Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City.Through the morning mist, sunlight filtered softly into a modest attic studio.
In front of an easel, a young man with casual elegance sketched away, the brush in his hand capturing vivid images born from memory—or perhaps, from foresight.
A chaotic battle began to take shape on the canvas: a glowing blue portal opened atop a skyscraper, hordes of alien invaders stormed through like a tidal wave, and colossal warships blotted out the sky above.
"Jack! Breakfast is ready—come down, quick!"A voice rang from downstairs.
"Alright, Jessica, just a minute," Jack Kadere replied with a calm shout.
Finishing the final stroke, he covered the painting with a sheet of cloth.After all, the Battle of New York hadn't happened yet—and this kind of premature revelation might raise more than a few questions.
Jack Kadere was a transmigrator.
Based on the existence of Stark Industries and Oscorp, it didn't take long for Jack to confirm: this was the Marvel Universe.
So, once he realized he wasn't some chosen meta-human, genius billionaire, or Norse god, he made a sensible decision—keep his head down and enjoy life.
Save the world?Let the professionals handle that.
Still, Jack's life wasn't entirely ordinary.
His social circle was... impressive.
To his left lived none other than George Stacy, the NYPD's police captain—known for his incorruptibility and tragic fate. George had a daughter, Gwen Stacy, just a few years younger than Jack. She'd grown up at his side, practically like family.
To the right? The Parkers.Ben, May, and—of course—Peter Parker.
Yes, that Peter Parker. The one destined to become Spider-Man.
Jack never imagined the fictional character he'd once admired from afar would end up being his next-door neighbor in childhood.
And it didn't end there.
The voice calling him earlier belonged to Jessica —though her full name was Jessica Campbell. She was Gwen's high school friend, and after losing her family in a car accident, Jack—compelled by some half-baked instinct—took her in as his adoptive sister.
It wasn't until later that he recognized her backstory: enhanced strength, a traumatic past, alcoholism, and a sharp tongue—wasn't this Jessica Jones?
Clearly, fate had a twisted sense of humor.
Stacked with potential future superheroes on all sides, Jack sometimes wondered how he hadn't been vaporized by cosmic rays yet.
But then again, Peter hadn't been bitten by the spider yet. Jessica hadn't gained her powers. Maybe the countdown hadn't started.
...
When Jack finally came downstairs, the sight that greeted him made him pause for a second.
Two girls sat at the breakfast table, mid-bite. Jessica and Gwen.Both were dressed in laid-back but stylish clothes—one a confident brunette with intelligent eyes, the other a blonde with that iconic bob cut and an energy that could brighten a room.
A visual contrast so striking it could've come from a cover page.
"Hey Gwen, you're here early," Jack greeted with a smile.
Gwen grinned mischievously."That Indian breakfast you taught Jessica to make? Amazing. I might just start showing up every morning."
Translation: she was here for the food.
"Caddy, sit down already," Jessica said, patting the empty seat between them.
That seat—clearly reserved just for him.
A silent signal. A not-so-subtle gesture.
"It's Jack, by the way. Not Li," Jack teased as he sat down, scooping a soup dumpling onto both their plates. "We've lived together this long. It breaks my heart every time you mispronounce my name~"
"Jess, it's Kadere, not Caddy or Kah-dare," Jack said as he sat down, placing a soup dumpling on each of their plates with the casual flair of someone used to this morning ritual. "We've lived together this long. I'll start crying if you still butcher my name~"
Jessica laughed, trying again with exaggerated effort. "Ka... dare... uh?"
Gwen smirked and nailed it in one go. "Kadere."
Jessica blinked in mock offense. "Okay, showoff! Why is your pronunciation so perfect?"
"I've been learning phonetics and accents lately," Gwen replied, sipping her tea. "Jack's name is weird in American English, but it's easy once you hear it properly."
"That's hard," Jessica muttered. "I still can't say 'Worcestershire' without tripping over my tongue."
"You learn fast when food's involved," Jack said, grinning. "Just not with languages."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Jessica gave him a little shove with her shoulder.
"You can start with IPA charts," Gwen offered, unlocking her phone. "I've got a site you can try."
She tapped a few times and leaned across Jack, holding the screen out to Jessica without bothering to go around. Her blonde hair brushed his cheek, her slim figure pressed lightly against him as she passed the phone over.
Jack didn't flinch. This wasn't new.A hand around a waist here, a brush of fingers there. The casual closeness had become routine, as strange as that seemed.
And somehow, surrounded by two girls like this, even breakfast tasted better.
The tray of dumplings and egg drop soup disappeared in no time.
"Huh?" Jessica's brow furrowed. "Oh my god!"
She slapped her phone down on the table, screen facing Jack."Look! A new superhero sighting. And she looks awesome!"
It was a news report. The headline read:"Spider-Man Sighting in Queens? Mysterious New Hero Swings In."Beneath it, a photo.
Jack squinted.The costume was… wrong. Sleek black and white, hints of violet, and a hood?
He zoomed in.
That was no Peter Parker. That was a girl—and definitely not a boyish silhouette.
Jack blinked. A hooded suit? Blonde hair?
Ghost-Spider?
He slowly turned to Gwen.
No wonder something felt off about her lately.So that's the kind of Gwen you are…