Inside the old gymnasium.
Even though Hawk had already awakened his Microcosm, he wasn't about to drop the habit of throwing ten thousand punches a day a routine he'd followed for a thousand straight days.
So, in the days since his awakening, he continued training with the same discipline.
After all, he had time to kill.
More importantly, Hawk could feel it another star within his Microcosm had started to glimmer faintly.
It wasn't fully lit yet, but at this rate, if he kept up the daily punches for another month, it just might ignite.
Apparently, combat isn't the only way to light a star within the Microcosm.
Or at least, it's not the only way.
Compared to the slow grind of ten thousand punches a day for a month, combat is the only true shortcut.
But that didn't bother Hawk.
First of all, he didn't see himself as a violent person definitely not the kind who'd wake up with powers one day and become the next "I-don't-eat-meat" messiah.
Those thousand days of relentless training didn't just hone his strength they forged his will.
He controlled his power. His power didn't control him.
Second, he hadn't even gathered the materials needed to forge his Sacred Armor yet. So there was no rush to ignite the star of his assigned constellation.
Everyone knows this:
A Saint without armor is a completely different creature from one who wears it.
Well… mostly.
After finishing his routine, Hawk took a shower and changed into a clean T-shirt and jeans. Slinging his shoulder bag over one shoulder, he stepped out of the gym and began walking toward the school gate.
His independent hearing was scheduled for 3:30 PM that afternoon.
If he left now, caught the bus at the school gate, transferred twice, he'd probably arrive at the courthouse by three o'clock sharp.
While waiting at the bus stop, Hawk absentmindedly bit into a sandwich and watched the flow of cars moving in and out of the school gates.
He started wondering whether it was time to buy a car.
Of course, before that, he'd need to get a driver's license.
Yes, unlike most of his classmates who had all snagged theirs already Hawk didn't have one.
He hadn't really considered getting a car before. Back then, he was just trying to survive.
Before his Microcosm awakened, his entire focus had been on preparing for the future. Once he turned eighteen, the federal aid would end, and he'd have to shoulder the rent himself. College loans might come next.
The pressure of that future was suffocating. Cars? That was a luxury he didn't think he deserved.
He didn't belong to that world.
Even if he had somehow bought one, he probably wouldn't have been able to afford insurance.
But now?
Now, everything was different.
If he had to describe the biggest change after awakening his Microcosm, it was this:
He could finally breathe.
The weight of the unknown future was lifted off his shoulders.
Because now…
With his Microcosm awakened, there were only two paths ahead of him:
A comfortable life or an even more comfortable one.
In fact, if he were just a little more ruthless, he could easily use his powers and eventually, his Sacred Armor to live like a king.
Anyone who obeyed him would thrive. Anyone who resisted… would be crushed.
Power is strength.
Strength is the fist.
And coincidentally
His fists could already break the sound barrier. One day, they would outpace light itself.
But Hawk didn't have that kind of mindset.
He had no intention of becoming the next superpowered tyrant.
At least, not now.
Still, now that the pressure was off, he figured it was time to improve his quality of life.
For starters, he still had five alien weapons taken from the Chitauri invasion just waiting for the right opportunity to be sold.
Even if he offloaded them at a bargain say, twenty grand apiece he'd still walk away with a cool hundred thousand dollars.
So…
Buying a car to make life a little easier? Not a bad idea.
As he was lost in thought wondering why the bus was taking so long a yellow Toyota Corolla pulled up in front of him, its vanity plate reading "GW521."
The window rolled down.
A girl with golden hair tied in a loose ponytail and crystal-blue eyes that seemed to see right through him leaned over from the driver's seat.
Gwen Stacy.
"Need a ride?" she asked, smiling.
Hawk blinked.
"I'm fine," he replied after a pause. "I'll wait for the bus, but thanks."
Gwen chuckled.
"You sure? Buses aren't running today."
"…What?"
"Yeah," she said. "Bus drivers went on strike at noon. Didn't you notice there's no one else at the stop?"
Hawk looked around.
Sure enough, the whole station was deserted.
Damn it.
He exhaled, then looked back at Gwen still smiling at him from the driver's seat.
After a moment of hesitation, he picked up his backpack and climbed into the passenger seat.
"Thanks. Really."
"No problem," Gwen replied, stepping on the gas and smoothly merging back into traffic, heading toward Queens Courthouse.
"By the way," she added as they drove, glancing at Hawk, "there's been a change. The judge handling your hearing has been switched to Judge Broski, and the time's moved up to three o'clock."
"…What?"
A question mark practically appeared above Hawk's head as he looked at her in confusion.
Gwen smiled again. "You listed the school's number as your contact. Your counselor couldn't reach you. I saw you head into the old gym at lunch, so I figured you might be waiting at the bus stop."
Hawk blinked, then nodded in realization.
After a moment, he turned to her again.
"Thanks. Really. Again."
"Seriously," Gwen said with a grin. "Don't mention it."
"I'm the student assistant for our grade. Helping people is literally part of my job."
And she meant it.
At Midtown High, Gwen Stacy was universally known as someone who was:
Beautiful
Kind
Smart
She was the kind of person who'd patiently help anyone who asked her for tutoring like Jessica.
Even Flash Thompson, on occasion, would come to her for help and she'd explain things without the slightest trace of arrogance.
She'd also step in whenever she saw someone being bullied like Peter.
Once, when Maria, one of the cheerleaders, was being picked on by the cheer captain, Gwen stood up and shut it down.
And on top of all that…
She had top-tier grades.
So when people said:
"Beautiful. Kind-hearted. Brilliant."
They were talking about Gwen Stacy.