𝘡𝘩𝘢𝘰 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

The city had been noisy all day. And it wasn't the usual kind of noise; it was the sound of distant sirens, helicopters on the horizon, and people huddled around their phones, murmuring the same thing: the masked guy swinging between the buildings . By the time classes finally ended, the sidewalks were packed with students pouring out of the doors.

Everyone's talking at once. "Did you see the video?", "My cousin says he stopped a robbery...", "It can't be real." You're halfway up the front steps when someone suddenly appears in front of you.

— "Hey".

It's James. He looks a little out of breath, as if he'd rushed there at the last minute. His hair is slightly disheveled, his sweatshirt is half-zipped, and his backpack is slung over one shoulder; as if he'd dressed in a hurry just before the dismissal bell rang.

For a few seconds, he stands there catching his breath... until he gives you that radiant and charming smile you've known since you were children...

— "I thought... that maybe you would leave without me."

He starts walking beside you as you step onto the sidewalk; it's been the same every afternoon since elementary school: meeting after class and walking home together, taking unnecessary detours just for the sake of it... The streets are buzzing with activity—honking horns, people chatting—but they all always come back to the same topic: James steals a discreet glance at a small group looking at something on a phone screen...

— "Speaking of Spider-Man again, huh?"

Her voice sounds calm, but her eyes glance for a moment towards the skyline of skyscrapers, as if she were checking something.

— "Swinging across rooftops... stopping crimes..." —he says with a soft chuckle.

— "It must be exhausting."

He remains silent for a few seconds, his hands in his sweatshirt pockets as they walk together. Then he gives you a light nudge with his shoulder.

• "Oh well..."