Even though Harry refused, Gwen still walked alongside him.
After all, a large part of their paths overlapped on Harry's way to his part-time job.
They had always walked to and from school together.
As they descended the stairs, chatting with the lovely Gwen and greeting classmates along the way, Harry suddenly stopped. A knowing smile spread across his face as he looked ahead.
Curious, Gwen followed his gaze and saw a familiar figure talking to a lively, pretty girl.
That familiar figure was none other than Harry's younger brother, Peter Parker!
After the girl left, Harry walked up behind Peter and patted his shoulder with a grin:
"Hey, Peter! If I'm not mistaken, you've got a fun date tonight!"
Compared to the current Harry, his younger brother Peter was much quieter. Though just as academically brilliant, he wasn't great at socializing.
This worried Harry a lot. After all, Peter was in his senior year and still hadn't had his first girlfriend.
Harry had even considered using his connections to set Peter up but it seemed his help wasn't needed anymore.
"That girl's really nice. Don't mess this up!" Harry advised, sounding almost like a concerned parent.
But to his surprise, Peter stammered:
"No, it's not what you think… She just asked me to take a picture of her boyfriend's car and frame it as a birthday gift for him…"
Harry's smile froze on his face: "…"
He quickly changed the subject: "Oh, right! Aunt May made your favorite fruit pizza for dinner tonight. Let's hurry back, I can't wait!"
The three of them walked out together, drawing the attention of their classmates along the way.
Under the stares of so many students, Peter grew uncomfortable. He had never been good at being the center of attention.
But he also felt a pang of envy. He knew the reason their classmates were looking had nothing to do with him.
Their gazes were fixed on Midtown High's two most popular stars—and he was just the extra tagging along.
Damn it, why is Harry so popular? We're brothers, so why are our lives so different?
Thinking about how Aunt May and Uncle Ben treated Harry compared to him, Peter felt even worse.
Damn it, why do Aunt May and Uncle Ben seem to like Harry more? I was here first!
As the trio stepped outside into the square, they instinctively stopped.
In the center of the field, a crowd of students had formed a circle, chanting rhythmically:
"Eat it! Eat it! Eat it!"
Pushing through the crowd, the three saw what was happening inside.
Eugene "Flash" Thompson, Midtown High's notorious bully, was holding Harry's classmate Gordon in the air, forcing his head into a lunch tray like a dog, making him eat off the ground.
There's no doubt this is blatant school bullying!
At that moment, Eugene noticed Peter in the crowd, his eyes lighting up. He pressed Gordon's face into the rice, striking a pose, and said to Peter:
"Hey, Parker, come on, take a cool photo for us!"
The surrounding students showed no sympathy for the victim, instead egging them on wildly:
"Go on, Peter, we know your photography skills are the best at Midtown Science!"
"That's right, take a cool shot of Eugene and Gordon, then post it on the honor board!"
Even with everyone urging him, how could the kind-hearted Peter join in bullying a classmate?
He shook his head and refused firmly: "No, I won't take that kind of photo. Let him go, man!"
But Eugene wasn't about to listen. He glared at Peter and growled:
"Take the photo, Peter. Don't make me say it again!"
Peter looked at Eugene's fierce expression and felt a flicker of fear, but his kindness wouldn't let him abandon someone in need. Like Harry, he was a good person at heart.
Besides, he wasn't without backup, after living together for years, Peter knew just how extraordinary Harry was!
So he raised his voice and shouted:
"Eugene! Let him go!"
Being scolded by Peter made Eugene feel his authority as the school bully was being challenged. Scanning the crowd and noticing the odd looks from the other students, his anger flared. He shoved Gordon aside and charged at Peter,
"Peter, looks like you need a lesson!"
Peter, a scrawny bookworm, was no match for the brawny school bully.
Faced with Eugene's sudden punch, he had no time to react and was about to take a heavy blow to the face.
But then, an arm suddenly appeared in front of Peter. To everyone's shock, Eugene's powerful punch was effortlessly caught by a single hand!
Then, they heard a voice filled with anger and its owner turned out to be Harry, the perennial top-ranked student!
No one had ever imagined that the usually friendly and sunny Harry possessed such strength, easily stopping the much larger Eugene's punch!
Harry tightened his grip on Eugene's fist, his expression cold with anger:
"Eugene, is bullying classmates fun? How about you try me instead?"
Surprised that his punch had been blocked, Eugene was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Harry's seemingly slender frame to hold such power.
But hearing the gasps from the crowd, his thoughts were drowned out by rage.
Used to throwing his weight around at school, how could Eugene tolerate anyone defying him?
"Harry, let go! Don't think I won't hit you just because the teachers like you. Back off, or I'll take you down too!"
Harry shook his head. "No chance. I'm not moving, and I don't think you've got what it takes to beat me anyway."
Provoked, Eugene couldn't hold back any longer. He swung his other fist straight at Harry's face.
But such a straightforward attack was child's play for Harry.
During his training at Kamar-Taj, even Wong and Mordo's combat skills were leagues beyond Eugene's!
Harry yanked Eugene's arm forward, hooked a foot behind his legs, and sent him crashing to the ground.
Pinning Eugene's arms behind his back with a knee pressed into his spine, Harry kept him from getting up.
After effortlessly subduing him, Harry warned amid the shocked murmurs of the students:
"Eugene, this is your last chance. If I see you bullying anyone again, it won't end this easily!"
...
As they stepped out of Midtown Science's gates onto the leaf-covered street, Gwen asked in amazement:
"Harry, I had no idea you were such a good fighter!"
Seeking monthly votes, orz~
(Chapter end)