As Issei embarked on his journey from middle school to high school, he made a deliberate choice to maintain an unobtrusive presence, desiring a discreet life as a peculiar yet unassuming student. Within the confines of the school, he skillfully portrayed himself as a foolish individual, fixated on the allure of women's physical attributes and nurturing extravagant fantasies of becoming a revered "harem king" akin to those depicted in anime and light novels.
This meticulously constructed facade served as an effective diversion, shielding his genuine persona from scrutiny and shielding him from the burdens associated with his authentic identity. If I act like a pervert, maybe no one will suspect the true extent of my abilities and the responsibilities I bear.
Now a student at the prestigious Miryuin Private Academy, the red-headed youth wisely chose to keep his valiant rescue of Akane under the veil of secrecy. [6] Skillfully assuming the facade of a foolish and lascivious individual fixated on the female form, he artfully diverted attention away from what he believed to be his true self as Ranma Saotome, the esteemed successor of the formidable Anything Goes martial arts technique.
Issei, now in high school, continued his double life with utmost precision. By day, he portrayed himself as an idiotic fool with a fixation on women's breasts, a façade he skillfully maintained to deflect suspicion and protect his true identity. The act allowed him to evade unwanted attention and maintain a low profile at Miryuin Private Academy.
"Hey guys, check out that poster of the latest busty anime character! Isn't she dreamy?" Issei shouted out in as loud and as perverted a voice he could while chatting with his friends one morning before class started, secretly cringing at this. I hope this act keeps them from discovering who I really am. It's tiring trying to keep my true abilities hidden.
His childhood friends, Matsuda and Motohama, further reinforced this facade by framing him for their lecherous misdeeds, which ultimately subjected Issei to harsh beatings from the Kendo Club as reprisal for his supposed misdeeds. Little did they know that Issei secretly utilized these unfortunate encounters as a means to strengthen his body. [2]
Gotta keep up the act, Issei thought, can't let anyone know the truth about my martial arts training. These beatings may hurt, but they also help me push my limits and become stronger.
He endured the beatings from the Kendo Club, taking the punishment for the misdeeds of his childhood friends Matsuda and Motohama, who continued to frame him for their peeping escapades. But little did anyone know that these seemingly harsh encounters secretly strengthened his martial prowess. Every blow I take makes me tougher, just like Gorou-san taught me.
And so Issei endured beatings from the Kendo Club, a unfortunate consequence of his childhood friends Matsuda and Motohama framing him for their lecherous misdeeds. Little did they know that Issei used these beatings as a way to secretly strengthen his body.
Hidden beneath his act of lechery, Issei continued his martial arts training, continuing to seek knowledge from various dojos and using encounters with criminal gangs unfortunate enough to cross his path to pressure test his fighting techniques. I'll get stronger, step by step. I can't let my guard down, Issei's inner thoughts whispered with determination. [3]
Matsuda, a gifted athlete with a penchant for provocative anime and light novels, embodied a duality of character. He carried himself with grace and skill, exuding the air of a typical high school sportsman, while his hidden passion for the risqué remained ever-present. Who would've thought I could enjoy both sports and these spicy shows?
Gotta keep my hobbies on the down-low, though. I can't let anyone know my true interests. They just wouldn't understand, Matsuda's inner thoughts wrestled with the delicate balance between his public and private personas.
On the other hand, Motohama reveled in his lustful preoccupations and lack of interest in genuine human connections. His dialogue and inner reflections bared his obsession with erotic games, perverted literature, anime, and manga. Unashamed, he flaunted his love for the salacious, wearing his interests on his sleeve. Ah, the beauty of unadulterated perversion.
I won't shy away from indulging in the salacious. It's what makes life interesting! Who needs real girls when you have this world of fantasies at your fingertips? Motohama's thoughts reveled in the realm of his vivid imagination.
In this complex dance of identities and teenage camaraderie, Issei carried the weight of his responsibilities, sometimes tired and stressed, yet always grateful for the life he had. A boy with hidden depths, he ventured through the halls of Miryuin Private Academy, oblivious to the hearts that started to beat faster in his presence.
As Issei navigated high school life, he continued honing his martial arts skills. He frequented various dojos, learning from different disciplines, and fighting criminal gangs in secret to test his techniques. Each encounter teaches me something new. It's the only way to become stronger.
While Issei pretended to be a pervert, his fake lecherousness and baggy clothing could only hide his lean, muscular body and genuine good-hearted nature for so long. Issei, you're more than just a fool. There's something special about you, the unspoken thoughts of Issei's many secret admirers danced with intrigue and budding affection for the red-haired, amber-eyed boy. [4]
The girls' feelings increased as the days went by, as they were drawn to his genuine good-hearted nature, even if it was masked by his comedic and lecherous antics. Why are all these girls suddenly acting so weird around me? I'm just being my usual self. Are they actually...falling for me? Nah, can't be true. They probably find my antics amusing or something.
Despite the lecherous charade he so brilliantly played, Issei couldn't completely hide his true nature. His baggy clothing failed to conceal the lean, muscular body beneath, evidence of his relentless training. [1] Unbeknownst to him, more and more of the female students at Miryuin Private Academy started to notice his true nature, their hearts swayed by his actions and the sincerity that shone through.
Despite the facade, Issei's determination to uphold his responsibilities as Ranma Saotome, while still trying to navigate the challenges of high school life, weighed on him. He endured the constant beatings from the enraged girls of the Kendo Club, which his lecherous childhood friends, Matsuda and Motohama, falsely framed him for, all the while using these encounters to continuously secretly strengthen his already immense martial prowess.
At the same time, Issei continued his undercover martial arts training, attending various dojos and refining his combat techniques. His hunger for knowledge and improvement was insatiable, and he remained dedicated to honing his skills as the successor to Anything Goes. "Thank you for the lesson, Sensei. I'll be back tomorrow." I can't afford to let my guard down. There's much more to learn. Plus, I know that my old man is out there somewhere, waiting for me. I can't afford to be distracted, not when he's roaming around the world doin' god knows what when I'm getting distracted with girls and drama and all that other icky stuff.
Despite his consistent efforts to feign disinterest in matters of the heart, Issei's lean and muscular body, coupled with his genuine good-hearted nature, began to catch the attention of a sizable portion of the female students at Miryuin Private Academy as they found themselves falling for the muscular and kind-hearted boy behind the silly act. "Have you seen Issei? He's actually really cute when you look past the whole 'wanna-be harem king' and 'deluded pervert with an ego the size of Mount Everest.' thing he's got going on."
"I know, right? But he acts so weird with all that pervert stuff."
As days passed, Issei's fake lecherousness and baggy clothing couldn't completely conceal the real person beneath. His true self, filled with determination and kindness, began to shine through the act.
"I'm just a regular guy, nothing special about me." He stated in a normal voice as a rather foreign-looking First Year with short blonde hair and violet eyes thanked him profusely as a group of Third Years who had been assaulting the strange gaijin lay twitching and moaning in the ground in both immense pain and innumerable fear, the latest victims of Issei's unusual style of pressure testing.
He normally didn't like having to resort to such measures at school, considering the vast amount of strange energies he could sense coming from some of his classmates and teachers, but these punks' harassing of the poor first-year who was unlucky enough to be their victim reminded the redheaded boy too much of his progenitor and his abuse and degradation of anyone not named Genma Saotome or Ranma Saotome, and Issei truly, truly despised being associated with that man or anything Genma stood for. I have to keep this facade of an idiotic perv up, even if it gets tiring at times. I can't let them know who I truly am.
And so, the young martial artist continued to navigate the dual life he had chosen—one as the seemingly clueless high school student and the other as the heir to Anything Goes. As challenges arose and new admirers emerged, Issei remained steadfast in his determination to carry the responsibilities on his shoulders while cherishing the life he had.
Blissfully oblivious to the admiration around him, Issei remained focused on his responsibilities and training. He tackled each day with determination, embracing life's challenges with a tenacity that belied his youthful age. There's so much I need to do, but I won't back down. I'll make the most of every moment.
And so, the intricate tapestry of the life of Issei Hyoudou, once known as Baki Hanma going under the alias of Ranma Saotome, continued to unfold, pursuing his path with grit and determination.
In a "neighborly" gathering at the Tendo residence, the air was tense as Soun finally revealed the details of the marriage contract that bound the Tendos and the Saotomes/Hanmas together.
Baki, having grown up as Issei under the care of the Hyoudous, found himself thrust into a future he had never envisioned. "Dear friends, it is time we discuss the marriage contract created years ago by myself and Issei's biological father, the current master of the Hikozaemon style of Anything Goes, Genma Saotome.
As per tradition, Issei, the future heir of Anything Goes, shall marry Akane, Nabiki, and Kasumi, ensuring the continuation of both our esteemed lineages." Soun's spoken words carried a mix of excitement and apprehension as he spoke. This is our chance to ensure the continuation of our esteemed lineage. Issei, along with his adoptive family, listened in shock and disbelief as the truth unfolded.
The revelation of Issei's biological father's infamous past as a thief and gambler only added another layer of complexity to the situation.
This caused the red-haired young man to quietly express his immense frustration towards Genma, while Miki and Gorou sat frozen in utter shock and disbelief, too stunned to actually say anything as Soun explained everything to them.
The young blonde Kunou, with her striking amber eyes, narrowed them in anger upon learning of Genma's deceitful actions and the limited knowledge Soun had about Yuujirou when the latter was disguised as Genma Saotome during the time when Yuujirou and Issei, when the red-haired young man was still Baki Hanma disguised as Ranma Saotome, were still venturing the world together as father and son.
As the events unfolded, the Tendo sisters later claimed to have heard a faint, menacing growl resembling that of a young fox [7], emanating from Kunou's direction, as well as the words, "Saotome? Isn't that Auntie Nodoka's last name? She's like a distant cousin of Mom's and lives in Nerima, Tokyo, I think.
You know what, now that I think about it, onii-chan totally resembles Auntie Nodoka. And I swear I've seen some old pictures of Auntie Nodoka with this strange bodybuilder dude who kinda looked like a chef, with the exact same smile as Issei-nii when we visited her last time! Could the Genma-teme that Uncle Soun is always complaining about...actually be Auntie Nodoka's husband?" [8]
What? This is absurd! Marry all three of them? This can't be real. And I didn't even know about this contract! Why the hell do you have to keep on fucking with me, even when I'm out of your grasp Pops?
I know that you're my Dad and all and you had to make me into a 'man amongst men' whatever the heck that means, but couldn't you have at least informed me of this when we were travelin' together? Why is my life turning into some complicated romantic comedy? But the redheaded boy wisely kept silent, his opinions on the matter hidden in his sharp and quick mind.
Akane, the happy and contented girl with a cautious and somewhat paranoid nature, was taken aback yet thrilled by the prospect of marrying her savior and hero, Issei. "I...I never imagined this would happen, but if it's you, Issei, I'll do my best to fulfill the family's legacy."
Could this be fate? Marrying the one who saved me? I must prepare myself for this new path. The black-haired girl's voice was bright and cheerful as thoughts of her and Issei walking down the aisle, and later on having many children as one of his wives ran through her mind.
Nabiki seemed to portray an aura of boredom as she spoke, when in reality, her quick and sharp mind was already working on a series of plans for their future together. "Huh, interesting. I suppose this could be beneficial in the long run."
Marrying Issei, the renowned heir to Anything Goes, might be advantageous for our family's financial future. The brunette technopath and femme fatale in training, found herself intrigued yet composed about the situation.
"I see. If this is our family's tradition, then I shall accept it." My duty as the eldest is to support my family's decision. I shall fulfill this role to the best of my abilities.
Oh, Issei, you really are an interesting person. I wonder what other surprises you have in store. Meanwhile, Kasumi, the mature and thoughtful young woman, couldn't help but find amusement in the entire affair, particularly since Issei had used her company's reputation to publish a series of highly successful provocative novels under the pseudonym of Kōichirō Shindo.
The revelation had not only surprised the Tendo daughters but also the Hyoudou family. Miki, Issei's adoptive mother, maintained her composed demeanor even as her mind raced with thoughts of the future. "I understand. This is an important decision for both families." My son is getting into quite a complicated situation, but I have faith in him. I'll be here to guide and support him. I must ensure that Issei is prepared for the responsibilities that come with this arrangement.
Gorou, Issei's adoptive father, remained supportive and understanding. The kind and considerate family man and model employee, stood by his family's side as they navigated through the unexpected circumstances."We trust Soun's judgment. We shall support Issei in this matter." My son's well-being is paramount. We'll stand by him through whatever comes.
Kunou, Issei's energetic adoptive younger sister, was excited about the prospect. "Wow! Big brother is going to marry three girls!" This is so exciting! I wonder if I can help with the preparations! But, I can't let these feelings get in the way. I need to support him like a good sister should. The blonde-haired young girl rejoiced in her brother's situation but struggled with developing an inappropriate infatuation for him.
As the discussion continued, Issei tried to process the unexpected turn his life had taken, while the Tendo daughters each contemplated the implications of this marriage contract in their own ways. The future held uncertainty, but they were determined to face it together.
Issei's life took an unexpected turn with his engagement to the Tendo sisters, but he remained oblivious to the growing attention from his peers, especially the group of infatuated girls, and even his lewd friends, Matsuda and Motohama, who became secretly envious of his newfound popularity with the ladies.
Despite Issei's best efforts to keep his engagement to the Tendo sisters a secret from his teachers and peers, his newfound popularity among the female students at school could not be ignored.
The group of girls infatuated with the redheaded young man slowly turned to a fan club, their young and hopeful hearts fluttering at the sight of his antics and unaware of the complex web of relationships he navigated. Why are they so interested in me? I'm just an ordinary guy, Issei thought as he made his way to class one afternoon at school, still somewhat confused at the blushing faces and constant approaches from the opposite sex that had come his way lately.
Matsuda whined to Motohama as the two made a mad dash across the locker room as the girls of the Kendo Club chased them, barely passing Issei by as they scampered for safety, "Hey, did you notice how the girls are all over Issei lately? It's like he's become a riajuu without even trying."
Motohama responded, "Yeah, it's irritating. Why does he get all the attention when we've been the 'perverted duo' for so long?" I wonder what it's like to have girls swooning over you...
Issei, focused on his schoolwork and secret martial arts training, continued to portray his aloof demeanor at school, unaware of the admiration he garnered among the female students. I'm so busy lately. I barely have time to think about anything else other than school and training. But I must keep going. There's so much at stake. [5]
Ironically, Issei's calm and cool attitude, especially when he dropped the facade of an idiotic pervert, made him even more popular among the girls.
One of Issei's classmates said to her friends during a conversation, "Did you see how cool Issei looked in class today? He's not like those other boys who are always trying to impress us." Another of the girls replied to that with, "I know, right? And he's so kind and helpful. I wish he'd notice me."
As the days went by, Issei's popularity grew, and his friends, Matsuda and Motohama, couldn't help but feel left out.
"Seriously, it's like we don't even exist when Issei is around. It's like he's in his own world." Matsuda grumbled to Motohama as the two perverts waited on their ally and the true third member of the perverted trio, the brown-haired, green-eyed, glasses-wearing honor student Akita Kiryuu, to arrive at the spot where all three of them normally hung out.
Motohama grunted, "Yeah, I miss the old times when we were the center of attention. Now, it's all about him and his mysterious allure."
Issei's genuine good-hearted nature and dedication to his responsibilities further endeared him to those around him, despite his occasional antics as the "perverted fool" and "class clown" at school.
"Issei might act like a pervert, but he's actually really sweet. I heard he volunteers at the local community center." One girl said as she and her friends watched Issei use his reputation as a perverted fool to prevent Matsuda and Motohama from assaulting Koneko Tojou, the mostly silent and reclusive silver-haired and amber-eyed First Year student in an effort to expose the rather mysterious boy as a cute girl in disguise, which unbeknownst to either Issei, his lecherous friends or the rest of the Kuoh student and teacher population apart from the Student Council and the ORC, wasn't far off the mark.
One of her friends responded with, "And did you know he saved a kitten stuck in a tree last week? He's like a real-life hero."
While Issei remained blissfully unaware of his growing popularity, his determination to carry through with his responsibilities and his happiness for the life he had were evident to those who truly knew him. "I might be tired and stressed, but I'm grateful for everything I have. I won't let anyone down. Not when Pops is out there, lurking in the shadows to do Gods know whatever comes into his head at any given time," he muttered under his breath as he carried a massive stack of papers to the teachers' office one day, his immense strength and stamina making lifting the heavy burden quite a easy task for him.
This incredible feat brought even more attention to Issei, especially to the female gender, as Issei's muscular form rippled under his loose uniform.
After carrying the papers to the teachers' office, Issei savored his lunch under the shade of a tree near the Occult Research Club, blissfully unaware of the watchful eyes observing him.
Little did he know, his English teacher [9], the stunning and admired Rias Gremory, with her fiery red hair and captivating blue eyes, was discreetly observing him, accompanied by her loyal and composed assistant, the black-haired, purple-eyed Yamato Nadeshiko and immensely popular Third Year, the bewitching raven-haired, violet-eyed and large chested Akeno Himejima.
Rias observed her favorite Second Year student with a mix of intrigue and hidden desires. Her bright scarlet hair cascaded like flames, framing her striking blue eyes that held the secrets of her noble lineage as the Princess of the House of Gremory in the Underworld. By her side stood Akeno, her loyal and composed assistant, whose black hair and appearance as a picturesque Japanese beauty contrasted with her piercing purple eyes, a result of her heritage as a Nephilim.
Issei... he bears a resemblance to one of my powerful relatives, the busty redheaded MLIF mused as her blue eyes carefully surveyed Issei, her thoughts tinged with a hint of forbidden fantasies that lay dormant beneath her composed and elegant demeanor.
The Gremory heiress whispered softly to the loyal and devoted young woman who was secretly her "Queen", the calm and composed Himejima heiress, "Akeno, have we made any progress in uncovering Issei's past? There's something intriguing about him, almost reminiscent of a powerful member of my family." [10]
Meanwhile, Akeno blushed, her thoughts drifting to the imagined scenario of Issei dominating her in the bedroom as she quickly responded to her mistress' query, "Oh, Rias-sama, you always find a way to make things interesting. As for Issei, our investigation hasn't yielded much so far."
Her secret sadomasochistic tendencies hidden from the world, the purple-haired young woman found herself captivated by Issei's charm, yearning for an intimate connection that only Rias and the members of the other members of the Gremory heiress' peerage, sorry I meant the Occult Research Club were privy to.
Her refined and elegant nature, rooted in her noble lineage and shrine maiden heritage, intermingled with her determination as a skilled magician and warrior. Oh, Issei... if only you knew the desires that burn within me, Akeno thought as she gazed at Issei longingly from her and Rias' shared position at the open window.
As they discussed Issei, Akeno couldn't help but let her thoughts wander, imagining him as her dominant partner, fueling her secret sadomasochistic desires. [11] Meanwhile, Rias entertained her own perverted fantasies, envisioning Issei passionately claiming her on their wedding night. [12]
Her face was composed and her cerulean orbs remained focused on Issei, as she and Akeno watched him eat his lunch under the tree. "Akeno, please refrain from such teasing. We mustn't jump to any unnecessary conclusions as yet."
Rias, a refined and elegant noble-born, maintained her composure and carefully guarded her perverted fantasies of Issei dominating her on their wedding night. The busty redhead's pride and confidence, stemming from her noble birth, were evident in her calm and polite demeanor as she spoke.
Issei's charm and the longing look in Rias' eyes, along with Koneko Tojou's uncharacteristic blush whenever the petite silver-haired girl disguised as an effeminate boy saw Issei, hinted at a potential future for them. "Rias-sama, could it be that you see yourself as one of Issei's future wives? Perhaps along with Koneko-chan as well?" Akeno's voice was teasing but also carried a hint of seriousness in them, as her keen purple eyes observed the blush on her mistress' cheeks.
Rias playfully responded, "Akeno, knock it off. It's nothing more than a passing thought."
However, Rias couldn't deny a tinge of sadness creeping into her thoughts as she remembered her impending engagement to Riser Phenix, the arrogant heir of the House of Phenix in the underworld. Akeno, sensing her mistress' sudden onset of unhappiness and knowing the exact reason why, responded curtly, "Rias-sama, I sense your distress. Perhaps we should focus on a plan to incorporate Issei into our peerage. After all, he possesses the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig."
Realizing the wisdom in Akeno's words, Rias reluctantly retreated into the luxurious interior of the Occult Research Club, with Akeno dutifully following behind. "You're right, Akeno. We should consider a way to bring Issei into our peerage. I must fulfill my responsibilities as both a high ranking d...l and the future heiress of the House of Gremory."
Akeno allowed a small smile to grace her face as she gracefully followed her mistress back inside the ORC clubhouse."I'm here to support you, Rias-sama, both as your loyal assistant and BDSM partner. Together, we will navigate this path."
In this intricate web of desires and hidden personas, Issei remained oblivious, a mere teenager grappling with the weight of his responsibilities while cherishing the joys of youth. He maintained his facade of an ordinary adolescent, grateful for what he had while secretly grappling with the intricacies of his engagement to the Tendo sisters and the expectations placed upon him.
In the midst of it all, he carried on, tired and somewhat stressed by the responsibilities on his young shoulders, but determined to persevere.
[1] I always wondered why Baki and Ranma didn't have fan clubs in their respective canon storylines as Baki as we all know, is built like a tank and Ranma must be packing some muscle despite his lean and compact build. I know Ranma wears loose clothes so that he can fight better and also as a means of showing his roots as a martial artist, but come on man! Some girls obviously ought to be giving these guys some looks!
[2] Knowing how freakishly strong and flexible Baki is and how tough and durable Ranma is, this is the most likely option for Issei. Of course, he could defeat them with ease considering how good he is, but he wants to have a normal life and what's the fun in drama and nonsense? And there's of course the issue of Ddraig influencing his mind...augmenting his body as he takes a good look at the luscious forms of the Kendo Club members.
[3] Even after escaping from his father's grasp and finally achieving an ordinary life as a regular teenage boy, this version of Issei would still train relentlessly in martial arts in secret, constantly improving his technique and looking for ways to improve his fighting style.
[4] Issei's good looks and kind personality, combined with his numerous feats at school, would make him immensely popular among the female students despite his perverted persona.
[5] Yes, Issei is pretty dense...for now. Remember, he's mostly focused on keeping his martial arts skills sharp and ensuring that his academic performance remains up to par.
[6] Issei chooses to keep the fact that he rescued Akane hidden from his peers and teachers at school because he isn't interested in fame and fortune, as well as the attention and drama these inevitably bring, and just wants a normal, peaceful life.
[7] You really thought I'd forgotten about Kunou's kitsune heritage, did ya? Nope, I haven't. Remember, at this stage of the game Kunou is just an ordinary little girl in her last year of elementary school with a genius brain and advanced intellect that she proudly shows off...she isn't even aware of who she is yet!
[8] Yuujirou is practically finished here, even if he doesn't know it as yet.
[9] Rias will always be a teacher in all the High School DxD stories I do, simply due to the fact that she has way too much privilege and power at Kuoh Academy in DxD canon to be a mere student. Plus Rias being a teacher explains how and why she was able to pass off her peerage members as the Occult Research Club, and allow them to get so much leeway, especially at a high-class private institution such as Kuoh. Also, come to think of it, Rias also could have used her status as a teacher to help get Sona and the core members of the Sitri heiress' peerage into Kuoh as the Student Council.
[10] How exactly is Yuujirou related to the Gremories and how does Rias even know about him? Well for that's for me to know and you, the readers to find out in the next book of this series!
[11] The events of the EX spin-off light novel that take place after High School DxD BORN are canon to all of my stories. Also, why wouldn't Akeno want to be dominated by a strong and powerful man?
[12] Rias also has strong feelings for Issei as well, which she is much better than hiding that the other girls after his heart.