#shin soukoku… much to think about

[sickficideas]

"You just threw up the water you had ten seconds after drinking it, but you're still gonna keep saying you're fine, huh?"

[sad-emo-dip-dye]

They’re so eepy

[lostfanboyarts]

Nothing in the world belongs to me But my love mine, all mine, all mine

[im-still-watching-anime]

atsushi: we’re going to win because of how well we know each other tee hee have you heard about how many times we’ve had to kill each other??

ivan, literally surgically no thoughts head empty: what no i literally could not care less

[chuuyadelune]

now that i have recovered from the emotional shock of seeing *that* akutagawa scene from chapter 88 animated in HD 4K (i thought i’d have another week to emotionally prepare myself LMAO), i just wanna be a little bit of a nerd and say that i really liked the cinematography/composition this episode.

in particular, i really enjoyed the anime’s decision to draw visual parallels between this fight and previous fights (in particular, the fight against francis, which is important because it is the first time they worked together).

after all, this fight is the culmination of everything they’ve done together. from the combining of their abilities, coming to an understanding with each other, realising the potential of beast-beneath the moonlight-rashoumon… bringing back similar shots that were used in previous fights is SUPER effective at highlighting the parallels and how far they’ve come, in my humble opinion.

here are a few things i noticed:

- first of all, both of them activating their abilities one after another is an explicit nod to S2’s fight;

- the confrontation/conversation in the hallway from S2 (to an extent! they’re on the same sides, which caught my eye);

- akutagawa blowing up the engine room on the ship, and kyouka doing the same during the first fight between him and atsushi (S1);

- and a similar angle being used for black tiger claws / koukko zessou as a nod to the fight in the S3 finale.

the parallels — though maybe less explicit, *are* still there in the manga? like, the entire “structure” of the fight so to speak is very similar to the francis fight in S2 — akutagawa finding atsushi, taking place on a(n air)ship, breaking away from the fight to strategise before confronting the final boss (then, francis, and now, fukuchi) is undeniably a nod to that fight? i love that this is given its due in the anime as well.

another thing about the cinematography this episode i loved was them using the clock as being the indicator of fukuchi’s fuckass space-time sword doing its thing. that was a really nice touch, in my opinion; the cuts in between were jarring and disorienting and really helped put us into sskk’s shoes.

and as for the background design alongside the clock itself — there were a couple of things about them i enjoyed:

- the number of floors / levels of the ship in the back (5, as a nod to the five ways an angel decays, the DOA)

- the blue of the clock is meant to be reminiscent of fukuchi’s sword, i’d argue, with the way both of them pops out of the sunset/orangey-red lighting

- the clock’s design being super ornate and gold plated reminds me a *bit* of a tabernacle (where they keep unused eucharist in a church) — and thus brings up connotations of sacrifice. that white bridge-thing beneath the clock as well reminds me a lot of an altar, too (see the image above the last to see what exactly i’m referring to, because image limit)

okay, yeah, that one might be a bit of a stretch, sure. but its placement as being above them, combined with the two tables/boxes to the left and right of the ship’s bow (which looks very much like a cross, btw) gives it a distinctly religious, altar-kinda feel, i’d argue. and crosses have been used in S4 as symbolism as well!

(tbh, there could even be a bit more imagery i’m missing, because — the angels of the DOA refers specifically to the buddhist conception of an angel. i’m not too familiar with buddhist imagery, but i thought that this was worth pointing out regardless!)

the last thing i want to say is that the red and blue symbolism went CRAZY this episode. i don’t have much else to say because it was super obvious — they even reused the same “black tiger claws” shot from S3, after all — but i do wanna point out that the symbolism even went into the carpets. the fucking carpets.

like, the shift: it’s red when akutagawa’s leading the conversation but changes to blue after atsushi’s suggesting of the submersible as a strategy? i mean, i don’t know if this (or anything i’ve said, to be fair) was intentional or not, but it’s a cool detail anyway!

personally, i enjoyed this episode, the action was great, and all of this too was a really neat addition as well! and now… uh. we wait for the chaos to get worse i suppose !? (laughs nervously)

[frankenjoly]

"You don't need to fake anything. You're better than that." + sskk

"You're too smart to play the victim." + ranposano

Pretty please? :3

sskk + “you don’t need to fake anything. you’re better than that”

“I cannot possibly understand. Why would you do that?” Akutagawa said, and he sounded confused instead of upset… which was good, truly, but didn’t make Atsushi feel any less guilty in the slightest.

“I…” His attempt at explaining was cut short by Atsushi himself, as he hurried to stare down at the floor more than evidently flustered; right then there was only one thing more embarrassing than having gotten caught pretending, and it was admitting why he had tried it in the first place. “It’s stupid, but everyone here counts as damn rich, and I didn’t have a single yen to my name till I joined the Agency and–”

“Jinko.” It was then Akutagawa’s turn to cut him off, interlocking their hands together as abruptly as he had spoken. “You don’t need to fake anything. You’re better than that.”

For a second, he was about to reply saying he wasn’t, but opted to yield instead and let himself be reassured. And so, Atsushi didn’t utter a word for the time being, but buried his head in Akutagawa’s shoulder with the intention of keeping it there until his cheeks had recovered their usual color and he was ready to face the world again… or at least until the first part had happened.

Or that was the plan, since what Akutagawa told him right after made Atsushi lift his head back up to stare at his boyfriend in evident surprise.

“Besides, do you really think Gin and I are the only ones here apart from you who have experienced poverty?”

ranposano + “you’re too smart to play the victim”

“Would we do something like in Atsushi’s exam, in that case?” Yosano was saying, more than clearly amused. “If yes, I think it’d be funny to play the helpless troubled civilian this once.”

“Dunno, you’re too smart to play the victim.” Ranpo answered, blowing a kiss towards her direction as if they weren’t sitting right beside each other over his desk and holding hands as well. Needless to say, she motioned to ‘catch’ it midair between her index and thumb, then pressed those fingers to her lips with enough care so the gloves’ fabric wouldn’t get lipstick stains after the gesture.

“Now, if you two lovebirds give me a sec, I have a question.” Naomi said, smirking playfully. “Does that mean I wasn’t too smart to play the victim, Ranpo-san?”

“I mean, we were staging Dazai to be the hostage until you changed your mind and betrayed me.” Kunikida chimed in. As far as she knew, Jun’ichirô had also been part of the scheme, but he made no attempt to join either side. And Yosano already suspected why.

“It’s not my fault I had a better offer for her, Kunikida-kun.” Dazai added, giggling.

“It literally is! Anyway, and as much as I love making plans in advance, she wouldn’t join us so soon, so…”

The conversation went on, but Yosano’s attention shifted back to Ranpo when he moved a little in order to rest his head on her shoulder, leaving a kiss over her cheek right before.

“Wanna get take-out tonight and watch that movie Poe-kun suggested?”

“Of course.”

(Also on ao3.)

[moraymiso]

MF I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN OVER IT. what do you MEAN he willingly gave atsushi the source of his power? the only manifestation of his greatest strength that protected him his entire life? the only thing that gave him any worth or value in the mafia's eyes? the only reason he was still alive?? TO ATSUSHI??

You can really see in the old sskk ao3 tag how it took years for people to recover from Atsushi wearing Rashomon

[clementines-writing-corner]

As promised from yesterday the Bungo Stray Dogs character analysis! 

Again, this is part of a larger project I’m working on so please excuse any disjointedness - I’ve tried to rework it enough that it can stand on its own here. ᕱ__ᕱ 

Something to know about me is that I’m someone who loves a good, well utilized trope. When I’m writing, when I’m reading… tropes are tropes for a reason. When done well, they work. And, when one likes to analyse media as much as I do, they are really fun to discover and think about.

As most anime/manga do, Bungo Stray Dogs (created and written by Kafka Asagiri) utilizes tropes a lot. Though, throughout my long hours of thinking about the show and analysing it for my own personal enjoyment, I’ve noticed that Asagiri likes to use tropes in really interesting ways– ones that are a lot more subtle than some anime fans are used to. 

(Of course, there are still the tropes that hit you smack in the face: the Tanizaki siblings have a “brother/sister complex” if I’ve ever seen one and Lucy is absolutely a tsundere, no one can change mind). 

The trope that I was thinking about the other day is perhaps one of these more subtly used tropes that I think adds a lot of interesting parallels to the development and relationships of 4 characters in the show. The quartet I am referring to, of course, is Soukoku (Dazai and Chuuya) and Shin Soukoku (Atsushi and Akutagawa) and the trope I was thinking about is the Brains vs Brawn trope. 

It's no secret to even the casual Bungo enjoyer that Asagiri loves the genius trope. There are many examples of characters (Ranpo, Dostoevsky, Dazai, Mori) exhibiting an overwhelming amount of intellect and little to no physical strength– or at least little to no physical strength that’s obvious. However, Soukoku and Shin Soukoku both present lovely examples of Brain vs Brawn pairings where one character embodies the brain and the other the brawn, albeit in very different ways. I think examining these ways can tell us a lot about their individual characters and the way that they each work/function as partners.

In regards to Soukoku, Chuuya is very clearly the powerhouse of the two with his massively powerful gravity manipulation ability and even more so because of his corrupted form. Plus, he’s also just ridiculously good at martial arts and carries a lot of strength in his objectively small (lol ᕱ__<) body to begin with. 

Dazai on the other hand not only has an ability that can completely nullify the abilities of others around him (including strong ones like Chuuya’s), but he also is absurdly intelligent. He holds his own against other powerful ability users in battle without breaking a sweat because he is just that smart. The only time he ever seems to struggle is when he is faced with others who share his massive intelligence and capabilities for manipulating others (Dostoevsky and Mori). 

Though they seem to hate each other, Dazai and Chuuya make the perfect team as Soukoku– Dazai comes up with the master plan and Chuuya grants the strength to carry it out. They trust each other 100% in their respective roles and that’s what makes them so effective.

But in real life, people typically aren’t so black and white. Most carry aspects of both Brains and Brawn in tandem and wouldn’t consider themselves one or the other. That is where Shin Soukoku comes in.

Everything in Akutagawa wants to be the brawn. He is absolutely obsessed with strength – especially strength in battle, and he indeed is really strong. But his strength really comes from his analytical mind and how he uses his ability in creative and unique ways. I mean come on! Who would think that a simple clothing possession/manipulation power could be used like that? 

Atsushi on the other hand always is trying to think things through, asking himself constantly “what would Dazai do?” Yet, his ability is extremely strong– so strong in fact that he is a little afraid of it– and we see that he works the best when he is enacting someone else's (Dazai’s or Ranpo’s or Akutagawa’s ) plans as well as relying on his instincts, not his intellect, to guide him.

Both the Shin Soukoku boys show characteristics of brains and brawn, and they most strongly exhibit the opposite of what they personally want. Yet, Atsushi and Akutagawa still manage to balance each other out, constantly pushing each other to be better. Akutagawa smacks (oftentimes literally) some sense into Atsushi when he is overthinking his ability and even encourages his strength. And Atsushi challenges Akutagawa’s methods of rushing in first and asking questions later, making him take a second and use his intelligence to come up with a plan that Atsushi is willing to follow. 

The way that Asagiri utilized the Brains vs Brawn trope to show the characterization and relationships/partnerships between Soukoku and Shin Soukoku is such good writing and so endlessly fascinating to me. This is exactly what I mean when I say that tropes used well just work. Another reason why Bungo is up there as one of my top favorite anime for sure! ᕱ__ᕱ 

[knockyasocksoff2022]

I love soukoku relationship reveals as much as anyone and they're fun to write, but for me Fukumori (Zenki Soukoku) is undeniabley the best.

I mean Soukoku, while the agency would never guess, is fair. Dazai is a wild card and they don't know anything about his past. Banging a mafia executive seems like sometjing he would do. Now marriage and finding out Dazai actually kept a commitment is a bit more shocking, but still once you find out how long they've known eachother and all they've been through it makes sense. Even if they're dynamic may seem weird as hell.

And then there's Shin Soukoku. I think the people most suprised to find out they're dating is them. I mean we've all see how gay they are for ecahother, litterally not even Kunikida is suprised at this point.

But Fukumori . . . now that's different. Fukuzawa Yukichi is the kind man who feeds stray cats, adopted an orphan whom nobody else wanted, started a detective agency to SOLVE CRIME, cares for his employees, and is best dad boss 100/100.

So to find out he's banging, and more than that, married to the boss of the Port Mafia, a man who is cold an calculating and kills people with surgical tools is just fucking insane, like absolutkley fucking wild, and I cannot tell you how much I love writing relationship reveals for these two!

[lovershinsoukoku]

Chapter 119 theory

A little theory about why Ryunosuke may not have lost his memory, and all this is really just acting in front of Fyodor. Not denying the possibility that Akutagawa really lost his memories, but I want to consider a scenario in which he remembers everything.

I can see some similarities with the frame where Ryunosuke asks Atsushi who he is, and with the time in chapter 87 when Fukuchi tried to lure Akutagawa to his side, and he pretended that he agreed. As you probably remember, Ryunosuke also told Atsushi about his lung disease at that time. In that frame, Atsushi looked surprised, and in my opinion not only because of what he'd heard, but also because he understood Akutagawa's plan, since it was after this moment that Nakajima stood up and played along with him.

So, the main element in all these events is eye contact. In the last chapter, the same thing happens, Akutagawa says, that he doesn't remember Atsushi, shin soukoku's eyes meet, and the only reaction we see from Nakajima is a surprised look. He doesn't have any more questions, he doesn't start behaving differently with Ryunosuke, he doesn't lose his trust in him, he just takes the fact for granted. This reaction can be explained by the fact that Atsushi doesn't have time to ask any questions and think too much about it, but again, I'm just considering different scenarios.

I can also see some similarities in the development of events since Ryunosuke's arrival. Sskk's behavior, facial expressions and choice of words are similar to themselves in the 20th volume.

And the last thing that makes me think Akutagawa has not lost his memory are these frames. The phrases are quite similar, only one of them was said at the first shinsoukoku meeting, and the second after the end of vampirism. Perhaps this is another sign for Atsushi, a signal that Akutagawa is there with him again.

[tunamayuuu]

Hii!

I've seen a little bit of your Kny!bsd au through a rb from one of my mutuals, and I think I'm being sucked into a rabbit hole/pos

I love your art sososo much, and I would see it on my dash on occasion (it brought me happiness, but I never really kept up with the account, and I honestly high-key regret it), so when I saw your alt cast art, I remembered rbing the Kyōkenji x Inokana sketch you drew a while back, but I had no idea it was associated with an entire au!! I was estatic since I love the au concept, and I love both ships so much!!

Then, trust me, I was innocently scrolling through the tag when I came across rengokunikida... This man has no right being so jdbdjdbd

My thoughts immediately went to Murata when I saw TecchōGiyū, like yes he's such a pretty man, but my brain really likes to digress from the main point lmao.

Urokodaki as Fukuchi feels a little weird, but it's accurate dynamic-wise with Teruko, and Tachihara. What is Jōnō's relationship with Fukuchi in this au anyway?? It could go in so many directions I'm curious djehdhbd

I love this au sm and your art of it is delectable, so I just felt the need to send an ask your way. I hope you have a great day (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

–Anon you could call 'Grace'

I might come on here from time to time, so I might as well give myself a name.

this was the first grace ask i never got to answer oh my god anyway.

thank you so much!!! i actually stopped being into bsd for a full ass year and ever since that shin soukoku doodle i made, it comforted a big part of me that felt horrible everytime i'd post bsd onto socmed knowing my more passionate works didn't get as much engagement as shitposts ahaha...

the kny-ified bsd au was and still is an au project i want to keep working on!! i have a looong list of the full cast, it's just that i always get side quests and wanting to draw OTHER things and getting into OTHER new medias i wanna draw and yeah that's why it's taken years for me to complete anything orz (i have plenty of files of the au that i never posted because they're all unfinished or uncolored and i thought i won't do my au justice if none of them were colored yk?)

i'm not an inokana fan myself but i'd love to hear your take on them! i just wanted to draw kyokenji at that time ehehe

i will always say that rengokunikida was def not my idea. it was an idea from a bsd friend! they even explained to me how it could work and i never looked back

i'm actually not sure who would take murata's role in the au because we know next to nothing about canon tecchou. michizou already takes sabito's role so.....?

ALSO I FINALLY GOT TO ANSWER THIS BECAUSE! fukuchi is not urokodaki in this au! fukuchi takes kokushibo's role

jouno and fukuchi unfortunately do not interact in this au..

i'm so happy to see my au still getting love even after the years i've been on and off in activity! comments like these fill me with so much motivation to upkeep this au!

[starlightshadowsworld]

Did you get an ask for Lucy?

I haven’t and sorry this is so late.

Favourite thing: Her compassion. Lucy may not be the best at showing it but that girl is fierce about her love for others.

Storming into a government building despite being an ex criminal herself to tell them Atsushi’s innocent. Dragging Atsushi away so Kyouka can have a minute to process the truth of her parents death.

She watched over Fukuzawa when he was sick in the Cannabalism arc. Lucy cares so deeply and it’s sweet seeing how much she cares despite denying she does.

Least Favourite thing: In the beginning when Lucy was projecting all her issues onto Atsushi.

Like I get it but it’s not his fault and he doesn’t even know you man.

Favourite line: “I’m not technically an agency member, even so as someone took care of you when you were ill. You could at least tell me where you’re going.”

-Lucy to Fukuzawa before he went to go fight Mori in the Cannabalism arc.

It up what I said about her above about her compassion. But it also shows how emotionally intelligent and trusting she is. She could stop Fukuzawa from leaving but she won’t, because she trusts that he’ll be okay.

It’s her way of telling him to be okay.

BrOTP:

Lucy and Atsushi: Their bond means so much to me. Two traumatised orphans that have so much in common healing and starting to walk to the future.

Lucy and Kyouka: They bicker like sisters and I love that for them. Neither of them are great at showing it but they care for each other so much. I need more of them hanging out.

Lucy and Poe: I refuse to believe they wouldn’t be good friends. They were both on the same side being unhinged people and trapping people in ability made spaces. And are both kinda awkward and silly and I’m sure Karl would love her.

Lucy and Coffee manager: That man hired her and lied to government soilders to protect her, he’s a great dad/mentor figure to her.

Lucy and Fukuzawa: Technically or not shes part of the Agency and I think he’d look out for her. Even if she may claim he doesn’t need to i bet she’d be secret oh touched by it.

OTP:

None.

Anything with her Atsushi together is very cute. I have also seen stuff with her and Louisa together which is also adorable.

I just don’t personally ship her with anyone.

NOTP: Don’t really got any.

Random headcanon: Being Canadian, Lucy knows French although she wouldn’t consider herself to be fluent.

Unpopular opinion: Lucy’s a great character that doesn’t exist simply to get in the way Shin Soukoku. She is one of the reasons why an alliance was ever made beteeen the PM and the Agency.

When Dazai’s talking about his chess pieces in prison, she was one of the queens. Also half the things people complain about her for, are things Akutugawa does..👀

Song I associate with her: Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez.

Favourite picture:

I mean

Do I even need to explain?

[hickidiktir]

Hii fellow gays!!!

my name is rumeysa actually but i'm using hickidik (that's Turkish for the hiccup haddock) because i think it's funny and he's so me

i'm 18 years old

and i'm a genderfluid lesbian!!!!

my mbti is esfp and my zodiac sign is aquarius

my birthday is 04-02-07

i'm Turkish as you can see

i have adhd, i'm dyclexic and i'm insomniac (also i have ptsd)

My interests!!!

i like to read books (i know that it's ironic)

i like to listen to music and i mostly listen to indie, rap, grunge, rock, britpop, goth and alternative music

i like disney sm (unfortunately)

i like to listen audiobooks and podcasts

i like knitting and i like plushies

i like to cook and i love making desserts so so much

i'm a slave for tea

i like to meet new people

i also LOVE yapping and oversharing

i like to watch cartoons

i like to write so much it's comforting me (it's ironic too i know)

i like to sing too but my voice is not that good i just like to sing

i like to do make up but AGAIN i'm not good at it, i just like to do make up

i actually like to do things that make me feel good

Fandoms and favorite movies/shows etc

my favorite music groups and musicians are blur, the cure, arctic monkeys, green day, the smiths, gorillaz, nirvana, queen, the beatles, the marias, lady gaga, taylor swift, david bowie, troye sivan, conan gray, chappell roan, avril lavigne and halsey

i also like bts, txt, twice and bunch of girl groups but i'm not a fan of kpop

my favorite and comfort shows are nbc hannibal, doctor who, the walking dead, stranger things, fellow travelers, good omens, american horror story, arcane and heartstopper and i'm in these shows' fandoms

my favorite ships are byler, aziracrow, hannigram, lumax, jancy, caitvi, jayvik, wilmon, ranpoe, drarry, sherliam, zellerprice, jegulus, wolfstar, rosekiller, reddie, lukadrien, boreo, soukoku, casmund, shin soukoku, romione, stuilly, philkas, luberto, anderperry, bubbline and scorbus (there are more but i forgot them rn)

i'm also in the marauders and IT fandom

my favorite movies are how to train your dragon 2, alice in wonderland, chronicles of narnia prince caspian, harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban (i watch hp on illegal sites when i want to watch it)

i have so much more favorite movies, cartoons, shows and ships but there are too many so i mentioned my biggest favorites

my favorite cartoons and animes are ben10, gravity falls, the owl house, moriarty the patriot, bungou stray dogs, adventure time, black butler and ever after high

AND

If you're rude, homophobic, transfobic, misogynist, racist AND A BYLER OR A MIKE WHEELER HATER, ESPECIALLY MIKE WHEELER HATER!!! STAY AWAY PLEASE THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR YOU

I'll just yap about my hyperfixations so if you like yapping and if you like the things that i like, I WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU!!! And if you're overwhelmed, bored or just looking for somebody to talk i'm here <33

don' t forget to treat yourself nice!!

letterboxd - https://letterboxd.com/taeggukaw/

serializd - https://www.serializd.com/user/taeggukaw/profile

pinterest - https://tr.pinterest.com/wintaeruw/

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

The concept of Chuuya getting involved in Shin Soukoku is such a good one because we’d get insight into how Akutagawa interacts with characters outside of Dazai,Gin,and Atsushi but also it would be an opportune moment for Asagiri to really cash in on those ChuuyaAtsusi parallels and give us a lot more of the literal main character of the manga than before. What would be some things you’d want to happen if we ever got a Chuuya-Sskk storyline?

Hello!

Honestly, it would be such a long time coming that I don't know if there's anything specific that I'd want! I guess an actual introduction between Chuuya and Atsushi would be nice - Atsushi actually has seen Chuuya before; he was at the forefront of the Mafia's attempts to secure the city when it was overrun by Q's ability - which means that Chuuya's actions was at least part of his decision to go to Fukuzawa about a temporary alliance. I always figured they could kind of have an uneasy mutual respect, where Atsushi is intimidated but a little admiring, and Chuuya begrudgingly wonders a little about what the big deal is with this weretiger... but I also heavily vibe with @whathorselegs' post where Chuuya sees Atsushi as a worthy adversary. I think it will depend on what circumstances they eventually meet under. Either way, I think Chuuya would eventually teach Atsushi a little more about combat - not in a formal training way, but where he kind of points out a couple things without much thought when he sees them. But yeah, if any interaction were to occur, I think it would make their similarities more apparent! Maybe during a future arc that focuses back on the Mafia - I still suspect the Mafia's history and whatever happened with the old boss will receive some focus later on.

As for Akutagawa, I would appreciate any interactions between him and other characters! I think it is hinted that Chuuya is a superior he respects though, and there's a drama cd that actually has the two of them interact! It's the Port Mafia onsen drama cd; there's a link here if you want to listen. They actually have quite the heartwarming conversation... it always sounded to me like Chuuya trying his best to give advice even though Akutagawa's perspective isn't one he really understands. It's very sweet, anyhow. I'd love to see more of their interactions - I think it could be very cool if Akutagawa's development could be reflected a little or more insight was given to it through Chuuya's perspective.

Essentially, I'm hoping for another Mafia focused arc! And I think it would be great if Chuuya was something of a supporting/unofficial mentor-ish role for sskk. But that would only happen if somehow Dazai wasn't in the picture. So I figure we'll have to get an interaction with them at some point, but it probably will end up nothing like this.

Oh well. Like I said, I'd just be happy to see them interact at all.

[iamthemess]

Sskk brain rot

Atsushi and Akutagawa have, absolutely hands down, the best relationship dynamic and development of any characters.

They started out so hateful and full of resent and anger. They found any opportunity to be at each other's throats and had to be forced by hand to work together.

They are two people who did not understand anything about the other. Akutagawa loathed Atsushi for the way he was so easily approved by the one person whose approval he needs to live.

And Atsushi hated Akutagawa for the type of person he was. All they did was fight, and there was not a single thought given about the other.

The only reason Akutagawa interacted with him in the first place was as a part of a mission where the mafia was going to sell Atsushi to another organisation.

Their relationship progressed little by little into a point where they held concern for each other even if that concern at some moments were "I am the only person allowed to kill you' it is progress nonetheless.

They actually talked with one another, even if it was yelling. They learned more about each other and their situations and created a bond.

The biggest thing about their relationship is how they literally fixed each other. Atsushi gave Akutagawa a different reason to live than just Dazais approval and Aku obviously changed as a person by being with Atsushi.

Atsushi became a person whose opinion he valued do much that he promised to stop doing his literal job and not kill anyone.

Atsushi made him a more compassionate person. He made Aku into the mafioso who doesn't kill (Odasaku parallels anyone!)

Atsushi also grew as a person. He had a lot of emotional traumas and we see those flashbacks where he panics. Eventually he becomes calmer and Dazai is a person who appears to comfort him when he panics but most recently Akutagawa was the one who appeared to help and calm him when he was losing his mind.

Atsushi thinks a lot about what would Dazai do but when he thinks of Akutagawa it's not what he would do, just thinking of him being there for him gives him strength and his panic dissipates.

Atsushi learns that Aku is someone he can rely on and trust to a point where all his worries disappear when he thinks about Aku.

Their original anger and hatred for each other are now a feeling of safety and trust, any jabs or seemingly hateful actions or words are now on the same level as Dazai and Chuuya messing with each other.

They even got to a point where they didn't need to communicate their attack plan and put their full trust in each other that they were on the same page. They put each other's lives in their hands and they succeeded (at the time, the time swords fucked that up but that's not their fault. They did great)

They truly are the only ones deserving of the title Shin Soukoku.

[felinelord-bowbeforemepeasant]

I just saw a post say that this look like a family portrait I just giggle a little then come to the realization

IT IS A FAMILY PORTRAIT

But not just any portrait

It a three generation of soukoku family portrait (zenku soukuko->soukoku->shin soukuko)

And each one of them is showing the other half (the dead one) of the duo fukuzawa to dazai but except shin soukuko, there are two of them in the panel so that mean are they gonna survive or.... you know what I mean (or maybe they showing a possibility that fukuzawa and dazai might live) and the portrait is quite focus on the ada here

Maybe I just thinking too much cause the last panel is undecided whether akutagawa Is alive or not so maybe there are two of them there (also because akutagawa turned into a vampire by bram when he died so uh yeah)

P.S: Do you think atsushi is conscious cause his arm and leg aren't healing (so does that mean the theory about how his healing is being based on his state of mind is a possibility)