[Okkotsu Estate - Training Grounds]
Ryusei's breathing was heavy, sweat glistening along her jawline as she lowered her wooden sword.
Go stood before her, his grin wide and proud.
"Good!" he said, resting his sword on his shoulder. "You're learning faster than I expected. Your old man would've been proud."
Ryusei exhaled slowly, brushing her bangs aside. "You really think so?"
"Of course," her grandmother said softly from the porch, her voice gentle but firm. The elderly woman sat with a blanket across her knees, a maid standing quietly beside her.
Ryusei pause for a moment, before she noticed the sun setting.
"Oh-look at the time," she muttered, lowering her sword. "I was supposed to go visit Haruka at the hospital. I want to see Mom too."
Go's smile softened. "I'll take you there."
Ryusei hugged her grandmother, who gently placed a hand on her cheek. "Be safe, dear. And bring your sister-and that girlfriend of yours-next time. I'd like to meet her properly."
Ryusei flushed red. "G-grandma! I-uh-yeah. Promise!"
[Kouh Town Hospital - Night]
The quiet of the city had settled into a peaceful hum. Streetlights bathed the sidewalks in a soft gold glow as the Okkotsu limo rolled to a stop in front of the hospital.
Go turned to his granddaughter with a rare, gentle expression.
"Ryusei, I want you to know... I'm sorry."
Ryusei blinked, surprised.
"For not being there-for you, or Haruka. I'll do more from now on. But you, Ryusei-live a good, long life." He smirked faintly, tapping her nose. "And stop frowning and scowling so much. You're not old enough for the cool and tortured look."
He waved as the limo pulled off into the night.
"Do I really scowl that much?" She muttered.
[Hospital Room - 10:47 p.m.]
The hallways were dimly lit, the only sounds being the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the distant whir of machines.
Ryusei quietly pushed open the door to her mother's room.
The room was dark. The blinds were drawn, the faint moonlight spilling across the floor. Her mother, Yua Okkotsu, lay still-pale, peaceful, her long white hair shimmering faintly in the darkness. Haruka sat asleep in the chair beside the bed, head resting against her folded arms.
But Ryusei moving seeing that someone else was there in the room.
A tall young man stood over the bed, silent and composed. His silver hair gleamed faintly in the dark, his hazel eyes reflecting the monitor's green glow.
He looked like he didn't belong here.
He wore a dark green V-neck under a high-collared black leather jacket, burgundy jeans, a silver chain glinting at his side, and black shoes with buckle straps.
Her eyes narrowed, her aura subtly flaring. "Who the hell are you..."
The man turned his gaze toward her.
"Step away from them."
The man raised one hand placatingly. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt them."
His voice was smooth, low, and unsettlingly familiar. "I've been waiting for you."
Ryusei's glare hardened. "What?"
He stepped past her toward the doorway, the moonlight tracing his outline. "Let's take this outside, shall we... Ryusei Okkotsu."
[Outside Kouh Town Hospital - Midnight]
Ryusei stood a few meters away from the silver-haired young man, her pale blue eyes never left his brown ones. 'He looks familiar... I know he shows up in the anime soon but...what was his name? Ugh... Why the hell can't I remember the events of this show?'
The young man raised both hands slightly in a show of peace. "Calm down. I didn't come here to harm you-or your family."
Ryusei narrowed her eyes. "Then what the hell do you want from me?"
He smiled faintly, almost wistful. "To see you. In person."
Ryusei blinked, taken aback. "Huh?"
"I've been watching you for a while now, Ryusei Okkotsu," he continued, his voice low. "You're... different from what I expected."
She frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He turned away, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets. "You'll find out soon enough. I look forward to our next meeting." He smirked slightly over his shoulder. "And hopefully... to fight you."
Before Ryusei could reply, he was already walking away.
A few blocks away, the young man stopped. His eyes flicked to the side, sensing a powerful aura.
Standing beneath a streetlight was a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in a long, dark overcoat. His black hair was short and neat, but his eyes-deep, sharp crimson-glowed faintly in the dark.
The silver-haired man's gaze hardened. "You."
The red-eyed man raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
The silver-haired youth didn't even turn his head fully, his voice sharp as glass.
"If you attack her again... I'll kill you."
With that, a pair of white dragon wings erupted from his back, lined with eight glowing blue energy feathers that pulsed with divine power. The air rippled from the sheer pressure.
The red-eyed man smirked. "Ah, I see. You're Vali Lucifer, aren't you?"
The man continued, his tone amused. "Those wings... the Divine Dividing, one of the Eighteen Longinus. The spirit of the Vanishing Dragon, Albion, sealed within you."
Vali gave a faint nod, his smirk equally dangerous. "Whatever business you have with Ryusei, you have with me."
The red-eyed man's expression twisted into a cruel grin. "Hmph. I'll back off for now. But the second I get the chance..."
His eyes glowed faintly red as he turned to walk away.
"I'm killing her."
[Inside the Hospital - Minutes Later]
Ryusei quietly pushed the door open again. The room was still dark, her mother still resting peacefully.
Haruka stirred from her light sleep, blinking as her eyes adjusted. "Ryusei? What are you doing here so late?"
Ryusei scratched the back of her head. "Uh, Grandpa dropped me off not too long ago. I just... wanted to see you and Mom."
Haruka smiled warmly, stifling a yawn. "Aww... well, let's get going home. Rias is supposed to be cooking tonight."
The front door opened with a soft creak. Rias appeared at the doorway, a bright smile lighting her face. "Welcome home!"
"Rias!" Haruka beamed, setting down her bag.
Rias greeted her with a hug, then turned to Ryusei, her expression softening. She stepped closer and pressed a quick kiss to Ryusei's cheek.
Ryusei froze, her face instantly turning pink.
"Dinner's ready," Rias said with a teasing grin. "I hope you're hungry."
Haruka laughed at Ryusei's flustered expression, nudging her shoulder. "You're so whipped, little sister."
Ryusei groaned, hiding her red face in her hands. "Yeah, yeah..."
Ryusei and Rias were getting ready for bed, the soft glow of the moon spilling through the curtains. On Ryusei's desk, Charcadet was curled up in his small makeshift bed, snoozing quietly - a little ember flickering from his helmet with every breath.
'I really need to check if my system store has any Poké Balls,' Ryusei thought, watching the tiny Fire Pokémon sleep. 'I can't just keep leaving him alone like this... I feel like such a terrible parent sometimes.'
Her gaze drifted to Rias, brushing her red hair as she slipped under the blankets beside her. "Hey, Rias..." Ryusei began softly, her tone hesitant but sincere. "I just wanted to say... I'm sorry if I don't show you how much I love you enough."
"I'm not really good at... expressing myself all the time," Ryusei continued, her voice steady but quiet. "But I want to change that. You mean a lot to me."
Her eyes fell to the silver ring on her finger - the one that held Rika's spirit within. She rubbed her thumb across its surface thoughtfully. "And... I owe Rika an apology too. I never realized she felt the same way about me - like you and I do. You said she sometimes comes out at night to talk to you about... sharing me."
Rias chuckled softly, resting her hand over Ryusei's. "She does. And she always talks about you."
[Outside Ryusei's House]
In the stillness of the night, a figure stood hidden in the shadows a short distance away from Ryusei's home.
A girl, no older than fourteen, with striking half-black, half-crimson hair and piercing blue-green eyes, watched the house intently.
After a long moment, she turned away, her expression unreadable.
"I have to make sure the Isekai Killer doesn't kill her…" she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible over the night wind. "…or I'll cease to exist."
The badge on her Time Patroller uniform glinted faintly in the moonlight, bearing her name: EX Gremory-Okkotsu.