"I don't like them."
Venom delivered his sharp review of the Midtown High girls' band. While on a routine patrol over Manhattan, Peter responded helplessly, "I told you, you should have hidden. You can't stand music anyway."
"I can stand music. I like John Denver."
"Yeah, well, you can't stand rock music."
Gwen and MJ's band played straight rock, and a symbiote like Venom was basically a goner if he heard them play. The volume and style of the music would send him into a state of near-death for half a day.
That's why—
"I don't like them. I don't like any of them."
"Okay, okay, so next time something like this happens, you better hide. You have to stay away from loud car horns and rock concerts."
"Do not choose a mate from among them. I do not like them."
Huh? How did the conversation get here? Are you sober, Venom?
"That black-haired female is very good. She trusts you and is very quiet."
"I'd rather not hear you talk about this. Let's focus on the patrol."
Peter swung through the city, but Venom didn't let up. He continued to chatter.
"That silver-haired one is also good. Although she doesn't completely trust you, she likes me—or at least, she likes you when you're wearing me."
Peter sighed helplessly.
"Even if I wanted to choose someone, it's my business. Why are you getting involved?"
"We are partners."
But I'm the one looking for a girlfriend, not you. Peter grumbled to himself as he swung past a giant billboard for the Daily Bugle. Sure enough, J. Jonah Jameson was once again spouting his "Spider-Man is a menace" theory.
"Since Fisk was sent to prison, we've seen that New York's crime rate has not decreased; it has actually risen. What does this prove? It proves that Spider-Man and his friends acted without a proper plan to deal with New York's crime situation! The arrest of one so-called 'crime lord' was of no help to New York! It's possible that Fisk wasn't even a root cause of New York's crime in the first place!"
Jameson leaned into the camera, spitting at the audience.
"Spider-Man always calls himself New York's friendly neighborhood hero, but what's the reality? He's always putting his neighbors in danger!"
"Actually, New York just has some dangerous neighbors, Jameson. But whatever, I know you're a good guy, so I'll let it slide for now."
Just as Peter finished speaking, a call came in. To his surprise, it was Mary Jane. He answered, and her voice was a little incoherent.
"Oh my God, Peter, you won't believe what just happened…"
"Sounds like something really good happened, right?"
Standing outside the Daily Bugle's studio, Mary Jane smiled and nodded. Something had just happened that would change her life.
"Remember how you suggested I write about the Rhino instead of the interview? J. Jonah saw my report on the Rhino, and you can't imagine how happy he was!"
"Wait, happy?"
Peter landed on a large billboard, a little confused. "Are you sure J. Jonah Jameson was happy?"
"It sounds strange, but it's true. J. Jonah cheered and stood up, and he introduced me to Robbie, the editor-in-chief, and everyone else around him."
When Jameson realized a journalist dared to uncover the truth and discuss social issues, he was so impressed and proud of his company and his new employee that he immediately decided to change the Daily Bugle's broadcast for the day. He dedicated several minutes to telling the Rhino's story. He also announced that he would sponsor Mary Jane until she graduated college. If she chose to major in journalism or communications, the Daily Bugle would hire her directly—as long as J. Jonah Jameson was still the boss.
"He said that in this day and age, it's becoming harder and harder to find a journalist who is willing to report impartially instead of just intentionally stirring up people's emotions. He said that if I stick with it, I might become a great investigative journalist."
Peter naturally offered his congratulations.
"Congratulations."
Mary Jane was silent for a few seconds before her voice became a little... reserved?
"Thanks. I mean, thanks for suggesting I report on the Rhino. None of this would have happened without you, Peter. Thank you."
"No, no, no, you made the choice, didn't you? I just told you about it. You were the one who decided to drop the interview and write about the Rhino instead." Peter didn't take credit. After all, it was Mary Jane who had written the report and given it to J. Jonah Jameson.
"Speaking of which…" Mary Jane's voice trailed off a bit. Looking at J. Jonah Jameson in the studio, who was holding her report and his own article, she smiled and asked Peter, "You still owe me a dinner. Are you free tonight?"
"Huh? Oh, sure. You pick the restaurant? I should be free tonight."
"Are you busy?"
"Not really. There might be some emergency at the lab."
"Oh, right. I forgot you're an intern at the Baxter Building. I'll text you the restaurant location later."
After Peter hung up the phone, Venom once again offered his sharp review.
"That red-haired one? I don't like her either."
"Yeah, yeah. Who do you like?"
"She also plays rock music. It is very noisy."
Peter put his phone away and looked at J. Jonah Jameson on the giant screen. Having finished his daily rant about Spider-Man, he moved on to the next report: "In an era where superheroes and supervillains perform like circus clowns, most people only focus on their fights and ignore who they really are. For example, why does a bad person become a bad person?"
"I can't deny that a significant number of bad people are born evil. They are psychopaths who seek to commit crimes. But some supervillains are products of our society itself. Take Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich, codenamed the Rhino. An ethnic Russian who underwent painful body modification to achieve bulletproof skin. He became the Rhino not because he was a fearsome gangster or a psychopath, but because no one but the villains extended a helping hand to him…"
As always, J. Jonah Jameson's furious rant reminded the city of the truly valuable work a journalist could do. Peter listened to Jameson's broadcast for a while, and Venom didn't say a word. Finally, Peter stood up to leave.
"Sometimes, a little noise can lead to good things, can't it?"