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Chapter 82: Cry for the Moon – Part 8

I fix my eyes on the man before me—the one with the eyepatch.

So this is 《Nick Fury》.

Director of 《S.H.I.E.L.D.》… the man who implanted the symbiote into Gwen and dragged her into this dangerous world.

Without thinking, my brows knit together.

“Redcap, I’ve been wanting to meet you face-to-face.”

Fury said it just like that.

『I’ve no business speaking with the likes of you.』

Why has someone like him set his eyes on me? I don’t understand. It’s unpleasant.

“…Where’s 《Laura Kinney》? That blood—you got it from Laura, didn’t you?”

『Hmph. If you’re so curious, why don’t you go see for yourself? She should still be lying outside.』

Fury cast a sidelong glance toward the exit. Then he turned his gaze to 《Taskmaster》.

…What is he plotting? I can’t tell.

But it feels like he’s already seeing several moves ahead—an oppressive unease.

Nick Fury’s combat ability isn’t much to speak of… but his intellect, his schemes, his sharp instincts—that’s where the danger lies.

To have him take interest in me—that alone is misfortune. Without a doubt.

Fury’s gaze swung back toward me.

“Now then… you’re after the 《Power Broker》, aren’t you?”

『That’s right. If you interfere—』

“You can have him.”

My brow furrowed beneath the mask before I could stop it.

『…What did you just say?』

“Eh?”

Even 《Ant-Man》 gawked at Fury in shock. …Which means this is Fury’s decision alone?

I glanced sideways at Taskmaster—he stood with arms crossed, watching Fury. Hard to tell what he’s thinking from behind that mask.

But… he doesn’t look surprised. Or maybe he’s just pretending not to be.

“Didn’t you hear me, Redcap?”

『No—I’m questioning your sanity.』

“Ha, I assure you I’m perfectly sane.”

Fury gave a wry smile.

“I know I’ve no chance of winning against you here. So I figured… best to call it even.”

『…………』

Lies. No question about it, lies.

Nick Fury is a man who clings to his ideals, who would gladly throw away his own life for justice.

Handing over a criminal just to save his own skin? Especially after going to such lengths with this entire operation?

Impossible.

He’s got something else in mind.

『What do you say, Taskmaster?』

The words slipped out before I realized it.

Taskmaster hesitated briefly, then spoke.

“It’s wiser to pull out for now. If we linger here any longer… can you hear it?”

I pricked my ears at the question. …Tch. Multiple footsteps.

《S.H.I.E.L.D.》 agents? At the very least, they aren’t our reinforcements.

Maybe Fury’s little “deal” was nothing more than a ploy to stall us for time. …Not a single word from him can be trusted.

I called out to Taskmaster.

『The Power Broker… I’ll carry him.』

While Taskmaster kept wary eyes on Fury and Ant-Man, I lifted the Power Broker into my arms—

Heavy. Unnaturally so, like he’s made of metal. Easily over a hundred kilos.

But I’m a superhuman.

With brute force, I slung him over my shoulder.

“Oooh, what a strong one.”

Ant-Man quipped, fooling around.

Guess seeing me carry someone taller than myself must look unusual to him.

His carefree remark grated on my nerves, but I kept retreating toward the exit, eyes still locked on Fury.

Taskmaster, however, strolled past me without the slightest caution and walked straight toward the exit.

I hurried to follow—

“Redcap.”

Fury’s voice stopped me.

I turned only my face toward him.

“《S.H.I.E.L.D.》 would welcome you. We’d even consider a plea bargain. Quit this line of work—why not join me?”

『…………』

Irritation flared at such an absurd proposal.

『I refuse.』

“…As expected.”

Fury didn’t seem fazed, nodding as if he’d already anticipated my reply.

What is with this man? What is he scheming? Is he mocking me?

And then—

“When the day comes that someone appears to free you… I’ll be there to help.”

He said something like that.

Free me?

Wrong. No such person will ever appear. I’ll keep swimming in this pitch-black mire of a world. That’s my life.

And even if such a person did show up… I wouldn’t take their hand. I couldn’t.

I turned my face away and spoke.

『I… don’t put stock in hope. If you don’t expect anything… you’ll never be disappointed.』

“Is that your philosophy? Or someone else’s words?”

I fell silent.

There was nothing more to say. In fact, I’d already said too much.

I left that place, chasing after Taskmaster who’d already gone outside.

No presence followed behind.


Scott asked me a question.

“Fury, was it really okay? We worked pretty hard to catch that purple guy.”

“It’s fine. I’ve already made preparations.”

“…Oh yeah? Care to share?”

“Impossible.”

Ignoring Scott’s doubts, I kept my eyes on the exit where they had disappeared.

“If you don’t expect anything, you’ll never be disappointed… huh.”

I recalled Redcap’s words.

Cruelly pessimistic words. As if they carried neither dreams nor hope.
And yet—I sensed a flicker of hope within them.

Because deep down, what she truly wants… is to hope.

She claims she cannot expect anything, but she still wants to expect.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said something like that.

Perhaps she herself hasn’t realized it… meaning those words leaked from her unconsciously.

Spontaneous words reveal the truest heart, far more than anything carefully chosen.
That’s what I believe.

She has given up.

But if there were someone—someone she could believe in more strongly than her despair—then maybe… maybe she could be saved.

For that to happen, we must eliminate the malice surrounding her.

Right now, I have neither the means to help her… nor the circumstances to make her want to be saved.

That is my failing.

I must learn more—about her, and about the organization behind her.

And then, I turned back, as figures approached from another entrance.

“You’re late, Sam Wilson… Bucky Barnes.”

Falcon, Sam Wilson, and Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, stood there in a battered state.

Bucky’s left arm—gone from the shoulder down.
Severed with a sharp cut. He carried the detached cybernetic limb under his right arm.

Sam spoke up, irritation clear in his voice.

“You really know how to use people rough, don’t you? We had it tough out there.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I danced with that red assassin girl, then fought some random civilians who turned into alien-like monsters. I’m exhausted… give me a week off.”

Sam spat the complaint like venom.

“You can have it… but hold on. Those alien-like monsters—were they Skrulls?”

“No, just a figure of speech. They were poor bastards forced into transformation by Power Broker’s invention. We tied them up and left them in the tunnel.”

“…I see. If it’s genetic, leave it to Bruce. If it’s mystical… Strange is the best option.”

“Either way. Just don’t treat them like lab rats, alright? They’ve been through enough.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

“What do you take me for?”

“A secretive spymaster who’ll do anything if necessary. A scary director.”

“…I won’t deny that. But I don’t do anything.”

Our conversation paused as I turned my gaze to Bucky.

“Bucky—”

“Barnes. Don’t get too familiar.”

“…Very well. Barnes, what happened to your arm?”

“…A samurai cut it off.”

Bucky scowled as he said it.

I rifled through my mental files. A samurai capable of slicing through vibranium?

Only one comes to mind.

“Silver Samurai, then?”

“How should I know? All I know is, he was silver. So yeah, the name fits.”

Bucky leaned against the wall, his balance thrown off by the missing limb.

His expression was grim, but I ignored it and pressed on.

“Have Wakanda repair it. And the Silver Samurai—what became of him?”

“He escaped. No, call it a draw. I carved him up pretty badly… but as you can see, he took my arm.”

He gestured at the lost cybernetic limb.

“I see… so you’ll be taking a vacation too?”

“Obviously. At least until the arm’s fixed.”

I rubbed my forehead in thought.

Agents on their level—superhuman level—are few and far between.

To fill the gap… perhaps that man I scouted in Egypt recently?
But his actions are governed entirely by his strange religious beliefs—

No. Now isn’t the time for such thoughts.

“…Did you see Laura Kinney outside?”

“Laura… oh, the noisy one? No, didn’t see her—”

A crash interrupted him as the shutter door was kicked in.

All of us immediately turned in caution—then sighed when we saw who it was.

“Sorry, Fury! I’m late, but what’s the situat—”

“Captain. It’s already over.”

There stood Captain America—Steve Rogers.

Completely battered, clothes torn and bloodied. Honestly, it was a miracle he wasn’t already in a hospital bed.

More injured than anyone else here.

No doubt his insides—organs, bones—were wrecked beyond what we could see.

He was moving by sheer force of will alone.

A terrifying thing to witness.

“I see… too late, then.”

With a heavy slump, he slid down against the wall.

…What is this, a field hospital? There are too many wounded in one place.

“Fury… what about her?”

“Redcap is gone.”

“…I see.”

He hung his head, looking utterly dejected.

…To care so deeply for a girl who is not even an ally—no, who is practically an enemy. That is his virtue, I suppose.

But sentiment alone cannot save anyone.
A realistic plan is necessary.

“Fury… from Taskmaster, I managed to… pull out some information… about her.”

“I see.”

I nodded.

How much we can trust Taskmaster, I don’t know.
He is far too unstable—both his memories and his loyalties.

“Fury… once we return to base… let’s put together… a strategy…”

Captain fell silent mid-sentence.

He closed his eyes, his face tilting downward toward the floor.

…He’s lost consciousness.

Scott panicked at the sight.

“Wh-what the hell, Fury!? Captain just—”

“It’s fine. This happens all the time.”

He pushes his body to the very limits… then even beyond those limits… and suddenly collapses as though his strings have been cut.

This isn’t the first time.

“So, wait… that means he’s okay, right?”

“No. Leave him like this, and he’ll die.”

“…Wow. S.H.I.E.L.D. really is a black company, huh?”

I ignored Scott’s nonsense and turned my gaze outward.

S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were carrying Laura away on a stretcher.
The medical team should be arriving any minute now.

The battle was over.
Nothing had been resolved, and yet…

I was certain things were moving toward a better direction.

Even the sky above, shrouded in dark clouds that hid the sun—
I believed that someday, those clouds would clear.

And when they do, the one to sweep them away will be—


『…Taskmaster, you found this car pretty fast.』

I sat in the passenger seat. Taskmaster was behind the wheel.
In the backseat, the Power Broker lay slumped on his side.

Nothing unusual.

After leaving the factory where the deal went down, we just happened to find a van with the doors locked.
…Yes, just happened to.

…But did we really?

In Madripoor of all places, where crime runs rampant—would we really just “happen” to stumble across a locked car?

I eyed Taskmaster with suspicion.
He had chosen this van without hesitation.
As if he already knew it was locked.

Why?

The reasonable conclusion—he had arranged this vehicle ahead of time as a getaway car.
But he never said a word of it.

So I kept watching him with doubt.

Even so, I didn’t believe he would betray us.
Taskmaster was loyal to money.
And he would never betray his employer, the Power Broker—

“Ugh… grh… wh-where… is this…?”

A groan from behind.

I looked back. The Power Broker was coming to.

…A part of me wished he’d stayed dead.
But if he had, the mission would have been marked incomplete. My position would have been compromised.

So I had to welcome this outcome.
Yes… welcome it.

Taskmaster suddenly brought the van to a stop.

Unwillingly, I leaned toward the Power Broker and spoke.

『Are you all right, Power Broker?』

“Of course I’m not all right, you useless worms!”

…Seems he’s fine.

I nearly sighed aloud, but suppressed it.

Taskmaster opened the door and stepped out.

…What’s he doing?

We should be putting as much distance between ourselves and the deal site as possible.
We don’t have the luxury to be standing around.

We need to hurry back to the Power Broker’s base—

The rear door clicked open.
Taskmaster reached inside—

『What are—』

—and grabbed the Power Broker by the legs, yanking him out without care.

“Guh—gah!?”

The Power Broker’s head smacked hard against the pavement, a strangled cry escaping him.

I scrambled out of the passenger door and rushed over.

『What the hell are you doing!?』

Ignoring me, Taskmaster drew his sword.
He aimed it at the Power Broker, who was still too weak to even get up.

Instinctively, I drew a knife, twisting my body so I could throw at any moment.

“What am I doing? My job.”

『Your job…? Your mission was to guard the Power Broker!』

Each time I edged closer, Taskmaster lowered the tip of his blade toward the Power Broker.

A warning. Move any further, and he’d kill him.

“Th-that’s right, Taskmaster…! You dare… betray me—”

“I serve whoever pays the most. If you must resent someone, resent your past self—for deciding my fee.”

That’s when it hit me.

Taskmaster was loyal to money.
That was why I believed he would never betray his employer, the Power Broker.

But if someone else offered a higher price—he would.

And now, it was too late. Even if the Power Broker tried to raise his bid, Taskmaster wouldn’t switch back.
He wasn’t so careless as to return to a man he had already betrayed.

The Power Broker seemed to realize that too.

“D-damn it, Redcap! Help me—kill him!”

“…Well? What’s your move?”

Both of their eyes drilled into me.

The “correct” choice would be to kill Taskmaster here and save the Power Broker.
But Taskmaster… no, the Power Broker… damn it. What’s the right move?

Inside me, a dark wish stirred.
A desire for the Power Broker to die here and now.

Behind my mask, I glared at Taskmaster.

『This betrayal cannot be forgiven. Do you realize what this will do to your standing—』

“When I make decisions, I follow my creed. A single, consistent creed. The rest—outsiders like you—don’t matter.”

His words made me falter.

What I saw before me terrified me—
Not a bluff, not a threat, but a man truly prepared to betray.

He knew what it would mean. Not only the Power Broker, but every organization tied to him would turn against Taskmaster.

It was a path far from peace.

And still, he chose it.

…How could anyone make such a choice?
I never could.

“Y-you’re insane… hurry, save—”

“…Do not interrupt my lecture.”

The blade pressed against the Power Broker.

“Guh—agh—gagghh—”

A sound like flesh melting.
The orange-glowing sword radiated heat as well as light.

『You—!』

I tensed, ready to hurl my knife at Taskmaster—

“Do not waver.”

I was about to throw—

“Choose whichever path you like. But do not waver.”

I aimed—

“It is fine to choose wrongly. But when you stand at the crossroads… do not stand idle.”

…Me…

“Choose by your own will.”

…Me.

『D-damn you!』

I hurled the knife at Taskmaster.

I chose loyalty to the organization.
If he was my enemy—then even if he had once saved me—he would be struck down.

The knife clattered harmlessly away, deflected by his shield.
It spun uselessly through the air.

“That is enough.”

And then his sword—

『Wait—!』

—took the Power Broker’s head.

“But know this. The results of our choices do not always turn out as we wish.”

With a dull thud, the purple head rolled across the ground.

There was no blood.

The shock had stilled the brain, but when my eyes fixed on the severed stump—

What I saw was not flesh.

A metal spine.
A weave of wires.

『A… machine?』

A construct.

The Power Broker I had believed in was not even human.

“…So that’s how it is.”

Taskmaster lifted the head by the hair.

This thing—the one that had tormented us…
The one who had slaughtered those children—

Was only a machine?

Not even human?

Had we been tormented all this time… by a soulless object?

Rage and futility.
Both churned inside me.

『Explain this, Taskmaster!』

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“You stand on that side, don’t you? Then there’s nothing more to teach. Our paths diverge here.”

I understood nothing.
I trusted nothing.

Like a small fish adrift in the ocean, blind to its vastness—
I was lost.

『…I…』

What should I do?

“That car is yours. Go where you will. Think of it as your diploma.”

His mocking words, his smug face—I burned with anger.
But my will to fight had already withered.

The one I was sworn to protect was dead—no, destroyed.
Even if I struck Taskmaster down now, there was nothing to gain.

That was my judgment.
Not because I knew I couldn’t win.

Taskmaster gripped the severed head, then fired a cable from his wrist.
It latched onto a ruined building, hoisting him into the air.

All I could do was glare at him.

“One last thing, before I go.”

From above, his gaze pinned me.

“Even if the path you choose leads to hell… we must keep choosing.”

『What are you saying…?』

“Regret the choice if you must. But—”

He leapt to the skeletal beams of the ruin, framed against the sky, and looked down on me.

“Regret nothing by failing to choose… That’s my final piece of advice.”

『Don’t speak as if you—!』

But Taskmaster didn’t wait for my retort.
He turned and walked away.

And I was left… standing there. Alone.

Nothing.

I understood nothing.

What was I even doing?

What was it I had wanted to do?

My chest tightened.

Right now—
I wanted nothing more than to tear this blood-soaked mask from my face.


I sat at the desk, sorting through the papers. The Madripoor safehouse wasn’t exactly well-kept—a far cry from 《S.H.I.E.L.D.》 headquarters. Though I hadn’t been back there in years.

The dim glow of fluorescent lights—none of them LEDs—lit the room as I got myself ready. On the desk lay my passport. The name read… 《Mercedes Ma──》

“Mercedes.”

The door opened, and a man stepped inside. In his hand… was the severed head of the Power Broker. Startled, I looked closer—and from the cut surface, it was clear: mechanical. The one who had entered was Taskmaster.

Without a word, he strode straight toward me. The head was tossed aside, left on the floor.

“I’ve already packed. All that’s left is for you to—” His arms wrapped around me.

…It caught me off guard. But I didn’t dislike it. What I felt was nostalgia. Though I couldn’t tell what had prompted this sudden gesture, I called out to him.

“What’s wrong?”

“…No, forgive me. I don’t even know myself.”

His hands slipped away, withdrawing from me. A faint loneliness lingered as I turned my eyes back to the Power Broker.

“The mission’s complete.”

“…Yeah.”

I had handed off the mission Fury entrusted me with—to Taskmaster. Of course, he didn’t know Fury was the one behind it. Still… that Power Broker’s head… mechanical?

“That head…”

“Just give it to the client.”

“Understood.”

So, the Power Broker was a machine. An unexpected twist. But inside that head—there had to be memory, or something stored. Information Fury would kill to have. A fortunate surprise, in the end.

I stuffed the last of my things into the bag. The Power Broker’s subordinates still had to be in Madripoor. Even with him dead, his influence lingered. We needed to leave—immediately. Both Taskmaster and I. Papers, bare essentials, weapons for self-defense… and a bundle of cooking notes.

Taskmaster picked up my passport.

“…What is it? We don’t have time to waste.”

“No, forgive me.”

“‘Sorry’ doesn’t tell me anything. Did something catch your eye?”

Taskmaster’s gaze was fixed on my name.

“…《Mercedes Masters》.”

“Yes, that’s right. What about it?”

He spoke my name as if rolling it on his tongue. …Had he remembered? A flicker of hope stirred in my chest—

“…No. Just felt like I’d heard it somewhere before.”

Only to collapse into deep disappointment. I knew. I already knew. That he would never remember. I accepted it. But me—I would never forget him. Even if I were the only one left who remembered 《Tony Masters》.

Careful not to let my thoughts show, I forced a smile.

“…Let’s find another place to work, shall we?”

“Yeah.”

“No matter where we go… there’ll always be work.”

“Yeah.”

His flat replies left me looking away. My eyes fell on the slip of paper peeking out of the bag—one of the recipes. Chicken souvlaki. When things settled down… I’d make it again. That was what I thought.


I polish the wrench.

A dirty tool reflects a disordered mind.

I was down in the basement, putting things in order.

…Redcap. Ever since the bike I’d lent her stopped responding, I’ve been uneasy—no, ah, yeah.

I just wanted to distract myself, so I kept my hands busy.

…Then, the terminal on the desk rang.

The display showed “Unknown Caller.”

I picked it up, removed my mask, and pressed the call button.

“Yes, this is Fix-It. Do you have a reserv—”

『Tinkerer…』

…A man’s voice came through.

I set the wrench in my hand down and focused on the call.

This was not someone I could afford to slight.

“What business do you have with me?”

『The Power Broker has been destroyed.』

At those words, my eyes narrowed.

“Do you want me to repair it?”

『No. I don’t intend to entrust you with that much… Besides, I’ve tested everything I needed to here. It’s no longer necessary.』

“…I see, I see.”

I tried to guess what he was getting at… but couldn’t.

And if the Power Broker had been destroyed… that meant… what of the woman guarding it? My anxiety spiked again.

『What I want to discuss is Redcap.』

“That’s…”

『How is its training coming along? It doesn’t seem particularly obedient.』

“No, no—she would never betray us.”

I almost clicked my tongue.

But if he was saying this much, it meant she was alive. That much at least eased my worries.

“And besides, she—”

『Tinkerer.』

He cut me off.

『I am speaking to you as the one who governs the organization Unseelie Court, and to you as one of its executives.』

My face twisted into a grimace.

Not even she knows… about my true work.

Work so vile it makes me sick to admit it.

『It was you who released the collar, in an attempt to integrate that thing into society.』

“…Yes, that’s true.”

『So the responsibility lies with you, doesn’t it?』

“Yes. Yes, it does.”

If she were ever to be blamed… I’d take it in her place.

I was already prepared for that.

『…Tinkerer. I hold you in high regard. There are few capable of wielding the technology I have imparted.』

I averted my gaze… to the machines all around the room, inventions far ahead of their time.

『That is why this is a warning. Adjust it so that it becomes a compliant tool.』

“…Yes. I understand.”

『The refinement of the necessary missions—I leave all of that to you.』

My throat felt dry.

『Whatever you do… do not betray my expectations.』

“Yes, of course… I’ll make sure of it.”

『…Do not trouble me again.』

A moment later, the call cut off.

The monotonous electronic tone droned from the terminal—

“Damn it!”

I hurled the device to the floor.

“Haa… haa…!”

I breathed raggedly, glaring at the terminal lying on the floor.
Not a single scratch on it.

Of course—I'd made it myself, special-built. Something like that wouldn’t damage it.

And yet, the fact that the device bore not even a mark… felt like it was mocking my own powerlessness. It sickened me.

I had to control my emotions.
Suppress the anger.
Smile.

Forcing the corners of my mouth upward, I looked into the mirror.

It’s fine. I can still smile.
I’ll be fine.

Then I sealed the mask back into place.

…Picking up the fallen terminal, I switched over to the work line.
From the contacts list, I selected “Redcap” and placed the call.

After a few rings, her ragged breathing reached my ears.

“Hey—thought you might be in trouble. If you’d like, I can come pick you up?”

I am the Fairy Tinkerer.
A dutiful sprite who supports her princess from the shadows.
No matter what happens… that’s my role.

A cursed fairy who hides his own vile core behind the mask.


Slurp.

I, Laura Kinney, was sipping my drink.
At a café.

It had been a few days since the brawl in Madripoor.
My wounds had healed—thanks to my healing factor.

And across the table from me was—

“I’m not mad, really.”

—Gwen Stacy.

The fact that I’d extracted information from her and used it to sneak into Madripoor… yeah, she’d found out.

Probably Fury’s fault.

That’s why I’d come here to apologize.
I figured, worst case, she might cut ties with me altogether—but—

“Really?”

“Yes. If I’d been in your shoes… I think I’d have done the same.”

She was far more forgiving than I’d expected.

“I’m sorry.”

“‘Thank you’ would be better.”

“…Then—thank you.”

When I bowed my head, she smiled.
…and I took another sip of my drink.

We drifted into some idle chatter.

“Wait, Laura… you’re heading back already?”

“Yeah. To the ‘Jean Grey School’… uh, it’s a school for mutants.”

…Ah.

That reminded me—I'd heard the headmaster was furious.
Great. Not something I wanted to remember.

I didn’t feel like going back… but that place is my home.
Having a place to return to—that’s something to be grateful for.
So I had to go.

“Is it far?”

“Massachusetts.”

Gwen’s face softened into a slightly lonely look.

“Come on, it’s not like this is goodbye forever. We can still keep in touch over email, right?”

“True… but still.”

“Then you don’t have to look so down about it, right?”

When I said that, Gwen nodded.

…She might look dry and detached on the surface, but I guess she’s actually more sentimental than I thought.
That’s one of the reasons I’m glad we became friends.

…It made me want to tease her a little.

“Gwen, or is it that I’m your only female friend?”

“Wh–what? N–no… I’ve got one.”

Just one, huh…

“What’s she like?”

“Hmm…”

Gwen crossed her arms, thinking.
Then she pulled out her phone and showed me a photo.

A platinum blonde girl with blue eyes.
…She was stunningly beautiful.

“Oh, this girl?”

“Yeah. Her name’s Michelle.”

I nodded as I looked at the picture.
…Wait.

Her mouth looked oddly familiar—

“She may look like this, but she’s actually pretty cute sometimes…”

I stopped my thoughts there.

“Cute? You don’t mean her appearance?”

“No, she’s kind of an airhead.”

Gwen went on about her.

Naïve about the world, a sweet tooth, kind to others, and good at her studies.

Wow—she was really laying it on thick.

I hadn’t thought Gwen was the type to gush about people like that.
It just showed how much she liked her.

My drink was empty.

“Well, I guess I should get going.”

When I stood up, Gwen spoke.

“…See you.”

“Yeah. I’ll be back. I’ll definitely come back here.”

I placed money on the table.
…Enough to cover her share, too.

It was my way of apologizing… and maybe she sensed that pointing it out would be in poor taste, because she accepted it without a word.

Leaving the café near Avengers Tower, I headed for the bus stop.

I could’ve walked to the station, but I was a little tired.

And as I was walking—

“Ah.”

I spotted a familiar face in the distance.

Peter Parker.
Gwen’s friend.

I started toward him, about to call out—then noticed someone standing right beside him.

It was the girl from the photo earlier.
Michelle, was it?

She’d looked expressionless in the picture, but standing next to him she was smiling.

The two of them were laughing together, looking like they were really enjoying themselves.
It was obvious they were close.

…Wouldn’t want to interrupt.

I turned on my heel and quietly walked away.

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