Chapter 55: Birthday Song - Part 2
I was hanging my head in front of my shabby apartment.
The sky was red.
The sun was tilting westward.
It cast an orange glow over the cityscape of New York.
But despite such a beautiful view—
Today had been just awful.
While I was out on a pizza delivery run, I ran into a bank robber wearing some flying insect-themed armor... ended up fighting him as Spider-Man... the pizza got smashed, and I lost my job.
And thanks to that fight the other day, my smartphone broke, and now I need money to buy a new one.
Even working part-time under the now fully recovered J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle... I barely earn anything.
And I can't bring myself to ask Aunt May for money... Ned’s already borrowing from me as we speak, so I can't ask him either.
I sighed again.
Spider-Man works purely as a volunteer.
Whether it's for the rich, the unfortunate, office workers, the homeless, pregnant women, or kids—
He lends a hand equally to all as their “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.”
That’s the motto.
But that also means I have less time for part-time work than other kids my age... and fixing my suit or making new web fluid costs money.
In other words—I’m broke.
If a pile of money just happened to fall from the sky right now... well, I doubt I’d sneak it into my pocket… someone out there probably needs it more.
I rubbed my stomach.
...I want to eat something.
But I have to be frugal.
Without a phone, I’m in real trouble—I can’t even contact my friends.
Even getting a temporary replacement costs money… and if I can’t pay the initial fee, I can’t even start a payment plan.
…Heck, I hadn’t even finished paying off the last phone yet.
The more I thought about it, the deeper I felt myself sinking.
I cut off my train of thought and opened the apartment door—
“Ah…”
Our eyes met—Michelle’s and mine.
She was dressed for summer, in a white, frilly, off-shoulder top… and hot pants.
She had sandals on, showing off her legs without a hint of hesitation.
She had a different kind of charm compared to Gwen.
You could call her… slender.
There was a clean, effortless kind of beauty to her.
For a second, I was completely taken aback—
Then our eyes met again.
“…What are you doing, Peter, just standing there?”
“Haha… uh… let’s say I’m lamenting the absurdity of the world?”
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Michelle gave me a puzzled look and furrowed her brow.
“What about you, Michelle? …From the looks of it, heading out?”
“Yeah. Going out to eat.”
“Heh…”
…My stomach was about to growl, so I tightened my abs and forcibly silenced it.
There’s some rolls I bought from the local supermarket sitting in my room.
No raisins, no butter—just plain bread.
They’re cheap, come in a big pack, and taste… decent enough.
…I was really starting to get hungry.
Didn’t even have lunch.
I figured I’d go back to my room and eat some bread, so I started to walk past Michelle—
“Want to come with me, Peter?”
She invited me.
I remembered how much cash I had left.
How many days were left until payday.
…And while debating whether to decline—
“Thanks. I’ll go.”
In the end, I chose to go with her.
I mean… if the girl you like invites you out, a guy’s gotta say yes, right?
…Haah.
Guess I’ll try to get some free sandwich crusts from the usual shop tomorrow...
I walked beside Michelle and we started moving.
…Because no meal tomorrow could replace this bit of happiness right now.
No regrets.
New York City.
The old Stark Tower… or rather—
“So this is the ‘Avengers Tower,’ huh.”
This was the training site Nick Fury had designated.
They call it “Avengers Tower,” but in reality, it’s more like a S.H.I.E.L.D. operations base.
So, non-hero staff also go in and out.
I held up the ID Fury gave me and scanned it at the gate.
These days, IDs double as IC cards too.
“Let’s see… 8th floor.”
I pressed the elevator button and waited a bit.
…While waiting, I used the mirror inside to tidy up my hair a little.
Today was the day for emotional control training, just like Fury said.
The instructor was Dr. Bruce Banner.
Incidentally, I’d never met him. No idea what kind of person he is.
“Please let him be as gentle as possible.”
I mean, Nick Fury’s a secretive, harsh, stubborn, brooding lecture machine.
As I prayed, the elevator arrived.
The doors opened, and I walked down the hallway.
…No one was around.
Though occasionally, I’d see someone in a lab coat—probably a scientist.
No—definitely a scientist.
As I continued down the hallway, I saw a room with “Bruce Banner” written on the door.
This is it.
I took a deep breath, reached out to knock—
And the door opened automatically.
…The sensor must’ve picked up my hand.
“Ah—whoa…”
My hand swiped through the air as the door opened on its own, and I stumbled forward into the room.
Inside were... a bunch of things I didn’t really understand, but they looked like high-tech computers... along with floating holograms projected into the air.
And then there were also hand-drawn schematics posted on metal boards.
...How should I put it? The whole place gave off this serious, no-nonsense atmosphere—like making any noise would be inappropriate—and it made me even more nervous.
Deeper inside, I could see light... and hear movement.
“E-Excuse me...”
I stepped into the room and walked toward the back.
And there I saw—a middle-aged man eating tacos.
He was wearing a lab coat messily, with undyed white hair.
Short hair, unshaven, with a lazy stubble.
...Was this Dr. Bruce Banner?
Thinking that, I stepped closer to speak to him—
『Mama... that person is really scary.』
Gwenom’s voice trembled.
Gwenom, who never once flinched before a killer robot or a psycho in a high-tech armored suit, was afraid.
I gasped.
...Maybe it was the sound of my footsteps, but Dr. Banner turned toward me.
Taco still in his mouth.
Our eyes met for just a second.
“Eh? …Gk—cough cough...”
Dr. Banner swallowed his taco the wrong way, started coughing, and quickly grabbed some water.
“Um... Gwen Stacy?”
“Y-Yes. That’s me, Gwen.”
I nodded, but... with Gwenom so visibly shaken, I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.
“Huh? Didn’t I say six o’clock today? It’s still five...”
Dr. Banner checked the clock.
...5:55 PM.
He placed his taco on the desk and gave a surprised "Ah!"
“C-Crap... I must’ve lost track of time while working and eating at the same time.”
“H-Haha...”
He was more... scatterbrained than I’d expected. Kind of sloppy, really. I couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly.
“So... I’ve got five minutes left, and I’m still eating dinner—mind if I finish up? I’m meeting someone too.”
“Ah, sure... go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
With that, Dr. Banner resumed eating his tacos.
He was rushing through them now.
But... a meeting?
So there’s someone else joining this training session?
…They didn’t tell me anything about that.
A bit of awkward silence followed... well, I felt awkward at least.
Dr. Banner didn’t seem to mind in the slightest.
How do I put this... he’s definitely the laid-back type.
From just these last few minutes, I could tell—he really moves at his own pace.
Maybe that’s the secret to controlling your emotions?
As I was thinking about that, the lab door opened again.
“Excuse me, Dr. Banner. Looking forward to working with you again to—”
The person who walked in was—
“…Harry?”
“G-Gwen-san?”
It was Harry Osborn.
The very same Harry Osborn—son of Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, and the reason I ended up in this whole situation in the first place.
He used to visit me often while I was in the hospital... and he was a genuinely good person, so I don’t hold any grudges against him now.
But still—what’s he doing here?
“Huh? You two know each other?”
Dr. Banner didn’t seem to have planned to introduce us—it must’ve just been coincidence.
Which can only mean one thing...
“...Fury.”
That secretive, scheming jerk... he really could’ve just told me.
I cursed Nick Fury under my breath.
He never tells you anything unless absolutely necessary.
“Gwen-san, what are you doing here...? I mean—are you even okay? Physically, I mean...”
Harry looks confused.
Ah, right.
I hadn’t told him yet—
That I’d bonded with the symbiote and could walk again.
But more importantly...
“Harry, why are you here…?”
Why is Harry in Avengers Tower?
Only Avengers or people affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D. should be able to get in here.
I took my eyes off the bewildered Harry and turned to Dr. Banner.
“Um, there's a lot to catch up on... Would it be alright if we talked for a bit?”
“Of course… But I had no idea you knew Harry.”
“Haha…”
Surprised that Dr. Banner spoke so familiarly about Harry, I pulled Harry aside toward a corner of the room.
It wasn’t something that could be summed up with a “long story short.”
We had a lot to talk about—
To share the major things that had happened to each of us.
I can’t look Peter in the face.
Whenever I do, my face gets all hot.
My heart races.
And—
…I feel crushed by an overwhelming sense of guilt.
So this definitely isn’t love.
Peter and I came to the same Thai restaurant we’d visited before.
This time, reflecting on our last mistake—ordering that insanely spicy salad—we asked the waiter for a dish that wasn’t spicy.
…It looked fiery red, but it really wasn’t that spicy.
I steal a glance at Peter sitting across from me.
Our eyes meet… and I quickly look away.
He looks a little sad when I do.
That makes me feel really sorry, and—
Honestly, I wish I could just act normal around him.
But I can’t.
Because my admiration—like, my idol, if you will—
If he… If he ever showed feelings toward me?
And that’s without even seeing the worst parts of me.
…I’m not a good enough person to be someone you could have feelings for.
That’s what I want to say.
…But it’s not because I want to make Peter sad.
I roll a cherry tomato in front of me.
Unable to bear the silence, I finally speak.
“By the way, Peter… I heard your birthday’s coming up.”
“Hm? Oh, yeah. It’s on the 10th of this month…”
“Mine’s on the 11th.”
“Oh, really…? That’s—wow, what a coincidence.”
I can tell Peter’s trying to force the conversation to keep going.
…But I do want to talk to him, like always, so I appreciate that effort.
“And Gwen said… we should throw a birthday party.”
“…For Michelle?”
“For me and you. A joint one…”
“I see… That’s… nice, I guess.”
Peter looked like he was thinking something over.
…Not sure what, though.
While I was blankly watching him, he spoke again.
“…Once summer break’s over, we’ll be seniors, right?”
“Yeah… but?”
I didn’t get where he was going with this, so I asked.
“I think… we’ll probably have fewer chances to hang out like this.
Because we’ll all start heading toward different futures.”
I nodded at Peter’s words.
…No matter how close you are—
Different schools, work… After graduation, people go their separate ways.
Even if it’s not like we’ll never see each other again, the chances will definitely decrease.
…If we were just normal students.
“That’s why, when we do get the chance to hang out, I’m really glad.”
“…Yeah.”
I nodded too.
Ah, I see now.
The reason Peter suddenly… started approaching me over the summer—
It was because if we stayed just friends, we’d end up seeing each other less.
So… he wanted to change that.
He wanted us to become something more—like, lovers.
…That must mean Peter really, r-r-really likes me, huh?
My cheeks grew warm.
“…Michelle?”
I looked away again, and Peter gave me that troubled expression.
…That’s not the kind of face I want him to make.
I forced myself to turn back and meet his gaze.
Am I making a weird face right now?
I worry about that… but still, I look at him.
And yet, just seeing his face completely throws me off.
“What do you want to do after high school, Peter?”
So I kept the conversation going, just to cover up how flustered I was.
“After graduation? Uh, I’m thinking about going to college.”
“Where?”
“Empire State University, maybe.”
Empire State University… That’s a college in New York.
It’s not too far from where we live now.
And even while doing the whole Spider-Man thing, he’s also been preparing for college entrance exams.
I genuinely admire that.
While I was thinking that, Peter opened his mouth—
“What about you, Michelle? What do you want to do in the future?”
He threw the question back at me.
The future?
What I want to do?
“I just… want to stay with everyone.”
…With Gwen, and Ned, and Peter.
I want to stay with them forever.
Joking around like idiots.
Dressing up and having fun.
Eating delicious food.
And saying, “That was so good,” afterward.
Even if it’s a dream that’ll never come true.
Right now, the fact that I even get to be a student feels like a miracle.
Someone in the organization had a random idea to hide me at this high school.
But once I graduate… I won’t be “Michelle Jones” anymore.
When Peter heard what I said, he smiled a little.
“That’s… how I feel too. But I meant, like, about after graduation…”
“After graduation…? Then—”
Dreams and reality begin to split apart.
I’m not a naïve, dreamy girl. I’m a realist.
I’m far too tainted—body and soul—to allow myself to dream.
So—
“I’ll probably be working.”
I can’t run away from reality.
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