Who Stole My Lead Box?

"I remember you didn't like coming here?"

Clark frowned as he asked Eric.

Because of what had happened with the school bus during the day, he was still angry at Eric, so his tone wasn't very pleasant.

"Isn't this your secret base? I thought it would be best not to disturb you. Though if I wanted to look, I could see anywhere at a glance."

Eric said pointedly.

Clark's brow furrowed even deeper.

Wasn't Eric saying that if he wanted to, even though Lana lived far away, he could watch her every move?

Combined with Eric's assessment of Lana, a very bad feeling rose in Clark's heart.

Don't tell me Eric is interested in Lana too?!

As he wavered anxiously, Eric withdrew his gaze, shook his head, and said to his older brother, "Honestly, Lana isn't right for you, Clark."

"You sound like the old-fashioned Mr. Escalante, commenting on things you don't understand and then banning everything that doesn't suit you."

Clark immediately shot back.

Escalante was the dean of discipline at Smallville High School. Known for his harsh methods, he had become famous on his very first day after trying to cancel the school's sex education classes.

"Mr. Escalante wouldn't be chatting with you in the 'Fortress of Solitude,' Clark."

(The Fortress of Solitude was the name Clark had given his secret base.)

Eric strolled carelessly over to the telescope and lightly adjusted its lens. "Lana's house is only a mile away from here, but she's never once come to our house. I'm guessing it's not because she doesn't like you, right?!"

Clark found Eric's sharp tongue more and more irritating.

"Whatever. But Eric, remember to respect other people's privacy."

After saying that, Clark quickly headed down the stairs.

He didn't want to talk to Eric anymore.

Eric stood where he was, speechless.

You use a telescope to spy on people, then lecture me about respecting privacy.

Why did that sound so much like a guilty conscience?!

The next morning.

After Clark arrived at school, he noticed quite a few people pointing at him and whispering.

"Hey, our superhero has arrived!"

Clark turned after someone patted him on the shoulder and found Chloe holding a stack of books.

Dark-skinned Pete stood beside her.

Chloe was an outstanding straight-A student with short blonde hair, and her goal was to become one of the four state university interns selected by the Daily Planet.

"What do you mean? Is that the topic of your report today, Chloe?"

Clark asked innocently.

"I think Pete was absolutely right about your 'strange sense of humor.'"

Chloe pointed at the girls in the distance. "Look at them. Everyone's saying you pulled the school bus out of the water, which is why they're staring at you."

Clark replied somewhat guiltily, "You don't believe that, do you, Chloe?"

"I'm reserving judgment."

"Pete?"

Clark turned to his best friend.

Pete had been thinking about the upcoming homecoming dance and hadn't noticed Clark looking at him. Only after someone nudged his shoulder did he look up.

"Ahem. Considering Clark can miss the school bus, pass through a 'black hole,' and still get to school before us, I think lifting a school bus should be no problem for him."

Pete teased him in a deadpan tone.

The "black hole" joke came from Clark often missing the bus but arriving at school before the other two. Whenever they asked how, he would brush it off by saying he had taken a shortcut.

Chloe had then mocked him, saying, "That shortcut of yours must be a black hole."

"Fine. Even if people misunderstand, I still have to say it wasn't me."

"Then who was it? Don't tell me it was him?"

Chloe pointed at Eric, who was walking in through the school gate. "Clark, you can be mysterious sometimes, but your brother seems even more mysterious than you."

"Maybe."

Clark didn't deny it.

"Clark, I need your help—interview Eric. Since you're being so evasive about the school bus, maybe we can pry some secrets out of him, especially secrets about you, Clark."

Chloe kept her eyes fixed on Eric without looking away as she spoke.

"Hey, put the interview aside for now. Clark and I need to settle something before class."

Without waiting for Chloe to respond, Pete pulled Clark toward an empty corner.

"Clark, I've thought of another way to keep us from becoming scarecrows! Trust me, it's the most reliable option besides joining the football team."

"What scarecrows?"

Chloe had somehow come over. "Why are you two whispering?"

"Shh!"

Pete glanced around, then put an arm around Chloe's neck. "It's a team tradition. Before the season starts, they paint an 'S' on a freshman's chest, then hang him up like a scarecrow."

Chloe wore a disgusted expression. "Sounds like whichever freshman gets picked will need years of therapy."

"So Clark and I are trying to make sure we don't become scarecrows."

Pete said this with great resolve.

Among the freshmen, he felt that he and Clark were the most likely targets, considering how much of a loser they were.

"I came up with a great idea: get Eric to help."

"Eric?"

Clark's eyes widened. He had no idea why his little brother had gotten dragged into this again.

"Didn't Eric join the football team back in seventh grade? If he puts in a word with the football players, maybe we can avoid this tragedy."

"But..."

Clark frowned. "That was back in middle school. Eric might not know anyone on the high school football team."

"We won't know unless we try."

"Okay, looks like we all have a reason to talk to Eric."

Chloe patted Clark on the shoulder. "Meet at the school entrance after classes this afternoon. Bring Eric with you."

With that, she headed toward the school building.

"See you this afternoon, Clark!"

Pete checked his watch. It was nearly time for class, so after calling out to Clark, he hurried after Chloe.

"...Fine."

Watching his two best friends walk away, Clark sighed helplessly.

His objections would probably be ignored anyway.

He was already used to having no right to object within the group.

Meanwhile, Eric, the subject of the trio's thoughts, had run into a little trouble.

He discovered that someone had tampered with his locker.

The lead box he had kept inside was gone!

Inside that lead box were the Kryptonite fragments he had collected recently.

Since being reborn into this world, he had focused most of his energy on two things.

The first was constantly training his body to unlock the power of the Homelander Template.

The other was collecting the fragments of Kryptonite scattered throughout the town after Clark had arrived.

"Who would steal something like that? Could it be those bugs lurking in the shadows?!"

Staring at his locker, Eric narrowed his eyes.

The wind was awfully noisy today!