The flash of light that engulfed them vanished as quickly as it came. The environment had suddenly changed as they were no longer in the middle of the street. It wasn't nighttime either; the sun was high in the sky, signaling the mid-afternoon. The sky was free of both the cracks in reality and the storms of lightning. The once looming threat of destruction was now completely removed.

Peter stood atop the roof of Mayume's apartment, still battered and bleeding from the battle that once was. He was disoriented from the light, slowly registering all that surrounded him. In a flurry of panic, his eyes darted down to the street below him and found the many Pro Heroes scattered on the ground, wounded from an attack that, to them, had just happened. Mt. Lady, Miruko and even Kamui Woods were there, holding onto consciousness with all they had.

Left standing on their feet down below was Kendo and Midoriya. Like him, they seem to have retained their physical states last given to them during the battle, with their outfits tattered and their bodies bruised and broken. Izuku was barely standing, with Kendo helping him up upon realizing where they were. He even saw the heroes of his own world left where Mayume had attacked them.

Mayume.

He looked behind him and found her on her knees, her left arm still destroyed beyond repair. She was crying but her body refused to show any physical turmoil from it. Her feelings leaked out through the tears but her body didn't recognize them. She hadn't even realized where she was now, nor did she care. Her mind was on one thing and one thing only, and it broke what was left of her heart.

The symbol of peace recovered from the attack and jumped back up to the roof in a single bound, landing with his fists on his hips and ready to fight, "I am here!" he exclaimed, fully prepared for anything the enemy may throw at her. Yet, instead of a fight, he found its aftermath. Both the hero and villain broken down to the brink of collapsing with blood scattered over their bodies. What had happened in the short time he was recovering? Why was Peter wearing a different costume?

"Young Parker," All Might addressed, "Are you alright?"

Peter had nothing he could say. The very fact that All Might was standing here as though nothing happened meant only one thing; the world was restored to the very moment Mayume snapped her fingers. Everyone had been brought back to who they were before. Yet, Peter still wore the imitation of his nano-suit, which meant he and his friends remain unchanged by the second snap.

Koji's snap.

It finally hit him, though not as hard as it was hitting Mayume. Koji hadn't even hesitated to take the gauntlet from him. He must have known that if he didn't take it then, he may not have gotten his hands on it later. Every horrible thing he had ever done; he truly thought he could undo it all by making the ultimate sacrifice for him. He didn't know the man well, but she did.

Mayume was still too far into shock to register the world around her. It didn't happen, she thought; It didn't happen at all. It wasn't a matter of not accepting it, not to her. It just didn't happen in any shape or form. It was all going to be just fine. One snap and it would all go back to normal as it always did. She tried to snap her fingers, but her arm was unresponsive. It was ok, though; she could fix that too. She could fix everything.

"It …It's fine," she muttered, "I can fix it …I can fix everything."

Peter slowly approached her with a limp, but she held no visible response to his presence as her dead arm twitched. She thought she was snapping her fingers, but she wasn't. She couldn't even register that her fingers weren't working anymore. He knelt down and got on his knees, gently pushing on her shoulder to get her attention. All he got from her was the same phrase "I can fix it" over and over again quietly under her breath.

He began wrapping her into a hug using only his good arm and only now did she finally recognize the world beyond her mind. "No," She told him plainly, "I can fix it." He ignored her, pulling her into a gentle but firm embrace and rubbing the back of her head. She struggled violently trying to fight him off, chanting louder "I can fix it!" until her voice cracked. She kicked and hit him but he remained still, only flinching when she would strike his broken arm.

Finally, she began to break down. Her struggle reduced as her body collapsed into his grip, tears falling onto his body and staining his blood. "I can't fix it," She cried, "I can't …I can't fix it!"

Finally, she completely fell limp, laying her body against him with her head resting on his shoulder. As much as she denied it, the truth remained in place.

Koji Aihara was gone.

Spider-Man: Hero Academia

Chapter 53

All of this Beauty

Peter spun a web and gently lowered himself and Mayume to the ground. It was difficult considering his injuries, but he managed none the less. The other Pro Heroes backed up upon his landing, though the police officers kept their guns up and aimed despite the fact that Mayume was now completely defenseless. She had moved on from crying to complete silence from shock.

Kendo carefully put Izuku down before rushing over to Peter and gently hugging him as to avoid causing further pain. She—as well as Izuku—was also in her hero costume, covered in bruises and cuts from the battle, "Are you ok?!" She desperately asked, "Did …did we do it?"

Peter didn't immediately answer her as he was too caught up in the warmth of her hug. The irritating pain coursing through his body became that much bearable with her arms wrapped around him. Her arms were like a safety blanket, keeping him calm from the shock of all that happened. As the adrenaline was wearing off, he found he no longer had the energy to very much move, let alone fight.

"Yeah …we did it," Peter finally said, "It's over …"

At that very moment, Peter collapsed into her arms, holding onto consciousness as best as he could. She let him sit down, resting his head on her shoulders as she caressed his hair. He had been through so much in such a short time. He single-handedly gathered all his friends together and led the charge with all the cards on the table. After all of that, it was no wonder his body finally gave up.

"All Might …" Peter muttered, drawing the symbol of peace closer to him, "Find Jiro, Yaoyorozu and Ashido. They'll need medical attention too …"

All Might, knowing all the strange things that happen with this boy, didn't question why these three would need aid when they weren't even here. By now, he trusted that Peter wouldn't lead him astray. Knowing the time, the three of them were probably walking home right about now, or rode aboard the train. He wanted to stay and look after Midoriya, seeing that he too had suffered severe injuries all of a sudden, but he knew where his responsibilities lied.

"I'll find them," All Might nodded before taking off with a gust of wind high into the air.

After All Might had taken off, the police moved in to make the arrest. One Pro, however, stood in their way with one hand out to stop them. Miruko, standing tall and full of sorrow, shook her head, "I got it," She said. This was something she felt she needed to do, even if it hurt too much.

She knelt down behind Mayume and picked her up in a cradle, keeping her head aloft and being careful not to move her dead arm too much. The broken woman barely paid any mind to the Pro hero picking her up as the shock was hitting her too hard to care; not even the face of her friend was bringing her back. "…I'm sorry, Aihara," she said with a heavy heart, "For everything."

There was no verbal forgiveness, but the comfort she took laying in her arms seemed to convey the message. There was so much she wanted to say about how sorry she was that she wasn't there for her, but now just wasn't the time for such sentiment. From now on, they'd have to catch up from different sides of the glass.

As Miruko carried her to the police car, Peter looked over and tried to reach out for her despite the distance. He knew what she was going through with losing her family, maybe more than most. He wanted to be there for her despite everything she had done. It didn't matter to him how much they had fought because he knew it wasn't a case of 'turning evil'. There was always good in her, misdirected by guilt and pain. He wanted to help her direct it in the right direction again; he wanted to save her.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do as he passed out in Kendo's grasp.

…

All he remembered were scattered fragments of memory. Lights passing by him like going through a tunnel in a big city. There were voices and people in white with their hands all over him. He tried to remain awake each time his mind surfaced but was quickly pulled back down by his own exhaustion. The harder he fought to keep his eyes open, the weaker he felt. Eventually, he finally slept for what remained of that trip through the halls.

Peter awoke sometime later when the sun was setting. A yellow and orange light peered through the windows, aiming just under his eyes and getting lower with each set of minutes. The ceiling lights in the room wasn't on yet, thankfully, as it was the pure white light he hated so much. His body was under a set of covers, firmly tucking him in and keeping him in the bed. The light from the window illuminated the covers, exposing their unique design you'd only see in a hospital.

Hypothesis: He was in a hospital.

His first thought was his arm. It wasn't being held up in any way, nor was it banded or stitched. At first, he thought it was because this was a horrible hospital, until he realized his arm was no longer broken. The intense bruising and broken bones were now healed. There were still some remaining wounds that were healing, but the most intense injuries had been repaired as if my magic. He only knew one person who could do something like that.

"Good evening, Mr. Parker."

He looked to his right and found Recovery Girl—The school nurse at U.A—sitting in a tall chair next to the bed. This definitely was the public hospital, so he didn't know what she was doing here. Obviously, it was to heal him, but why?

"How are you feeling?" She asked him.

"Tired," He answered softly, his voice worn out as well as the rest of his body, "I'm so tired."

"That's what my power does to you. It uses your stamina up to heal your body. I swear, when I saw your broken arm, I thought you were adopting that Midoriya boy's habits."

He chuckled lightly, holding it back in case it caused him any pain.

"You've had quite the eventful day," She stated.

"You have absolutely no idea," He sat up, keeping his pillow positioned on his back, "Did they find my friends? Ashido? Jiro? Yaoyorozu?"

She nodded, "They were found heading home dressed in their hero costumes and covered in bruises. Care to explain why?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

At this point, just for this one moment, he was done. He was done protecting this secret. Months of covering his tracks and hiding the truth had only gotten him into more trouble than if he was just honest from the start. Each time someone discovered the truth, it never went as he expected it to. Even if she didn't believe him—even if she thought he was crazy, he just didn't care anymore.

He began to explain everything as his mind let him rant for what felt like forever. He explained coming to this world along with the whole concept of the multiverse, the villains who followed him, the stones, the reason he went on the run, and the reality Mayume created and what he had to do to stop her. He left no detail out of his story; he just couldn't anymore.

"I see," She rubbed her chin, "My, my, you've been through more than any child should go through."

"You believe me?"

"I'm old," She stated plainly, "Nothing surprises me anymore."

He smiled warmly with his eyelids drooping, "Thank you."

"Get some rest," She smiled back, hoping down from her chair, "Don't worry about your friends; they're fine. Get some sleep."

As she left the room and shut the door, he felt himself drift back off into slumber, pulling the covers over his body and embracing the warmth of the bed.

He had a dream of this world, this city, and everyone in it. His friends were waiting for him at the entrance of the school, waving with bright smiles on their faces. Kendo stood in front of them all with a blush on her cheeks. He couldn't help but smile back, feeling his heart skip at the sight of not only her, but everyone. He was hesitant, fear overtaking his choice, until a hand touched his shoulder from behind. It was his Uncle and his parents smiling down on him, pushing him forward toward them. One push was all he needed to run, leaping into Kendo's arms as they all embraced him into a group hug.

"Peter?"

A voice stole him away from the world of slumber and dragged him back into reality. The light from outside was dimmer now, no longer touching the bed. It must have been at least a few hours since Recovery Girls visit. It wasn't her that came to see him this time, however. Standing tall before the bed was Tony Stark, dressed in a casual tux that he was famous for wearing under the armor. Peter had to blink his eyes to relieve them of the gunk that had built up so he could see him properly.

"Tony," He greeted his mentor, "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting sick kids in the hospital," He joked, referencing back to their last, more emotional conversation, "How're you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by three buses, and considering that's happened before is really saying something."

"Care to explain why you were wearing a different costume? I blinked and suddenly you look like-"

"Like I just got out of a bigger fight? Mayume changed the world, we fought, then changed it back. It's uh …actually been a few weeks for me."

Tony exhaled as he leans on the bed, taking in every spec of the information, "That's rough, kid."

"Doesn't even phase you," Peter joked, "You Avengers and your time travelling, universe ending shenanigans."

They laughed together as the room became dim. This was one of the few moments in the last few weeks that Peter felt a sense of calm, cutting out the time in Mayume's fabricated world. He didn't have to look over his shoulder or run from police and Pro's. He didn't need to struggle against a super-villain and recover any more stones.

Then he remembered; the stones.

Koji wasn't there with them when they returned to the real world. That could only mean he made the ultimate sacrifice; he destroyed the stones. He could have waited until they found another way, but they knew there wasn't. If Koji hadn't done it then, Peter would have just done it himself later. He was saving his life as well as making up for all the horrible things he's done. It all happened so fast, and he couldn't stop him. He couldn't even say a proper goodbye.

"What's on your mind, kid?" Tony asked.

"…The stones are gone."

"What?"

"Koji—The guy we met at the warehouse—He destroyed the stones after restoring the world. They're gone."

Now, Tony felt the need to really process what he said. Other worlds being created was fine, but this was something completely different, "He destroyed them? Why would he do that?"

"Because I was going to," He clarified, "I thought …I thought the world—the multiverse—was better off without the Infinity Stones in it. Can you honestly tell me that any time you've dealt with them that good things have happened?"

He thought about this for a moment and found the kid to be right. Tony had been dealing with the stones for years now as they fell into the wrong hands over and over again. The only time they were ever used for good was to undo anything bad that was already done. They had them locked up specifically so no one would use them. Looking at it from that perspective, he understood why it had to be done, "But what happened to Koji? He wasn't with us after the fact?"

The kids silence was answer enough for the man of iron. Perhaps he had paid the price for destroying something so powerful. The byproduct of the universe's creation destroyed with a single snap; of course, there would be consequences.

"I'm sorry, Peter," he sympathized, "Was there any other way?"

"No …Only the stones can destroy the stones, and it has to be by a user of them. No matter how you paint it, someone would have died. Koji just …cut to the chase."

Peter wanted to feel what he always felt in times like this; guilt. Guilt that he didn't do it himself. Guilt that he allowed Koji to get away with something like this and end his life just as he was getting It back. While he did feel that way, there was something else to balance it out—Thankfulness. Koji did this because he wanted Peter to be happy; he knew that Peter wanted to continue loving his friends and enjoying a new life of happiness he worked so hard to earn.

He sacrificed his life so Peter could live his own. For that, he would be forever grateful.

"You're a good man, Pete," Tony said, "You need to know that."

"Tony-"

"I mean it," he reiterated sternly, "You've fought this battle on your own from the start. You made tough choices in a tough situation that no one could have prepared for. Back when Goblin stole the quinjet, I took you along because I wanted you to prove you could be just as big a hero as the Avengers. I wanted you to be one of us someday."

Peter breathed deep and waited for Tony to joke, but he didn't, "You mean it?"

"Of course, I do. I realize now, though, that you're already at that level. You have been for some time, and I let your age blind me to that fact. The way you help out even the smallest person is—I'll admit it—inspiring. As far as I'm concerned, you're already a Pro Hero."

To hear something like this from the man he admired for so many years was tear jerking. He'd be crying right now if he wasn't too tired to do so. He had already cried enough lately; his poor eyes needed a break. "Thanks, Tony."

There wasn't much more for Tony to say to him. He simply patted his shoulder and left with a smile on his goatee. The boy was left alone again, only now he couldn't sleep. As the moon climbed the sky and left the sun to rest under the shadows, his thoughts traveled to only one person he couldn't shake away.

He didn't care if anyone tried to stop him as he got out of bed and keeping his hospital gown wrapped around him. Though his wounds were well on their way to being fully healed, he was still sore from the experience. He opened the door of his room carefully and checked both ways for anyone coming. When there was no one, he quickly started sprinting down the halls checking each numbered door. A few doctors noticed him but he was gone faster than they could catch.

Finally, he reached the sixth floor, finding room 616 exactly where he expected it to be. Her name was still plastered to the door. Thank goodness, they haven't moved her, yet. Searching the hospital a second time in his current state would have been a pain. He had to see her; after everything that happened, he just needed to see her face again.

Gently, he opened the door and closed it behind him so no one would see. His Aunt was breathing soundly, but roughly. Her breathing was weak and frail as she was. Her heart was still under too much stress despite being inactive for some time. As far as she knows, it's only been a day since he last saw her. Despite this, she looked worse than before. Her skin was paler and her heart monitor beeped slowly.

He pulled up a chair and sat by her side, holding her frail hand in his own. There was an endless silence in the room, even with the monitor going as it was. Her condition was quickly getting worse. The diagnosis is dilated cardiomyopathy; Her heart can't pump blood well anymore because the left ventricle is too big, growing weaker by the hour. Something had happened to trigger a reaction and accelerate the process, probably a stressful situation, which could have been anything considering all that's happened with her.

He couldn't help but blame himself.

"…You're here."

Peter looked back up and saw his Aunt looking at him, surprised to see him here. When last she saw him, he was running away from the authorities.

"Are you ok? What happened?" She asked, seeing he was wearing the traditional hospital gown.

"I'm ok, May. I worked things out with the heroes. I just …got into a fight."

"Did you win?"

"…Yeah, but I had some help."

She smiled, "Nothing wrong with that."

"Well, my fan club may disagree."

He didn't laugh awkwardly as he normally did to defuse a tense situation. He knew they had to finish a very serious conversation whether he wanted to or not. For all he knew, this could have been his last chance.

"You know I love you, right May?" He asked.

"Of course, I do," She nodded, "I love you more than anything, sweetheart."

It was easy to see what was on his mind, yet it was different than this morning. When she saw him earlier, he was filled with so much guilt and shame for everything that's happened. That guilt is still there, only now there is something else alongside it; Hope. Hope for what, she couldn't be sure, but it was something she hadn't seen for a long time.

"You look stronger," May sounded relieved, "You're going to be ok, after all."

"What do you mean?"

"I was very worried that when I was gone, you'd be so broken that you wouldn't know what to do with yourself. Now … now I see a light inside you again," She began to tear up, as though she had planned these next words out a hundred different times and they still weren't easy, "You have made me so proud to be your aunt, to have raised you as my own. You helped me through so much that there aren't enough words in the world to express how grateful I am. You have made me so proud and so happy, and I love you so much."

He realized what she was doing; she was saying goodbye.

"May," he started, his tired eyes finally tearing up as well, "I don't …I'm not ready, yet!"

"You are," She argued, "You have all your friends, people you love. I can see it in your eyes, Peter. You're going to be just fine without me. You're ready to do this all on your own."

In so many ways, he wanted to argue with her and tell her she was going to be fine. She was going to get out of this bed and stand tall on her feet again as though nothing had even happened. Of course, he didn't believe that any more than she did, and he was tired of fighting it. He was tired of denying the truth more than he already has.

She was going to take her last breath under the covers of this bed.

"Remember what Ben told us?" May asked, "He would always be with us, even in death. I will do the same for you, always. I just need you to go on and live your life, because mine was extraordinary thanks to you. You have given me some of my best years, sweetheart. Promise me you won't let this change who you are; promise me you will always be a hero."

"…I promise, May," He gripped her hand tightly, "I promise …"

As they sat there in the silence of the night, counting the beats of the monitor like a rhythm, Peter began singing their song one final time.

"Leaves turn brown, and snow falls white.

Grass grows green, and the sun shines light.

Close your eyes and see. All of this beauty,

It comes from you."

Peter gripped her hand tighter as his tears stained the blanket.

"Hair turns grey, and skin turns pale.

Seeds grow, and they turn to trees.

I see you grow every day.

You change. It's strange."

As the final verse seemed to roll in, May allowed herself to join in an sing in harmony with what little she had left of her voice.

"Leaves turn brown, and snow falls white.

Grass grows green, and the sun shines light.

Close your eyes and see. All of this beauty,

It comes from you."

"Close your eyes and see …" He sang alone, "All of this beauty …it comes …from …you."

The night was spent in silence as they stayed together. There was a smile on her face as her body began to relax. She decided that her eyes had seen all they needed to in this life, and she wanted the last thing she saw to be her nephew, singing with her as the moon shined down on them. Her breathing was slow, taking in every molecule of air and enjoying it for all that it was. Her twitching fingers came to a halt as her nerves finally calmed. Her fear had subsided, and finally, she was at peace. She knew everything would be ok; It was ok for her to stop fighting and let go.

For a moment, she felt a warmth and light, strange, yet familiar. In the light, a man was calling out to her. He was a man she knew; a man she loved. He smiled at her with the same smile that made her fall in love with him, holding out his hand for her.

"I've been waiting," Said Ben.

She took his hand, and the monitor went silent.

…

A week had gone by since her passing. Though her body was returned to her own world, Peter chose to stay behind for a while as her funeral was being set up, staying with Inko and Izuku as he had for some time already. He needed the time to heal, and that would be impossible back home with everyone asking where he's been. Most hours of the day he spent in his room, but he was never alone. When his uncle had died, he spent hours by himself. This time, however, he refused solitude for any longer than half an hour. His friends came over often to ensure that wish was granted.

Out of everyone, Kendo had spent the most time with him other than Izuku. Without any villains to fight, they wanted the time to just be together.

The six of them sat in Izukus living room. Peter placed himself on the couch, snuggling closely with Itsuka as a blanket was wrapped around them. Izuku sat on the other side of the couch with his knees close to his chest. He, too, was mourning the loss of May as he had come to accept her into the family just like he did Peter. She became like a second mother, or more accurately, an aunt.

Kyoka, Mina and Momo joined them on the couch as well, but left enough space for Kendo and Peter to stay close. None of them knew May as well as he or Izuku, but that didn't mean they weren't going to feel sad. They were just grateful he didn't want to be alone during this difficult time in his life. They were all dressed in their pajamas, as they had stayed over the night before to comfort Peter.

"…There's this …memory," Peter finally spoke after over an hour of silence, "When I was little, not long after my parents died, I left my room late in the night and sat in the living room with the lights off. May had woken up and found me there watching cartoons. Letting my mind escape became the only way I could cope, until she sat with me for the rest of the night watching those stupid cartoons," He sniffled, "This …this reminds me of that."

They wanted to say something to add to his words, but nothing seemed appropriate. The poor boy had been in a slump for a week as they waited for the funeral happening later today. He needed something to make him feel better. He needed happiness.

"Peter …" Kyoka suddenly spoke up, "Listen, um …there's this dance happening over the weekend, at the school. We were talking and …we think you should come with us."

Peter looked up at her, wiping his cheeks with the blanket, "A dance?"

"Yeah …you need something, you know? Something …nice."

Peter first looked to Kendo and received a nod of agreement. Admittedly, it did sound nice; something to get his mind off of everything. More than that, it would prove he was strong enough to go on. Part of him believed however that if he did, he'd be dishonoring his aunts memory by trying to move on too quickly.

Except that's exactly what she wanted.

She wanted him to be happy and to live his life with his friends. She let go of this world because she was confident he could thrive without her. Allowing himself to be happy even now is what would honor her, not sulking under the covers forever.

"You know what," Peter spoke, "That …that sounds really nice."

The knock on the door reached the bottom of his heart. He stood from the couch and took the time to wrap his half of the blanket around Kendo before heading to the door.

Doctor Strange was there to greet him at the door. The Eye of Agamotto has been returned to him, a symbol of restoration, "It's time," He said.

He had left with his friends soon after getting dressed into something more formal, meeting together in the park of Musutafu. Strange told them to wait by the pond for a few minutes while he took care of something quickly. Peter said it was ok, but in truth, he just wanted to get this over with. Putting it off any longer was heartbreaking.

Peter knelt down and looked into the pond with Kendo kneeling at his side, "This is where I came," He said, "When I remembered who I was in the other world."

"Why here?" She asked.

"I thought about you. Everything that you said to me. You brought me to a place that meant so much to you and everything just …clicked."

She rubbed his back, comforting them as they stared into their reflections they could finally recognize again.

"I've spent a really long time wondering which one that I was," he continued, "The mask, or the glasses."

"And now?"

Before he could answer her, he heard the sparks of Doctor Strange's circular portal opening behind him. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to see, but it wasn't this.

Strange walked through first with a group being led behind him. He didn't immediately recognize some of them out of their school clothes, but he identified them as the members of class 1-A, including those who had vanished in the other world. All of the other 16 students outside his immediate team of friends were there now, dressed in formal wear fit for the funeral.

"Wait …what are you guys doing here?" Peter asked as he stood up.

"We wanted to come," Tokoyami stepped forward, his bird-like head restored along with his personality, "We thought you'd appreciate the support, so we all decided to join you at the funeral."

Peter looked between all the faces joined by the hip, "All of you?" He questioned, looking specifically at Bakugou, who had been restored to his spiky haired, hot headed self, "All of you?"

Bakugou wanted to swear him off, but considering the subject matter, even he found that to be insensitive. Instead, he just scoffed and turned his head away. It was about as close to a sign of affection as he was going to get.

"You're our friend," Said Tsu, a quick ribbit in between her words, "Even though people told us you were a villain, a lot of us didn't give up on you."

"Some of us were …stubborn," Said Mezo, "But after what you did to stop Overcast …we realized you really are a hero, after all."

Peter smiled warmly as he looked at the sea of friends standing there for him. None of them knew they were going to another universe, but that was ok. It reminded him so much of when they defended him at the sports festival. Even with their doubts, they were always there whenever he needed them; a true family.

In the back behind them, he noticed two extra members of the group Strange brought. One he knew as Inko, who likely came here from work. The other was hiding in the back behind everyone else, wearing a nice black dress over her body. He noticed her by her pink hair spun into noodle shapes. She hadn't said anything yet, which was surprising considering her usual personality. She probably wasn't going to speak up until after the funeral was over.

Either way, he appreciated Mei being here.

"Shall we?" Asked Strange as he opened a portal large enough for the entire group. They began to funnel in without question, unknown to the true distance they were travelling. Kendo stood there aghast, knowing the full extent of what was on the other side.

Peter took her hand and smiled, "You ready?"

"Who's ever ready?" She joked, "But …yeah."

Remaining connected, they slowly stepped through the portal and let the fresh air of another world envelope her body. The air did feel different somehow; not unfamiliar, just different. It was as though for a moment; she could feel the new atoms and particles attack her body as they grow familiar with her skin. They appeared in the graveyard of New York and she could see all the buildings in the distance. Somehow, she expected everything to look different from her world's counterpart of this city. Yet, the sun felt the same in all its warmth.

"Like it?" he asked.

"I do."

The funeral was already set up and waiting for everyone as they gathered around. Peter at first worried about others noticing the odd appearance of some of his friends, but decided that he just didn't care. Odd looking people wasn't uncommon with mutants or inhuman's in the world. Anyone who asked about them, Peter brushed the question aside and said not to worry. Some people who knew May personally had arrived as well to mourn for her.

Including Harry Osborn.

His childhood friend and the son of his greatest enemy stood on the other side of the crowd, refusing to make eye contact. He couldn't blame him for that after disappearing suddenly. The excuse to everyone was that he was tending to his dying aunt, and cut off all communications because of it. It wasn't the greatest excuse, but it was believable enough for most to stop asking. Even then, that didn't mean some still weren't upset he never called.

Her casket hung above the hole in the ground and waited to be lowered in. A speaker had given a speech to the crowd about Mays life, pointing out all the greatest hits as though it was a song album. When they finished, Peter was asked to say a few words as he was her only surviving relative.

"…May Parker might have been my aunt, but she acted more like a mother," Peter began, "After my parents died, she and Ben took me in as their own. They gave me everything I needed without ever letting me become spoiled. That's why in her last few months of life, I wanted to dedicate all my time to her," He reinforced his excuse, "She hung onto life for as long as she could for me, until she thought I was finally ready to live my life without her."

He paused, taking a second to collect his thoughts before continuing, "She was the kindest, most noble and honest person anyone would ever meet. She always helped whoever she could and truly believed sharing compassion would spread it around the world. Her and my Uncle shaped my pain into something new, something that made me into the man I am today; the man I hope they are both proud of."

Peter fiddled with his fingers as he looked over the crowd. Seeing the faces of his friends by his side gave him comfort and hope; Everything May wanted him to have.

"May wouldn't want me sulking," he continued, "She wouldn't want any of us sulking. She let go of this world because she wanted me to live in happiness. To honor her, I'm going to live my life as best I can with all the people I've come to love. She was my light for so many years, but now the torch has been passed to my friends, to the people I've come to call family. To May, everyone was family."

After his words were spoken, he stood by Kendo as she held him, watching them lower the casket into the grave. Once inside, Peter was given a shovel and guided to a pile of dirt. He wasn't meant to dump it all in, just a single scoop to symbolize acceptance and moving forward. He took his time scooping up the dirt, holding it over the grave with a tear in his eyes and a weight in his heart, before saying one final phrase and dropping the dirt inside, "All of this beauty comes from you."

Those who volunteered were able to put in their own scoop of dirt. Inko, Izuku, and Peters team of young heroes were first to volunteer for the act, saying a few words out of respect. "Goodbye, my friend," Said Inko as she cried. "I'll miss you, May," Said Izuku as he held his mother. Eventually, the other students of 1-A began volunteering as well, whether they knew her or not. The act brought warmth to Peters heart.

The last and most surprising to take the shovel was Bakugou, who said nothing to anyone as he dumped the dirt inside. Though, when he thought no one was listening, he quietly muttered to the grave "You raised a decent kid."

…

The reception was held soon after in May and Peters home in Queens. Everyone from class 1-A showed up to it, as well as a few others from this world. Harry Osborn still avoided Peter for the most part, mainly because he knew he'd say something he'd regret if he approached him now, and it just wasn't the right time to get steamed with him, not with Mays passing.

Peter stared into the fireplace as it was lit with hungry flames. He could remember the nights they spent here together growing up. May would be knitting; a pastime she adopted despite spending years of her youth saying she never would. Ben would either be reading the news or watching a game on TV. Peter would have brought his science kit downstairs and conducted little experiments. So many memories were made in front of this fireplace, memories that only he now lived to share with others.

The first person other than Kendo to approach him at the reception was Mei Hatsume. It was strange to see her without her signature goggles she always wore, just as it was strange to see her without a smile. At first, she said nothing as she stood there staring at him. He waited for her to speak as he didn't want to be rude. Of course, only he would think it would have been rude considering where they were and why.

When she still said nothing, Peter finally spoke up, "Mei, I-"

The instant his voice was heard, Mei wrapped her arms tightly around him and let her tears stain his rented tux. Never had he actually seen her cry or even get emotional like this. She never even met his aunt, so why was she getting so upset?

Then he remembered how long it's been since they saw each other.

"…You're my only friend," Mei admitted with her face buried into his tie, "You're the only person in school who doesn't try to avoid me and who doesn't think I'm some unstable weirdo. You're the only person I feel happy around, where my smile stops being a mask. I'm not into you or anything, not my style, but I …I wanna be your friend. I want you to be my friend, I want-"

"Hatsume," He stopped her, hugging her in return as he comforted her worries, "I missed you too."

They spent a few more minutes in the embrace, their bodies warmed by the fire just beside them. Even though the hug was more for her than him, it was nice just to have her here; it was nice to have everyone here.

"Are you coming back to the school?" She asked.

Peter broke the embrace slowly with a look of somber, "I um …I don't know, to be honest. I don't exactly have easy transportation from here to Japan."

"You could always move to Musutafu."

"I know …but…"

It was definitely an option he could take. On one hand, he had no family left here in New York to take care of. There was no bloodline tying him down to this place. At the same time, despite making friends on the other world, he still had friends here that he left for so long. He had his job, his life. More than that, he had the city and its people he swore to protect. That's not something he can so easily leave behind.

"Think about it, partner" She offered before leaving him alone next to the fire.

Inko and Izuku approached him next as though they were waiting in line. Inko immediately embraced Peter with tears in her eyes. In all that time Peter spent on the run, Inko and May had grown closer than ever. They had become such good friends that Inko considered her as family. It broke her heart that she didn't even get to say goodbye.

"I'm going to miss her so much …" Inko cried, gasping from the suffocation of her own misery, "She was such a kind soul …"

"She was the best," Peter comforted, "Thank you."

"She was my friend! I loved her so much for everything she was and everything she did! I don't want her to be gone!" She sniffled, "I'm sorry …you don't deserve that …"

"Don't be sorry. Knowing you cared so much gives me peace. I know she cared for you too, Inko. Thank you for being in her life."

As he let her go, Izuku embraced her himself quickly before she fled to speak with the other guests. As her presence vanished, the vacuum was filled by Uraraka and Tenya, both dressed in fancy black clothing for the occasion. It had been so long since the four of them had been together at the same time and they only wished it was under better circumstances. Still, it was nice to see their friend beyond the confounds of a television screen or a newspaper.

"I'm really sorry, Peter," Uraraka said, "I was there the night before she died, with Deku. I know I didn't know her but she seemed like a good woman."

Tenya stood there in silence with his arms crossed. When last they met, it was just after they had fought the Hero Killer, Stain. So much was going through his head at the time. Since then, he's had every day to think about what he felt toward Peter and his actions. In the end, he just couldn't blame him anymore.

"It's good to see you, Parker," He said, trying to maintain respect by using his last name despite being told it was ok not to, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Iida. I'm …sorry for all the suffering I caused you."

"Don't be, I wasn't myself at the time, so let's put it behind us."

Others from the class had taken turns speaking with Peter and offering their condolences. It was nice to talk to them all again, even those he rarely if at all spoke to. Most of them were their only out of respect, wanting to see their friend once more after weeks of lies told by the news. Kendo was the only member of class 1-B who showed up as she was the only one with any connection to him.

As Peter finished speaking with another of his friends, he spotted one more person from 1-A he needed to speak to; Tokoyami, who stood in the corner holding only a cup of water. Of course, he would be the one to hide in the darkest corner of the room, whether it be because of his quirk or if he was actually socially awkward. Regardless, Peter approached him for an overdue conversation.

"Hey, Tokoyami," Peter greeted, "Thank you for coming."

"Of course," He nodded, "It's good to see you again. You look …strong."

"Like I said before; I can't spend all my time moping when May wanted me to be happy."

"That's good, I'm happy for you."

"Yeah …Tokoyami," Peter sighed, "Do you remember during one of our heroics classes when you stopped the fight to let me vent? You told me after that …Peter Parker was stronger than Spider-Man. Back then, I thought you were full of crap."

"And now?"

"…I was wrong. If I learned anything these last few months, it's how wrong I was about myself. I created the Spider-Man persona to be more confident without fear of judgement. I created it to be the person I wanted to be. What I didn't realize is that I didn't need the mask to be that person. I know you and I haven't talked much beyond that day …but I've carried your words with me everywhere," Peter held out his hand, "Thank you, Tokoyami."

He stared at his hand with a smile before firmly shaking it. Never did he think his one act of kindness had influenced Peter so much. Back then, he had seen how much pain Peter was in and just wanted to help ease it with a few words of compassion. It's true what they say; kindness goes a long way after all, "I should be thanking you. You stopped Overcast, after all."

"You taught me that I didn't have to do it alone."

With a shake of their hands, Tokoyami returned to his shadowy corner as Peter roamed around the house, greeting the many guests that came to visit. He would show them objects and mementos, each with a different story behind them. It was surprising to see some of them so tame considering their usual personalities; it was good that they knew their boundaries.

Eventually his social take on the event led him to the kitchen, which was empty save for one person; Doctor Stephen Strange. It was odd to see him outside of his sorcerer supreme attire, dressed instead in a nice black tux. The Eye of Agamotto was hanging around his neck once again where it belonged; the only piece of his attire he kept despite the wardrobe change.

"You look nice," Peter commented, "Didn't expect you to actually wear a tux."

"You know I do wear other clothes, right?" Strange joked, "I'm sorry for your loss. I'm also sorry for putting so much pressure on you in the other world."

"Figured you would remember that, and it's ok. We beat her."

"Still, I figure I should offer you something in return."

Using his magic ability, a short, wide box appeared in his hands. He offered it to the grieving hero and he took it with ease. The box was brown but well-kept with a cover that easily slipped off. Inside, Peter found a few different items. One was a folder with papers sticking out of the side; his name labeled at the top in both English and Japanese. Another was a strange oval rock of some kind, perfectly carved and smooth all around, with a gem stone implanted at the center that looked as though it could be pushed in like a button. He removed the folder first and examined the contents inside.

It was a certificate on top with his name on it, and a signature from a doctor. This was his birth certificate, but something about it seemed off. He's seen his certificate before; he had to show it to Jameson as proof of identity before he could get his job. This one, despite having almost all the same information, looked very different. There were also other items with similar situations; a social security number, Identification Card, school records. It was a folder full of information about him that may or may not have even been true.

"What is all this?" He asked.

"Any and all proof you need to confirm your innocence on their world."

"I mean …thanks, but I don't think I'll be sticking around there. I can't just leave my world behind, you know?"

"You don't need to, that's what that is for," he pointed to the oval rock in the box.

Peter picked it up and examined it, noticing now the runes decorating the surface, "What is it?"

"It's called a gate key," he explained, "Ancient sorcerers once used these tools to travel between worlds. It changes frequencies and allows you to pass between this world and one other of your choosing. I've set it up so that you can move between New York and Musutafu whether you please," he grabbed a piece of paper from the box that looked like a map, "There are only certain breach points you can go through, so you can't just world-jump wherever you want. I've marked all the places on the map for your convenience-"

He was instantly interrupted by Peter's powerful embrace, the box dropped to the ground with the folder still in his hands. This is everything he could have ever asked for! Everything he wished he could have had but thought he couldn't, finally in his grasp!

He didn't have to say goodbye after all.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He repeated, "I don't know how to repay you!"

"This is me repaying you," Strange reminded him, "You saved an entire world, after all; you deserve at least this much if not more. You'll be able to travel back and forth for as long as you please, but only between the two cities; that's where the breaches for this gate key are located. Understand?"

Peter nodded as he released the embrace, holding the gate key tightly his hands. A single wave of Strange's hand conjured a string that attached itself to the key, making it into a type of necklace. "Don't lose it," Strange commanded, "It won't break very easily since it is made from very strong material, so don't worry about dropping or crushing it. Your only real worry is losing it."

"I'll be careful."

Peter spent all day thinking this and the dance would be the last time he would ever see his friends; the people he came to call family. Now, thanks to Strange, goodbye was a word so foreign to him, even with May. Though her body was in the grave, her spirit lived on in this house, in this world, and within his heart.

"Peter," He put a hand on his shoulder, "You earned this. You don't owe anyone anything. You fought your hardest knowing that you may not get anything out of it. You have suffered and hurt in more ways than one. After all you have been through, you have earned this. This is your victory, and your reward. Cherish it."

Perhaps a year and a half ago, he would have never believed he could deserve anything. Now, he was a different person. He was a better man. A better Spider-Man.

A better Peter Parker.

…

With the reception over, guests had begun to leave one by one all except class 1-A, who left together. Returning to the graveyard, Strange opened a portal back to the park in Musutafu and allowed the students to make their way through. Kendo and Izuku were ready to pass through, until they saw Peter approach the recently buried grave of his aunt with his hands in his pockets. The young heroes looked to one another, silently asking each other who should take the lead.

Ultimately, Izuku chose to approach him.

"I really miss her," Izuku said, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

"I miss her too," Peter replied, "But …she's at peace. She's finally with Ben again, and that gives me solace."

In his hand, Peter fiddled with the gate key that now hung from his neck, unable to hold back a grin that built up on his face. The expression Kendo and the others gave him when he told them about it was one he wouldn't forget. Even those who don't know about the multiverse know that this meant he could visit whenever he wanted. This was the first time he got everything he wanted; to protect his city and stay with his friends all at once. Though May was gone, it seemed like she was still watching over him.

"So, what now?" Izuku asked.

"Well …I have to meet with the court at some point to discuss May's will, then I have to figure out my guardianship. Without May …I don't have any immediate family to take me in. Tony is making up excuses for the court saying he's giving me a roof over my head until the court hearing, and he offered to pay for school and insurance. As far as living arrangements go …we'll have to see."

This strangely reminded Izuku of the day they met. Poor Peter was sticking to the wall of the school all alone with nowhere to go. He could have been automatically assigned to the home of another student, but Izuku took matters into his own hands when they were asked. Now, like before, he needed him again.

"Stay with us."

Peter turned his head and looked at him with his eyebrows up, asking for clarification.

"We may have to tell some lies here and there, but we could bring my mom here to meet with the court at the hearing and maybe …we could make her your guardian so you could stay with us? I know that seems kind of sudden, especially after your Aunts funeral, but I …I want you to stay with us. You're our family, and you always will be. I talked about it with mom and she thinks it's a good idea, and I think-"

"Yes," Peter stopped him, "The answer is yes."

His answer was so quick that the once quirkless boy didn't expect it. The shock made him laugh and his eyes tear up at the thought of fully accepting Peter as his brother.

"Don't cry," Peter said, "If you start crying, I'll start crying, and then we'll stain these tux's more before we have to return them and I don't think either of us can afford that."

It should feel wrong laughing right now, especially over May's grave. Yet, there was no sense of guilt. There was sorrow, sure, but guilt was nowhere to be found. It wasn't that they were being morbid, or disrespectful. They knew that this is everything May wanted from him, to be happy and live life as best he could. He hoped that the sunlight shining through the clouds was May smiling on them, proud of all they have accomplished.

After cleaning their faces of tears, Peter examined the gate key closely with his thumb over the gem stone. Strange only briefly explained how it worked but it seemed straight forward. After stepping away from the grave, he held it up and pushed down on the stone. A few yards away, a portal of blue and violet origin appeared like the opening zipper of a jacket, with the park in Musutafu on the other side. Some of his friends were there, waiting for the two boys to pass through.

Staying shoulder to shoulder, the two brothers passed through as the portal closed behind them.

…

A few days had gone by since the funeral was held. Peter managed to get Inko to his world for the court hearing, telling her he was given a 'teleportation device' to America. He decided with Izuku that it was best not to tell her about the multiverse. Her poor heart could barely take the dangers they face in school, let alone the idea of other worlds.

Thanks to Strange, they were able to forge some documents for her, this time with a paper trail to back it up so the court accepted her legitimacy, not wanting a repeat of Peters situation weeks prior. Tony had pitched in to alter some housing records and convince the court Inko lived here in America, all without her knowledge. White lies were necessary to keep her poor heart from giving out.

It took some convincing, but eventually, the court approved of the guardianship.

The last thing to discuss was Mays will, which they took care of soon after. All of her belongings were given to Peter, including the house, which he would inherit upon turning eighteen. Tony promised to pay off the mortgages for the house and keep it vacant for him when the time finally came. Until then, he planned to stay with Inko and Izuku on the other Earth as their family. All of Mays stuff, he decided, would remain in the house until Peter inherited it. It was best it stays at home where it belonged instead of some storage unit; May would have wanted that.

The weekend came quickly, and the dance was happening that night. Turns out it's held once a year mainly for the graduating students, always being sure to be scheduled after exams. He had been preparing for it thoroughly, researching all the correct things to do with the help of his new guardian, Inko. He was attending the dance with Kendo; that was a no-brainer. This was going to be their first real date, and he wanted to do it right. He learned slow dancing, proper etiquette and behavior. They even practiced a bit in the living room while music played from one of their phones. It was the first time that Inko felt peace since Mays passing, feeling as though this was the first step. She promised to take care of him, and she was going to keep that promise.

Like her, Peter had promises he also had to keep.

It was still a few hours before the dance; the true acceptance of a happier life. Before he could do that, however, he had just one stop he needed to make. His quest brought him to the Musutafu prison. Arranging the visitation didn't take long, but many gave him strange looks for wanting to visit her. Most just wanted to lock her up and forget about her, throwing her name in the books and never looking back. He couldn't do that; He promised that he would save her, even if that had to be from the other side of the glass.

He sat down in the seat just as she arrived from the barred gates. While most of the other prisoners came in with cuffs on their wrists, she didn't, mainly because there was no need anymore. How can someone wear cuffs on their wrists if they only have one wrist?

He had heard what happened, but never actually got to see it. Now, he couldn't look away as she sat down. Her left arm had been amputated completely off the shoulder with bandages still wrapped around it. The wrapping was bloody, but stable. Her left shoulder could still move for the most part, but there was no longer a limb to aid in its purpose. The look on her face was so defeated, so broken down from the experience.

Everyone told her there would be consequences, and she never believed them.

"Please, keep staring," Said Mayume as she picked up the phone to speak, "That'll make it grow back."

"How are you doing in here?" He asked.

"I'm a villain, how do you think?" She answered with malice.

He couldn't blame her for being so angry, especially after what happened to Koji. A funeral was never even held for him since everyone thought he was already dead. Only a handful of people knew he was still alive, and he never officially resurrected himself publicly. He could only imagine how much rage she was feeling. "I'm sorry, Mayume, for all of this, for what happened to Koji."

"Oh, you're sorry?" She asked coldly, "You're sorry my brother killed himself for your God damn crusade?"

"Mayume-"

"Don't," she stopped him, "I know …I know I shouldn't have taken things too far. I almost broke the world, I see that now. None of that, however, brings back my brother. You got what you wanted, so why are you here?"

He leaned forward and kept his eyes trained on her own, "Because I promised I would save you. I'm going to be visiting you as much as I can, and I hope we can reconnect and …forge come kind of friendship again."

He wanted to be friends again? After all she had done to him and the people he loved? "Why?"

"Because I care about you," he smiled, "And I'm not going to give up on you, even if everyone else has."

Despite how angry that she was, it was nice to hear that. She was being held on remand until her trial, but she knew no one was on her side, not even her attorney. Everyone saw only the villain under the mask, ignoring all her intentions and forging their own point of view. They saw her as a malicious criminal; the next All for One. Never again would they see or even reference any of the good she had done. In this world, someone was either good or bad and no one saw the grey area.

Except for Peter.

"You taught me to see the grey," Peter said, "All your faults, all your mistakes, and you made me into a better hero, a better person. You're always going to be my friend and I am always going to look after you."

"Does that include kicking my ass?" She sassed.

"Yep, royally."

"…Why did he do it?" She asked suddenly, genuine emotion escaping her eyes, "Why did Koji kill himself? Wasn't he happy? I gave him everything he ever wanted."

"It's not that simple," he said sadly, "Putting the risk of breaking reality aside; I think that, in the end, he knew the world you created wouldn't last."

"I would have made it last."

"That's the problem. Once you do what you set out to, you shouldn't have to keep working to stitch it all together. The world fought against you at every turn and you kept going, against your own family's wishes. That is where you went wrong."

"Why couldn't I just have what I wanted?!"

"You can," He remained calm, "But you have to earn it. You don't have to be held down by the memory of your family, but you didn't just betray them, you betrayed yourself. You betrayed your own morals and beliefs for the sake of relieving that pain. Pain, whether you like it or not, must always be a part of us."

The guards signaled for them to finish up, as Mayume had another visitor to speak with today.

"I'll see you soon, Overcast," He put the phone down and stood up, heading out the door without looking back to see her somber expression. She'd be lying if she said his words didn't stick with him. She once believed in saving others first before herself and honoring her family's memory. The power she gained took all that away and she had no idea it was happening. It had taken so long to ask this question, but finally, she did.

Was she wrong?

As Peter left the visitation room, he saw another familiar person walking his way. He immediately recognized her by the rabbit ears on her head, even though she wasn't wearing her Pro Hero outfit. "Usagiyama?"

"Hey, kid," Rumi greeted, with a weak wave, "What're you doing here?"

"Visiting Aihara."

"Same …how is she?"

It was nice to see despite all that happened, he wasn't the only one who still cared for her, "In need of a friend," he answered.

She smiled warmly to him and patted his shoulder as she moved toward the door, "By the way," She spoke quickly, "You've got a paparazzi out there for you."

He didn't know exactly what she meant until he opened the doors of the front entrance and found he was greeted by constant flashing lights and loud voices. Dozens of reporters from different news outlets were hounding him at the steps with cameras, dictation machines and notebooks. Everyone was asking him a thousand questions a minute and he couldn't keep up with anything they were saying. This was never something he thought he would encounter as Peter Parker, but he had to remember his secret was no secret on this world.

"Please!" Peter shouted, "How can I answer your questions if I can't hear myself?!"

Slowly, everyone finally calmed down.

"Thank you. One at a time please, and calmly. No need to be barbaric."

"Are you still acting as a vigilante?" One reporter asked, "Have the police cleared you of your charges?"

"I talked it over with the police and explained everything. I was working a case for Pro Heroes back home and was told not to blow my cover under any circumstances. With the approval of Pro heroes now known to the police, I have been cleared of my charges under the condition I don't do hero work in Japan."

"Did you know Overcast was a super-villain before the public did?"

"…Yes," He said truthfully, "Though I only found out after my arrest was put out; there was nothing I could do."

"Do you have any comments about the group Lumina was leading?"

"I …I know that some of them have gone off to work with the League of Villains, but we don't know their current whereabouts."

He saw them writing things down, interpreting his words in their own way. It was so obvious they were trying to manipulate him into saying whatever they wanted him to for the sake of making people tune into their articles and stories. That's just something he couldn't stand for.

"She isn't a bad person," He stated, "She lost everything and suffered so much, and it made her do horrible things. She had to be stopped in the end, but no one is beyond redemption. Just because you are a villain doesn't mean you're so far gone that you can't be redeemed. The point of prison is to reform them, not punish them just to cast them out once they've served their time. There is a grey area that I really hope you call can eventually see."

Ignoring the remainder of their questions, he moved past the crowd and left as quickly as he could.

…

The night came in spite of the city's impatience. Inko had offered to drive the boys to the dance, but only Izuku had accepted. He unfortunately didn't actually ask anyone to the dance, instead saying he, Iida and Ochako were all going together. Perhaps that was just his way of asking Uraraka out without directly doing so. As for Peter, he instead made his way on foot, making the pit stop at Kendo's house. The last time he was here was when she brought him here to tend his wounds; It felt like that was so long ago.

As he approached the door, he double and triple checked to make sure everything was in order. He had a small box with a corsage inside, picked from the flower shop especially for her. He couldn't stop his accelerated heart rate no matter how he tried to control his breathing. Despite this, he knocked on the door. Finally, they could have a normal night together. No villains to fight, no worlds to save, no wars to fight and no doomsday to stop. Just two people and a dance.

And a room full of other dancing people.

With loud music.

And loud people.

Perhaps he didn't think this through.

When she had opened the door, any and all doubts had been completely erased. Her hair was beautiful and shiny, sparkling from the light inside the house. Her eyes were like a pool he could dive into, glowing from the moons borrowed light. Her dress was a shade of green similar to her hero costume, hanging all the way down to her ankles. She gave him a look that made his heart jump and blood rush to his cheeks. His entire body suddenly felt hot and not even the cool night air could quench it.

"You look handsome," She complimented, "How about me?" She twirled side to side to show off the dress.

"You too—I mean that as in you also look good! I'm not saying you're handsome—Not that you're not!" he stuttered, his cheeks burning even further out of embarrassment, "What I mean is that …you look beautiful, Kendo."

She blushed, stepping closer and taking his hands, "You can call me Itsuka from time to time, you know."

As if he couldn't get any redder. Calling someone in Japan by their first name was only socially acceptable if you either had permission from them, or if the environment was casual; It was best used for people who are extremely close. That was a rule he often forgot and called people by their first name most of the time, which sometimes spread to his classmates. This, to him, meant a lot.

"I um …brought you this," He showed her the corsage, "It fits on your wrist. I don't know if corsage's is something you do here but-"

"I love it," she took the box into her hand, opening it and putting the flower around her right wrist, "Ready to go, you tomato?" She joked, "Don't worry, I'm not expecting a limo or something."

"Would you have liked a limo?"

"Yes."

"Well darn, I did not bring a limo."

"What did you bring?"

"Me."

"You?"

"Me~" His word dragged as he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his web shooters. They were his original models previously taken by the police department, now returned to him upon clearing him of his charges.

She eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck as he held onto her by the hip. Their bodies clung to each other tightly as she quickly shut the door before Peter leaped into the air, shooting a web at the closest building and swinging away.

The wind against her face was a feeling she missed so much. Every second felt like another shot of adrenaline as she got butterflies in her stomach with each swing. She could fall at any point, but felt no sense of danger with her body so close to his. His warmth gave her comfort and safety as her head rested on his shoulder. He made sure to swing slowly so her dress wouldn't flap around. She didn't mind it; it let her enjoy the moment for as long as possible.

They landed in front of the school, still holding onto one another. He looked into her eyes and immediately he fell in love with how they twinkled in the light of the moon. There was so much fire and passion in those eyes inviting him to look forever into them. He never wanted to stop looking at her for anything. He wanted to lean in and make his move, but he wanted to wait until they were under better lights, surrounded by beautiful music.

"Ladies first," He offered his hand, and she took it while posing as a proper lady. The impression made him laugh as they walked in together.

The dance was being held in a large gymnasium, decorated with lights, streamers and balloons from every color of the rainbow. There was a stage where a DJ station was set up, led by Pro Hero and teacher Present Mic. He looked more than excited to be hosting the music for the dance, currently playing something fast and uplifting. Half the students were dancing while the other half conversed with one another. Everyone from each class of every year had shown up, save for those who were too socially awkward. Once upon a time, that used to be him.

"Nervous?" Kendo asked, seeing the sweat dripping from his forehead as he wiped it.

"I've never been once for dances. Never had anyone to go with before, anyway."

"I've got you," She held his arm tightly, calming his nerves.

A loud, high-pitched voice called out his name, and he found Mina Ashido shouting for him from the other side of the room. His team and their dates were standing together by the punch bowl, each dressed in something nice and fancy. The duo made their way over to greet them.

The others of the group were Momo and Shoto, who awkwardly glanced at each other every once in a while; Peter wondered which one of them asked the other here, or if it was a mutual decision. Izuku was here with both Uraraka and Tenya, though it was obvious who his real date was. Jiro, however, seemed to be here by herself. Strange, he expected she'd take Kaminari or something.

"You look fancy!" Mina exclaimed, twirling around in her dress, "How do I look?"

"You look really nice," Peter complimented. When Kirishima joined the group and handed her a cup of punch, Peter couldn't help but grin, "This your date?"

"Don't be hating, dude!" Kirishima scolded, "That ain't manly!"

"I'm just teasing. You guys look great."

"How are you doing?" Todoroki asked with his hands stuffed in his pockets, "Your aunts funeral wasn't that long ago …"

"I know …but she wanted me to be happy," He exhaled, "So, this is me, honoring her final wish. Her death is always going to be sad, but …I'm more at peace than when my Uncle passed. I got to say goodbye."

Shoto always knew Peter had a hidden strength within himself. He had seen it grow for a while now. He wanted to be happy, but the world always fought him on it. His aunt gave him permission to move on and be happy, something he never got with his Uncle. Perhaps he could learn a few things about acceptance from Peter. "I'm happy for you, Parker."

"Ah, so we're last naming."

"Oi!" Mina scolded, "You got us into the stupid first name habit and its confusing a lot of the time! Stupid conflicting traditions are …stupid!"

The group laughed, drinking their punch and enjoying each other's company. No one was brave enough to start dancing as of yet. Being here with them brought joy to Peter. Seeing their faces reminded him of why he should live his life as best he can. He made a promise to May, and he was going to keep it. He had earned this, after everything.

Peter briefly parted from the group to grab some punch of his own, but someone else was already there. Bakugou was dressed in a fancy black and red suit, though he hadn't bothered to do anything with his hair. He stood there drinking as Peter filled a cup with punch. They hadn't ever really had a conversation, but Peter felt there were a few words that needed to be said.

"Listen, Bakugou," He began, "I know you and I don't exactly see eye to eye, but I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated you coming to the funeral. You probably didn't wanna be there, but I appreciated it all the same."

Bakugou scoffed, "Yeah, well …Just doin' what you said."

Peter tilted his head in confusion. Before Bakugou walked away, he turned his head to him, grinning and said "Didn't overstep," before leaving the punch table.

Even Bakugou could change. Who knew?

He looked around at the staff for the party. Due to recent events, they thought it was best to have some Pro Heroes on guard duty. The only one to volunteer was Mt. Lady, who really just wanted an excuse to go to a party. Normally parties like this weren't her style, preferring something with more alcohol, but this was a special occasion. She wanted to support the young heroes that fought to protect everyone, especially Peter, who she came to see as a good friend.

"Mt. Lady," Peter greeted her as he approached, "You look …different."

Unlike the other heroes, Mt. Lady was dressed in a nice purple dress with lipstick, "Thought I would dress for the occasion, and please, It's Takeyama when I'm out of costume."

"You bring a date?"

"Technically, I brought him," She pointed to the other side of the room where Kamui Woods was guarding the door, "Doesn't really count though."

"I ship it," Peter joked, his face freezing in self-pity soon after, "And I regret using that phrase. Mmhmm."

She laughed, "It's good to see you happy. I'm glad your safe after all that."

He returned the sentiment by quickly giving her a hug. She hadn't expected something so genuine and kind, but she returned the gesture none the less. She never acted this way toward anyone; so normal. She always used her beauty to get what she wanted, and charmed every man she met. Yet, she treated Peter differently. He made her realized what she actually wanted more than a man to fall in love with. More than anything, deep down, she wanted a child to care for, and raise as her own. She wanted to be a mom; to have a kid look up to her and aspire to be here not because they were a fan, but because they were family.

"I never wanted to attack you, after you saved that building," She confessed, "I wanted to reject their orders."

"I know," he said, "You know ...everyone see's you as the popular high school girl who never got over it."

"Ouch."

"-But there's so much more to you than that. I really hope people can see it one day."

"Aw, you sweetheart!" She rubbed his head with a wink, "Now go have fun. I saw that girl you were with, and you should go give her attention."

He nodded with a chuckle and left her to enjoy the dance.

Meanwhile, Momo had chosen to sit down for a little while, and Kendo joined her at her side as they both waited for their dates to return. They had been through so much together, yet it was hard to find the right words to give one another. Both of them are considered the women who keep their classes in check, preventing them from doing the stupid things they are always inclined to do. Never did they think they would bond the way they have. After all of this, Kendo wondered where she stood with everything.

"How are you doing?" Kendo asked.

"I'm …good," She said, "I was paired with Todoroki for the exam and we passed. He …was kind. Working with him really helped with what I've been dealing with."

"That why you asked him to the dance?"

"He asked me, actually."

It was good to see Momo's confidence slowly coming back to her after her crushing defeat at the festival. She had watched her break down in both this and the other world, destroyed by her failures. Now, though, she was finally beginning to recover from her self-inflicted torment. She deserved to be happy just as much as the rest of them.

Kyoka approached the two girls sitting together and handed them both a cup of punch, "Are we being depressed over here or no? I've got experience with that," They took the cups and thanked her as she put a hand to her hip, pushing on it.

"Where's your date?" Kendo asked.

"Don't got one. Kaminari asked me, but I said no."

"Aw, I thought you two were cute."

"Yeah …I'm not looking for a relationship right now, or even a date," She brushed her hair aside, "I need to focus on me for a little while."

"I respect that."

Unknown to the others, Peter had stealthily made his way toward Present Mic at the DJ's stage and requested a song. Present Mic seemed disappointed as it wasn't fast or upbeat like he enjoys. Still, he knew everyone was expecting something different eventually, he just hoped it wouldn't happen so soon, wanting to enjoy the fast and loud tunes. With a few clicks of a keyboard and some sound adjustments, a song began to play at his announcement.

It was slow, with a gentle piano and violin, and a flute to support the words sung by a young woman. It was the same song Aunt May had Peter listen to growing up; the one that saved his soul from many different situations. It was slow and beautiful, full of whimsy that spread to the many dancers. Present Mic announced the song as "Beauty in Change". Those who came with dates began to slow dance romantically with one another. Even Todoroki got the courage to approach Momo and say "Would you like to dance?" though rather awkwardly. She gladly accepted his hand with a blush on her face redder than his hair.

Before making his way to his own date, Peter found his way to Izuku and gently nudged him, gesturing to Uraraka a short distance away.

"I can't," Izuku argued.

"Yes, you can," Peter retorted.

"I don't wanna!"

"Yes, you do!"

"Peter!"

"Pretty please?"

Knowing his brother wouldn't give up, Izuku eventually gave in.

"Uraraka?" he asked nervously, "Can I uh …have this dance?"

She was just as awkward about it as he was, she had a nervous but genuine smile as she took his hand with blood-filled cheeks, "Ok," She said, regretting she didn't use a better phrase as they moved to the dance floor.

Even Kirishima had built the courage to ask Mina to dance with him. He had been practicing at least an hour a day since their conversation at the baseball field that one night; the night their hearts connected. She said yes immediately and teased him about his skills, contradicting her words with how clingy her body was to his own.

Finally, Peter came up to Kendo who was still sitting in her chair. He straightened his tie right in front of her and offered his hand, "Itsuka," he said, taking her offer to use her first name, "Will you give this gentlemen the most honorable pleasure to dance with such an exquisite young woman?"

She chuckled that he was trying to be so formal, but gladly accepted his hand as he lifted her out of the chair, "Can you even dance?"

"I practiced in a living room for two hours."

"Good enough for me."

Slowly, he led her onto the dance floor and found an empty space to stand in. He followed the steps exactly as he practiced, though hesitant with each movement. First, he held his left hand with her right and lifted it up, then placed his right hand on her hip as she placed her left on his shoulder. He straightened his back and rolled the nerves out of his shoulders. His eyes darted to his feet and checked to see if they were positioned correctly as not to step on her toes. That's the last thing he wanted to have happen.

"Hey," She cooed, gently nudging his chin upward, "Eyes on me."

He quickly shivered from excitement by just looking at her, and they began to dance with one another.

The world seemed to go numb and silent as they danced, moving back and forth and in circles to the music. He spent most of the first verse of the song constantly thinking about his every move, looking between her and his feet. Though, each time he looked at her, his eyes stayed for just a little bit longer, until they were locked there forever. His breath became heavier as she smiled at him, the makeup she wore making her skin glow with her beauty. The music no longer came from the outside, but rather from in his chest, and it followed the beat of his quickened heart. A heart that he now shared with someone else; with her.

She placed her head on him as they swayed, and he rested it against her own. The distance between their bodies was now nonexistent as they were chest to chest. His muscles relaxed from their tension as they felt her come in contact with them. For small moments there was no sound, no ground or sky or even air. It was just them and nothing else. Nothing else mattered beyond the look she gave him every time their eyes met.

"Itsuka …" He gulped, feeling the nerves build back up again, "You've been there for me from the start, even when you didn't agree. You've protected me, accepted me and given me what I never thought I could have."

"And what's that?" She asked, looking deep into his brown eyes.

"…Love," he took a deep breath, "Because I …I'm pretty sure …" he laughed nervously, "This is always the hard part, you know? Actually, saying the darn thing is so difficult because I've never actually had to say it before nor did I ever think that I was going to be able to-"

"Peter."

"-I love you," He spat out, wincing when he did, "I …I love you, Itsuka Kendo."

Her heart skipped several beats as her chest became heavier, unable to stop smiling giddily. She released her hands from their positions and held his cheeks which were warm to the touch. A thousand words she could say to tell him how she felt, and only three of them meant anything, "I love you, Peter Parker."

Finally, neither of them could hold back anymore.

They leaned in at the same time and pressed their lips upon one another. Her kiss was soft and warm from the heat of her cheeks, and his was all the same. They expected the kiss to be short and they would part soon after, but they held on, only taking a second to come up for breath. It was like the world melted around them into a pool of bliss and happiness. Every cell in her body wanted to be close with his. So much had led up to this moment, and neither of them could let it end so easily as they held each other closer, happier than either of them had ever been.

Finally, the kiss parted, and they rested their foreheads upon one another, smiling and laughing from the pure rush of emotion. They couldn't help but steal a few quick kisses from one another as they continued dancing, reverting back to full lip contact every once in a while.

This is where they knew, finally, that this was going to work.

When the song had come to an end, Kirishima immediately pulled Mina off the floor and toward the photo shoots that were set up in the corner. He pulled out his wallet and paid for multiple people, which confused Mina since there was only two of them.

"Yo!" he called out to the dance floor, aiming his voice for specific people, "Group photo!"

Most of the students ignored him. The ones that did join him for the photo were Momo and Shoto, Izuku and Uraraka, Tenya, Kyoka, and Peter and Itsuka. They tried their best to position themselves properly to fit the frame of the camera, with Izuku, Uraraka, Itsuka and Peter taking the floor while everyone stood behind them.

As everyone gathered, Peter looked to each of them. There was a story he shared with them all, big or small; stories he will tell for the rest of his life. They touched his life in ways he never thought were possible, yet here he was, a better man than he has ever been. These people were more than his friends. They were his family; the people he loved and will carry with him for as long as he lived. It was in this moment he realized May was right; he was going to be ok. This chapter of his life was over, but the story still had more to tell.

Even though she was gone, he was never going to be alone ever again. Now, he had his friends; his family.

All this beauty comes from them.

THE END