Chapter 33: Marvel: Awakening the Cosmo at the Start, Chapter 16

If it could be said that Hawk didn't attend the dance because he had no money and no date, then Peter simply didn't attend because he had no date.

But the reason Hawk had no date was because he was too lazy to look for one.

If he wanted to find one, given his looks, his physique, and the temperament honed from years of boxing, it would be quite easy for him to find a female classmate willing to be his date.

Peter, on the other hand, simply couldn't find a date.

To be precise, it was Peter's own fault for insisting on hanging himself from the single tree that was Mary Jane.

Mary Jane, Peter's neighbor, was also an eleventh-grade student.

Perhaps Peter felt that his secret crush on Mary Jane was known to no one, but in reality, most people already knew.

After all, everyone’s eyes weren't blind; under these circumstances, no girl would agree to let Peter turn her into Mary Jane’s substitute.

And the real Mary Jane would not accept Peter’s invitation to the dance.

Peter also didn't want to go to the dance alone and watch the girl of his dreams dancing with another man.

Gwen was not surprised by Peter’s answer.

Because she was friends with Mary Jane, and the moment the grade dance was confirmed, Mary Jane had found her and submitted her name along with her date’s.

Harry Osborn.

Yeah.

Very much in line with Mary Jane’s usual standards for a boyfriend.

Gwen thought to herself, but she didn't say much; after receiving Peter’s answer, she nodded and turned to leave.

However...

After turning to leave, Gwen seemed to think of something and subconsciously turned her head to glance back.

Peter was still standing in the same spot, looking in the direction Hawk had just left, appearing somewhat dazed.

A few days later.

Cheers erupted abruptly at Midtown High School.

Vacation was here, vacation was here; the summer break that students loved most had finally arrived.

"L, have you planned your summer itinerary?"

"Yeah, heading to Hawaii."

"Tom and I are planning to go to Slovakia."

"Whoa, Slovakia? Didn't you see the news?"

"What?"

"Didn't they say last week that some tourists went missing in Slovakia?"

"Fake news. Besides, Tom and I are so buff, what could possibly happen?"

With the arrival of the break, students walked toward the parking lot in twos and threes, chatting about their respective vacation plans.

Vehicles started up one after another, and in no time at all, the entire Midtown High School seemed to become empty.

The noise that had filled every corner of the school was gone.

Only the rhythmic thumping sounds from the old gymnasium continued to ring out.

About ten minutes later.

The thumping stopped.

Hawk stood in place, adjusting his breathing while lowering his gaze to unwrap the bandages from his hands.

Even though his hands wouldn't turn red even if he punched a steel plate now, the habit formed over more than a thousand days meant he still habitually wrapped his hands when boxing.

Just as Hawk removed the bandages, he arched his sword-like brows.

The next second.

A sound came from behind him.

"They say this gymnasium is going to be turned into a swimming pool next semester."

"...Peter."

Hawk turned to look at Peter, who was standing not far away with a face strikingly similar to Maguire's: "It's not a rumor, it's true."

Peter smiled and didn't speak.

This was another reason why Hawk liked the original Spider-Man.

Compared to the slightly chatty nature of the Amazing Spider-Man and the super-chatty nature of the Holland-version tech Spider-Man, he still preferred the introversion of the original Spider-Man.

Just like him.

Talented and reserved.

Not good with words.

Hawk thought, then stuffed the bandages back into his pocket and looked at Peter: "You didn't come here today just to tell me this gym is being turned into a swimming pool, did you?"

Peter shook his head quickly: "No."

"Then what is it?"

"Uh..."

Peter was just about to speak, but the words retreated to his lips, and he looked at Hawk, hesitant to speak.

Hawk smiled.

He looked at the hesitant Peter, said nothing, walked toward his backpack, shouldered his bag, and headed outside.

"Happy summer break, Peter."

"Ssh!"

Hawk, who was almost at the door, heard the sound of a spider web being shot near his ear; the moment he turned, his right fist had already blasted out.

Peter, who had shot the web from not far away, had his Spider-Sense trigger, and he subconsciously dodged to the side.

The next second.

"Bang!"

A rest bench in the old gymnasium suddenly shattered down the middle.

Peter couldn't help but widen his eyes as he looked at the shattered bench.

Hawk, meanwhile, plucked the web that had stuck to his shoulder bag off.

Very sticky.

He flicked it hard a few times before he managed to shake the clump of webbing off.

Peter had recovered by now and looked at Hawk again.

"Hawk, you also..."

"I am not."

Hawk looked up and interrupted Peter’s words directly.

The strength he had today was earned through his own thousand days of unremitting struggle and effort.

Of course.

In this, his cheat might have played a tiny role.

But not much.

Hawk firmly believed that even without the cheat, he would still have been able to awaken his Cosmo.

Yes.

Anyway, the cheat had left now and had no say in the matter, so his statement was completely flawless.

However, that wasn't the real reason he interrupted Peter.

Hawk gave Peter a look.

Peter, possessing Spider-Sense, understood instantly.

Hawk smiled slightly.

"Have a great summer, Peter, see you next semester."

"...Right, see you next semester."

Peter took back what he had originally intended to say and replied.

Hawk said no more and turned to walk out of the gymnasium.

Then...

He looked at Gwen outside the door, a flash of surprise crossing his face: "Gwen?"

Gwen: "..."