Theme Day (2)

In America, the start of each academic year is marked by a Homecoming celebration, usually held on a weekend. The preceding Monday through Friday are designated as warm-up theme days. The general idea is a daily theme, with students expected to decorate the school and dress up according to the requirements, participating in activities like signing walls or graffiti. Friday features the Homecoming football game, and Saturday is the Homecoming dance. The purpose of these events is perhaps to help new students integrate into campus life and foster a sense of belonging for older students.

But in reality, it all just turns into playing around.

"I didn't intentionally try to be antisocial; I just didn't know who to dress up as. You know, when I searched online for female superheroes or villains, the costumes... my dad couldn't even stand them, let alone me."

Gwen complained to Peter as they walked, lamenting the revealing nature of most female superhero costumes. Sheriff George wouldn't have been able to afford a cosplay outfit for Gwen with those uniforms.

She and Peter were among the few dressed like ordinary people. The only difference was that Peter's "costume" was just casual clothes, while Gwen couldn't get a uniform at all.

"And you know what they say. Standing alone amidst a crowd of people dressed in all sorts of colors, ugh! It's incredibly awkward."

"You could have asked me beforehand. Maybe I could have recommended something."

"Good idea. How did I not think of that?"

"If anyone asks you which superhero you're playing, just say you're playing the 'Hungry Wolf Girl'."

"Who's that?"

"Uh, from the same series as my character."

Gwen had no idea who this character was but didn't press the issue. Peter, meanwhile, glanced behind him. He could feel someone watching him; his Spider-Sense hadn't stopped buzzing.

Is it Carl again? He's really fixated on me now. But why? Could it be because he suspects I'm Spider-Man? He saw the whole thing when that spider bit me on the neck.

What does he plan to do once he confirms it? Is he connected to some villainous organization? ...

"Peter? Peter!"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was still thinking about Carl."

Though not entirely accurate, Peter apologized and then asked Gwen, "What were you saying?"

"I asked if you'd accompany me after school to pick out an outfit. I initially thought this theme day was only for one day, but it's going on for so long."

"Uh..."

Seeing Peter's hesitation, Gwen raised an eyebrow. "What? Do you have somewhere else to be?"

"It's hard to say... depends on the news."

He was planning to use Avengers Tower's computers and J.A.R.V.I.S. to analyze Carl's recent actions. If Carl truly suspected him of being Spider-Man, Peter would need to find a way to counter it.

"Are you hiding something from me? You've been so secretive since starting high school. We hardly walk to and from school together anymore."

Gwen couldn't help but ask, watching Peter drift off again. Peter quickly waved his hands. "No, absolutely not. Don't worry. If there's anything going on, I'll definitely tell you."

"Then it's settled. You're coming with me to buy clothes today."

"Fine..."

Peter, having reluctantly appeased Gwen, continued looking around the campus with her. Due to the broad nature of the superhero theme and the variety of costumes, the entire school was filled with a bizarrely joyful atmosphere. Besides the tight-fitting cosplay uniforms and the hardcore participants like Harry, who showed up in a motorized wheelchair, there was another way to cosplay as a superhero: mascot costumes.

And it was one thing for someone to wear a Sonic mascot costume, but why was there a Pikachu? Could that really be considered a superhero?

Of course, there were some familiar faces. For instance, Jessica, a senior, was dressed as a perfect Sherlock Holmes – complete with a deerstalker hat, double-breasted coat, and a cape. She was unmistakably Sherlock Holmes.

"Hey, Peter. Oh, hey, Doctor."

Jessica clearly recognized who Peter was dressed as. Conversely, faced with an outfit that anyone could recognize, Peter couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure you're a superhero like this? You're just dressed as... Sherlock Holmes."

"Hey, Parker! Sherlock Holmes is definitely a superhero, why wouldn't he be!"

After complaining, Jessica finally noticed Gwen and happily said, "Hi, I'm Jessica, the head of the detective club. Peter is a member of our club."

"Hey, I'm Gwen. We're... friends."

While they were briefly introducing themselves, Peter felt Carl's gaze again. He decided to switch tactics, no longer giving Carl any reaction, letting him continue his supposedly perfect stealth. Peter wanted to see what Carl was really up to.

However, Carl was beginning to doubt the correctness of his assumptions. Peter Parker showed no odd behavior, and Peter's closet didn't even contain a Spider-Man costume. Furthermore, Parker hadn't been spotted acting suspiciously.

Lost in thought, Carl became perplexed about how to resolve these issues. He was planning to follow Peter after school to see if he was indeed Spider-Man when he unexpectedly found a video on his phone.

It was footage of Spider-Man helping ordinary people and beating up thugs. What was important was the upload time – it was recent – and Spider-Man was wearing a new costume. Everything, from his movements to the camera angles, looked perfect.

All of this left Carl utterly confused. Could it be that Peter Parker really isn't Spider-Man? Did I make a mistake? Did that spider back then not give Peter Parker powers?

The one who posted the video and impersonated Spider-Man was, naturally, Chameleon. With Quentin Beck's help, he had pulled off another masterful performance, this time acting as a superhero. To prevent the Punisher from suddenly appearing and killing everyone, Quentin handled this particular performance alone, using projections to transform a warehouse into a street and seal it off. The plan was to lure Spider-Man to a building in this modeled environment, where it would be his doom.

Thinking of the humiliation Spider-Man had caused him, Chameleon couldn't help but take a deep breath. But Quentin Beck wasn't thinking about that. He was thinking about Spider-Man, wondering how the other party knew his name, and more importantly...

Quentin leaned in front of the enormous fish tank and muttered to himself.

"Infrared vision... infrared... is infrared light also light?"

Another chapter that felt like it wasn't written well.