It wasn't just Hawkeye who thought that way. Most people probably had the same reaction when they heard it. It was like asking an anxious president to go around consulting ordinary citizens on what to do.
But reality was even more ridiculous. Because Wanda was a witch! That was a completely different level of problem. And you're asking an ordinary psychologist to counsel her? How is that supposed to work?
Natasha didn't voice an opinion, but she didn't think it would work either. She knew a thing or two about psychological counseling—after all, she'd gone through mental training herself. She understood exactly what it entailed. In the end, counseling depends more on the individual than on the psychologist. The doctor can only assist. If the person can't untangle their own mental knots, it's pointless.
Tony, meanwhile, put on his sunglasses, brushed everyone off, and fired up his sports car.
"How should I know? I've never tried it."
"Whether it works or not doesn't matter. At least it might help. Just think of it as giving her a vacation, alright?"
With that, he hit the gas. The sports car roared away, leaving only Natasha and Hawkeye standing there.
The two exchanged a glance.
Alright. Guess that's the plan.
...
Back at the rear of the building, over the past ten days or so, Lorien signed in every day without fail—but it was all junk. Things like [Complete Set of Crayon Shin-chan Manga], [Queen Esdeath's Small Whip], [Super Delicious Milk Tea Recipe], [Extremely Tasty Fried Rice x10].
Seriously, which of these is actually useful? How "extremely tasty" can fried rice really be? And what's that whip even for? Okay, fine—some of them could be useful in a certain sense, but not by much.
Meanwhile, Lorien also took on a few clients during these days, handling them with ease.
"Ahhh~" Lorien stretched out comfortably in his recliner.
He'd kept up with the news these days. The Avengers were facing public backlash, just like in the plot. Not outright hatred, but harsh criticism that they were far too free. If superheroes could act without restraint, wouldn't they just be a roaming demolition crew?
So the higher-ups in society and government were preparing a proposal: from now on, superheroes would have to notify and get approval in advance for any action.
Of course, for now it was just a proposal. No telling when it would actually reach the table. And Lorien remembered—this was the storyline from Captain America: Civil War. That was still a ways off.
...
It was afternoon when Lorien finally welcomed a client he was truly satisfied with.
Gwen.
Or rather… maybe it would soon be Spider-Gwen.
"Ding~"
As the elevator doors slid shut, Gwen stepped out, wearing a hooded jacket, and stopped in front of Lorien's office. She stared at the door, hesitating.
Her father was the chief of the New York Police Department. Lorien's counseling sessions were expensive—affordable for her, yes, but still enough to make her wince.
She had a problem. But was it really better to come here instead of talking to her father? And could Lorien really help her?
To be honest, Gwen didn't even know why she had come. Her fingers brushed against the spot where the radioactive spider had bitten her.
Logically, she should be at a hospital right now, getting her genes and body checked for any issues.
But somehow, she felt she should come here first.
How to explain it? A feeling? Sixth sense? A woman's intuition?
Should she go in… or turn around and leave?
While Gwen was still wavering, a voice called from inside.
"Come in, Gwen."
Startled out of her thoughts, she hesitated for only a moment before pushing the door open, stepping in with an awkward smile.
"Lorien, how did you know I was here?"
Lorien didn't answer. He simply glanced at the camera above the door.
Gwen flushed and covered her face in embarrassment.
"Sit down."
She took a seat, and Lorien handed her a bottle of milk tea. He had an endless supply stored away, so why not use it to treat a visiting high school girl?
"What is this?" Gwen asked, eyeing the drink curiously.
"Milk tea. It's sweet." Lorien gestured for her to try it. "You'll probably like it."
Taking the bottle, Gwen opened it and took a small sip.
"Mmm~"
The instant the flavor hit her tongue, her eyes lit up, as if stars had sparkled inside them. She quickly took a much bigger gulp.
Lorien watched her and nodded to himself.
He'd been studying her personality, habits, and manner of speaking. There was no doubt—this was Spider-Gwen. The ordinary Gwen would have been calmer, more composed. She wouldn't be this lively.
Only Spider-Gwen had that mix of energy, cleverness, and homebody charm—like a female Peter Parker.
"It's delicious!"
After a few more sips, Gwen gave the milk tea the highest praise, her mood noticeably brighter. It was no mystery why—sweet foods trigger dopamine release, making people feel happier. That, in turn, would make Lorien's counseling more effective. Efficiency plus the right tools—simple logic.
Once she'd finished her drink, Lorien leaned back, fingers interlaced and thumbs touching, before speaking.
"I can see the anxiety and unease in your eyes and your expression. Something's bothering you, and it's happening to you right now. You're struggling with it and looking for a solution… No, more than that—you're looking for a way to keep living normally, aren't you?"
Gwen froze, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and nervousness.
At her age, hiding emotions wasn't her strong suit. Unless she were acting for a camera, every feeling she had showed plainly on her face.