"Usagi, who do you think the Spider looks like without his mask? He should be a cute boy right?"
A girl with a school uniform similar to Usagi's, but she has reddish-brown hair with a teal bow in it, and teal eyes. She has a dreamy look in her eyes as she imagines someone in her mind. Usagi looks at her, wondering about the very person who has been making the news ever since she heard about him on Sunday morning.
"He must be charming! Who else would be that strong enough to do all of those things on the news and on YouTube! Wait! Naru, did you happen to see him up close?"
Naru Osaka, Usagi's best friend, and the two of them are with Sekinin and Nijika, along with other students, including two more girls and a boy wearing glasses, who are eating their lunches outside. The moment they began eating, Naru decided to start the conversation about the vigilante, the Spider.
Just within the night of Saturday and throughout Sunday, up to even the middle of Monday, there isn't a single person who doesn't know about the Spider.
"I did, and not just close but he held me in his arms! He saved me from being mugged this morning! Usagi! I told you about it, remember?"
Usagi realized that her best friend was right, and she spoke so much about it to everyone until Ms. Haruna had nearly approached the classroom where Naru and her other friends were, and Usagi had to return to her classroom.
She now wished she could get close to a superhero like her friend and was feeling a bit jealous. But at the same time, she is thankful for the Spider as he saved Naru from the delinquents that had cornered her.
Sekinin listened in as he did recall saving Naru from those troublemakers, but from his point of view, Naru wouldn't stop fangirling until he had to leave. And it seems she kept on going like any other female classmates, who he confusingly questioned their situation when he saved them.
Speaking about how amazing he was, how spectacular his actions were, how sensational his appearance would make Tokyo erupt in conversations about him. There were also male classmates talking about him, but it was mostly the girls, who spoke about their own scenarios for others to believe they helped him in the situations.
Sekinin lightly shook his head as he didn't think he would be recognized as a hero this quickly, heck, on Sunday, he was met with criticism from other people about how he was meddling with something he should have left to the police. But they were quickly overshadowed by his sudden fan group.
As if everyone just suddenly forgot the damage he caused like stopping car chases when damaging the cars that could have belonged to someone, fire-hydrants being removed by him when trying to put out fires, or just throwing trash bins and mailboxes just to knock out thugs or delinquents.
Maybe it is best not to pay attention to what is said about him, as he knew how people would band together to drive one to… Well, depending on whether it is in public or online media. Mainly online media.
"Hey Sekinin, how do you think the Spider does all of those things? I doubt anyone could make webs out of their hands and just stop a car with their bare hands."
Sekinin was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the glasses guy, Gurio Umino, a classmate of Naru, with blondish-colored hair. His glasses have swirls in both lenses. He was asking Sekinin about the Spider. His question got everyone else, including Nijika to listen in as if in their minds they wanted to hear one of them speaking.
The two smartest boys, in two different classes, so they all thought Sekinin must have figured out something.
"Err… Well, spiders do have incredible strength so there isn't any doubt that he was able to stop that car. But those webs… It really depends on how he makes them appear and how strong they are. Plus doesn't he do everything a spider can do?"
Sekinin blushes as he talks about himself, but tries not to fully expose much about his powers. How do people expect him to explain something that no human has ever seen without revealing so much when it is about himself?
"Of course Sekinin would know about spiders, after all he and Nijika went on that field trip to— Wait! Do you think the Spider was made by Ozukōpu Industries? Sekinin, you did mention they have spiders that were experimented on."
This got everyone more intrigued; meanwhile, Sekinin felt a bit of sweat coming down from his head. To think the other smartest boy of his year would connect the Spider to the place where the enhanced spider was created. He should have kept that to himself!
"I honestly doubt that."
Nijika's voice spoke as everyone went silent, looking towards her.
"We only saw the spiders in glass cases and the scientist who gave us the tour said that there was an accident when a person was bitten by a cross-species spider. We don't even know what happens when you get bitten by a genetic or enchanted spider. Although the possibility that one of the spiders from that day could have bitten, the superhero Spider, could be the reason why he does anything a spider can."
Sekinin could not believe that even his own best friend could have said all of that in a guess. And the fact that it terrified him that she would somehow connect what she said to him.
"Wait, wasn't there also that incident where Furasshu Tonpuson got expelled after nearly getting one of the spiders to escape?"
Everyone suddenly remembers the bully who would make fun of anyone, pick on anyone who he deemed weak and puny. Sekinin was one of his victims, but unlike everyone else who had unfortunately met him, Sekinin was able to avoid or turn the tables on him, one of them including the prank that Furasshu tried to frame Sekinin with.
The fact that it was announced that he was expelled brought shock to everyone, including his inner circle, as to them, Furasshu was their leader when tormenting others. Now that he was gone, as Furasshu was pretty much the ringleader of everything while his friends were just joining in the fun, everyone they bullied came together as they fought back against their tormentors.
All of this happened under all the teachers' noses as the bullies did their fun without the teachers figuring it out, so when the tables turned on them by the ones they mock and laugh at, it was something the student body all agreed to only whisper to each other.
It brought relief and justice to those who couldn't fight back, but not everyone, like, for example, Sekinin himself. He knew why Furasshu Tonpuson got expelled, because of the spider that went missing.
If it had been found and safely put back in its glass case, then Furasshu would have received suspension from school and had multiple detentions when he came back. But Ozukōpu Industries already knew the spider was missing because why else would the bully of Shinokita Middle School be expelled?
And why he thought of why this was the case, well thought about scenarios of why and what Sekinin was thinking was the closest to what happened to the spider. Plus the whole thing wasn't reported or appeared in any news about the incident of the spider.
Sure, Furasshu was the reason why the spider escaped, and even though Sekinin was the one who killed the spider. But because Furasshu was the perpetrator of the incident he was the only one to blame for the missing spider.
"I wonder why he was expelled, didn't your homeroom teacher say the spider was put back in its glass case? I thought he would get something that was more reasonable than being expelled. I mean, sure, he is a jerk to everyone, but being expelled?"
Naru asked Sekinin as he quickly thought of a response.
"I honestly don't even know why. But unless something did happen to the spider on that field trip then it would explain why Tonpuson got himself expelled."
Hearing that is the only reasonable response, everyone just accepted it as if they had other information about it, then they had accepted it, despite the whole thing still not being fully explained.
Still, the conversation didn't focus entirely on Tonpuson as it was obvious the whole group wasn't fond of him, including Umino, as he was the victim of Furasshu's bullying. The topic was brought back to the Spider.
Sekinin just listened in further until he felt his sleeve being yanked as he turned to Nijika, as he immediately knew what she wanted: she wanted to move somewhere quieter. So after making eye contact with Usagi, as she knew what the look Sekinin was giving her, she gave him a nod back.
So the two best friends quietly left the others to their talking as they both went back inside the school and they went to a secluded area that is located underneath the stairs between the first and second floor.
"How are you feeling after a week of being absent?"
Nijika didn't say anything until she took a glance at Sekinin as she finished the remainder of her lunch. Once she finished eating she spoke.
"I still can't accept it. I…"
Before she could say more, she was hugged by Sekinin as he once again stroked her hair, as he knew she was about to cry again.
Nijika didn't say anything more as faint sobs were heard. Sekinin just continues to comfort her, even if a week has gone by, he knew it would take more than a week to truly move on. After all, he knew what it was like, and honestly, he was glad he had the support of his aunt and uncle, as well as Nijika and her family.
The family, including Arawareru, was hard for Sekinin to even accept. But he knew he had to be there for Nijika. Nothing was going to stop him from helping her.
Sekinin looks at her before looking somewhere else… As if he were staring at something that would make people wonder if they should see him, wondering what got his attention.
Then, as if he was just staring at a wall, he was now staring at the ground with delinquents knocked out. Just outside school and somewhere in Shimokitazawa.
"You know, if you want to impersonate me, at least try to act like you're not in mortal danger."
The Spider said as he held someone with a crappy costume and masks all tied up in webs. He was really surprised that someone decided to impersonate him that early in his superhero career.
The impersonator didn't have his wall-crawling, webs, or anything related to his powers. What was just seen by witnesses was that this rip-off was just fits and talk.
"Though I am surprised you lasted this long, I guess you must have already had the skills to defend yourself."
Sekinin said as he pulled off the mask revealing an average boy whose expression looked shocked and a bit of fear.
As much as a hypocrite Sekinin is when hiding his identity he didn't want anyone to be like him and play hero. Even after his first night, he had already gained enemies among the delinquents and others who were caught by the Spider.
And the delinquents here truly wanted payback against the Spider as Sekinin recognized a few of them. He wonders who bailed them out that fast.
"Next time actually leave this to the professionals. Not everyone can wear a mask like me."
He said as he removed the webs from the boy as Sekinin immediately swung away after hearing sirens coming close by.
"Hopefully, this would be the only time I have to see someone try to act like me."
He talked to himself as he saw another car chase in progress.
"Duty calls!"
He switched directions as he web-zipped his way to the speeding car. Suddenly, his vision was on the speeding car, then back to the wall at Shimokitazawa Middle School.
"(Seems like I just got lucky with my powers for not only my hidden life but also my school life.)"
There is a unique ability that was given to him thanks to the spider bite. The ability to be in two places at once. To think he was able to get such a power to ease the trouble he once had of wondering how it would affect his normal life.
Sekinin first discovered this power when he was trying to think of a way to juggle both school and a secret, and it just suddenly happened. All he was thinking about was how he imagined that he would be at two places at once, and like magic, another version of himself was standing in front of him.
Another Sekinin Parker that acts and sounds exactly like him with the same powers and abilities. It was something that made both of them wonder who the real Sekinin is, as they both had to point at each other, asking which was the real one.
Still, how they both manage to figure out who the real one is, which is to see which one has their subconscious, while the other has their real consciousness. So while the two act the same, they are different when they are Sekinin or the Spider. Acting one life as a middle school nerd while the other life is the superhero that is saving lives.
But that did not mean that special power didn't come at a cost, like the scientist said on that field trip, unless he was provoked just enough for the twin version of himself to vanish. And by provoke, he means that if he took enough damage, it would cause serious damage.
For example, if he gets shot with too many bullets, not enduring so many punches and kicks, stabbed or slashed by a blade sharp enough that would put him in a critical state.
Sekinin learned this the hard way during his testing as the two of them had to fight a gang that was messing with two students from another school. A pink-haired girl with a black bow and a blond-haired gyaru that, while not exactly like other gyaru, still acts like one.
Anyway, the fight was intense as it was during the week when he was mastering his powers, and suddenly, one thug decided to use a bat made out of nails and such, and struck his head from behind and made the subconscious Sekinin disappear in an instant.
This immediately shocks and baffles everyone who witnesses it, while the real Sekinin felt the pain of that attack, even though the damage that should have had him bleeding and a cracked skull, he only felt the immense pain that came with that attack.
But somehow he knocked out all the thugs as he was sure his vision was blurry thanks to that attack, but thankfully the two girls had fled the scene during the attack, so they didn't see what had happened.
So after experiencing that and seeing what the special power has as drawbacks, he made sure to focus on his spider-sense and reflexes to ensure not to receive too much damage while acting in separate lives.
Also, having to endure so much pain from his other self, not to react so much, would make anyone wonder just what is causing Sekinin to either twitch or jump. Even to not yelp or scream with each dangerous attack.
Thankfully he learned that he can increase the durability of his other self with training so that a single powerful attack would not make the other disappear easily again.
"Do you wish to stay here with me until the bell rings?"
Sekinin asks Nijika, and she just nods her head. He says "Okay," as neither one moves from the spot underneath the stairs. They were so well hidden that no one, not even their classmates, noticed them as some students either went up or down just to get somewhere around the school.
"(I should visit Seika at STARRY after school then Senatsu-san at home.)"
Like Nijika, her sister and mother are hurting like Nijika but in their own way. For Seika, it was like what happened with his parents after their deaths, acting like her father was still here. For Senatsu, it was like she wasn't herself, just a shell of her former self.
Even with the help, they were just slowly recovering and looked like it would stay like this for a few more weeks.
"(Maybe… We should invite them out. Invite them all out for a nice walk, shopping, maybe somewhere to just get away from everything for a while. Sure, Nijika is getting fresh air but that's only because she has to attend school.)"
Sekinin wondered which place, spot, or date it could be possible for such a thing to happen. It's not like he could just bring the three of them to the very top of Tokyo Tower and expect them to enjoy the view like he has while being 333 meters up high.
Well, he would, but knew not all of them would enjoy such a thing, especially at the very top. Plus even if they just go to where it is safe for people to stand, they would see families that hadn't lost a father and husband.
He opens up his phone and messages his aunt and uncle to get their suggestions while putting in his suggestion. He got responses back that his aunt suggests that they all go on a hiking trip during Golden Week, while his aunt suggests that they all go to a small town with beautiful scenery.
Both are good suggestions, but Sekinin has a difficult time deciding which is better. But he got a text that said they'll do both, as they both agree the other suggestion sounds great, and Sekinin just smiles.
He closes his phone and looks at his best friend as he wonders just how far this will go with everything happening so far. While at the same time where exactly the bastard was hiding in Tokyo.
Somewhere in Tokyo, in an unnamed hospital, a girl watches on the TV, looking astonished at what is shown with a doctor beside her, also watching alongside her with the same expression as her.
"He managed to stop that speeding car."
The girl spoke as the two saw the Spider putting himself in front of the speeding car that was about to crash into a public bus, but managed to stop it just in time, with him putting himself between the car and the bus.
Then as if nothing had happened, he checked to see if the person was alright, not before dodging from being shot and tied up with webs, then swinging away as the police came with two cops arresting the driver. All of this was live. Then a newswoman spoke up to explain what she witnessed.
["Once again, the masked vigilante, the Spider, has saved dozens of lives from a maniac clearly wanting to crash his car into a bus full of innocent lives. Everyone can rest easy once again to know that someone is willing to save us even from the craziest of crimes."]
The girl watches in amazement as she quietly claps her hands in cheering for the Spider. Her doctor looked at her with amusement, surprised that the girl would praise and cheer for Ai Hoshino and not focus on anything else important would have her attention on the vigilante that suddenly showed up after what seemed to be two days.
To be honest, he was also the same, but as an intern doctor, he had to stay focused. (As if he is acting like he isn't a huge fan of Ai Hoshino.)
"The Spider… I wish to meet him."
The girl spoke once again, hoping to see such an amazing figure, like how she hoped to meet Ai Hoshino, but at the same time knew the chances of meeting either were very slim. Still, a girl like her has to hope, hoping to meet someone who would make the world a better place for everyone.
Her doctor just smiles but knows that unless the Spider has a social media account to send private messages or something then meeting him would be nearly impossible. You would either have to be saved to physically meet him. Still, he agreed with her and also hoped that she would meet him.
On her lap was a drawing of the mask of the Spider, with a person he's holding while he swings. Like a cover image for a comic book of some sort.