MM Racing Chapter 22, look at that spider.
Chapter 22, look at that spider.
Chapter 22, look at that spider.
"Oh, the HR at the Daily Bugle is up really early." As Peter Parker walked to the school gate, the morning light slanting across the asphalt, he opened his phone and looked at the internship resume he had sent out, along with a somewhat unexpected rejection message: "Um... they said they don't need me for this position. Maybe I'm too late, and they've already found someone. I was planning to use my salary to buy costumes for the theme day before Homecoming."
"Even if you got the job, you wouldn't be getting paid this month, would you?"
"I was planning to get an advance on a month's salary."
Gwen couldn't help but roll her eyes at Peter, her blond hair whipping in the sunlight. "You're using your first day's salary to buy a superhero cosplay outfit? Good thing your resume didn't pass, otherwise, if the interviewer asked you, 'How does your passion for journalism manifest itself?' you'd have to answer, 'I can get discounted Spider-Man merchandise!'"
"Why Spider-Man?"
"Everyone knows Jameson likes Spider-Man and criticizes him on TV every day."
Peter wasn't concerned about Jameson and Spider-Man's affairs, and simply said helplessly, "Then I won't be able to participate in the theme day activities this year."
"You can also participate in the homecoming activities; I guess you probably don't have a dance partner..."
"Hey! Gwen!" The redhead bumped into Gwen like a flame, greeting her happily. It was at this moment that Mary Jane noticed Peter: "Hi, Peter, it feels like the first time I've seen you and Gwen going to school together?"
"I usually get up quite early, so... how's the part-time job at the Daily Bugle? Any news?"
"That's great," Mary Jane said, dismissing Gwen. "They gave me an interview opportunity. Maybe I really can become an intern at the Daily Bugle?"
"I believe you will pass the interview. Good luck, Mary Jane."
After Peter smiled and said goodbye, Gwen gave Mary Jane a light elbow nudge, leaving the latter bewildered. Then, after Gwen whispered something in her ear, Mary Jane finally understood what had happened.
"I didn't mean to. Should I apologize?"
"No need, after all, it was him who raised the question. I'm just reminding you to be careful."
Peter paid no attention to these things and walked toward his locker, while the large screen next to him continued to play the news program arranged by Midtown Middle School as always.
"Recently, Wakanda has experienced political turmoil. Following the death of former King T'Chaka, the White Apes, a minority faction within Wakanda, launched multiple armed attacks, plunging the country into chaos. The newly appointed King T'Challa of Wakanda stated that the White Apes' attacks were influenced and supported by external forces, and that they are illegally mining vibranium on a large scale in Wakanda..."
While listening to international news, Peter put his backpack into the closet. He only had two suits: one was severely damaged from fighting the horrors and carrying the bridge and hadn't had time to repair it, and the other was the one he had brought with him.
He had just closed the cabinet door when he heard Harry's funny shouts.
"Exterminate——"
"I'm not a doctor, Harry."
Peter turned to look at Harry, who was holding a robot doll that resembled a pepper shaker with an egg beater and a toilet peg stuck on it. Harry said, "What do you think? On the first day of themed day, I dressed up as a Dalí and ran around the whole school shouting 'annihilation!'"
Is Doctor Who considered a superhero?
"What could be more of a superhero than Doctor Who? He didn't even use any superpowers, but rather his scientific knowledge and his love for life to save the universe, again, again, and again!"
Looking at his good friend, who had transformed into the mysterious Again guy, Peter hugged the book and asked, "Then why don't you pretend to be a doctor?"
"I think you or Amadeus are more suitable; you're both smarter than me."
"You can also play a mage."
"If I dress up as a wizard, then we'll become two men in suits instead of Doctor Who and his alien enemies," Harry said, pulling out an old Doctor Who sonic screwdriver accessory. "No need for much cosplay costs. Just find some old suits your family members don't wear anymore, and you can always put together a suitable set. How about it, Dr. Peter?"
Peter smiled sheepishly as he watched his good friend effortlessly resolve the issue of not being able to have an extra meal on the theme day because of his costume.
"Harry, I... thank you."
"Don't mention it, I'm actually looking forward to seeing you interact with Daleki using the sonic screwdriver. Hey, Amadeus, are you planning to participate in the themed day? You and Peter can dress up as different doctors!"
"I have my own way."
Amadeus got excited talking about superhero costumes: "I'm going to put on an oversized lab coat, a pair of glasses, change my hairstyle, and I'll be all set!"
Harry felt an indescribable confusion.
"What's that? Grandpa Rick?"
"Bruce Banner! Dude! Hulk!"
This was the first time either Peter or Harry had seen Amadeus so excited. Peter knew that Amadeus had been the Hulk for a time in the 616 comic universe, but he never expected that someone his age would be so obsessed with the Hulk.
"...So, what should Doctor Who do?"
"You guys can handle it. This show is too niche; people will easily think it's for nerdy guys."
Amadeus left happily after saying that, and Harry watched his departing figure for a while before muttering, "Does he know he's the most nerdy of the three of us?"
"Yeah, just like Bruce Banner before he transformed."
After composing himself, Peter and Harry went to class together. But it seemed like all the bad luck had piled up at once today; they hadn't walked far when they heard that familiar, annoying laughter, accompanied by girls' screams.
Peter looked over and saw a frightened girl crouching there crying, the culprit being none other than Cal King, whom Peter knew well. Cal King laughed and put the scary prop back in his pocket. Turning around, he saw Peter and frowned.
"This has nothing to do with you, Parker, get out of here."
"Have you stooped so low as to bully girls? I thought you were looking forward to having a good match with the school's big guys in the homecoming football game."
Upon hearing this, Cal King smiled, leaned closer to Peter, and asked with a hint of provocation, "And you, skinny Parker? Dare to participate in Homecoming football and give me a good run for my money?"
It's clear that although Cal King got beaten up by Peter, he didn't think Peter was at fault. He simply felt that he wasn't good at fighting, but he was quite confident when it came to football.
"No, I don't even know the rules. Goodbye, Carl. Don't let me see you bullying your classmates again."
Saying goodbye, Peter remained motionless, clearly letting Karl say goodbye. Karl King couldn't help but scoff and left. As he left, he didn't forget to throw in a threat: "Remember this, Parker, you're the kind of guy who wouldn't dare challenge me on the court!"
Harry looked at Peter's nonchalant expression with surprise: "I thought you would finally agree to his offer."
"I'd like to too, but I really don't know anything about rugby. I don't even know the rules, how am I supposed to play? Let alone rugby, I don't even know the rules of soccer, basketball, badminton, or even table tennis. I'll go check on that girl."
So Peter left Harry completely bewildered.
"Why 'not even knowing how to play table tennis'? Does everyone have to know how to play table tennis?"
While Harry was still wondering what pool had to do with it, Peter had already comforted the girl and left. Harry then realized, "Not bad, a hero saving a damsel in distress. Except she might not even be interested in you."
"I'm not thinking about these things. I just think I should check on it, even if it's not a big deal, just in case..."
What can it protect against?
Peter himself didn't know.
After leaving, Cal King pulled out the thing he used to scare the girl from his pocket. It was a spider, or more precisely, a spider specimen. Six months earlier, at the Osborn Science Fair on the eve of his junior high graduation, Cal King had discovered the radiant spider that had escaped from the display case and placed it on the back of Peter Parker's neck.
He witnessed firsthand Peter Parker screaming in agony after being bitten by the spider. He even considered taking the spider home to keep as a pet, so he could release it to bite anyone he didn't like someday. However, after Peter Parker swatted the spider away, it was inexplicably stepped on and killed, so it was made into a specimen and brought out to scare people.
If Carl had known what this spider was, he certainly wouldn't have so casually tossed it onto someone.
Similarly, if Peter had learned more about Spider-Man's enemies in his previous life, and instead of always focusing on the classic villains that might appear, he would have known how much trouble Kal-King could have caused him.
(End of this chapter)