High School DxD: The journey of Issei and Rias– where is their relationship headed?

High School DxD is praised not only for its high-end battles and supernatural genre, but also for its emotional relationships that base its chaotic world—especially, the special bond between Issei Hyoudou and Rias Gremory. Which started as a devil-human relationship filled with awkward and sassy moments, and the romantic tension that has evolved into something much deeper over the period of time of the anime, manga, and light novel series.But, since the story is now concluded in the light novel (High School DxD Volume 25), and now fans are asking: how does this epic story between Issei and Rias actually end?From the very beginning, Rias Gremory has played a changing role in Issei’s life. After Issei was killed by a fallen angel, Issei was reincarnated as a devil by Rias and was brought into her household as a mere servant. But what starts off as a master-servant relation quickly transforms into a close friendship—and of course eventually, a romantic relationship between the two.Issei’s growth from being a pervy, awkward teenager into a confident and powerful devil is closely tied to his relationship with Rias. She not only supports him through his battles but also constantly pushes him to believe in his own strength and potential. Whereas Rias, for her part, finds Issei as someone who doesn’t see her as a noble devil princess or political figure, but as a woman who wants love and respect.This epic emotional relation becomes clear throughout the key arcs in both the manga and the light novel, mainly during the Rating Game arcs and the Underworld Civil War. Rias finally openly admits her feelings, and Issei, despite being super dense for a long time, finally realizes that Rias is the only one he truly wants to be with. Their relationship is tested again and again—through battles, rival admirers, and the expectations of the devil society—but they come out stronger every time they face these battles.The light novel, which is the main source material and goes further than the anime or manga itself, provides a satisfying closure to Issei and Rias’s journey. In Volume 22, Issei finally confesses his love to Rias and formally proposes to her. She accepts Issei’s proposal, and their engagement finally becomes official.By the end of Volume 25, the final entry of the main arc, Issei becomes a high-ranking devil and is finally recognized as a powerful person in the Underworld, independent of Rias’s noble house and status. This move not only symbolises his growth, but also the fact that he and Rias can now stand side by side as equals—both in power and in love.Although they are not shown getting married in the main volumes of the light novel, it’s heavily implied that their future will include getting married and living a happy life together, surrounded by their friends and allies. The author of the series, Ichiei Ishibumi, has also released side stories and short volumes that explore their daily life and deepen their bond after the confession.Unlike many other anime romances that drag out confessions or leave things vague, High School DxD gives fans a clear result. Issei and Rias relationship is based on mutual respect, emotional support, and a common journey of self exploration. While the series has its own share of fanservice and harem moments, Rias just stands out as the central love interest and emotional anchor in Issei’s life.Also, their romance isn’t just a subplot—it directly influences the story’s main events, character motivations, and even political motives within the devil world. Their relationship evolves naturally, from simple friendship to partnership and love.The epic relationship between Issei and Rias is one of the most important elements of High School DxD. It defies the usual themes by giving the two characters time to grow individually and together. High School DxD also starts with the typical anime fanservice humor, but later it blossoms into something meaningful a love that is tested by hardships but grounded in genuine care and understanding.With the light novel’s end, fans can finally rest easy knowing that Issei and Rias’s story doesn’t end in heartbreak or ambiguity. Instead, it ends with hope, promise, and a future they will be building together. In the epic world of devils, dragons, and gods, their love story stands as one of the most human and most heartwarming stories of anime.