Hikigaya Hachiman had always been a bit of an outcast. As far back as he could remember, he had been tormented by classmates, enduring nicknames like "Hikigerm" and "Hikifrog." High school was supposed to be different, a fresh start, but it all went awry from day one.
On that fateful morning, Hikigaya found himself sprinting across the street, chasing a stray dog that had wandered into harm's way. He had always had a soft spot for animals. Just as he reached the dog, a speeding car came out of nowhere, its tires screeching, and Hikigaya was struck. It happened so fast, and in the midst of the chaos, something extraordinary occurred.
Pain surged through his body as he lay on the pavement, but it wasn't just pain; it was a strange, tingling sensation. With a gasp, he realized that something had bitten him. Not just anything, but a radioactive spider, which had apparently chosen his injured body as its last meal. As the spider's venom coursed through his veins, Hikigaya felt his world shift.
Days later, in the solitude of his room, Hikigaya discovered the extent of his newfound abilities. One evening, while absentmindedly reaching for a book on a high shelf, he found himself effortlessly scaling the wall, clinging to it like a spider. Panic set in, but soon, he began to realize that this might be the answer to all his problems.
With time, he honed his superhuman strength, crawling and climbing walls with ease. The moment of revelation was bizarre, an accident during an experiment with web-like substances. As he fumbled around, the material shot out from his wrists and adhered to the wall. His "spider-sense" tingled, warning him of impending danger. A sensation that seemed to come as naturally as breathing.
And so, one evening, perched on the top of a towering skyscraper, Hikigaya Hachiman made a life-altering decision. With a deep breath and the thought, "It's a leap of faith," he pushed off the edge of the building. For a moment, he was suspended in mid-air, free from the chains of his past, free from the torment of his classmates.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he released a stream of web fluid and swung gracefully through the city's skyline. It was a surreal feeling, soaring between towering buildings, and for the first time in his life, Hikigaya felt truly alive.
He spent nights designing and refining his web-shooters, each minor success filling him with a sense of accomplishment he had never experienced before. The hours melted away as he tinkered in his makeshift laboratory, hidden away from the world.
Finally, he landed on another building, the wind rustling through his makeshift costume—a simple sweater and sweatpants, a ski mask obscuring his face. Hidden in the shadows, he muttered to himself, "This is my new story, the story of..."
As the city's sirens wailed in the distance, Hikigaya Hachiman hung there, suspended between the past and the unknown future. He couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, his newfound powers could be the answer to the problems he had always seen in society.
And with that, the night held its secrets, and Hikigaya's journey had only just begun.