32 Second Avenue, East Street, Manhattan, New York City.
Doctor Octopus’s former home.
Unfortunately, the failed nuclear fusion experiment had reduced this once-cozy home to ruins.
After regaining his normal personality, Doctor Octopus returned here.
“Thank you, Peter.
Or should I call you…
Spider-Man?”
Doctor Octopus looked at Tobey Spider-Man, who was not wearing his Spider-Man suit, and offered his heartfelt thanks.
With his normal personality restored, Doctor Octopus had easily deduced Tobey Spider-Man’s true identity from the various clues, thanks to his exceptional powers of logical reasoning.
“I’m just glad you’re back, Dr.
Otto.”
Tobey Spider-Man shrugged.
Now that the situation with Doctor Octopus had been resolved, it was time for him to get on with his life.
He planned to find a paying job so he could help Aunt May catch up on the mortgage.
That was right.
When Uncle Ben died unexpectedly in this universe, Peter’s family had not even finished paying off the house.
Unless they could make up the past few months of missed payments soon, Aunt May might end up on the street.
“And I must thank you as well, Mr.
Spider-Man from the Multiverse.”
Peter had been examining the half-destroyed nuclear fusion device.
Doctor Octopus’s words drew his attention back.
“Now that those Octopus Tentacles are no longer interfering with your mind, it seems you’re finally willing to believe in the Multiverse, Dr.
Otto.”
“The evidence is right in front of me.
That device on your wrist is not something our era could possibly produce.”
Doctor Octopus pointed at the Web-Shooter on Peter’s wrist, making no attempt to hide his curiosity.
To a scientist, something like that was irresistible.
But no matter how badly he wanted it, Doctor Octopus could hardly ask Peter to hand it over.
“Sorry, but I may need some time to sort out this mess.”
Doctor Octopus moved his mechanical Octopus Tentacles and began clearing away the wreckage.
Meanwhile, Tobey Spider-Man and Peter headed up to the rooftop.
“What are you planning to do next?”
Tobey Spider-Man looked at Peter curiously.
Peter turned toward downtown New York, where Oscorp’s skyscraper was clearly visible.
“Dr.
Otto’s crisis has been dealt with for now, but what about the Green Goblin?”
“The Green Goblin?
Norman Osborn died two years ago.”
Tobey Spider-Man’s gaze wavered.
He clearly did not want to revisit those memories.
Peter shook his head.
It would be a good thing if the Green Goblin had truly died that easily.
However, in the 616 Prime Marvel Universe, the Green Goblin had fooled everyone by faking his death.
There was no telling whether the Green Goblin in this universe had used the same trick.
“You know I come from the Multiverse.
Some things have already happened where I’m from.
For example…
was Norman Osborn really killed by Spider-Man?”
Tobey Spider-Man immediately frowned.
Along with a faint warning from his Spider-Sense, Peter’s question gave him a vague idea of what Peter was implying.
“You mean…
Norman Osborn might still be alive?
But how is that possible?
I saw him die with my own eyes.
He died right in front of me!”
Tobey Spider-Man remembered the Green Goblin’s death vividly.
That was also why he had always felt so guilty toward Harry.
Peter shook his head, unwilling to draw any conclusions yet.
“There are still a few things I need to investigate and confirm.
Give me some time.”
Tobey Spider-Man nodded.
Peter’s words had shaken him deeply, and he desperately wanted to know the truth as well.
…
One day later.
Harry Osborn’s apartment was located in Tudor City, one of New York City’s most famous affluent neighborhoods.
It was enormous, with luxurious, modern decor.
It stood in stark contrast to the cramped, run-down studio apartment where Tobey Spider-Man lived.
At that moment, Harry Osborn was on the balcony, speaking with Jonah Jameson over the phone.
“Put a ten-million-dollar bounty on the second Spider-Man too.
I never want to see another Spider-Man in this city again!”
“All right.
I’ll arrange for the new wanted posters to be printed in a few days…”
“I want them now!
Right now!
Get it done!”
Harry Osborn was practically roaring.
On the other end of the line, Jonah Jameson muttered something indistinct, apparently complaining, but ultimately agreed to Harry Osborn’s demand.
Harry Osborn angrily ended the call and drained his glass of red wine in one gulp.
But when he turned to go back inside, he found a man in a red-and-blue suit crouched silently on the railing at the corner of the balcony.
“Spider-Man!?”
Harry Osborn stumbled backward in terror.
He retreated into the living room until his back struck the wall, only then realizing he had nowhere left to go.
Tobey Spider-Man remained perched on the balcony railing the entire time, making no attempt to move any closer.
He had anticipated Harry Osborn’s extreme reaction, so he gave him some time to recover.
Only after Harry Osborn’s racing heartbeat had finally begun to slow did Tobey Spider-Man vault down from the railing.
He entered Harry Osborn’s apartment with slow, measured steps, raising his hands slightly to show that he meant no harm.
“Harry, can we talk?”
The moment Spider-Man called him “Harry,” Harry Osborn froze.
His mind went blank, and even his fear of Spider-Man was momentarily forgotten.
Ever since his father, Norman Osborn, had been killed by Spider-Man, very few people had continued to call him “Harry.” As the new CEO of Oscorp, everyone addressed him as Mr.
Osborn.
More importantly, the voice that had spoken his name was far too familiar.
Harry Osborn had listened to it for seven years, from high school until now.
There was no possibility that he had mistaken it.
It was unmistakably the voice of his best friend…
Peter Parker!
“You…
You’re…”
Harry Osborn pointed at Tobey Spider-Man.
Although he already knew the answer, he could not bring himself to say it aloud.
Tobey Spider-Man sighed.
Before coming here, he had known that the moment he spoke, he would no longer be able to conceal his identity.
He and Harry Osborn simply knew each other too well.
It would not be an exaggeration to call them brothers in all but blood.
He had originally intended to keep his identity as Spider-Man a secret for the rest of his life.
But after Tobey Spider-Man learned the results of Peter’s investigation, he knew he had to come here in person, even if it meant exposing his identity.