26 - ||

Peter set his phone down, sighing as he stared back up at the sky. He never really was a stargazer, couldn't with all the light pollution in New York. The same was true here, but there was a nice similarity to the skylines at least. Big buildings, huge logos, and jumbo screens that made movie theaters look small. And Musutafu wasn't as bad some nights, being in the outer edge near the coast of the greater Tokyo Area.

"Your group chat has updated." Karen said.

"Oh really? What's everyone talking about?"

"Currently, discussions on possible internships are the main focus. But Midoryia Izuku seems to be having trouble contacting Iida Tenya."

Peter frowned, casting his phone a confused glance.

"Really? What's wrong with Iida?"

"Searching through the records, there was a news article about his brother. The Hero Ingenium, name Iida Tensei, was attacked by the Hero Killer, a serial killer Villain, and suffered critical injury."

Peter shot up faster than most could blink, "What?!" Iida was Ingenium's surname. Which meant…

Karen didn't even flinch, or rather, didn't stop, "To clarify matters, he was working on his patrol route when he was ambushed by the so-called Hero Killer. He's stable for now, and the Iida family has requested that no questions be asked. Ironically, his firm released information that Ingenium was on the prowl for the Hero Killer after several heroes were found murdered or maimed in the Hosu Ward, thirty-five miles away from here."

Peter nodded, and lazily let himself fall on his back again. Damn, Peter didn't exactly have the closest relationship with Iida, but he couldn't say that his heart didn't go out to him. Losing a family member, whether it be a brother or an uncle, that was something that no one deserved to go through. At least Ingenium had survived.

He hoped Iida's brother made it through. For now, it was getting late in the morning. Peter dragged himself up from the floor and felt a small tingle. He glanced to the side and….

There was a face in the floor. A smiling face with bright blue eyes.

...What?

Peter just stared at the face. "Good afternoon!" The voice declared, showing a mature but youthful exuberance. The American's jaw dropped a little.

"Uhhh, g-good afternoon." Peter responded slowly in Japanese. "Can I… help you?"

"Well, I saw ya climbing up the walls super fast, and I figured I could come see ya! Looked like you were deep in conversation with someone on your phone too." Peter paled. Was he being watched this whole time!? He didn't even notice! "So I didn't wanna interrupt and went behind the wall. When I heard you stop talking, I poked my head on through!" The face laughed a little. "Hope I didn't startle ya or anything."

"Y-You're fine." Peter grabbed his phone and pocketed it, grateful for Karen's silence. "So uhhh… If I remember from the maps… topmost floors are the Third Years, right? If I distracted you with my climbing up here I apologize. I guess I… just wanted to get up here faster." He rubbed his arm a bit, feeling bashful. Man, he may get in some trouble now!

"Well you're not wrong, the top floors is where the Third Years like myself have class, but most of us are prepping for the Sports Festival using the gyms and Battle Centers." He closed his eyes, having a wry grin. "I gotta make up my Math class so I'm taking a quick test! Gotta make sure I pass and all that! Wouldn't wanna disappoint the ones who helped me get this far, ya know." He then opened his eyes, and Peter sensed… something solid and firm in those bright blue orbs of his. "Heard your speech the other day too, First Year Phenom. Great job delivering it, along with your performance. Guess all the talk about you is for real and not just hype."

Peter felt proud knowing that his written speech struck a positive chord, but again with the name. He closed his eyes, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, you're welcome. Just based it on some past experiences is all. And… Thanks for your, um, encouragement." He bowed lightly. Be respectful. That was the Japanese way, after all.

"No problem, Parker! Now, my bathroom timer is just about up, so I need to head back to class. You should join your classmates at the Second Year Sports Festival when you can!" He grinned, eyes of joyful determination shining through. "The more experience you young tadpoles can get, the better the heroes you'll be, even if it is just from what you can see. With that said, see ya around! I have a feeling we will be seeing each other again super soon too! Keep an eye on your emails!" A hand came through and waved, and Peter waved back. The face plunged back into the wall and Peter finally exhaled.

"Wait hang on, I never got his name!" Peter got back up, running towards the shed that led down into the main building. He opened the stairwell door… but there was no one there. "He's gone…"

"Who was that, Peter?" Karen asked in his earpiece. The brown-haired boy scratched his head. "I heard a voice, so it couldn't have been your imagination."

"Some weird guy… Seems nice though." Peter looked over to the stadium and then down at his phone, seeing Momo's message.

Should he talk to her? The fact that she sent it yesterday after the Festival…

He shook his head. He shouldn't trouble her. He'd already troubled All Might enough. For now, he needed to focus on other things.

"You're getting Group Chat messages asking for your attendance at the Festival, will you like to attend?" Peter looked across the building, seeing the other tower of U.A., and he saw his reflection.

Karen was finally back. He hadn't fixed his Iron Spider Suit yet…

But he had his Spider-Man Suit regardless, minus an important feature. And he needed to choose a place to do community service at for the two hundred hours.

He got out his phone, and he took the stairs down. There was work to be done. "Gonna have to take a rain check on the Festival sadly. Hey Karen, can you find the closest community centers?"

"Sure thing Peter." The American boy paused on the steps.

"Hey Karen?"

"Yes Peter?"

"It's so good to have you back." He smiled as he patted his phone.

"The feeling is mutual, Peter." The American couldn't have been happier as he walked down those steps.