"When do you plan to move out?" Ben Parker shifted the topic.
Charlie snapped back to the present. "Right now. I already found a place when I came here."
"Seems like you're in a hurry."
"Yeah, the longer I stay, the less I can predict what might happen next."
Charlie spoke as he entered his room and began packing his bags.
"I'll help you," Aunt May said, following him in.
At the bedside, a long, cloth-covered item caught Aunt May's attention.
"What's this?" she asked, reaching out instinctively, but Charlie stopped her.
"You shouldn't touch this."
Charlie put the item into his suitcase and explained, "It's something a friend left behind."
"A good friend?" she inquired.
"Yeah, a friend who'd die for me," Charlie replied seriously.
Before long, Charlie finished packing. He said goodbye to Ben and May before heading out the door, flagging down a taxi at the curb.
Before getting in, he glanced thoughtfully toward Mary Jane's house.
"District 13, Eisen Apartments, please," he instructed the driver, then took out his phone and made a call.
"Vroom"
As the taxi drove away, Ben and May watched from the window, feeling a mix of emotions.
"Charlie's all grown up," Aunt May said, her eyes misty with tears.
Ben draped a jacket over her shoulders and tried to comfort her. "He'll be fine, he knows how to take care of himself. This day was always going to come."
"I know, but..."
May hesitated, then gently leaned against Ben's shoulder.
"In my eyes, he'll always be a child."
...
District 13, Eisen Apartments.
Charlie lugged his suitcase into the elevator.
The 14th floor—considered unlucky by some.
But the realtor had praised it to no end, and the price was just right.
Charlie didn't have time to be picky, so after seeing the photos of the place, he paid the rent without delay.
"Ding~"
The elevator doors opened, and Charlie walked to the door of 1404.
Before he could pull out the key, the door creaked open. A middle-aged man with silver hair greeted him warmly.
"Mr. Parker, you arrived so quickly! I haven't finished cleaning yet," Walter Hardy said apologetically.
"Since when do realtors clean up for tenants?" Charlie asked, confused.
"It's my side gig—comes at an extra cost."
"Ah, the life of a middle-aged man. I get it."
Charlie followed Walter into the apartment. The place was still littered with trash, but the layout matched the photos, and he was reasonably satisfied.
"Please, Mr. Parker, have a seat. I'll finish up quickly," Walter said, gesturing to a clean spot on the sofa. He then called toward another room.
"Felicia, take out the trash, please."
"On it," a young woman's voice replied.
She stepped out with a broom, but when she saw Charlie in his red-and-blue jacket, she gasped in surprise.
"Charlie Parker?" Felicia's expression turned curious.
Walter looked puzzled. "You know each other?"
"I know him, but he probably doesn't know me," Felicia said, turning back to tidying up the trash.
Walter, still confused, turned to Charlie. "Do you know her?"
Charlie shrugged, looking bewildered. "Should I?"
He took a closer look at Felicia, noticing her silver hair despite her young age. It seemed familiar—maybe from the school forum?
Walter noticed Charlie's focus on Felicia's hair and offered, "We're from Denmark. She's my daughter, Felicia Hardy."
Charlie smiled. "I remember now. She's a freshman at Empire State University. Some classmates took photos of her, and she's quite popular with the boys."
Felicia paused her movements briefly upon hearing this.
"And you're popular with the senior girls, Charlie. I've seen your selfies," she replied with a polite smile, then continued with her work.
Charlie frowned, his face darkening. It had been so long—how could people still remember that incident?
Curse you, Norman!
Walter sensed the tension and hurriedly finished cleaning before leaving with his daughter.
After they left, Charlie carried his suitcase into the bedroom.
He found a hidden corner and stowed away the covered spine, then began organizing his clothes.
Walter, Felicia... Could they be...
Charlie thought about it as he finished unpacking.
Seeing that it was about time, he changed jackets and headed downstairs to hail a cab.
Half an hour later, he arrived at Empire State University.
Professor Connors' Lab.
"Oh, Charlie, thank you so much! Oscorp has agreed to continue funding my research, thanks to you! You're my savior!" Professor Connors exclaimed as soon as Charlie entered the lab.
Seeing that Connors seemed in good spirits, Charlie offered a small smile.
"It's really thanks to Harry. He's the one you should be thanking."
"Harry?" Connors paused, confused.
"Yes, it was his idea to fund your research," Charlie explained.
"Oh, I'll have to thank him properly then."
Just as he finished speaking, Connors' assistant interjected, "Harry's on leave. He's not on campus."
"That's too bad. I'll wait until he returns—no, I'll visit him at Oscorp personally," Connors decided, putting on his coat.
"Harry's in the hospital," Charlie reminded him.
"The hospital? Then I definitely need to visit him," Connors said, rushing out the door.
Charlie turned to the assistant. "I'd like to use some of the lab equipment."
"No problem, the professor already gave the go-ahead."
In just half an hour, Charlie produced enough synthetic spider silk and left the lab feeling satisfied.
"Hey, Charlie Parker!"
In the school hallway, a familiar figure blocked his path.
"And you are?" Charlie asked, looking puzzled at the male student in front of him.
"I'm Johnny. Last time, you made me lose my pants in front of everyone!" Johnny said through gritted teeth.
"Oh~"
Charlie suddenly remembered. "Ah, I see. Are you here for revenge?"
"Of course. I've evolved since then. Today, I'm going to embarrass you in front of everyone!" Johnny straightened up, smirking.
Charlie shrugged. "Who cares?"
With that, he turned and started to walk away.
"Don't you dare ignore me!"
In a fit of rage, Johnny flicked his wrist, sending a stream of white web shooting out. But before it could reach him, Charlie easily sidestepped, catching the web in his hand.
Charlie's expression shifted.
This is...?
"What?" Johnny was shocked to see Charlie dodge his attack so effortlessly.
He tried to pull the web back, struggling to free it from Charlie's grasp.
Charlie released the web, causing Johnny to fall back and land on the ground with a thud, groaning in pain.
"Oh, crap..."
As he looked down at the disheveled Johnny, Charlie narrowed his eyes, noticing the purple-red spots on Johnny's hand.
It was the unmistakable mark of a bite from a mutated spider—a mark Charlie knew all too well.
So, this guy is also a Spider-Man?