Author's Note: I have finally come back from my break. Chapter 2 is mainly a reflections chapter so don't expect much progress here.

Unlike most of the other fanfics I have online, I do not have a very clear idea on how this fanfic will proceed. My framework is largely incomplete with only a possible ending in mind. This is also one of the few fanfics not based on another media (Along with "Oppai Dragon: The Motion Picture" and "Don't Forget Kobato"). Comments are appreciated.

Stay tuned for Chapter 3 when Issei 'sees' Rito for the first time.

Published 1/28/2015

UPDATE 8/25/2016: This chapter received slight modifications to reflect on the events in Volume 20.

Chapter 2:

On the Road to Sainan

Fast-forward to present time.

Issei wakes up from his dream and remembers he is currently riding on a train to Sainan City. He is currently heading to Sainan University for college. Issei's first choice of college was Kuoh City University where Rias, Akeno, Kiba, Asia, Xenovia, Irina, and Kiryuu are attending. He was able to score high enough on the national college admissions exam to receive a seat for the Kuoh City University entrance exam but he failed to get enough points on that exam to secure admission.

As he looks around in the train car he is currently riding, he finds many empty seats, giving him the feeling that Sainan is not an attractive destination. Issei takes a deep breath and thinks about the events that brought him here.

"I can't believe I did so poorly on that entrance exam. Now, I can't even go to the same university Rias and Akeno-san go to. Kiba, Asia, Xenovia, Irina, and Kiryuu are all going to Kuoh City University with Rias and Akeno-san. Most of the student council members are there too. Saji also got into University of Tokyo, the best university in Japan. Then, there's me. Why does life have to be so hard?"

Issei has never been an excellent student. He and his two friends spent too much time spying on girls and watching pornographic films through the night. Now only did all three of them get the ire from most of the females in high school, they also got the ire from teachers for extremely low grades. Issei was able to improve through the Occult Research Club, but most of the improvements went towards his physical abilities. Issei did have some intellectual improvements, but that was not enough to get him ready for the difficult admission exams.

Meanwhile, his two friends, Matsuada and Motohama, continue to flunk and are now stuck in cram school, hoping to get better scores for the national college admissions exam next year. They both planned to set up a secret porn shop after they graduated from high school, a perfect solution for their sexual desires, but failed because they were underage and could not get permission from their parents. Issei looks at the window and continues.

"Maybe I should have waited another year and go to cram school like Matsuada and Motohama. After all, it won't hurt to be one year behind from Asia and the others. After all, I am a Devil. Devils have long lives so a one year wait isn't too bad."

Issei then thinks about the decision from a larger perspective.

"If I did stay for another year, I'll be very bored at home. Rias and Akeno-san are currently in college so it is going to be as quiet as it was before I met Rias. They haven't returned home once during the entire school year. Well, I could use the time to catch up on all the porn videos that I was unable to watch before."

Issei then resents sharing his room with Rias and Asia. "I am jealous that Matusada and Motohama can watch videos without other people peeping at them. I miss the old days. Whenever I try to watch something, Rias and Asia join in. Also, Rias and my mom secretly threw out of my collection of Momozono videos last week. It's so embarrassing." Issei then pictures the event in his mind.

"Issei doesn't need all this junk."

"Wow, I can't believe that Issei had this many pornographic magazines. This is way more than I thought."

"No Rias, wait! Please let me keep those. Those are limited edition items and worth a lot."

"Issei-san! If you really wanted porn, you should just ask me," says Asia.

"Same here, Issei. You always have me around so what's the point of reading all this?"

"No! Why can't I have the best of both worlds? I'll have fewer things to share about with my friends!"

Back in the present, Issei continues to think about his decision. "Anyways, that entrance exam was hard. I don't ever want to go back to preparing for those exams ever again. I guess this was a better choice."

Issei tries to calm down as he looks out the large windows on both sides of the passenger car of the train. He can see large acres of farmland on both sides. The farmlands help Issei calm as he tries to think about the positives of going to Sainan for college.

"I'm sure everyone will miss me, especially Rias. Asia too. They'll surely visit me during the holidays. Maybe I'll get accepted to Kuoh City University next year and transfer there. I'll get to be with Rias again. Ehehe… I'll just have to study hard and sign up for the exams again." Issei then daydreams about him reuniting with Rias.

"Issei, welcome back! I'm glad we can now go to college together."

"Yes, Rias. It's so nice to be back. I was so lonely without you. Sainan University was so boring."

"That's alright. In fact, we're going to celebrate your return by letting you stay in our all-girls suite. I even reserved a space right here you here."

"…and it's right next to me too. You're going to get all the therapy you missed out while you were at Sainan."

"…and we get to go on a devil-angel adventure at Kuoh."

Issei then pictures all five girls hugging him while he falls asleep on the bed.

"Ah, such paradise… I can't wait!"

Suddenly, Issei is rudely awakened by the public announcement system inside the train.

"Ding Dong! This is your conductor speaking. The train will be arriving at Misora station shortly. Passengers whose destination is Misora, please prepare to disembark."

"Aw man! Why did you have to interrupt me? I was having a good dream." Everyone else looks at Issei with a puzzled face.

The announcement continues with information regarding transfer to other trains. As people get on and off the train, Issei quickly pulls out the map and looks through it. He follows his current route and calculates how far he has travelled from Kuoh Town.

"This trip is going to take forever. There's still quite a long way to go. I'm only about halfway there. Maybe this is why no one wants to go to school there."

As the train continues its journey, Issei brings out the "Welcome" packet and starts reading through it. He is a little nervous regarding his new life at Sainan University. He has only visited it a few times mainly to see the results of his university entrance exam.

"I wonder what this university is going to be like. I hope there are lovely girls with big boobs at this place. Maybe everyone here won't mind my lecherous desires. It will be something nice to have in the absence of Rias." Issei then turns to his peerage pieces. "I can even start building my peerage here. By the time Rias comes for a visit, I'll be able to impress her with my awesome lineup of peerage. I might even get ahead of Akeno-san and Kiba. My peerage will be more attractive and powerful than yours, Kiba."

Issei then remembers what he said earlier and puts away his peerage pieces. "No! I should not be thinking about this. I am here to study. That's right, study. I am here to study hard and prove myself worthy of transferring back to Kuoh City University. Since devils live long lives, I have plenty of time to build my peerage group. The Great War has ended long ago and the terrorist movements in the underworld, the heavens, and this world have all been brought under control. The Chaos Brigade has finally dissolved and many of old-timer leaders have retired. There's no more need to quickly build up my peerage group. Plus, I won't have to worry about the rating games if I postpone my dreams of building a harem peerage group."

After a few more hours, the conductor speaks through the public announcement system again. "Ding Dong! This is your conductor speaking. The train will be arriving at Sainan station, the terminus of the White Line, shortly. After that, the train will be going out of service. All passengers must disembark at this station."

Issei looks out the windows and finds that the train has entered a large populated city filled with many convenience stores and a large shopping center in the background. The train finally comes to a complete stop at Sainan station.

"It looks like I am here. Time really passed by quickly." Issei gathers his belonging and steps off the train. The moment he steps off the train, he begins to feel a strange aura around him. The aura feels similar to the aura back in Kuoh City. Issei stops before the turnstiles and tries to understand the strange aura around him.

"So, this is Sainan City? For some reason, I can feel a strange aura wandering around this city. It might be because this place is home to one of the devil clans. Maybe it is home to one of the angel clans. Or maybe it's owned by some magical creature. I have to figure out what this is."

"Sir! Please keep moving. You're blocking the exits," an old man interrupts Issei from behind.

"Oh! Sorry." Issei exits the station and tries to feel the aura in the open streets of Sainan.

"This place does feel weird. This aura nearly matches the aura back in Kuoh. There has to be a devil clan or an angel clan somewhere. Oh well, they should be able to sense my presence as well. I hope that they don't mistake me as a stray devil or think that I am trying to invade their territory."

Issei looks around trying to learn more about his new environment at Sainan. As he continues to observe his new surroundings, his watch begins to beep.

"Oh no! I'm late. I was supposed to be at the dorms by 6:30 PM. I'm going to miss the check in time. Shit! I've got to hurry."

With that in mind, Issei heads over to the dormitories of Sainan College.