ARUSH KUMAR'S POV:
Location: Keyaki Mall
"Sorry I'm late!" I arrived at our meeting spot half an hour after we were supposed to meet. "Had a family emergency."
Can't exactly tell her I had a spider-emergency.
"Hmm ... Well, judging by your half-decent appearance, it looks like you actually put in some effort, so I'll forgive you for being late." Hinami said, chuckling. "But don't make it a habit, 'kay? You've made some progress compared to our first offline meeting."
"I'd have to agree with you." Of course I have to... "Anyway, what's today's agenda?"
"Hehe..." Hinami gave me a funny look.
"Huh? What's that look for?" I don't like it one bit.
"Hehehe..."
...
"Ready to begin? Today's lesson is cheats for the fashion deprived. Shortcuts for creating a well-coordinated outfit. It's like creating a character. We're already in phase two."
"I'm offended that you think my fashion sense is bad."
"It's not. It's abysmal."
"I'm going home." I said, and turned around.
"Hey- wait!" she called out and grabbed my hand. "Let's go to that store."
"I am not buying the mannequin's clothes."
"...You figured it out, huh? Anyway, you should buy that mannequin's clothes now. Your hair appointment is waiting."
"Huh? Hair appointment? I'm not getting my hair cut."
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Piss off."
"Buy the clothes already."
*SIGH* "You're so annoying." I said, and moved over to the mannequin.
"My fashion sense is better than yours, that is why I already chose for you. Eventually, you have to be able to pick clothes that fit you on your own. If you dislike my recommendation that much, you can pick up something on your own as well."
"Nah, I'm a busy man, Let's just get this over with."
"Alright, go tell the employee you wanna try on that mannequin's clothes."
"Bet." With that, I walked off.
...
"Why are we... at Cheesefest?" I asked, exhausted from last night's patrol.
"We're just here to grab lunch. There's still time for your hair appointment."
"Not that again,,,"
"Anyway, did you decide on what to order?"
"Let's see... Hmm, I'm leaning towards the Tomato cheesesteak."
"I'm kinda thinking the same thing, but... I have a proposal."
"Shoot."
"I want it cheese-stuffed, but with the Japanese-style sauce. We can split it in half; your dish and my dish."
"You really have a thing for cheese, huh?" I mumbled, and got kicked in the shin for it. "Wh-! What was that for?"
"So what?! I like cheese, okay? Do you have a problem with it?"
"Why would I have a problem with your cheese fetish? Geez, you're really weird, you know?"
"I'm weird?! Who's the loner here?!"
"I'd rather be a loner than be weird." I smirked, which made her even more angry.
"By the way, did you give that pocket recorder a listen?"
"Yeah, I did-"
"Hopefully you picked up on a couple of things."
"Mhm, I did. My tone is kinda boring when I talk. I realized that after listening to the recording."
"What matters is that you heard it for yourself, and now you can correct it."
"Mhm? Ya think so?"
"Mhm, no doubt in my mind. You rely too much on words."
"That's how you conversate."
"You chime in with words like 'I see', and 'oh right', and that's a good habit, but you always say it in the same tone. That's why it sounds boring."
"Ah, I see." I wonder if she got the joke.
"You should use facial expressions and hand gestures, otherwise you won't get your point across." Hinami held up a finger right in my face. "So, here's a task for you- while we're enjoying our lunch, you're gonna give conversational feedback, using only short, follow-based responses."
"Huh? Can you give me an example?" I asked, and she did exactly as I asked.
It was cringe to say the least.
"...Hmm." Was all I could say.
"If you can't use a lot of words, your approach will change, which will force you to convey your emotions via other means." she said. "Alright, let's see how you sell your feelings-"
Before I could get on with my task, we were interrupted by the waitress, who had brought our food.
"Sorry about the wait- about the tomato cheese- Huh?"
Wait a second...
"Kumar-san?"
"Kikuchi? You work here?" I asked, mildly surprised by the fact.
"Mmm..."
"Huh? Are you kidding me?! Fuka-chan! I didn't realize you worked here."
"Sure do... It's great seeing you too, Hinami-san."
"Talk about a coincidence." Hinami said.
"Here, you go~" Kikuchi served us our food. "I didn't know the two of you were friends."
"Uh-huh, I didn't either." I mumbled.
"We sure are!" Hinami kicked me from under the table yet again. "We started talking in home-ec, and have been hanging out ever since."
"Who would've thought? Uh, pardon me~ Take your time, and enjoy the food." With that, Kikuchi walked away from our table.
"Well, that was unexpected." I said, looking in the direction Kikuchi just walked off to.
"Yeah, good thing we came... I thought about her as a 'maybe'... up until today that is-" Hinami kept on yapping about something but I couldn't concentrate.
Something's off...
"Huh? What?" I said, dozing off.
"We're gonna make sure Fuka becomes your girlfriend."
"Huh? Me and Fuka dating?"
"Yeah, she's the most promising girl you've spoken to. I picked up..."
What is this uneasiness?
"You probably think Fuka-chan's nice to everything, but when she brought our food, she called out your name first."
"It's not that weird. Saying 'hi' to a classmate, you know." I said, barely listening to what she was saying.
"Yeah, but I'm here." Hinami said. "I'm kinda a big deal at school, you know? You've seen how people act around me, right? They..."
"Look, I'm not sure about this..." I said, cutting her off.
"What's the prob? I think Fuka-chan's cute, and I know you think the same."
"You assume too much about me, Aoi Hinami. Don't act like you've figured me out completely." I said, looking her straight in the eyes. "It's not that Fuka's not cute, but I'm just not interested in her. I won't deceive a girl just because you assigned me a task. This whole thing feels dishonest; pursuing a relationship when I don't know anything about her. We will find another girl, one that I actually like. Is that understood?"
"Uh... Um, sure..." Hinami said, shocked by my stern response.
"Good."
"But, you can still make the first move if you find her attractive, and then, later you can figure out if you like her for sure or not." Hinami said, still stuck on the topic. "Or would you rather, give up...?"
"I already told you I'd play this game of life with you, but we will do this one thing on my terms. I'm not your slave, I'm your student, and this plan of yours will only be successful if I work with you, not for you."
"Oh, idea~ How about we get dessert after!"
Wait, what the hell? My spider-sense just went haywire.
"I want a New York-Style Cheesecake-"
"GET DOWN!" I yelled, and jumped across the table just in time to tackle Hinami to the ground.
*BOOM* *CRASH*
"Why did it have to be a rhino!" The man who just crashed through the restaurant yelled.
Wait, is that- Ritvik?!
"Are you alright?" I asked Hinami, who was still in my arms, speechless. "Hinami, are you fine?!" I yelled, snapping her out of her trance.
She nodded her head, but was clearly traumatized by the current situation.
"Don't panic, I'll get you out of here." I said, and looked over at the wreckage.
"You won't stop me, Spiders! I'm the Rhino!" Rhino yelled.
Oh, come on. First supervillain we face, and it's the Rhino?! At least give us someone easier to beat, like Vulture!
"Hang on to me very tightly." I told Hinami and picked her up, before making a dash for the exit.
"Round-2, Rhino! Let's go!" Agrim yelled, as he landed at the entrance, his suit completely damaged from the fight.
He noticed me in my casual clothing, and saw that Hinami was with me. "Get out of here! It's not safe!" He yelled.
As soon as we exited the restaurant, someone swooped in and grabbed the two of us.
"AAAHH!" Hinami started shrieking.
"Woah there Kirsten Dunst. Chill out-" Zain said, swinging through the streets of New-Japan.
A few minutes later, he finally put us down on a rooftop.
"Alright, you guys are safe." he said, turning around. "If you need medical help, there's a hospital right down this block. I need to go now, but if you need me to drop you to the hospital, I can."
"Thanks, Spider-Man. We're fine. I can handle things from here." I said, trying to play along.
"Alright. Stay safe, you two. You got really lucky you weren't hurt. I'll see you guys around!" He said, and jumped off the ledge, swinging back into action.
They need me, but I can't just leave her alone here. She'll get suspicious... I can't have that.
"Are you okay?" I asked Hinami. She had curled up her knees up to her chest and buried her head inside them. "Hey..." I slowly approached her and knelt down beside her.
*SNIFF*
"Hey... shh. It's okay. We're safe." I rubbed her back slowly.
"Don't... d-don't touch me."
"It's alright, Hinami. We're fine. We're safe. You're alright."
*SNIFF* *SOB*
"Hey, now... Crying doesn't suit you. What would people think if they saw the great Aoi Hinami like this?"
"THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR STUPID JOKES!" Hinami screamed, shocking me.
"I'm sorry." I said, with a hint of guilt. "I was trying to make you feel better."
"It's happening again..." Hinami mumbled under her breath.
"What?" I asked, confused. "What's happening again?"
Hinami's head jerked up, and I got a clear view of her tear-stained face.
"You will not say a word about what happened today!" She yelled.
"Why would I tell anyone that you had a panic attack?"
"I did not have a panic attack!"
"You did. You need to take deep breaths, and calm yourself down."
"I... I-"
"Shh, it's okay. Everything's gonna be fine..." I said, and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, rubbing it as I sat down next to her.
What happened to her?
Why did she act like that?
Could it be that the experience just shook her up? Or is there a greater meaning behind her reaction? Only time will tell...
Two hours ago...
THIRD-PERSON POV:
The dimly lit living room of the Spider-Mansion hummed with an air of anticipation as Zain, Agrim, and Ritvik gathered around the holographic communication hub. The news had just hit the wire, echoing through the underground lair- the Rhino, Aleksei Sytsevich, had been spotted near a power plant in New-Tokyo. The Spider-Men exchanged glances, an unspoken agreement passing between them.
The tension in the room was palpable, each Spider-Man absorbing the gravity of the situation.
Zain, adorned in his iconic red and blue costume, fixed his gaze on the holographic map displaying the power plant's location.
Agrim, the Crimson Spider, flexed his fingers with a mixture of anticipation and readiness.
Ritvik, the Spectral Spider, stood stoically, the contours of his red and black suit shimmering in the ambient light.
"Does anyone know where Kumar is?" Ritvik asked.
"If I remember correctly, he said he had a date today, didn't he?"
"Oh, yeah. He asked me to come along, but I didn't wanna go." Agrim said.
"Hah, chad move."
"Bro, I wasn't gonna waste my weekend on him and his little girlfriend."
"Well, the three of us should be enough to handle Rhino." Zain said. "If this guy is anything like our Rhino, this will be a piece of cake." Zain said, grabbing his mask.
"And if he's not?" Agrim asked.
"GGs." Ritvik said, pulling down his mask.
Without uttering another word, the trio moved in perfect synchrony. Zain's eyes gleamed with a steely determination, Agrim's posture exuded a readiness forged in countless battles, and Ritvik's invisible form seemed to blur with a sense of purpose. The room resonated with the subtle hum of their web-shooters being activated.
In unison, they suited up, the fabric of responsibility and purpose wrapping around them like a second skin. The glow of their spider emblems shimmered, a collective symbol of vigilance against the encroaching darkness.
As they prepared to swing into action, Zain broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Rhino won't know what hit him. Let's make sure this ends here and now."
Agrim, adjusting the crimson hues of his suit, nodded in agreement. "No holding back. We need to put an end to his rampage before it goes any further."
Ritvik, though unseen, conveyed his concurrence with a subtle nod. The invisible threads of his suit crackled faintly, indicating a readiness to face whatever challenges awaited them.
As they swung through the city skyline, the trio engaged in a conversation before their fight ahead.
"Rhino's a tough nut to crack. We need to strategize. Any ideas?"
"I think you're the key player here." Agrim said. "You need to use your bio-electricity to keep him at bay."
"Agreed. Use it every chance you get. Fuck him up."
"..." Zain didn't reply and instead kept on swinging.
"Bro, say something." Ritvik said, turning to look at Zain.
"Yeah... sure." The two Spider-Men were unaware of the conflict that was currently brewing inside Zain.
His right hand twitched as he remembered the painful memory of him killing the woman he loved.
"We can't let him turn the city into his personal playground. We need to catch him before the damage becomes irreversible." Agrim said.
The cityscape unfolded beneath them as they swung between skyscrapers, their conversation seamlessly blending with the rhythmic thud of their web-shooters.
"Use your camo powers to scout the place out." Agrim told Ritvik.
"We don't want Rhino seeing us coming."
As they approached the outskirts of New-Tokyo, the distant glow of the power plant signalled their destination.
Zain's voice, charged with a mix of determination and caution, carried through the evening sky. "Remember, eyes up, stay sharp. Let's bring this 8 tonne man-child down."
The power plant loomed ahead, its structures casting long shadows in the moonlight. The trio descended gracefully, landing on a nearby rooftop to assess the situation. Below, the power plant hummed with an eerie energy, an unsettling backdrop to their impending confrontation.
Ritvik's voice cut through the stillness, a whisper in the wind. "He's definitely here. My spider-sense is warning me of his presence."
"I feel it too..."
Zain's eyes narrowed, his heightened senses attuned to the surroundings. "Alright, team. Let's move in."
With silent nods, they descended from the rooftop, descending upon the power plant like shadows in the night. The air crackled with tension as they moved with calculated precision, blending seamlessly into the shadows. The hum of machinery was drowned out by the symphony of their footsteps.
Suddenly, the rhythmic thuds were interrupted by a thunderous crash. Rhino, a colossal force of nature, emerged from the power plant, sending debris flying in all directions. The ground quaked beneath his massive footsteps as he roared, a primal sound that echoed through the night.
Zain's voice, resolute and commanding, pierced the chaos. "Let's do this!"
Agrim unleashed a volley of organic webbing, aiming to entangle Rhino's limbs. Ritvik, hidden from sight, moved with a grace that defied the laws of visibility, positioning himself with strategic precision. The webbing, a testament to Agrim's organic prowess, ensnared Rhino's massive limbs, momentarily restraining the powerhouse. Ritvik, exploiting the cover of invisibility, circled the scene, ready to strike when the opportune moment presented itself.
The trio moved as a well-oiled machine, their coordinated efforts promising a momentary victory against the rampaging Rhino. However, as they tightened their grip on the situation, Zain hesitated. The memories of past battles, the echoes of his bio-electric powers wreaking havoc, flickered in the recesses of his mind.
Agrim, noticing the pause, shot a glance at Zain. "Do it Spider-Man! We've got him! Finish this!"
Ritvik, poised for an invisible strike, echoed the sentiment. "Now! We can't let him slip away!"
Zain's internal struggle manifested in the furrow of his brow. The bio-electricity coursing through his veins, a power that had both saved and haunted him, begged to be unleashed. Yet, the haunting memories of the collateral damage caused by his unbridled abilities held him captive.
In the moment of hesitation, Rhino, fueled by brute strength, broke free from Agrim's organic webbing. The sudden release sent shockwaves through the trio's coordinated assault. Rhino roared, a defiant declaration of his escape, and charged into the heart of New-Tokyo.
Agrim, frustration etched across his features, turned to Zain. "What the fuck?! We had him!"
"I can't..." Zain, grappling with the ghosts of his past, clenched his fists. "I just... can't."
Ritvik, though invisible, conveyed a sense of understanding. "We'll get another chance. Let's hurry up and chase after him before he can cause too much havoc."
As Rhino's thunderous footsteps faded into the city's labyrinth, the Spider-Men gave chase, conversing along the way.
"Did anyone get through to SM-2?" Ritvik asked.
"His phone is not reachable. We don't have a signal out here."
"Let's just get to the city and then check out what's going on!"
...
The Rhino hurls a car through a diner, destroying it.
"There he is! Let's go!" Ritvik says, swinging down to the street.
"Wait up! Don't rush him!"
The Rhino hurls another car at Ritvik, but Agrim manages to pull him out of harm's way. Unfortunately for him, though, he gets caught in the crossfire and is hit with the full force of the car, crashing into a nearby building.
"God damn! That must've hurt like a bitch." Zain landed on a street light and observed the scene. He glances at his hand once again, the conflict still unresolved. He clenches his fist, but being too distracted, is hit with a fire hydrant that the Rhino ripped off a few seconds ago.
Ritvik moves in, trying to subdue him, but is grabbed by the left leg and flung into a car. The momentum makes Ritvik bounce off the car and hit a restaurant's back wall.
The Rhino flings the car at Ritvik, who goes through the restaurant.
*BOOM* *CRASH*
"Why did it have to be a Rhino!" Ritvik exclaims.
"Are you alright?" Arush Kumar, who's at the very restaurant that Ritvik just crashed through, reveals himself and asks Hinami. "Hinami, are you fine?!"
"You won't stop me, Spiders! I'm the Rhino!" Rhino yelled.
"Hang on to me very tightly." Arush picks Hinami up and bolts towards the exit. He looks for Kikuchi, but sees Zain grabbing her and swinging away.
'Thank god she's safe...'
"Round-2, Rhino! Let's go!" Agrim yells as he lands in front of the Rhino, his suit all torn up from the battle. He notices Arush and is about to tell him to go suit up, but the next moment, he spots a girl with him, so he decides to do the smart thing. "Get out of here! It's not safe!"
Zain swoops in and grabs the two escaping civilians, and proceeds to swing away.
"AAAHH!" Hinami shrieks.
"Woah there Kirsten Dunst. Chill out-" Zain said, trying to balance himself on the web.
...
As Zain Zaffar focused on evacuating civilians, Agrim and Ritvik continued the relentless pursuit of Rhino. The city echoed with the clashing forces of Spider-Man agility and Rhino's brute strength, a chaotic dance through the labyrinthine streets.
Agrim, utilizing his organic webbing with precision, aimed to immobilize Rhino's limbs. Each strand, a testament to the Crimson Spider's enhanced abilities, wrapped around the rampaging villain, restricting his movements. The strategy was twofold- limit Rhino's mobility and create openings for Ritvik to strike.
Ritvik, blending seamlessly with the shadows, moved with an almost ethereal grace. The invisible Spectral Spider positioned himself strategically, ready to exploit any vulnerability in Rhino's defense. His eyes, though unseen, gleamed with determination, a silent promise to end the threat Rhino posed to the city.
The battle raged on, a clash of contrasting powers and strategies. Agrim, agile and relentless, danced around Rhino, keeping him entangled in a web of organic restraint. Ritvik, invisible yet ever-present, studied Rhino's movements, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
As the fight reached its crescendo, Agrim seized a moment of distraction. Rhino, temporarily caught in the webbing, roared in frustration. Agrim, with the swiftness of a spider, swung toward Rhino's vulnerable flank, delivering a series of precise strikes. Each blow was a calculated attempt to weaken the behemoth, exploiting the gaps in his seemingly impenetrable armour.
Ritvik, seeing the opening created by Agrim's assault, seized the moment. His invisible form coalesced into visibility as he materialized behind Rhino. With a surge of Kaine-inspired strength, Ritvik delivered a powerful blow, targeting a critical point in Rhino's armor. The impact resonated through the behemoth, eliciting a roar of pain.
Despite their coordinated efforts, Rhino's resilience proved formidable. His sheer strength and impenetrable hide allowed him to endure the onslaught. Agrim and Ritvik, recognizing the limitations of their individual powers, knew they needed to amplify their efforts.
In a synchronized move, Agrim and Ritvik communicated without words. Agrim, using his organic webbing, created a temporary cocoon around Rhino, restricting his movements further. Ritvik, his form still invisible, circled the subdued villain, preparing for the final strike.
As the cocoon tightened, restricting Rhino's movements to a minimum, Ritvik materialized into view. In a display of raw power, Ritvik summoned his strength and delivered a decisive blow to Rhino's vulnerable core. The impact reverberated through the behemoth, and for a moment, the city held its breath.
Yet, Rhino's indomitable spirit prevailed. With a surge of brute force, he shattered the organic webbing, breaking free from the temporary restraint. The battle, though fierce and relentless, remained inconclusive.
But that wasn't the case for very long. Zain Zaffar arrived to the scene with a sewer grate in hand, and smashed it straight into Rhino's head, knocking him out.
TO BE CONTINUED...
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Been too busy with uni work. Here's a long chapter to keep you satisfied.
Thanks for reading. All comments and criticisms are appreciated :)
Also, all updates will be irregular from now on. Most likely on Sundays or Tuesdays, idk, we'll see.
- ZZS101