User blog comment:Jopjopjop/Memorable Quotes/@comment-24468758-20140207130349/@comment-16281343-20140207143217

It was good that Ishibumi was able to portray them as true rivals right from the get go, not enemies.

Even after their first battle in Vol. 4, Issei never treated Vali as an enemy that he truly needs to defeat for the sake of the good but as a rival that he wants to surpass.