Quite a different way to go about dying in the BEAST universe and our mainline manga.
Emptiness vs Peace (and the many other things me must of felt here).
The way it was described as not a single particle of light being able to make its way inside his consciousness in that moment...
We know in BEAST Akutagawa wears gray, and forever between the dark and light or just someone apparently born in darkness who seeks to live in the light - almost like how Kouyou described Kyouka except that had flower analogies.
In the mainline manga we could get a similar situation. And the Akutagawa and Atsushi in our mainline manga are definitely much less...broken than they have been in BEAST.
The mainline manga Akutagawa will throw his life away for his goal or just so easily the same way BEAST Akutagawa would. Yet, still we always see him fight to live until that end.
It is not entirely related but the scene where the last person on the list for Akutagawa in BEAST to kill was himself...
We can be grateful our mainline Akutagawa will hopefully not be doing this. But it made me think back how some themes and parts of RASHOMON and THE MOON OVER THE MOUNTAIN were switched between the mainline manga and the BEAST universe...
Anyway, Akutagawa ramble over. For now.
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Atsushi and Akutagawa have, absolutely hands down, the best relationship dynamic and development of any characters.
They started out so hateful and full of resent and anger. They found any opportunity to be at each other's throats and had to be forced by hand to work together.
They are two people who did not understand anything about the other. Akutagawa loathed Atsushi for the way he was so easily approved by the one person whose approval he needs to live.
And Atsushi hated Akutagawa for the type of person he was. All they did was fight, and there was not a single thought given about the other.
The only reason Akutagawa interacted with him in the first place was as a part of a mission where the mafia was going to sell Atsushi to another organisation.
Their relationship progressed little by little into a point where they held concern for each other even if that concern at some moments were "I am the only person allowed to kill you' it is progress nonetheless.
They actually talked with one another, even if it was yelling. They learned more about each other and their situations and created a bond.
The biggest thing about their relationship is how they literally fixed each other. Atsushi gave Akutagawa a different reason to live than just Dazais approval and Aku obviously changed as a person by being with Atsushi.
Atsushi became a person whose opinion he valued do much that he promised to stop doing his literal job and not kill anyone.
Atsushi made him a more compassionate person. He made Aku into the mafioso who doesn't kill (Odasaku parallels anyone!)
Atsushi also grew as a person. He had a lot of emotional traumas and we see those flashbacks where he panics. Eventually he becomes calmer and Dazai is a person who appears to comfort him when he panics but most recently Akutagawa was the one who appeared to help and calm him when he was losing his mind.
Atsushi thinks a lot about what would Dazai do but when he thinks of Akutagawa it's not what he would do, just thinking of him being there for him gives him strength and his panic dissipates.
Atsushi learns that Aku is someone he can rely on and trust to a point where all his worries disappear when he thinks about Aku.
Their original anger and hatred for each other are now a feeling of safety and trust, any jabs or seemingly hateful actions or words are now on the same level as Dazai and Chuuya messing with each other.
They even got to a point where they didn't need to communicate their attack plan and put their full trust in each other that they were on the same page. They put each other's lives in their hands and they succeeded (at the time, the time swords fucked that up but that's not their fault. They did great)
They truly are the only ones deserving of the title Shin Soukoku.
Something I find deeply interesting and cool is how the bsd mangas vary between countries/regions. The cover art stays the same, but the spines are designed differently and give off different vibes. Images and more of me ranting about how neat it is below the cut!
For example, here’s the Chinese and Japanese manga (image not mine, taken off EBay). They look like classy novels which I deeply enjoy
Australia and Italy both have a similar spine style (taken from Carousell website and Trancy008 on Reddit).
Poland still utilizes the picture-less spines, but starting a using alternating colours for each volume. (Image from orange-cat-123 on Reddit) In Denmark we get to see (in my opinion, a very cool) spine designs that alternates between black and white. (Image is taken off of blxcktxe on Reddit)
There are also the ones from Malaysia. It’s a bit more similar to the ones I have in North America.
Lastly, you have the YenPress mangas that publish in Canada and USA. All of them feature a little circular window. The image is from my own collection
I don’t think anyone has talked about this before (if yes please let me know I’d love to hear what they have to say!). It’s incredibly cool to me how these small details reveal how wide-spread the bsd fandom is. Feel free to show off your shelf/collection as well I want to see them!
My ramblings will be based off what I've seen from the anime. But from season 1-3. So my bad if I miss anything to factor in. And mostly just for now me rambling about how they got together.
CW: Very minor mention of suicide
I think the idea of a punctual guy who is just normal getting paired up romantically with a playful yet chaotic and tactical character is funny to me and I'm all for it to be honest.
I like to think starting out Kunikida didn't really see Dazai more than just a coworker. And then kinda didn't like him once Dazai started messing with him. So he started kinda hating his guts sometimes because when it comes to just doing the work, Kunikida respects Dazai because he knows Dazai will actually do his job.
Dazai meanwhile had some interest in Kunikida, but more so with teasing him a lot once he noticed that Kunikida was the partially gullible type. And he enjoys Kunikida's reactions whenever Kunikida realizes that Dazai gave him misinformation or tries to mess with his schedule.
Dazai did at some point date Chuuya when he used to be in the Port Mafia. But he obviously broke up with him around the time he left Port Mafia.
So when Dazai first met Kunikida, he felt a similar energy that Kunikida shares with Chuuya. Dazai definitely has a type, and it's people he can get away teasing and still be yelled at.
Kunikida is more of a bi icon and he does have 58 criterias for a spouse. But he says woman because he doesn't wanna out himself just yet. And even though he says they're criterias, he doesn't actually want all those criterias met. Because he's still unsure of if he should have a partner who he'd risk having them worry a lot for him since being in the Armed Detective Agency is a dangerous job. So he uses the 58 criterias as an excuse to reject people who either make the attempt to ask him, or to stop himself from pursuing someone.
Dazai once took a peek at Kunikida's notebook and flipped through the 58 criterias page on Kunikida's "ideal woman" and noticed that it wasn't titled 'Ideal Woman', it was titled 'Ideal Partner'. Which Dazai found interesting on a more gender neutral use to refer to someone instead of a gendered one like he kept verbally saying. And the more he looked at the criterias, the more he noticed that a good amount of the stuff listed, were not at all linked to a specific gender or anything that he'd expect a man like Kunikida would say he'd want in a woman.
It wouldn't take long for Dazai to deduce that Kunikida may also be interested in other genders besides women. He also took into account that a lot of criterias written down seemed too unrealistic for one person to have. So Dazai was convinced this was because Kunikida was not allowing himself to be in a relationship.
After Dazai got a good scolding from Kunikida after getting his notebook back, Dazai decided that instead of simply teasing Kunikida about his 'unrealistic preferences' he would wanna see what is actually Kunikida's type if it were a man. And what better way to start than with himself. Dazai did think Kunikida was handsome and didn't mind the idea of dating Kunikida. Although he'd not push it too hard if Kunikida didn't reciprocate.
Kunikida would be pissed off that Dazai looked in his notebook long enough to have read something. And was concerned that Dazai might've actually found out that he wasn't exactly straight. Kunikida knows that Dazai is no stranger to blackmail. And it would be a pain in his ass if Dazai used it against him.
Kunikida wasn't concerned about some people in the Armed Detective Agency finding out, but he also doesn't want someone else to out him because it's neither their right nor business to do so. He'd keep an eye on Dazai and see if there's an attempt. But nothing really happens at first.
At first.
Eventually Dazai seems playful or teasing towards Kunikida. And the poor man doesn't get why Dazai is being more annoying than usual.
Whenever Kunikida gets paired up with Dazai for a mission, Dazai would do some slight flirting banter and Kunikida either doesn't pick up on it or is flustered by it because he's not used to being flirted on, especially not by a man.
Kunikida does believe that Dazai is conventionally handsome but he didn't have a crush on him. So when Dazai started flirting towards him, he wasn't sure how to feel because on one hand, he doesn't think co workers should be flirting on the job. But at the same time, he didn't mind it.
It would be a blessing and a curse that he tells Dazai to only do that outside of missions.
Because now Dazai is flirting towards Kunikida discreetly.
It starts with simple sticky notes being placed at his desk. Some of the official workers start teasing that Kunikida has a secret admirer and it leads to some light gossiping on wondering who it could be.
Atsushi would ask Kunikida if he has any idea on who it could be. Kunikida does have a good idea on knowing that it's Dazai given how he's been behaving lately and isn't even trying to hide it. Yet at the same time Dazai is doing it in ways where he'd be the only one to notice. However, Kunikida only tells Atsushi that it is someone he knows. This only made the office workers more interested.
The office workers would attempt to bribe Ranpo with sweets to tell them who it could be. Fukuzawa catches wind of this and asks Ranpo to not say who it is since it's not their business to know. Fukuzawa is basically Ranpo's dad so he listens and doesn't say who wrote that love note to Kunikida. Yes, he still takes the sweets.
Ranpo would at this point watch Dazai and Kunikida's interactions from a distance. But he wouldn't do much. At most he'd just say, "Ya seeing this Yosano?" or "Atsushi, take my place for this case, there's a show I'd rather watch".
It takes a bit for Atsushi to figure out Dazai's attraction to Kunikida. Dazai casually tells Atsushi that he's unsure if he'd want to commit double suicide with Kunikida since he knows it would go against Kunikida's ideals.
Dazai would unintentionally developed more proper feelings for Kunikida and start feeling inadequate in the sense that he wants the opposite of what Kunikida's ideals are.
This causes Dazai to feel a bit down but makes attempts to hide it.
Leading Kunikida to pick up on this and bites the bullet to ask Dazai if he's okay since this feels different from his normal antics.
Dazai's chest feels tighter hearing that.
He says nothing but desperately hugs Kunikida. The blonde man is taken back by this however he decides to just confront the brunette in front of him.
Kunikida is confused what's gotten into Dazai. He'll admit, he did think the hug felt nice, and he could tell the hug is sincere.
Kunikida: May you please tell me afterwards what's wrong?
Dazai burrows his face in Kunikida's shoulder
Dazai: Some other time. I just wanna be like this for a bit longer.
They both stood there a bit longer in silence.
The blonde could feel a slight tremble from the brunette. He felt that it was correct to hold the other slightly tighter. He tried gingerly brushing his fingers' through the brunette's locks, in an attempt to calm him down.
More additional silence.
Dazai shifts himself briefly where he looks directly into Kunikida's eyes.
Dazai places his head on Kunikida's chest, hearing his heartbeat.
The brunette closes his eyes and slowly exhales.
Dazai pulls away and gives Kunikida a genuine smile and walks away before Kunikida could say anything.
This felt different from the Dazai he's some to know.
He's unsure if the world is ending or if he got a small glimpse at Dazai's feelings. But he wants to understand what's going on.
The following day the blonde asks Atsushi if Dazai has said or done anything off.
Atsushi didn't see much different from Dazai.
It takes a moment for the silvered haired young man to recall.
Atsushi: He might've mentioned something about your ideals? I'm not sure what he meant at the time.
Kunikida: My ideals? He's never seemed to care about them.
The blonde man started to think.
Meanwhile in the distance Ranpo is witnessing his new soap opera. The events unfolding in front of him-
Kunikida checked the sticky notes that he put into a stack and compared writings from both Dazai's unfinished paperwork and those sticky notes. Yes, they seemed to be a match.
The blonde took a moment to think until it hit him.
...Did Dazai...? Like him that way...?
The thought made his cheeks lightly flush.
Sure, he thought Dazai was conveniently attractive. But he never at that point felt much for the guy in the romantic department.
Looking back at that moment where Dazai hugged him felt nice. It gave him slight butterflies in his stomach as he's trying to recall.
Kunikida texts Dazai to meet him at the park in about 30 minutes. Dazai replies as his usual goofy self. Something Kunikida doesn't argue with in that moment, seeing as how Dazai seems to be avoiding his feelings.
Kunikida grabs his notebook for his ideal woman and heads off to the park.
Atsushi noticed and was about to stop him until Ranpo latched onto him, ordering him to get him some snacks at a nearby store.
Kunikida sits at a park bench and thinks things over several times. Each time made him nervous.
His thoughts would get interrupted when Dazai sits down next to him.
Dazai: My, this is the first time you ask me to hang out.
Kunikida: I wanted to talk to you about something.
Dazai plays dumb and cocks his head slightly to the side.
Dazai: Hm? About what.
Kunikida: How you've been acting recently. Your feelings.
Dazai's face falls to a frown.
Dazai: You have quiet the imagination Kunikida. Leave that to only me and the other kids.
Kunikida scoffed at that last part.
Kunikida: I think we both know what you're talking about.
Kunikida turns his gaze to Dazai and asks sincerely
Kunikida: Do you... Have romantic feelings for me?
Dazai: ...
Kunikida tries studying Dazai's body language. Noting that Dazai is somewhat playing with his hands.
Kunikida: Your handwriting matches the ones on those sticky notes and before that, you even teased me about my ideal woman. Something as of recent bothered you somehow.
Dazai: Oh wow you didn't pull anything back. Something I'd expect from you.
Kunikida: Please answer-
Dazai: So what if it's true? What then?
Kunikida: I'm not sure either.
Dazai: Then I don't feel like answering.
Kunikida: Huh?!
Kunikida was confused what Dazai was trying to pull here. The blonde haired man was trying to clear things up for the two of them, but Dazai doesn't seem to wanna clarify?
Kunikida: That hug the other day... I felt the Dazai that doesn't easily show himself to anyone. Now tell me whats wrong.
Dazai: ...
Dazai: ...
Dazai: ...
Kunikida got frustrated and cupped Dazai's face.
Kunikida: Back there, I felt you tremble. I felt you hesitate on something. That isn't normally like you. And your behavior has been off more so than usual. Please, just tell me.
Dazai takes a moment to examine the blonde.
There was silence between the both of them until Dazai broke that silence.
Dazai: Why should I let myself fall in love with someone who wants to live?
Dazai's face falls to frustration with himself
Dazai: Why bother when we're both too different?
Kunikida: So you're admitting it?
Dazai: ...
Kunikida: I think I understand now.
Kunikida holds Dazai's hand gently. He feels he's vaguely understanding Dazai.
Kunikida: It's okay to want to choose life.
Dazai looked into Kunikida's eyes.
Kunikida: This book, is just a fantasy. I don't expect for such a person exist, if there was, then I must be dreaming.
Kunikida pauses.
Kunikida: You know, it's okay to be different from the person you like.
Dazai's heart ached. Tears threatened to fall.
Dazai: I class to hard-
Kunikida: What does your heart want?
Dazai: ...
Dazai: ...
Kunikida sighs: Here's what mine wants.
The blonde holds up Dazai's hand and gently places his lips on Dazai's knuckles.
Dazai's eyes widen. Tears start pouring from his face.
Kunikida: I... I love you.
The blonde used his thumb to wipe away Dazai's tears.
Dazai: Is it really okay for me to feel this way?
Kunikida: Of course.
Dazai smiles.
He proceeds to mimic Kunikida and held up the blonde's hand. And gently kissed Kunikida's hand.
im fucking torn apart after the newest episode, because ive not been able to watch it until now because ive been busy.
anyways.
i am in shambles.
i know it sounds like wishful thinking, but i genuinely do think dazai has a plan. of course he does; asagiri isnt going to kill him off just like that without any good reason. unless there is a completely valid, reasonable, sound explanation, then no, i really dont think asagiri will kill dazai. there are too many unanswered questions, too many shut down paths should that happen. it'll pretty much tip the balance of the narrative slightly, shift the story. idk. anyways.
my point is, dazai cant die here. not like this. just like chuuya said when they fought lovecraft. this is not the place to die. they still have so much left to do together. he cant possibly leave him here now. not without a plan.
i just like to keep referring back to the lovecraft fight; "when have my tactics ever been wrong?"
this gives us a pretty clear indication that dazai's plans almost always follow through. we've seen instances where, no, they haven't. oda. 55 minutes. some parts of fifteen.
but these are all extreme cases. he could do nothing about oda, because he didnt know of moris involvement/plan. he could do nothing about oda, because oda had already made his mind up. he could do nothing about oda, because it was too late.
he could do nothing about gab, because gab had been changing the outcome of the entire thing using time travel; dazais no exception to that. if gab knows that dazai knows what he will do, he goes back in time and now knows that dazai knows what he will do, and can therefore get the jump on dazai, who is still in the stage of not knowing what gab knows. confusing lmao.
ANYWAYS SORRY.
my point is, only in the extreme cases where everything is doomed to fail from the start do dazai's plans fall through.
this is an extreme case where dazai's plan NEEDS to come through. it cannot crumble. the literal fate of the world depends on the agencys next moves, and they have to be careful and cautious of/about them. because, should they make one wrong move, everything's fucked.
and, that's the beauty of soukoku. the raw trust.
honestly, trust doesn't even put it into words.
it doesn't do their bond any justice. because it's so much more than that. they rely on each other, they exist within one another. they literally are one soul in two bodies. they exist WITH each other. there's no chuuya without dazai, and there's no dazai without chuuya. so, asagiri will not put chuuya into a world or a plan without dazai there, because they need each other. they need each other to be alive and well and fine. they need each other to pull through this, each playing their roles.
i dont know what kind of wack ass plan dazai has in mind. but i hope to god it comes through soon.
i think the anime really did ch 101 such a good fucking justice; something about that scene was so raw, so emotional, so beautiful. the colours, the expressions, the movements. i've always said this, but soukoku is like a private thing. whenever they're involved, it always seems like you're intruding on their moment. this is theirs. this isn't for the eyes of anybody else. the lack of music and the softness about the dead apple scene, the unity and trust and reliance in the lovecraft fight, the playful back and forth bickering when they rescue q, or at any other moment.
each and every moment between these two is something so special, so foreign and so delicate. like a glass flower. it's so beautiful, and it pulls you in. but you know better than to touch it so carelessly; you must handle it with care and attention. everything about this is important. each small glare, each tiny dent. each little glint in the light, each sharp edge, each smooth side. all of it is worth looking at, and all of it means something. even the most insignificant parts of it have a role to play in making it look so beautiful.
and that's what i think is so fascinating about soukoku. every small interaction, every dynamic, every word spoken between them; it all means something. even their stupid bickering. even their harsh glares. it's all important.
i may be rambling, but god idk. something about soukoku just makes me feral i guess.
the soft moments between soukoku are definitely my favourites.
dazai catching chuuya's falling body out of the sky, and laughing quietly about how he wants to doodle on his face. there's something so childlike and innocent, so pure about that. they get to be the kids they never got the be around each other. they get to relax, unwind. they get to live easy, and breathe easier when they're around each other.
the one panel of dazai gently holding chuuyas head as he rests in his lap. dazai gently cupping chuuyas cheek, nullifying corruption and taking away the absurd amounts of pain that chuuyas in. just in their own little bubble. quiet whispers. something about the way dazai makes no comment when chuuya collapses onto his lap once more, eager to let him rest. something about the way he smiles at him when he's not looking. something about the way he talks to others about him. something about the little comments he makes, without even mentioning chuuya's name, and everyone knows its about him (everyone being us ofc). something about the privacy of their partner/relationship, nobody else knowing the details. nobody else knowing how deep that trust runs between them. nobody.
it's just theirs. their little thing to have with each other. it's only theirs, and nobody can take it away from them.
not even asagiri.
because how can you rip someone's soul apart?
how do you kill half of a single soul?
anyways. im very tired. its half 4 in the morning right now, and im just so out of my mind and sad but happy about soukoku, and how much i fucking love them and their dynamic and could talk about them for hours. genuinely, it feels like i blacked out writing this, i just get out of hand and start going on and on and on and getting more fucking metaphorical as i go.
anyways, hope you enjoyed LMAO have a lovely day/night, wherever you are <3
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I cant wait for all hope to be lost, fyodor being himself and the ada and pm falling apart bc three way singularity
Natsume appears on the horizon
Everyone starts crying in relief
And then natsume reveals he was dating fyodor all along and that his system was a distraction bc lol lmao and he goes this truly was the bungoest of stray dogs and then someone dies
short ramble but i can't be the only one who's going absolutely /crazy/ over the suspense for agatha christie's appearance, in bungou stray dogs right? (。_°)☆
(warning: spoilers, theories and my takes on her by the way !!)
i mean, she was introduced /so/ early on in the series (in the end of the third volume, chapter 12: rashōmon and the tiger) alongside dostoevsky and fitzgerald, in that order. fitzgerald was the first to make a proper appearance with the guild, before moving onto the currently on-going conflict with Fyodor and his many connections with numerous organisations, the rats in the house of the dead, the alliance with dazai and shibusawa during dead apple, the decay of angels, so on and so forth. it would only make sense that agatha comes next as the third, and potentially final, big antagonist of BSD.
so far, she's made minimal appearances, i've counted two times she was actually on screen, but each and every time she is /so/ cold with it. Just take a look at her first appearance, for instance:
quite clearly she's in a position of power and influence where talk of the pursuit of the book itself and a seven billion yen bounty tiger connected to it is hardly considered an 'adversary worth dirtying [her] handwear over.'
her second main appearance was in the dead apple movie and manga, chapter 14.2 while making a call to the special division for unusual powers (idk how to make scans and couldn't find any online past vol 3, sorry (シ_ _)シ):
HELLO?? essentially, 'my condolences for the current affairs and ongoings in your city (｡•́︿•̀｡), regardless, we'll be burning it down by sunrise d(^_^o)'
/clearly/ she's got a lot of influence in the world of abilities; especially considering how it's the order of the clock tower who was in possession of the one order—one of the three great calamities as a product of the great war, mind you—to be sent out to stop the vampire apocalypse in season 5. and agatha's a /dame/ in that organisation: a knight commander. she /has/ to be influential (｡ >艸<)
\\ another little note, and my personal speculation, but when ranpo stated at the meeting in episode 55 (season 5, episode 5): at the port in the sky, 3 minutes 24 seconds in:
‚The tyrant of Europe, the master of Gifted warfare, is still waiting.’
COULD RANPO MEAN AGATHA, BY CHANCE? /THAT/ IS A //CRAZY// TITLE. MASTER OF GIFTED WARFARE? IM SO EXCITED FOR AGATHA’S APPEARANCE !! \(≧▽≦)/ \\ now his wasn't explicitly stated to be agatha, but considering what we know of her now, i wouldn't doubt that it's her !! (>ᴗ•) !
‚If they were to fight, based on sheer numbers, peace would be restored in six months or so.’
RESTORING PEACE WHEN OVER /SIXTEEN/ NATIONAL MILITARIES OF VAMPIRES WIEDLING WEAPONS ARE THEIR ENEMY IS /INSANE/ Σ(･口･)
IM SO HYPED FOR AGATHA \\ SHE’S MORE MYSTERIOUS THAN FYODOR (੭ु ›ω‹ )੭ु⁾⁾♡
crime and punishment was such a plot twist and fyodor is probably the most /insane/ antagonist we've seen yet, so how is agatha going to trump this? we've already seen fitzgerald banded together with the agency in the fight against the decay of angels so maybe agatha will too \\ (though fitzgerald already had his 'fight the ada' arc so, maybe not (ᵕ—ᴗ—) (っ- ‸ - ς)) \\ but her plot twist must be /In.Sane/ (๑꒪▿꒪)*
i know asagiri is about to cook with this one (๑>◡<๑) \\ thanks for reading my ramblings
