On the second floor of the Valentino Hall, where the exhibition hall was also located, two people sat across from each other in Leonardo's studio.
A boy. A girl.
It looked like a intimate scene of a romantic movie.
But no. This couldn't be further from that.
"So, you're telling me a spider bit you?"
Leonardo asked.
"That's right"
Gwen replied, calm.
"One that just showed up in your room out of nowhere?"
"That's right"
"And now, apparently, you have superpowers?"
"That's right."
Leonardo stared at her. Same answer every time. It started to get on his nerves. So, naturally, he turned to the one who might actually have answers.
'Hey, system… what's going on? Did you send the spider?'
[The system did not bring anything into this universe. The system's administrator merely nudged things a little to create a different outcome. In this case: Gwen appearing in this world, at this time.]
'So… the admin didn't pull her from another dimension, just rewrote the story so she'd be born here. I get that, more or less. But then, where did the spider come from?'
[The spider was her destiny. The administrator made no changes to that. She was bitten, and she gained her powers just as she was always meant to.]
'So it happened because it was supposed to… great answer, system.'
[Glad to assist, host.]
'…'
"Excuse me…"
Leonardo snapped back to reality.
"Ah, sorry. Got distracted. Anyway… I get what happened, but don't you think you're trusting someone you barely know a little too easily?"
"What? What do you mean? We've known each other for half a year. We're friends. Besides…"
That "besides" carried the real reason she trusted him.
"I heard what you said before. About a superhero with spider powers. I figured you knew something. Especially since you can see the future."
Leonardo sighed.
"Yeah… I did say that. Not like I can take it back now."
"So you'll help me? I knew you'd know something!"
"I mean, there's not much I can do. I can help you understand your powers, that's about it."
"I'll take it. I'm listening."
"Let's start from the beginning. The spider that bit you was probably scientifically enhanced. I'm not sure what its creators were aiming for, but it doesn't really matter. It changed your DNA. That's how you got your powers."
"A genetically altered spider? How did that end up in my room?"
"Eh… no idea. Let's not get stuck on that. You should have enhanced physical abilities: strength, agility, endurance, etc. You can probably stick to walls, and you've got a kind of sixth sense that warns you about danger before it happens."
"…"
"…That's amazing. I can actually do all that? That's awesome! I can be a superhero with these powers!"
Leonardo blinked. That last part threw him off.
"I never said you had to become a superhero."
Gwen looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean? If I have superpowers, the obvious thing is to use them to help people."
Leonardo looked at her in silence… then smiled to himself.
'Yeah. It's Gwen Stacy, alright.'
"Why are you looking at me like that? You use your powers to help people too, right?"
"…I guess you're right."
"See? Now come on, give me some tips. How do I use my powers?"
Leonardo thought for a second.
"Learn martial arts. It'll help you in combat, and it'll teach you to control your strength. You don't want to accidentally kill someone."
"Uh… accidentally kill someone? Isn't that a little dramatic?"
"You can lift up to ten tons."
"TEN TONS?!"
Before she could fully process that, Leonardo kept going:
"You should also build some web-shooters and synthetic webbing. Running to crime scenes is not ideal. Plus, they're useful in fights."
"Web-shooters… lucky for me, I major in science."
"One more thing."
Gwen looked up just as Leonardo's expression turned serious.
"You should introduce yourself as GhostSpider from the start."
"…What?"
"Look, you've got spider powers and you're a girl. People are gonna call you Spider-Woman. Later on, you'll change names multiple times, but the one that really suits you is Ghost Spider."
She stared at him. Then smiled to herself.
'He's not even trying to hide that he sees the future anymore.'
"Alright. It's decided. I'm gonna be the best superhero in all of New York!"
"You're really excited. Most people would be scared right now."
"Most people don't have someone who sees the future helping them."
To her dismay, he shut that down immediately.
"You don't either. I don't see the future. And I'm not gonna be some superhero's sidekick."
"What are you talking about? There's no way you know this much without seeing the future! Besides, you're basically a superhero already! And you gave me my superhero name!"
"Since when is giving someone a name such a big deal?"
"Since you did it!"
"Fine. Use some boring name like Spider-Girl. I don't care."
"Eh… no thanks. I like Ghost Spider better."
And just like that, the conversation was over. Because deep down, she liked the name.
Because he had given it to her.
She blushed slightly at the thought, but hid it fast.
"Alright, I'll only come to you for help every now and then. No need to get all dramatic."
Leonardo sighed.
"Fine… but don't expect me to solve all your problems."
Gwen beamed and hugged him without thinking.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Then she caught herself and pulled away fast.
"Uh—sorry. Got a little excited."
Not knowing what to say next, she quickly changed the subject.
"You working on a new painting? What is it?"
But once again, she got a flat no.
"I don't show paintings before they're done. Should be finished soon anyway."
Gwen pouted and insisted.
"Come on, we're friends. At least tell me what it's about."
Leonardo found her persistence mildly amusing—though his face didn't show it.
"Alright. It's nothing major. Just an alien invasion."
"Oh, an alien invasion."
"…"
"…A what?!"