Chapter 36: Eating at May’s House
“Then, after you finish exercising, come straight to my house. I’ll also need about forty minutes to prepare the meal,” May said calmly. Her tone was gentle, yet firm, as if she had already calculated everything carefully, even down to the time it would take to cook.
“Of course!” I nodded immediately with enthusiasm. Without realizing it, my body leaned forward slightly, showing an excitement that was hard to hide, as if that simple invitation meant far more to me than it should.
“Alright then, I’ll head inside first. See you later!” May said with a warm smile. The smile looked sincere, giving off a comforting and reassuring feeling to anyone who saw it.
After that, May turned around naturally and walked slowly into her house, carrying the pot I had given back to her.
The pot actually belonged to May. A few days ago, she had lent it to me. At that time, it was filled with quite a lot of leftover food, which had truly helped me get through the day without having to bother cooking.
Only today was I able to return it in a clean condition, after feeling a little guilty for keeping it longer than I should have.
I watched May’s back for a moment until her door closed softly, almost without a sound. After that, I let out a light breath, feeling the fresh morning air before finally starting to run.
The morning air felt cold yet refreshing, brushing gently against my skin and making my body shiver slightly at first. My footsteps began to move steadily along the road, which was still relatively quiet.
Only a few people could be seen—some walking leisurely, others doing light stretches by the roadside. The morning atmosphere felt peaceful, almost silent, allowing my mind to gradually become calmer.
I ran around the area for several dozen minutes, following a route that was already quite familiar. Sweat began to soak my forehead, slowly dripping down the side of my face, while my breathing grew heavier, though it remained steady. Every inhale and exhale felt clear, in rhythm with my steps that kept moving without stopping.
I continued to follow the running schedule given by the Spiderman System, making sure not a single part was missed. Even when my body began to feel tired, I forced myself to maintain the pace, as if there was an unseen push driving me forward.
After feeling it was enough, I gradually slowed down, transitioning into a relaxed walk. My breathing began to return to normal, although my chest still rose and fell quite noticeably. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, trying to cool my body a little.
Without wasting much time, I headed straight toward my house—or more precisely, toward May’s house right next to mine. The very short distance made the return feel quick, taking only a few minutes until I arrived in front of her house.
Once I reached the door, I paused for a moment. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my body after exercising.
My hand briefly fixed my slightly messy hair and lightly patted my clothes to make them look neater, even though I knew it wouldn’t make much difference.
After feeling ready, I raised my hand and knocked on the door gently, but clearly enough to be heard from inside.
Not long after, the sound of small footsteps could be heard from within, accompanied by the faint creaking of the wooden floor with each step. The sound grew closer until the door slowly opened, revealing the figure of a young boy.
It was Peter Parker.
“Hey, Peter!” I greeted with a slight smile, trying to sound casual, even though I was still a bit out of breath from running.
“Uncle Dante!” Peter immediately flashed a bright smile. His face looked innocent, his eyes sparkling with excitement. The expression was so genuine, as if he was truly happy to see me, without the slightest hint of hesitation.
I smiled faintly, then gently ruffled his hair. It was slightly messy, yet somehow it made him look even more adorable and full of life.
“Come in!” Peter said as he lightly grabbed my hand. Without hesitation, he pulled me inside the house, his small steps quick and full of energy.
I followed him, taking a brief look at the interior. This was the first time I had actually stepped into May’s house, and for some reason, a small sense of curiosity began to grow within me.
As soon as I entered, I paid closer attention to my surroundings. The house wasn’t very big, but it felt warm and comfortable, as if every corner held a kind of quiet peace that was hard to describe.
The furniture was simple—nothing luxurious or flashy—but everything was neatly arranged, giving the impression that the owner truly took care of this place with great attention.
The walls were decorated with several family photos, neatly placed in simple frames. There were pictures of Peter when he was younger, some older photos that seemed to have been taken years ago, and a few warm moments captured together.
All of it added a sense of life to the house, making it feel like more than just a place to live—it felt like a place truly filled with emotion.
I observed more carefully, my gaze sweeping across every corner of the room.
Wait… there was something very familiar.
The layout, the arrangement of the furniture, even the atmosphere—it all reminded me of Peter Parker’s house from the *Spider-Man* movie starring Tobey Maguire. The feeling came naturally, as if I were looking at a real-life version of something that had once only existed on a screen.
Of course, there were some clear differences.
Peter here was still very young, far from the teenager I knew. And the most noticeable thing—there was no Ben Parker. The figure who should have been important was nowhere to be seen. The only one here was May, who in this situation was Peter’s aunt—his father’s sister—and the one who took care of him with full attention and affection.
“Hey, you’re here, Dante. Please have a seat, it’ll be ready soon,” May’s voice came from the kitchen.
I turned toward the sound. From there, I could see May still busy cooking. Her hands moved skillfully, occasionally stirring the food before reaching for other ingredients without hesitation, as if everything followed a rhythm she had long mastered.
“Do you want me to help?” I asked, feeling a bit uneasy just sitting around doing nothing, especially since I was a guest.
“It’s alright, it’ll be done soon,” May replied calmly. She didn’t even turn around, staying focused on her cooking, as if she was used to doing everything on her own.
“Alright,” I said in the end, not insisting.
I then sat at the dining table with Peter. The table had already been neatly arranged, with several utensils prepared beforehand—plates, spoons, and glasses set in order. Everything looked simple, yet clean and pleasant to look at.
While waiting, Peter and I started chatting.
He talked about his school life with great enthusiasm—about the subjects he liked, how he enjoyed certain classes, and eventually about his friends at school.
The way he spoke felt lively and full of energy. Sometimes, he even used both hands to gesture as he explained things, as if worried I might not fully understand his story.
I simply smiled as I listened, occasionally responding with light questions to keep him talking.
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