Spider-Men 2: Crisis On Infinite Earths

CHAPTER-7: Quintessential Problems

AGRIM SHARMA'S POV:

I split up from my classmates and started walking towards the location Ritvik had sent me.

Why'd he call me to a relatively secluded part of the school was beyond me. Maybe he wanted to talk about something. Or maybe a spider-emergency? Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough...

My spider-sense told me that I wasn't alone, and that someone was following me. As for who it was, I guess I'll find that out soon enough too...

After a few minutes, I finally reached the location Ritvik had sent me. I re-read the message just to be sure...

RV: [Come to this location ASAP] - [15:31]
RV: [Don't knock, barge in] - [15:32]
RV: [Act surprised to see us in the room] - [15:32]
RV: [Make up some excuse so you can talk to me alone] - [15:34]

I followed the instructions on the message, and slammed the door open, putting the spotlight on me.

"Huh?" I mumbled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't expect anyone to be here." I said, and glanced around the room.

"Hey, you're that new transfer student right?" Ritvik asked me.

"Yeah, that's me." I replied, keeping the cover of us not knowing each other alive. "You seem familiar, do I know you?"

"Not really, but yeah- we went to the same middle school last year." He said. "Nice to see a familiar face around here."

"Hold on, I thought you were homeschooled?" The boy behind Ritvik asked.

"I was, up until last year, then I joined Brooklyn Middle." Ritvik replied to the boy.

"Ah, makes sense." He mumbled.

"Oh, right!" I exclaimed. "You're the kid who won the relay race last year, right? Anand... if I remember correctly?"

"Yep." He said, shaking my hand. "Ritvik Anand."

"Agrim Sharma, nice to meet you." I said, looking back to the group behind him. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?"

"Oh, not really- we were just about done here anyway."

"I'm glad." I said with a smile. "You're Yukinoshita, right? From my class?"

"Correct."

"Nice to meet you. We haven't really had the chance to talk, so I thought this was the best time to get acquainted."

"Right..." She said awkwardly.

"And you are...?" I turned to the dead-eyed boy.

"Hachiman Hikigaya, 1-C."

"Right... Nice to meet you as well." I said.

"What are you doing here, kid?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked me.

"Well, I was looking for a place away from the crowd. Being the transfer student really puts you under the spotlight. I was just overwhelmed with the attention, so I decided to roam around the campus. This room just happened to be the one I decided to come in." I made an excuse up on the fly.

"I see..." Hiratsuka-sensei said, her eyes narrowed.

"Well, if you guys aren't doing anything, I'd like to eat lunch with Ritvik over here- catch up about the good old days."

"Fine with me." Yukinoshita said.

"Alright, you guys can continue this after school ends. Go eat lunch." Hiratsuka-sensei said, and we all left the clubroom.

I wonder why Ritvik made me do this...

As I exited the room, I finally spotted my stalker. Well, a glimpse of her, anyway...