The next morning, Arin walked through the gates of Midtown High with Gwen on one side and MJ on the other.
Not beside him.
Not behind him.
Not "walking together."
No.
Both girls were fully clinging to his arms, practically glued to him.
Gwen held his right arm with both hands, her cheeks red .
MJ looped her arm through his left, leaning her head lightly on his shoulder.
Every boy in school stopped walking.
Every girl stopped talking.
Silence.
Then—
Chaos.
"IS THAT GWEN STACY?!"
"MJ TOO??"
"WHAT THE HELL"
"WHY DO THE TWO QUEENS OF OUR SCHOOL LIKE HIM?!"
"I CAN'T TAKE THIS—MY HEART—!!"
"THIS ISN'T FAIR!!!"
Arin kept walking, face calm…
…but inside he was screaming.
Why are you two walking like this?! People are staring!
But Gwen only squeezed tighter.
"Let them stare," she whispered softly.
MJ smirked at the crowd like a victorious queen.
"Yeah. If they stare too long, I'll punch them."
Arin sighed.
"…please don't."
---
Flash Thompson watched the scene with eyes about to pop out.
"NO.
N O.
NO WAY.
NO FREAKING WAY."
Harry Osborn patted Flash's shoulder.
"Just accept it. Arin's built differently."
Flash growled.
"Arin Aether… I swear I will defeat you in something someday!!"
Harry sighed.
"You can't even defeat basic math."
Flash screamed into the sky.
---
Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Peter Parker was running toward school, backpack bouncing.
He had avoided school for days.
Because something strange had happened:
A spider bite him,which give him a strength and Weird senses.
At first, Peter was terrified.
But after days of practice—
jumping between buildings, testing his clinging powers, and experimenting with home-made web fluid—
He finally felt confident to return.
He took a deep breath.
"Okay, Pete… today is normal. Just normal school. Nothing crazy."
He stepped through the school gates—
Then froze.
Because right in front of him…
MJ Watson—
his childhood friend, the girl he secretly had a crush on—
was holding another boy's arm.
And next to her—
Gwen Stacy, the school's beauty and every boy's dream, including Peter's secret admiration—
clinging to the same guy from the other side.
Peter almost dropped his backpack.
"MJ…? Gwen…? W-Why are they… w-what—?"
His heart squeezed painfully.
Why are they so close to him?
He watched Arin smile gently as Gwen said something to him.
He saw MJ tighten her grip on Arin's arm when another girl stared too long.
Peter felt something burning in his chest.
Jealousy
"No way… that guy is—
that guy is with both of them…?"
Peter's fists tightened.
His spider sense buzzed faintly—
not danger…
just emotional overload.
Harry, passing by, noticed him.
"Hey Peter. Back today?"
Peter barely heard him.
His eyes stayed fixed on Arin.
"What going on here'
Harry followed his gaze.
"Oh. That's scumbag Arin Aether.
Everyone pretty much hates him because he's—"
"Popular?" Peter muttered.
Harry nodded.
"And even a beautiful girl from from Philadelphia kissed him during trip . In front of their whole school."
Peter's jaw dropped.
"What?!"
Harry smirked.
"Yeah. He's either extremely lucky… or extremely dangerous."
Peter looked again at Arin, Gwen, and MJ walking together.
The jealousy in his heart grew heavier.
He whispered under his breath:
"…I need to know who he is."
---
Arin, Gwen, and MJ Approach Peter
As fate would have it—
The trio walked straight toward Peter.
MJ waved brightly.
"Peter! You're back!"
Gwen looked surprised.
"Peter? You finally came to school!"
Peter forced a smile.
"Y-Yeah… sorry. I wasn't feeling great."
MJ leaned toward Arin and whispered:
"Peter's a good friend. Be nice to him, okay?"
Arin nodded politely.
"Of course."
Peter extended his hand.
"…Peter Parker. Nice to meet you."
Arin shook it.
"Arin Aether."
For a brief moment—
Peter felt a strange tingle run through his hand.
He has powers…?
Peter's eyes narrowed slightly.
He's not normal…
Their eyes met.
And just like that—
A quiet tension formed between them.
MJ blinked.
"…uh… guys? Why are you staring at each other like that?"
Gwen giggled.
"It looks like a dramatic anime scene."
Peter snapped out of it, flustered.
"N-Nothing! I should get to class—bye!"
He ran off immediately.
Gwen sighed.
"He's still shy."
MJ squinted.
"…he looked jealous."
Arin raised an eyebrow.
"Jealous?"
MJ smirked at him.
"Of you, obviously."
Arin sighed.
"…great."
And they walked forward, unaware that—
Far away,
an Amazon princess was still searching for him.
And Peter Parker had just unknowingly marked Arin as his love rival.