———
Language references for Dialogue:
"Japanese."
"Korean."
"English."
———
The morning light spilled softly through the blinds, casting quiet shadows across the room. Peter lay on his back, eyes half-open, the weight of what happened the night before still lingering in his chest. Mary lay on top of him, head resting on his shoulder, arms hugging his torso. Mary was asleep on top of him, using his body as another bed, her breathing soft and steady.
But Peter was rigid… still. Too still.
"…We're too young for this," he said suddenly, voice low.
Mary stirred, "Hm?"
"This," he said, barely moving, "We're fifteen. I'm about to turn 16 in June. This shouldn't have happened."
Mary opened her eyes slowly, blinking as she adjusted to the light and the weight in his voice, "Peter…"
"I'm supposed to be disciplined," he muttered, "Focused. My grandfather would say—"
"I don't care what he would say," Her voice was gentle, but firm.
Peter fell silent.
Mary propped herself up slightly, brushing a few strands of hair from his face. They were at eye level with each other, "You're not him."
His jaw clenched, "But everything I am… he built."
"No," she said softly, "He trained you. You built yourself. He doesn't get to own your feelings. Or this moment."
Peter looked away, "I wasn't supposed to let go like that."
"And yet you did," she smiled faintly. She used two fingers to turn his head by his chin to face her, "Because you wanted to. Not because you were weak. Because you're human."
For a moment, all he could do was stare at her. The quiet conviction in her voice. The warmth in her eyes. She wasn't judging him. She was holding him together. Mary leaned forward and rested her forehead against his, "You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to carry all that alone."
He exhaled, finally. Tension leaked from his shoulders as he laid back down on the bed with Mary being close to his face. Their noses touched, "You're gonna ruin me."
She smiled, "Hopefully in a good way."
The two engaged in a deep kiss, her hands gripping his shoulders as his hands drifted from her rear to her waist. But the tender moment was ruined as his phone vibrated on the nightstand.
Peter groaned and pulled back from the kiss, reaching over without shifting too much. He glanced at the screen, "Sorry," he whispered, voice annoyed from his fun, "It's my Mom."
Mary nodded sleepily, as she made circles around his muscular chest.
"Hi Mom… yeah, I'm okay. Thank you for checking in on me… uh-huh…"
Mary stayed quiet, but she watched the subtle shift in his face; neutral at first, then slowly tightening with concern.
"Wait… when is this happening?" His tone sharpened, but he kept his voice low, "But that's right when we come back from school… o-okay. I trust your judgment… I love you too. Bye."
He ended the call and stared at the ceiling for a moment, processing.
Mary gently touched his arm, "Everything okay?"
Peter looked over at her, still on his body, "Kevin and I have a cousin's wedding to go to. It's in the States. We fly out today."
He hesitated for a second, his voice suddenly quieter, "Do you… want to come? As my plus-one."
Mary blinked, "What about Vanessa?"
"She'll probably go with Kevin," he said, almost awkwardly, "And I… didn't want to go alone."
A small smile tugged at her lips, "Then yeah. I'd love to."
Peter let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, "Thank God… I would've been mortified if Kevin showed up with Vanessa and I had no one."
Mary laughed softly, curling into him again, "Please. You could've brought your combat boots and still turned heads."
After a few minutes, Mary lifts her head from his chest, sleepy and glowing.
She leans in and gives him one last soft kiss on the lips; it was gentle, slow, and filled with all the "see you soon" energy of a girl who has no intention of being gone long.
"Vanessa and I will pack our clothes."
She slides out of bed, completely unbothered, stretching just a little before grabbing one of Peter's oversized t-shirts off the chair.
She tosses it on with no pants, hoops still off, bare legs glowing in the morning light.
She grabs her phone, hoop earrings, and clothes from the night before cool, collected, completely unfazed.
Total menace.
And she knows it. She quickly walks back to Peter to give him one last kiss and goes back to the door.
Then click.
She opens the door and Kevin is already there. Fully dressed, arms crossed, face smug, and eyebrows practically doing the wave.
Mary freezes.
Kevin scans her from bare legs to the oversized shirt, then locks eyes.
Smirk engaged, "Morning."
Mary doesn't blink, "Morning."
She walks out without shame, without explanation, without slowing. Queen behavior.
Vanessa is going to scream.
Kevin closes the door behind him and turns.
Peter is still lying there… blank-staring the ceiling like he just survived a psychological battlefield. Kevin leans against the wall, arms crossed, wearing the biggest shit-eating grin on the planet.
"…So. You deflowered an ex idol."
Peter doesn't move, "I fucking hate you."
Kevin nods while maintaining said grin, "That's fair."
…
Mary walks through the front door in Peter's oversized t-shirt… no pants, hoop earrings in hand, and legs that scream "I just ruined a war machine." She's glowing like she's been baptized in divinity. Because she has.
Vanessa is on the couch.
Arms crossed. Foot tapping. Face blank.
She is the moment. She is ready.
Mary closes the door behind her gently, like she just left sacred ground.
"So…" Vanessa starts, "Was he gentle? Rough? Both? Do I need to call an ambulance or a priest?"
Mary blinks like she got flashbanged, "Can I drink water first or do you want the full sermon raw?"
Vanessa leans in, "No. I've been WAITING. I want timestamps. I want a TED Talk. I want visuals. And if you say the words 'slow burn,' I'm staging a walkout."
Mary tosses her earrings and soul onto the armchair, collapsing beside her with a dramatic sigh.
"I kissed him… and I thought it'd stop there." She pauses, eyes glazed, "But it got really heated. Fast."
"OH MY GOD."
Mary throws a pillow over her face and screams into it. Vanessa is practically vibrating.
"Our first time? Unreal. I didn't even know it could feel like that!" Mary squealed.
Vanessa gasps, "We are getting matching tattoos. Full chest pieces. A quote from last night. I'm designing it right now."
…
Mary sat cross-legged on the floor, while Vanessa perched behind her on the couch, expertly undid her braids with surgical precision.
"You're gonna need clean hair for the plane ride, the wedding, and possibly round two," Vanessa said, fingers moving fast.
Mary paused, sipped her water like she was preparing for a court hearing, "Stop."
Vanessa smirked, "Never. He earned the nickname Spider-Daddy. It's canon now."
Another braid unraveled, strands of Mary's long brown hair falling wild and frizzy.
"You're wearing your hoops again, right?" Vanessa asked.
"They're going in the carry-on," Mary said, "No way I'm risking losing them."
She leaned back slightly, eyes half-lidded, "He didn't say it… but I know the hoops were part of the reason he folded."
She sighed, "…And maybe the part where I didn't treat him like he was dangerous."
Vanessa laughed… warm and wicked, "You're a menace. I'm proud of you."
Mary smiled to herself, letting Vanessa undo the last braid as the moment settled between them; peaceful, powerful, and just a little bit unspoken.
…
Mary steps out of the bathroom in a towel, fresh-faced, glowing like she just came from a spa retreat. Vanessa's already laid out outfits across the bed like it's a military op.
———
Peter and Kevin stood outside the girls' apartment doors, arms crossed, waiting for them to come out. The moment the doors swung open, both girls stepped out, dressed casually with their luggage. Peter dressed in his white t-shirt with black shorts, black socks, and white AF 1s. Kevin in a black t-shirt and olive-green cargos with gray sneakers.
The hallway was quiet. Peter stood with his arms crossed, staring at the floor. Kevin leaned against the opposite wall, glancing at him occasionally. Neither spoke. Not at first.
Then Kevin broke the silence, "…So, how you holding up?"
Peter blinked, "I'm fine."
Kevin raised an eyebrow, "You sure? You looked like you saw God this morning."
Peter gave him a side-eye, "You're not funny."
Kevin grinned, "I'm not wrong, either."
A long pause.
Peter exhaled through his nose, then finally spoke, "It wasn't just physical."
Kevin tilted his head. That was new.
"She didn't treat me like a weapon," Peter said, eyes distant, "No fear. No hesitation. Just… trust. She is the first to just accept me for me."
Kevin's expression softened, "She's good for you."
Peter nodded, "I know. That's what scares me."
Kevin didn't joke. Not this time.
"You're not used to being wanted like a person, Gene," he said, "Only used. Deployed. Directed. We both were."
Peter didn't answer, but the silence was agreement.
Kevin pushed off the wall, walking closer, "Look man, I give you a lot of shit. But I saw the way you looked at her. That wasn't lust. That was… peace. And if you found that, don't let it go."
Peter looked at him, jaw clenched, "I don't know how to keep it."
Kevin shrugged, "Then learn. You mastered anatomy, physics, six forms of martial arts, and battlefield strategy. Figure this one out too."
Peter gave a faint, almost reluctant smirk, "You're getting philosophical."
Kevin smirked back, "You're getting soft."
"Shut up."
"I'm proud of you."
Peter gave a mildly shocked expression as Kevin patted him on the back. He paused before giving a determined look and nodding, "Thank you."
They stood in silence again. Not awkward, just solid.
Then Kevin tilted his head toward the door, "Think they're almost ready?"
Peter checked his watch, "If they're not out in five minutes, I'm leaving them."
Kevin scoffed, "No you're not."
"…No I'm not."
Peter took one look at them and went straight to being Peter as they exited their apartment.
"Took you guys long enough," Peter said.
Vanessa and Mary immediately turned to glare at him, their eyes burning with judgment. Kevin just sighed and dragged his hand down his face.
"You could've said that nicer, Genie," Mary huffed, puffing out her cheeks in an exaggerated pout.
Peter, instead of ignoring it like usual, actually let out a small chuckle and shook his head.
As they headed downstairs, Peter suddenly stopped in his tracks when he spotted a familiar figure standing in front of a sleek SUV limousine. The man in question stood tall and poised; Kevin and Peter's fathers' butler, straight from the States.
Peter blinked. Then again.
"Holy crap… he's here."
Kevin sighed, already sensing the financial flex about to unfold, "Right you are…" he muttered. Then, straightening up, he greeted the man with a nod.
"Mr. Takahiro. Good to see you."
The butler returned a small smile, bowing slightly, "Good to see you as well, young masters. Peter's family has already flown into the United States. I was sent to pick you up and escort you to the Private Airfield."
Mary and Vanessa turned slowly toward Peter and Kevin, their expressions demanding an explanation.
Kevin rubbed the back of his head, looking ever-so-slightly sheepish; which was rare, "Yeah... we're kind of rich."
Peter just sighed, already mentally preparing for more flexes.
"'Kind of' rich?" Mary repeated, eyebrow twitching, "Kevin, I don't know about you, but I'd say you both are VERY rich."
Kevin sighed, "You get used to it."
The group stepped into the sleek, high-end limousine, its interior practically screaming luxury. Peter, as usual, looked unfazed, while Kevin accepted his fate. Vanessa? Mildly impressed. Mary? Still soaking in the ridiculousness of it all.
"You guys own the airfield too, huh?" she asked as they pulled up to a private jet, pilots already waiting for them.
"Obviously," Peter replied flatly.
As they exited the limo, the pilots greeted them with firm handshakes, which Peter and Kevin returned, their movements smooth and professional.
"Hello, kids. Buckle up, we're heading to San Francisco Private Airfield. It's going to be a long flight, so get comfortable," one of the pilots informed them.
"Thank you." The teens gave polite nods before stepping onto the jet.
Not long after takeoff, Peter pulled out his laptop, eyes narrowing as he began tweaking the schematics of his suit. His fingers moved with surgical precision, entering calculations and testing material durability.
Mary, who had been lounging comfortably, suddenly leaned over his shoulder, resting her chin near him.
"Sooooo... whatcha doing~?" she asked in a sing-song tone, playfully nudging him.
Peter, still focused, responded without looking up, "Modifying the suit's material. Instead of a kevlar weave, I'm going with titanweave."
Mary blinked, "So… another weave?"
Peter briefly paused, his deadpan stare meeting hers for a second before returning to work.
"Yes. A better weave."
Mary grinned, "You're really smart, huh?"
"Obviously." Again, no hesitation.
She rolled her eyes, "No, I mean; like, actually genius level."
Peter finally glanced at her, "If hero work didn't pan out, I'd either be a trauma surgeon or an engineer."
Kevin, sipping his drink, muttered without looking up, "He was dead set on being a trauma surgeon, actually."
Mary's eyes widened, "Wait, really?!"
Peter shrugged as he pulled up an animated simulation of his suit taking damage. The simulation showed bullets being absorbed, explosions being absorbed, and strikes from superhuman opponents some damage.
Satisfied, he clicked a button, sending the finalized schematics to a contact named JaWill Montgomery.
…
Thousands of miles away, in a high-tech facility beneath a towering panther statue, a young man with a tapered afro glanced at his laptop.
The name "Peter Gene Sakaeda" popped up in his inbox.
JaWill opened the email, scrolling through the blueprints. His eyebrows raised slightly. The Titanweave modifications. The reinforced sound-absorbent boots. The structural reinforcements. JaWill smirked, shaking his head.
"Man…" he chuckled, "This is a big favor you'll owe me, buddy."
He leaned back, already formulating the best way to bring Peter's request to life.
———
(Play Demon Slayer Opening 3 - Zankyou Sanka by Aimer)
The Opening begins with All Might standing on top of a tower watching down upon Mustafu.
(Da-dara-dara-da-da Dara-da-da, dara-da-da Da-dara-dara-da-da Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)
It then transition-fades into Peter and Kevin in his place watching over Mustafu as the camera circles around them before zooming away and showing the audience the entirety of the city as the title card "Spider-Man: A MHA Story" pans into view.
(Taga sode ni saku genka)
Peter did the deuces sign to Kevin as he jumped down and web-slinged around Mustafu and weaved around the tall buildings before passing Midoriya and All Might, waving at them.
(Tada soko ni ai wo otoshita)
As he swung past Bakugou, a vein popped as he grew in anger. He soon swung to Todoroki who gave a short nod to him.
(Hade ni iro wo tokasu yoru ni)
He soon swung towards Sero and Satou and gave them each a fist-bump.
(Ginshu no tsuki wo soete)
Peter landed on the grounds of UA with Kevin catching up to him and walked past Yaoyorozu, Jirou, Mary, Vanessa, and Uraraka who waved at them and waved back.
(Korogaru you ni kaze wo kitte)
The two went into the cafeteria and high-fived Kirishima and Kaminari.
(Tsumazuku koto ni tsuyoku natta)
The other two later entered the classroom and Iida, Koda, and the rest of I-A who were hanging out during that moment, Peter took off his mask.
(Hikari mo itami mo ikari mo zenbu Dakishimete)
The League of Villains and their Nomus are now in a panoramic shot.
(Eraba renakereba erabeba ii)
Peter and Kevin are in front as they get ready to fight with Peter and Kevin putting their masks on.
(Koe o karashite moeru hana no you ni)
The two charged forward as the rest of 1-A followed to fight the small petty villains.
(Yamima o terashitara)
Mirodiya and Bakugou fight off some of the villains.
(Aimaisugiru seikai mo fumen ni shite)
Iida, Kaminari, and Kirishima, fight off other sets of villains.
(Yoru o kazoete)
A massive amount of Nomus appear.
(Asa o egaku youna?)
The rest of I-A fight the rest of the villains.
(Azayakana ne o narasu)
Peter and Kevin charge towards Nomus and Peter starts to fight them with a series of slashes, punches, and kicks with Peter shooting taser webbing at another set of Nomus.
(Donnani fukai koukai mo donnani takai genkai mo)
Mary throws a Nomu towards another while Vanessa uses her finger claws to scratch the Nomus.
(Kakikeshite zankyou)
After the fight, Peter and Kevin landed on the ground.
(Da-dara-dara-da-da Dara-da-da, ara-da-da Da-dara-dara-da-da Dara-da-da, dara-da-da-ra)
Slowly the other students approached them with varying expressions of pride and excitement. They all turn around and look towards the rising sun of a better tomorrow as Peter takes off his mask with a look of uncertainty on his face.
———
The group sat comfortably in the private jet's lounge, each holding sodas or other non-alcoholic drinks. The ambiance was relaxed… until Vanessa suddenly leaned forward, her eyes locked on Kevin.
"Question…" Vanessa started, "were you born with a metal skeleton?"
Kevin paused mid-sip, his eyes briefly darting to Peter before he rubbed the back of his head, looking a bit… awkward. Vanessa immediately caught on, "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive," she said quickly, her hands up in apology.
Kevin chuckled lightly, waving her off, "No, it's okay. I trust you ladies enough to tell you this."
The room went quiet, curiosity hanging in the air. He took a deep breath.
"When I first manifested my powers, my bones were normal. So, when I got hit with extreme force or if I get riddled with bullets, they… well," Kevin talked while remembering, "they broke. A lot."
Mary and Vanessa winced, "Yikes," Mary muttered.
"Yeah." Kevin sighed, "So, my parents and I took a high-speed jet to visit a family friend in an African country… Wakanda. They helped boost my healing factor and infused my bones with Adamantium."
(A/N: I would also like to say that in this universe, Wakanda has also created adamantium, but it's obsolete due to any lack of offensive capabilities, unlike vibranium which they also found. Adamantium in this universe doesn't poison Kevin unlike the main Marvel Universe where Logan is suffering from adamantium poisoning, but doesn't have the kinetic properties that vibranium has and is lighter and non-magnetic.)
Mary narrowed her eyes, "Wait a second…"
She crossed her arms, "Last I checked, Wakanda is officially the poorest country in Africa… yet you two managed to get some crazy upgrades from there?"
Kevin and Peter exchanged glances. It was the type of glance that screamed, 'Oh, crap, we forgot they're smart.'
For a brief moment, it felt like they collectively clenched their sphincters.
Peter cleared his throat, "We, uh… can't say anything."
Kevin nodded firmly, "Sworn to secrecy."
Mary raised an eyebrow, "So, you guys made a deal with a secret African superpower and just can't tell us?"
Vanessa sighed dramatically, "Y'all are so damn cryptic."
Kevin offered a small grin, "Look… If they ever let us talk about it, we promise we will."
Mary and Vanessa stared at them for a moment before ultimately shrugging, "Fine. We'll let it slide… for now."
With the mystery left hanging, they eventually shifted gears… turning on the private jet's gaming system and kicking back with video games until exhaustion hit.
———
Peter was the first to wake up in the bed he was in and felt something on top of him, or more accurately someone. He saw Mary was on top of him with her head on his chest and he couldn't help but notice how nice she smelled. He was in a t-shirt while she was in a tank top and he was relieved when he saw his pajama pants were still on and her shorts were on too. He grabbed his phone on the nightstand of the room and saw the location of the plane being in the United States, New York to be specific and saw the time was 7:43am. He decided to get out of bed and take a shower, but he was careful to move Mary off of him as he got out of bed.
…
Mary had soon woken up and realized that she and Peter ended up sleeping in the same bed, but she ended up using his chest as a pillow. Or did she? She questioned it as she saw that Peter was nowhere to be soon, but heard the shower running so she guessed that he was in the shower. Soon, the shower turned off and the door opened to show Peter who only had a towel wrapped around his hips. His toned and huge body was exposed for Mary to see and she couldn't help but stare at Peter's sculpted body. She felt her face heat up as she couldn't help but see every muscle of his body.
"I may need you to get out," Peter said, "I need to put on some clothes."
"Oh right," Mary said as she got out of bed and waited outside. After a few seconds, Peter came out in casual clothing. She soon entered the room and took a shower and then put on some new clothes as well.
While Peter was in the lounge area eating a high-calorie protein bar, Kevin and Vanessa entered the lounge room.
"How did you two sleep?" Peter asked.
Vanessa smiled as she gave Peter a thumbs up while Kevin spoke, "We slept great."
"'We?'" Peter asked with raised eyebrows. They realized what Peter had insinuated and started to go red.
"N-No not like that!" Vanessa said as she started to wave her hands as if to say no.
"Right sure…" Peter said with a massive smirk.
"Then what were WE doing?" Mary asked in a teasing tone.
Peter's smirk fell into a look of embarrassment and he started to go red as she gave him a hug.
"Look who's getting embarwassed," Mary said in a toddler tone as she soon started to kiss Peter on the cheek, making him grow more red on the cheeks. Peter displayed a pained smile as he took a deep breath with his cheeks now being beet red.
"It's a good thing you and I are friends," Peter said.
"Is that what we are after our first time?" Mary asked in a teasing manner. She decided to keep on teasing him by sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Kevin leaned in to Vanessa to whisper in her ear, "When is he going to catch on?"
Vanessa soon replied in a whisper as well, "I think he has… but his responses aren't quite the ones we've been wanting to hear."
"Or see."
The two kept watching as Mary kept poking Peter on his muscular chest and him having a look of displeasure while he's on his laptop creating animated simulations for some equipment he saved on his laptop for the rest of the flight.
…
Within a few hours, the plane landed on a private airstrip in San Francisco. As soon as the doors opened, Peter, Kevin, Mary, and Vanessa grabbed their luggage and stepped out.
Waiting for them were two identical-looking men; the only difference between them was their hairstyles.
Peter barely took a breath before introducing them, "Mary, Vanessa, this is my father, Evan Sakaeda."
Mary and Vanessa waved politely as Evan gave them a warm, welcoming smile. Before they could say anything, Kevin gestured toward the buzz-cut version of Evan, "And this carbon copy right here? My dad, Gene. Also, the guy Peter got his middle name from."
Gene grinned, "Pleasure to meet you, young ladies."
Evan sighed, "Gene, I swear, every time we meet someone new—"
Gene cut in smoothly, "It's important people know which twin is the superior one."
Evan rolled his eyes, "You're only 23 minutes younger, Gene."
Gene smirked, "And yet, here I am; faster, stronger, and better looking."
Kevin groaned, "Oh my god, they're starting."
Mary and Vanessa were trying not to laugh. These men were literally older versions of Peter and Kevin.
"Yes… the Bride to be, our niece is the daughter of our eldest sister who is 9 years older than us," Evan said.
"Where's everyone else?" Peter asked.
"Oh they're at the house already," Gene said, "let me and Evan get your things."
As the family loaded their luggage into the luxury van and drove into the city, Mary and Vanessa stared out the window, wide-eyed. San Francisco was nothing like they expected. Instead of the city they had read about in history books, they were met with towering, neon-lit skyscrapers, flying drones, and hyper-modernized infrastructure.
"Holy crap," Vanessa muttered, "This place is insane."
"I thought San Francisco was supposed to be… y'know, a dump?" Mary added.
Kevin grinned, "Fifty years ago, it was. But someone took it upon themselves to rebuild it into this."
(A/N: Think "San Fransokyo" from Big Hero 6; THAT is what MHA's version of San Francisco looks like.)
"So this is where you two were born?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah, and we grew up here until we moved to Japan," Kevin said.
"This city is amazing!" Mary said, "when I was younger, I've always wanted to travel here."
"Well, are there any places you'd like to see?" Evan asked. He was driving and looked at a mirror below the rearview mirror that showed the teens behind him.
"Hmm," Mary started thinking, "the Ferry Building, Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, SFMOMA, Pier 39, Painted Ladies, Lombard Street… I don't know, I want to see a lot of places."
"Well the wedding day will be in 5 days…" Evan said, "on the day before the wedding, we will do a rehearsal dinner at the Michelin Starred restaurant, Saison. On the day of the wedding, the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids as well as the Groom and Bride will be touring some of the sites you've mentioned that you wanted to visit and take wedding photos before going to the venue at the Golden Gate Club."
"What are we doing today though," Peter asked.
"Well, Eliza and Cameron are trying to get more Groomsmen and Bridesmaids," Gene said.
"Was that the reason why you and Uncle Evan asked us to bring a plus one?" Kevin asked, "Because Eliza is missing two Bridesmaids."
Gene nodded as Mary and Vanessa were now stunned, they were going to be Bridesmaids at a wedding that wasn't their families. Mary has been to western wedding ceremonies while she was living in Australia, but for Vanessa, this would be her first time to a western wedding.
The van rolled into a gated neighborhood, pulling up in front of a massive mansion.
Peter gestured lazily, "Welcome to the house we were raised in."
Vanessa and Mary looked up at the sprawling estate, jaws dropping.
"This isn't a house. This is a damn embassy," Vanessa whispered.
"This is bigger than my old school," Mary muttered.
Kevin chuckled, "Yeah, my Dad and Mom still live here, along with our Aunt Cassandra, Uncle Beignet—"
Mary's head snapped toward him, "Wait. Beignet? Like… the pastry?"
Peter sighed, "Yeah. Our grandparents still grill him for it."
As the group stepped into the grand Sakaeda mansion, two figures descended the staircase. They looked absurdly young; like they were in their twenties, not old enough to have grandsons. The woman's expression softened with warmth, but the man's presence was commanding, sharp, and calculating.
Mary and Vanessa's eyes widened as the woman greeted Peter and Kevin with a rare smile.
"Oh my, our grandsons have returned," the woman said.
Mary and Vanessa stiffened, "…Grandsons?!"
Peter and Kevin bowed their heads slightly out of sheer habit.
"Grandfather. Grandmother."
The woman who is now Peter and Kevin's Grandmother gave the two boys a hug and then walked towards Mary and Vanessa.
"Hello ladies," the woman said, "I am Haruka and this is my husband, Masayoshi. We are Peter and Kevin's grandparents."
Masayoshi's sharp gaze swept over them, assessing them with military precision. Even standing still, he carried the presence of a commander; someone who had led armies and shaped warriors.
The weight of his stare alone was suffocating.
After a beat, he nodded once, "You have not let yourselves go. Good."
Mary and Vanessa stared. Masayoshi glanced at them briefly, his gaze impassive yet piercing, "And you are?"
"Mary," she answered quickly.
"Vanessa," she added, feeling the sudden urge to stand straighter.
Masayoshi studied them for a moment before turning to Peter.
"These are yours?"
Peter knew what he meant. He gave a short nod, "Yes, sir."
"Good. Keep them in line."
Mary furrowed her brows, "Wait, 'keep us in line'—"
Masayoshi spoke over her, "You are likely wondering why we look young."
His voice was calm but absolute, there was no room for debate.
"My Quirk is immortality. I cannot die. I have outlived generations, and I will outlive many more," Masayoshi said.
Haruka spoke next, her tone gentler but no less firm, "And my Quirk is Infinite Longevity. I will not age, but unlike him, I can still die."
Mary and Vanessa felt an unnatural chill run down their spines.
Masayoshi's expression remained unreadable, "Now, if you are done being shocked, we have matters to discuss."
"Hold on now, Dad," a woman's voice said, "they are not here to train, they are here for Eliza."
They soon nodded when the next family member came in, a young-looking woman who in reality was 45 with long hair that went to her hips and a man who looked to be actually in his forties.
"Oh, look at my boys! And who are these pretty ladies?"
Mary and Vanessa introduced themselves. Cassie smiled approvingly.
"You boys picked good."
Kevin coughed, "Thanks, Aunt Cassie, but we're, uh—"
"Mmhm, sure, honey," Cassie said with a wink.
Kevin sank into himself, "I'm going to die here."
Peter stared at Cassie blankly, "Where's everyone else?"
Cassie clapped her hands, "Shopping. But you boys are going to help Cameron with wedding prep, and I'm taking the girls to Eliza."
Peter narrowed his eyes, "You're not giving us a ride?"
Cassie grinned mischievously, "Nope! You two are over 13. You can use your Quirks, right?"
Peter sighed and pulled out his phone.
Kevin stretched, "Guess we're going the fast way."
Peter walked toward the balcony, glancing at Kevin.
"Try to keep up, you snail," Peter taunted. With one swift motion, Peter leapt over the railing and shot a web.
Kevin grinned, "Showoff."
He lunged forward, pouncing after him.
…
At the Golden Gate Club, a man with short-cropped hair moved efficiently among a group of plain-clothed men, directing the organization of the upcoming wedding. His attention was fully on the logistics; until he heard footsteps approaching.
Turning, he saw Kevin and Peter heading his way.
"Hey, Cameron," Kevin greeted casually, hands in his pockets.
Cameron grinned at first; until his eyes landed on Peter.
For a second, he blinked. Then, his expression shifted to outright surprise as Peter stopped a few feet away.
"Peter… oh my god," Cameron's gaze moved up. And up.
Peter was taller. Bigger.
Kevin smirked, already sensing the reaction coming.
Cameron stepped closer, eyeing Peter's build, "You've gotten huge, man. What the hell have you been eating?"
Peter's expression remained neutral, "Food."
Cameron let out a short laugh, still studying him, "No, seriously; how tall are you now? You were shorter last time I saw you."
Peter, ever direct, didn't miss a beat, "Six-four. A little over 260 pounds."
Cameron shook his head, "Jesus. You're a whole different person."
Kevin grinned, patting Peter's shoulder, "Yeah, but don't worry, he's still the same deadpan menace."
Peter ignored him, "We came to help. What do you need?"
Cameron snapped back to the task at hand, "Right, there's a ton of stuff to unload, and we need to move tables into the dining area."
Peter nodded. No wasted words. No hesitation. He turned toward the waiting equipment, "We'll get it done."
Kevin sighed dramatically, "Man, at least pretend to enjoy the family bonding part."
Peter was already moving.
Kevin, smirking, followed after him.
…
While the boys were busy with preparations, the girls were out dress shopping. Mary and Vanessa had the pleasure of meeting Eliza, who immediately welcomed them with warmth. Eliza, a beautiful 24-year-old woman, had the signature black hair of the Sakaeda family, but her pale complexion stood out against her cousins. She carried herself with an effortless grace, making it clear why she was such a natural leader among the bridesmaids. Hwa-Young was also present, her pregnancy now obvious with a noticeable baby bump. Kevin's mother, Cecilia, stayed close to her tending to her sister-in-law, ensuring she wasn't overexerting herself.
The rest of the bridesmaids were lively and welcoming, engaging Mary and Vanessa in casual conversation. They asked light introductory questions about school and hobbies, carefully avoiding anything too personal;after all, the two new bridesmaids were teenagers.
As they arrived at the wedding venue, a scene caught their attention.
Peter stood at a distance, effortlessly lifting massive boxes filled with equipment. His expression was as unreadable as ever, focused purely on the task at hand. The casual ease with which he carried the heavy tables made it look almost effortless.
One of the bridesmaids nudged Mary playfully, "Is that your boyfriend?"
Mary felt her face heat up slightly, "Uhh, we're just friends."
A few of the bridesmaids exchanged knowing glances.
Eliza, standing beside her, rubbed Mary's back gently, "Well, judging by the way you're looking at him, I'd say otherwise, sweetie."
Mary huffed lightly, crossing her arms, "I just… I don't want to ruin what we have. All I ever do is tease him or hug him, but he always seems preoccupied with something. It's like there's no room for me in his head."
Eliza smiled knowingly, "That's just how Peter is."
Mary turned to her, eyes filled with curiosity, "What do you mean?"
Eliza's expression softened, yet held wisdom, "I've known Peter Gene for years. He and Kevin are like little brothers to me. And trust me, once you and Peter start dating; because let's be real, it's going to happen… you're going to help him live more."
Mary hesitated, "Are you sure? He doesn't seem interested."
Eliza stepped in front of her, gripping her shoulders firmly. Her usual teasing tone was gone, this was serious.
"Mary, listen to me."
Mary held her breath.
"He is interested. He just doesn't know how to show it. Peter only expresses two things easily; anger and satisfaction," Eliza continued, "Everything else? He keeps locked up. He was bullied badly as a kid, and even though he's transformed into this huge, confident powerhouse, a part of him is still that boy who used to get pushed around."
Mary's heart clenched. She had never thought about it like that before.
Eliza continued, her voice steady, "Grandpa trained Peter to be unyielding. And he is… on the battlefield, in his discipline, in his efficiency. But when it comes to himself? He has blind spots. He's confident in combat and leadership, but he's never been confident in emotions. That's where you come in."
Mary felt a surge of emotions swirl inside her.
As the rehearsal began, she glanced over at Peter, who remained his usual composed self… efficient, calculating, unreadable.
But this time, she didn't see just the stoic warrior. She saw someone who had learned to shut out the world, someone who needed a reason to let it in again.
And maybe, just maybe… she could be that reason.
———
Several days had passed, and UA was back in session after the short break following the USJ incident. The atmosphere in Class 1-A was unusually chatty; mainly because Peter, Kevin, Mary, and Vanessa were still missing, and everyone was starting to notice.
"What's taking them so long?" Kaminari asked, tilting his head.
"I dunno, but Mary just sent these," Ashido said, pulling up her phone, "Look! That's them at Sakeada-kun and Kevin-kun's house. With their whole family!"
"I would LOVE to go to San Francisco," Hagakure added dreamily.
"That's not fair," Jirou muttered, "We get schoolwork. They get vacation."
"Who cares?!" Bakugou snapped, slamming his desk, "It's better without them here!"
[CRICKETS]
A heavy silence followed.
Everyone slowly turned to stare at him with a mix of disbelief and judgment.
Even Sero whispered, "Bro… literally no one agrees with you."
Midoriya, however, had stopped listening. His eyes were fixed on one of the photos Kevin had sent, specifically on a man standing beside Peter and Kevin.
He stared harder. The man looked strikingly familiar.
Then Kevin had casually texted: "That's our grandfather."
Midoriya's eyes went wide. He started typing, researching, cross-checking facial features… and then it hit him.
"Guys…" he said, slowly turning his phone around, "Sakaeda-kuns' grandfather is Olympian-sama. And their grandmother is Madame Longevity."
The class exploded.
"No. Freaking. Way," Kaminari choked.
"They're related to living legends?" Jirou asked.
"Wait… the Olympian?" Yaoyorozu asked, "As in… the black ops hero?"
Midoriya nodded, "He's been active for over 40 years. Olympian-sama was a member of Japan's Special Defense Forces and was deployed to active warzones. When he started doing hero work he rose to the ranks fairly quickly. He was the Number 1 Hero in Japan for 25 years straight. Even after All Might rose to prominence, he stayed in the top five before becoming a Spec Ops."
The class stared at the photo again.
It all started to click.
Peter's cold, calculated discipline. Kevin's surgical fighting style. Their commanding presence. Their overwhelming combat instincts.
It wasn't just talent.
It was legacy.
…
It was the day before the wedding, the Groomsmen and the Bridesmaids were riding around SF as they did a dress rehearsal of the ceremony. Peter and Mary were arranging seating arrangements and had his and Eliza's family on the left side and Cameron's family on the right side.
There is a table reserved for the Bridesmaids and the Groomsmen that is near where the Bride and Groom are going to eat for dinner. Eliza's Maid of Honor, Jane, soon walked up to them, "How's the seating arrangements?"
"We think this is good," Mary said, showing Jane. Jane smiled and nodded in approval, "I think it's good too, good job. Peter, can you start setting up the tables?"
Peter nodded and started putting tables around the dining hall as Jane soon went to the other room and saw Kevin and Vanessa confirming the reservations. They gave her a thumbs up as she smiled and gave them a thumbs up back and walked to Eliza and Cameron.
"Those 2 cousins of yours, Liza, they're really helpful, especially Peter, he's been able to lift and carry things endlessly, and attach all these decorations," Jane said as the three adults saw Peter carry 14 tables at once. All the decorations were all done by Peter who used his powers to stick to the walls to attach all the decorations along the wall and it looked amazing.
As Peter put down the tables and spread them out, he received a buzz on his phone. He looked at it and saw a text from the class group chat saying there's a Sports Festival happening while they will be gone. Peter shrugged as he didn't care for such notions and went back to work, but Mary, Vanessa and Kevin were shocked. They were going to miss out on a big event due to attending this wedding.
"Peter, did you see the text?" Mary asked as she, Vanessa, and Kevin walked towards him.
Peter stopped what he was doing as the said teens walked to him, "Yeah I saw it."
"How are you nonchalant with this?" Kevin said.
"Okay look," Peter said, "I don't think it matters that much. The Sports Festival is just there for mainly Pro-Heroes to scout people. Most of them suck, wait I retract that, all of them suck. Kevin, we've heard Grandpa complaining about how heroes are these days, especially Endeavor."
Kevin reluctantly nodded in agreement as Peter continued to speak, "Now don't worry, even if we miss the Sports Festival, we'll figure something out."
"Yeah he's right," Kevin said, he soon realized something "wait, what about Grandpa."
"I don't know, he's very selective of people who intern with him. Though I am pretty sure he's heard about our heroics with the USJ incident," Peter said, "apparently he and All Might are still in contact with each other after all these years, so that's how he heard."
They all nodded as Peter said one more thing, "Relax guys, everything will work out. We will still be under a Hero Agency, besides I heard from some upperclassmen that after the Sports Festivals we pick our hero names and then do Internships. When we get back, don't tell anyone I said this."
"Mom's the word," Mary said.
…
Later in the afternoon, the Groom Shower kicked off at the best man's house in Palo Alto. The entire Groomsmen crew had gathered… Peter and Kevin being the only teens present. Since neither of them could drink, the rest of the guys agreed to skip the booze too.
It turned into a hangout session filled with pizza, jokes, and testosterone.
Peter was working on his fourth box of pizza, finishing the last slice with mechanical efficiency. He crushed a soda can one-handed and leaned back like nothing happened.
A Groomsman nudged another, "Dude… how does he do that?"
"I don't need a Spider-Sense to sense an ulterior motive," Peter muttered, licking sauce off his fingers, "What's the challenge?"
The group exchanged glances.
"How about a little physical test?" one said with a grin.
"Let's see what this 'next-gen prodigy' can really do," another teased.
Peter cracked his neck and stood, "Alright. But don't cry when you lose."
Kevin sighed and stood up, arms crossed, "I'll ref. Y'all are gonna need someone to call time and the ambulance."
The men lined up shirtless in athletic shorts. Peter, meanwhile, approached a barbell preloaded with metal plates. The numbers were absurd; nearly 50,000 kilograms.
Kevin raised an eyebrow, "You're seriously going for that?"
Peter didn't answer. He just laid down, wrapped his fingers around the bar, and nodded.
Kevin smirked, "Alright. Let's get stupid." He blew a whistle.
The push-ups began. The groomsmen hit around 40 before collapsing.
Peter? Peter was bench pressing a weight no human should be able to move. Each rep was a war. His teeth clenched. Veins popped along his arms, chest, and neck. His breath was sharp and controlled.
Thirty-eight. Thirty-nine.
By forty-one, his body trembled. He paused.
The room grew quiet.
Peter muttered, "C'mon, you stupid barbell…" and pushed.
The groomsmen, now shirtless hype-men, chanted his name.
"Peter! Peter! Peter!"
He roared, slamming the final rep upward and locking out.
Silence.
Then chaos.
They tried to help him rack the bar, but it wouldn't budge. Kevin rolled his eyes and casually stepped in, lifting one end.
"You owe me pizza for that," Kevin muttered.
Next, they moved to the elevated rig. Peter was attached to a weighted vest that replicated the same load from his bench set.
The groomsmen tapped out at 30 reps.
Peter hit 68.
Everyone gave up. They didn't even pretend to keep going. One guy sat down, shaking his head, "That's not a teenager. That's a weapon."
Kevin nodded, "That's our weapon."
Peter, still hanging upside down, looked at them all.
"Is there dessert, or do I have to go lift the fridge to find it?"
…
While the girls and the Bridesmaids were lounging at the nail salon, scrolling through their phones and sipping fruit-infused water, Mary's phone lit up with a flurry of notifications.
"Hold up," she said, unlocking her screen, "Oh my god…"
On the screen were photos; Peter benching an inhuman amount of weight, Peter doing shirtless pull-ups with a weighted vest, and Peter being cheered on like a hometown hero.
The final image made Mary pause.
All the Groomsmen were flexing for a group photo; grins, abs, biceps on full display.
In the center was Peter. Arms raised. Face red. Muscles sculpted like marble. He looked like a Greek statue trapped in a high schooler's anxiety spiral. Mary bit her lip. Hard.
A Bridesmaid leaned over, "This is the guy you're marrying, Eliza?"
She held up a photo of Peter casually carrying Cameron on his shoulders like it was nothing.
Eliza chuckled, leaning in to look, "I feel bad for Peter. He's probably regretting that photo the moment it was taken."
Mary, still staring at the image, nodded absently, "Yeah… probably."
But her phone remained tilted just a little longer. She hadn't looked away once.
…
Peter adjusted the sleeves of his black blazer as they were seated at their own private teen table. Kevin matched him in tone but wore a white tee underneath, creating a sharp contrast. Mary and Vanessa's dresses added the pop of color, cool tones against a backdrop of elegance. Mary has her hair in the signature braids that Peter loves while Vanessa is in a ponytail.
Peter glanced at them, "Ever been to a place where the menu doesn't list prices?"
Mary blinked, "Nope."
Vanessa shook her head, "First time."
"Really?! Throughout your whole prior LIFE?" Peter asked.
The girls shook their heads as if to say, 'Never.'
"You're in for it," Kevin said with a grin, leaning back.
They all sat comfortably as soft jazz played overhead and warm lighting danced over the hand-polished wood finishes.
"So," Kevin asked, "how's the bride squad life been?"
Vanessa flashed her nails, "Got our nails done. What do you think?"
Peter studied the burgundy, "Matches the Bridesmaid dresses?"
They nodded.
Peter smirked, "Groomsmen are stuck in black. Guess we're the colorless bodyguards."
Mary snorted, "You look like one too."
A well-dressed man approached with practiced elegance, "Welcome to Saison. I'll be your sommelier tonight. I understand this table is composed of teens?"
Peter cleared his throat, "Yes, sir."
The sommelier smiled warmly, "Not to worry. We have non-alcoholic pairings, handcrafted ginger beer, homemade cola, natural lemonades… all sweetened with cane sugar."
Kevin looked at the girls, then shrugged, "Surprise us."
The sommelier bowed and walked off.
Peter glanced at the others, "Brace yourselves."
…
When the ginger beer arrived, Peter took a sip and raised an eyebrow in approval, "Strong. Not bad."
Mary nearly coughed, "That's intense."
Vanessa stuck out her tongue, "I'm switching to cola."
The tasting courses followed soon after, delicate, pristine, and almost too beautiful to eat. Mary and Vanessa took pictures of everything.
"Oh, bite us!" Mary declared, uploading to her story.
Kevin snorted. Peter lowered his head, hand half-covering his face as he chuckled under his breath.
"They're gonna lose it…" Peter muttered.
"No need to tell me twice," Kevin said, "I already tagged Kaminari."
———
Class 1-A was out on the field in their PE uniforms, still stretching when a sharp scream rang out.
Ashido's voice echoed across campus, "THIS IS SO UNFAIR!"
Everyone turned to her. She held her phone up like it was evidence in a trial, "Kevin-kun, Sakaeda-kun, Mary-chan, and Vanessa-chan are eating at some Michelin restaurant while we're out here doing cardio!"
Kaminari leaned over her shoulder, "Wait… is that ginger beer in a glass goblet?"
Sero laughed, "Yo, Peter's holding a fork like he's at a royal banquet."
Yaoyorozu frowned, "Aren't they technically skipping training? That doesn't seem fair."
Jirou glanced at the screen, "Wow, Mary really caught him in 4K."
Midoriya, off to the side, burst into a quiet laugh, "Look at Peter's face… he's so red. He looks like he'd rather fight a villain than sit through that dinner."
He paused, zooming in on the photo, "Though, to be fair… that is excellent bench posture."
Bakugou scoffed, "Tch. Idiots are out there slacking while we're busting our asses."
Tokoyami nodded solemnly, "The darkness of envy runs deep."
Ashido groaned again, dramatically flopping onto the grass, "I wanna be rich, hot, and at Saison tooooo!"
———
The next day had arrived with Peter, Vanessa, Kevin, and Mary all going to the venue with the groom, Groomsmen, brides, and the Bridesmaids. They were all getting ready for the wedding as the ladies and the men were in separate rooms. Peter adjusted his cufflinks, his hair slicked back with military precision. Kevin finished tying his tie beside him. The prewedding calm was in full swing, until the door opened.
"Can the bride, groom, and family members come out for photos, please?" the photographer called.
Peter and Kevin followed Cameron out to the overlook. The Golden Gate Bridge loomed behind them, bathed in golden afternoon light.
Peter scanned the group; his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles… and then he saw her.
Mary.
She wore a burgundy strapless dress that hugged her hourglass figure perfectly. Her hair was braided back, framing her face, just like when he and her walked back home from UA. And the earrings; massive gold hoops; glinted in the sun, catching his attention like a solar flare. They were different from the silver earrings she wore from earlier.
Peter froze. His jaw dropped.
"Oh my god…" he muttered.
Kevin didn't need super-senses to hear it.
Mary caught the look instantly. She strutted over, swaying just enough to make him sweat.
She stopped in front of him, smirking, "Close your mouth, soldier." She gently pushed up his chin with two fingers.
Peter blinked, "Sorry. You look… perfect."
Mary smiled, brushing his lapel, "That's your line, not mine."
Before he could reply, Hwa-Young was already holding up her phone, "Photo time!"
Phones came out. Peter and Mary posed together, and her grinning, wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close like they'd been a couple for years.
Peter gave a flustered smile. Not fake, but clearly OVERSTIMULATED.
Kevin and Vanessa stood nearby, watching.
"You think they'll finally admit it?" Vanessa asked softly.
Kevin tilted his head, "No clue."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. He placed an arm around her.
"But never say never."
"Alright, the bride's family on her side and the groom's family on the other," the photographer said. As he said that, it was evident the Bride had more family members so he had some of the family members move to the groom's side. So Kevin and Peter decided to move over to the groom's side of the family and soon took photos. The next set of photos consisted of the Bride and only her family and then the Groom with his parents. After the photos Peter, Kevin, Mary, and Vanessa walked to an area where they paired up. The Best Man and the Maid of Honor, Peter was paired with Mary while Kevin was linking arms with Vanessa as the rest of the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids followed and the Groomsmen were organized by height after the Best Man.
They all walked to the altar and split off as they stood, waiting for the Groom and Bride with Grandpa Masayoshi in the middle as the wedding officiator. Peter and Kevin saw their Grandma Haruka sitting in the front row with Evan and Hwa-Young sitting next to them and next to Hwa-Young was Gene followed by Kevin's mother, Cecilia and lastly, Aunt Cassie. Uncle Beignet was probably with Eliza to walk her down the aisle while Cameron was waiting for her.
After a few minutes, John Legend's "All of Me" was playing and the MC started to speak up, "All rise for Eliza Tatsuo-Sakaeda."
Everyone stood, with Peter and Kevin subtly straightening their posture to full attention. Within the final minutes of the song, Uncle Beignet walked Eliza down the aisle. Cameron could be seen tearing up before Beignet gave Eliza away, receiving a heartfelt hug before the ceremony began and everyone sat.
"Friends and families," Masayoshi said, standing tall and composed, "We are gathered here to celebrate the union between my beautiful granddaughter, Eliza, and her husband, Cameron. We're here not only because we love them, but because they love each other; and they're choosing to commit to that love. To honor and cherish it for the rest of their lives."
He glanced at both of them, "Now… let's get to the vows."
Eliza and Cameron stepped closer and held hands.
"Alright Cameron, repeat after me. I, Cameron Chu…"
"I, Cameron Chu…"
"Take you, Eliza Tatsuo-Sakaeda…"
"Take you, Eliza Tatsuo-Sakaeda…"
"For my lawful wife…"
"For my lawful wife…"
"To have and to hold…"
"To have and to hold…"
"From this day forward…"
"From this day forward…"
"For better, for worse…"
"For better, for worse…"
"For richer, for poorer…"
"For richer, for poorer…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"'Till death do us part…"
"'Till death do us part…"
"I will love and honor you…"
"I will love and honor you…"
"All the days in my life…"
"All the days in my life…"
"Good, now Eliza, repeat after Grandpa. I, Eliza Tatsuo-Sakaeda…"
"I, Eliza Tatsuo-Sakaeda…"
"Take you, Cameron Chu…"
"Take you, Cameron Chu…"
"To be my lawful husband…"
"To be my lawful husband…"
"To have and to hold…"
"To have and to hold…"
"From this day forward…"
"From this day forward…"
"For better, for worse…"
"For better, for worse…"
"For richer, for poorer…"
"For richer, for poorer…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"'Till death do us part…"
"'Till death do us part…"
"I will love and honor you…"
"I will love and honor you…"
"All the days in my life…"
"All the days in my life…"
"Well done, sweetie," Masayoshi said, then smirked, "Now, for the rings."
As Eliza and Cameron exchanged rings, Masayoshi continued, "These rings symbolize the promises you've made to one another."
He raised his hand dramatically, "And now, by the limited but commanding authority I still somehow hold… I pronounce you husband and wife. Cameron, you may kiss the bride."
The crowd laughed softly before erupting in applause as Cameron and Eliza kissed.
They walked off hand-in-hand as the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids followed. Peter and Mary linked arms and followed behind, then Kevin and Vanessa, followed by the rest of the party.
Photos were taken; group shots, pair shots, family shots… before everyone lined up to enter the dining hall.
"All right folks," the MC announced, "let's welcome the Best Man and Maid of Honor, Scott and Jane!"
Applause rang out as Peter and Mary followed, then Kevin and Vanessa, then the rest. They sat at the same long table as the MC called for speeches.
After the Best Man, Maid of Honor, and the fathers of the Groom and Bride spoke, Uncle Beignet stepped forward once more.
"…And now, I would like my wife's nephew, Peter Gene, to say a few words."
Peter blinked. Mary gently placed a hand on his arm. Kevin gave him a firm nod. The others smiled with support.
Peter stood and walked over to the head table. Uncle Beignet handed him the microphone.
Peter raised it, taking a breath, "Hey, everyone. I'm Peter Gene… just 'Peter' is fine."
A light chuckle spread.
"What can I say that hasn't already been said?" Peter began, "I've known Eliza my whole life. She's like an older sister to Kevin and me. She used to pick us up from school, help us with homework, and basically raise us when our parents were busy. She's strong, smart, and above all, she's always been there."
He turned toward Cameron, "And Cameron… I met you when I was six. You've been with her for nine years. That kind of love, that kind of commitment, it's rare. But you've earned her trust. And you've earned ours."
He paused, hand tightening just slightly around the mic. Peter never liked speaking in public, especially not about feelings. But this time, he didn't hesitate. Peter glanced at his family, then smiled, "To Eliza and Cameron: May your future be full of laughter, loyalty, and love; just like the family that raised you."
He jogged back to the table and grabbed his glass, "So let's raise our glasses…"
Everyone lifted theirs.
"To the happy weds."
As the crowd toasted, Peter sat back down, and Mary gave his arm a soft squeeze.
Their first course was Italian Sausage-stuffed tortelloni floating in veal stock. Mary took a photo of it, prompting Peter to shake his head.
The main course followed, pappardelle pasta beneath slices of steak in stroganoff sauce.
Games began. Who-knows-who challenges, flower toss; one of the girls caught it. Then Cameron tossed Eliza's garter belt. Peter side-flipped over a row of guys and caught it mid-air.
Cheers erupted.
Then came the first dance. Eliza and Cameron swayed to Bruno Mars's "Marry You," with Bridesmaids and Groomsmen joining in.
As the song ended, Eliza walked to the DJ and whispered something.
The MC raised his mic, "Alright everyone, before dessert, we have one last surprise…"
"The Bride has informed me that two members of Enigma are here, Vanessa and Mary," the MC said, "how about we have an impromptu performance from them?"
They cheered as they cleared the dance floor and with Peter and Kevin as well as Vanessa and Mary on the dance floor. Soon music started playing and Mary and Vanessa got ready.
[Play Newjeans's How Sweet live from the Music Bank on KBS World]
After their singing and dancing, Kevin pushed Peter into the center of the floor. Kevin later whispered to the MC something and then grabbed a mic.
"Thank you ladies, now we have another performance by none other than a groomsman, Peter Gene," the MC said.
Kevin then gave the mic to Peter as the latter soon walked to the middle.
(Play Don't Tell Me You Love Me, by Big Sean)
As the instrumental opens, Peter steps into the spotlight. His silhouette sharp against the dark stage, mic in hand, breath steady. His jaw is tight. His eyes scan the room, but he doesn't look at Mary yet.
(I know your tears more than you cause I see them so much.)
He speaks it low, steady, like a fact he didn't want to admit.
(That's what happens when you're here with no trust.)
He takes a slow step forward, each lyric weighed down by guilt.
(Okay, I lied, cheated, you cried.)
Peter's voice tightens and he swallows hard, like the words still taste bitter.
(You done worse— and I'm still here right.)
His brow furrows, and he presses a hand briefly to his chest, he means this one.
(And mother— your friends, all them girl's hating.)
He gestures outward like brushing off whispers. His stance widens, fighting to stay grounded.
(If you're not down then what's your location.)
His voice sharpens, one hand flicks outward like tossing away a lie.
(I called and checked in every night and that was not probation.)
He lifts his head. The first flash of pain crosses his face.
(They gave they two cents and we ain't ask for no donation.)
Peter takes a slow circle around the mic stand, dragging the cord behind him… his pacing calculated, but tense.
(Man you on some other other—. Just found out about my other other—.)
He exhales sharply, one hand briefly clenched, but he keeps his voice calm.
(Went from I love you to you don't know who you —ing with)
He cuts the swear short on instinct. His eyes snap toward Mary in the crowd for the first time. Quick. Unstable.
(Fresh off a vaca' and already need another trip.)
His head drops for a second, almost laughing at the irony.
(She said I had enough tries. Oh, and I'm the reason that she doesn't trust guys.)
Peter's voice cracks just a little here. He tries to recover, steps forward into the light.
(What's the perfect girl if it's not the perfect time.)
If you wanna leave fine. The last line hits heavy; he looks down, voice hollow. The beat shifts. Peter straightens, moves to center stage. His grip on the mic tightens. His voice is lower now haunted, almost. He sings, not polished, but raw.
(Just don't tell me you love me.)
His eyes close. He delivers it like it hurts. Like the words aren't safe to hear.
(You're gonna make it too hard for me. I wish you were ugly.)
He opens his eyes, staring straight ahead. His jaw tenses.
(It wouldn't be so hard to leave.)
His voice drops, almost a whisper.
(Cause baby I hate to love you. I can't make up my mind.)
His stance softens for a split second. His left hand slowly lifts like he's reaching for something he can't touch.
(Cause right when I tell you it's over. By the end of the night I be right back in bed with you you you you oh.)
He turns slightly toward Mary again, his eyes flicker with guilt. And longing.
(I be right back in bed with you you you you oh.)
Peter starts the second verse with more bite. The tension has built now, Peter is no longer reserved. This is him venting his contradictions out loud.
(Wishing I would've tried more, she wanted the truth.)
He raises a finger like he's quoting her. Then drops it fast.
(Truthfully I wish I lied more cause when I was true. All I heard was "bye" more, "— you", "Who is that" and "I don't know why" more {Shut da — up}.)
He paces again, more aggressively. His frustration seeps through.
(We were picture perfect and I tore it all apart.)
He mimics holding a frame, then lets it fall open.
(But if I pick up all the pieces we could still be a collage.)
He gestures softly, like rebuilding something broken.
(Feeling like we ended too soon. Used to stay home and do it in all the rooms. Back shots, I know what you like.)
His voice drops. His eyes flicker again, this time lower, jaw clenched, like the memory hit too hard.
(Had you hitting high notes and you ain't even need no autotune.)
He lets a bitter smirk curl on his lips, but it fades fast.
(Nights I was Patron'd up. Girls dressed alike looking like they cloned up. Same nights I wouldn't pick my phone up.)
He taps the side of his head, he remembers. And regrets.
(And you was thinking damn boy grow up.)
He closes his eyes briefly, just a moment.
(And I could still hear her leaving.)
He looks to the side. That line stings.
(Crazy when a heart breaks it never breaks even.)
He presses a hand over his chest again. Slowly.
(I even found another girl that's perfect. And I'm the only reason we're not working.)
His voice is soft now. Measured. Almost broken.
(Cause what's the perfect girl if it's not the perfect time. And if you wanna stay fine.)
He stops moving. Staring forward. Breathing heavy.
Peter lowers the mic to his chest as the crowd settles. Then he lifts it again. His voice, fragile now, carries the last chorus like a confession.
(Just don't tell me you love me. You're gonna make it too hard for me. I wish you were ugly.)
He glances toward Mary again. Just for a second. Then looks away.
(It wouldn't be so hard to leave. Cause baby I hate to love you. I can't make up my mind. Cause right when I tell you it's over. By the end of the night I be right back in bed with you.)
He almost whispers this line. Like he's remembering.
(I be right back in bed with you. So don't tell me you love me.)
The final beat fades. Peter lowers the mic. Stands still. No bow. No smirk. Just him, in silence. Vulnerable. Exposed. There's a moment of stunned silence. No one moves. No one breathes. Then slowly, the room erupts, not in wild screaming, but in emotional, respectful applause. Eliza wipes her eyes. Cameron looks deeply impressed. Even Masayoshi watches, unreadable, but the faintest nod betrays something like approval. Peter could be seen walking off as Kevin, seated near the side of the stage, leans back in his chair.
"Well damn," he mutters, "Bro dropped a therapy session on beat."
He glances toward Vanessa, "Think I should go next?"
She raises an eyebrow, "Only if you wanna embarrass yourself publicly."
Kevin smirks, "Too late. I exist."
Mary can't breathe. Her heart is pounding.
She's not hearing the song anymore, she's hearing Peter. Every lyric, every glance, every crack in his voice, it wasn't a performance. It was him. Laid bare. In front of everyone. Because of her. She rises slowly. Her heels click softly on the dance floor as she walks, not runs, toward the exit.
She knows where he went. Peter is leaning against the far wall near the venue's exit, arms crossed, head down.
Mary approaches quietly.
"You okay?" she asks gently.
Peter doesn't look at her, "Wasn't supposed to be about you. But it is."
Mary takes a breath, "It was about us."
He finally looks up, "I meant every word."
"I know," she says, "That's why it hit so hard."
Peter looks down again, "I didn't know how else to say it."
Mary steps closer, "You said it perfectly."
Silence. Then she holds out her hand, "Come on."
Peter takes her hand. Without another word, he webs them up and off the balcony railing, into the night sky.
The wind rushes past them. Mary holds tight. Neither of them says anything. They don't need to.
The city lights fade behind them as they glide silently through the stars. Back to the estate. Back to each other.
Peter's room is dark, but the moonlight through the window casts a soft glow. He sets Mary down gently. She turns to him, hands on his chest.
"You still scared?" she whispers.
"Yes," he admits, "But I want this. I want you."
She pulls him in, "Then show me."
The two went in for a deep kiss, they soon undid their clothes as well as underwear and this time… it's slow. Intentional. No rush. No walls.
Just Peter and Mary. No shadows. No lies.
Just love.
———
—(Play Chainsaw Man ED 2 - Time Left by Zutomayo)—
(Yeah)
The first 8 eight seconds are a wavelength that responds to the bassline. Then it transitions to the night sky of Mustafu Japan.
(Shoppai ze hajimete kaide nameta de ai Jibouji kidesu heikintekina seiron ga binbou Irasshaimase ninniku mashi de mezashita kenkoutai Hara uta mitashiteru)
It shows Peter and Kevin in their hero outfits with their masks off, looking out into the sky of the city from the rooftop of their apartment building, taking sips of coffee and scrolling down their phone while sitting on the edge of the rooftop.
(Yuutousei muchina furi shite odocchatte Ketten desu genjou haaku shichau kara chuudan chuu Mou jouto misebirakashi aimasho rettoukan mou Kaerareya shinai tte wakatteru karaa?)
Mary and Vanessa in their apartment room relaxing as they were in loose and comfortable clothing, but decided to change into their hero outfit. At the end of the verse, the two girls exit their apartment room and run to the rooftop to meet with the boys.
(Chokkan de jiko chuu na rikai funou pureiya Motomerareta nara sanjikai)
Midoriya is seen sitting in his room doing small exercises as he writes notes down in his hero analysis notebook.
(Kudaran kuchi genka demashi ni nan da Mottoo motto? Mou igai to tsurai no ni)
Peter stood up and put on his mask. He later did a two finger salute to Kevin, Mary, and Vanessa as he ran and jumped off the roof doing a pose while rotating his body (Like Peter Parker intro from Into the Spider-Verse).
(Uzai kurai sakendatte kurattatte Yuzurenai hibi yo Eiyou ni natte mata yogoshiae yeah Zanki wakannakute agannakute Sekizui hansha no ruisen wa)
Peter swung around Japan weaving around tall buildings and soon did a bullet dive and then started swinging close to the ground while weaving around traffic.
(Nigotta koe de utaeba kansha desu)
Peter landed in front of Class 1-A who were all in their hero costumes with Midoriya and Kevin waiting in front of them.
(Tameshitai wa atatakakute Zettai zetsumei na yoru wa kimochii Heibon na seikatsu yumemita kedo Sente hisshou ga Kimochi ii na)
Peter soon walked past all his classmates who gave him a nod of approval except for Bakugou who simply looked away and huffed. As the last few seconds of the song play, Peter took off his mask and had a look of determination as he, Kevin and the rest of Class 1-A started walking with the sun rising.
———
Sunlight filters softly into Peter's room. Clothes and underwear from last night can be seen scattered around the floor. The air is warm, quiet. Peter lies on his back, naked, one arm tucked under his head. Mary is curled up on top of him, her head resting on his chest, fingers drawing lazy circles over his skin.
Neither of them speaks. They don't have to. It's calm. Peaceful.
Peter reaches over, brushing a strand of hair from Mary's face. She hums sleepily, "You're staring."
"I know," he says, "I'm allowed to do so."
She smiles without opening her eyes, "This is nice."
"It is."
Then—
[BUZZ]
Peter's phone lights up on the nightstand. He reaches over and grabs it.
One message.
[Grandfather: Come see me. Now.]
Peter stares at it for a moment. The peace cracks.
Mary sits up slowly, rubbing her eyes, "Everything okay?"
Peter exhales, "Time to face the Shadow."
…
The study at the Sakaeda estate is cold, quiet, and dimly lit. Peter enters with silent footsteps, still wearing a black T-shirt and gray sweats. Masayoshi stands with his back turned, staring out the tall window.
"Sit," Masayoshi says without looking.
Peter takes the seat. Rigid. Ready.
A long silence.
"You performed well," Masayoshi begins, "Too well."
Peter doesn't reply.
"You were exposed. Raw. Emotional."
Peter's jaw tenses, "I know."
Masayoshi turns slowly. His expression is unreadable, "She's gotten to you."
"She's starting to be important to me," Peter says. Voice low. Firm.
"I can see that," A pause is soon heard, "Which is why I will speak plainly."
Masayoshi steps forward, arms behind his back, "You're not just some hormonal teenager sneaking kisses behind the gymnasium, neither should you be. You are a Sakaeda. Our legacy carries weight. And your choices, especially with her, have consequences."
Peter doesn't blink.
Masayoshi's voice sharpens, "You are having sex with her."
[GULP]
Peter doesn't deny it.
Masayoshi steps closer, "You think passion is harmless. But it's a wildfire. And you're not immune. One slip, one lapse… teen pregnancy will not only tear your path apart, but her's as well."
Peter's spine straightens, "We're careful."
Masayoshi scoffs, "So were others at your age."
A beat of silence.
Masayoshi eyes him, "You've trained for war. But love? Life? You're still a child walking through fire barefoot."
Peter's hands tighten on the arms of the chair, "I'm not abandoning her."
"I'm not asking you to," Masayoshi turns away again and decides to lay in what he will say by switching to English, "But be prepared. Because this love of yours, it will either be your salvation… or your undoing."
———
A/N: Thanks for reading! I have now written Peter to have kind of an emotional mask in a sense that he displays stoicism when the occasion calls for it. His relationship with Mary is something I am trying my best to make it slow.
Peter Gene Sakaeda - 사카에다 헨리 - 栄田 ピーター ジーン - Quirk: Spider - The user has the ability of a spider which include: superhuman strength, agility, wall-crawling abilities, Spider-Sense, super equilibrium, and organic webbing. [Marvel Character Equivalent - Raimiverse Spider-Man]
Kevin Sakaeda - 사카에다 케빈 - 栄田 ケビン - Quirk: Metallic Feral - Within his metallic skeleton includes six retractable 12-inch long metallic claws, three in each arm, that are housed beneath the skin and muscle of his forearms which can be retractable at will. Due to this condition, he has fast regenerative healing abilities. He also has feral senses like smell and hearing, enhanced super strength and leaping ability. [Marvel Character Equivalent - Wolverine]
Vanessa Kang - 강 바네사 - カング ヴァネッサ - Quirk: Faux Sabertooth - She has retractable finger claws and has enhanced feline senses. Similar to Kevin, she has fast regenerative healing abilities, enhanced super strength, and enhanced leaping ability. [Marvel Character Equivalent - Sabertooth]
Mary Choi - 최 메리- チョイ メアリ - Quirk: Super Human - The user has enhanced speed, strength, healing ability, and physiology. Basically a textbook MCU Super Soldier. [Marvel Character Equivalent - Captain America]