In the United States, every school year's opening season came with homecoming events, usually held over the weekend. Monday through Friday of that week were designated warm-up theme days. The general format was one theme per day, with students decorating the school, dressing up as required, and taking part in activities like signature walls or graffiti. Friday brought the homecoming football game, while Saturday was the Homecoming Dance. Supposedly, these activities helped new students integrate into campus life and gave returning students a sense of belonging.
But in reality, they always just turned into opportunities to have fun.
"It's not like I'm deliberately trying to stand out. I just don't know what to dress up as. You know? When I searched for female superheroes or villains online, those costumes... forget my dad, even I couldn't stand them."
As they walked, Gwen complained to Peter about why most female superheroes dressed so revealingly. With uniforms like those, there was no way Sheriff George would spend money buying Gwen a cosplay outfit.
She and Peter were among the few people dressed more or less like ordinary students. The only difference was that Peter's character wore regular clothes, while Gwen simply could not get hold of a suitable uniform.
"And you know what they'd say. I'd be standing alone in the middle of a bunch of people dressed in every color imaginable. Ah! It'd be as awkward as it gets."
"You could've asked me in advance. Maybe I could've recommended someone."
"Good idea. How did I not think of that?"
"If anyone asks which superhero you're playing, just say you're Hungry Wolf Girl."
"Who's that?"
"Uh... she's from the same series as my character."
Gwen had no idea what kind of character that was, but she did not press the matter. Peter, meanwhile, glanced behind him. He could feel someone watching him; his Spider-Sense had not stopped buzzing.
Carl again? He had really fixed his sights on me, but why? Did he suspect I was Spider-Man? He saw the whole thing when I got bitten by the spider he put around my neck.
What was he planning to do once he confirmed it? Was he connected to some villain organization?...
"Peter? Peter!"
"Hm? Oh, sorry. I was still thinking about Carl."
It was not entirely true, but Peter still apologized before asking Gwen, "What did you just say?"
"I said, how about you come with me after school to pick out some clothes? I thought this theme day only lasted one day. I didn't expect it to go on for so long."
"Uh..."
Seeing Peter hesitate, Gwen raised an eyebrow. "What, do you have somewhere else to be?"
"Hard to say... depends on whether I get any news."
He still planned to borrow Avengers Tower's computers and J.A.R.V.I.S. to analyze Carl's recent actions. If Carl really suspected he was Spider-Man, Peter would have to find a way to counter him.
"Are you hiding something from me? Ever since you started high school, you've been acting all mysterious. We barely even walk to and from school together anymore."
Gwen could not help asking when she saw Peter spacing out again. Peter hurriedly waved his hands. "No, absolutely not. Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll definitely tell you."
"Then it's settled. You're coming with me to buy clothes today."
"Okay..."
After barely placating Gwen, Peter continued looking around campus with her. Because the superhero theme was so broad and uniforms came in so many varieties, most of the school was steeped in a bizarrely cheerful atmosphere. Besides the skin-tight cosplay outfits and ruthless people like Harry, who had gotten himself an electric wheelchair, there was another way to cosplay superheroes: mascot costumes.
And Sonic mascot costumes were one thing, but why were there Pikachus? Did that really count as a superhero?
Naturally, there were a few familiar faces as well, such as senior Jessica. Her outfit was the textbook Sherlock Holmes look: a Deerstalker Hat, a double-breasted coat, and a cape draped over her shoulders. One glance was enough to identify Sherlock Holmes.
"Hey, Peter. Oh, hey, Doctor."
Jessica had clearly recognized who Peter was dressed as. On the other hand, faced with an outfit anyone could recognize, Peter could not help asking, "Are you sure that counts as a superhero? You're just dressed as... Sherlock Holmes."
"Hey, Parker! Of course Sherlock Holmes counts as a superhero. Why wouldn't he?"
Only after complaining did Jessica notice Gwen. She immediately said happily, "Hi, I'm Jessica, president of the Detective Agency. Peter is a member of our Detective Agency."
"Hey, I'm Gwen. We're... friends."
As they exchanged simple introductions, Peter felt Carl's gaze again. He switched strategies now, refusing to give Carl any reaction at all. He would let Carl think his stealth was perfect. Peter wanted to see what Carl was really planning.
But Carl had already begun doubting whether his answer was correct. There was nothing strange about Peter Parker. There was not even a Spider-Man uniform in his closet, and Parker had not noticed him either.
Confused, Carl began wondering how to resolve all this. He had planned to follow Peter after school today to see whether he really was Spider-Man, but then he unexpectedly found a video on his phone.
It showed Spider-Man helping ordinary people and beating up some thugs. That was not important. What mattered was that it had just been uploaded, and Spider-Man was already wearing a new uniform. Whether it was his movements or anything else, everything looked flawless.
All of this left Carl deeply confused. Did it seem Peter Parker really was not Spider-Man? Had he really gotten it wrong? Had that spider never given Peter Parker any abilities?
--
The one who uploaded the video and played Spider-Man was, naturally, Chameleon. With Quentin Beck's help, he put on another outstanding performance, and this time he acted while fully dressed as a superhero. To prevent The Punisher from suddenly appearing and killing everyone on the road, Quentin handled this entire performance alone. He used projections to turn a warehouse into a street and sealed it off. Then they would lure Spider-Man to the building at that modeled location, where Spider-Man would meet his doom.
Thinking of the humiliation Spider-Man had brought him, Chameleon could not help taking a deep breath. But Quentin Beck was not thinking about that. He thought of Spider-Man and wondered why Spider-Man knew his name, as well as something even more important.
Quentin lay before that enormous fish tank, unable to stop muttering.
"Infrared vision... infrared... infrared light is still light?"
Another chapter that felt like it wasn't written very well.
Before you continue