"Hey, wake up, Harry."
"Ughhh, let me sleep a bit longer."
"What are you saying? We're gonna be late for school soon."
"...?"
Harry struggled to sit up and rubbed his eyes, looking at the person who had woken him.
"...Peter? Why do you look so young?"
"What are you talking about? We're both 13, aren't we?"
"??"
Harry got out of bed and looked in the mirror.
It was him, but younger—like he was back in middle school.
"What are you staring at the mirror for? I've been waiting for you so we can go to school together."
"...Oh, yeah, I'll go change."
Peter stepped out of the room while Harry, confused, got dressed.
Soon after, Harry came out and they headed downstairs together.
Downstairs, Norman Osborn was making and drinking coffee. He glanced at Harry and Peter.
"Harry, why do you keep letting Peter come wake you up? Are you going to stay childish forever?"
"...Sorry, Dad."
"Please don't say that. I'm fine with it."
"Peter, don't say that. He's my son, and in the future, he'll inherit and run Osborn Corporation. I need him to grow up."
"But we're still young. You can't keep putting pressure on him like that. Besides, you're still far from retiring, right?"
"...Fine."
Norman finished his coffee and turned on the TV to watch the news.
The two boys then left the house. Harry scratched his head and looked at Peter.
"Sorry for the trouble."
"Trouble? What trouble? Friends help each other—that's normal. Just like how you helped me escape those bullies."
"...Haha."
Harry and Peter had known each other since kindergarten, and from then on, they'd become best friends.
No one really knew how they were so close despite having such different personalities and interests, but the fact that they were truly close despite those differences only made their bond stronger.
In other words, they were childhood friends—just same gender (no homo).
"..." Harry looked at Peter, reminiscing about old memories, then stopped.
"Huh? Why'd you stop, Harry?"
"Peter, I'm jealous of you."
"What?"
"You have people who truly love you. Even though you're introverted, once someone gets to know you, they really value you. Meanwhile, my relationships feel fake—completely superficial."
"..."
"You're smart too, so the teachers pay attention to you. And don't even get me started on my dad—he probably thinks more highly of you than he does of me. No matter how hard I try to show my talents, no one thinks it's important. They just take it for granted..."
"So in the end, what is my value in everyone's eyes—especially my dad's?"
Both fell silent until Peter broke it.
"Are you kidding?"
"?"
"You're way more amazing than you think, Harry." Peter smiled.
"I don't want to say too much, but do you know who I've always admired?"
"Tony Stark?" Harry said.
"Well, that's true too... But I meant someone else."
Peter walked over and put his hands on Harry's shoulders.
"You."
"..."
"In my eyes, you're the confident guy who dares to think and act. You're a bit dumb sometimes, but you're incredibly loyal, and most importantly..." Peter closed his eyes.
"You never abandoned me when I was at my lowest."
"That's why, no matter what happens to you, you'll always have me. I'll always protect you—just like how you protected me back in kindergarten."
"So you don't need others to tell you you're valuable. You can't be measured by value. You're priceless, get it? Like something important that can't be bought."
"I think I understand what you mean."
Harry sighed and thought for a long while.
'...I feel so small for being jealous of the person who understands me best. It's really shameful.'
"You done thinking?"
"Yeah, I think I've let go of all those obsessions."
"Good for you."
"...?"
Harry noticed Peter's shoulders gradually turning into particles of light and fading away.
"...Peter?"
"Harry, you know, I'm always grateful to have you as my best friend."
"Peter?!"
"That's why, even if I die, please don't change. You're already perfect the way you are."
Harry panicked and ran toward him, reaching out to grab Peter.
But his hand passed right through, as if Peter wasn't really there. Peter faded faster.
"Thank you... Harry."
"PETER!!!!!"
Harry's eyes snapped open. He was staring at the hospital ceiling.
"..." He was breathing heavily, sweating so much that his hospital gown was soaked.
"I-It was a dream..."
Harry was quiet for a moment, then looked at his phone.
He turned it on and immediately called Peter.
He called several times, but no answer.
"..."
Sweat rolled down his cheek. He felt extremely anxious and restless.
Nothing happened to Peter, right? It was just a dream.
"That's why, even if I die, please don't change. You're already perfect the way you are."
"..."
Harry looked out the hospital window, then got out of bed.
***
PEWWWWW
An energy wave blasted away part of the old school building.
Peter's arms were wrapped in black liquid as he punched straight into its eye, but it didn't even flinch—it just stared at him.
"Uh oh."
It charged straight at him, then unleashed its terrifying psychic power.
Instantly, both of Peter's arms were torn apart.
"AGHHHH!!"
Peter collapsed, gasping for air.
As expected from an Outer God—attacks had no effect. Even using Nya's power didn't leave a single crack.
"The eye isn't its weak point. That just leaves Emma... But I'm afraid killing her would kill her for real."
[It'll definitely kill you before you can kill it!]
"I thought I had your regeneration ability?"
[Then look at your wounds—have they healed even a little?]
"..."
Right, no regeneration at all. Outer Gods really are built different.
"Plus this appearance... I just read some Lovecraft and eldritch horror stuff a few days ago, but I definitely recognize this thing."
[You do?]
"You're an Outer God too—how do you not know???"
[I just didn't want to say it directly. Spoiling early isn't fun.]
"Tch... With the planet-like body covered in eyes and that horrifying destructive power, no mistake—it's Ghroth! Ghroth the Harbinger."
[Wow, you even know its nickname. Why were you reading Lovecraft anyway?]
"To escape from you."
[...]
How the hell is it here? Besides Nyarlathotep, what other Outer God—
...Oh right, Nyarlathotep is here. After all, Ghroth's role is to herald.
But why Emma?? Or was there something even worse in that syringe??
[PETER PETER IT'S CHARGING UP!!!]
"OH SHIT!!!!"
Emma, on top of Ghroth, screamed. Ghroth glowed and fired a barrage of energy bullets in all directions.
Thanks to spider-sense, Peter dodged them all, but it was tough since he was heavily injured.
[Lucky it's nerfed. Shrinking down like that must've reduced its power a lot. Normal Ghroth is bigger than Earth.]
"AND IT'S STILL THIS STRONG—HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WIN?!"
[Oh I don't know! Why didn't you kill her earlier?!]
"Killing her or not, it still would've been summoned! I'm sure of it!"
[...You're lucky you're right, otherwise me and the readers would criticize you for being too merciful.]
Then Ghroth fired another energy beam—this one faster.
"...Does it only know a few attacks?"
[It's nerfed, remember? If it were stronger, this planet wouldn't even exist anymore.]
After dodging, his wounds finally started healing—extremely slowly.
[Alright, once your arms regenerate, I suggest killing Emma up there. That's the only way.]
"...Is there really no other way?"
[Oh sure, show me another way—maybe destroying the world would be fine too!]
"Alright alright, don't get mad!"
He looked at Emma, her eyes empty and terrifying.
Round 3! Start!