Sekinin is once again in his basement with some tools and a few wires, circuit boards, pretty much anything he can find in his basement that is lying around… or, in some cases, dumpster diving. Really depends on whether he actually has to do that last one.
And Sekinin is currently sitting on a stool watching a video on a computer that is explaining how to program and code for beginners. Despite the description of the video saying only those who are either in high school or have a great IQ, something that Sekinin is certain Ami Mizuno is capable of doing, if he shows this video to her.
"Hey, Sekinin."
"Yes, Nijika?"
Nijika was visiting the Parker Household for the day as Nijika expected Sekinin to be in his room, but she found him in the basement instead. And she is watching a complicated video with her eyes.
"Sekinin, what is this strange video of technology? Well, what matches the things you have on the table?"
"I'm trying to learn how to make something while understanding how those developers who make our video game consoles use circuit boards and other components to create something."
Nijika nodded before looking hopeful.
"So if you do manage to learn how to do… Whatever the words of the video are saying, could you possibly fix my glitch Game Boy Advance?"
"If I manage to finish the beginning tutorials and standard videos, then I can be certain that I could."
Nijika nodded before sitting down and finding a chair, and sat next to him.
"I'm going to watch you work as I have nothing else to do."
"Alright, I don't mind."
The two watched the video together as Sekinin was taking notes while practicing, just to understand how to use a circuit board.
Sekinin is ensuring he at least would make some kind of tech just in case he ever does face Shocker again. And should he do so, then Shocker will absolutely be shocked and possibly feel outraged that his own tech is being used by Spider-Man.
Anyways, Sekinin is mentally thinking about what to even name his tech once he has at least got a working prototype. And to even think of a name for the tech. He has some ideas but is having a hard time deciding what to choose.
Names like Shock Wave, Wave Blast, or perhaps even Concussive Wave. He can decide on the name once he makes the prototype.
"Hey, Sekinin, when was this video made?"
Nijika asks how long the video was out for as she looks at the date, which was June 2006. Sekinin replied that it was posted a year ago, as Nijika nodded. She then said she doesn't understand a single word as Sekinin chuckles.
It, of course, caused Nijika to pout.
"I'm now curious about why you are even taking notes on this complicated video? Are you planning on one day in the future to attend a prestigious high school or university?"
"Uh… No, not exactly. Was that your opinion when you assumed that was it?"
"Technically yes. Like, are you planning on heading to Shuchi'in Academy? Eden Academy? Or even that Mugen Academy?"
Sekinin giggles as he can actually assume why Nijika would think of those three schools.
"No, I'm not actually planning on going to those three schools. But since you mentioned I think you should know what I was planning on: heading to either Eden or Shuchi'in Academy."
"Really?"
"Really! Nijika, I'm sure Seika remembers, but my mom and dad had planned for me to take entrance exams and practice interviews at said schools. You recall them once being Eden graduates."
"Right! Mom mentioned that about Richard and Mary, so did… Dad."
Sekinin instantly changed the topic with a cough.
"I recall the practice they had me do, but they decided it was best for me to choose which school I attend of my own choice of my own path. Oh, and if you're wondering about how they could pay off the tuition, well, they had connections that helped with their own tuition and also gained scholarships. And from what Uncle Ben told me, they still have a few favors to call in just in case I did ever decide to attend one of those schools."
Nijika nodded before looking back at the computer, then asked another question.
"Does this mean Loid, Yor and Yuri also attended either Eden or Shuchi'in, heck, even Mugen?"
"I think Loid, Yor and Yuri all went to Eden, and even graduated. I think Shuchi'in was something that even our whole families knew that Shuchi'in is the biggest school to ever exist in Japan. Even hard to get in. Especially when that school is funded by the Shinomiya Zaibatsu. The system and such is obviously different that separates the schools. While Eden is part of politics, military and such even if it is a better school with slightly better chances of acceptance than at Shuchi'in."
Nijika giggled as she paused the video just to continue the conversation.
"Then what about Mugen? Is it similar to Shuchi'in or Eden Academies?"
"Uh… I think it is different from Shuchi'in but similar, just without what got Shuchi'in its reputation. Like Mugen, children can literally attend at preschool age. Apparently, it is different from harder high schools. And if I heard this right, if you wish to live next to the school like in the Mugen district, then you better hope to be at high school age or something, you better have sponsorship or just be that insanely rich to rent a million yen just for a month in a room."
Nijika is flabbergasted at this information.
"Wait, only a million yen just to rent a room!?"
"Yes! It was crazy when I first heard of it myself when I did my research."
"That is insane."
While the two spoke further regarding prestigious schools, Sekinin was currently having his other self somewhere else, but as Spider-Man. Where exactly, well, he was currently checking out a recent store robbery as he was being informed by Yuri on the phone.
He said he heard eyewitnesses, along with confirmations by a nearby security camera, that Shocker had indeed been there but is now somewhere else, hidden again. Whoever is with Shocker had a few people in masks, as it seems they gave him a few thugs to aid him with robberies.
Yuri gave him an idea so far, he would send some of his coworkers to guard a few banks, stores, etc, and quickly notify him the moment they spotted Shocker. Should Shocker appear again, Yuri will notify Sekinin the moment someone radios him.
With that plan in mind, Spider-Man checks the store to see if Shocker or anyone left behind anything.
"Did Shocker have any transportation or anything, Officer Briar?"
"The footage I was shown did show a black van, but unless we find another nearby camera that shows a license plate, it would be hard to track down the vehicle."
"So it's once again back to the beginning and getting nowhere, huh?"
The two spoke before Spider-Man began swinging away. While he is currently swinging, he wonders what Shocker is even doing, planning on another heist. Causing more damage in the city. More importantly, where exactly is he hiding?
Before he could think of it more, Spider-Man caught something in the corner of his eye and began to swing in a different direction. He notices a brunette girl who is slightly taller than the delinquents who corner her. Spider-Man was able to hear one of the blond delinquents arrogantly speaking just as he was about to land on the wall while sticking.
"—Pray for Spider-Man to arrive before we have fun with you."
Spider-Man landed on the wall as his sudden appearance caused heads to turn, especially the girl who was in a fighting stance, ready to defend and protect herself. Her eyes widened when she saw him.
"Spider-Man!"
"Ta-da! Say my name, and I magically appear!"
"Crap, it's the bug!"
Before the delinquents could flee, Spider-Man already shot out webs through his wrists as he wrapped them all around and left them collapsed on the ground. Spider-Man then approached the girl.
"Are you alright? Those guys seemed like they were about to fight you."
The girl scratched her head while letting out a sigh.
"Yeah, those people were about to fight me. Again. This isn't my first encounter with those specific delinquents, as I fought them earlier this morning during her shopping."
"Huh, that explains the stance you took; I guess you're a martial arts student?"
The girl nodded as Spider-Man nodded as well.
"Yes! I have been learning judo as well as karate, even kung fu."
Spider-Man expresses his surprise before he looks around and knows that he is in an alleyway, but he checks for anyone else. Then, just to be sure, he dragged the webbed delinquents to a nearby light pole and just left them there. He went back to the brunette girl and formed a defensive posture.
"If you don't mind, miss…"
"Kino. Makoto Kino."
"Miss Kino, if you don't mind, I would like to see your fighting style firsthand."
Makoto gasps in utter shock with her hands covering her mouth. Before beginning to speak in a stunned tone.
"B-But you're Spider-Man! How could I hit you?"
"Don't worry, it's just a friendly spar. Plus, if I'm being honest, I kinda wanted to experience how to handle a person who knows martial arts, as I wish to see how strong you are."
Makoto tried to say that she shouldn't really, as she didn't want to hurt Spider-Man. But Spider-Man manages to convince her to spar with him. At first, it was a bit clumsy as Makoto was not kidding about not trying to hurt him. But with encouragement from Spider-Man, she slowly but surely became more confident in her martial arts skills being shown.
To the point where Makoto is truly showing her skills while Spider-Man is truly astonished at how well a martial artist would truly fight, as this is clearly the first, and real fighter than in movies. Heck, even Spider-Man was slowly unable to keep up with her.
Then, Spider-Man was punched in the face, grabbed by Makoto, and slammed to the ground with impressive strength. Makoto took deep breaths for a moment as she wiped off the little sweat on her forehead. Only to blink for a moment before gasping in shock.
"I'm so sorry! I went too far! And I— And I— So sorry!"
She helped him up before bowing profusely apologetically. Spider-Man, who had been helped to his feet and was feeling a bit dazed, just waved his hands.
"No, no, I really shouldn't have tested my luck. But wow! You really pack a punch, Miss Kino! That is truly amazing. Spectacular even. You will definitely become a black belt for sure!"
Makoto blushes before scratching her head, feeling flustered by the praise, before her expression turns back to concern.
"Are you sure you are alright? I flung you pretty hard."
"I am definitely okay. I've been through a little worse than this. But I can just shrug it off, so it's no big deal. Plus that little spar at least got me to understand what I would perhaps one day face should I ever face anyone who does martial arts."
Makoto nodded before once again bowing apologetically as Spider-Man once again said it was fine. After just a little more talking, the two began to part ways as Makoto began to walk out of the alleyway while Spider-Man began to wall climb a nearby building. But halfway up, Makoto calls his name.
"Spidey! I'm wondering what you're going to do to those delinquents. Or how long they are going to be, well, whatever you dragged them to."
"Oh! No worries, I can just call the authorities on them. So they aren't going to be there for that long."
In Sekinin's mind, well, it really depends on how long his webs last, as technically, he didn't really stick around long enough to see if those he webbed were still bound to his webs or were already cut through by the authorities. He made a mental note to ask Yuri regarding the webs he made whenever he left either criminals or delinquents to be picked up by the cops.
But to also ask Rei for her fire affinity to see just how strong and durable his webs are to fire, as he has been meaning to ask her that for a while but he recalls Rei being a bit busy at the moment of her school at the moment. T.A. Girls' Academy, an all-girls school where Rei has been since elementary, a catholic school, a school where her father enrolled her to attend there.
The same father, who is a famous politician, rarely in her life, especially due to what happened to Rei's mother when she passed away due to falling ill. Rei's father never visited her even when her mother was dying, and the sole reason why Rei was nearly distrustful of men before she met Sekinin.
Suddenly, he felt something happen back to his normal self as Spider-Man's perspective returns to Sekinin as he is currently being dragged by Nijika, something about…
"Nijika, where exactly are you planning to drag me to?"
"Sekinin, unless you are truly thinking of something nonstop, then I'll say this one more time. I want you to come with me to visit the music store so I can try out the drums again."
"Oh, okay."
The two exit through the door, not before saying they will be back to May and Ben, as Nijika holds Sekinin's hand as she leads the way while walking fast.