#and that's how I ended up watching bungou stray dogs

[hystericfae]

Everytime I'm not currently obsessed with something I feel like I need to start doing some shopping around for media

[dazais-guardian-angel]

Okay, a good amount of time has passed, and after having seen this post by @weretiger-be-my-horse , I've been turning it over and over in my brain going absolutely feral over this concept. I need to expand upon my thoughts on this idea and all the evidence there is pointing towards it, whether that be actual tangible things, or purely strong vibes I have.

First of all, full disclaimer: I did not like the season 5 finale, and how it wrapped up the DoA arc. To say that I "disliked" it is putting it extremely lightly, in fact -- I absolutely hated it, and I am still, to a degree, in disbelief that I actually even watched those 24 minutes with my own two eyes, and that it somehow wasn't a complete fever dream. While I'm not going to go in long-winded detail into all the ways that I feel like the finale almost completely bastardized all of its featured characters and destroyed any and all buildup we've had going on in this arc for 50 some chapters now, because that's not the main point of this post, I will not make any attempt to hide the fact that the theory-crafting I'm about to pose here is partly influenced and prompted by how much I hated the finale, and how much I desperately hope that it will not end up being manga canon. Therefore, if you enjoyed the finale — and that's fine! — and don't want to read any negativity about it, then I would not recommend reading any further (I mean, you've probably already left by this point, which is fair lol), While obviously it's important that I be as objective and unbiased as possible when explaining my thoughts, some of my negative feelings about the writing will be a part of this analysis, even if this isn't going to be a full-blown rant. Just know that if you proceed.

With that out of the way, let me continue.

So. In the aforementioned post, the theory presented is that the anime may be operating on an alternate timeline, and that this will become evident once we read the upcoming October chapter, wherein things will go completely differently post-chapter 110 than they do in the final episode — probably for the worse, with the s5 finale intending to lull us into a false sense of security and make us assume that everything in the manga arc finale will wrap up as smoothly and consequence-freely(? lol) as it did in the anime one. It also suggests that the Fukuchi we see at the very end that sskk are fighting came from the manga timeline, where he won, and that he used the Book to jump to a timeline where he lost, the anime one, proven by the fact that this Fukuchi is wearing a mask with the same design on it as the mask Fukuchi is wearing on the chapter 110 DoA color spread/title page.

First of all, I want to note the fact that it's not just the mask design that's the same: the entire outfit is roughly more or less the same as well. It's not completely 1-to-1, because the anime can never fully match the intricacies of Harukawa's beautiful outfit designs, and the Fukuchi in this scene has the kimono half-off because of the... super saiyan mode he's in, but most all of the main pieces of clothing are there. Any small inaccuracies could also be attributed to the fact that Harukawa probably didn't have this finalized art ready back when this episode was being made, so the animators wouldn't have had the complete design to work off of. But in general, because it's all so similar, I think we can quite confidently say that the ending episode Fukuchi is meant to be the one from this manga art.

Also, people have pointed this out, but it's worth mentioning that the mask Asagiri wore at Anime Expo in July was referencing this Fukuchi. It's not a crucial detail, but it just proves more that Asagiri is a gigantic fucking troll, and that he clearly wanted to draw attention to this Fukuchi design. It's important. He describes the mask here as made in the motif of an ellipses inside a speech bubble... could that perhaps be referencing meta aspects, like the Book?

Next, I want to talk about the even bigger elephant in the room, which to me is the most damning and undeniable piece of evidence there is of the anime operating on a completely separate timeline from the manga:

This Fucking Hand™️

As we all know, in the anime, Fyodor injures his hand when the password input device blows up, and as we all know, this does not happen in the manga. In the last episode, Dazai claims that the final nail in the coffin of his impromptu plan to kill Fyodor relied on this hand injury: because Fyodor couldn't pilot his escape helicopter himself, he would ask one of his Meursault vampires to do it for him, unaware that Bram and thus this vampire was now on the ADA's side, and said vampire could kill him while his guard was down.

Ignoring how utterly stupid and contrived this plan is when you stop and think about it for more than two seconds, the fact of the matter is that something that initially seemed like nothing more than an odd but inconsequential anime original addition ended up snowballing into being the entire reason one of the big bads was brought down. If Fyodor hadn't hurt his hand, he wouldn't have needed another pilot, and so the traitor vampire wouldn't have had an opportunity to get near him and kill him without him expecting it even though said vampire was presumably with him as they were leaving Meursault, and was probably already a traitor by then, so there was plenty opportunity for him to still die. not to mention by Chuuya's hands at literally any time he wanted to, because Chuuya was coherent the whole time. Also there's absolutely no way Dazai could have known exactly what Ranpo would do, no matter how smart he is and how much he trusts him. idk it's fucking dumb, just roll with it. Therefore, putting aside all other variables for now, we can conclude that, on the most basic level, this signifies that no hand wound = no death.

And let me tell you, this hand wound bothers me. It really, really does. Because they focus on it a LOT — they go out of their way to draw attention to it MULTIPLE TIMES, from the moment it first happens to the end of the season. Fyodor even talks about it to himself, about Dazai being able to cause him tangible, visible, bodily harm, (something that, again, as far as we've seen, has never happened in the manga). Hell, even after Fyodor's death, they're still drawing attention to it, because his right arm is all of him that survives, and Dazai picks it up and gives it to Nikolai to do his hilarious sad little gay fondling of it played completely straight even though there's nothing straight going on here at all! It's like it's a big red flashing sign at all times going "you see this injured hand? This is important. Are you picking up that it's important? Are you taking note of it?" Why is that? Obviously, it serves to give us the lore crumbs about Fyodor and "that man", but that's hardly the main, much more glaring reason, as I've already mentioned.

Fyodor doesn't hurt his hand in the manga. Fyodor won't die here in the manga. I am so dead serious by this point about this, and it's not just simply the fact that this was absolutely not at all the time for him to die, or the fact that his hand is the reason for his death in the anime in and of itself, but how much EMPHASIS they place on this, and on the hand in general. What would be the point of adding something like this, if it's not meant to alert us to the fact that it has a major impact on how the story plays out? We all know Bones: they struggle to get right and include everything that's already there in the source material; they would never go out of their way to add something this noteworthy if there wasn't a very good reason for it, if it wasn't absolutely necessary. I've seen a few people bring up the fact that Fyodor gets shot in the shoulder by Sigma and that that could lead to the same outcome in the manga, but I disagree: although he has blood on his shoulder in the manga, it seems like the bullet just grazed the top of it, because his arm and hand appears completely functional afterwards (not hanging limp by his side or anything). But that doesn't even matter, because this isn't even about the semantics/logistics of how the hand wound caused Fyodor's death because again, it's a stupid outcome, or what could serve as a substitute in the manga — thematically, this is a textbook example of the butterfly effect. Countless parallel universes exist within this series, ones where even the most minute differences lead to a majorly different outcome: this just happens to be one of them. There's no reason to think it isn't, and there's no reason to not think that the anime wants us to clue into the fact that things only went as smoothly as they did on the Meursault side because of this wound; in other words, that things will go very differently in the manga thanks to the absence of said wound. They wouldn't have added it in the first place and put such clearly deliberate emphasis on it otherwise.

Things are going to happen very differently in the manga, at least when it comes to the Meursault crew (but then, if you assume that, you then naturally assume it all will be very different). This is the only conclusion one can come to with the presentation of this anime-only wound, combined with the fact that parallel universes are a very real thing in BSD.

I'm going to go on a bit of a tangent, so bear with me. I play a lot of visual novels, and although such concepts aren't really as original now as they were a while ago, some of my favorite and some of the very best VNs out there are the ones that break the fourth wall and make the visual novel branching route format directly intertwined with the story: you know, the ones where the characters go "if only I had done things differently, maybe everything would have turned out better...!" in a wink wink nudge nudge moment, and the ones where the characters are aware of the different timelines, even, or even have the ability to gain information from their selves in said alternate timelines to influence events in their current one (I'm intentionally not naming the games I'm thinking of for the sake of spoilers, but if you know, you know lmao). It gets very meta in this regard, and this is how I started viewing BSD through the lens of ever since I first learned about Beast: like a visual novel with many branching routes, and only a few routes that feel entirely "right".

When I first read Dazai's Entrance Exam, I was struck by how unnerving the ending sequence in the abandoned hospital felt. Obviously, Kunikida's internal struggle over Sasaki's actions and motives is him still desperately clinging to his ideal world that does not exist, but the specific type of phrases he uses — "who is wrong?" "[who is] the cause of all this?" "there has to be an ideal world" "there has to be something, I'm sure of it" "There must have been something we could have done!" — and the framing of the scene in general, is eerily reminiscent of a bad ending in a visual novel, to me. There's a haunting, looming, bleak sense that a different outcome could have been achieved, if different decisions had been made, or if things outside of anyone's control had been different... and we know that this is true, because in Beast alone, Kunikida never goes through the Azure Messenger incident, because Dazai doesn't have his entrance exam. Hell, you could even consider the anime's version of the Azure Messenger arc an alternate timeline in of itself, if you really wanted to, long before we even arrive at season 5.

When it comes to Beast, this timeline has almost the opposite feeling of what I described above, that I've also encountered in visual novels: the idea of a "good route" or "good ending" that still doesn't feel quite earned, or as perfect as one would expect. Beast is presented as the "ideal" timeline purely for one sole reason: Oda is alive. It is the only timeline where he's alive, and keeping Oda alive is the ultimate goal Dazai wants to achieve, the only reason this timeline exists; therefore, disregarding all else, Beast should be the best timeline, because Oda's death is the greatest devastation in the series to date. We all want him to live, so why wouldn't the timeline where he does be the best one? And yet... of course, it isn't. Dazai is alone, and steeped in darkness and loneliness without Oda, and dies by the end of the story for Oda's continued living. Atsushi has Kyouka still, but he's suffering and more traumatized, and unable to heal while stuck in the mafia, and neither can Kyouka. Akutagawa is living a much better life in the ADA... but without his sister, and without what he has from his bond with Atsushi in canon, that isn't replicated in Beast. And Oda... Oda is alive, and he has his children and his novel, but there is a feeling that he is aimless, that something in his life is missing. He has everything he ever wanted, but all that means nothing without what he truly needs: Dazai, and his time with Dazai and Ango at the bar. In this way, things going well and us getting what we want — in this case, Oda living — goes against how it's supposed to be, the natural order, which is why it feels so hollow. In the specific visual novel I'm thinking of here as a comparison (again, shoutout if you know), there's an alternate ending that involves you inputting information you gain at the end of the game very early on in the game, wherein the protagonist now has memories of the future and is able to bypass and prevent all of the events that take place normally. This means that people who die or are hurt somehow in general are saved from that fate, and nothing bad ever occurs; everything wraps up neatly and nicely... but again, there's an undeniable, unsettling feeling of emptiness, of a victory that rings hollow, because what's the point if everything is simply handed to you easily, where's the sense of accomplishment, without any struggles to achieve said victories, or any growth along the way? How can it feel earned if one doesn't have to, in Dazai's words, "scream within the storm of uncertainty, and run with flowing blood"?

You can probably already see where I'm going with this.

This finale feels weird. Really, really weird. It feels too cheap, too simple, too unsatisfying. So much so, in fact, that for almost the entire runtime, as I was bombarded with resolution upon resolution one after another, I kept thinking "There's no way this can be real. Where's the catch? When is the "gotcha!" moment gonna happen? The "it was all a dream" reveal?". And this isn't just because I hated the writing, and that it really did feel like a fever dream watching fanfic levels of bad (actually, that's an insult to fanfic writers, tbh; they could do better) — no, it genuinely feels so incredibly fake. Even upon rewatching it and already knowing what happens, my brain still naturally keeps expecting some kinda of "sike, you THOUGHT!" moment to suddenly appear. It just.... feels "too good to be true". Dazai and Chuuya come out unscathed, and it's revealed that they were never in any real danger to begin with. Fyodor, one of our biggest threats, is dealt with supposedly for good (I say "supposedly" only because of the Jesus line, but if anything imo, I think that's just a hint that this won't be the canon ending in the manga, so in a sense he's going to "come back to life"), and Nikolai seems somewhat at peace with his death. The other biggest threat, Fukuchi, is also dealt with, and he and Fukuzawa get their final moment together of closure. Yes, Sigma is left in Meursault don't even get me started on how angry this alone makes me, and Fukuzawa loses Fukuchi, but overall, everything is portrayed in a positive light, and any negatives or losses are quickly glossed over. Everything is tied up nicely, neatly, and smoothly. ...And that is exactly what makes it feel so wrong, and hard to trust in.

I'm not sure if this will make sense, but to me, the finale is so incredibly poorly written that it almost feels.... intentional. It's so bad to the point of feeling self-aware in how bad it is, how unrealistically happy and convenient an ending it is. It had to end this neatly in order to rush to wrap up this arc for the season finale and not leave the last episode on a cliffhanger — which imo is chiefly the main reason it turned out this way, and, if this whole theory is true, Asagiri just used it to his advantage — and I'm not saying this was probably an effect Bones had in mind intentionally, I'm sure they just threw shit at the wall and went with whatever stuck, maaaaybe with some suggestions/approval from Asagiri, but the result is that you have a conclusion that contradicts so much of what was set up before and goes against so many character arcs, making some characters so out of character and even regressing in their development Dazai. I'm talking about Dazai abandoning Sigma, because he would never; hashtag #NOTMYDAZAI. Also Nikolai, Nikolai for most of that is so ooc I can't even begin to describe it oh my god. Everyone is OOC to a degree though lmao, and opens so many plot holes, to the point that it's impossible not to watch all that and get the feeling that it is subtly saying to you "did you really think it could be this easy? It feels wrong, doesn't it? It doesn't feel satisfying. It feels unearned." I find it incredibly interesting and suspicious in particular that they confirmed multiple theories people had about soukoku in Meursault: that Chuuya slowed the elevator's fall so that Dazai wouldn't die from it, that Chuuya slowed down the bullet so that it only penetrated Dazai's skin and not his skull, and that the both of them used Fyodor's camera angle to their advantage because they knew he wouldn't be able to see certain things from his view. I'm not saying that Asagiri trawled BSD twitter and tumblr after those chapters dropped for the most popular theories before the final episode was made lmao, there was no time for that (imagine though lol—), but I do think it's highly likely that he already had in mind exactly what theories would be made about these parts (I mean, the evidence for the gun scene was all there), and that Dazai rattling them off in his long monologue to Fyodor at the end is essentially him speaking to the audience and going "yeah, that's what you would predict, right? Those are the clichés, after all", much like him suggesting earlier that he can maybe bring Chuuya back to himself with a few moving words and the power of friendship, and Fyodor using the split personalities trope to fool Sigma. We expect these tropes to be true. Of course we'd fall for them, as Fyodor tells Sigma, especially if the evidence is right there. But Asagiri himself has explicitly said that he likes doing the opposite of what people expect. And so just because people predicted correctly with the three things I mentioned in this timeline... doesn't mean they'll be true in the manga's. Things happened how we wanted and expected it to, and everything turned out happily. So we can relax now, right? Everything will work out just as easily in the manga, right? Or... is the reason most of this finale feels so fake and unsettling and unsatisfying because it's meant to lull us into a false sense of security before all our heroes lose in the manga? Because deep down, we don't want an ending that's this simple, because we'd rather have a conclusion where our characters have struggled more and grown more and come out the better for it, and we know it?

After rewatching the episode a lot, and watching some other videos, and doing a lot of thinking, I am pretty confident in suspecting that the only part of this finale that is actually from manga canon, aside from Aya jumping off the building of course, is Fyodor and Nikolai's exchange after Fyodor leaves Meursault — specifically, them talking about Fyodor leaving Sigma behind, and their "new game" and Nikolai being excited at the prospect of it. This little conversation actually feels in character for them, and it's easy to tell this when contrasting it with everything that happens immediately after, wherein Fyodor is fatally stabbed, and Nikolai, completely at odds with what he was just talking about, just... stands there and watches Fyodor die while Dazai monologues lmao. I'm not sure if the helicopter is still a factor, but I would bet good money on Fyolai getting out of Meursault being manga canon, and that Dazai and Chuuya getting out as well and killing Fyodor + everything with FukuFuku, is part of the anime original ending, in order to wrap up everything positively. It makes much more sense if you think about, in reality (aka in the manga), Dazai and Chuuya still being left behind in Meursault (where they can eventually try to get Sigma), because none of it was an act and things did not go according to plan, and Fukuchi having an entirely different goal that doesn't feel so stupid and contradictory to his character, and Fukuzawa possibly dying — everyone seemingly loses, with Aya still being the last hope, perhaps by awakening her ability like we all speculated.

There's a youtuber I watch who covers BSD in-depth, despite being an anime-only (she reads the respective manga content after each season, though). Going into this finale, she knew about the fact that the anime had overtaken the manga, though she didn't know where the cutoff point was; despite that, however, she made predictions about what was from the manga so far and what was anime original, and it was almost entirely spot-on, based mostly on what she basically described as "anime original dialogue." She talked about how you can always tell when dialogue is veering into the realm of anime-original, because the sentences are very short, choppy, and slightly out of character, but generic enough to not be TOO out of character, and so that anyone can easily write said lines, even if they're not extremely familiar with the character like the original author would be. And when I heard this explanation, everything clicked — because so much of this finale has dialogue like that. The Fyolai scenes just feel peppered with it, around the lines I mentioned earlier, the Dazai dialogue does too, and ESPECIALLY shit at the end like Fukuchi and Fukuzawa exchanging the cliche death lines to end all death lines: "Are you there? I'm a little tired." "Rest up." That just isn't Bungou Stray Dogs. That isn't Asagiri. BSD is cheesy at times, yes, but it isn't like this; it's smarter. The dialogue is smarter, the explanations/plot twists are smarter, Asagiri is smarter, and the aforementioned youtuber I watched agreed. She's a pretty casual fan of the series, so if even she could pick up on these things, I think it speaks volumes.

I mentioned this briefly earlier, but this theory makes sense if you consider that this situation probably came about because of Bones wanting two seasons back-to-back when they did, and this arc being as long as it is. Season 3 aired in 2019, and I imagine Bones would have wanted season 4 in 2020, and might have then been willing to wait a bit longer for season 5 in order for more of this arc's manga chapters to come out — but then covid happened. Because of that, season 4 was delayed to 2023, creating the longest gap we've had between seasons, and I wouldn't at all be surprised if the delay made them want season 5 right together with it, after getting so far "behind", so to speak. S4 was announced in November of 2021, and roughly around that time, Asagiri was finishing up writing the plot of the DoA arc. If Bones came to him sometime in late 2021 and said they wanted two seasons now (so basically, one giant two cour season), Asagiri would know that not only of course would this arc not be finished publishing in the manga for a very long time yet, but that roughly 20ish episodes would not be enough to cover it all to the end, with this arc being longer than any arc the anime has adapted to date. Because of all this, and the arc manga chapters being nowhere near fully drawn to completion, he'd have to make a decision about what to do, and what to give Bones. Without ending season 5 on a massive cliffhanger that wouldn't be resolved for years until an eventual season 6, the only other option would be to rush towards an anime-original ending for the DoA arc.... and for Asagiri to take advantage of that, and integrate it into BSD's lore. Thereby creating a truly unique cross-media experience that utilizes the different mediums to create multiple timelines, that could make both the anime and manga interact with each other and become part of a bigger picture (not that you'd need to see both to get the full experience, mind you, just that it'd provide a little bonus if you did).... and would without a doubt be Asagiri's biggest surprise yet.

...I feel like at this point I'm starting to ramble, and my evidence become more and more incoherent and less substantial lmao, so I should probably end this post. 💀 Thank you if you've read this far, and hopefully it made some semblance of sense, despite not being structured very well; I know I promised at the start to try to be as objective as possible and curb my negative feelings, but I'm not sure how well I succeeded in that regard. If it weren't for the Fukuchi thing and the Fyodor hand thing, I probably wouldn't take how wrong and strange and bad the finale feels to me as serious evidence about it being an alternate timeline, especially since I seem to be one of the only people who actually hates all of it.... but combined with everything else, I am just so convinced of this theory being true. It started off as pure copium, but as more time has gone on, I fully, 100% believe in my bones (ha) that there is no way that finale is the same Bungou Stray Dogs I know and love, for so many reasons. It just isn't. It can't be. I know BSD better than this, I know Asagiri better than this, and I know that it's absolutely in the realm of possibility for him to cook up this whole scheme to completely blindside us with in the upcoming chapters, because that's exactly the kind of shit Mr. "Please Be Surprised!" himself would pull. If I end up being completely wrong, I guess I'm wrong, and you can laugh at me all you want then.... but I just know that ages ago people were teasing the idea of the anime operating on a different timeline from the manga, and I truly do think that only now are we finally seeing that idea come to fruition, as a setup for Asagiri going full-bore insanity with the Book in the upcoming arc(s). if I and the OP of that theory end up right, this will be the wildest time in the BSD fandom's history.

Like. I cannot even emphasize how hard they are trolling us at this point. Something is going on. Something is being cooked over there, the likes of which we've never seen before... and I don't think any of us are ready for it.

Oh yeah, and one last thing of note: both Fyodor and Nikolai here have their right arms hidden from view. Is that alluding to anything? I'm not sure. I also think that since chapter 110 was so short, next chapter will likely be 110.5 instead of 111, and if that's the case, this title spread could still technically be associated with the next chapter... wherein we might see this Fukuchi, who ends up wreaking havoc, right before he jumps to the timeline in the anime, as we see him at the end of the s5 finale.

I guess we'll find out on Tuesday.

[kyouka-supremacy]

Unironically watching season 1 really makes you ship dazatsu

[wow-an-unfunny-joke]

HOLY FUCK I CAN PROJECT MY EYE THING ONTO DAZAAAAAAAAAAAI!!!!

Okay: Hi, I’m Robin, my eyes are fucked up! Im almost always seeing double esp when im reading or doing things like that, this causes trouble because obviously. My eyes don’t talk to eachother like they’re supposed to and one eye is better at everything than the other. The solution to this is that I cover one of my eyes while im reading (I always cover my left eye, but technically I’m supposed to cover both eyes interchangeably or smth, I’m actively making the problem worse lol)

WHAT IF THIS IS WHY TEENAGE DAZAI WEARS THE EYE BANDAGES????

[yuugen-benni]

''...Excuse me ?''

Prompt: Getting hit on in front of your lover Fandom: Bungou Stray dogs and Genshin Impact Characters: Ayatsuji Yukito, Fyodor, Dazai - Freminet, Wanderer, Dehya Gn!Reader (They/them)

Ayatsuji Yukito: I feel sorry for anyone who likes jealous boyfriends because Ayatsuji is not one. While a random man is hitting on you, he will literally be standing next to you, as if testing to see if the man will realize that he is your lover. But this obviously failed. Ayatsuji is now staring at the man, raising an eyebrow and you can tell he is mentally cursing the man in a clever way. If the person gets too close, or does something that makes you even more uncomfortable, he pokes the tip, still hot, of the kiseru pipe on their forehead and push them back.

''How long will I have to listen to this ?...*sigh*... Sir, use your last remaining neuron to realize that: they're with me''

Fyodor: He laughs…HE LAUGHS. Fyodor is surprised, that you got hit? Maybe, but he's actually surprised by the man's boldness. I mean...he is scary, he exudes death so if someone is by his side it is either his partner in crime or maybe his lover.

When the ''conversation'' becomes more suggestive, he decides not to watch the show anymore and literally just take you out of there.

''It was really fun to watch, but now leave my lover alone if you don't want your heart to stop beating''

Dazai: He's a son of a b!tch, but a lovable one. Dazai will act like he's just a friend and started telling the guy about you (or rather, lie about you to protect your privacy) pretending to help the guy hit on you. Yes, he's just taking advantage of the situation; BUT YES, Dazai is also protecting you so don't be mad at him. At the end of all this performance, he will play his final card: ''They're great people, aren't they? Having them as a lover must be wonderful and guess what? They are my partner!''

-

Freminet: Poor thing, he doesn't know what to do! Does he explain?, Does he just push the guy?, Does he grab your hand and run away??? I believe the last option is more effective. Freminet isn't even used to talking to strangers, let alone someone hitting on his lover. But he tries, he tries hard. And when the guy becomes more invasive, he acts on impulse and pushes you to his side.

''...O-okay, I'm sorry but- you're being extremely disrespectful with my partner''

Wanderer/Scaramouche: This little man here is trying not to beat the ass of the person who is hitting on you. He's holding on so tight that his fists are white. But, as always, Wanderer pretends he's not jealous and then lets you handle the situation… before he does something he shouldn't-- but if the person is very insistent on ''having your heart'' he will definitely do something he shouldn't. He will use words… bad, horrible words or even opt for physical aggression... well you at least are safe now.

Dehya: This is a somewhat unlikely event because once you are under her gaze, nothing bad will happen to you. But, maybe, at some point when you two are shopping, and you end up distancing yourself a little, it can happen. She's prepared… a little too much, but she won't hesitate to confront the guy/girl who has started to make you uncomfortable. At this point, she won't even care if she's being overprotective or not, as long as you're okay.

''Are you blind or something? Can't you see that they're not interested ?''

[cryptidghostgirl]

The Line (Port Mafia!Dazai x Port Mafia!Reader)

Pairing: Dazai Osamu x Reader

Description: Something is there, but if they both pretend it isn't, then everything is okay.

Warnings: Angsty but also more fluff than angst I think, mafia stuff, bomb talk, its Dazai so double suicide mentioned once. Sex also mentioned in passing like once. I think that is it, please correct me if I am wrong.

Word Count: 1,262

Master Lists:

All Master Lists 

Bungou Stray Dogs Master List

Hazbin Hotel Master List 

A/N so i found a screenshot of this tumblr post of this quote on pinterest and besties,, I am running with it. I will add the quote in at the end.

Was it his hand on the small of her back? Was it the feeling of his whispered breaths against the shell of her ear? When had the line been crossed, if it had been crossed at all? Neither really seemed to know where it had even been drawn in the first place. Perhaps that was the trouble with it all.

Danger was a part of life for those unlucky enough to call themselves members of Yokohama's notorious Port Mafia. It was the only constant, in Y/n's eyes. Well, danger and Dazai, but they were kind of one in the same, weren't they?

"Belladonna."

The same low, constant hum. She looked up from her desk.

Dazai stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with an aloof air. He'd grown quite a bit in the two years since she had met him. She supposed she must have grown as well but, somehow, he still seemed to be exactly the same. It was the calculating quality of his gaze. It was the smirk, the way the light glinted off his hair.

"That's new."

Y/n gestured towards the man with the end of the pen she grasped in her hand. Almost without thought, he raised a hand of his own to the bandage on his left cheek.

"I suppose it is."

They were never supposed to have even met one another in the first place. Their jobs were ones that should have pulled them far apart from each other's graces. He was an executive, after all, and she was just a lowly clerk. She dealt with numbers, paying off people who needed paying off, covering up the footprints of great men like him. He was supposed to send his subordinates to deal with her. That was what everyone else always did. Dazai wasn't like everyone else though, was he.

"I've got something for you." he stated, straightening up and taking a few steps into the room, his hands firmly in the pockets of his coat.

Y/n raised her eyebrows.

"What is it, another job?"

"A present."

Dazai pulled a box from his pocket, snapping it down on top of the work Y/n had splayed out over the desk's surface before her. It was large and flat. She eyed it suspiciously.

"It wont bite."

"You do."

"I said it, didn't I?"

"What is it, a bomb? Think it would be funny to watch me struggle to deal with something like that?"

"Don't give me any ideas." Dazai playfully replied.

"Is it full of anthrax? I have already told you, I have no interest in committing a double suicide."

"Just open it."

The Mafia was a dangerous place, those who worked there lead dangerous lives. There was no denying the living, breathing thing between Y/n and Dazai but... there was no place for such a creature here. Besides, neither of them would know what to do about it if there was. They had both forgotten how to be gentle long ago, were unsure if it had ever been in their nature in the first place. All that was left was the sharpness.

Hesitantly, Y/n picked the dark red box up and opened the lid. Nestled in the black velvet of the interior was a necklace. It was old, an antique locket of sorts with a few flowers engraved on its oval front.

"Nightshade." she commented.

"Made me think of you, Belladonna."

That was one of the things that helped tow the line, the invisible and complex line. Y/n never called Dazai anything other than his last name and Dazai only referred to her as 'Belladonna.' At first, the name had irritated her. It had felt like a denial of her personhood, her individuality. That was before she had known there had been a line to cross at all. She was older now, wiser. She looked back up at him.

"How sweet." she bitterly replied.

Dazai smiled his lazy smile in response. A girl could give up everything for a smile like that, even her life. Y/n wouldn't though. If she was willing to, that was mean it was all lost. They would have crossed the line long ago, if that were true. They couldn't have that. The line was what kept them safe, kept hem sheltered, kept them. He closed the distance, stepping up beside her in the space behind her desk.

"Here."

Long, slender fingers snaked around the locket's delicate chain, pulling it from its bed. Y/n's breath caught in her throat as his fingers brushed against the back of her neck, securing the necklace. It felt heavy against her chest, a foriegn weight that seemed to cut right through her skin to her bones below. Gently, he slipped a hand under her chin, tilting her face up to him.

"Perfect." he hummed.

Had they already crossed it? Was it too late? If so, what had been the deciding factor? Was it the late nights up on the roof, talking till the sun rose? Was it the knocks at her door at odd hours? Had it been their legs tangled together beneath the covers night after night, no sex required?

"Thank you."

What needed to happen, what change had to occur for them to be able to say the words that echoed in the backs of their minds?

Dazai's hand lingered on her face for a moment longer. Y/n mourned the warmth of his touch as he dragged his fingers from her.

"I have to go."

Y/n sighed, turning back to her messy desk.

"The work of a Mafioso is never complete, is it."

A statement, not a question. Dazai let out a light laugh in agreement. Y/n picked her pen back up, listening intently to his footsteps as he crossed back over to the door. At the sound of a pause, a hesitation in the pattern, she looked back up.

"Same time same place?"

She smiled. Tonight, the kitchens. Stolen food, stolen time. Stolen kisses too most likley.

"Yeah."

Belladonna. Something poisonous, something detrimental. Something completely and entirely his, if he was brave enough to take her. Dazai wasn't so sure he was, not right now at any rate. Dazai was a man who didn't like uncertainties. In fact, he avoided them at all nearly costs. He didn't know if the day would ever come when the bravery or the assurance would arrive. With things as they were now, it felt inevitable. A ticking bomb, a precariously placed glass. One wrong move, and everything would shatter.

With a curt nod, he disappeared back out into the hallway. Y/n listened to his footsteps against the carpet of the hall as he retreated, picturing the way he must look in the moment, wondering where he was off to.

The line was there, the brick wall between them. They both knew it. How far was too far? Was it holding hands as they walked down the street, checking to make sure no one could see? They already did that. They already did a lot of things. Maybe... maybe the line would dissolve when the fear left or, maybe, when it felt more manageable, they would be able to cross it, if they hadn't already.

How far was too far?

Y/n reached her hand up to her chest, fingering the cool silver of the locket where it hung at her collar. Maybe, just maybe, they had gone to far already. Maybe the world was already falling down around them, they just hadn't noticed it yet.

----

Here is the quote that inspired this:

[queer-anarchist-rat]

here's a list of what I consider to be well written/actual complex characters vs poorly written/faux "complex" characters

Characters with actual complexity

Grant Ward - Marvel's Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D (I will not be giving an explanation for him bc the show is really good and I don't want to spoil, so watch the show if you want an explanation)

Most Characters - Bungou Stray Dogs (in bsd even side characters like Yumeno have so much complexity to them, it is a show that really says 'fuck you' to how we see morality)

Dabi, Hawks, Aoyama, Shigaraki - My Hero Academia (All four of these are examples of characters being forced into bad situations at a young age, and I don't want this to be too long so I'm leaving it at that)

Shoya Ishida - A Silent Voice (This manga/movie is also something I highly recommend watching, so no spoilers)

Characters with faux "complexity"

Endeavor - My Hero Academia (He bought and raped his wife and abused his entire family, causing one of his wife and eldest child to go insane and the kid ended up fucking killing himself, then got a "redemption" arc because he decided to "change" after ~25 years and achieving his goal. And the only thing that 'change' really entailed was he stopped beating his kid.)

James Gordon - Gotham (Cop, although this show does have its moments, it's a poorly disguised cop worshiping show that fails miserably at it's job)

Shiota Hiromi - Assassination Classroom (Similar to Endeavor, I won't go into detail because it reminds me too much of my own shit but basically she forced her child to be what she never got to be)

This list will be updated as time goes on

I also will not be arguing in the notes, argue amongst yourself, but I won't do anything unless you're being an asshole or saying Endeavor deserves redemption. (I will block you is what I mean when I say that btw, stop sympathizing with an abuser and rapist and rethink your life)

[fancyfeathers]

Society of Protection (Yandere Bungo Bungou Stray Dogs x reader x original characters) (normalized yandere au)

Chapter Twenty Two, The Genius That Leads

(A/N- I read Romeo and Juliet before writing this and now I love the idea of William being called the prince of cats like Tybalt because of their similarities and that being the story much of his character is based on)

Prologue and oc intro

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter seven, part one

Chapter seven, part two

Chapter eight

Chapter nine

Chapter ten

Chapter eleven

Chapter twelve

Chapter thirteen

Chapter fourteen

Chapter fifteen

Chapter sixteen

Chapter seventeen

Chapter eighteen

Chapter nineteen

Chapter twenty

Chapter twenty, part two

Chapter twenty one

“Deal.” The moment you said that a smile came across his face. You glanced back at the book you were asked to retrieve, before he could say something you grabbed it from the table. You looked back over at him, keeping the book curled up in your arm. “Not a word.”

“Only if you keep your end of the deal, doll,” Ayatsuji replied as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “You’ll have a hard time hiding that book at the party, what do you plan on doing?”

“I will be leaving early, I have my own matters to tend to.” You took out your phone, ready to call your driver to pick you up. “The Society is not the only affair that keeps me busy. There is something I need to get to the bottom of, a mystery if you will.”

“How interesting, but you are not a detective, are you?” He hums, tapping his gloved finger against his cheek. His eyes are fixed on you, scanning over your form, trying to find any sign of what you are thinking.

“Perhaps, it is a family profession after all.” You picked up the skirt of your dress and began making your way towards the door. You spared him a glance as you pushed open the door to the hallway. “Now I suppose I’ll see you soon enough and hopefully we will be on the same side of the playing field. Goodbye, have a lovely evening, detective.”

“We will see…”

You stepped out into the long hallway, slowly making your way to the garage where your driver would be picking you up. You looked down at your phone, dialing up your driver’s number. The ringing mixed with the echoing of your heeled shoes as they clicked against the floor. You were a far enough distance away from the auction hall that you knew Ayatsuji was not following you, but something still felt off. You felt yourself grow more tense as you walked along the hall, as if someone was watching you. The mixture of clicking and ringing did not help calm your nerves, only blocking out another one of your senses…

Click…

Ring…

Click…

Ring…

Click…

Ring…

Click…

Ring-

You heard the line get cut at the sound of your phone getting a call. You pulled your phone away to see who was calling you, you looked down to see the contact name as none other than William Shakespeare. You hit the bright green button on the screen without hesitation, answering the call as you held it up to your ear.

“William, I have the book-“

“(Name), I need you to come to room two-three-six, the plan has changed.” You heard William’s voice speak to you, but he was not worried, not bothered, if anything he was… happy? “Things may be turning in our favor after all.”

Did he find Miss Jane already? Thoughts ran through your mind as you made your way down through the floors of the hotel. The clicking of your heels rang through the halls, everything was silent except the clicking of those heels. Soon enough you came to the door, knocking once and the door was answered not even a moment later. It was answered not a moment later by a familiar face, just not one you were expecting.

“Joan?”

Before you stood the maid who was one of the first people you met at the Society’s headquarters, only she was dressed in an outfit suited for business, a black suit and a blue plaid tie. Her long blond hair was down, not up in her usual bun that also let her blue eyes be on display. She smiled back at you, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she stepped aside to allow you to come in. “It seems we have quite a bit to explain to you.”

“What do you mean- Oh!” You cut yourself off as you entered the room, turning your head to see sitting at the table of the luxury room the familiar face of William who summoned you along with-

“I apologize for setting you up, (Name).” Those words escaped those lips, soft and gentle as always. You saw sitting at the table with William, the form of Miss Jane. She was not dressed how you expected, she herself wore a black vest over a white button up, a long blue skirt, it was simple but elegant. She rested her head against her hand, a smile coming across her face. “The truth is, I never turned myself into Fitzgerald, I would never dream of it.”

You heard the sound of the person you once thought to be a maid closing the door behind you as she approached the table. William looked over at you with a smile, before a laugh escaped from his lips. “Honestly it surprised me as well, but Jane, Wells, and Leroux fooled us all.”

“Wells?” You turned to look at the woman who opened the door for you, was that Joan’s real name? Who was she really?

“Ah yes, let me properly introduce you,” Jane said, reaching out a hand over to the woman standing beside you. “This is an old friend of mine from my work in England when I was looking for capable individuals to join the Society. May I introduce to you H.G. Wells, she has been the one keeping our Society safe from the shadows this whole time along with the one who has been brewing up those  updates  on where I was for Emma and the others that led to this elaborate planning for this ball that fit into the plan I devised with Wells and Leroux.”

“But Gaston is missing, I found his blood in the room along with-“

“Not missing, he is exactly where he needs to be in this plan.” Wells cut in, coming to sit down on the couch not too far from the table, swinging her arms over the back of the couch and crossing her legs. “Leroux was kidnapped by a well-known European criminal known as Nikolai Gogol. Due to Gaston’s time working with the European Union when tracking down Fyodor Dostoevsky, he found evidence that the two had connections to one another.”

“So this all has to do with Fyodor, doesn’t it?” You asked, glancing around the room at everyone.

“Exactly, Gaston had informed me of what happened when he was asked by the Port Mafia to look into the disappearance of one of their executives who had Fyodor in their custody. We immediately knew Fyodor was planning something.” Jane nodded to your question and answered as it all was obvious. “We knew that the Port Mafia would be wanting any information they could in Fyodor after so even before all this we had all of Gaston’s observations from his work in European Union on Fyodor printed into a book and set up to be sold at an auction, that’s the same book you are holding now. We planned on dangling a carrot for the Port Mafia to desire and for Fyodor to destroy.”

You glanced down at the book you held, this was all a ploy. 

“I apologize for you having to be a pawn in all of this, but you played your role wonderfully.” Jane complemented with a smile, a giggle escaping her voice. “Now Gaston has Fyodor under constant surveillance and that  rat  has no idea, he will practically reveal everything to us and that bastard has no eyes on us because he is so focused on the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia.”

“I see, I have just a few questions…” You found yourself sitting down at the table along with the others, you felt yourself crew at your lower lip in thought. “How did you fake yourself leaving at the mansion all those months ago and how did you know that Nikolai would be here?”

“Ah, well the first answer is with Ms. Wells and her ability. She was disgusted as the driver who brought the two of us there. That envelope I gave her with the instruction to  open when the time was right  was all she needed to know what to do.” You glanced over at the woman on the couch, she was disgusted as a maid for all these months, what was stopping her from being disguised as a driver? “You see Wells’ ability is called Time Machine and allows her to manipulate time itself. So inside the envelope told her the exact time to activate her ability, when you got inside the car. She activated her ability on me, giving me 3300 seconds to go back in time myself and slip away from Fitzgerald, who was also used as a pawn in all of this. After that I returned to Europe for a few months, working with some old friends of mine in the Order of the Clocktower, but I am afraid that is trivial at the current moment.”

“I did not expect for you to be this much of a mastermind, Miss Jane.” You heard William chuckle as he crossed his legs with a closed-eyed smile. “But I suppose I should have expected that from the leader of the Society of Protection.”

“Well, I do pride myself on my understanding of the human mind, so manipulating it with both my plans and my ability is all too easy, no offense my dear (Name).” Jane apologized with a smile which you nodded to.

“None was taken, Miss Jane. After all, I have quite a lot to still learn.” You giggled along with her smile, which was true you did have so much to learn compared to the actual geniuses that hid within the Society. “But what of my second question?”

“Ah, about Nikolai, well that is thanks to your visit to Mr. Tonan with Leroux and Dr. Stevenson such a long time ago. Do you remember his assistant and the strange behavior he had?” You nodded at Jane’s question which caused her to hum. “I did not believe him at first, just a strange assistant and nothing more, at least that is what I thought at first. As you know Gaston is a composer at the Paris Opera House, a theater, he has experience with actors and the art of such so it is easy for him to tell when one is acting. He told me that he forced the attitude of a sane man to have a perfect accent, but not to one who works with actors from that part of the world every day, so detecting a fake accent was child’s play for him.”

“So Mr. Tonan’s assistant is Nikolai in disguise?” You asked, most. to yourself as you pondered the question and then it clicked. “Wait, Mr. Tonan and his assistant were invited to the ball, so Nikolai was among the guests.”

“Just as planned, they fell into our trap like rats.” Wells smiles as she speaks, running her hand through her hair. “And now we will trap them all like rats, all of them running in a maze they don’t even know.”

[dxwnstxr]

i wasn't sure if requests were to be made in the comments or the asks, so apologize in advance if i wasn't supposed to do this.

may i request dazai, chuuya and fyodor with number 9 from the headcanons?

Sharing their spotify playlists

Fandom: Bungou stray dogs

Characters: dazai, chuuya, fyodor

Genre: Fluff, headcanons

Warning: none

A/n: Please note, these are all my opinions of what i think they'd listen to ! ! ! Also I couldn't think of a lot for fyodor 😭 Also decided to try new colors.

🎧 ☆ Dazai ☆ 🎧

"Don't try suicide" by Queen

"Daylight" by David kushner

"A little death" by The Neighborhood

"Na Na Na" by Lay bankz

"XOXO (Kisses hugs)" by 6arelyhuman

"Partners in crime" by Set it off

"If I killed someone for you" by Alec Benjamin

"I wanna be yours" by Artic Monkeys

"Why do you only call me when you're high" by Artic Monkeys

"Stressed out" by Twenty one Pilots

"Heathens" by Twenty one Pilots

"Softcore" by The Neighborhood

"Daddy issue's" by The Neighborhood

"Therefore I am" by Billie Eilish

"Womanizer" by Britney spears

"Jealous girl" by Lana del rey

He showed you his playlist and watch you as your eyes looked up and down at his screen, scrolling down the playlist.

"Hey I know this song!"

You said, pointing to one of them. Dazai's eyes widened as he quickly looked at the screen.

"Ohh that one...I don't listen to it too much"

"Whatt... but it's soo good..!"

You reply, exaggerating some of your words.

"Alright then... why don't you show me yours..?"

🎧 ☆ Chuuya ☆ 🎧

"Criminal" by Britney Spears

"Bad blood" by Taylor Swift

"Panic room" by Au/Ra

"Fashion" by Lady gaga

"Telephone" by Lady gaga

"Jealous girl" Lana del rey

"Smile" by Jann

"I wanna be your slave" by Maneskin

"Work" by Britney spears

"If you seek Amy" by Britney spears

"Judas" by Lady Gaga

"Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron

"Treat me like a slut" by Kim Petras

"Americano" by Lady gaga

"Friends" by Chase Atlantic

"I'm yours" by Isabel LaRosa

"Sk8ter boy" by Avril Lavigne

"Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne

"Fell in love with the Devil" by Avril Lavigne

"Wish you were here" by Avril Lavigne

"Since you've been gone" by Kelly Clarkson

"My happy ending" by Avril Lavigne

As you looked at his playlist, you started to smile at some of the songs you saw.

"I see you're into Britney and Lady Gaga"

Chuuya's eyes widened slightly and a faint brush covers his cheeks.

"S-so..?"

You shake your head and reply.

"Nothing..it just suits you I guess"

Chuuya scoffs at your words and looks at you.

"Let me see who you listen too"

🎧 ☆ Fyodor ☆ 🎧

"Who is she" by I Monster

"Babooshka" by Kate Bush

"Mad hatter" by Melanie Martinez

"Hayloft" by Mother Mother

"Poker face" by Lady Gaga

"Bloody Mary" by Lady Gaga

"Monster" by Lady Gaga

"Bernadette" by IAMX

He takes a sip of his tea as you look at desktop. Spotify was open and his most listened to playlist was being shown.

"You don't listen to a lot of music do you..?"

You ask, seeing how short his playlist is.

"Why would I when I can play my own"

He states, his eyes moving to his cello. You nod.

"I guess you have a point"

He then hums in agreement and tilts his head to look at you.

"What do you listen too myshka..?"

Support divider cr: @cafekitsune

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

I never requested so I don't know if I'm doing it right. But I wanted to request the self aware bsd cast with a shy teen reader with a not so good background. Maybe the reader wants to be writer but gets made fun of for it (bonus points if they look up to poe and oda). I'm not sure if this is the write way to request but feel free to ignore this.

Hello! Hope, you liked it.

Your dream matters

Self-Aware! Platonic! BSD characters x GN! Teen! Shy! Reader

Self-Aware! Platonic! Edgar Allan Poe x GN! Teen! Shy! Reader x Self-Aware! Platonic! Oda Sakunosuke (Slight! Self-Aware! Platonic! Fyodor Dostoevsky x GN! Teen! Shy! Reader)

Description: Set after BSD gang got into your world. You always want to be a writer. But no one supports your dream. But then, Bungou Stray Dogs characters get into your world. Your life is changing. Hopefully, for the better.

Fluff, comfort. Reader are well-read.

Warning: Bullies. Neglectful parents and teachers.

Part two: Reunion

OOC. English is my second language.

You loved reading all your life. Ever since you were a child, you prefer reading to playing.

You always wanted to be a writer. You wanted to write about people, about magical worlds, about talking animals. Furthermore, you wanted to share your ideas with others.

Because of your love for literature, you have decided to watch Bungou Stray Dogs. You liked all characters.

But, two characters were your favorite. Edgar Allan Poe and Oda Sakunosuke. Writer and person, who wants to be a writer.

You can even say, that look up to them.

Bungou Stray Dogs characters (especially Poe and Oda) soon became your comfort characters.

Because, you have a feeling, that they won't laugh at your dream to become a writer.

______________________

When you were in a kindergarten, you didn't have any friends. Other children always thought, that reading books is boring. They prefer to play outside, run around.

While you were sitting somewhere in the shade, reading another fairy tale.

You wanted to have friends. You want to have someone to talk to. To discuss books.

...

But you have no one. Other kids don't want to talk to you. They called you boring.

Because if that, when you start going to school, you were shy and quiet.

But this time, you had a dream... A dream to become a writer.

Dream, that everyone laughed at.

At first, it was a homework. To write a short fairy tale about animals.

You wrote about kitten, who was friends with butterflies. And how he helped butterflies to arrange a beautiful celebration.

When you read it to your teacher and classmates, they liked it. But then...

"I want to become a writer!"

Silence. Then your classmates started laughing.

"You will never do it!"

"Writing is not a job!"

"Soon no one will read books!"

And the teacher didn't do anything to calm your classmates down.

You weren't that naive. You understand, that your fairy tale wasn't The best story in the world. But... You were still a child. You are allowed to dream.

You hoped, that your classmates won't laugh at your dream again. Or, at least, you will have someone, that will support you.

...You are in a middle school now. In a year, you will start high school...

Classmates still laughing at you.

"Hey, Super Star of Modern Literature, how many people bought your books today?"

"[Y/N], can we have your autograph? I will show it to my grandchildren. Will tell them that I knew The Great Author when they were a pathetic nobody."

"Why are you still laughing at me? I didn't do anything wrong."

At first, you tried to ask teacher for help. But they ignored you.

"[Y/N], been a writer is a silly, childish dream."

"You won't write anything good. You will never be as good, as real writers "

"But I want to try... What if someone will like my writing?"

At the end you were too shy, too ashamed to ask for help again.

You hoped, that your parents will support your dream.

"[Y/N]! Writing is not a job! You must become a valuable member of society!"

"All writers are lazy alcoholics! Stop wasting your time!"

"But you are drinking without been a writer. You two are stuck in dead-end jobs. You hate working. You don't have hobbies... Why you don't want me to have something that makes me happy? Why you lash out on me instead of going to the gym to do boxing?"

"I... I know, that writing is a lottery, but... I just want to write something... I only want to tell a story"

...

"Please... I just want someone to support me... Just one person"

But at the end, no one supports you. But deep down, you still dream about becoming a writer.

But you never spoke about your dream again.

And then, one day, you saw a picture of Edgar Allan Poe from Bungou Stray Dogs.

After spending some time on learning more about BSD, you decide to watch it.

Then you read the manga.

And install the game.

______________

In the middle of June, characters from the BSD franchise appeared in your room.

____________________

You still weren't sure, how Fitzgerald managed to get this house. You still don't know, how they manage to get a custody over you.

The only thing is clear. You are now living with your comfort characters.

You start changing. At first, you were too shy to spend time with them. Especially with Oda and Poe. But, after something happened, you became more open towards your new family.

You became closer to them, thanks to Fyodor Dostoevsky.

_______________

You walk inside your home library and plopped down on the chair. You groaned and cover your face with both hands.

"Hard day?" you hear someone's voice. You nodded. You hear, that someone move a chair closer to you and sit near. That mysterious someone put a hand on your shoulder. "Want to talk about it?"

You were annoyed. So annoyed, that you decide to vent.

"Today, I had a school literature club meeting. We were discussing our favorite book characters. We could name anyone we want, doesn't matter, who is the author."

You take a breath.

"So I talked about Rodion Raskolnikov from Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment""

It was silent for a moment. Then mysterious someone asked again.

"I guess, teacher doesn't like your answer?"

You nodded again. If you weren't that annoyed, you would notice, that your listener had well known among BSD fans Russian accent.

"Yes. They told me, that Raskolnikov is a terrible person and can't be anyone's favorite. I... I never said that I like what he was doing, but he is more complicated character, that teachers told us about. Moreover, they are doing Dostoevsky dirty, while teaching about him in high school... Oh."

You finally looked at the person, you were talking to.

Right beside you was sitting Fyodor Dostoevsky. His hand was still on your shoulder. The man himself was smiling. He looked both amused and worried.

You want to disappear. You were embarrassed, that Fyodor heard your rant about his real world counterpart.

Fyodor asked you another question.

"Did the teacher let you explain your choice?"

You shook your head, still embarrassed. Fyodor laughs.

"Then why won't you explain it to me?"

You looked at Dostoevsky with a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.

"I am serious. I want to hear, what's your reasons behind liking Raskolnikov."

Fyodor squeezed your shoulder. You gulp and star talking.

"Well, first, let me tell you what author himself write about Rodion..."

At the end, you and Fyodor had a full on discussion about book characters. Others joined you two.

Starting that day, you slowly, but surely became closer to your new friends. You even confess, that Poe and Oda were your favorite characters.

__________________

You still didn't tell others about your dream. But now, you nave a real notebook to write your ideas in.

Your life changed.

You lived in a new home. With a new family.

But you still were going in the old school.

____________

Mori parked the car not far away from school. He turns towards you and smiles.

"We are here, Little Light. Be careful at school."

"I will, Uncle Ougai, don't worry. See you and other after school"

After getting a hug from Elise and a head pat from Mori (with a quiet "You can call me father, you know?"), you left the car and walked towards the school building.

You hope, that today is going to be good.

____________

This day was terrible.

When you were walking in school halls, someone ran into you. You fall, and your schoolbag was opened. Your notebooks were on the floor. You quickly pick everything up and hurry to the next class.

You didn't notice, that your notebook with writing Ideas were stolen.

After the lunch, you got a notification.

Someone posted photos of your notebook pages on the school site.

And a video. A video of bullies, mockingly reading your notebook. Tearing it apart. Destroying pages.

And comments under the post...

"The Weirdo are still writing?"

"LOL, cringe fanfics!"

"Hey, maybe they have another notebook, where they write porn stories?"

"Will you calm the [CENSORED] down! Stop flaunt your stupid dream before our eyes!"

"Your notebook is only good to be used as toilet paper!"

After school, you hurry home.

____________________

You slam the door behind you. Not paying attention to anyone, you hurry to your room and close the door. Soon everyone heard the muffled cries.

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Chuuya was first one, who spoke.

"Who? Who dared to hurt our [Y/N]?! Who made them cry?"

"I know the answer" Katai, who checked your school site, showed everyone post with your notebook.

Fyodor stood up. His voice was cold.

"I will deal with this little bastards. Kolya, Chuuya, Dazai, you are going with me. Oda, Poe, can you, please, check on [Y/N]? They like you two."

Without other words, Fyodor walked towards the front door. Gogol,

Chuuya and Dazai followed him.

_____________

You heard someone knocking on your door.

"[Y/N]? It's us, Oda and Poe. Can we come in?"

You manage to sob a "yes" and bury your face in a pillow.

The door was opened. Oda and Poe slowly approach your bed. Oda kneel before your bed, while Poe sits on the bed edge.

Oda spoke first.

"We saw the video. Are you okay? The Bullies... They didn't hurt you to take away the notebook, right?"

You sob more and shake your head.

"No... They stole it... Is it wrong for me to dream? Is it wrong for me to want to be a writer?"

Poe put his hand on your back, softly petting it.

"It's not, [Y/N]. Your dream matters. Your dream can become true. I will help you."

Oda spoke again. "And I will also help you."

You look at them in disbelief. Did they just? The characters you always looked up to support you?

Poe answers your silent question.

"I can teach you, how to write. We will do writing exercises, we will discuss your writing, I will give you a critique. I will support you on your way to becoming a writer."

Oda rub away your tears.

"Don't listen to the others, [Y/N], you can become a writer. We will work on it together."

You cried again. This time, out of happiness. You jumped up and hugged both Poe and Oda at the same time. They hug you in return.

"Thanks you so much"

Finally, you have someone, who supports you and your dream.

_____________

🐾 Everyone from the BSD gang will support you.

🐾 Poe is mentoring you. He is a good teacher. He points out what you are doing good and what you are doing bad.

🐾 Oda and Poe will help you publish your first book. Just a little storybook.

🐾 You got good reviews and it was quite popular. You got some money from it.

🐾 You buy presents for everyone. Oda, Poe and Fyodor got a three different "Best Dad in The World" cups from you. Mori was devastated. Now he tries even harder to make sure you see him as a father figure.

🐾 On the side note, now you are being homeschooled.

🐾 The Bullies (seven people), who created a post, were found stuffed in one trashcan. It takes half a day to get them out of it.

🐾 Person, who write a comment about toilet paper, was stuffed in the school toilet.

🐾 Teachers were also scared. Rumors said, that someone attack them and teach them a lesson on "How to be a good teacher".

🐾 Slowly, you are becoming more and more confident. Now you are sure, that you can be a writer. All thanks to your new family.

_____

A/N : The bit about Raskolnikov happened in real life with me. When my literature teacher started asking us about our favourite characters from classic literature, I said, that I loved Raskolnikov. I had a feeling, if my teacher could, she would expell me for this words.

[reading-stains]

soukoku fics: recs and reviews

look, i really like fanfiction. and i've always felt people sometimes don't give good enough reasons to actually read a lot of it. if you scroll down enough, you'll see i did that too. so i thought i'd help out some people that don't know what to read tonight. you'll notice i took my reviewing seriously hgdsafvkhagsv i'll add more in my reblogs as i go on with this review style, but for now, here are three fanfics that pushed me to do this. fair warning, they're long ones.

A Lesson in Thorns by arkastadt

Word Count: 454,556

Tags: Arranged Marriage, BSD Beast!AU, Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Character Death, Heavy Angst, Happy Ending, Ghosts, So Much Smut

Review:

As one of the longest fics I’ve ever read, it took me three days to read it, and a lot of lost sleep. A Lesson in Thorns is a journey that no one is truly prepared for. It’s surprising, I think, how one only notices the slow burn in the beginning, and forget they didn’t start out together in the end. So many things happen in the span of those fifty chapters, and so many feelings arise alongside their events. The reader watches Chuuya grow into himself, despite the haunting (hehe) that surrounds him by the end. Dazai becomes a man wishing to live, despite becoming a ghost of who he used to be. It’s quite magical, the way the story builds upon itself. What is usually some home, this piece makes an empire. 

This author appealed a lot to the wants and needs within these characters, making a paced build up to the challenges the characters face. Furthermore, there is a wonderful line of thought that is unwavering, consistent to the very end. The reader meets Chuuya getting ready to be married. A deal has been struck with the Port Mafia, and as the leader of the Sheep, Chuuya must marry their boss. A questionable and confusing task, but Chuuya has no more cards under his sleeve, and he has to save Shirase from the pending prison sentence. He walks into where he is to be married, looking to find a wrinkled, aging man. Instead, he faces the bandaged limbs and cunning eye of Dazai Osamu, and the story truly begins. 

The reader already knows it’s not a choice left for random that Dazai takes Chuuya under his wing. It’s already stated that on the first day in his position as the boss, right after killing Mori and sixteen months before he and Chuuya marry, he finds the redhead. A search that is broken down as the story unravels, and an effort that builds them and breaks them apart and puts them back together. 

This fanfic is clearly derived from a lot of the factors pointed in Bungou Stray Dogs’s BEAST light novel, which in my eyes makes it all the more interesting. I tried to give a short insight into the beginning with as much care as I could without creating any spoilers for the reading. I guess from me, all my notes just say it’s worth it. This fic really drags you through so many stages of feelings and excitements, and it builds off from them until you reach a new peak all over again. 

On Deathless Feet by AbsoluteNegation

Word Count: 71,848

Tags: Caretaking, Controlling Arahabaki, Canon-Divergence, Port Mafia and Post-Port Mafia, Smut

Review:

There are some stories that find themselves tucked into a hidden corner. It does not make them any less, and it does not make them any better, it just makes them quiet. Which in turn, when they are finally found, makes them all the more surprising. That is how I feel about On Deathless Feet, tucked in a corner of Ao3, and all incredibly surprising. 

Written with a nonlinear narrative, the reader meets the famed Double Black in different moments, recently met, in the middle of their rise through the ranks, at the brink of their end, after their disconnection with years of silence. AbsoluteNegation makes a wonderful story threaded in different moments, contextualizing their uncomfortable return to each other with interruptions back to their old lives before Dazai’s split from the Port Mafia. The author mainly focuses on Arahabaki, and Chuuya’s relationship with understanding the singularity as it slips out of control. Dazai is sent in to help counter it throughout their time together, and long stretches of contact are needed to get it down to normal. 

With a state of constant carataking, the two are thrusted into communion, needing to learn to accept living with each other for the time being. It isn’t a foreign feeling, seeing the other there, but at the end of the day it’s hard for the two with all that past. A past the author explores in detail just as much, not holding back on making it layered and pretty and very intense. They are creatures of passion, that’s what drives this ship and makes it so loved, and the author doesn’t shy away from building on it. Just as well, however, does the author place their own touch to their relationship, with the care and devotion the two also experiment between them. This fanfic is a welcomed balance to the rockier roads often explored surrounding these two. It never lacks sharpness, but it definitely warms the heart.

music for our funeral by itotypes

Word Count: 67,723

Tags: No Smut, Angst, 70s, Musicians!AU, Drug Abuse, References to Child Neglect, Songwriting, Artistic Lyricism

Review:

Music for our funeral by itotypes is a breathtaking composition, and there is not much like it. Set in the 70s, the author explores the surrounding setting of the rock genre, and writes a story of struggle and connection. Starting out with a run-away teenager, we meet Dazai’s lackluster perfection, the narrative often picturing him as a clinical artist. After leaving home, we watch him make himself something, and see him survive until he looks to live. Meanwhile, the other side of the piece plays with a striving perfectionist, and a reckless guitarist, in the form of Chuuya. The man comes from a struggling family (a stark contrast to the origins of his partner), and finds himself lost in the music. 

An interesting part of the story is that we get to know the characters before they meet. In a way, it allows the reader to explore the lives privy to the explosion, and before the pining and intensity that sparks between the two. One of the most appreciative factors that make this story one of my personal favorites is the usage of images throughout it. With beautiful lyrics exploring the essence of a character’s beliefs without them needing to admit it to themselves, there is a clear view into the conflicts and selfish needs that each character has. 

This author’s work is best described as an ode to music. It comes as a surprise at times, the way words fit together in reverence to this branch of artistry. Yet the fact that it’s done through another form of storytelling, through the use of words on a screen instead of notes on one’s ear, makes it all the more captivating. There is no question this is a must read. 

[chuuyrr]

Hello 👋 can we get a platonic! bungo stray dogs x scarlet witch! baby fushiguro! reader where baby!Fushiguro is feeling mischievous one day pulls pranks on everyone -except Dazai because obviously he’s the favorite- maybe they finally find out it’s baby!Fushiguro because the last person she pranks is kunikida. For Kunikida she puts a spell on his desk that the moment he opens one drawer a crazy whole bunch of different butterflies come flying out and baby!Fushiguro is just dying with laughter. Ranpo most likely knew you were responsible for the pranks already but wanted to keep silent and watch. Then at the end baby!Fushiguro is sleeping in Dazai’s arms and she activates her ability to turn off gravity and obviously they can’t wake her up knowing that if they try to she’ll get grumpy.

scarlet witch! baby fushiguro! reader pranks the armed detective agency using chaos magic

jujutsu kaisen x reader x bungo stray dogs

masterlist of the series

╰➤ CW(s): possible spoilers for bungou stray dogs, mentions of scarlet witch's powers and abilities, extremely fluffy

╰➤ PAIRING(s): platonic! bungou stray dog x child! reader (armed detective agency, but mostly dazai bc the favorite)

before you read: hi, in case you're new, you're megumi's younger half-sibling, and while you don't have cursed energy, you do have scarlet witch's powers and abilities! aside from that, as a special scarlet witch variant, you also have the ability to travel across the multiverse. how chaotic! furthermore, like your half-brother megumi, you are being cared for by gojo satoru, who also serves as your adoptive father. for more info, please see the masterlist.

as the harbinger of chaos that you were, and with reality-warping abilities far greater than any that exists in the world of gifted mafias and detectives, as well as your home world, the world of curses and cursed techniques—it was only natural for you to put your gift to use.

"[name]-chan!~" ranpo called your name.

ranpo, being the sharp detective that he was, noticed how you seemed to be in a particularly good mood today. in fact, you've been extra bubbly since you arrived in their universe.

"you seem to be in a good mood today," ranpo observed as he extended his hand to ruffle your [color]-hair locks as you sat on the seat next to him, swinging your legs back and forth.

"it's nothing!~" you exclaimed with a closed-eye smile, enjoying your uncle ranpo's head pat.

you and ranpo perked up, directing your gaze towards yosano, who was sitting on her desk and suddenly spit out her drink, completely taken aback—something that none of you were used to seeing given how cool and calm your auntie yosano was.

"yosano-sensei?" dazai questioned, blinking at the short-haired woman, "what's wrong?"

"someone swapped the wine in my locker into grape juice instead," yosano exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at the contents of the wine glass she had just filled, "damn.."

"oi, dazai, stop messing with yosano-sensei," kunikida said to the bandaged-man who was lounging at his desk, making a paper plane for you out of one of the report papers that was lying on his desk.

"ehh? that wasn't me, kunikida-kun," dazai exclaimed, a childish pout immediately appearing on his face in response to the accusation.

"really now?" kunikida questioned, raising his brow and placing a hand on his hip.

"yes, really! you're such a jerk, kunikida-kun!" dazai huffed, folding his arms across his chest, "i would never ever pull off such a thing to yosano-sensei because knowing myself, i would have done it to you instead!"

"WHY YOU—" kunikida was cut off.

fukuzawa had entered the office, covered in colorful confettis from head to toe, just as kunikida was about to grab dazai by the collar and strangle him alive with his bare hands.

ranpo's eyes widened as he tried to suppress a laugh and a smile, "p-president.."

"w-what happened to you?" naomi inquired, cupping her mouth to cover her own laugh.

"i supposedly had a box of rice buns in my office, but when i opened it... it was confetti instead," fukuzawa exclaimed, puzzled.

"that's so strange, president! the same thing happened to me earlier too, but instead of confetti, my packed gyudon turned into party streamers when i opened it," kenji raised his hand, completely unfazed and still smiling, "city life sure is exciting! you never know what happens next."

"are you sure it's not you, dazai-san?" atsushi asked as dazai handed you the paper plane he folded before he gasped and clutched his chest dramatically.

"atsushi-kun, how dare you! it wasn't me!" dazai exclaimed, motioning over you, who were still laughing and cheerfully swinging your legs as you waved the paper plane in the air with ranpo still behind your seat, "i'm playing with [name]-chan over here!"

"well, whoever is pranking us sure is good," sighed tanizaki, entering the office not long after fukuzawa with kyouka trailing behind him, "instead of confetti and streamers, powdered sugar exploded in my face!"

"i got ribbons in my hair..." kyouka muttered quietly, covering her face with her hands as her face flushed with embarrassment. Instead of flowers, kyouka's hair was adorned with ribbons.

"tanizaki-kun! kyouka-chan! oh, no! not you guys too!" atsushi's eyes widened at the sight of tanizaki being covered in powdered sugar and kyouka with ribbons in her hair.

after that, atsushi went over his own desk to find a tissue for tanizaki to wipe his face, but as soon as he found the box of tissues, something went wrong. as atsushi pulled a tissue, he noticed that it was connected to the others in the box by a chain or link, similar to a bunch of tied up handkerchiefs for a magic show.

"EHH?! THE TISSUES ARE TIED!" atsushi cried out, continuing to pull the tissues from the box.

"well, if it isn't dazai, who could it be?" kunikida sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he walked towards his desk.

"it's definitely not me. i'm hanging out with [name]-chan as well," ranpo shrugged, chuckling softly, "but this sure is entertaining to watch. that's nearly the entire armed detective agency members pranked."

you could hardly stop laughing at this point. ranpo's gaze was fixed on you as you played with the paper plane that dazai had given you, and he couldn't help but smile. even though ranpo knew what was going on with the agency today, he was letting it slide just this once.

kunikida approached his desk and opened his drawer, expecting to find papers and writing utensils presumably just to proceed with work despite the pranks that was being pulled off left and right, but instead found a swarm of butterflies—all sorts of colorful butterflies to be exact, the sight of which reminded him and everyone else of yosano's breathtaking thou shalt not die ability as he yelped and stumbled backwards in surprise.

with that, you burst out laughing, unable to hold back your laughter, and everyone in the office realized who was behind the pranks today—it was none other than the reality warping little witch they knew and loved.

"[name]-chan!" "[name]!" they all cried in unison.

"you prankster!" exclaimed dazai, extending a hand to pinch your cheek, which you simply giggled at.

"so, it was [name] all along," kunikida's lips graced into a smile as he sighed.

"of course it'd be [name]-chan, she's capable of warping reality in the blink of an eye. if it were dazai, it'd take him a long time to prank us one by one, unlike her, who can just cast spells or whatever without us even knowing," ranpo grinned as he looked at you.

"how did you do it, [name]? you had it planned, didn't you?" fukuzawa chuckled quietly, tilting his head and smiling softly.

you nodded in agreement, "and i did with my wiggly-woos magic at a molecular level!"

"chaos magic is truly a rivaled special ability," atsushi remarked, folding his arms across his chest, "[name]-chan got us good with it."

with everyone watching in awe, you lifted your index finger and using a red glow of psionics to transform the paper plane dazai folded you into a pretty blue monarch butterfly, "i'm glad i did because i've been practicing a lot, but the thing is uncle ranpo, i don't do spells. i've been told that reality can be whatever i want."

however, after using your wiggly-woos magic for that, you let out a yawn, prompting you to rub your eyes, which they undoubtedly thought was extremely adorable of you. in their eyes, you were a sleepy little kitten who had grown tired of playing all day.

"so cute!" both naomi and kirako squealed as they stared at you with a awestruck look.

"are you alright, [name]-chan?" dazai asked softly, noticing your suddenly sleepy state.

"mhm.. just sleepy.." you muttered quietly, yawning once more before giggling, "sorry.."

"well, except for ranpo-san and me, you pretty much pranked everyone with your wiggly-woos magic," dazai smiled at you, extending a hand to ruffle your hair, "that must have tired you out, right, [name]-chan?"

"i guess so.." you nodded drowsily in response.

"aww, come here sleepy little bella~"

with that, you made grabby hands towards dazai, indicating your want to be carried. dazai snatched you from your seat and drew you into his embrace, allowing your tiny figure to lean against him, your head against his shoulder, while you gripped the fabric of his brown coat.

dazai giggled at your sleepy and cuddly state, taking his hand to boop your nose, which you laughed at, but as soon as he started swaying gently, cradling you in his arms while humming a tune that seemed oddly familiar to the one that your adoptive father, gojo satoru, would hum to lull you to sleep, your eyes became heavier as you yawned more.

it wasn't long before you were dozed off in dazai's arms, all snuggled up in his embrace.

"[name]-chan fell asleep!" atsushi exclaimed quietly, a smile spreading across his face as he placed his hand on his lips, "how cute!"

"not only did she not prank dazai, but she chose to sleep with him instead of her uncle fukuzawa," tanizaki stated, shaking his head, "[name]-chan truly has favorites and it shows."

"and she didn't prank ranpo-san either," yosano sighed, chuckling softly, "talk about favorites."

"of course! it's only natural for [name]-chan to have me as her favorite. i'm her best uncle detective," ranpo smugly folded his arms across his chest before it faded into a pout, "but still, that makes me better than the boss, though i'm pretty sure the second favorite is that port mafia executive [name]-chan likes a lot."

"NOT THAT SLUG!" cried dazai all of a sudden in a comical and dramatic manner.

speaking of the "slug" with the ability to manipulate gravity, you whined softly in your sleep as dazai's raised voice prompted you to turn in your sleep.

"ah, sorry, [name]-chan! so sorry," dazai hushed you, apologizing and cradling you in his arms as he walked over to his desk and sat.

however, as dazai did, everything in the office began to glow red, alarming everyone. before anyone, including dazai, could react, all of the furniture, objects, and even themselves began to float upwards as if they had zero gravity as they became surrounded with the same red glow that was similar to nakahara chuuya when he makes use of his gravity manipulation.

"we're... floating," atsushi said, his arms spread wide as he tried, or more like struggled to balance himself in mid-air.

"even dazai-san is floating?" kyouka asked quietly, her gaze fixed on dazai, who was curled up slightly as he continued to cradle and hold your sleeping figure in his embrace despite floating in mid-air along with her and the others.

"for some reason, [name]-chan's chaos magic doesn't get nullified by dazai's," ranpo exclaimed, munching on a snack as he lay on his back in mid-air with an arm behind his head and a leg over his other, "it is most likely because [name]-chan's ability is counted as multiple abilities or simply because it is "magic," which conflicts with dazai's ability."

"that actually makes sense. [name]-chan is capable of more than just turning things into confetti, streamers, and butterflies. she can also travel across the multiverse, heal people, and most importantly," dazai exclaimed before stating his last sentence in a slightly disgusted tone, "control our gravity like that shrimp."

"oi, dazai, wake [name]-chan up! we still have work to do!" kunikida exclaimed, flailing his arms around in the air.

"you know i can't do that, kunikida-kun!" dazai replied back, his gaze narrowing slightly, "[name]-chan is going to get grumpy and throw a tantrum. don't you remember the last time?"

"dazai has a point, kunikida. we can't wake [name] up," fukuzawa cleared his throat, sweating as he remembered you crying and upset because they had woken you up. you were there up about it for nearly an hour, and it would have lasted longer if they hadn't brought you to the port mafia for chuuya or koyou to calm you down.

"well, floating around like this isn't so bad," yosano exclaimed, twirling around in mid-air before softly laughing, "it's pretty fun."

"yosano-sensei is right; this is relaxing as well!" kenji agreed, floating on his back with his limbs extended out, resembling a starfish.

"say, dazai, how long does [name] usually sleep?" kunikida sighed in defeat.

"hmm, [name]-chan usually sleeps for about an hour, but given how tired she is right now... i'd say more than an hour, kunikida-kun," dazai exclaimed, sweat dripping from his brow as he chuckled, motioning over to you drooling in your sleep, wetting his coat, but he continued to hold you and cradle you in his arms, patting your back.

"oh." was what all kunikida muttered back.

[ author's notes ! i was supposed post an angsty fic today, but didn't feel like it—so have some fluff instead :) i found myself enjoy writing this. it was just so cute <3 my heart is sooo full. anyway, i hope you liked it anon, and everyone who read this and made it this far. tysm for requesting hehe ! ]

[sleepy-vix]

I love how bungou stray dogs potrays ability-less characters in a good light. Like, yes ranpo has no ability, but he uses his intelligence to get ahead of those with an ability and constantly saves the detective agency again and again, and yes Aya doesn't have an ability either, but she is determined and she is resilient and then ends up saving the world.

Unlike animes like My Hero (i cant think of a better example, but there are probably many) which imply that not having an ability will make you weaker than those with one (eg: Deku wanted to be a hero but he couldnt bc no ability but then after getting an ability he is a strong hero- idk i didnt really watch mha), BSD shows that being born without an ability doesn't have to mean that you're weaker than those with one.

In fact, it shows that even if you are ability-less, you just have to believe in yourself and have a good mindset (they never showed ranpo or aya beating themselves up about not having an ability) and you can be even better and stronger than those with an ability.

[popopretty]

BEAST Movie Pamphlet Translation (1)

My translation of the interview with Taniguchi Masashi (Oda Sakunosuke role) and Tabuchi Rui (Dazai Osamu role) on the BEAST movie. This interview was included in the movie pamphlet sold at the cinema. (I tweeted sort of a summary of this on Twitter so some of you might find it familiar. This is the full, direct translation)

I tried my best to keep my translation accurate, but I don't speak either English or Japanese as my native language so there might be some mistakes here and there. Please feel free to retranslate it if you want, just keep in mind that some meanings, though little, might have been lost in translation.

I also plan to translate other interviews in the same pamphlet in the near future. The translation is under the cut, have fun reading.

Q: How did you feel when you were cast in this hypothetical, “if” story where Atsushi and Akutagawa switch place in Bungou Stray Dogs?

Tabuchi: I have been involved in the world of Bungou Stray Dogs from the stage DEAD APPLE, but while playing Dazai Osamu, I could really feel the magnitude of not being able to experience the Dark Era that was performed in the past. That’s why I was so excited to learn that I would be able to perform in BEAST this time, which includes some scenes from that era, though just a little. Taniguchi: When I got the offer for the stage Dark Era and watched the anime, I asked myself, “Can I really do it?” I felt that it was a role that I seriously need to be prepared for. At the time, I faced it thinking that “Now that I have accepted the role, I am going to make it a legend, once and for all”. I talked about that again and again in various places, so it is a little embarrassing for me to casually come back to it this time (laughs). Back then, I did hear people say, “Please let us get to BEAST.” but I tried not to overthink things so I didn’t touch anything other than Dark Era. Thankfully, I was called again and finally read it for the first time but…  then I realized I need to get myself prepared again. Q: What is it about the BEAST story that attracted you and also how did u deepen your understanding of your role? Taniguchi: For me, one of Bungou Stray Dogs’ charms is the setting where the people who create the story are the greatest. And among them, I felt that Oda Sakunosuke, probably the only one who tried to become a “novelist”, is a very noble man. Moreover, I found it very interesting that “a man who wants to create a story” is friend with a man who possesses the power to annihilate others’ skills and wants to kill himself on top of that, or in other words, “a man who wants to end the story”. However, to think that one difference somewhere can change the world that much… And the contrast between the main story in which “Oda loses his life and Dazai continues his story” and the development where “Dazai protects Oda’s story and loses everything” left me speechless. I think the fact that the two of them, and Ango too, probably, could never come to a fulfilling ending where they are together is the work of a writer, and it shows how amazing Asagiri-sensei is.

Tabuchi: BEAST is a world that makes us think again about how important Oda Sakunosuke is to Dazai. After we finished filming, I went and performed in “Dazai, Chuuya, Fifteen years old” on stage. And in the past, Dazai was trying to grasp the whole perspective of living by feeling close to death in Port Mafia. But I think after the encounter with Oda Sakunosuke, that encounter has become his whole reason for living.

Taniguchi: The biggest different about Oda in this “if” world, for me, is the fact that Dazai was played by Rui. Because honestly speaking, Dark Era was a stage that I had poured everything into Dazai, played by Tawada Hideya, to create. But this time, when Rui showed up on the set, how should I put it, he had a really serious look on his face (laughs). When I saw that extraordinary determination, I thought, “I’m gonna do this for his Dazai” and I’m gonna say the best “Don’t call me Odasaku” to him.

Tabuchi: Thank you very much. I am so happy to be able to work with Taniguchi-san, whom I had seen on the stage footages again and again and thought was Oda Sakunosuke himself.

Taniguchi: Of course, the battle between Atsushi and Akutagawa was also important, but the one who created and was trying to protect this world was Dazai. If a novel is something written for the protagonist, then for me that protagonist is Dazai, my first thought was what kind of influence I could have on him. This is just a metaphor, but no matter how good your ex-girlfriend was, it would be so uncool if you cannot love the current lover who is with you now with all you’ve got. The time I created with this guy is my “BEAST”. Tabuchi: Taniguchi-san, you’re so cool. Taniguchi: No, I was scary on set, wasn’t I? Because I was mean. Actually, the other cast did ask me to take care of Rui, but it wasn’t the kind of play that you could go “Don’t be so tense, it’s gonna be fine” casually like that. Instead, I decided not to talk to him at all. And in that atmosphere, I was able to receive what came from Rui and tackle it as Odasaku with all my might.

Q: The encounter between Dazai and Oda at Bar Lupin was a signature scene of BEAST, with a tense atmosphere that even a drop of emotion overflowing could cause it to crumble. Tabuchi: That scene was… As Taniguchi-san just said, I didn’t get to talk to him on set, and my memory was fuzzy because of the tension, the pressure and all the other emotions that swirled around me. Taniguchi: Desperation, right? Tabuchi: Yes. Dazai knows Oda, but Oda doesn’t know him. That was linked to my hopeless frustration and impatience of not being able to be a part of Dark Era, and I went beyond Dazai as a character and felt myself struck by the words “Don’t call me Odasaku.” The only things that can move Dazai’s emotions to the point of crying are the things about Oda. Then, when I suddenly couldn’t stop crying, the Director was like, “Wait! Don’t cry now.” (laughs) Taniguchi: That couldn’t be helped. Deep inside, I kept thinking about how I could not, as Oda, just say, “Thank you for letting me write my novel.” to Dazai. And it would pain me even if I said that. But Director Sakamoto shot that same scene again and again from many different angles so I was overflowing too (laughs). Crying definitely doesn’t equal good acting, but I think it was a scene that both of us put a lot of emotions in. We humans play the characters’ feelings, and it is exactly why no matter how cool we try to make them, somewhere in the depths of our eyes, there is always something wavering and it shows. I think that is probably the “0.5” of what we refer to as “2.5 dimensional” (2.5D) works. It was also my first time playing a stage character on the big screen, so I didn’t know how it would turn out. But I found it very interesting because there are things that could only be seen when projecting it up close, and I was able to use my consciousness in a different way from usual, in “a space with just the two of us”, without any audience. Tabuchi: I was also happy because we got to film the scene in the actual Bar Lupin. It gave me strength. Taniguchi: That’s right. When I saw the photos of the real Dazai-san and Odasaku-san there, I got a feeling about how the two of them couldn’t live together even if they were laughing with each other like that, and I was moved by the power of the place. My head almost went crazy from saying the same line all over again, but we had the luxury of spending a whole day shooting the scene and I was happy with that.

Q: What are your impressions of the other co-stars throughout the filming? Taniguchi: If felt somewhat strange to be with Akutagawa in the Detective Agency. Like, so if he were on this side, he would be able to laugh like that? I have known Hashimoto Shohei who plays Akutagawa for a long time. And we had done a lot of roles as a duo so I didn’t worry at all. But I did wonder if I would be able to act seriously with a guy whose har is only white on his sideburns (laughs). But I didn’t mind at all, thanks to the skill of the makeup artists, of course, and also because he fit the role so well. He got that great presence of someone who had carried the role on stage so far, and every single expression of him was flawless. I “co-star” with Torigoe-kun at bars and pubs a lot, but it was a pity that I did not get to interact with him this time. Tabuchi: This time, I was instructed “not to smile so much” when messing with Chuuya, so it was different from the usual joyful manner. Contrary to the hierarchical relationship in Port Mafia, Tori-san and Ue-chan are both my big seniors in real life, but I was very grateful because they always let me relax behind the scenes. Q: This is a question in reference to the theme of this movie. Have you ever felt the existence of a BEAST inside you, either as an actor or an individual? Tabuchi: I have been holding back the BEAST that wants to go drinking with his friends for almost two years now I think I’m going to lose it! Tori-san and others are not the type to talk about the play when we drink, but even the most trivial conversation would mean a lot and I have a lot of things I want to hear after this production.

Taniguchi: Just the other day, I was reading a book that said something along the line of, “No matter how angry you get, no matter how hard you fight, they say the world is not going to change. But even if the world is not going to change, you yourself can change.” and it hit very hard with the me right now. The moment you give up on the things you want to do, the world becomes even more of a boring place to you and that is really the end of everything. I think an actor’s way of life plays an important role in deciding how much he can bring out what is inside him while immersing himself in the work, and I always want to keep such an “angry” beast inside. Especially this time, I felt like I was able to release my inner BEAST through playing Oda, with a lot of hard action scenes involved. So, I want to keep doing so in the future. Q: Finally, please have some messages for the fans. Taniguchi: Anyway, now I’m looking forward to the completion of the movie. The filming was delayed due to Corona, but I never wanted it to be cancelled. It is Torigoe and Shouhei who supported Dark Era even though they were not in it, because they have a burning desire to make Bungo Stray Dogs the best thing ever. It is Rui who stood up and took on the role with such a strong will that made me want to become a force to connect them. I myself also poured my life into it. I hope this will be an opportunity for those who are unfamiliar with the work to learn that such an interesting tale exists and that it is put together by such interesting people. Tabuchi: I have only been acting for about two years and there was a possibility that my lack of ability would make this movie less interesting. So, I confronted it thinking I have to do it with all I’ve got. The scene at Lupin was where I confirmed my determination. I thought, “If this doesn’t go well, I’d better give up on acting.” I think I would have never had that thought had I not encountered the role of Dazai Osamu. I never thought that I had managed to grasp everything about him, but I was able to experience his feelings towards the world that he had continued to create to keep Odasaku alive and that was an irreplaceable experience that would change the stages I play later as well as my future life as an actor. I hope that a lot of people will watch this movie and I will be very happy if you will find “2.5D” something that is appreciated all over the world.

[lovingherrscher]

Bungou Stray Dogs Otoge

So I saw an earlier post about what BSD characters being the love interests in Diabolik Lovers, so why not make an otoge/otome game for them?

Dazai Yohane proudly presents you... Bungou Stray Dogs Otoge!

Warning: Crack, some angst in the bad endings, OOC even maybe. Random thoughts in a mental breakdown. Spoilers for Storm Bringer. Character deaths mentions.

Notes: None. I just want to distract myself.

Love interests:

Dazai Osamu - 1 True Ending, 1 Good Ending and 2 Bad Endings

The mystery type

"Posterboi", yes, he's on the poster for the common version of the game, the limited version ft all 5 love interests (except for Fyodor because he's in the secret route)

Ranked #2 in the popularity poll

Is loved by all the fangirls

Likes to fool around with MC

All of that disappear when you got out of the common route and head for his route

FUCK PLEASE GO BACK

Shout out to Dazai slowly opening up gotta be my favourite genre

Will have a CG where he takes you to Lupin and slowly opens up to you about his past

Best bed scene in the whole game

One of the bad endings is where you two committed a lover's suicide together and succeeded.

Nakahara Chuuya - 1 True Ending, 2 Good Ending and 3 Bad Endings

The rich guy who'd buy you everything as a gift, jewelries, fancy clothes, a store, a building even?!

Candidate for the next mob boss

5/5 (actually 4.5) on these criterias:

The (soon to be) mob boss

Cruel, cold to almost everyone else except for his 'family' aka the mafia

Is actually a nice person

Will treats you gently, like a princess when he's head over heels for you

Gap moe (he likes dogs)

So inevitably, he ranked #1 in the popularity poll

Is almost everything the Italians hates about 'romanticizing the mafiosos'

His route is basically a whole "FUCK GO BACK" like Dazai, since we'll focus on his traumas and his past more.

He will opens up about his fear of not being a human, about the calamity that lives inside him

Has a CG where he takes you to visit Rimbaud's and The Flags' graves.

That one route would make the players put the Switch/PS Vita down and ask themselves why are they here, just to suffer.

Best kiss sounds in the whole fucking game I say. His bed scene makes you went from angsty mood to instant horny.

One of his bad ending is about how Chuuya lost control of the calamity inside him - Arahabaki when he saw you, killed before his eyes by the enemy, and with Dazai out of the picture, there isn't anyone there to stop him anymore.

Nakajima Atsushi - 1 True Ending, 1 Good Ending and 1 Bad Ending

That one character make everyone goes 'hell I could adopt him even not flirt with him.'

Cute, shy boy

Is cute when needed and sexy when wanted

Makes you wonder how can an angel like this even exists

Has good kissing sounds *if you know what I mean*

Drifting off the common route we dig deeper into his past, about the beast inside him, about the orphanage and the headmaster

A CG where he'll cry in your arms and you soothing him, reassure the boy that it's all in the past and he isn't alone now

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke - 1 True Ending, 2 Good Ending and 2 Bad Ending

Tsundere type

Foul-mouthed

Eventually will slowly opens up to MC

God he's so cute and precious

Needs a hug for all the traumas he's been through

His route basically focus on his past and how Dazai affected him so much

He has a CG where he sat down and talk with you about Gin and how he grows up in the slum, about why did he crave for power so bad, and why he wanted to be acknowledged by his ex-mentor.

3rd best bed scene in the game.

Kunikida Doppo - 1 True Ending, 1 Good Ending and 1 Bad Ending

Workaholic type

A man who dedicates his life to work

The handsome one with glasses

It's really fun watching him slowly falling for you, especially when he has this "58 standards for the ideal woman"

He'll slowly crosses them out just for you 💖

His route focus on the reason he dreams of an ideal world, his ideal world

Will has this 'behind the scene' flashback about The Azure King's case and Azure Apostle's case 2 years ago with the death of Rokuzou and Sasaki.

A CG where he holds you tightly in his arms and speaks with a broken voice, teary eyes about how he's so scare that his ideal might consume him one day like what happened to Azure King. He is whom chases his ideals like the moth chasing flames, but deep down under that perfectionist, workaholic mask is how he's insecure and scared that his ideals will burn him down like the flame that burn down the moth.

2nd best bed scene in the game.

His bad ending is basically when his ideals finally consume him and Kunikida became the 2nd Azure King.

Secret route: Fyodor Dostoevsky - 1 True Ending and 1 Bad Ending

After you finish everyone's route, a new, hidden route will be unlocked. And it's the Russian man, the mastermind behind everything

To be honest, this is quite of a short route. No common, just straight to his route

Also a mystery type

The smart, prodigy type

The one who has this aura goes "run for your life" or either "damn he's hot"

Expect an unhealthy relationship when you're in this route

This man will uses you like a pawn on his chessboard

Gaslighting, manipulation, abusing, you name it. Everything is in this route

What good ending? No good ending with him for you missy. Only true end or bad end.

WORST BAD ENDING IN THE WHOLE GAME. Please don't ask what it's like.

Fandisc: 2 fandisc with one being the current timeline, the other is about when Dazai is still in the mafia.

Bonus contents for 1st fandisc:

An extra route for Fukuzawa

A Bad Ending in common route ft a 3P, a Dazai x MC x Chuuya sandwich *chef's kiss*

An another Bad Ending in common route ft a 3P, an Atsushi x MC x Akutagawa sandwich

And a new Bad Ending in secret route leads you to a Dazai x MC x Fyodor sandwich

Bonus contents for 2nd fandisc:

A Mafia!Dazai route

An Odasaku route

An Ango route

A Bad Ending in common route that's extra spicy ft a 4P with the Dark Era Trio?!!! *chef's kiss*

[abromelon34105]

Snippet from Chapter 3 of my ADA!Chūya AU!!

“I was wondering,” Atsushi said quietly, “what were the two of you doing before you joined the agency?” Both of us pause and look over at the white-haired teen, taking in his curious eyes. His face pales a little when he realizes we’re both staring at him. “N-No big deal, I was just curious, is all-”

“Three guesses,” I say with a shrug as I step away from Kunikida before sitting back down, this time actively facing him. He blinks, tilting his head a little. “It’s a game we play,” I explain as I motion to the group that’s sitting in the cafe, “at the agency. It’s kind of an initiation thing. Newcomers try to guess their coworkers’ former occupations. It’s kind of a fun game, actually.”

Atsushi hums as he turns to the Tanizaki siblings. “I want to say that Naomi-san and Jun’ichirō-san were students.”

“Woah,” Jun’ichirō says, clearly impressed. “You got it. Nice one.” Naomi sits up from her brother as she looks at Atsushi. “How did you figure that one out?”

“I was told you work at the agency part-time,” Atsushi explains. “And you’re wearing a uniform, so there was a good chance you were still in school. Plus Jun’ichirō-san and I seem to be similar in age. It just made sense.”

“Not bad, kid,” I say from the bar, leaning my cheek on my hand as I watch him with a faint smile. “Now, what about Kunikida?” I point over at my blonde partner, and he ends up spitting his coffee out at me. Thankfully, I’m able to control liquids to some degree and just send it back into his mug. “NOBODY CARES ABOUT WHAT I USED TO BE, ALRIGHT?!”

Atsushi is already narrowing his eyes at Kunikida, clearly trying to think things through. “An official…?” he mutters. He opens his eyes, struck with an idea of some sort. “Did he hold a government job?”

“Almost,” I say slyly. “He was a public school teacher. And he taught math.” I glance over at him, and he’s half pouting in his seat, his mug sitting next to him on the bar. He’s refusing to even look at me, his eyes closed. “I can totally picture that,” Atsushi mumbles to himself.

“It was another life,” Kunikida says sternly, clearly still mad at me for bringing it up. “I don’t even want to think about it.” He takes a long sip from his mug and then puts it down. “And don’t even try doing Nakahara. His former profession is a mystery to everyone.”

“Aw, Kunikida~” I pout at him, giving him playful puppy eyes. “You took my fun away!”

“No one has guessed it yet, so leave it be.”

“The first person who finally figures it out collects a reward, isn’t that right?” Jun’ichirō says from the booth and I can practically see the gears in Atsushi’s head start to turn. “A rEwArD?!”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true,” I say with a shrug, seeming disinterested in the events happening. “And because no one’s guessed right, it’s just skyrocketed.”

“So…just out of curiosity…just how much is this reward right now?”

“Seven hundred thousand yen.”

“Seven…hundred… grand?!” I swear Atsushi is about to explode with the way he stares at me. “So if I guess correctly, it’s mine?! This isn’t some kind of prank?!”

“Trust me, I’m always a man of my word.” Liar.

“I gotta say,” Jun’ichirō says, sounding a little upset. “He looks really fired up.” Naomi seems just as upset. “There’s no way he’ll ever guess it.”

“That reward will be mine. Stockbroker!”

“No.”

“Writer!”

“Uh-huh.”

“Office worker!”

“Incorrect!”

“Researcher!”

“Wrong!”

“Lawyer?”

“No!”

“Journalist!”

“Eeeeeh-!”

“Carpenter!”

“Try again!”

“Fourtune Teller!”

“Nah.”

“Pilot?”

“Wrong again!”

“Japanese chef!”

“No!”

“Doctor?”

“No way!”

“Priest!”

“Blasphemous!”

“Model!”

“No, but thank you~”

“I bet you were just wandering around doing nothing at all,” Kunikida cuts in with an exasperated sigh. “Not true,” I say quietly, staring down at the ground in front of me. He puts his mug down and turns to face me, eyes wide a little. “I would never lie about something like this.”