Very quickly.
After finishing the conversation, the three stood up from the sofa, said goodbye to Lady Snow, and walked out of Lady Snow's office.
Gwen glanced at Hawk beside her.
"Do you need me to take you to the bio-energy department later?"
"No need, I can go by myself."
Hawk said, then without pausing, shouldered his bag, and walked out of the office building.
Time isn't on his side.
The afternoon classes were about to start, and he needed to shower at the gym first.
Peter, who walked out of Lady Snow's office with the two, watched Hawk's departing back.
Hmm.
Watching intently.
Gwen, who had been observing quietly, suddenly spoke.
"Peter!"
"...Ah!"
Peter's eyes, somewhat confused, looked at Gwen who called him, his pupils quickly focusing, then he snapped back to reality: "Gwen?"
Gwen smiled slightly: "It's nothing. By the way, are you going to this year's prom?"
Peter smiled awkwardly: "Sorry, I might not be able to attend."
If Hawk didn't attend the prom because he had no money and no date, Peter didn't attend simply because he had no date.
But the reason Hawk had no date was because he was too lazy to find one.
If he wanted to, with his looks, build, and the aura from years of boxing, it would be easy for him to find a female classmate willing to be his date.
Peter simply couldn't find a date.
To be precise, Peter insisted on hanging himself on Mary Jane's tree.
Mary Jane, Peter's neighbor, is also an eleventh-grade student.
Perhaps Peter thought nobody knew about his secret crush on Mary Jane, but actually, most were already aware.
After all, nobody was blind, and under such circumstances, no girl would agree to become Mary Jane's substitute for Peter.
And the real Mary Jane wouldn't accept Peter's invitation to the prom.
Peter didn't want to go alone either and watch his dream goddess dance with another man at the prom.
Gwen wasn't surprised by Peter's response.
Since she's friends with Mary Jane, as soon as the prom was confirmed, Mary Jane had already registered herself and her date.
Harry Osborn.
Hmm.
Very much fitting Mary Jane's boyfriend criteria all along.
Gwen thought, but didn't say more, after getting Peter's answer, she nodded and turned to leave.
However…
After turning to leave, Gwen seemed to remember something, instinctively turned her head to look back.
Peter stood in place, gazing in the direction Hawk had just left, looking rather absorbed.
A few days later.
Enthusiastic cheers suddenly erupted at Midtown High School.
Vacation time, vacation time, the long-awaited summer vacation for students had finally arrived.
"L, have you planned your summer schedule?"
"Yeah, heading to Hawaii."
"Tom and I are planning to go to Slovakia."
"Hiss, Slovakia, haven't you seen the news?"
"What?"
"Wasn't there news last week about tourists going missing in Slovakia?"
"Fake news, besides, Tom and I are so strong, what could possibly happen."
With the arrival of vacation, students gathered in groups, happily discussing and sharing holiday plans while heading towards the parking lot.
Cars started one after another, and in no time, the whole of Midtown High School seemed to empty out.
The noises that once filled the campus were gone.
Except for the rhythmic sound of striking heard from the old gym.
About ten minutes later.
The strikes ceased.
Hawk stood in place, adjusting his breath, and looked down, unwrapping the bandages around his hands.
Even though his bare hands could now hit steel panels without turning red, the habit of over a thousand days continued, so he still wrapped bandages while boxing.
As Hawk was removing the bandage, his brows furrowed.
Next moment.
A voice came from behind.
"This gym is supposedly going to be turned into a swimming pool next semester."
"...Peter."
Hawk turned to look, noticing Peter, who bore a striking resemblance to Maguire, standing not far away: "It's not supposedly, it's truly happening."
Peter smiled silently.
Another reason Hawk liked the First Generation Spider Spirit.
Compared to the mildly talkative The Amazing Spider-Man and Tom Holland's Tech Spider-Man with an overwhelming talkative trait, he preferred the introverted nature of First Generation Spider Spirit.
Like him.
Talented yet restrained.
Not good with words.
Hawk thought, then pocketed the unwound bandages, and looked at Peter: "You didn't come here today just to tell me this gym is going to be a swimming pool, did you?"
Peter quickly shook his head: "No."
"Then what is it?"
"Uh..."
Peter prepared to speak but hesitated, looking at Hawk with anticipation but stopping short.
Hawk chuckled.
He looked at Peter, who seemed hesitant to speak, without saying a word, and went to pick up his backpack, shouldered it, and headed out.
"Happy summer, Peter."
"Ssss!"
Nearly reaching the door, Hawk heard a sound reminiscent of a spider spinning silk, instinctively turned, his right fist shot out.
Not far away, Peter dodged aside under the alert of his Spider Sense.
Next moment.
"Bang!"
An old gym resting bench suddenly split in two.
Peter widened his eyes seeing the ruptured bench.
Hawk removed the sticky web adhered to his shoulder bag.
Very sticky.
He shook it with force, finally flinging the web off.
Peter snapped back then, looking at Hawk again.
"Hawk, you also..."
"I'm not."
Hawk raised his head, directly cutting off Peter's words.
His current abilities were due to his consistent struggle and effort for thousands of days.
Of course.
A cheat might have taken slight effect amid it.
But not much.
Hawk believed he would have awakened Little Cosmos even without cheats.
Yes.
Anyway, the cheat left already and had no say in this, so his assertion held sound.
But this wasn't why he interrupted Peter.
Hawk gestured to Peter.
Peter, with his Spider Sense, understood immediately.
Hawk grinned.
"Have a pleasant summer, Peter, see you next semester."
"...Sure, see you next semester."
Peter held back the words he intended to speak, responding.
Hawk said no more, turned, and exited the gym.
Then...
He saw Gwen outside the door, a hint of surprise flitted across his face: "Gwen?"
Gwen: "..."