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“It’s a funny sort of limbo,” Marie observed quietly, fingers tracing the movement of the tiny reddish figure in the capsule.
Ken glanced up from the observation panel. “Hm?” She didn’t respond, and he turned to face her properly. “What do you mean?”
She looked up, startled, and Ken realized she hadn’t known she’d spoken aloud. “Oh; I only mean now that Ace has started training at the academy and isn’t here as often, and little Taro isn’t out of his capsule yet…” She shrugged. “It’s strange, not having a little one running around the place, I suppose.”
“Ace is no longer the little boy he once was,” replied Ken, returning his gaze to the screen but only partially focusing on his work. “He’s becoming a young man, and an Ultra Warrior in his own right.”
“I know.” She put a fingertip over the transparency of the capsule and gave an encouraging murmur as the infant stretched out a half-developed hand in response. “And I’m so proud of him. Getting into the academy so young is quite a feat.”
“Ace is hardly the youngest student they’ve accepted, Marie.”
“Nor is it the oldest. I knew he couldn’t be a child forever, but Ace grew up so much faster than I’d thought possible.”
Ken considered. “I...understand the sentiment. But Ace will thrive at the academy. Don't worry about him."
"I'm not worried." Marie gave a little laugh. "I have no doubt he will one day be a truly great Ultra warrior. And he’ll be happy." A moment of silent reflection, then a markedly altered tone. "Ken?"
"Nh?"
"Look here at Taro, dear, tell me if you see it too.”
Frowning, he dropped from the panel and moved to join her, cape brushing the back of hers as he looked over her shoulder and into the child’s capsule.The tiny silver-red infant had–so quickly, it felt like, though Ken had counted the days–formed decidedly into a figure, rather than the silvery swirl of light he’d once been, and in recent days the beginnings of perfect little fingers had just started to form.
And on his head, where ears would be forming, Ken instead saw a shimmering outline of horns.
Intellectually, Ken had known that he’d have them; it was basic genetics, passed down from father to son, as it had for every generation in his line since the Ultra race had existed. He’d known as soon as he’d learned they were having a boy that their son would be horned.
But…well, there was a difference between knowing and knowing .
His son had his horns. And on the crown of his head was the beginning of a little ridge; not the usual ridge, but a full crest like Ace. Like his mother.
"Taro's going to be a little heartbreaker, you can already tell," Marie smiled, though for a moment he thought it was a sad expression, “Ken...Look at him, you can see his eyes.” The sad smile became a half-incredulous chuckle. “...He has my mother’s eyes, like little Seven.”
“He’s...” Ken’s voice caught at the words. He tried again, but his throat had gone thick and his face wet, and all he could think to do was put an arm around Marie and bury his face in the crook of her shoulder. “He’s your son, of course he’s breathtaking. Of course he’s perfect.”
Marie laughed, but she allowed her husband to pull her in, surrounded by his cape and his arms. “I hope you’re not calling me perfect, dear. You know I’m not.”
“You’re perfect for me.”
”Dear!”