Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned here.

This story was made with the sole purpose of entertainment and is not intended to be taken seriously in any social, political or religious context under any circumstances.

As such, the actions and/or viewpoints expressed by the characters in this story do not automatically reflect the opinions of the author.

This purely fictional tale is not meant to neither educate nor serve as any kind of moral example to follow by whomever consumes this type of content willingly.

"Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie" and its characters created by Keigo Maki.

"Spider-Man" and its characters belong to "Marvel Comics".


Izumi Is Not Just A Spider!

II

Metamorphosis


The deafening, intermittent buzzing from an alarm clock interrupted Izumi's sleep.

Grumbling, he sluggishly pulled one hand out of the sheets around him.

Without a second thought, he reached over to silence the piercing noise.

But then, he heard a crack, and a sparking sound afterwards.

Following that, his eyes snapped open. The grogginess consuming him instantly vanished.

'What was that?'

Slowly, Izumi lifted his head from the pillow, looking upon the nightstand beside his bed. His confusion only became greater, once he found his alarm clock shattered into a hundred pieces.

"Eh… Oops…" briefly, he stared at his palm. His gaze filled with wonder.

'I think I hit it a bit too hard… But how?'

Huffing, he ran that hand through his messy hair. Later, he slid out of the blankets, sitting on the mattress.

The broad window behind him allowed the sunlight to pour inside his room. All of the furniture shone in orange and golden glows, reflecting on the wooden floor beneath.

Despite his accursed luck appearing so soon, the day seemed promising.

Thus, even if fortune itself plotted against him, he still had to go to school.

Izumi stretched his arms the farthest he could. Subsequently, he got up from the bed.

Remaining drowsy, he walked across his room. He longed for a splash of cold water on his face. Brushing his teeth also sounded nice.

In no time, he arrived to the door of his room. Yawning, he tried opening it.

However, a loud, metallic creak echoed, and the door slowly swung open before him.

"Huh?" taken aback, Izumi blinked repeatedly, dispersing his lingering lethargy.

He rose his hand to rub his right eye. Instead, he felt something cold and hard poke his cheek.

Immediately, he glanced over his palm anew, realizing that he, somehow, was holding the doorknob within his grasp.

"Oops…" he mumbled while staring astonished at the severed handle.

'Dad won't be happy about the door…'

Gulping, he spun and carefully, very, very carefully, placed the doorknob on the small table in the center of his room.

Standing still for a moment, Izumi exhaled deeply.

'I'm not even out of the house and my luck is already worsening…'

"Yuu~!" suddenly, his mother's voice called from downstairs. "Are you awake? Hurry up or you'll be late for school again!"

Instinctively, he turned to the call.

"O-Okay, mom!" he yelled in reply. "I'm coming!"

Again, Izumi swiveled and stormed out of his room through the handleless door. A long day awaited him, yet he continued wearing the clothes from the previous day.

As he raced towards the bathroom to prepare, a thousand questions flooded his mind.

'First the alarm clock and then the door. I'm not really that strong, am I?'


"Not again, not again, not again!"

The roll of the cosmic dice still didn't favor Izumi.

Since unwittingly destroying his alarm clock left him without proper time notion.

He exited his house in a hurry, and desperately sprinted across the populated avenue.

Regardless, a bright day loomed upon him.

The sky was blue. Vast clouds provided shelter from the searing sunlight. A soft, fresh breeze navigated the streets, guiding lost newspapers to uncharted heights.

'I can't be late again! I can't get Shikimori in trouble again!'

Resembling a sportscar entering a pronounced curve, Izumi halted abruptly when he reached the intersection, then turned right and instantly kept dashing down the adjacent street.

Only to stop shortly after…

His wild race devolved into a slow jog before he finally stood still.

A disorienting 'déjà-vu' sensation possessed him, once he found himself in the same road where the van accident took place.

Where he almost got run over.

It was a surreal sight. No rubble remained. Not a single shard of broken glass could be seen. Both the local drivers and people roamed through the avenue like they accustomed.

The shattered lamp-post served as the sole evidence for the calamity that unfolded yesterday.

If Izumi hadn't witnessed the precarious event himself, he wouldn't believe that anything extraordinary happened in this location.

Such familiarity with danger made him oblivious to the next event.

Suddenly, a loud rumbling reached him. He sucked in a sharp breath. A freezing chill crossed his spine, and the small hairs on the back of his neck bristled.

Swiftly, he glanced at his surroundings, scanning for the imminent threat that unnerved him so greatly.

The mysterious, hurricane wind got stronger, nearer with each passing second.

He started hyperventilating. An immense, overwhelming feeling of dread seized him.

'A hurricane!? Here!? It cannot be! How!?'

Before long, he spotted the source of his unfathomable panic…

It rested serenely upon the treetops above him.

The almighty, world-ending tornado approaching his position, resulted to be a gentle zephyr blowing through the upper leaves and boughs.

'It was just the wind…'

Relaxing his stiff posture, Izumi placed his palm over his chest, easing his hectic respiration.

With the realization also came the calm, and it brought along the shame of hyperbolic preoccupation.

That is, until he perceived another threat…

He began hearing a deafening snarl, and claws forcefully scraping the concrete.

It sounded closely, the unceasing march of a ravenous beast.

It was coming his way.

Izumi's breath quickened again. His fright returned, triggering the fight-or-flight response in his system.

'Where!? Where!? Where!?'

He chose flight, despite not knowing where he should flee.

But his clumsiness got the better of him, and he tripped, landing brusquely on his rear.

Yet, he sought the growling creature that prowled nearby. It was just a matter of time for that monstrosity to attack someone.

His eyes rapidly darted back and forth across the avenue.

Soon, he discovered the beast's identity…

At the other side of the street, Izumi saw a woman, and she was merrily walking with a little dog. A 'chin', if his vision didn't fail.

'A-A dog? It was just a dog?'

Relief immediately washed over him. His fears started vanishing.

Solace. Confusion. Bashfulness.

Everything blended within him, left him questioning even the most absolute truths.

'But it sounded so close…'

So there he remained, sitting immobile on the ground, wheezing noisily while some pedestrians gave him weird looks.

Then, his ears picked on a different alert.

Instinctively, he glanced at its origin, spotting a store in the distance. Inside it, he saw an old man, who himself was watching television.

And somehow, Izumi heard its volume clearly, as if he stood in front of the screen.

"-according to a spokesperson of the company, 'OSCORP' is actively collaborating with the authorities to recover all the contaminated material from the public avenues. The multinational enterprise also has promised to improve its transportation protocols, to ensure that accidents of this nature don't occur again in the future.

No official number about the compromised material has been announced, though verified sources claim that only fourteen out of fifteen specimens have been retrieved so far. OSCORP has declined to comment on the matter.

On other news, earlier this morning another body was found near the local temple.

The victim hasn't been identified yet, but the police confirmed that the murder was committed by members of the gang known as 'The Tarantulas'. In the wake of the increasing violence rates, authorities advice residents to stay indoors as much as possible, and avoid going out past 10 o'clo-"

"Izumi!"

"Gah-!"

Startled, Izumi squeaked upon sensing a faint touch on his shoulder.

He turned so swiftly that his neck cracked lightly.

"What are you doing on the ground? Did you trip again?"

Those soft words delivered serenity to his soul, for he encountered Shikimori standing behind him, looking rather concerned.

"Shi-Shikimori…" Izumi uttered, not really sure of what to say.

"Here," Shikimori lent him a hand. He took it and she pulled him up anew. "Are you feeling okay?"

Izumi just nodded in reply, remaining silent, since he didn't know the answer to that question.

Frowning, Shikimori pursed her lips, seemingly dissatisfied with his response. But ultimately, she changed the subject of conversation.

"Then let's get going," she beamed unexpectedly, retrieving her bright, bubbly personality. "We don't want to be late for school again, right?"

"R-Right…"

Consequently, Shikimori swiveled and began walking down the street. Izumi followed her closely.

From there on, their travel continued without greater mishaps. It was a peaceful journey, where they could enjoy each other's company.

Nonetheless, in the back of Izumi's mind, uncertainty persisted. Increasing doubts concerning the most recent events he experienced.

Unbeknownst to him, things would only keep getting stranger…


After school, the group had agreed to go bowling once again.

Well, mostly because of Inuzuka and Nekozaki's persuasiveness, plus their friendly rivalry reaching its usual, excessive heights.

A thousand footsteps echoed on the polished, wooden floor beneath. The unintelligible gossiping from numerous strangers filled the air, as well as the pins falling with every turn.

A mini wrecking ball was let loose upon the alley. It traversed the lane speedily, and smashed against its targets shortly later, taking them all down.

A giant text appeared on the scoring T.V.

'STRIKE'.

"Yes! Strike!" Nekozaki yelled to the top of her lungs, swinging her arm in a celebratory manner. "Try to beat that, 'Inu'!"

"Okay, first," Inuzuka said, scratching his ear with his pinky. "Don't call me 'Inu'. Second, don't shout like that! You're going to get us kicked out of the alley."

"Third," Hachimitsu chimed in. "It's Izumi's turn."

"What? Oh, yeah. Go, Izumi!"

Frowning decisively, Izumi nodded and rose from the big couch on the seating area.

He rolled his shoulders while approaching the ball return zone. Momently, he inspected them before choosing a blue one. The vivid cerulean hue seemed quite similar to Shikimori's enchanting irises, which he considered a token of good luck.

He would need it for sure.

Thusly, Izumi took the sapphire ball, nearing the same lane where Nekozaki performed her masterful play.

"You can do it, Izumi!"

On cue, he glanced behind himself, looking for his unanticipated 'fan'.

It was both expected and surprising to find Shikimori cheering him up, her hands cupped around her mouth.

She gazed at him with gentle, shimmering eyes. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, and her smile, wide, honest, warmed his very soul.

Izumi froze briefly, gulping. He almost couldn't handle it, his knees started trembling.

'S-So cute-!'

Despite everything, Shikimori believed in him. From the grandiose to the mundane, she always supported him.

Therefore, he made a promise. He wouldn't disappoint her, ever…

Steeling his heart, Izumi gave his girlfriend a confident nod and an earnest smirk.

Ensuing that, he spun again, walking towards the foul line.

Once there, he straightened his back. His sight fixated on the neatly-arranged pins at the bottom of the lane.

Izumi breathed in deeply, held it for a bit, then exhaled. He traced an imaginary line conforming to his calculated trajectory.

'I hope I can avoid the gutters this time…'

"Let's go, Izumi!"

Subsequently, he advanced two steps, swung his arm forward, and released the ball.

Right away, the blue sphere rapidly rolled through the lane. Its course was steady, well-centered.

Gladness surged within Izumi.

Finally, the odds were in his favor. This victory, however small, would be his to claim.

Nothing would ruin this moment.

Or so he thought…

Because, inexplicably, the ball stopped dead on its track.

Following that, Izumi felt an abrupt tug around his hand, which made him stumble forth.

An unnerving quietude seized the entire bowling lane.

"I-Izumi?" he heard Shikimori's shaky voice coming from behind.

Though he paid no mind to it.

Instead, he looked disbelieving at the long rope awkwardly enveloping the ball, spreading over the floor.

And apparently, emerging from under the sleeve of his shirt…

"What the hell is that?" Nekozaki questioned.

"Izumi, bro…" Inuzuka also spoke up. "Were you trying to cheat?"

Izumi slowly spun to face his friends. They had confused expressions, every single one of them.

His jaw quivered, his heart raced, and his cheeks started feeling warm, hot, burning.

Hushed whispers sounded in the vicinity. All eyes instantly fell upon him, resembling knives painfully digging into his skin.

Although, the hardest blow came with his girlfriend's presence at this unfortunate scenario.

Like everyone else, Shikimori gave him a questioning, saddened gaze.

Yet, hers hurt the most.

The promise he made to her didn't last even a day.

That he couldn't bear.

Hence, finding himself amidst a nightmarish situation beyond his control, Izumi elected the only feasible choice in his head.

Escape.

"S-Sorry!" he blurted out before dashing towards the bathroom, ignoring that he was dragging the rope and the ball during his frantic run.

"Izumi!"

Soon, he reached his destination. Disregarding the pleading call, he hastily went through the swinging door, approaching a nearby sink.

Stilling his breathing, he placed his palms upon the edge of the wash basin. Later on, he stared at the wide mirror ahead.

It seemed strangely… impersonal.

His hair was disheveled, scruffy. His face glistened with sweat, and his features looked… different. As if he wore a mask that parodied his true self.

Izumi didn't recognize his reflection. The uncanny sensation merely became enhanced by his previous actions.

'And all because of that string…'

Then, he remembered.

Steadily, he lifted his right hand to the height of his vision, spotting a severed, velvety thread dangling from his sleeve.

'The rest must have gotten stuck in the door.'

Knitting his brows, he tried pulling it out carefully using his free palm.

But he couldn't, for he felt a light pinch on his skin.

"What the-" perplexed, Izumi unbuttoned his sleeve and rolled it to his elbow.

What he found bewildered him even further…

The gooey string was attached to his inner wrist. It was coming out of him!

His eyes widened while he drew a sharp gasp. "This cannot be…"

Panicking, he grabbed the string again, and brusquely tore it off.

Nonetheless, another baffling discovery ensued.

This time, he located a tiny slit where the pristine thread once originated.

Remaining puzzled, Izumi studied it closely. Though it looked like a wound, he sensed no pain from it.

"What is this?…"

During his silent inspection, he unconsciously curled his ring and middle fingers into the inside of his palm, which caused a second, unexplainable event.

Abruptly, a mysterious substance spurted from his wrist with a very distinctive 'thwipp!' noise.

Shortly after, a broad, net-shaped mesh covered the mirror. Its whitish material mimicked silk. It granted the looking-glass a shattered appearance, given the eerie similarity to a spider web.

"E-Eh!?" squeaking loudly, Izumi stepped back, not trusting what he just witnessed. "H-How did I-! What did just happen!? What-! … What is happening to me?…"

Growing increasingly concerned, he glanced down at his palm. Suddenly, he thought of himself as a stranger in his own body.

"This is more than just bad luck… This is-"

"Izumi!"

Izumi yelped anew when the door of the bathroom unexpectedly swung open.

Driven by instinct, he quickly swiveled to meet whomever entered.

He stood on his tip-toes, wishing he could conceal the giant web behind him.

He only had patience to deal with a single misunderstanding today.

"Are you okay?" luckily enough, the newcomer turned out to be Inuzuka. Someone who might just understand. "What's going on with you, man?"

"I-… I don't know why," Izumi responded lowly. "But I don't feel like myself lately…"

"Is that so?" Inuzuka's tone echoed with genuine worry. "Why? Did something happen? I mean, you're right, it's not like you to cheat in… well, anything!"

Bashfully, Izumi looked away from his friend, withholding the answer.

Admitting guilt for a crime he didn't commit was extremely painful, not to mention absurdly unfair.

Yet, it probably would be easier to explain than… whatever ailed him currently.

At that moment, Inuzuka walked towards him, exponentially augmenting his nervousness.

"Hey, it's alright," smiling, he moved his hand upon Izumi's shoulder. "With the cards that life dealt you, can't really say I blame ya'! But… For what it's worth, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. Always."

Afterwards, Izumi also smiled. In the end, trusting Inuzuka's goodwill wasn't a mistake. He thanked the heavens for that.

"Right. Thanks, Inuzuka."

"No problem!" Inuzuka said cheerfully, retrieving his palm. "Now, let's go back. Your girlfriend wants to kill me because I told her she couldn't go into the men's bathroom."

"I'll-I'll go in a second! I still need to… w-wash my hands!"

With that, Inuzuka chuckled and spun, then headed for the door afresh, leaving the bathroom.

Whereas Izumi stayed to plan his next strategy.

Feeling more at ease, he released the breath he was unwittingly holding.

'Thank God he didn't see the web!'

Going outside after what happened would be… awkward, to say the least.

Regardless, nothing would get fixed by standing idly. He just needed to avoid attracting unwanted attention. The seating area should make that a simple task.

"Alright, here goes nothing…"

Taking one last glimpse at the spider web on the mirror, Izumi went through the swinging door, abandoning the bathroom, hoping for the best.

Like he always did.


In the following day, Izumi tried his best to keep a low profile.

He purposefully avoided Shikimori and company the entire morning. After the awkward incident at the bowling alley, he couldn't really face his friends without feeling shame or remorse.

So, begrudgingly, he declined their invitation to spend lunch break together.

He needed time. He needed space.

He needed answers.

There was only one place where he could find them.

Broad sunbeams poured into the empty school library. Tender shadows and golden glows meandered across the wide bookshelves. The secluded room remained beyond the usual, noisy chatter from the students wandering outside.

Here, a lulling quietude enveloped Izumi as he carried on his personal, solitary quest.

"Spiders, spiders, spiders…" he mumbled while surveying the books with his sight.

Atlases, encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographies…

It had been long since he formally helped at the library.

Thus, the current arrangement order became a mystery to him. He just knew that what he looked for probably laid elsewhere.

"But where?…" retracing a step, he rubbed his chin pensively, eyeing the shelf again.

Classes would begin soon and he hadn't even started his research.

"Maybe I should try the periodical section-"

"You should try the biology section."

Taken by surprise, Izumi blinked, tensing a bit. Then, he spun to identify whomever called from behind.

Instantly, fortunately, he encountered a friendly acquaintance.

"Kamiya?"

"I didn't know you were interested in insects, Izumi." the tall, short-haired girl calmly walked beside him, sporting a subtle, yet amicable smile.

"I-I'm not, really," Izumi said hastily, falling prey of nervousness. "It's for an essay."

"About spiders?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"Hmm… I see."

Silence returned once Kamiya finished her sentence.

Fearing an uncomfortable moment between the two, Izumi spoke up, despite not having anything good to say.

"So um… What brings you here, Kamiya?"

"I'm also here to borrow a book," Kamiya replied softly. "It's over there, actually. The white one on the upper shelf."

Following her instruction, Izumi gazed above. He spotted it immediately, a book of white covers and golden letters written on its spine. It stood out like a sore thumb amongst all others with a duller coloration.

"Could you pass it to me, please?" she asked.

"Sure!" without thinking it twice, Izumi raised his hand, reaching for the book. He took it and handed it to Kamiya. "Here you go."

Although, when she grabbed it, he didn't release it.

He couldn't release it.

"Izumi?"

"Y-Yes, Kamiya?"

"You can let go of the book now."

"Of course."

"… So… will you?"

"I'm-I'm trying!"

Somehow, the book got stuck in his palm. The cover was completely adhered to his skin.

Filled with panic, Izumi yanked his arm, unintentionally ripping the book off of Kamiya's grasp.

"Izumi, what are you doing?" she addressed him anew, frowning, her voice more serious.

"I-It's glued to my palm!" using his other hand, he tried to forcefully tear it from his fingers.

'Why is this book so sticky!? Why these things keep happening to me!?'

"B-Be careful, you're going to rip-!"

Ensuing various attempts, the book finally left Izumi's palm.

Nonetheless, the excessive strength he employed to remove it propelled the book high into the air.

With pages rapidly flapping in mid-flight, it brusquely bounced on a nearby bookshelf before gracelessly hitting the floor, miraculously closing upon landing.

"W-Well… That just happened…" Kamiya said.

"Kamiya, I'm so sorry!" Izumi quickly responded. "I-I don't know what happened, I just-!"

"Don't worry," Kamiya swiveled and went to retrieve the book. "I'm quite familiar with the… unfortunate events that happen to you, or around you."

Izumi didn't reply. Growing remorseful, he glanced away from her. The gnawing guilt appeared anew.

It was one thing to endure misfortune.

But seeing others getting caught in the crossfire because of him…

"Listen, Izumi," ignoring the strange occurrence, Kamiya gave him a gentle, understanding look. "For all intents and purposes, I believe you should-…"

Then, Izumi started feeling… something…

A familiar, albeit dreadful sensation. The back of his head tingled, and unpleasant goosebumps spread throughout his whole being.

He recalled it immediately. He experienced the same overwhelming trepidation yesterday when he was walking to school.

It was a warning. An internal alarm for impending doom.

His eyes widened in confusion. Kamiya's words began attenuating, becoming background noise.

Therefore, Izumi managed to hear clearly, the rumbling crack of wood.

At that instant, he noticed. On the corner of his vision, movement manifested.

His sight followed it. An adjacent bookshelf steadily tilting, threatening to fall onto the floor.

To fall over Kamiya.

Abruptly, the tingle turned into a sharp sting. It hurt. It screamed to him. He needed to act, now.

"Kamiya, watch out!"

Time elapsed at a slower pace as Izumi swiftly dashed forth. With both palms projected upwards, he stopped the slanted shelf. Only a few books escaped due to the unfavorable angle.

"I-Izumi?" Kamiya trailed off, seemingly dismayed while she withdrew from the dangerous spot.

His body moved on its own, and Izumi pushed the bookshelf back to its rightful place.

After the commotion, he gazed at the startled girl behind him.

"Are you alright?" breathing heavily, Izumi inquired.

"Uh-huh…" she answered, nodding faintly. An incredulous expression seized her face.

Relieved, Izumi sighed deeply. Later, he looked to the stationary shelf in front of him, silently analyzing what just happened.

With a speed that officially made him the fastest man on Earth, he dived in and prevented an entire bookcase from falling down, using his bare hands.

All of it within mere seconds.

His muscles didn't hurt in the slightest. He couldn't remember struggling to hold the broad structure.

"Izumi?"

Straight away, he glanced over his shoulder. And his anxiousness powerfully returned.

Disregarding the spectacular feat he just accomplished, Izumi completely forgot about the person that witnessed everything.

At least in the bowling alley, nobody saw him shoot spider webs from his wrists.

'How am I going to explain this!? She must think I'm a freak…'

"K-Kamiya, listen. I-"

"You… You saved me…"

"E-Eh?"

"You saved me!" Kamiya exclaimed, smiling widely. "That was amazing! You really are amazing, Izumi…"

A fierce blush spread across Izumi's cheeks. That wasn't the reaction he expected, nor did he expect her to act so… lively…

"T-Thanks…" he uttered as he scratched his nape sheepishly.

However, a fast glimpse of their surroundings helped him realize.

"We-… We kinda' made a mess in the library, heh." Kamiya commented nonchalantly.

"It's okay, I got it." on cue, Izumi crouched and picked up one of the many books littering the floor.

Unhesitatingly, Kamiya kneeled beside him to assist.

"Wait," he turned to her unexpectedly. "I'll do it. It's my fault that this happened, after all."

"A-Are you sure?"

Izumi only nodded in response. Though there was a more pressing matter troubling him.

"Kamiya?"

"Hmm?"

"If it's not too much to ask… Could you please keep this a secret?"

Kamiya blinked, then arched her eyebrow at his request. "Um, sure. But why?"

"It's… complicated…" Izumi huffed. "I've been dealing with some strange stuff lately and… Well, I don't want people to get the wrong idea about me."

Both teenagers rose from the ground. Several books were in Izumi's arms, and he started putting them back on the shelf.

"I see…" Kamiya replied earnestly. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me… Listen, I have to go now."

"That's alright," unworriedly, Izumi gave her the white book that she sought prior to their little adventure. Luckily, the tome exchanged holders without further incidents. "Sorry again for the trouble I caused."

"It's okay. It was good to see you again, Izumi. Hanging out with you is never boring. Take care of yourself…"

Afterwards, Kamiya walked to the door, exiting the library.

Once again, Izumi was left alone with his thoughts.

This… 'power', whatever it might be, apparently could serve a productive end.

'Who knows? I might be able to turn around my bad luck with these abilities.'

Smiling as he arranged the last book, Izumi resumed his quest for knowledge concerning his great power.


Bit of random trivia that I couldn't fit into the actual chapter: Izumi was bitten by the 'Specimen no. 13'.

Thank you for reading and for following the story! I hope you've been liking it so far. The next chapter will feature some real action!

I'll see you again when the time is right.

Excelsior!