At the ORC, while Ryusei, Issei, Koneko, and Saji were busy at the diner with Xenovia and Irina, Rias sat in the quiet of the old schoolhouse with EX. Akeno had just finished preparing some tea for the two of them.
"Do you like tea, EX?" Rias asked, taking a delicate sip from her cup.
EX fidgeted slightly, looking down at the cup. "No… not really," she admitted nervously.
Rias tilted her head. "Ah, I see. Do you prefer juice then? If so, what kind?"
"Grape juice," EX said softly. Akeno stepped forward and handed her a cup, the purple liquid reflecting the sunlight from the window.
"Thank you," EX murmured.
"It's no problem for our dear guest~," Akeno said with a playful bow before leaving the room, leaving only Rias and EX together.
Rias set her tea cup down and leaned forward slightly. "So… is your name really EX?"
"Yes," the girl replied quietly, her face flushing. "It's my first name… Can we just cut to the chase?"
Rias nodded, her piercing blue eyes locking with EX's. "You know who I really am, don't you?"
EX hesitated for only a moment before nodding silently.
"Good," Rias said, her tone calm but deliberate. "Then I won't have to bother introducing myself, do I?"
"No," EX said firmly. "I know who you are. You're Rias Gremory, of the Gremory Clan. And… I suppose it's time I reveal who I am as well."
Rias raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
EX took a deep breath, her hands gripping her cup tightly. "My full name is EX Gremory-Okkotsu. I'm… from the future. I am the daughter of both you and Ryusei Okkotsu."
Rias froze, the weight of the revelation sinking in. She studied EX carefully—her hair, the striking mix of red and black, her eyes, the shade that seemed a blend of Rias' blue-green and Ryusei's pale blue. Even her face carried Ryusei's features.
EX nodded slowly. "I've come to warn you."
Rias's expression hardened. "Then… we need to know everything, EX. Every detail. There's a lot at stake if the future you come from exists at all."
EX took a deep breath, setting her grape juice aside. "It's about the Holy Swords… and about Ryusei. If certain events unfold, she doesn't survive. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen."
Xenovia placed her empty glass on the table with a soft clink and leaned forward, her expression serious.
"Well? What's the deal?" she asked, locking eyes with Issei. "What did you want to talk to us about?"
Issei's face hardened as he straightened in his seat. "We need your help to destroy Excalibur," he said firmly.
Xenovia studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "I understand the situation. I don't mind letting you take care of one sword."
Irina's eyes widened in disbelief, and she slammed her hand on the table. "Wait a minute, Xenovia!"
Issei's grin stretched across his face. "You mean it?"
Saji groaned loudly from the side, slumping into the seat. "Why couldn't she just have refused us like I was hoping she would?"
Xenovia turned toward Irina, her tone serious. "You know who the other side has. Kokabiel is dangerous. Honestly, it'll be impossible for us to recover all three swords on our own."
Irina crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "Yeah, I get that, but they're… devils!"
"We have a thirty percent chance of returning home," Xenovia said bluntly. "This isn't something we can take lightly."
Irina huffed. "We knew what kind of risk we were taking before we got here. This isn't anything new, Xenovia!"
Xenovia's eyes hardened. "True. We were sent by the higher-ups, fully prepared to sacrifice our lives for this sacred cause."
"That's what I just said! Were you even listening to me at all?"
{Meanwhile, at the ORC...}
Rias sat back in her chair. "So…" she began, "How many do Ryusei and I have together? Six? Seven?"
"M-Mom?!" EX's face turned scarlet. "You can't just ask that so suddenly!"
Rias smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "What? I'm interested to know."
EX let out a sigh, defeated. "Well… I guess I can tell you." She rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "You and Father—I mean, Ryusei—have five kids together… and a sixth one on the way. I'm a twin, and I'm the second oldest."
Rias blinked, her expression softening into awe. "Five…? And one more on the way…"
Her lips curved into a proud smile. "That's a big family. So tell me, EX—am I a good mother in your time?"
EX's expression softened. "The best I could ever ask for. You're caring, strong, and… you always make sure everyone feels loved."
A warm flush colored Rias's cheeks, and she reached out to pull EX into a gentle hug. "I'm glad to hear that," she whispered. "Thank you."
When they separated, Rias tilted her head. "And what about your relationship with Ryusei? How is she as a parent?"
EX's smile faded slightly. "Me and Father… well…" She clenched her fist on her lap. "She's always busy. Always out there doing something dangerous. I just wish she was around more. She doesn't communicate at all. It pisses me off sometimes—what if something happened to her, and none of us knew until it was too late?"
Rias's eyes softened, guilt flickering in them despite EX's words being about a future that hadn't yet come to pass.
EX then stood, her tone hardening. "That's actually why I'm here. There's a man named Yoshio Yuuka, he's after Ryusei. I don't know why yet, but he's trying to kill her. That's why I was sent back in time."
Rias's eyes widened. "Ryusei's already encountered him a few nights ago."
EX's expression darkened. "Then he's already making his move. I have to find her—before he does something worse."
"Wait," Rias said, standing up as well. "Let me help you."
EX shook her head, smiling faintly. "You already have. But I can handle him—and I'll help Ryusei fight if it comes to that."
She walked toward the door, pausing just before leaving. "It was nice talking to you, Mom… even if it's the younger version of you."
Rias smiled warmly. "Be careful out there, EX... And I know I just found out that you're my future daughter but, I love you."
EX rolled her eyes. "I know." she smiled, and with that, she left the ORC room.