I Became Spider-Man's Cousin in Anime Crossover

Chapter 154 [Bonus Chapter] On how many people truly cherish Riley as their white moonlight.

After Riley finished making the call and completing the preliminary preparations, he activated the gliding device on his suit and sped towards New York Square.

When Riley arrived at the scene, the bustling crowd had not diminished at all because the police were still on their way, making it as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack to locate a specific person in the vast sea of ​​people.

But after confirming Max's identity, Riley, recalling this plot, was certain that Max, having undergone mutation, would instinctively crave more electricity.

As an electrical engineer, Max knew very well that Osborn's underground power supply system, which was already installed in New York Square, was the closest "free canteen" that could meet his needs.

So, Riley's task was to use the power grid map Harry sent to locate this crucial node, while simultaneously activating his suit's invisibility function and quietly lying in wait for Max to reveal himself.

Of course, before Max showed up, Riley could have used Spider-Man's fame to single-handedly evacuate the crowd.

However, doing so would likely be misinterpreted by Max as Spider-Man wanting to eliminate him as an "enemy" and thus being afraid to show himself.

Or worse, it could cause Max, who is already emotionally unstable, to become hostile towards Riley due to the effects of mental instability.

It was precisely for this reason that Riley not only did not do so, but also specifically connected the communication system to the police's radio frequency. Even after Sheriff George had already informed his officers in advance, he firmly ordered the officers remaining on patrol to quickly withdraw to concealed locations and await further orders.

In order to create a relatively "safe" environment for Max, who could appear at any time, in the open.

Fortunately, due to the crisis in the multiverse, Riley was unable to stop Max's mutation like Garfield, who had a second chance at life.

But Riley, who was waiting patiently, didn't have to wait long before he saw Max staggering towards the electric fence, as if he were a traveler who had been trapped in the desert for a long time and was thirsting for the water of an oasis.

"Don't worry, I caught you... Hey, isn't this my good buddy Max? Good evening, you look a bit unwell, maybe you need some help?"

Of course, unlike in movies...

As Max knelt down, preparing to draw electricity from the cable.

Riley, who had quietly deactivated his invisibility, pretended to be passing by. He bent down and caught Max steadily, holding him in his arms.

Then, meeting Max's surprised and uncertain gaze, he spoke gently to soothe Max's emotions, and did not forget to praise Max a few words, giving Max the sense of recognition that he needed most at the moment.

"By the way, man, your new look is really cool, like a superhero! Where did you find your new stylist? I want to get a makeover like that sometime!"

What needs to be noted in the conversation is...

Just like when Max woke up, the clothes he was wearing weren't charred by the high temperature.

At this point, with a severe power shortage and his emotions stabilizing and no signs of loss of control, Max was at best just an ordinary person with a high body temperature.

So, let alone the nanosuit Riley retrieved from Gwen after returning to this universe, which had been fully upgraded by Dr. Otto and Dr. Connors, possessing fire resistance, high-temperature resistance, and electrical insulation capabilities...

Even if Riley didn't wear his suit and just gave Max a hug, he wouldn't suffer any real harm.

But for Max at this moment, a "friend" who still treated him as a normal person and unhesitatingly opened his arms to give him a warm hug was nothing short of a redemptive white moonlight.

Not to mention, the person who came was Spider-Man, whom Max had always admired and who had once saved his life!

Max blinked rapidly in disbelief, confirming that it wasn't a one-man show he'd written and directed at home, but rather Spider-Man actually appearing before him.

Max, already filled with fear and helplessness, hugged Riley like a wronged child, his lips trembling and his voice trembling with sobs as he cried out in disbelief.

"Spider-Man...? Is it really you? But... I'm just a nobody, how could you..."

"Of course it's me, hey Max. Remember what I said last time we met? You're no nobody! You are...?"

"...You said that I might be someone's light, and maybe at some point in the future, even you will need my help."

"That's right, that's it! I'm so glad you remember what I told you! So, cheer up, buddy, hold on tight, I'll help you up... Okay, that's it. Oh, guys, are you taking pictures? Come on, Max, strike a cool pose and smile at the camera. Maybe you'll wake up tomorrow and be a social media star!"

After offering words of comfort, Riley saw that Max, having found a pillar of support, was gradually calming down, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Riley slowly helped Max stand up again.

Riley, who had originally planned to take Max directly back to District 13, noticed the growing crowd of onlookers and the numerous phones taking photos. He also remembered Max's desire to be the center of attention and gain recognition from others.

Riley then changed his mind at the last minute.

He casually shifted his posture, placing his hand on Max's shoulder and taking a step back. This allowed Max to be positioned in the center of the frame, while also making their relationship appear more intimate under the camera's lens.

With her free hand, she flashed a classic V-sign at the camera. She continued to encourage Max in a gentle, soothing tone.

"Uh...okay...is that...is that so...?"

"That's right, you look great on camera! Don't be shy, Max, you're the star of the night!"

"I'm... the protagonist...?"

At first, facing such a large crowd, Max was nervous, worried that if he revealed his true face, he would be scorned as a monster, causing a new wave of panic. He quickly pulled his hood up and lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the dense array of cameras.

It wasn't until Riley kept cheering him on, and because of Spider-Man's growing reputation, that most people, despite feeling that Max's image was a bit creepy, looked at Max with more friendliness and curiosity than hostility and resistance, out of trust in Spider-Man.

This allowed Max to gradually muster the courage to slowly look up and face the camera.

Until they see it with their own eyes, even if they reveal their true colors now, no one will feel afraid or disgusted with them.

Max couldn't help but grin, a genuine smile of satisfaction spreading across his face.

Meanwhile, many onlookers seized this perfect opportunity to take the first photo of Spider-Man and Max together.

Blending in the crowd, reporters from the Daily Bugle pushed their way forward, holding up huge cameras to transmit footage to the giant screen in Times Square. Meanwhile, one of their colleagues, with excited and curious eyes, held a microphone between Riley and Max and asked a question.

"Hello, Mr. Spider-Man, may I ask what kind of secret operation you are currently conducting? Oh, and sir, may I ask how we should address you?"

"A secret operation? No, no, no, I just happened to run into an old friend while passing by, so I stopped to say hello to my good buddy. But I didn't expect my friend's new look to be so popular, attracting so many onlookers! Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks he looks cool! Hahaha!"

"As for how to address me..."

"Perhaps you can call him..."

Of course, smiling in front of the camera is already the limit that Max, who is timid and socially awkward, can do.

So, faced with the reporter's question, Max, who hadn't expected this at all, was completely stunned. He quickly turned his head and instinctively cast a pleading look at Riley.

Riley did not disappoint Max's trust, joking and teasing him half-heartedly while also striking while the iron was hot.

By using highly misleading descriptions, the public was led to interpret the words literally and fill in the blanks in their minds, naturally assuming that Max, making his first public appearance, was a completely new superhero.

From this point on, Riley's position in Max's heart was like that of a second parent, unshakeable by anyone.

From that moment on, Electro completely disappeared...

Instead, they are rising stars in New York City who, after undergoing systematic training and fully mastering their abilities, will become superheroes who use the power of thunder to fight crime!

The Flash!

[The neighboring DC's little flash: ? ...]