Peter Parker was quietly eating a hamburger when Eugene suddenly asked whether he was free on Friday.
The question startled him.
His first thought flashed back to that girl he'd met earlier that morning.
For a moment, Peter had actually thought love was coming his way
but it turned out she'd only wanted help taking photos of her boyfriend's car.
Now, hearing Eugene's question, Peter couldn't help recalling that incident.
Still, after a second thought, he realized Eugene wasn't the type to ask for photo help.
After all, Eugene didn't exactly have a boyfriend.
『Peter Parker』: "Uh… sure. I'm free on Friday."
『Eugene』: "Really? That's great! How about we go play basketball together?"
『Peter Parker』: "Basketball…"
Peter's eyes flicked toward Eugene's leg. He hesitated.
Eugene instinctively looked down too—then remembered. His leg was still fractured.
『Eugene』: "Oh. Right."
『Eugene』: "Guess basketball's off the table."
『Peter Parker』: "It's okay, it's okay. Once your leg's healed, we can still play then."
『Eugene』: "Yeah, I guess that'll have to do."
『Peter Parker』: "By the way, aren't you calling your parents to pick you up? With that injury, you probably can't attend class for now."
『Eugene』: "Yeah, true. I'll give my dad a call after I finish eating."
Just then, Eugene's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, then answered.
『Eugene』: "Hello?"
『Eugene』: "Yeah, I'm fine."
『Eugene』: "No, I'm still in the infirmary."
『Eugene』: "No need, I'm eating a burger right now."
『Eugene』: "Okay."
…
Peter didn't think much of it, continuing to eat his burger and fries. Probably one of Eugene's friends checking in.
But three minutes later
A striking figure entered the room.
Blonde hair. Tall. Graceful.
Gwen Stacy.
Peter's heart skipped a beat.
She was holding a paper bag with hot dogs and burgers inside.
When her eyes landed on Peter, she looked surprised.
『Gwen Stacy』: "You're here too?"
She'd gone to see the commotion that morning—though she arrived a bit late.
By the time she got there, Peter had already helped Eugene leave the scene.
Still, word spread quickly among the students.
Gwen had heard everything
how Eugene bullied a classmate,
how Peter had stood up to him,
and how Superman himself had appeared afterward.
When she learned Peter had the courage to stand up for others, Gwen found herself looking at him in a new light.
After all, there had been dozens—no, hundreds—of students there.
Yet only one had dared to step forward.
Peter Parker.
Someone that brave was bound to earn people's admiration.
They'd even exchanged a few words in class afterward.
That might sound trivial—but before that day, Gwen had never spoken to Peter.
Even though they were classmates, she barely even knew who he was.
So, for Peter, finally talking to his crush filled him with both joy and sorrow.
Joy—because the girl he liked had finally spoken to him.
Sorrow—because she hadn't even known his name until now.
That hurt.
After all, Peter had liked her for a long time.
…
Gwen and Eugene were neighbors.
Their houses were so close it was fair to call them childhood friends.
Still, Gwen had never been interested in Eugene romantically.
She didn't like people who threw their weight around without thinking.
But they were good friends nonetheless.
That was why she'd come to visit him at lunch.
Seeing Peter here, though, genuinely surprised her.
She remembered hearing that Eugene had beaten him up.
And since she knew Eugene well, she also knew he often bullied others.
If Peter had been one of his targets, it probably hadn't been the first time.
And yet—here he was, visiting Eugene in the infirmary.
That… was unexpected.
『Peter Parker』: "Hey, Gwen."
Peter blinked in surprise when he saw her.
He hadn't expected to run into her here.
『Gwen Stacy』: "Hey."
She turned to Eugene.
『Gwen Stacy』: "Didn't think you'd actually be eating. I brought you guys some food."
She set the bag on the table.
Eugene looked at it, slightly troubled.
『Eugene』: "But I already have lunch."
He picked up one of the burgers and handed it to Peter.
『Eugene』: "Want it?"
『Peter Parker』: "Thanks."
『Eugene』: "Don't mention it. I can't finish it all anyway."
He shared the rest with his other friends.
Gwen took a hot dog for herself, then asked,
『Gwen Stacy』: "Your leg okay now?"
『Eugene』: "Yeah, seems fine. Doctor said the surgery went well."
『Gwen Stacy』: "Good. Still, you'd better start doing more good deeds. You're always bullying people—look where that got you. Even Superman took notice."
『Eugene』: "Yeah."
Eugene smiled bitterly.
『Eugene』: "It was childish. I'll stop doing that from now on."
Gwen blinked in surprise.
Him—Eugene—saying something like that?
She'd known him since childhood. He was strong, hotheaded, and a bit of a bully. Not evil, but definitely annoying at times.
Even after she'd scolded him countless times, he never really changed.
So hearing him say that now felt strange.
Still, she figured maybe Superman's punch had knocked some sense into him.
If so, that was a good thing.
After all, Eugene admired heroes like Superman and Iron Man.
They chatted for a while.
Then, after finishing her meal, Gwen stood to leave.
Their lunch break was only about thirty minutes long—hardly enough time to linger.
On the bright side, school ended early.
By a little past three, everyone could head home.
So after eating, it was time to hurry back to class.