It was their first day of high school.
So naturally—
No one really remembered much from the classes.
Well… that was mostly true for Eddie Brock.
The others, on the other hand, all had pretty strong memory skills.
During biology class, Peter Parker quickly found something unexpected—
A kindred spirit.
Not romantically—at least, not yet.
A scientific soulmate.
Cindy Moon.
She had long black hair and distinctly Asian features.
When the balding teacher tried to put Peter on the spot—hoping to “test” the transfer student who had skipped a grade—
Both Peter and Cindy raised their hands at the exact same time.
And then—
It was like they had synced up.
The two of them launched into a rapid-fire exchange of technical terms and academic jargon that left the rest of the class completely lost.
A full-on intellectual discussion—
Right there in the middle of the lesson.
At that moment, the classroom door opened.
A pale-faced boy with perfectly styled hair and an expensive, tailored casual suit walked in.
Harry Osborn.
The heir to Oscorp.
A new transfer student.
He scanned the room once.
The eager looks, the forced smiles, the subtle fear in some students’ eyes—all because of his last name—
He hated it.
People trying to get close to him for money or status disgusted him.
So instead, he walked straight to the back row.
And sat down next to Clark.
Harry glanced at Peter and Cindy—still deep in their scientific debate—then at Clark, who was casually spinning a pen in his hand.
He raised an eyebrow.
Harry asked.
“He’s kind of a freak.”
“Not really,” Clark replied without even looking up.
“He’s a genius.”
He twirled the pen once more.
“If anything, the real ‘freak’ is someone who has the money to attend a top-tier private school… but chooses to come to a public high school just to experience ‘real life.'”
Harry paused.
He hadn’t expected that.
This guy—who looked friendly, maybe even a little nerdy, but built like a tank—
Had a sharp tongue.
But instead of getting angry—
Harry smiled.
A genuine one.
“Harry Osborn.”
He extended his hand.
“Clark Parker.”
Clark shook it.
“And the one giving the lecture up there—that’s my brother, Peter.”
Soon, lunchtime arrived.
No teacher dared hold students back—after all, growing kids needed food.
The moment the bell rang, the hallway flooded with students rushing toward the cafeteria.
But then—
A voice called out from behind them.
“Hey, excuse me… do you know where the freshman registration office and Class 1-A lockers are?”
It was a girl’s voice.
Pleasant.
And strangely familiar.
Peter turned, ready to help—
Then froze.
His eyes widened as he tapped Clark beside him.
Clark turned as well—
And for a brief moment—
Even he paused.
Standing before them was a girl with shoulder-length blonde hair, held back by a black headband.
She wore a white knit sweater and a pleated skirt.
Her features were delicate, her eyes a striking blue—clearly inherited from her father.
She looked at them—
And froze too.
Then—
A sharp, unmistakable scream.
“Gwen?!”
Gwen Stacy.
“Peter?!
Oh my God… did you get taller?!” Gwen beamed, her face lighting up with excitement.
But after a quick glance at Peter, her attention shifted—
To Clark.
Her heartbeat quickened—
Something Clark heard instantly.
Super hearing had its perks.
“Clark…” Gwen said softly, her tone suddenly a little… different.
Almost shy.
Almost playful.
Years ago, her father—George Stacy—had been promoted and transferred to Boston, taking the whole family with him.
And now—
After all this time—
They were back.
So naturally, Gwen transferred to Midtown High as well.
In her childhood, that afternoon when the swing collapsed had remained the most shocking moment of her life.
The other children hadn’t noticed anything—
But she had seen it all.
That boy, who looked ordinary—aside from being a little taller than everyone else—
Had stepped forward and saved Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson.
From that moment on, a small seed had been planted in young Gwen’s heart.
She knew Clark was different.
Not just another boy—
But someone who protected others.
At first, it had only been a child’s admiration.
But as she grew older—
That feeling had quietly changed into something else.
Clark smiled, warm as sunlight.
He stepped forward naturally and took the books from her hands.
“Th-thank you…” Gwen looked up at him—and froze for a second.
Back then, they had stood at the same height.
Now—
All she could see was his chin.
The height difference gave her an unexpected sense of safety.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
“Whoa!
I knew it was you—Gwen!”
Mary Jane Watson rushed in like a whirlwind, throwing her arms around Gwen.
The two girls bounced excitedly in the hallway, laughing and talking all at once.
Eddie Brock stepped forward as well, bumping fists with her in greeting.
Just like that—
The group was complete again.
Five childhood friends, reunited.
“Alright,” Clark said, casually slinging an arm around Eddie and Peter.
“To celebrate Gwen’s return, lunch is on me today.
My allowance’s been upgraded recently.”
The two girls trailed behind, whispering and giggling to each other.
The cafeteria was like a miniature society.
Clear hierarchies everywhere.
Cheerleaders and athletes occupied the best tables in the center.
Nerds gathered quietly in the corners.
Everyone else—
Just floated somewhere in between, barely noticeable.
Clark and his group chose a table by the window and sat down.
Nearby, Harry Osborn stood holding his tray, hesitating.
He glanced at the students trying to cozy up to him—
And lost his appetite entirely.
After a moment, he made his decision.
Ignoring whether anyone would welcome him or not, he walked over—
And dropped into the seat next to Peter.
Peter blinked, confused.
He was pretty sure he’d never even spoken to Harry before.
Did this guy even know his name?
Meanwhile, Clark’s mouth twitched slightly.
What is this guy doing…?
Why is he acting like we’re already close?
We just met today!
He couldn’t help but shout internally.
And then—
As if summoned by his thoughts—
Two tiny figures appeared on his shoulders.
A chibi Clark with a glowing halo.
And another with horns and a devil’s tail.
“Relax~ He just looks lonely, doesn’t he?” Angel Clark said gently.
“Relax my ass!
Who knows what he wants?!” Devil Clark snapped, kicking the angel version clean off his shoulder.
Clark sat there in silence.
Trying very hard not to laugh.