#kunikida analysis

[matchboxartist]

[SPOILERS FOR LIGHT NOVELS] i don't think Kunikida was ever okay

so i was rereading the light novels and... yeah i don't think Kunikida's okay. bear in mind that these were either set before the start of the anime or were set before the end of season 1, so things such as walking alone, cannibalism arc and decay of angels arc had NOT happened yet (stressing this point as much as possible). i've also included roughly when in the BSD timeline the light novels were set and which pages i found the information on.

LN1 (s1e6 and s1e7 - azure messenger arc)

is absolutely terrified of the dark - i'm specifying the dark here instead of ghosts, which he specifically mentions in the anime, because he says he doesn't believe in them. but all the same, he's definitely not (keep telling yourself that, honey) shaking and crying (pages 24 and 25)

even at age twenty is willing to let himself die to save the other hostages - it says in the light novel that he is in fact suffering the effects of the poison gas, and still tries to save them despite Dazai and Sasaki stopping him (page 29)

made sure he still wouldn't have been able to kill Dazai - despite holding Fukuzawa's orders in high regard they would go against his ideals, which is why he never brought the real gun with him (pages 76-78)

the entire ending, pretty much - he had to watch both Sasaki, who he cared about, and Rokuzou, who he raised like his own son, die. he couldn't understand that there was no other way to do things, but since we don't know how his ideal came to be (seriously, Asagiri? nothing at all besides a couple vague suggestions?) we can't exactly push this point much (pages 95-101)

LN3 (set between s1e1 and s1e2 - where the Agency are planning Atsushi's entrance exam)

has what can only be described as a panic attack at the mention of a bomb threat (pages 4 and 5)

starts describing increasingly dark and oddly specific methods of torture to use on Dazai, whilst panicking and trying to attack something that isn't there (pages 16 and 17)

Kunikida and Katai's Brilliant Days (set around s1e6 - first part of azure messenger arc, but by this point Kunikida had not watched Sasaki and Rokuzou die)

sounds terrified at the thought of being called useless (page 5)

anyway that's all i got for now, will update if i think of anything else

[wakanai]

Found a very intriguing analysis

[cuntnikida]

So y'all remember one of the very first scenes in bsd, right?

Yanno, the one where Kunikida's kind of disgusted bcz Atsushi's "shamelessly eating so much food with his money" and calls Atsushi a brat but pays for him anyways and then Atsushi mentions he's a poor jobless orphan and it's one of their first interactions after originally meeting whilst Kunikida was on the job and Kunikida has no idea he's soon going to be Atsushi's superior at the detective agency?

Yeah well

[pe4rl-diver]

i don’t think amenogozen is truly killing people

remember how teruko melted and all that was left was her hd uniform?

the hunting dogs took her in, gave her a home, gave her a real purpose. that uniform represents who she is.

but when kunikida melted, his clothes went with him, and what was left behind instead?

his notebook. his ideals. his ideals represent who he is.

the thing that represents who they are is left behind.

i know that doesn’t really explain anything, but it’s at least enough for me to cause some doubt

[sorcerersandskillusers]

I want to talk about one of the most terrifying and interesting bsd characters who almost no fan remembers.

This character nearly tore down the ADA without ever getting involved herself, yet the entire fandom has ignored her because of her terrible anime adaptation.

Who am I talking about?

Nobuko Sasaki

If you haven't read Dazai Osamu's Entrance Exam, then you probably don't even know who this character is, in the anime she is watered down to the lovesick girlfriend of an actual villain, and you probably dismissed her immediately. But in the light novel, we get to see how dangerous and cunning she really is, to the point she nearly gets the better of Dazai and almost causes the ADA to be shut down. (Fukuzawa says he would have closed the agency if they hadn't caught her)

In terms of intelligence I'd put her on the same level as Mori, just slightly below the super human genius characters i.e. Dazai, Fyodor and Ranpo

The Azure Apostle

For those who don't remember, Sasaki was the Azure Apostle, a mysterious figure who challenged the agency with several horrifying cases, which would all lead to mass casualties if the agency failed to stop them. These were; uncovering an underground organ smuggling operation (which the agency failed to stop and which massively hurt their reputation) stopping a bombing of Yokohama port which could have killed hundreds of people, and preventing a commercial aeroplane from crashing into the city (this was not included in the anime)

Each of the people, who committed these crimes, had no Idea they were being manipulated and thought it was their own idea the whole time. There was no evidence that anyone else had been involved at all, and the agency had no way to connect her to any of the crimes. And she even makes the genius move of framing Dazai, the mysterious new member with suspicious knowledge of the underworld and a hidden past, as the true culprit.

In fact, she only made one mistake, challenging Dazai. If Dazai had been basically anyone else, they would have been cornered and arrested, but since Dazai's mind works on a level even master strategists can't imagine, he was able to turn the tables on her.

But even after Dazai sees through her plans, the ADA still has to act exactly the way she wants them too and stop the plane crash. Even when they know they're being manipulated, they still have to do exactly what she wanted.

Finally, after Dazai and Kunikida confront her and get her to admit to being behind all those crimes, even then they are powerless to stop her.

Even after being involved with so many massive crimes, Sasaki herself hadn't done anything illegal, so within the law the ADA is completely powerless to stop her.

They can't arrest her, and if they try then the agency will be put in even more danger as will many innocent lives. She has completely trapped the ADA, and even Dazai in a choice to follow the law and let her go or take justice into their own hands and prove they will stoop as low as she did.

In the end, there she has them in a perfect deadlock, let her continue her mission, or kill her themselves. Both are bad outcomes for the ADA.

In the end, Dazai has her killed by using a third party (Rokuzo) to shoot her, so the agency can't be blamed for her murder, though this ends her plans it deeply scars Kunikida and shakes his resolve in his ideals.

The trauma from this event still haunts Kunikida to this day, we see that when he is affected by Q's curse, Sasaki is who he sees.

So thats the Azure Apostle, a terrifying master mind who nearly brought down the Armed Detective Agency, but now lets look at the other side of this character.

Nobuko Sasaki Herself

We know several things about Sasaki as a character and her history from the light novel. That she was a brilliant criminal psychologist and was internationally recognised despite being so young

,that she was the ex-lover of the Azure King and the real mastermind behind his plans, and that she had very little motivation of her own.

That's not meant to be an insult to the character, she says herself that she never really had much direction in life, even with her incredible intelligence she never really had anything she wanted to achieve.

But the Azure King was the opposite, he had powerful drive and strong ideals, he wanted to punish criminals who couldn't be touched by the law and when he failed to change the law as a bureaucrat, she offered him an alternative.

A very important thing here is that neither of them were manipulating or forcing the other into this path, as far as we see they genuinely loved each other, each providing something the other couldn't, Sasaki her mind and the Azure King his drive.

When the Azure king died, Sasaki had no path of her own to follow, so she simply kept following his, even though she doesn't seem to have really cared about his cause.

All of this creates a very unique character, you can't say she was driven by revenge, because she wasn't really driven at all. It's more like she was running on momentum, she had chosen a path to follow and could not stop even though there was nothing pushing her down it any more.

She's a perfect antithesis of Kunikida and was the best possible villain a light novel about him could have had.

A man who brings his ideals into reality with his own hands against a woman who uses others to enforce ideals that were never hers to begin with.

Anyway, I made this because Sasaki is criminally underrated in this fandom, If you haven't read "Dazai Osamu's Entrance Exam" I highly recommend it, I've only put a tiny fraction of the amazing story here.

[starlightshadowsworld]

Concept: Every member of the Agency embodies a part of Fukuzawa.

Ranpo has his shadow.

The cool and calm persona that everyone looks upon in times of need. The weight of expectations that he holds like a crown. The eyes that stare deep in the soul. He is the pillar that stands beyond the darkness as a beacon of hope.

The one who holds them all together.

Yosano has his rage.

The burning fire that comes with seeing the worst of the world. And yet still holding it in gentle hands. She is the fury that dwells within the hearts of all for the past and present. The one whose greatest asset is not to destroy but to heal.

The reminder that hope is anything but fragile.

Kunikida has his sense of justice.

The ever present mantra to fight only for those who can’t protect themselves. The one who reaches a hand through rubble and guides the lost to the light. He is the man who stands when the world tells him to sit.

The one who will defy fate itself to protect those he cares for.

Katai has his wandering spirit.

The one shut away in self imposed isolation for a reason few could ever know. That even fewer could understand. He is a heart buried deep beneath the walls of his own making. The one who tries to stay away but can’t fight against his own heart.

The one who takes the reaching hand in his every time.

Dazai has his trust.

The feeling that no matter how far you will be reached. The one who loneliness may never find for there is always someone. He is the one who wanders freely through the night knowing help is on the way. The belief that power comes in numbers, of friends and allies.

The one who free falls knowing he’ll be caught.

Kenji has his wisdom.

The knowledge that comes with finding yourself in darkness. The stories of triumph that warm his words. He is the joy that comes from sadness. The one who will sit beside you without any fear to be found. With the words of reassurance when all seems lost.

The smile of one who knows grief and wishes it on no one.

Junichiro has his vengeance.

The unassuming facade that bursts into fury. The one tracked anger that promises pain. He is reminder that one can only be pushed so far. The whispers in the wind that echo his warning cry. He is the unsheathed blade to protect all which he vowed too.

But without any kind of restraint.

Atsushi has his resilience.

The iron will that stands when the world has fallen. The agony that is tempered down because he can take just a little more. He is grim determination that stands on aching bones. The refusal to give in and to stand among the greats.

The echos of a fighting spirit that refuses to give in.

Kyouka has his dream.

The stoicism that holds nothing but warmth. The bright eyes that see not a house but home. She is the era of peace after a long fought struggle. The hopes of one who was hopeless. She is where it began, where it ends and everything in between.

The one who loses it all but has everything to gain and more.

[valenteal]

I think Dazai’s relationship with Atsushi is the only truly healthy one he’s ever had…

As much as Atsushi looks up to and feels like he owes Dazai, he doesn’t really put up with his shit. He doesn’t ignore or dismiss Dazai’s self destructive behavior but he also doesn’t judge or coddle him for it. He isn’t afraid to call Dazai out or acknowledge his flaws and he doesn’t listen and obey him blindly, unless he is in an immediately dangerous situation where hesitation could mean death. He doesn’t really let Dazai push him away either, he remains a stable source of comfort, someone Dazai can always rely on to help him.

All of Dazai’s other relationships, even Oda, had toxic aspects, some more than others certainly but still. Dazai can never trust Kunikida to accept him, Dazai’s entire being goes against his ideals no matter how much they may care about each other. Oda was always accepting and he was reliably there when Dazai needed him, but he’d also given up on Dazai to an extent, he didn’t actively try to help him at all until he was dying, he was kind of a passive person in general and even admitted that he wished he’d done more for Dazai. These relationships are not incredibly harmful, only damaging in subtle psychological ways that likely impacted Dazai’s self worth and his ability to feel comfortable or known. But still. Not healthy.

With Chuuya and Mori it’s quite a bit more obvious but I’ll explain how I see it anyway.

Dazai’s relationship with Chuuya, as much as it’s defined by mutual trust and respect, is poisoned by Dazai’s controlling behavior toward Chuuya. There are not one but TWO canonical instances where Dazai orchestrated the loss of Chuuya’s entire support network, during the 15 arc and in Storm Bringer. Neither instance was solely because he wanted Chuuya to himself but it was a motivating factor and the result was the same. Except of course Chuuya didn’t really blame him either time because he was able to deflect the blame onto Mori and Verlaine. But Chuuya isn’t unaware of Dazai’s role in either case, and he doesn’t forget. And Dazai doesn’t want to be so close to Chuuya. He doesn’t want someone to know him so well or to grow an attachment that he thinks will only end in pain, and he pushes Chuuya away violently when he remembers that. The thing that makes it toxic is that he forgets when he spends time with Chuuya because he just genuinely really likes him and enjoys his company. They are both each other’s only peers, in both rank and intellect. As much as they fights it, that means something to them both and it tied them together when Dazai was still in the mafia. And that’s not even touching on the rivalry between them, which isn’t inherently toxic but certainly has the potential to be, especially when paired with everything else.

And now we get to Mori. Dazai’s guardian, doctor, boss, and partner in crime. The man who saved his life more times than they can count. The man who gave him purpose and meaning in his life. Who brought him and Chuuya together. Who was responsible for Oda’s death. Who lied to him, used him, planned to kill him. Who trusted him, confided in him, shared his secrets with him. Their relationship is so complex, and in different circumstances it could have been very healthy. Mori truly cares about Dazai, and I think Dazai cared for Mori in return. It’s impossible to spend so much time with someone, share so much, without growing to care for them at all. And Mori and Dazai are so similar, they naturally understood each other and agreed with one another for a long time. One incident soured their relationship. But it still wasn’t healthy before that. Mori was using Dazai, putting him in a position no child or teenager should be in with little regard for his mental health. He still presumably gave Dazai drugs, though we don’t know what kind I think it safe to assume they weren’t regular antidepressants or anxiety prescriptions. Might have just been weed, but I doubt it. Anyway. Point is, Mori treated Dazai like an adult who was allowed to make their own terrible decisions, but took it a step further and pushed him towards those decisions for his own gain. Yes he cared about Dazai, and no he didn’t force him into anything, but he was irresponsible and manipulative all the same.

Anyway, I am once again writing an analysis on Dazai’s relationships in the middle of the night when I am supposed to be asleep. I have a Problem. Hope my sleep deprivation didn’t affect the quality lol

[caffeiiine]

kunikidas ideals have the potential to be self destructive and kunikida can be considered passively suicidal, he is also not the polite and respectful man fanon makes him out to be- *gets shot*

[loulits]

Mapping Neurodivergence in BSD: A Headcanon Exploration

💭✨ Neurodivergence has always been one of my biggest special interests, and something I love about fiction is how much space it gives for different interpretations.

Bungou Stray Dogs is accidentally one of the most neurodivergent-coded series I’ve ever seen—whether it’s intentional or not, so many of the characters just feel ND in ways that go beyond typical genius or eccentricity tropes.

Whether it’s Ranpo’s hyperfixation on mysteries, Kunikida’s compulsive need for structure, or Chuuya’s impulsive emotional outbursts, these characters reflect real-world neurodivergent traits in ways that are compelling, complex, and painfully relatable.

This list is a collection of personal headcanons based on their behaviors, interactions, and underlying motivations.

✨ I'll be doing deep dives into each character here, analysing their traits in more detail! (Of course, this is all just for fun! Everyone interprets characters differently, and that’s part of the beauty of fandom. 🖤)

🕵️‍♂️ Armed Detective Agency

Osamu Dazai – Autism (Masking & Situational Manipulation)

🔹 Highly intelligent but emotionally disconnected in ways that seem intentional. 🔹 Uses humor, dramatics, and exaggerated behavior as a social mask. 🔹 Deeply perceptive of people’s emotions but doesn’t always engage genuinely. 🔹 Alternates between hyperfixation (on suicide, on outplaying opponents) and emotional dissociation. 🔹 Sensory-seeking behaviors (bandages, physical playfulness when teasing others).

Edogawa Ranpo – Autism (Hyperlexia, Special Interests, & Social Processing Differences)

🔹 Hyperlexia: Genius-level reading comprehension and information processing from an early age. 🔹 Doesn’t understand or care for social norms—he thrives best when people adapt to him, not the other way around. 🔹 Fukuzawa accommodating his intelligence and treating him with respect instead of condescension was a turning point in his life. 🔹 Low frustration tolerance for perceived incompetence but deeply loyal to those he trusts. 🔹 Sensory & executive dysfunction struggles? Can’t dress himself properly, avoids certain textures (like food).

Doppo Kunikida – OCD (Perfectionism, Order, & Intrusive Thoughts)

🔹 Highly structured routines—his notebook is more than a quirk, it’s a lifeline. 🔹 Ritualistic behavior: Needs things to go exactly as planned or he experiences distress. 🔹 Moral rigidity: Struggles when ideals don’t align with reality, leading to internal conflict. 🔹 Likely experiences intrusive thoughts—his strong reactions to things outside of his control seem rooted in anxiety.

Atsushi Nakajima – Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) & PTSD

🔹 Hyperaware of how others perceive him, even in neutral situations. 🔹 Intense fear of failure, especially when it might lead to abandonment. 🔹 Struggles with self-worth due to past abuse, leading to cycles of self-doubt.

Yosano Akiko – PTSD & Possible Hyper-Empathy

🔹 Deep emotional trauma from her past but keeps it buried under a tough exterior. 🔹 Uses dark humor as a coping mechanism. 🔹 Highly attuned to others' suffering despite her cold demeanor.

⚡ Port Mafia

Chuuya Nakahara – ADHD (Hyperactive-Impulsive Type) & RSD

🔹 Impulsive emotional reactions—anger, excitement, frustration, all at max volume. 🔹 Struggles with authority but is also fiercely loyal when trust is earned. 🔹 Hyperfixation on proving himself, especially post-Dazai. 🔹 Likely has rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), leading to intense emotional reactions when he feels slighted.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke – Autism (Demand Avoidance) & CPTSD

🔹 Blunt, socially unfiltered, and struggles with nuance—his reactions are either extreme aggression or complete silence. 🔹 Sensory hypersensitivity (his strong aversion to being touched). 🔹 Struggles with emotional regulation—anger is his default reaction because other emotions are too vulnerable. 🔹 Demand Avoidance: Will resist authority figures unless they earn his respect.

📖 Other Figures

Edgar Allan Poe – Social Anxiety & Autism (Special Interests & Sensory Sensitivity)

🔹 Hyperfixation on gothic literature and storytelling. 🔹 Difficulty with in-person social interaction, preferring structured, written communication. 🔹 Likely hypersensitive to noise and prefers solitude.

✨ Which headcanons do you agree with? These are just my personal interpretations! Neurodivergence is super broad, and while I love diving into ND traits in characters, it’s totally cool if you see them differently. This is all for fun, so feel free to share your thoughts!

💡 I’m also open to requests! If there’s a character you’d like me to explore more deeply, or if you think I missed someone, feel free to drop an ask or comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts and keep building this list together!

[kenjismissingwrist]

Teruko was stabbed in the forehead, where her brain is. We've learned that her ability allows her to mature her brain to match her age.

Kunikida was stabbed in the heart, where his ideals live.

Fukuzawa was also stabbed in the heart, whereas his ability is about controlling the controllability of his subordinates' abilities. He loves his subordinates all of them being in his heart.

Kenji got his wrist cut off, his ability being strength and using his arms often.

Tanizaki got stabbed in the eye, and, you guessed it, his ability affects sight by illusions.

So everyone killed by Amenogozen got cut at something they find important somewhat??? Idk

Just something interesting I thought of at 4am. Help

[littencloud9]

i dont think i’ll ever get over how at peace kunikida looks here. i don’t really know how to phrase if but it’s something about how kunikida has always been ready to sacrifice himself, how he has never shied away from death’s door, as if that is the only way he can truly fulfill his ideals

what will kunikida do when he finally achieves it all? i believe he sets this perfect, ridiculously high standard for himself for a sense of purpose, or rather a reason to live. will he still choose to live without it?

there’s something symbolic about how kunikida separates from his notebook when he sacrifices himself. it’s as if he is tethered to living because of his ideals, and when he goes, he leaves behind his notebook, releasing himself at last

jouno once asked if he was relieved to be freed from his self-inflicted burden. at that time, i believe the answer was still ‘no’, for it wasn’t fully his choice. he still had much to do, the agency was messy and running, he couldn’t truly die in peace

this time, even though i don’t believe he’s fully dead, i think kunikida is okay with dying here. because atsushi just saved junichirou! he chose to fight for what’s left instead of ceaselessly grappling for something already fading. it’s something that kunikida has taught him since the very first day—think about what you can do. kunikida himself wasn’t able to save them, but atsushi did, and in him, his ideals will continue to live. atsushi’s actions showed him that even if he dies, they’ll be okay. they’ll be okay without him

i think that’s why this is the most at peace we’ve ever seen kunikida. to know that his teachings have impacted someone and that it wasn’t all for naught. this is relief

[calmlb]

unpopular opinion but i actually see Kouyou as the possible next Boss of the Port Mafia 👀

like ppl talk abt it being Chuuya but imo… Chuuya : Ranpo :: Kouyou : Kunikida

(Chuuya & Ranpo being the “hearts” of their orgs while Kouyou & Kunikida are the “heads”)

[tunamayuuu]

kunikida fans are so funny, you utter the word "ideal" and they start tweaking

[rococo-sonata]

i see many people talking about how akutagawa and atsushi's hair are complementary to represent balance and how there is evil in good and good in evil

but i've never saw anybody point out kyusaku's hair or just kunikida's pin on his vest, it could only be aesthetic details but i doubt it is?? i want to hear someone's analysis about this ^_^

[weeby-monster-the-bastard]

KUNIBRAMMMMMMMM

[starlightshadowsworld]

I made a post a while back about how each member of the Agency embodies a part of Fukuzawa.

And I feel for Dazai it’s his trust.

And nothing rings more true to me on that than Dazai letting both his partners shoot him. Chuuya in Mersault and Kunikida during his entrance exam.

In both instances it’s part of Dazai’s plan to deceive someone else.

But try as he might he can’t deceive his partners. Kunikida knew something was up and cornered him on it. And Chuuya was cornered and followed through anyway.

In both instances Dazai tells them it’s okay. It’s in a goading, teasing way but none of that takes away from how genuine that statement is.

Dazai trusts that when Chuuya shoots him that his ability was stop the bullet before the moment of impact.

Dazai trusts that when Kunikida shoots him that it he would use a bullet made from his ability which would vanish the moment it touched him.

In a situation where Dazai can’t convey what he means outright he has to trust that they both will act in a certain way.

Chuuya who yes he’s been partners with for 3 years but then hasn’t seen for another 4. Kunikida who he has known for maybe a week.

And trusts them both without question.

And yeah we can argue about whether or not Chuuya or Kunikida would have actually killed him. Chuuya I highly doubt given everything going on and Kunikida may have been told too, but he would follow his ideals.

But I don’t think that matters.

Because either way in those moments they hold Dazai’s life in their hands because he trusts them with it. They would not be holding that gun if Dazai didn’t trust them with it.

And it goes both ways.

Chuuya wouldn’t be in Mersault pretending to be Fyodors puppet if he didn’t trust Dazai. Entrance exam or not Kunikida would not be working this case relying on Dazai’s input if he didn’t trust Dazai’s input.

It’s the same way Fukuzawa knew Kunikida was okay before Fukuchi told him. Why he trusted that gun to Kunikida. Why he set up that meeting with Mori about an alliance after Atsushi proposed it.

Dazai wouldn’t be where he is, wouldn’t be the person that he is if he didn’t have that kind of faith in other people. And if people didn’t share that same faith in him.

It’s what marks him more than his intellect and his strange and bizarre…everything.

I mean he tells Fyodor himself that the difference between us is that I have allies and you can’t trust anyone you can’t control.