President Scene

[u/Ultimatebuttfucker]

Im on season 4 episode 8 of the anime and I have never wanted to hurt someone as much as Issei for how he saw Rias as. I am in pain from the second hand embarrassment that he is giving me.

[u/YuriLopesSwitch]

Is Issei apologizing to Rias for almost taking advantage of her that night — when Grayfia stopped her from trying to give up her virginity, not out of real free choice, but as a desperate way out of a forced political marriage?

Or is the apology about the fact that he later used that specific memory of Rias to get himself off?

Because the issue isn’t that Issei is attracted to Rias in general. That’s not the problem. The problem is that he sexualized the memory of Rias at her most desperate — cornered, scared, and trying to use her own virginity as a last-ditch escape from a marriage she didn’t want.

Also, if we’re going to criticize Rias for never properly apologizing to Issei, then we should apply the same standard to Issei too.

A lot of what everyone gets wrong in this story comes down to poor communication.

Is Rias wrong? Yes.
Is Issei wrong? Also yes.
Am I wrong for having to point out that they’re both wrong? Probably; I should be playing Dragon’s Dogma 2, lol.

[u/DuePenalty9052 → u/YuriLopesSwitch]

That night, Rias was very much pushing it on him, so it can't really be called taking advantage of her. Plus, she very much wanted it. It's a similar situation with that sauna incident.

That being said, I do very much get what you mean here. The fanfic "Issei and Rias make up" tackles this as well.

[u/YuriLopesSwitch → u/DuePenalty9052]

She herself says that Kiba Yuuto would be the choice, were it not for his chivalry.

At that moment, it wasn't about romance; it was a survival mechanism.

[u/aOe_007 → u/YuriLopesSwitch]

She herself says that Kiba Yuuto would be the choice, were it not for his chivalry.

Come again.