"Don't say that," Aunt May made a mock-displeased face as she pulled something out of the oven. "We're always happy to have guests."
Kira gave a faint smile at the words of the cheerful elderly woman, with her silver hair and incredibly kind face.
"Peter, why are you standing in the doorway? Come sit at the table," she said, and the young man flinched slightly in surprise.
"Huh? Oh… coming."
Peter had barely taken his seat when May placed a large dish of marinated chicken in the center of the table. It looked unbelievably appetizing. She quickly carved the meat and distributed it onto two plates, one for Kira and one for Peter, then served herself. And dinner wasn't just the meat — there was also a salad on the table that looked like it came from a restaurant.
"But why..." Peter began suspiciously as he sat down. Only now was he barely able to gather his thoughts. "Why are you here? I thought you lived pretty far from us."
Peter's eyes bore into the guest's face. At any moment, he was ready to start a fight — anything to protect May. He had never felt this vulnerable before. Did he find out who I am?! But how?! How did he discover I'm Spider-Man?! How long has he known?! These questions spun through Peter's panicked mind as he desperately searched for answers. He still couldn't understand how a man so calm and respectable in appearance could be a murderer.
"A longtime friend of mine lives nearby," Kira said with a slight shrug. "I stopped by to see her after finishing some business in the area. Then I remembered my student lived here too." He looked at the boy as he said it.
"Honestly, I didn't expect such warm hospitality," Kira continued, taking a sip of tea. "That's rare these days. I'm glad there are still people like that."
"...But you know," he added more seriously, drawing May's attention, "I wanted to talk about Peter."
"Is something wrong?" the old woman asked with some concern. Peter's heart stopped — was his secret about to be revealed?
"The boy is often late or misses classes, sure," Kira said, shifting his gaze from May to Peter — who, for a brief moment, felt some relief. "But he still turns in all his assignments and passes his exams. That's not the real issue…"
Peter felt like he was walking through a minefield, without any superpowers to help him.
"The thing is, we have no idea where he disappears to. Maybe he's hanging around dangerous places. Or maybe with the wrong crowd. I'm afraid that someday..." Kira looked Peter straight in the eyes. Gone was the calm teacher Peter once knew. Now he fully understood — the man sitting across from him was a monster. And this wasn't a warning — it was a veiled threat.
"...something bad might happen."
May had no choice but to agree. She knew Peter was often late. Sometimes he came home bruised. Every time she saw that, her heart broke. She worried deeply for her nephew — and if anything ever happened to him, she would never forgive herself.
"Alright. We'll have a serious talk with Peter about it."
"I hope you can influence him," Kira nodded. "And I hope my words don't fall on deaf ears."
"Y-yes..." Peter muttered weakly under May's watchful gaze, wondering what to do next.
The evening passed under a heavy atmosphere — though only Peter seemed to feel it. Kira and May continued chatting pleasantly about anything and everything.
× Some time later ×
It was getting late, and May was getting sleepy, but she wanted to wash the dishes before heading to bed. Kira insisted that he and Peter would clean up, and after some brief protest, she gave in and went to her room upstairs, showering their guest with gratitude — leaving the boy alone with a killer.
Kira took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and began washing the dishes. Peter sat silently behind him, eyes locked on his teacher's back. The only sound in the kitchen was the running water, drilling into Peter's mind like a drill.
"...Why?" Peter finally managed to ask, overcoming his fear. "Why are you doing this?"
Without turning around, Kira replied, "You should live your youthful life. Enjoy your youth. As long as you don't interfere with me, I won't harm you. The rest is none of your concern."
Rage was bubbling up inside Peter, stronger and stronger. His fear had all but vanished. How dare he threaten me in my own home?!
"What did Felicia and Murdock ever do to you?! They were innocent!"
Having finished the dishes and dried his hands, Kira activated his Stand and erased time. He calmly walked behind Peter, who was still seated, and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders as time resumed.
"Please, keep it down. Think of May — she just fell asleep," Kira said, gripping Peter's shoulders so tightly it felt like he was trying to crush them.
Letting go, Kira checked his watch. "Looks like I overstayed my welcome," he said quickly, putting on his jacket and heading to the hallway. "I suggest you think about what I said."
And with that, he left — leaving Peter frozen in his seat.
"I can't beat him..." Peter thought, staring at a single point on the floor. His spider-sense had warned him someone was behind him, but his body hadn't even managed to flinch. It was the first time he had ever felt completely helpless. Even when fighting the Lizard or other villains, he had always believed he could win. But tonight, Peter realized he was powerless.
× Kira ×
One less problem. I'd love to get rid of him, but a missing student would raise too many questions. The superheroes wouldn't stay silent either. He gets along well with the Fantastic Four and the mutants — and they're… problematic. I'll take care of him completely when the opportunity presents itself.
For now, the little spider is powerless. I let him know that I know who he is, where he lives, and who he cares about. I doubt he'll risk defying me. But he also can't just sit back while I kill heroes. So he'll be the first on the list of those who need to disappear.
As I walked down the lonely night streets, lit only by the occasional streetlamp, I didn't notice someone bump into my shoulder — until a firm grip caught me.
"Not enough space, huh?" came an unpleasant voice. "You bumped into my girl and didn't even apologize."
A tall man around twenty-five stood beside me, with his girlfriend smirking behind him. They seemed drunk.
"I apolo—" I didn't even finish before a punch hit my face, dropping me to one knee as I tried to stop the bleeding from my nose.
"Too late," the man sneered, shoving my head.
"Darling, can we go?" the woman interrupted his fun. "Quit playing with him — he can't even get up."
"Fine, fine..." he said, stepping back, my hand still covering my face. "Lucky you. Another few punches and you'd be broken."
As they walked off, I stayed kneeling. Inside me, anger was boiling over — and that craving I'd tried to suppress for so long returned. I'd hoped this addiction would pass me by, but I was wrong.
Living in this world, I had forgotten whose body I now inhabited... No — it's more accurate to say who I've become.
This feeling is new to me. In my previous life, I never felt anything like it. This... hunger... it's unlike anything else. Maybe that's a good thing. I think the world will be better without people like that.
This time, I don't think I'll hold myself back — nor do I want to.
× Skip ×
A lonely alley, the kind even rats seemed to avoid, was dimly lit by a sickly yellow light from a nearby lamp. Against the wall lay the headless body of the man, while a few meters away, the girl gasped for air — a man pressing her against the wall with hands around her throat.
Mascara dripped from her eyes as she desperately tried to pry off the strong hands.
"Thank you," the man said, smiling as he squeezed tighter. "If not for you, I would've kept lying to myself."
"But now I know..." Kira whispered with dark satisfaction, holding her fragile neck as it writhed under his grip, "who I really am."
Her eyes rolled back, her hands went limp. Death, as always, came unexpectedly. She had no idea this night would be her last — but regrets no longer mattered.
As her body slid down the wall, Kira gently laid her on the ground.
"Much obliged, milady..." he whispered, brushing her light hair behind her ear. "But I must be going."
He opened a portal in the floor and dropped both corpses into it.
Kira felt true happiness. He had finally felt real freedom. That moment, holding that delicate body in his hands, cleared his mind. He no longer stood in a filthy alley — but in a distant flower field, cool wind blowing gently across it. It was like taking a sip of water after dying of thirst in the scorching heat.
But then, that moment of bliss shattered.
Looking down at his hands, he saw them trembling — as if from cold. Then his whole body began to shake. Confused, he summoned his Stand.
And saw, within seconds, King Crimson's chest pierced by a hand in a black glove — adorned with a skull. Another hand followed, tearing the Stand apart from the inside. Its fragments didn't even hit the ground — they dissolved into pale dust.
As the hands widened the crack, Kira saw glowing feline eyes inside the darkness of his Stand. They glowed faintly purple.
Then, the hands tore King Crimson to pieces, scattering them.
"It can't be..." Kira whispered, trying to stop his trembling, staring at Killer Queen standing calmly before him.