Peter WHY...

Four months had passed since Peter Parker had begun his new chapter, both as the vigilante Spider-Man and as Peter, the high school student with secrets beneath the city. Now, as he walked through the bustling streets of New York, the spring air was fresh with the promise of new beginnings. His side gig as Spider-Man was flourishing; the city had grown accustomed to the red and black blur saving citizens and thwarting crime. 

It's been a wild ride, he thought, a smirk playing on his lips. But I'm getting the hang of this superhero thing.

His hideout, once just an idea in an abandoned subway tunnel, had transformed into a fortress of solitude and strategy. Security cameras, motion sensors, and soundproofing made it a sanctuary where he could store his growing cache of cash, now up to 1.25 million dollars, along with his weapons and equipment. 

Bought everything from a guy who doesn't ask questions, he recalled, thinking of the not-so-legal transactions. But it's all part of the game now. The hideout was his pride, a place where he could be free from the prying eyes of both the law and the underworld.

Peter's thoughts drifted to Liz Allan. Their relationship had blossomed in these months, going from casual hangouts to proper dates. 

She's amazing, he thought, his heart skipping a beat. Smart, beautiful, and she doesn't even know the half of what I do. Gotta keep it that way, too. They'd shared laughs, movie nights, and coffee dates, each moment adding to the complexity of his life. But do I tell her about my other life? Nah, not yet. Maybe not ever. It's too much to drop on anyone.

School was another area where Peter was excelling. His grades had never been better, his focus sharp, driven by both a sense of responsibility and the need to keep up appearances. 

Uncle Ben would be proud, he mused. Nailing the books while living a double life. Guess I've got the Parker brain for more than just gadgets. He was considering college, his mind already on how to use his newfound wealth to fund his education without arousing suspicion. 

The money, however, was a double-edged sword. 1.25 million, huh? he thought, feeling the weight of it. Can't just walk into a bank with that. Need to clean it somehow. His research had led him to various methods—small investments, buying assets under aliases, even thinking about creating a legitimate business. 

Maybe start with some real estate, flip a few properties. Keep it local, keep it low-key. He knew laundering was a game of patience, of slowly blending the illegal with the legal to create a new, untraceable life for his cash.

As he walked, his mind was a whirlwind of plans. The lair's secure, but I need to keep upgrading. More tech, better defenses. And Liz... I want to do right by her, but how do you balance that with this life? Peter pondered the future, the challenges of maintaining his secret identity while nurturing a genuine relationship, all while ensuring his academic success and financial security.

He stopped at a street corner, watching the city move around him, people oblivious to the complexities of his life. I've come a long way in four months, he thought, a sense of pride mixed with caution. But the game's not over. I've got money, a hideout, a girl I really like, and school's on track. Now, it's about playing smart, not just hard.

With a deep breath, Peter continued his walk, his steps purposeful. The future was uncertain, but for now, he had his life in balance, or at least, as balanced as one could be when living as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. One step at a time, he reminded himself. One step at a time.