WC: 1103
Fighting the Calamitous Hollow had been intense, not something he’d expected to deal with as a child but they’d won. Everyone was safe. Even though there were more Harolds out there to come, this was a victory.

He was running home as fast as he could, knowing his mom was there and at the corner of his street he powered down as he continued to run. His hair was messy and while he’d probably not been on the worst end of things, as some others had scars or had weird galaxy eyes. He slid into the front door and as he closed it, he heard his mother call.

“Taki is that you?”

“Yes mama!” He answered as he rounded the corner into the living room where she was at and tackle hugged her, “We did it, the strange electrical storms should be gone now!”

His mom stopped blinking for a moment before going “What?”

“Remember, I told you there’s this huge world eating snake and it was causing the electrical storms? Well, we fought it, there were a ton of us.” He chattered, “All the groups came together and beat the snake up!!!”

He had a small scale in his hand and showed it to her, “This is from what was called the Calamitous Hollow” He said again, turning the scale in his hand looking at it as he settled in on the couch, “It kept shedding them as we fought it, there were some the size of school busses but the we more we hit it the more it shrunk until we could snag some scales!”

His mother still looked at him concerned. She knew he’d shown her he was a senshi but …. “So, this whole magical boy thing is dangerous?”

He paused, “Nooo – oh well I mean it might be kind of dangerous but I teamed up with Realta and some people she knew; they protected me and another one my age.” He said as he looked at her carefully, realizing that he might actually be in trouble.

“It was just a really big monster like those weird creatures that run around the city.” He said, “It’s okay though it’s locked up where it shouldn’t be able to get out again.”

There was a nod as he sat there and squirmed a little as his mother continued to stare at him as if she wasn’t sure she was okay with this, “Mama I had to, I couldn’t sit by here and let it destroy the earth. Where would we live? I haven’t been to space yet to see if my place in space is okay or to see how much work it needs. If I had we might could go live there but -- we need earth.”

Kiku continued to frown, “I don’t think I like this…”

Taki paused and frowned as he sat there, he thought she would be proud or happy that he’d helped save their home. Instead, she seemed more worried about his wellbeing. He thought she might would’ve understood. He wasn’t gone for a long time; it seemed like it was forever to him while they were in that weird space but when he got home and powered down realized it had been only an hour. “Oh.”

He wasn’t sure what to say but he slowly pushed himself off the couch and headed towards the bathroom to wash up putting the scale into his pocket, “I thought you might be proud I’d help save the earth.”

He paused, not really sure what to say, “I’ll go get cleaned up.”

Kiku sighed heavily as her son seemed disappointed. “I didn’t say I wasn’t proud. I said I didn’t think I liked this.”

Taki turned his head as he looked at his mother, “What do you mean?” He was curious as she sat there with her hand rubbing her temple.

“You’re running around endangering yourself because you’re trying to save the world. I get that you have help from others and they protect you but that won’t always happen. What do I do with you if you don’t have someone to protect you?”

He paused as she said there and frowned, “I don’t know . . .”

Taki wasn’t sure what his mother wanted and after a few moments of silence, “Do you want me to stop?”

She paused, “In a way… I don’t want to lose you.” There was another pause, “But it sounds just as dangerous if you don’t do this.”

Kiku was starting to understand more about what was going on in the city after her son explained things that he knew. Though she had questions about when the occasional person ended up in a catatonic sleep never to wake up.

“I can see if Realta will come to talk to you, if you want?” He said thinking, “You might could ask her questions – maybe she could help you feel better about me being a magical sidekick.”

Taki was trying to figure out how to make his mother feel better specially after she seemed so concerned about him fighting a large lightning snake that eats worlds. “I don’t think these sorts of things – with the big snake; happen that often.” He added as she was thinking.

There was a soft nod from his mother. And Taki went up to get cleaned up. After he slipped into his pajamas and headed back down stairs for a few for a snack he looked over to his mother.

“So, you got a scale from that creature you fought?” She asked curiously.

“Yeah! I was thinking maybe someone could make some jewelry or something out of it for you?” He went to grab the fridge handle and noticed that it seemed he generated some static electricity which shocked him. “Ow…” He muttered and his mom came around the corner to check on him.

“I think … all the lightning that was on the field that we were on has caused me to be a bit charged.” He wrinkled his nose and he pulled out the milk jug and moved to grab a glass to pour him some milk.

Kiku sighed, “Do you want some toast with cinnamon sugar on it?” She asked as she got out the bread and butter.

“Yes please!” He said placing the milk back into the fridge and sat at the table with his feet dangling from the chair. “I think I could learn to make jewelry or see if I could find someone to make a custom piece, do you want a necklace?” He asked curiously, “I have more than one scale too.” He’d gathered a decent amount but he wasn’t sure what to do with all of them.

She seemed thoughtful, “Sure?” She said finally as she popped the bread that’d been buttered and cinnamon sugar topped; into the toaster and waited for it to toast. “If you want me to have your trophy.”

He paused and shook his head, “That’s not a trophy it’s more like loot in an ironic kind of way. Like a video game.” He had a trophy too, a small pendant that had a rainbow sheen and a moon on it. He watched the toaster for a bit. Sitting quietly, he was thinking.

“Maybe you could be magical as well?” Taki said after a bit right as the toaster dinged.

Kiku laughed, “I think I’m a little old.”

Taki shook his head as he took the piece of bread, “Never say never mom! You could be!” He took a bit of his toast and a sip of his milk.

He’d have so much fun if his mom was a magical lady. She could patrol with him and they could make it a thing they did. But at the same time, he guessed she might could be right and she might not be magical. He wasn’t sure if everyone was magical or not. He finished his toast and sighed, “Can we watch a show before I go to bed?”

Kiku looked at the time, “I guess we have time – but only one.” She paused, “What do you want to watch?”

He jumped up off the kitchen chair, “Pokemon?” He asked as he carried the rest of his milk to the living room. As he heard his mom say she should’ve known.