User blog comment:Animegeek1689/Does Issei really love Rias?/@comment-76.165.130.41-20170315152606

I agree with you. From my point of view, after volume 12, it's like Rias just tossed aside. Volume 13 onwards, it's like nothing happens between the two of them. The only times anything between them occurs is in epilogue of volume 17 and the prologue of volume 18. Other than that, it's like their relationship just comes to a complete standstill. Whenever anything intimate or ecchi happens with Issei, it it's always with some girl other than Rias. Not only that, but when these things happens, he never really shows any resistance. He never once says anything like " I don't want to do this. I want my first time to be with Rias." All he really does is say a quich apology in his head and just goes right ahead. All the other girls are starting to get closer to him and Rias seems to be staying at the same spot.

I've heard about stuff that happens in volume 22. It begins with Issei about to have sex with Akeno. From what I hear, he shows no resistance whatsoever and would have gone through with it if Rias hadn't found them. Not only that, but also hear that he confesses to Akeno, tells Barkiel that he wants to marry her, and they become engaged. I don't recall Issei ever going to Rias' parents and telling them he wants to marry Rias. There's also fights between Rias and Akeno about who is going to be Issei's first time and who bears his first child. Overall, it seems to me that this volume is about replacing with Rias with Akeno as the main girl of them harem. So not only has the relationship between Rias and Issei not made any progress, but is now it seems to br taking steps backwards.

I always thought that the main girl in harem is supposed to be the one that the MC loves the most. The one that the MC wants to be with the most and have all their first times with. However, in this series, it seems to mean the opposite. It seems to mean the girl that gets tossed aside first and held furthest from the MC's heart.