Everyone goes back to Kuoh the next morning after a fruitless search, none of them had slept. When they arrive at the school, they ignored everyone and went straight to the ORC. They entered and found it to be empty.

Xenovia: kind of glad it's empty.

Irina: same.

Gasper: we just wish he was here.

(Back with Issei)

Issei was washed up on a shore and eventually woke up and was more in control, his face stung a lot from the sea water on his cuts. Issei looks around and sees that he's alone, he tries to think of where to go but his mind is still messed up from yesterday. Issei decided to go for a walk and walked near a forest, he was too deep in thought to hear the sounds of twigs breaking behind him. Eventually Issei's instincts kicked in but just not quick enough, he felt something his right arm and when he looked at it he saw what looked like a skin walker but even more weak and skinnier than you usually see one. It's skin was ash grey and black lines on its chest what had a hole in it, was that injury? Issei asked himself, he looked at the creature in its eyes and saw no life in them, the bite only had enough force to pierce him skin but nothing more than that. The creature let go and fell to the ground, Issei looked at it and saw that it also had horns that pointed forward, the creature then slowly started to crack like cheap porcelain then turned to dust.

Issei: what was that thing? A skin walker?

Issei looked at the bite mark.

Issei: it barely had enough strength for one last attempt at a meal.

Ddraig: partner, you okay?

Issei: yeah Ddraig, I'm okay I guess.

Ddraig: Issei I think we should head back to the others.

Issei now starting to shake at the mere mention of them.

Issei: why should I?

Ddraig: because you'll be marked as a stray and when you were passed out on the cliff Asia, Irina, Xenovia, Ravel, Gasper and Rossweisse came after you. They tried to help but in your panicked state you attacked them and fell off the cliff. Don't worry they are not harmed.

Issei: Ddraig....I

Ddraig: Issei I know, you want to die after you went through and that's understandable but think about those who still care, other than those 4 devils did the others ever hurt you?

Issei: no...but...

Ddraig: come on Issei, don't make them think that you're dead. They don't need to suffer too.

Issei hesitates at first but reluctantly agreed.

Issei: alright Ddraig, let go.

Issei actives his balance breaker and flys home. After a while he arrived but was breathing heavily after he deactivated his balance breaker.

Issei: why...am..I so...tired?

Ddraig: go home and eat something, you expended just about all of your strength. You did leave a few new craters on the moon after all.

Issei chuckles at that.

Issei: heh. Yeah...that I did.

Issei goes to his house and sees his parents and they were clearly worried about him. His mother Miki said.

Miki: Issei where have you been? We haven't seen you since yesterday.

Issei: sorry mom. Somethings happened and I needed to clear my head.

His father Gorou asked:

Gorou: Issei, you got hurt. The 3 cuts on your face, did someone hurt you?

Issei: don't worry dad, I'm fine I got hit with a thorny branch and it cut me. I'm okay but I'm tired and just want to sleep. Sorry.

Issei walks up to his room and cleans up, he cleans the bite marks which he hid from his parents, he washes the cuts on his face but when he looks in the mirror, he sees the cuts and they remind him of her. Issei then sits in the tub sobbing, Ddraig's words had only brought him temporary comfort but the effect what he experienced went deeper than he could have imagined. Issei eventually calmed down and then felt numb inside, he was basically running on autopilot at this point, he thoughtlessly got ready for school and ate breakfast and barely spoke to his parents who were worried sick about him. He left for school and was greeted by his 2 friends Matsuda and Motohama.

Motohama: yo Issei how you doing?

Issei didn't respond and just kept on walking.

Matsuda stopped him.

Matsuda: hey bro you okay?

They looked at Issei and saw something that scared them. Nothing, they saw nothing, no emotion, no response, no life in his eyes, it's as if he's not alive anymore.

Matsuda: Issei,....speak to us man... c'mon.

Motohama: dude it's us... Your friends....

Issei's eyes now show a little bit of life.

Issei:....guys?

Both hugged him when he called out to them. They other students noticed and word got around that Issei isn't himself. The gossip reached the ORC in minutes and they all rushed out to see him. Rias was the first to run out the door at speeds that even surprised Kiba. Rias ran to him and the two guys saw her coming and though that maybe Rias could snap him out of it, she was followed by everyone including Rossweisse. As soon as Rias hugged him and said his name, Issei started shaking.

Issei: LET GO.

Issei removed himself from her embrace in a swift motion.

Rias:...why..

Issei: JUST STAY AWAY RIAS.

Issei said with venom in his voice that looked like it would physically injure her. Rias steps forward.

Rias: you finally said my name.

Rias now shedding tears not only because Issei called her by her name but also because of how he said it. He didn't say it out of love but pure hatred, he lost all love and respect for her the instant she accidentally told him that she let him die, how she let Asia die.

Issei now back into his defensive and panicked position just like yesterday on the cliff set off alarms in everyone's head.

Rossweisse: everyone get to class, that's an order, we'll handle this.

Everyone goes except for the 2 guys.

Rossweisse: that includes you two as well.

Motohama: Issei's our friend and we won't leave him like this.

Matsuda: we can help.

Rossweisse:....fine..

Irina: Issei it's us. Don't you recognize us?

Issei: ..I...Irina?

Irina: yes it's me.

She takes a step forward.

Issei: please stay back. All of you.

Issei said in a voice that was broken. He was trembling again.

Asia: Issei we know we are in the wrong for what happened yesterday, please let us try to make it right.

Xenovia: yes, that's all we ask of you.

Issei:......

Akeno: give as a chance.

Issei now getting really angry.

Issei: like the so called "chance" you gave me when you forced me into your shit? WHY SHOULD I? YOU AND THE OTHERS KNEW ABOUT IT AND INSTEAD OF HELPING ME AND ASIA YOU LET US SUFFER. I DON'T KNOW WHO I CAN TRUST HERE!

Matsuda and Motohama look at each other and then to the ORC with questioning gazes.

Rias: I never meant to hurt you Issei.. it's just...

Issei: ENOUGH OF THE LIES RIAS, STOP LYING AND MANIPULATING ME FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!!

Rias: I never did any of that Issei.

Issei: DIDN'T I JUST TELL YOU TO STOP LYING?? YOU LET ME DIE. YOU LET ASIA DIE AND YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT.!!

The 2 guys: WHAT?!

Kiba: it's not what it sounds like.

Matsuda: no? what he said can only mean one thing so please explain.

Akeno: there's nothing to explain.

Issei spreads his devil wings ready to fly away as he sensed their intent to take him down. Matsuda and Motohama just looked at his wings completely unable to process what they were seeing on top everything already happening.
Koneko then appeared behind them and knocked them out. Issei tackled her into a tree in retaliation. The others took the chance to restrain Issei using their own bodies. They all tackle him onto the ground and they were too strong for Issei to fight in his current state, Issei being pinned by those who lied and used him made him feel helpless just like before. Issei was trying to escape frantically but to avail. Eventually he stopped moving and Rias was on top of him worried sick but when she saw his face....

Issei: please........just let me go........I can't ...I...

Issei's eyes once again devoid of life yet cried a stream of tears and had dark circles and his face was pale.
Rias and Akeno felt like their got hit by a light spear through the chest, Koneko didn't show much expression but she was trying to control herself and Kiba just sat down on one knee. They realized what they did, they completely broke the one who put them together all on his own.

Rossweisse put a sleep spell on Issei and knocked him out since students were watching from the windows.
They picked up Issei and took him to the nurse's office and put him on the bed. Akeno cast a spell and wiped out everyone's memory of what they saw, only members of the ORC and Irina know what happened.

Issei lays in bed and the others stayed by his side. Asia stayed on the bed with him while Irina kept holding his hand.

Xenovia: will he be okay?

Issei's gauntlet appears on his arm.

Ddraig: like hell he will.

Rias: Ddraig how is he?

Ddraig: just look at him Gremory. How can anyone answer that?

Rias:.....

Ddraig: has anyone told her what had happened after she left?

Rossweisse: I did.

Ddraig: ... Do any of you also know why he was keeping his distance from everyone even from those who didn't hurt him?

Xenovia: we have a guess but not completely sure.

Ddraig: I'll tell you. After Raynare used him and killed him, he developed a fear of women but he was on the verge of over coming it but it still lingered in his heart. The reason he didn't confess yesterday was due to a few excellent reasons.

Rias: please tell me.

Ddraig: first, he is definitely in love with you but was afraid of rejection which was completely normal considering how much he used to care.

2nd: he never called you by your name out of respect, you are his king and he was afraid that if you two did have a relationship then it would cause trouble for you both.

3rd: he wanted to call you by your name when you two were alone but with so many people in your lives, you two can't be alone for 10 seconds without anyone getting between you two.

A momentary silence.

Ddraig: but after you accidentally told him the truth that old fear completely took over and is now afraid of nearly woman he sees or comes near him thus his reaction towards everyone here save for Gasper.

Kiba: but I'm a guy

Ddraig: did you already forget that you were a part of the plan that ended up in him getting pierced by light spears 4 times? He hates you too. He's going to need medication to calm himself and to control his health now. You promised to be his brother and look where that got him. If I could leave the sacred gear I would have made you 4 suffer, even the past hosts of the boosted gear have great anger directed towards you.

Silence fell for 5 minutes.

Akeno: you know I thought we lost him forever after we were told that he fell off the cliff.

Issei: but you did lose me forever.

Issei was now awake, he sat up and looked at everyone without any emotions yet tears were being shed. His stoic expression shamed Koneko's blank expression.

Rias: Issei please, I..no WE beg you for your forgiveness. I hurt you so please let me make it up to you.

Rias begged but Issei looked on with a soulless gaze with an empty voice.

Issei: Rias,..you didn't hurt me, you......... killed me.....

Rias: I'm so so sorry.

Issei: ...........tell me something you 4, was it all a lie?

Koneko: what do you mean?

Issei: all of it. Training, hanging out, sharing our personal secrets, all the battles in which we could have and almost died in, living together..

Issei then looked at Rias.

Issei: falling in love....was all of it just a plot to use me? To use Asia? If that's the case then......I don't want to be part of your peerage anymore.

Issei spread his wings and then just ripped them out without caring how much it hurt, he didn't even flinch from the pain.

Irina, Asia and Akeno covered their mouths and had wide eyes. Rias, Kiba, Gasper, Rossweisse, Irina and Ravel looked on in horror at the sight, the sound leathery wings being ripped off made their blood run cold. Issei held his wings and looked at them.

Issei: I....don't want to be a devil anymore. I'm leaving the ORC. I'm done.

Asia immediately took his wings and used twilight healing, Issei was bleeding profusely after his little stunt, Asia healed both wings.

Issei: Asia...I told you...I don't want to be a devil anymore.

He tried to remove the wings again but she and Irina stopped him.

Xenovia: Issei...please don't do that again.

She was trembling.

Rias then completely broke down and so did the others, they just hugged him and found that he was shaking but still empty inside.

Issei: ........answer my question, was it all a lie?

Kiba: NO ISSEI,....it was all real. You're my brother. You saved me from being consumed by revenge.

Koneko: you helped me out of kindness but we were never there for you. We're sorry.

Akeno: all of our time together wasn't any plot to control you, we really do love you.

Issei: .........

Rias: Issei, I know what I did was wrong but I promise you that everyone moment we spent together were the best in our lives, you gave your arm for me to beat Riser, you saved us all so please let me make it right since I was the one who dragged the others into my stupid plan.

She buried her face into his chest while crying.

Rias: we want our Issei back.

Xenovia: that's right. We didn't think about what you went through.

Irina: and we blamed you for not confessing your feelings without considering yours.

Ravel:.......

Rossweisse: we miss the happy perv we know.

Rossweisse said trying to lighten the mood.

Issei: that's just it. You won't get he old me ever again because it's like I said. You killed me.....I'm gone.

Asia: what?

Issei: it was my perversion that got me into this mess in the first place, if I wasn't so perverted then I would have questioned who Raynare really was when she showed up out of no where wearing a uniform of a school that doesn't exist. I would have been more alert and not ended up getting a light spear go right through me. I'm sorry but the old me is long gone.......

Rias whispered: no no no

Just then everyone got a magical circle appear next to their ears, it was an announcement of the rating games that was starting and the vs matches.

Rossweisse: guys.. take a day off, as a teacher I can get you all off the hook... Issei...you are free to do as you wish, take a leave of absence. We can all talk it out after we settle ourselves a bit.

She gave Issei a genuine smile of sincerity and kindness. She did want to help and she's doing it the right way.

Issei: I need to be alone for a while....please...

They fulfill his request. Everyone follows Rossweisse, Irina and Asia stayed and refused to leave.

Issei: you two can go if you want, I'll be fine.

Asia: we're not leaving. You might rip your wings out again and bleed to death.

Irina: I failed you yesterday and I won't put you through that again. Consider me your own guardian angel.

He let out a chuckle.

Issei: a devil having a guardian angel. How interesting.

Irina jumped on Issei and spread her wings that were now more black than white, she embraced Issei and Asia in her wings. Issei felt the sensation of the soft feathers but the black colour felt wrong, felt unnatural. Issei looked at them and was now beginning to feel something, it was guilt. She nearly fell because of her guilt for thinking that she hurt him.
He won't let her put in all the effort, he will also try to make things better. Issei remembered something, he remembers Irina NOT blaming him for his inability to confess to Rias, Asia did but thinking back..Rias had her in the palm of her hand ever since she turned her into a devil. He wasn't going to blame these two or Gasper for that matter. He's young, he is her bishop after all, he was just loyal to her.

Issei: Asia, Irina...thank you....I'll try to make things go back to normal....both for you two and myself..... Irina don't blame yourself, I don't blame you at all. Don't fall because of me, I don't think I can actually live with the guilt if that were to happen. Stay as the pure angel Irina we know and love. Black wings don't suit you I'm afraid.

Irina: only if stay as the same old Issei we know and love.

Issei: Irina.....we both know that it's far too late. I won't go back to being a perv, I'm done with that and since you were the one who defended me yesterday, I know for sure that you truly are an angel. Thank you and you as well Asia, both of you were there at the cliff yesterday along with the others. I appreciate it and I'm sorry for attacking you.

Irina's black feathers became white once more. She thought she was one of those who hurt him but after hearing him say that she didn't do anything wrong, her guilt was gone.

They stay in his embrace till the end of the school day. Issei was still shaking a little because he's still afraid of women but he didn't push them away because he didn't want to hurt them. They were hurting enough.