Manhattan, Goring Apartment!
Helen Stacy, who had been a devoted wife and mother at home ever since marrying George Stacy, was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Howard Stacy, nine years old this year, and Simon Stacy, eight years old, who were Gwen's two younger brothers, were sitting in the living room, seizing every second to watch television.
Yes.
Seizing every second, because once Helen freed up her hands, she would urge them to study.
In Helen's words, since their sister Gwen studies so well, and they all came from the same womb, their studies should also be good.
But in reality, Howard and Simon's grades couldn't be said to be very bad; they simply hovered around the passing mark, and sometimes, a slight carelessness would cause them to drop below it.
Just like now.
Howard and Simon had messed up their year-end exams this year, and because of this, Helen directly cut an hour from their daily entertainment time.
Just then.
The doorbell rang.
"Howard, Simon, it's time for you to go back to your rooms and read."
"...Alright."
Helen, who walked out of the kitchen, glanced at Howard and Simon sitting on the sofa, said blandly, and then, while watching Howard and Simon obediently accept their fate and walk towards their rooms on the second floor, she walked to the door and opened it.
Hawk, standing at the door, smiled and greeted Helen, whose first impression upon opening the door was one of gentleness: "Good evening, Mrs. Stacy."
Helen, who opened the door, was first startled, then warmly invited Hawk inside: "Good evening, Hawk, please come in."
Hawk said thank you, and then was pulled into the house by Gwen, who was standing beside him.
This was the first time Hawk had visited someone else's home in this life.
Gwen's apartment was also on the top floor, and it was a two-story duplex structure; the area wasn't very large, but everywhere one looked, it gave a feeling of warmth and neatness.
Hearing the commotion downstairs, George Stacy, who was in the study on the second floor, walked down the stairs with a serious expression.
Gwen, who was downstairs quickly introducing Hawk to her mother, heard footsteps and looked at George coming down: "Dad."
After seeing George, Hawk politely greeted him: "Mr. Stacy."
George's expression was serious and meticulous, much like an unsmiling, high-ranking leader.
But this time was much better than yesterday.
George at least grunted in response, and then walked towards the dining table without saying a word.
Helen looked at her husband's appearance, shook her head with a hint of amusement, and then said to Hawk: "Hawk, please sit down, it's time to eat."
Hawk thanked her again, and then, led by Gwen, he nodded and smiled again at George, who was sitting opposite him, and took his seat.
Helen then called out towards the second floor.
"Howard, Simon, come down to eat."
"Coming!"
Howard and Simon, who had already been in their rooms with their books, waiting for this moment, scurried down from the second floor, then paused slightly upon seeing a stranger in the dining room, and continued to stare intently at Hawk even after sitting in their seats.
Hawk noticed them and extended his right hand to Howard.
"Hello, Howard, my name is Hawk."
"My name is Howard."
"My name is Simon."
Eight-year-old Simon, who got up from his seat, also extended his small hand and shook hands with Hawk, then looked at Hawk and blinked: "Are you my sister's boyfriend?"
Hawk subconsciously glanced at George sitting opposite him.
Sure enough.
George's face was as dark as a Black man's at this moment.
Very dark.
But...
He did not voice any objection.
Hawk smiled slightly and nodded at Simon, who had blonde hair just like Gwen: "Yes."
As soon as these words were spoken.
George's face grew even darker.
Gwen, on the other hand, smiled and reached out to ruffle her brother Simon's head.
Well done, little brother.
She decided to give her brother ten U.S. dollars before he went to sleep tonight as a reward.
As for Howard, he didn't get any.
Unlike the shared dining style in the East, dinner at Gwen's home was a very clear and typically U.S. individual serving system.
Of course.
This might also be George Stacy's preference.
Regardless, Hawk was an outsider, and unless they had been very close since childhood, or he had visited many times, generally, for a first visit, they would not use a communal dining system.
Hawk could also understand.
However, despite the individual servings, it must be said that the dinner was indeed good.
Speaking of this life, this was the first time Hawk had eaten a dinner that truly felt like a dinner.
There was no need to mention the school food.
As for when he was alone, Hawk didn't pursue anything like color, aroma, or taste; as long as it filled him up, it was fine, because just living was already very difficult.
At the dining table.
George, like the patriarch of the family, silently ate his dinner.
Helen, like the gentle matriarch, occasionally asked Hawk if the food was to his liking and asked some simple, not-too-deep questions.
Gwen, on the other hand, acted as a mediator between her boyfriend and her mother, while also serving as an alarm, vigilantly watching George opposite her, fearing that her father might suddenly erupt.
Nine-year-old Howard and eight-year-old Simon were engrossed in eating their own plated meals.
They ate happily.
Just then.
George, who had picked up the whiskey placed nearby and taken a sip, coughed and cleared his throat.
The next second.
Helen and Gwen's gazes instantly fell on George.
Here it comes.
Hawk, too, muttered inwardly, and shifted his gaze to George, who was sitting opposite him and had been watching his every move from the corner of his eye.
Just as George was about to speak, Helen met Gwen's pleading gaze, chuckled inwardly, but still spoke first.
"Oh, George, tell us about your work. That Spider-Man, have you caught him yet?"
"..."
George looked at Helen, then looked at Gwen with a half-smile, and finally fixed his gaze on Hawk: "Not yet, but we will. After all, he's an amateur, and he's left us a lot of clues."
After speaking.
George didn't give Helen and Gwen another chance to interrupt, and looked at Hawk with a smile: "By the way, Hawk, what do you think of this Spider-Man who's recently appeared? Do you also think he's a so-called vigilante?"
Gwen's left hand, placed under the table, gripped Hawk's thigh, not too hard.
Hawk received Gwen's subtle warning, chuckled, and shook his head.
"Sir, I've been in Maryland these past few days, and just got back yesterday. Today, I spent the whole day at the library reading."
"To be honest."
"I'm still a student right now, so I'm only concerned about whether I can get a scholarship to New York University and whether the bank will approve my loan application."
"As for that Spider-Man, I don't care if he's a vigilante or some attention-seeking hippie criminal."
"..."
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