Beyond Responsibility

Chapter 10: Trigger Part 1

(Okay, maybe Peter was stretching the facts about late bloomers a bit. He was more aware than most that according to the research, someone like him would never have a chance of manifesting a quirk so late. But what he was telling Harry wasn't completely untrue either.)

"And finally we think there might have been some interference from the Nocebo Effect."

"What's the Nocebo Effect?"

"It's like a reverse Placebo Effect. You see, because I believed I was quirkless, I ended up subconsciously suppressing my quirk factor. Didn't help that I'm a sedentary bookworm. If I had grown up playing on the monkey bars instead, I probably would have turned out normal."

"So what does your quirk do exactly?"

"So far, not much. It's still developing. We don't know for certain if I'll become covered in hair like a monkey," (or a spider) "but we'll see what happens once I start growing chest hair in a few years. In addition to that, my quirk has atrophied from under use."

"Ah, just like the rest of your nerd muscles."

"Haha, very funny, Harry. Anyway, I've been working to train my quirk so that I don't end up stunting my growth anymore. Going to the gym, taking gymnastics classes, I've actually made some really good progress, I can feel the simian strength and agility kicking in. It's starting to awaken and fully activate. It's exciting, exhilarating even."

"That's awesome! And you're attending U.A., I bet they have plenty of ways to help you out with that. Just don't get too carried away, take it from me."

"Thanks, bud, I'll keep that in mind."

"What about that exam? Bet you knocked everyone's socks off with that freakazoid brain of yours."

"Well... you're not too far off actually." Peter broached reluctantly. Telling Harry about having a quirk was one thing, but about the exam? That had the potential to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Would he really accept that he went from quirkless to record breaking in just a couple weeks without asking too many questions? "Turns out I made a mistake, apparently the entrance exam is a way for people to audition for the hero course, as a support course student I didn't actually have to take it."

"Then why do I have a sneaking suspicion that you did it anyway? You just auditioned in front of the biggest hero school in the world, didn't you? Spill the beans, Pete."

"I may have gotten lost and stumbled into the exam area." Peter admitted.

"I knew it! What happened?"

"The exam consisted of examinees fighting against a horde of robotic faux villains to rack up points. The place turned into a warzone fast."

"Yikes! And what exactly did formerly quirkless Peter Parker do in the midst of all this high octane carnage?"

"Weeeelll... I maybe, might have, hackedintoalltherobots,shuttingthemalldownsimultaneously,andtotallydisruptingtheexam." Peter said in a nervous rush.

Harry sat there slacked jawed. "...You didn't..."

"Mmm... yeah, I kinda did."

"That is so epic! Hahaha. I can't believe it, my best friend, showing up all these big shot hero course people."

"You know what, yeah. You're right, it is pretty epic, isn't it? Thanks Harry, I guess I've been stressing over the whole situation too much." Peter said, his smile returning. While he had been worried about how Harry would have taken the news, and more than a little paranoid about his secret being uncovered, he now knew he had made the right choice. Who could he trust if not his best friend? Leave it to Harry to cheer him up and knock some sense into him at the same time.