Ned's mouth fell wide open.
"Holy... webbing... hanging upside down..." Ned pointed at Peter with a trembling finger. "You're that friendly neighborhood Spider-Man from YouTube?!"
Michelle's eyes widened slightly in surprise as well, but she quickly regained her composure and smiled faintly.
"No wonder you were always late to class. So you were out being a street vigilante." Michelle reached out and poked Peter's upside-down shoulder. "Cool."
Peter released his web and landed lightly on the ground.
"I'm sorry for hiding it from you. Can you forgive me?"
Ned nodded frantically, the flesh on his face trembling with excitement. "Of course! I swear! Holy crap, my best friend is Spider-Man!"
"How did you get your powers?"
"I got bitten by a spider, and then this happened."
"Oh, cool! So can you lay eggs?"
"What?! Of course not!" Peter answered with a look of disgust.
"So can your webbing only come out of your wrists? You know, normal spiders shoot it from their butts—"
"Shut up, Ned! I don't spin webs, those are web-shooters on my hands!" Peter was already at his wit's end.
"What about venom? Can you spray—"
Just as Peter was about to break down, the school-wide broadcast suddenly came on.
"Beep—beep—beep—"
"Attention, attention, all students of Vought Pioneer Hero Academy. This is a notice from the school board."
"All students are requested to assemble at the academy's open-air athletic field at nine o'clock next Monday morning."
"We will officially begin the academy's first Superpower Awakening Ceremony. Please arrive on time and do not be absent."
"All teachers and teaching assistants, please guide the students in your classes and accompany them to the athletic field."
"Upon arrival, please report to your respective academy coordinators or dormitory mentors for attendance."
The announcement played three times in a row.
The