mind and walked towards his locker. On the large screen beside him, Midtown High School's own news program played as usual.

"Recently, political turmoil has erupted in Wakanda. Following the death of the former king T'Chaka, the White Apes, a minority faction within Wakanda, launched multiple armed attacks, plunging the nation into chaos. The new King of Wakanda, T'Challa, stated that the White Apes' attacks were interfered with and supported by external forces, and that they have been extensively mining Vibranium in Wakanda..."

While listening to the international news, Peter put his backpack into his locker. He only had two suits, one of which was badly damaged from a previous fight with Scarecrow and holding up a bridge, and he hadn't had time to repair it. The other was the one he'd brought with him.

Just as he closed the locker door, he heard Harry's playful shout.

"Exterminate—"

"I'm not the Doctor, Harry."

Peter turned to see Harry holding a robot doll that looked like a pepper shaker with a whisk and a toilet plunger stuck into it. Harry said, "What do you think? Should I dress up as a Dalek for spirit day and shout 'exterminate' all over the school?"

"Is Doctor Who considered a superhero?"

"What could be more superheroic than Doctor Who? He doesn't need superpowers; he saves the universe with his scientific knowledge, again and again and again!"

Looking at his brother-in-arms, who had transformed into a Doctor Who impersonator, Peter hugged his books and asked, "Then why don't you dress up as the Doctor?"

"I think you or Amadeus would be a better fit. You're smarter than I am."

"You could also play a wizard."

"If I dressed as a wizard, it would be two men in suits instead of Doctor Who and his alien enemies," Harry said, pulling out a sonic screwdriver prop from an old Doctor Who episode. "No need for expensive costumes. Just find old suits your family doesn't wear anymore, and you can always put a set together. What do you say, Dr. Peter?"

Seeing that his good friend had effortlessly solved his problem of not being able to participate in spirit day due to his costume, Peter smiled sheepishly.

"Harry, I... thanks."

"Don't mention it. I'm looking forward to seeing you interact with the sonic screwdriver and the Dalek. Hey, Amadeus, are you planning to participate in spirit day? You and Peter could dress up as different Doctors!"

"I have my own plan."

Amadeus became excited when talking about superhero costumes. "I'll wear an oversized lab coat, put on some glasses, change my hairstyle, and I'm good to go!"

Harry felt an indescribable confusion.

"What is that? Rick Sanchez?"

"Bruce Banner! Man! The Hulk!"

It was the first time Peter or Harry had seen Amadeus so excited. Peter knew that in the 616 comic universe, Amadeus had been the Hulk for a while. He hadn't expected him to be so obsessed with the Hulk at his age.

"...So, what about Doctor Who?"

"You guys can handle it. That show is too obscure; people will just think you're nerdy shut-ins."

Amadeus said this and happily left. Harry stared at his retreating back for a while before quipping, "Does he realize he's the most like a shut-in among the three of us?"

"Yeah, like Bruce Banner before he transforms."

Peter and Harry tidied their moods and went to class together. But it seemed like all the bad luck had piled up today. They hadn't walked far before they heard that familiar, annoying laugh, accompanied by the screams of girls.

Peter looked over. A terrified girl was crying on the ground, and the culprit was none other than Carl King, whom Peter knew well. He laughed heartily as he put the scary prop back into his pocket. Turning around, he saw Peter and frowned.

"This has nothing to do with you, Parker. Get lost."

"Have you stooped to bullying girls now? I thought you were waiting to go head-to-head with the school's big guys in the homecoming football game."

Hearing this, Carl King smiled and leaned in towards Peter, asking provocatively, "What about you, skinny Parker? Do you dare to participate in the homecoming football game and have a good collision with me?"

It was clear that although Carl King had been beaten by Peter, he didn't think Peter was the problem. He simply felt he wasn't good at fighting, but when it came to football, he was quite confident.

"No, I don't even know the rules. I have to go, Carl. Don't let me catch you bullying classmates again."

Saying goodbye, Peter remained motionless. It was obvious he was letting Carl say goodbye. Carl King couldn't help but scoff and leave. As he left, he didn't forget to issue a threat: "Remember this, Parker, you coward who won't compete with me on the field!"

Harry looked at Peter's calm expression in surprise. "I thought you wouldn't be able to resist accepting his challenge."

"I want to too, but I really don't understand football. How can I play if I don't even know the rules? Forget football, soccer, basketball, badminton – I don't even know the rules for table tennis. I'll go check on that girl."

Peter left Harry looking utterly bewildered.

"Why 'even table tennis'? Does everyone have to know how to play table tennis?"

While Harry was still pondering the significance of table tennis, Peter had already comforted the girl and left. Only then did Harry realize, "Nice, saving the damsel in distress. Except she might not even be into you."

"I'm not thinking about those things, I'm just thinking I should show some concern. It doesn't really matter anyway, just in case..."

In case of what?

Peter himself didn't know.

Meanwhile, Carl King, after leaving, pulled out the thing he had used to scare the girl from his pocket. It was a spider, or more accurately, a preserved spider specimen. Six months ago, on the eve of his middle school graduation, at the Osborn Tech Expo, when a radioactive spider escaped from its display case, it was Carl King who found it and placed it on Peter Parker's neck.

He had personally witnessed the pathetic sight of Peter Parker being bitten by the spider and yelping in pain. He had even thought about taking the spider home to raise it, so he could release it to bite someone whenever he took a disliking to them. As it turned out, after Peter Parker swatted it away, the spider was inexplicably stepped on and killed. He had no choice but to preserve it as a specimen to scare people with.

If Carl had known what that spider was, he certainly wouldn't have casually put it on someone.

Similarly, if Peter had known more about Spider-Man's enemies in his past life, instead of always focusing on potential classic villains and paying more attention to obscure ones, he would have known how much trouble Carl King could cause him.