Kiran was walking Gwen to her locker when chaos erupted elsewhere in the school. In the bathroom, two football bullies froze as Herman's gauntlet charged with a menacing hum. "I can't believe that happened… he can't even walk anymore," one said. "Yeah… what the hell was that?" the other asked.
Herman's eyes glinted behind his suit visor. "That was just a prototype. He's the real deal." A blast erupted, shattering tiles and punching through the wall. The bullies dove out of the way as debris rained down. "What the—?!" Kiran shouted, hearing the commotion. He turned to see Herman targeting the panicked kids. "Go, Gwen!" Kiran yelled. "Kiran—" "Go!" he screamed, shoving her toward safety before ducking into an empty classroom.
"This time, I won't miss," Herman growled, charging another blast. A web snapped out from the shadows, yanking the shot into the ceiling. Kiran dropped down from the ceiling, his Spider-Man suit gleaming in the flickering lights. "Whoa. This is a new way of testing a project," he quipped. "Spider-Man?! Get out of my way!" Herman barked, firing again.
"Sorry, goes against my principles to let a villain demolish a school," Kiran said, flipping over a blast and landing behind him. "I've got something special for you," Herman hissed. "Oooh… is it a pony?" Kiran teased, swinging a punch. Four drones erupted from Herman's gauntlets, buzzing like angry hornets. Kiran dodged two, but the first drone exploded against his side, its shockwave slamming him into a wall. Another hit him in the back, and before he could recover, Herman slammed him chest-first into concrete.
"Ouch! Yeah… definitely not a pony," Kiran wheezed, rolling to his feet. Herman was gone. "Seriously? Another one? I need a vacation," Kiran muttered, leaving the classroom just as sirens began wailing outside. Gwen sneaked through the wrecked hallways, searching for Kiran. "Excuse me… but this is a crime scene," Kiran said, dropping upside down in front of her before landing on his feet.
"What happened?" Gwen asked. "Some crazy guy… probably wants to take over the city, like usual," Kiran said, catching his breath. "Hop on. I'll get you out of here." Gwen jumped onto his back, and Kiran shot a web line, swinging through shattered windows and over toppled lockers with exhilarating speed. The wind whipped through their hair, the city blurring around them.
Herman, in his room, seethed. "Dammit! If Spider-Man hadn't—" A knock interrupted him. "Herman, shut up! I'm trying to play a game!" his dad shouted. "Go away!" Herman barked, shooting a blast that hurled the door—and his father—through the wall. "I told you," Herman muttered, smirking, surrounded by the carnage.
Later, Kiran was on the phone with Gwen, still in his suit. "How are they even still doing Homecoming? The school's wrecked," he asked. "The gym's intact," Gwen said, "and everyone convinced the principal. End of story." "I don't know if I can go… with that guy still out there," Kiran admitted. "Nope. You're going, Kiran. End of discussion. I picked out your outfit. You're giving it a thumbs up, and that's it." Kiran laughed. "Looks like I don't have a choice." "Talk later," Gwen said before hanging up. Kiran looked down at his Spider-Man suit. Better bring this… just in case.
The next afternoon, Gwen sat in her room with three of her friends sprawled across the bed and floor, music playing softly in the background. "So, how's it going with Kiran?" one girl asked, twirling a strand of hair. "Really good," Gwen said with a small smile. "He's nice, dependable… and funny. Most of the time."
Her friends exchanged looks, noticing the dreamy expression on her face. "Wow," the second girl teased. "Might as well just marry him." Gwen's eyes widened. "Ye—! I mean… what? We're way too young for that. Don't be dumb!" She threw a pillow at her, cheeks flushed. The first girl smirked. "So, is Kiran going to get lucky tonight?"
Gwen blinked. "Huh?" She slowly closed her laptop. "You know, Gwen… that," the girl added, making lewd hand gestures. Gwen's face turned crimson. "No! That is NOT happening!" she shouted as the girls burst into laughter. "Okay, okay, relax," the first girl said between giggles. "We're just messing with you."
Gwen huffed, annoyed, burying her face in a pillow. Across town, in Kiran's room, he was pacing like a caged animal while Michael sat comfortably on the bed, scrolling through his phone. "How can you just sit there like nothing's happening?!" Kiran asked, tugging at his hair. "Unlike you, I don't sweat the small stuff," Michael said coolly. "I've got Liz Allen going with me. So yeah, I'm basically on cloud nine."
Kiran sighed. "I wish Aunt was here…" he muttered under his breath, nerves twisting inside. Minutes later, Michael strutted out of the house in his tux, grinning. "Let's hope he doesn't screw this up… and me," he added, suddenly hyperventilating as he walked down the street. Back in Kiran's room, he stood in nothing but his boxers, staring at himself in the mirror.
"You got this, Kiran. Just don't make a fool of yourself. Impress the girl you like… who is also your girlfriend… who is also the greatest girl in the world," he whispered to himself. He slipped into his Spider-Man suit first, then carefully pulled his tuxedo over it, checking every corner of fabric in the mirror to make sure nothing showed. "Alright," he said, striking a shaky pose. "I'm ready." He sniffed under his arms. "Okay… after more deodorant."
Now Midtown High's gym pulsed with music and flashing colored lights, the bleachers pushed back to make room for a sea of dancing teens. In the hallway, Gwen walked with her three friends. "Okay—everyone sees their date. Good," the third girl said, then drifted off toward the gym.
"If desperate had a face, it'd be hers," the first girl muttered. They all laughed softly. "You guys go have fun," Gwen said. "I'm going to find Kiran." They nodded, vanishing into the crowd just as a tap landed on Gwen's shoulder. She turned to see Herman. "Sorry—did I scare you?" he asked. "A little," Gwen admitted with a polite smile.
"I don't see Kiran… want to dance?" Herman asked hopefully. Before Gwen could answer, she spotted Kiran in the distance, struggling through the crowd, bumping into couples left and right. "Sorry, Herman—I see him," Gwen said quickly, slipping away. Kiran tripped over someone's foot and nearly faceplanted before Gwen caught his arm.
"What am I going to do with you?" she laughed, shaking her head. Kiran blushed, fumbling with something behind his back. "Uh… Gwen. I, um… I got you something. Sorry I'm late." He revealed a corsage that looked like it had barely survived the trip over. "It's… kind of messed up. I—I wanted it to be nicer. Even used the money Aunt left but—"
"Kiran." Gwen cut him off, smiling as she slipped it on her wrist. "It's perfect. I love it." Kiran exhaled, relieved. Then he noticed her dress. Purple, knee-length, sparkly beading catching the light. Her hair curled and clipped back on one side. She looked… incredible. Too incredible. And he realized he was staring.
"Kiran?" Gwen said, raising an eyebrow. "Huh? Yeah! Totally heard what you said," he stammered. She gave him a look. "Uh-huh." "I did! Just… sorry. You look… really, really good." His face burned red. Gwen's lips curved into a shy smile. "Thanks. You look nice too." The music slowed. Couples started pairing up on the floor.
Kiran swallowed hard. "So… uh… do you maybe… wanna… dance?" "I thought you'd never ask," Gwen teased, slipping her hand into his. On the floor, Kiran placed his hands nervously on her waist, stiff as a board, while Gwen's arms looped around his neck. "Okay. Don't step on her toes. Don't sweat. Don't be weird," he thought, his face already hot.
"You're really tense," Gwen whispered, amused. "I'm fine! Totally fine," Kiran lied. "I just don't want to screw this up." "You're not," Gwen said softly. She leaned up and kissed him, quick and sweet. "I'm having a good time. Relax." Kiran's brain short-circuited, but before he could reply—his spider-sense screamed.
Without thinking, he shoved Gwen down just as a shockwave ripped through the gym wall. Students screamed and scattered. "Gwen—go! Get out of here!" Kiran said, helping her up and shoving her toward the exit. Across the gym, Herman stood with his gauntlets glowing, eyes locked on the football bullies. "This time, I won't miss," he growled—and was suddenly smashed out the window by a web-swinging kick.
Kiran landed on the roof of a parked bus, metal groaning beneath him, while Herman crashed onto the pavement below. "Wow," Kiran called, rubbing his shoulder. "Crashing Homecoming? How low can you get? …uhh, I didn't catch your name." A blast sizzled past him and he leapt high, flipping before swinging down with a punch.
Herman slammed both gauntlets into the ground. The shockwave tore through the parking lot, blasting Kiran into the side of the bus so hard the whole thing tipped. Kiran groaned, rubbing his head. "Should've left with Gwen… I always hated the bus." "You don't know what it's like, Spider-Man!" Herman shouted, rage in his voice. "To have everyone step on you, like you're nothing!"
He fired again, flipping the entire bus onto its side with a deafening crash. Kiran webbed to the ground, crouching. "That doesn't give you an excuse to hurt people, Herman. You've got real tech—you could help." He swept Herman's legs and yanked his helmet free. "You don't need this, right?"
Kiran froze. His eyes widened. "…Herman?" That split second was all Herman needed. He lunged, ramming Kiran through a wall. Dust and brick exploded as Spider-Man rolled, groaning, while Herman pulled the helmet back on. "You actually gave me an idea," Herman sneered, raising a gauntlet. "I'm thinking… the Shocker."
Kiran pushed himself onto one knee, panting. "Yeah, no offense, but I was thinking more… Vibrant Man. Or, uh—Tinker Bell, with all the lights." Herman raised his gauntlet—then yelped as something cracked across his helmet. Both boys turned. Gwen stood there, gripping a metal pipe with both hands, her chest rising and falling.
"Gwen?!" they both shouted. Kiran reacted first, kicking Herman's arm upward. The gauntlet discharged with a thunderous blast, ripping a hole straight through the roof. Kiran webbed Herman down, pinning him to the ground. "Gwen, what are you doing here?!" Kiran snapped, shoving her behind him.
"I wasn't about to let you get killed!" she shouted back, clutching the pipe. "I told you—" "And I told you—I'm not letting you die! So get used to it!" They were still shouting when the floor rumbled. Herman screamed, unleashing a massive shockwave from his chest unit. It shredded the webbing and cracked the roof above.
"Move!" Kiran shouted, shoving Gwen down and shielding her as the ceiling collapsed. The world went dark. Minutes later. "Kiran! Kiran, please, wake up!" Gwen cried, tugging at rubble. She tore off his mask, her voice shaking. "Y… yeah," Kiran groaned, his face bloodied, barely able to see her. "Oh my God," Gwen whispered. "Thank God you're okay."
Kiran tried to move, but his body was pinned under twisted beams. "Where… where are we?" "The roof caved in. You took the hit," Gwen said, cupping his cheek, tears on her face. "You're hurt." "I'll get us out," Kiran wheezed, flipping onto his stomach and bracing his hands against the rubble. He pushed, but nothing budged. "Damn it—come on!"
"Kiran, stop, you'll hurt yourself!" Gwen begged, panic rising in her chest. "I can't, Gwen," he muttered, shaking his head. "If I don't lift this, you're… you're not getting out." His breath quickened. "Think, Kiran. Average gym roof… one hundred by seventy feet… seven thousand square feet. That's—God—that's seventy to a hundred and forty thousand pounds. But if you don't… Gwen dies."
He looked over. Gwen's breathing was fast, shallow. She grabbed his arm, squeezing it tight. Kiran clenched his jaw. "What am I doing? I haven't given it everything yet." He pressed harder, arms trembling violently, knees buckling. His back felt like it was splitting, his vision swam, black edging in. "Come on… you're Spider-Man," he told himself through gritted teeth. With a guttural roar, he transitioned, lifting with legs and arms together. The beams screamed and shifted—then, inch by inch, the collapsed roof rose.
"Come on… COME ON!" He shoved until it was above his head, muscles burning, blood running from his nose—then he heaved it just far enough aside for them to crawl free. The weight dropped with an earth-shaking crash. Kiran collapsed to all fours, ears ringing, chest heaving. "Kiran!" Gwen scrambled, slipping his mask back on and hauling his arm over her shoulders. He was dead-weight, barely conscious.
She dragged him through the wreckage, staggering. "I've got you! Don't worry!" she shouted. Minutes later, Gwen reached Kiran's front door, her ankle throbbing. She set him down, fumbling with the key, then pulled him inside, half-carrying him up the stairs. "Your aunt would kill us if she saw this," Gwen muttered breathlessly, trying to keep the mood light. Kiran wheezed a weak laugh.
In his room, she laid him down. Her adrenaline finally drained away, and she felt the sharp ache in her ankle. She winced, crawling onto the bed beside him. "I hope you don't mind if I stay right here," she whispered. Kiran was unconscious, breathing shallow but steady. Gwen let out a shaky sigh of relief, curling close to him. Her eyes closed, exhaustion claiming her. Within minutes, both of them were out cold.