Chapter 41: Sinister Six - Part 9

I held my neck.

...There was a faint discomfort where Redcap had grabbed me earlier.

It probably left a mark.

Standing in front of me, surrounding Redcap, were Spider-Man—Peter—and the man wearing a red, demon-like mask... the one called Daredevil.

I tried to stand on my trembling legs to join the fight... but Peter opened his mouth first.

"...Harry, stay right there."

"Is that... because you can't trust me?"

I asked in a withered voice.

...Earlier, I had lost myself and nearly killed someone.

Honestly, I wouldn’t trust me either right now.

Peter shook his head.

"It's not that... it's just, well, I don’t think I can protect you while fighting."

Hearing that... I realized I was a burden.

...I’d always been good at sports and school. And after inhaling the enhancement drug, I’d never once thought I could slow anyone down.

But if I calmly analyze my condition—my body is damaged... my breathing is erratic.

My thoughts are cloudy, and I’m scared of the man with the red mask standing in front of me.

...Is Peter not afraid?

I lifted my eyes.

...No, that’s not it.

He must feel fear too.

But even so, he’s facing it head-on... out of a sense of responsibility as someone with power—a hero.

...I found myself a little envious.

I thought it’d be nice... if I could become like that too.

Before I knew it... I was admiring him.

Redcap took a step back.

His shoe scraped against the concrete floor.

At that moment, Peter fired a web from his right arm.

Redcap twisted his body and dodged.

...I couldn’t even see it.

The exchange was too fast.

It was only after it ended that I could even begin to understand what happened—and I was stunned.

Then, Daredevil attacked from behind Redcap with a metal staff.

Redcap caught it with his left hand and immediately struck Daredevil in the head with his elbow.

"Ugh—"

As Daredevil staggered back instinctively, Peter jumped in to cover him.

He shot a web at Redcap’s feet, pinning his left leg in place... blocking his escape.

Then, with that momentum, Peter swung his arm and attacked from the right.

...Redcap’s right arm was injured.

He couldn’t defend himself.

But he thrust up his unbound right leg, blocking the punch with his knee.

"Ow!?"

There was a dull thunk, and Peter recoiled from the impact.

...That wasn’t a block.

Peter’s fist had collided with Redcap’s armored knee, and it was his fist that took the damage.

...Somehow, Peter seemed off his game.

Compared to when we fought at the Daily Bugle or the Oscorp building, his movements were slower.

I see.

It’s because I hit him—kicked him—hurt him.

This whole crisis... is my fault.

I bit my lip.

『Do you know what the strongest weapons in the human body are? The answer is the elbows and knees. Their hardness makes them more deadly than fists... and that’s no different even in this armored suit.』

Redcap spoke in a static-laced mechanical voice.

In response, Daredevil slowly stood up and opened his mouth.

"You’re unusually talkative today... got a reason for stalling?"

『On the contrary, I’d rather leave quickly. If you just let me go... I won’t attack. How about it?』

Redcap glanced at his right arm.

...The armor was crushed and blood was visible in spots.

Fragments of the shattered armor must be embedded in the wound.

Daredevil spoke.

"Sorry... I only negotiate with criminals—"

He picked up the metal staff at his feet.

"—when they’re already behind bars."

『...I see. That’s very troublesome.』

Peter recovered from the pain and slowly stood back up.

...His fist was bleeding.

And just when it looked like the three would clash again—

The ground shook violently.

The floor tilted, and fragments of broken concrete slid away.

One of the large chunks struck my leg.

"Urgh!?"

"Harry!?"

It seemed the lower level of the abandoned building had collapsed, causing the whole floor to tilt.

Jameson, still tied to his chair, began to slowly slide.

There was no wall ahead of him.

Even at a glance, the drop from this building was over ten meters.

If he fell from that height... there’d be no surviving it.

I tried to brace myself in a panic—but my injured leg couldn’t hold me.

I slipped and began sliding down the sloped floor too.

This is bad.

The fear of death flashed through my mind.

Daredevil clung to a wall, barely holding on.

Redcap had stabbed his left hand into the floor to anchor himself.

The only one still able to move was Peter.

Peter—Spider-Man—had the special ability to climb walls.

He could scale vertical buildings. A slope like this was nothing to him.

I slid down the incline—along with the unconscious Jameson.

We started sliding from different positions... Peter could save either me or Jameson.

Only one.

Peter looked at me, then at Jameson—once each.

He seemed torn.

“Ta—”

I almost said “Help me”—but stopped.

Who caused this situation?

Whose fault is it?

Mysterio...?

No. It wasn’t just Mysterio.

Even if I was deceived, I still took part in it.

It was me who dragged Jameson into this mess.

So...

"Forget about me... Save Jameson!"

That was... the only atonement I could offer.

Hearing my words, Peter fired a webline at a concrete pillar behind him and launched himself like a bungee.

He caught Jameson—

“Harry!”

He tried to save me too, shooting a web my way.

But it missed—flying just over my head—and I kept falling.

I banged my head several times, almost blacking out.

Even so, I held on with sheer willpower.

『...Tch!』

I heard someone click their tongue.

And then—suddenly, I was yanked midair—someone grabbed the back of my neck.

That someone... was Redcap.

“Wha—”

『Don’t talk. You’ll bite your tongue.』

He said bluntly and fired a wire from his right arm.

The tip of the wire was a triple-pronged claw that dug into a concrete wall.

I heard the grinding whir as the wire slowly extended, gradually slowing our descent.

『Guh... tch...!』

Noticing the pained groan, I looked at his right arm.

The wire had wrapped around his injured arm.

He held me with his left hand—

And used his wounded right hand to control the descent...

Even though the armor was already shattered, cutting into him—

He still pushed it further, damaging himself more—

...I couldn’t understand why he was going that far to save me.

Eventually, the wire snapped.

Redcap and I tumbled to the ground.

Even though the fall had been slowed, we still dropped from several meters high.

The shock knocked the air right out of my lungs.

“Hah... hahh...!”

But—I wasn’t dead.

My whole body ached, and breathing was hard—but I was alive.

Pain, fear... and relief.

My vision blurred with tears.

Through the haze, I saw Redcap slowly getting to his feet.

...He was about to leave.

I couldn’t help but call out.

“...Wait...”

『...I saved you, didn’t I? Just shut up and rest now.』

“Why...?”

My voice and breath came in gasps, but I forced the words out.

...It was a question.

Why had he saved me?

I had no idea.

There was no reason to save someone like me.

As I struggled to make sense of it, Redcap finally spoke.

『I just... didn’t think you had to die, that’s all.』

With that, Redcap turned and looked up toward the sky.

『...Jessica Jones, huh.』

I followed his gaze... and saw someone flying, rescuing people from inside the ruined building.

I looked back—he was walking away from me now.

Surveying the area, as if searching for something.

I had no idea what he was thinking.

But... maybe he wasn’t such a bad person after all.

Redcap pushed aside rubble and lifted someone over his shoulder.

...Ah, that was Shocker.

He had seemed somewhat close to Redcap.

『...You damn idiot.』

Redcap muttered in exasperation.

My vision darkened.

My eyelids felt heavy.

“Tha...nk... you...”

With consciousness fading, I whispered my gratitude.

...In response, Redcap let out an exasperated sigh.

『...Haa. In the end, you really are—』

“You just can’t be a villain, Harry Osborn.”

...It was a voice that shouldn’t possibly have been heard here. The voice of someone dear to me.

But I assumed it was just a hallucination.

And then—I lost consciousness.

---

“Harry!? Harry!”

I rushed toward Harry, collapsed on the ground, and checked for a pulse.

...He was okay. He was breathing.

As I did, I heard the sound of someone landing behind me.

I turned—and saw Jessica.

“Ah, Jessica... You’re safe.”

“Hm? Yeah... pretty much. My legs and back hurt a bit, but yeah, I’m alive. Safe.”

She had tossed away her jacket, which was now torn to shreds, and was down to just her shirt.

“I’ve been busy saving the rest of the crew earlier... Seriously, overworked the poor unconscious injured people. Once I find out who wrecked the building, I’m beating them half to death.”

She cracked her knuckles menacingly, and I instinctively took a step back.

“So? That guy’s the New Goblin, right? What are you going to do with him?”

“I don’t think Harry... will become the Goblin again.”

“...What do you mean by that?”

I explained everything to Jessica—how he ended up like this, and what he’s like now.

“Ohh, one of those drugs that make you short-tempered, huh? That happens more often than you’d think.”

“Wait, really? That’s common?”

“Yup, happens all the time.”

Jessica nodded matter-of-factly.

“After this... I bet S.H.I.E.L.D. will show up. I’ll ask the Avengers to take care of him through them.”

“You’re asking the Avengers?”

When I asked, Jessica nodded again.

“Yeah. There’s someone on the team just like him—short-tempered... and green.”

She let out a light chuckle, and I finally felt a sense of relief.

Harry... probably won’t become a villain again.

And now, there are people willing to help him.

Then—it’ll be okay.

As that thought settled in, I heard the whoosh of rotor blades. A helicopter was approaching.

There was a bird-of-prey insignia on the side.

...That’s S.H.I.E.L.D.

“Well, speak of the devil. They’re already here... You can head home now. You’ll get picked up by the cops if a kid your age is caught out this late.”

“Ah, right... yeah.”

Still, I hesitated. Was it really okay to leave all the cleanup to them?

“Rhino’s been captured, so he’s going in. Mysterio’s dead... and the rest got away. I’ll figure out how to explain it all. Just go home.”

“B-but—”

“You owe me one. Next time something happens, I’ll call you. That makes us even.”

Jessica smiled.

“...Come on, get going before someone sees you.”

“Ah—thank you so much! Please tell the others too!”

With that, I left her side and began heading home.

It had been a long, long fight.

...One I couldn’t have resolved on my own.

I was grateful to everyone.

...Though, I still don’t think I’m ready to thank the Punisher.

---

The Next Morning.

I took off my pajamas, got in the shower.

Changed into clothes for going out, styled my hair.

Yawning, I stepped out of my room.

I was only up because it was time for school.

I’d been fighting until late last night, so I barely slept.

I figured maybe I could take the day off—but too many absences and I wouldn’t pass the year.

A moment later, the door to the next room opened.

…There stood Michelle, looking sleepier than ever.

“Morning, Michelle.”

When I said that, she—out of habit—started to raise her right arm, but lifted her left instead.

“Mmm… Morning, Peter.”

She yawned.

…She glanced briefly at her right arm, but it didn’t look like it was injured.

“…Something wrong?”

Michelle looked confused, like she didn’t know what I meant. I just brushed it off and we left the apartment together.

The sky was bright.

A peaceful morning, like any other.

…Though Michelle was scowling up at the sun with contempt.

So I spoke up.

“…You look tired again today.”

“Mmm… Was cleaning up… trash…”

“You really like cleaning, huh?”

She always says she was cleaning. And it’s not like she has to stay up that late doing it.

“There was even a huge spider last night. Total nightmare…”

“Ah… Yeah, the apartment’s kind of a dump.”

I gave a wry smile.

It’s true—our place is old and dirty. Bugs, spiders… you name it.

…Can’t blame her for wanting to clean, especially as a girl living there.

It made sense.

“I even twisted my arm. It was rough.”

“Wait—are you okay?”

I asked, worried, and Michelle held out her right hand, flexing and curling her fingers to show me.

“I’m fine.”

“Well… okay, then.”

As usual, we bought sandwiches together and walked to school.

We passed by the Daily Bugle building.

Still under construction.

The whole thing was wrapped in a giant blue tarp.

I couldn’t hear Jameson’s shouting like I usually did in the morning… and somehow, that made it feel like something was missing.

Apparently, he’d been taken to the hospital.

…The fact that I was actually worried about the guy probably meant I was still half-asleep.

“…Peter, mind if we stop somewhere for a sec?”

Michelle pointed toward a small kiosk.

“Sure, that’s fine.”

We walked over together. There were newspapers displayed in a rack.

Daily Bugle.

On the front page, a big photo of me—well, Spider-Man—was printed.

Correction Notice: Regarding Yesterday’s Report

That was the bold headline.

The article explained that the report claiming I’d killed Norman Osborn had been a mistake.

…Heh. That Jameson.

Publishing a paper the day after all that chaos… he’s seriously an incorrigible journalist.

While I was thinking that, Michelle picked up a copy of the paper.

Then just started walking toward the register.

“…Michelle, do you subscribe to the Bugle?”

“Hm? Not really.”

She handed her money to the half-asleep clerk and walked back outside, the paper in hand.

…She didn’t buy anything else. I guess she really just wanted the newspaper.

“Then why’d you buy the Bugle this time?”

“Because I’m—”

Michelle smiled softly and brought the newspaper up to her mouth, hiding her expression.

“—a Spider-Man fan.”

My heart skipped a beat at the gesture—and I quickly turned away so she wouldn’t see me blushing.

---

“U-Uwah!?”

When I opened my eyes, I was staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling.

Wait.

Wait, wait, wait?

What the hell happened?

…Let me think.

I’m…?

Herman.
Herman Schultz, 24 years old.
Handsome, genius, a bit of a bad boy, and a damn fine guy.
Well—maybe not just “a bit.”

Anyway, yeah.
I remember now.

So, what the hell happened?

I teamed up with that dumbass cosplay squad calling themselves the Sinister Six, jumped Spider-Man…
Then got my ass handed to me by some weirdo in a freaky mask…
Got shot…
Then crashed straight through a building.

Right, yeah.
It’s all coming back to me.

No brain damage—confirmed.

…So then, where the hell is this?

The ceiling and walls were this pale green.
I was lying on a bed.
In front of me—was a mirror.

And reflected in it—me.
All wrapped up in bandages like a damn mummy.

…A hospital?

Who the hell brought me here?

…Anyway, guess I’ll just hit the nurse call button for now.

———

According to the nurse who showed up, this place is a hospital somewhere in Manhattan.
Apparently, I was left abandoned in front of the ER and rushed in right after.

…And yeah, at the time, they said my protectors and gauntlets had already been stripped off me, and I was in nothing but my underwear.

…No doubt about it. Red Cap’s handiwork.
She must’ve taken my gear off to keep anyone from figuring out I’m Shocker.

Still, the thought of some girl, who’s like a whole decade younger than me, stripping me down like that…
God, that’s embarrassing as hell.

…Wait, are they even gonna give me my gauntlets and suit back?

With a sinking feeling in my gut, I glanced around the room.

Then I noticed something by the bed.
A name tag.

But it didn’t have my name on it.

“Jackson Bryce”…?
Who the hell’s that?

“Hey… what’s this supposed to mean?”

I asked the nurse, and she told me—
After I was rescued and listed as unidentified, some guy claiming to be my relative came forward…
And he left proof of my identity behind.

…Sure enough, there was an ID card sitting on the desk.

It had my face on it, but the name read “Jackson Bryce.”
Creepy as hell.

Someone from the organization?
…Nah, I’m not even officially part of Fisk’s crew or anything.
And it’s not like I’ve done that much for them.

No way someone’d go this far for me…

“…Hey, nurse—what kind of guy was this ‘relative’ of mine?”

———

Apparently, she was a girl.
Drop-dead gorgeous blonde hair.
Sky-blue eyes.
Said she was my niece—looked about ten years younger than me.

“…Heh.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity.

Niece, huh?
Who the hell are you calling Uncle, seriously?
I don’t need some scary little girl calling me that.

...Well, it’s not like I hate it or anything.

I happened to notice the vase.

There was a single flower placed inside.

A beautiful orange flower.

I didn’t know its name, but it was blooming nicely.

Apparently, it was from his niece.
She brought just that one flower when she came to visit the hospital.

"...Tch, if she was going to bother visiting, she could’ve at least left some fruit or something."

Fruit’s better than flowers anyway.

Grumbling like that... I still asked the nurse to change the water every day so it wouldn’t wilt.