It didn't take too long for the wake to happen. A couple of days? A week or two? I couldn't really tell.

During that time, Flash and everyone else at school eased up on their bullying. I don't need their pity.

If only they did, I'd have something to throw my emotions at.

First was the wake. Everyone, me included, wearing all black. I didn't exactly have the clothes for it beforehand so it was an awkward affair buying all of this. The worst part was seeing his body. Just laying there peacefully despite his violent death.

Everyone was talking about him, from the people he's worked with at his job, to just acquaintances around the neighbourhood. About all the good times they shared with Uncle Ben. And god bless May's heart as she poured her soul out with her own experiences with him. As for me… I couldn't say much at all. Just looking at his face or thinking about him would only bring up the face of that killer, no not the face, the event where I didn't stop him. Replaying in my head again and again. Like a tape on loop.

Why can't I just think of some happy memories of him? Why am I constantly haunted by my own failure?

Of course I know the reason why. It's because his death was entirely preventable.

And I'm the reason why it wasn't prevented.

The rest of the wake was spent in a daze, and the next day we held the funeral. Seeing his body for a second time as we held flowers in hand, waiting for the priest to finish chanting their sutra and giving him a new Buddhist name, which is done to prevent his return to Earth if we said his real name. The name was… Small, given that we didn't have much to donate to the temple for a longer one.

After that, we place the flowers around his head and shoulders, and then watch as Uncle Ben's body is put into the crematorium, at this point most people would go and come back later as the process takes about two hours. But for a while I just stayed there, watching as eventually May is able to lead me away for a moment.

…they were a long two hours.

You know, I always knew this was going to happen eventually. I was going to have to go to a funeral for someone someday.

I just never thought it'd be this soon.

After the cremation was completed, the body coffin was pulled out, bones and ashes are all there is to see. Me and May having to pick out every bone to put into an urn with chopsticks, to which we pick up at the same time for each individual bone.

As much as it would've been cheaper to place him in a grave apartment, we instead put a lot of our money into getting a family grave for him, placing the urn that carries his bones there.

Enough money that I'm honestly worried how we'll pay our bills.

And that's what has led me here, laying in my room in contemplation.

Just what the hell am I going to do? I'll need a part time job that doesn't interfere with my school work, but that's not going to be enough cash at all.

With a sigh from my part, I look towards the ceiling, where I have the secret compartment with my Spider-Man outfit and gadgets.

…I go to it and lift the bottom, grabbing them before putting it all back into place.

I slowly put them on and proceed to crawl out the window.

What am I doing?

With a thwip I swing away into the open sky, far past midnight by now. I don't know where to be mentally with my powers and costume now. It would be so easy to blame them for what happened with Ben, but it's not them that led to his death, it was my own choices.

I take to paths where I can't be as easily seen, swinging high and above the cars and civilians below. The lights of Musutafu shine bright with each building I pass. The cold night wind is felt as I swing with speed. In a way, this helps distract me from my troubles.

Even with this outfit on, I can't bring myself to go back to that underground fighting ring. Getting money that way… It feels like a betrayal to Ben to do so now.

Revealing my powers to the scientific world? That'd only cause chaos.

I can't focus on a far-off future when the here and now is so important.

Tch, a group of heroes that way, gotta make a turn. Even at the dead of night this city is full of life.

"Don't let him escape!"

It's not until I hear those words that I notice them chasing someone way further ahead of them on foot. A villain of red skin full of prickly spikes, wearing an oni mask on their face and normal street clothes.

I turn to look away. This has nothing to do with me.

"I'm no hero, and I'm especially no vigilante, I'm not gonna go breaking the law just to help you."

Guilt hits me like a train, as I instead turn back towards the scene. Rushing towards them as I use the momentum of my swings to my advantage.

And with a quick flip, I land right in front of the villain, surprising them as they trip and stop for a moment. "What the-Another hero!?" Taking no time at all they try to look around themselves to find an escape route.

"How about trying for a more unique look next time? There's a billion villains out there with oni masks." In a way it's cathartic to insult these types of guys like this.

The oni villain takes a dive to the street, taking the risk of possibly getting hit by a car just to escape. As he does so a spike extends from his forearm, slashing the concrete ground as he slashes the dust and rubble behind him as a way to blind me.

Shit. That's the problem with my danger sense quirk, if it doesn't pose a physical threat to me then these tactics work to their favour.

With dust all in front of me I instead take to the sky, jumping with strength to my legs as I make a mighty hop before shooting out a web to a nearby building.

There!

A swing and then a shot of my web to the villain's foot causes them to stop, stuck to the ground. They try to cut at it by using their spiked arms but I take some more shots at each of their limbs. Okay maybe just a bit more for size, a shot here, a shot there… Another shot there.

"Mmmm-mm-mmmm!?"

"Sorry dude, I might have overdone it a bit." By now they are pretty much smothered in a web cocoon.

Oh hey, the heroes are finally here. Now looking at them it's a group of four. Unable to tell their ages due to wearing full body suits, each with a distinct colour. A team? The red one at front, with what looks to be a motorcycle helmet huffs from exhaustion as they bend on their knees to get some breath. "Huff… Huff… Th-Thanks."

"...no problem." I say hesitantly. "I'll be going now then." What I just did was pretty much illegal after all, what with not having a license at all.

"W-Wait. You seem new, which hero are you?"

With a thwip of my web shooter, it latches onto a skyscraper high above as I take a long like at the hero talking to me.

"I'm just your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man!" God, as soon as those words came out of my mouth I could just feel how cheesy that sounded. With that said before they can say anything else I jump and let momentum take me away. To be honest, they're gonna eventually find out I'm not a hero, but who knows what powers they could possibly have, they could possibly take me down in an instant.

A sigh builds up from within myself as I flip through the night sky. I did the opposite of what I did before. I stopped someone. And it felt… Good? Better than not doing it at least.

Doesn't solve a damn thing about the money issues though.

I swing towards an alleyway, just a place to rest for a moment out of sight. Sheesh, if I continue this up people are instead gonna call me Alleyway-Man, maybe I should pick a rooftop to rest at instead next time?

Taking a seat on the cold floor, laying my back against a building wall, I close my eyes as I put my hands behind my head.

What would Aunt May want me to do? Probably continue my school life and leave all the money troubles to her so as to not worry me. She's just that caring of a person I can't imagine that not being her reasoning.

What would Uncle Ben want me to do? The same thing probably, though he might've been more inclined to push me towards being a professional hero instead. He always had an infatuation with them, especially All Might. But… I just can't think about going that route. Getting money from being a "hero", after killing him with my own actions. Something about that just sickens me to my stomach, a guilt that I can't escape.

…what do I want to do?

Who cares what I want to do? Doing what I wanted to do caused all of this to happen in the first place! If I didn't blindly feed my own ego about how great I am I'd be at home with Uncle Ben and Aunt May, a happy family that didn't have their nephew to be the cause for one of them to be dust in an urn!

"Flap."

Faintly, I hear the flap of paper. As I do I open my eyes to look at the building wall in front of me, and a poster there.

I want pictures! Pictures of villains! Pictures of vigilantes! Pictures of corrupt heroes! How about YOU come and give them to J. Jonah Jameson of the Daily Bugle!

That… Doesn't seem like a bad deal. It'd be dangerous, but my power is a wonder that hasn't even gotten anyone to make a scratch on me. And the prices listed below are incredibly generous, worth way more than any part-time job would bring me.

I don't think I can be a hero, but being a vigilante doesn't have the same weight of guilt. Just take some pics whilst I'm fighting or wall-crawling around and getting some major cash for it?

That's a great deal.

Just who the hell is J. Jonah Jameson though?

"-AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE! WHAT IS THIS, A DAYCARE?"

Oh god I'm already regretting this.