Mrs. Snow—full name Selena Snow—was the guidance counselor for their junior class.
Her responsibilities covered everything.
Personal issues.
Social support.
Academic planning.
College preparation.
Unlike counselors in public schools who sometimes had to manage over a hundred students, Midtown High was a private institution. Mrs. Snow was responsible for only thirty-five students.
That smaller number allowed her to give each student far more personalized attention.
By coincidence, both Lucas and Gwen were assigned to her.
Lucas had originally planned to take a quick shower and change into clean clothes after training.
That plan failed.
Gwen rushed him straight toward Mrs. Snow's office.
On the way, Lucas asked,
"Did she say what this is about?"
"No," Gwen replied. "She just asked if I knew where you were. When I said yes, she told me to bring you with me."
Lucas thought about it.
"Maybe it's about college," he said. "Did Berkeley send your early admission and scholarship notice?"
That was the only explanation he could think of.
In just a few months they would begin senior year.
Graduation was only a year away.
But for top students, the process started earlier.
Many universities had already begun locking in their preferred applicants.
And many high-performing students had already chosen their target schools.
Gwen's choice had always been clear.
UC Berkeley.
A prestigious research university in California, widely considered one of the world's top public universities.
Gwen shrugged.
"What about you?" she asked. "Still planning to study law at NYU? Not considering Stanford?"
NYU's law program was excellent.
But Stanford's reputation was on another level.
Even Mrs. Snow had suggested Stanford as Lucas's first choice.
Lucas simply shrugged.
"I wouldn't get a scholarship from Stanford."
They walked down the hallway toward Mrs. Snow's office.
"NYU's different," Lucas continued. "I might not get the top scholarship, but I'll definitely qualify for something. If I have a scholarship, the bank will give me a better rate on student loans."
It was that simple.
Of course he wanted to attend Stanford.
Or even Yale.
But wanting something didn't mean it was possible.
Even if those universities accepted him, the tuition alone could crush him financially.
Lucas had always been practical.
If he had to take out loans for college anyway, it made more sense to attend a school where scholarships would reduce the burden.
He didn't want to be paying off student loans at sixty.
Of course…
That had been his plan before awakening his Cosmo.
Now?
He cared even less about Stanford or Yale.
NYU was fine.
He was familiar with New York.
And he preferred staying inside his comfort zone.
Gwen frowned slightly at his explanation.
She wanted to say something.
But after remembering Lucas's situation—seventeen years old, no car, no phone, no financial support—she kept quiet.
Soon they arrived outside Mrs. Snow's office.
Knock knock.
"Come in," a voice called.
Gwen opened the door.
Inside, Mrs. Snow sat behind her desk. She wore glasses and looked to be around forty years old. Her expression was warm and welcoming.
"Mrs. Snow," Gwen greeted.
"Gwen, take a seat."
Then she noticed Lucas entering behind her and sighed.
"Lucas… you really should get a phone."
Not having a phone in modern New York was incredibly inconvenient.
When Lucas first enrolled in ninth grade, Mrs. Snow had even offered to give him a spare phone after learning about his situation.
He declined.
Saying he would get one soon.
Now it was nearly the end of eleventh grade.
And the answer had never changed.
Lucas nodded.
"I'll take care of it soon."
"You say that every time."
Mrs. Snow looked exhausted.
Just as she was about to continue, someone knocked again.
The door opened.
Another familiar face stepped inside.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
Peter Parker.
But something felt… different.
Lucas studied him carefully.
The last time he had seen Peter in the locker room, he had been thin and awkward.
Now?
There was something else in his posture.
If Lucas had previously seen him as simply Peter Parker…
Now he could almost see the outline of someone else.
Spider-Man.
Specifically—
The version played by Tobey Maguire.
The original Spider-Man.
Which was strange.
Technically, the Marvel Universe version should resemble the younger Avengers-era Spider-Man.
Yet the Peter standing here looked far closer to the earlier version.
Lucas couldn't explain it.
But the change was obvious.
"Mrs. Snow," Peter greeted politely.
"Peter!"
Mrs. Snow's eyes lit up.
"Wow, Peter. I haven't seen you in a few days. You look… stronger."
That was putting it lightly.
Peter used to look like a stick.
Now he looked more like a young athlete.
Peter scratched the back of his head, smiling shyly.
Then his gaze fell on Lucas sitting on the couch.
He froze.
Completely still.
Lucas looked back at him.
Their eyes met.
And Lucas saw it clearly.
The moment Peter focused on him, his pupils contracted sharply, then expanded again.
Rapidly.
Like a biological response.
Lucas understood immediately.
So it happened.
If nothing unexpected occurred—
Peter Parker had already mutated.
The real Spider-Man had arrived.
The one who didn't rely on gadgets.
The one who could fire webs directly from his wrists.
The original Spider-Man.