#the untold origins of the port mafia

[theuntoldoriginsoftheportmafia]

The Untold Origins of The Port Mafia

“War has a way of blackening all it touches, doesn’t it?” - Fukuzawa Yukichi

“True, but it is from the deepest of darkness that the brightest lights come” - Mori Ougai

Great roaring fires that blaze, bright and strong, choosing either to gently guide others into the light, a place of healing, or ignite a path through the dark and lead those same broken souls to victory, whatever sacrifice it may require.

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This is a long fic. It is a semi-role swap AU that restarts canon by going back 15 years before the start of the main series and asking what would happen if Fukuzawa had joined Fukuchi when he was deployed to Tokoyami Island to fight in The Great War. Who would he have met? What would have become of him? And of Fukuchi?

Will a dark beginning lead to an even darker end?

Along the way Fukuzawa will meet a doctor, an angel, an author, a genius and many, many others. Read to follow their journeys as they twist and turn but eventually end up right where they're supposed to be.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(all chapters are linked, just click on the one you want to go to. The ones without lines under them have no been posted yet.)

Part One - The War

Chapter 1.1 ❀ The Two Fukus ❀

Chapter 2.1 ⚔ The Battlefield ⚔

Chapter 3.1 正 The 356th Infantry Division 正

Chapter 4.1 ⚐ The End of The Great War ⚐

Part Two - The Doctor, The Butterfly & The Wolf

Chapter 1.2 ✾ The Sadness of Those With Wings ✾

Chapter 2.2 A Doctor and His Daughters Begin a New Life

Chapter 3.2 ♂ The Other Brother ♂

Chapter 4.2 🜛The Silver Wolf 🜛

Chapter 5.2 Mori Ougai and His Bodyguard

Part three - The Takeover

Chapter 1.3 ☜ The Child Detective ☞

Chapter 2.3 〜 The Boy In A Human Body 〜

Chapter 3.3 ☠ The Death of A Mafia Boss ☠

Part Four - The Port Mafia

Chapter 1.4 The World's Greatest Detective Does Consulting

Chapter 2.4 ⏲ Miles To Go ⏲

Chapter 3.4 ⚠ When Life Gives You Lemons . . . ⚠

Chapter 4.4 ✗ Who the hell is Edgar? ✗

Chapter 5.4 ⛼ The New and the Old ⛼

Chapter 6.4 The Many ＞The Few (Or the One)

Part Five - Escape

Chapter 1.5 ☽ The Hitman’s Dream ☾

Chapter 2.5 ♘ A Detective Must Be Armed ♘

Chapter 3.5 ䷸ Bandages & Coattails Flutter in the Wind ䷸

Part Six - The Armed Detectives Agency

Chapter 1.6 🜚🜛🜠🜜 Tachihara Shunzen’s Entrance Exam 🜜🜠🜛🜚

Chapter 2.6 ✎ The Matchless Maths Teacher ✐

Chapter 3.6 ✐ Kunikida Doppo’s Entrance Exam ✎

Chapter 4.6 🜡 Tachihara Michizou’s Entrance Exam 🜡

Part Seven - The Story Begins

Chapter 1.7 ⏴ The Black Lizard Attack Squadron ⏵

Chapter 2.7 ⛰ Disaster in Ihatovo . . . Almost ⛰

Chapter 3.7 ⚞ The Tale of The Man-Eating Tiger ⚟

Chapter 4.7 ❅ To Rescue A Demon ❅

Chapter 5.7 A Weretiger Worth (many times) His Weight In Yen

Chapter 6.7 The Book ✑

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Originally posted on my other blog @knockyasocksoff2022 where my other fics and BSD content are. I just felt like it deserved its own blog because it got so long and I want more people to see it because I'm really proud of it. Sorry if the summary was cringy af. I was trying to make it sound like a real book summary, and not give spoilers.

This fic is my baby, I've been working on it since January 2024. I wasn't even going to post this until it was done, but I'm lacking motivation and I want to know if people even like this so screw it!

There are 20 / 30 chapters finished right now, so if you'd like it finished pls, pls, pls leave comments and likes. I need motivation to continue.

Update schedule is whenever my brain gives me sudden bursts of inspiration, but comments always help me remember to keep going so those are very welcome.

PFP from: https://nmousesedits.tumblr.com/post/187968275018/x-free-to-use-source

Background from the flashback scene in the anime where Fukuchi is asking Fukuzawa to join the military with him but I got the screenshot itself from: https://iwritenarrativesandstuff.tumblr.com/post/728235003081834496/birdsymbolism-in-the-fukufuku-breakup-scene

NOW ON QUOTEV and Ao3! (Under the username: knockyasocksoff2022)

[knockyasocksoff2022]

The Untold Origins of The Port Mafia

This is a fic that goes all the way back to 12 years before the series, it's a semi roleswap Au. You'll see.

I wasn't going to post this until it was done, but I'm lacking motivation and I want to know if people even like this so screw it! There are 18 / 30 chapters, so if you'd like it finished pls, pls, pls leave comments and likes. I need motivation to continue.

Also if you like this you'll probably like the Fyo!Atsushi AU by @nixnephili

This fic is my baby, I've been working on it since January 2024.

If this story goes really well and gets all 30 chapters finished I might make a side blog just for it so people can read without having to scroll to find the chapters.

[knockyasocksoff2022]

@theuntoldoriginsoftheportmafia

anyway,. back to your usual queue'd posts.

[dazaiiiiiiiiissss]

For a project in my stats class :3

[rosalinesurvived]

He’s so insanely Deranged i love him

He’s WALKING THE PEDESTRIAN WHILE CARS ARE STILL ALLOWED TO MOVE FUKUZAWA YOU MENACE

[starlightshadowsworld]

Concept: I think a fun lil what if scenario is just having Bungou Stray Dogs play out but the Agency isn’t a Detective Agency.

Because theoretically it could’ve been anything.

The Port Mafia existed long before Mori became the boss as did the governments Special Abilities Division.

But Fukuzawa created the Agency and he did it for Ranpo. To give him a place where he belonged and could thrive in.

And yeah I haven’t read Untold Origins yet. But I like to think had Ranpo’s intelligence and skills not been tied to expert deduction that the Agency could’ve been anything.

If Ranpo was an expert chef who got fired from a bajillion high end restaurants because he made his own cuisine and didn’t follow the recipes, knowing he could do better.

And now the Agency is a sweet little cafe.

If Ranpo was an artist who got kicked out from his apprenticeship because his own style was misunderstood by others. But Fukuzawa, who’d never been much of an artist himself recognised what he was trying to convey.

And ensured Ranpo’s work would always be known.

Because in every iteration it would have Ranpo feeling like he was stuck in a world full of monsters. And in every iteration Fukuzawa finds him and shows him he’s a human among humans.

I think it’s sweet how despite some details here and there it doesn’t change much. The Agency whether they’re detectives or not still have that core theme of being a place that shelters others.

They would still do all they can to protect this city.

It would also be hilarious to see them switch occupations but still be battling the Port Mafia.

And be framed for terrorism twice.

But no matter what Ranpo’s ability whatever it is now must be activated via those glasses.

[mikayuumouse]

Friend! Who do you think is getting transferred to the Mafia??

Hii! :D

Oo, now that's a good one. Personally, I think it's definitely going to be Atsushi (although my theories aren't the best)

When the deal with Mori and Fukuzawa was first announced, I thought it would either be Ranpo, Kenji or Atsushi that would be transferred

Ranpo's incredibly smart and it'd be a huge advantage to have him, but the thing is, you can't manipulate Ranpo, really. He's loyal to Fukuzawa, to the Agency. Honestly give him a day in the Mafia and he'll find enough blackmail to run away just like Dazai. I just don't think the Mafia could tame him

Kenji is similar to Chuuya, ability wise, and could easily be manipulated by the Mafia and turned into a huge weapon of destruction. But, then again, they already have Chuuya. So, whilst Kenji would be a good addition to their ranks, do they need him? Because I think Mori would want something new and shiny

So that leaves Atsushi

I don't think they'd take Kunikida just because he wouldn't be super useful to them compared to other members, and obviously they can't take Yosano, they don't want Kyouka back (although Kouyou does) and I don't think they'd dare to take Dazai

I see a lot of people saying it might be Tanizaki would gets transferred, but I disagree with that (ofc it's still a possibility though). I know Tanizaki is canonly murderous and I believe Tachihara or someone else even commented on how he'd be great Mafia material, but also in one of the light novels (I believe in the beginning part of Untold Origins where they're deciding Atsushi's entrance exam) Asagiri describes Tanizaki as an incredibly average man. And Tanizaki thinks he's boring too 🙏

So I think it'd be a little weird for Asagiri to describe Tanizaki as so unremarkable and then be like "actually he's a part of the Mafia now". But, Asagiri is Asagiri, and perhaps that's a red herring and he's going to pull a twist on all of us yet again

Plus maybe Asagiri hasn't even decided who's going to be transferred yet, or hasn't decided Tanizaki's full potential. Asagiri himself has said that he hasn't plotted out the entire plot yet, so anything's possible (it makes things more exciting tbh)

And onto my reasoning why I think it's going to be Atsushi, that's easy

Mori is a smart man. He knows how to manipulate, lead, and how to use people. Soukoku was probably his best duo team, the best in Mafia history even, so why wouldn't Mori want to bank on Shin Soukoku?

Yes, I'm a sskk shipper so like, ofc I'm hoping for some sskk Mafia romance, I'm a simple girl with simple needs, can't deny that 😔

But also, from a logical standpoint, I do genuinely think it's going to be Atsushi

Shin Soukoku would be unstoppable under Mori's command, they could even surpass Soukoku. Plus, Akutagawa is the only person that Atsushi genuinely cares about outside the Agency, Akutagawa is the one person that could make him want to stay

It could even send Atsushi tumbling down a path of darkness, just like what Akutagawa walked down until he met Atsushi and started to change. And then Akutagawa would have to be the one to save Atsushi

In Beast, Atsushi falls into darkness and becomes the White Reaper within the Port Mafia, but with Akutagawa there? With someone who loves him to protect him and stay by his side? Things would definitely play out differently

Plus Atsushi is the narrator of the story— his story— and we've seen Atsushi be on the side of the Agency this whole time, but what about Atsushi on the Mafia's side? It would be incredibly interesting to see something similar yet so different to Beast, and to see something that would practically flip Atsushi's situation upsidedown (especially since Beast is mostly from the perspective of Akutagawa, once again the Agency's side)

And what if eventually he leaves the Mafia? What if he runs back to the Agency, his found family? What if he brings Akutagawa along with him?

Thinking about the things Mori could do with sskk and what strings he could pull to make them even more feared is kind of scary, but intriguing

We know Atsushi can kill, we know the moral conflict that Atsushi faces with his relationship with Akutagawa, and we know Atsushi isn't exactly an innocent soul. He has everything in him to be sowed with darkness, but that was shown and captured in Beast. And this is the main series, a perfect way for Asagiri to really give Atsushi's character another chance to grow, to see a different side of Atsushi that's neither from the Agency's side or Beast's side

Also sorry I took so long to answer this! That's my bad, I've been awfully busy lately lol

Thanks for the ask! It's a fun topic to pick apart and talk about ^^

[caldera1000-7]

Yet another BSD thought dump from when someone asked my thoughts about the leaders of the PM and ADA along with the generations of duos. (Skk etc.)

Some extra context of the ramble ahead: I was asked an opinion about how the first generation (or the Fukuzawa and Mori one anyways) ended up leading the factions and the others don't seem to be going that same route. The way the person mentioned it made me think of it going from King, to Knight, to Pawn. I think the way Asagiri was handling it, when we see Fukuzawa and Mori in our current story/timeline in BSD - they are already like leaders. We did not really see (besides the Untold Origins giving us more to see) a full development of their story exactly leading towards that, and it is easier and better to write them that way where we see bits of their past since they are not the main character/s although they are important. For Chuuya and Dazai, you could say we saw them get the idea and end up reaching the ranks of being Port Mafia Executives, and again the same reason as the last one. Mori is still leading, Chuuya does not seem interested in getting there. Dazai also does not look like someone who would take on the leading role for the ADA, and Fukuzawa is still there (well, forgetting the current Manga mess.) As for ages, I do not think that has to do with it exactly, mostly considering Chuuya and Dazai (Dazai known as the youngest PM Executive etc.) Kunikida is more suited as mentioned in the story. With Atsushi and Akutagawa, we also get a different perspective and better understanding of their characters through how they are shown as pawns which just could not be done if any of the other duo/generations were there currently. It also shows us that to be strong or have something to fight for and a reason in life you don't have to just be a leader, but follow what is true to you or what you decide - even if there are others giving orders, without becoming a complete pawn like Tachihara. It is just better if nothing gets passed down the generations this way, especially considering it was meant for "protection" than just leading.

Both factions have the intent of protecting, or helping, the people of Yokohama - even if not everyone can be saved. This latest generation, however Dazai may of imagined them working together for the best of Yokohama, had a very bad start and many flaws onto each other as well as ways they can better each other as people and in strength/strategy not for leading any of the specific groups. They both also need working on their intentions, which is far off from any leader-like qualities or ever really becoming such at least from what we see now. Atsushi has his kindness and will to save others in front of his eyes, yet has the reason more centered of selfishness deeper within (as well as his own other selfish aspects which is for talking about another day) - and Akutagawa has his goals and selfishness in front of his eyes, but keeps everything else of protection or wanting to give people value more deeper within, so like the opposite of how Atsushi does it in a way. And without having everything set with their characters they may never, or at least not in a long time ever become leaders (very unlikely.) Akutagawa also does not possess an outright care for Yokohama the way Mori does, and Atsushi does not have what it takes for helping people the way Fukuzawa does or making difficult decisions ("I'll give you 5 minutes to decide-" flashbacks though we do know Atsushi was pushed mentally into a corner in that tough time).

But that is just what came to mind on them being leaders or it being fitting for the story at any point or not. Either way, whether using others as weapons, or being the weapons themselves wielded or not - its purpose all needed to have the same core value or belief in protection regardless their status as a leader or a pawn.

And somehow I ended up thinking about this scene. (My mind is in a constant state of Akutagawa worship and thoughts, I cannot be blamed here.)

[the-mighty-crabjoys]

i know he’s a controversial character, but one thing i truly hope we see before BSD ends is a backstory for Jun’ichirō Tanizaki. it’s been said many times before and by many other people, but it really is one of the points i want to understand more.

obviously, both of the Tanizakis are rather mysterious in the grand scheme of things, with no backstory aside from being students, and.. this weird excerpt from the Untold Origins light novel.

(context: the members of the Agency are discussing ideas for Atsushi’s entrance exam.)

“Democratically, huh?” Yosano raised an eyebrow. “How about we do the same thing we did for Tanizaki? How’s that?”

Yosano glanced in Tanizaki’s direction, and he instantly turned pale, shaking his head.

“I—I don’t ever…want to be reminded of that again.”

When Tanizaki was new, he had to pass what could be called a very harsh entrance exam. However, it was so harsh that all of Tanizaki’s memories of that day ended up buried deep in his subconscious. Remembering what happened would only bring underlying trauma up to the surface.

his entrance exam was so harsh and genuinely traumatizing that any and all memories of it were pushed into the deep recesses of his own mind.

and, granted, a harsh entrance exam isn’t exactly new for the Agency. Kyouka barely didn’t die, Atsushi fully thought he was, and Dazai’s was over an act of domestic terrorism. but none of them were so traumatized that their own mind refused to acknowledge it. and despite all of this, Jun’ichirō describes himself as more of an assistant at the Agency, not an actual detective.

he’s also able to?? casually fly a helicopter??? it makes sense, given his natural aptitude for reconnaissance and stealth missions (see: his ability Light Snow, his adaptability, and his skill as an actor.) he’s not exactly confident in his flying skills (literally being called the “wimpiest in the east” by the manga,) but he’s good enough to be trusted with discreetly flying Atsushi up to the Moby Dick, a risky and essential part of the plan to take down The Guild.

we know that Jun’ichirō is a competent and useful member of the Agency, and it’s clear that the others think so as well. but he’s constantly putting himself down, describing himself as average and using his own supposed mediocrity as a way to make Atsushi feel better about himself.

his fears and self-doubt seem to nearly vanish entirely, however, when someone he cares for is put in harms way. we see this first when Naomi is shot by Higuchi, and later on when he hears of how Atsushi attacked Naomi and Haruno while under Yumeno’s ability. it’s also displayed when he manages to almost assassinate Mori during the Cannibalism Arc (a moment that is not talked about enough as it should be.) and, most recently, we see him freak out after the death of Kunikida, threatening to rip an actual God limb from limb.

this is also seen heavily in the Beast universe. (minor Beast spoilers ahead!! skip this paragraph if you don’t want them!!) Jun’ichirō is the first to fully support Akutagawa’s pursuit of his sister, and even tells him to abandon all morals and forget about his place in the Agency should his sister’s life ever be threatened. he’s also the one who follows Akutagawa into the Port Mafia headquarters, and the one to guard Kyōka’s unconscious body while he waits for Demon Snow to potentially assassinate her. Jun’ichirō even says “[Akutagawa] and I are similar.” after seeing all of his violent outbursts and reckless behavior.

his moral code is genuinely fascinating to me: he won’t hesitate to act in a way that’s commonly seen as immoral, so long as it preserves the Agency. he’ll stop at nothing to ensure the safety of those he loves, not even at his own death. considering this, in terms of reputation and completing their overall goal, Jun’ichirō is honestly kind of a liability to the Agency.

and that’s. honestly all we really know?

it seems like a lot, especially when i’ve rambled on for this long, but it’s really just five things: he has a sister, he was a student before he was a member of the Agency, his entrance exam was incredibly traumatic, he has self-confidence issues, and his morals are rather gray. again, five things.

almost every other member of the Agency has an extensive backstory. Kunikida’s is still rather unknown, but even then we have a good idea of what he was doing prior to Atsushi joining the Agency.

we know nothing about Jun’ichirō. i really do hope that we get to learn about his entrance exam, as well as what made him, and his sister by proxy, the way they are.

[knockyasocksoff2022]

What do you like about Kajii / Yosano? Any headcanons?

Umm. Wow, my second ask ever and in the same day!

I originally liked them because they're goofy/a crackship and because while I agree Yosano does have some lesbian vibes and that's a completely fair interpretation, I just don't see her chemistry with Kouyou, so I figured her with Kajii was just as likely.

Then I rewatched the anime and remembered their scene where Kajii tries to get Atsushi by bombing the train, and they just have such chemistry with their contrasting worldviews. Ahhh, the possibilities!

It's kind of hard for me to come up with headcanons on the spot (they usually just yeet into my brain at super random times), but let me try. Uhh...

They're both high-key nerds.

Out of canon, but if Yosano ever got an actual medical degree, Kajii would support her (with his pm salary and emotionally) and help her study b/c I do believe he's a trained physicist (has a degree)

They go on dates at farmers' markets, and Kajii buys way too many lemons, so eventually AKiko puts her foot dow,n and they just buy a lemon tree

Kajii would set aside his silliness to keep their relationship from Mori, and if he ever found out, he'd stand up for her. It would prob low-key scare Mori since he's usually never serious.

He's been so downbad ever since she beat his ass that it's embarrassing (like talking to himself in his lab and the pm members that dare to get within a meter of him think he's finally gone mental)

When they start dating, he is WHIPPED (sorry these hcs are out of order lol)

He plans the proposal on the fifth date

She buys him lemon-themed stuff, and he keeps all of it

But when they move in together, she makes him get rid of some of it bc she doesn't want all of it. He sulks but agrees.

He's so silly whenever they see each other for work

He even tries to come with the Black Lizard on a raid, but they are like "wtf hell no! We just want to scare the detectives, not murder them!"

And yeah, that's all I can think of for now.

I did write a longer fic with them (not as the main ship but they ahve a chapter or so in it) on my side blog @theuntoldoriginsoftheportmafia

[fudanshipoe]

bungo stray dogs, themes of trauma, the abuse cycle, and how ranpo's disability+autistic trauma is an integral part of untold origins ★

🦴 abilities represent trauma and trauma responses

🦴 trauma as a theme of cycles

- the abuse cycle

- the "savior" cycle

🦴 the government, war, and society

- yosano, mori

- verlaine, chuuya

- fukuchi, teruko

- the role of the government

🦴 untold origins

- ranpo's ability is autistic masking

- his trauma

- untold origins through the lens of autistic trauma

wc; 2.6k (Origins quotes included in pictures only but I explain them briefly)

(this is also crossposted on Twitter, this is a long read format)

In this I want to cover trauma, and by extent mental illness, as an overarching theme in BSD, and how it portrays the cycles and effect of abuse, war, and is an exploration of traumatized individuals operating in a world not built for them. Additionally, Untold Origins is about autistic trauma.

Despite the approach of supernatural themes, Bungo Stray Dogs lends itself heavily to the discussion of trauma, mental illness, and its effects. One of the most notable themes in Bungo Stray Dogs is trauma and abuse, but it extends beyond the main abuse chain that most recognize to partially originate from Mori and end with Kyouka (Mori, Dazai, Akutagawa, and Kyouka, to be specific). There is a large focus on the abuse cycle and how trauma affects people. Emphasis is also placed on the specific structural abuse and violence of society within the world of BSD. The complexities of the abuse cycle are highlighted in organizations such as the Port Mafia, which is by far the most recognizable example within the series, but the government as another authoritative state plays another role in the cycle. BSD shows its readers various depictions of how trauma will manifest or affect two people who encounter the same thing. BSD shows a very honest depiction of mental illness in general, but it's specifically in how trauma affects the characters that these themes become integral to the story.

To start off the actual analysis, abilities themselves are representative of trauma responses. They arise from high stress situations in order for the user to have a protective mechanism for themself, uncanny to how actual trauma responses develop. Whether you think it is non-exclusive because abilities are based upon literature, many if not all of the characters’ abilities parallel their trauma. This is highlighted with tons of the characters, obviously, but I'll only point out a few because a separate analysis would be needed for every ability in the series (I want to one day, but not now). Each ability exhibits what each ability user needed in order to survive. Atsushi was a victim of child torture from what could have been birth, or at least since coming into the orphanage, to young adulthood, and he needed to become something to combat it. Beast Beneath the Moonlight is an ability that allows Atsushi to become something near invulnerable, with his impenetrable fur, regeneration, and the claws that cut through abilities themself. No Longer Human reflects how Dazai never allows anyone to get close to him, how he always keeps his guard up, how he never allows himself the vulnerability of being seen or touched. Both literally and metaphorically. Akuatagwa, similar to Atsushi, growing up in the slums needed a way to protect himself, Gin, and the other children around him. His ability is one that I feel is the most obvious with its connection to his trauma, as it is so important in depicting his relationship with Dazai and his own ability, though that is more about his coat itself than explicitly Rashomon. He only had the clothes on his back to protect him, so that is what manifested, the ability to control and kill his enemies with what little shield he had against the world. These will be the only ones I highlight in this section as they're some “main” examples and this is not meant to be exclusively on what the ability represents for individual characters. There are also plenty of characters that we can only speculate on, as we don't know much about their past, if at all many of them.

The cycle of abuse is the main theme present under the topic of trauma and how it relates to BSD's story. The most notable abuse chain that runs from Mori, to Dazai, to Akuatagwa, and finally ending with Kyouka is easily the most recognizable example of this. Whether you believe Mori's relationship with Dazai, and affect on him, was inherently classified as child abuse is irrelevant here and up to interpretation, I suppose, as a lot of people seem to believe so for some reason. Regardless, you cannot deny that the lessons of optimal solutions, needing to live for a purpose, and harsh treatment runs in this line of mentor/mentee relationships.

This is also the case between Mori and Yosano, though I'm not sure how much Mori would constitute as a “mentor” to Yosano over just being her superior, considering his relationship and treatment of Yosano is vastly different compared to Dazai. The cycles of abuse is not only present within the mentor/mentee cycle of BSD either, another major example is how many characters treat others based upon how they would treat themself, and this treatment arises from a place of projection. In the Dark Era, Mori acts according to his own judgment, assuming that Dazai will not act adversely based upon the shared qualities he sees of himself in Dazai. A shared logistical, observant brain and their ability to navigate a situation through predicting and utilizing their pawns. Dazai trains Akutagawa the way he does because he believes it is what Akuatagwa needs in order to be successful and survive.

Kouyou is a very great instance of this, too. The Port Mafia is a root of much of the abuse taking place within the story of Bungo Stray Dogs, and Kouyou shows this the best, aside from characters like Dazai and Akutagawa. This is where I want to specify that Mori is not the root cause or direct start of the abuse cycle within the series, as the Port Mafia itself was a tool of organizational abuse from the start. The Port Mafia has always used tactics of aggression and suppression as an operation, however, there is a stark difference between the Old Boss and Mori on how this force is used. There is no real difference on how they affect the Port Mafia individually, except the methods used and the tighter reign of control Mori uses compared to the reckless abandonment for critical thought towards the end for the Old Boss. It's an inherently corrupt organization despite the importance it holds in the balance of Yokohama. Kouyou was in the Mafia from childhood, and when she lost the hope of being able to escape that world, she lost her trust in both the organization and the greater world of people. This is the reason that she pushes her own beliefs onto Kyouka and tries so desperately to keep her in the mafia. Her disdain for hope and recognition of herself in Kyouka is the causation for her to attempt to drill this mindset into Kyouka.

Kouyou isn't the only one who projects herself onto Kyouka specifically either, as Akutagawa follows the lessons he has learned and forces his beliefs of giving Kyouka's life a “reason” through her ability and killing ability. Which is exactly what he learned through his years in the Port Mafia as Dazai's mentee. Another example of a character projecting their own traumas onto someone they recognize themself in is very obviously Verlaine, through the events of him forcing Chuuya to his side because of his thought process.

There is a common justification that many of the characters make that they are doing what needs to be done. There are many other examples that could be made from the series, but all of this is to say that there is a large representation of the idea that “hurt people hurt people”. It's what the abuse cycle is on an interpersonal level. The actions taken are not excused by a victim’s own past, however it is a very real depiction of the abuse cycle and its effects in the series.

There is some hope to be found though as the parallel to this is being “saved”. Exemplified through the Armed Detective Agency as a whole, it ends up being essentially a safe haven for many of the members. Earlier I mentioned Kyouka, and she is specifically helped by Atsushi. I really don't want to refer to this as a savior cycle because it's really not, they're not all “saviors”, I just don't really have a better name for it.

The best examples for the roots of this cycle in the series are Fukuzawa and Oda, though they are naturally not the only cause for the chain of events within this cycle of influence. Fukuzawa brings me back to the topic of the Armed Detective Agency, which was established in the first place in order to help Ranpo and others. He left his influence on Ranpo first in Untold Origins, and Yosano when the two are able to get her away from Mori, but he also is the first in the chain that impacted Oda (though not the only), another important figure in this theme. He is the person that is able to plant a moral seed in Dazai and change the course of his life, and he was the only one able to do this. This brings me back around to Atsushi, who after being taken into the ADA by Dazai is able to save Kyouka, Lucy, and Sigma in one way or another.

It is important to highlight the Decay of Angels arc and portraying the tragic results of war. The ones I'm going to discuss are Fukuchi, Fukuzawa, Yosano, Mori, and Teruko as participants of war, Verlaine and Chuuya as the result of the government experimentation after the war, and then Tachihara from an outsider's perspective because of his brother. There is limited information that we have on The Great War itself, but what we do know is that it was a fight between ability user organizations and for the use of abilities in warfare. It is shown to be the cause of much of the suffering of many characters in the series, whether it is as a participant or a result of the inherent tragedy of war. Yosano was a child soldier exploited by Mori, who was able to use his position to prove his thesis for the beneficial use of abilities in warfare. It's unclear to me whether it was issued from upper levels, but his Infantry Division was for the purpose of proving what you could harness with abilities and warfare. This is not the only time that ability experimentation resulted during/from The Great War either, both Verlaine and Chuuya were a result of ability research and singularity creation. You could also infer that The Hunting Dogs project, though it is not confirmed (I think?), is a result of this as well. All of this to show the role that the government plays in the war, and alongside the damage that war already brings the government is shown to prey on the vulnerable within.

Fukuchi is probably the most noteworthy example of war and trauma in BSD, as he is the one who enacts the greatest damage in order to stop another war to his knowledge. His entire motivation for creating the DOA and bringing calamity was to prevent a repeat of what he had witnessed in the battlefield. Though he also has personal beliefs for world peace from the beginning, it grew to be more than that. The war intrinsically changed him due to the trauma, and soldier’s PTSD is naturally a common thing. The war changed Yosano as well, and while the two had very different circumstances, they carry the weight of their sins years later. Teruko was essentially born from war itself, and similar to Atsushi, she was forced to become something or someone that was able to fight, hence her ability forcing maturity and age. Teruko's ability itself is an example of how intense or prolonged trauma can cause a person to force self preservation in the face of it as a tactic to survive. Many of the characters show this, but it is especially prevalent with Fukuchi and Teruko because of the war. The entire arc brings into question the role of the government in war, corrupt power, the tragedy of war, and the point of it in the first place.

I'm making a seperate section to talk about Ranpo's ability, Untold Origins, and autistic trauma. Ranpo is the only character based on an author who does not have a literal ability, and I believe his lack of ability and insistence on keeping the illusion up is reminiscent of autistic masking. As to why I think he is autistic outside of the context of Origins, please refer to this thread .

Masking is camouflaging autistic traits in order to appeal to neurotypical or allistic (non-autistic) expectations. This could be internalizing discomfort, suppressing behaviors, copying others’ behavior in order to “fit in”, or an array of examples of forcing yourself out of your nature. Long-term masking can lead to extreme damage to your mental health, it can cause burnout, distressed behavior (meltdowns, shutdowns), issues with sense of self, etc.

Ranpo doesn’t mask very much in the present canon, he has a support system with his friends and family in the ADA where he is not judged for his autistic traits or behavior. Yet he keeps up the illusion of being an ability user partially for his own sake, but mostly to appear a certain way for the Agency and others. His ability is the only mask he keeps up, and the reason for this is the same reason he got it in the first place. Ranpo had to deal with the world outside of himself not accepting him for the way he is, and this is specifically because of his autistic traits. His false ability was essentially given to him by Fukuzawa as a way to quell his frustrations with the world, an explanation to Ranpo for why he is the way he is, because the world didn't understand the way he was and vice versa. He does seem to mask his autistic traits in Untold Origins, however, both due to his experiences he talks about and his parents. Masking can be traumatic, growing up in a world not built for you is traumatic, and the culmination of it all is what leads to Ranpo’s meltdown. Being autistic is not inherently traumatic, but the instability of day to day life can even be a causation for it, and this is the case for Ranpo. He goes about the story assuming that he will get adverse reactions if he speaks up or acts like himself, showing specifically his autistic traits, and this is the reason that he masks. Like any other autistic person, he masks in order to survive situations or to avoid confrontation over it when he never intended it. He was already a sheltered kid, and so he was raised with the deliberate suppression of his autistic traits, to which he cannot control and that cannot be separated from him. Even if it was an effort to protect him by his parents, it had negative consequences on Ranpo. Growing up that sheltered is damaging enough but it is dire to understand that this is in relation to Ranpo's being autistic as well, so he was thrust into a world that already did not understand him as a young autistic person after he lost his parents, an added trauma on top of the loss.

(below are the quotes I was referring/alluding to)

(In order is Ranpo's meltdown scene, an example of the double empathy problem (difficulties due in part due to a mutual lack of understanding when socializing between autistics/allistics because of the way we experience the world internally/externally) in which Ranpo looks at the same thing as someone else but they percieve it vastly different and Ranpo does not realize this, an observation from Fukuzawa on Ranpo's inherent difference, Ranpo's expectations of rejection, another observation from Fukuzawa on how Ranpo doesn't realize any of this, Ranpo expecting rejection based upon experiences in the past, and finally what I interpret to be an example of suppression of Ranpo's autistic traits (in a literal sense it is referring to his ability, which is representative of his autistic masking/really autism in general)

The manifestation of his ability is not a literal one like the other characters in the series, but it is an extension of his need to mask at times. Whether it is damaging or not, Ranpo clings to it because it is both connected to Fukuzawa and it is the first time he got an answer to why he is this way instead of being told to hide it for the convenience of others. When you grow up in a world that does not like you for what you are, it would only be natural for him to be desperate for the comfort of something after believing for so long that there was something inherently wrong with him.

There are definitely more thoughts that I have on this topic, such as poverty in relation to the Akutagawa siblings and Atsushi (Beast, specifically as well), but I want that to be a separate analysis.

[queenmisanagi]

Dazai's backstory: Becoming Dazai Osamu

Dazai Osamu was born Tsushima Shuji, the tenth child of a political family of ability users. Before meeting Mori Ougai, the future boss of Port Mafia, Shuji had to navigate challenges within his own family, as well as their powerful connections.

A long, three-part story of the first fourteen years of Dazai Osamu’s life.

Part I: The Tsushimas Part II: The Lady and The Lab Part III: Sheep, Cat, Wolves

Contains:

Plenty of references from IRL Dazai's life, his writings

Inclusion of characters from IRL Dazai's life and those who influenced him such as Masuji Ibuse, Dan Kazuo, Kawabata Yasunori, Haruo Sato, Yukio Mishima

References from BSD History such as Fifteen, Stormbringer, Untold Origins

Uses popular headcanons and theories about Dazai such as his link to the mafia before being discovered by Mori, his link to the book, etc.

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

Oda Sakunosuke (self-aware)

Self-Aware! Oda Sakunosuke x GN! Reader

Warning: OOC. Yandere. Slight stalking. Spoilers for Untold Origins, Day I picked up Dazai, Dazai Osamu and Dark Era. English is my second language.

Becoming self-aware

🍛 Oda Sakunosuke become self-aware the moment after he died.

🍛 At first, he felt empty. Katsumi, Shinji, Sakura, Yuu and Kousuke... Were their death just a plot point? A 'food' for 'tragedy lovers'?

🍛 Oda quickly managed to collect himself. Right now, he can't do anything. He needs to investigate. He needs to think everything through.

🍛 Stuck between Living World and Afterlife, Oda continue to stroll down Yokohama streets, as a ghost, unseen by everyone.

🍛 Oda was observing. He was looking after ADA, he saw their pain, he saw Dazai's fury.

🍛 Oda was also looking after Port Mafia. Oda saw, that Mori tried his best to keep Port Mafia members calm. To create a strategy that will resolve this bizarre situation. Oda felt the rage of other Port Mafia members.

🍛 Oda was looking after Ango. He saw panic of his former friend.

🍛 Oda saw everyone. Oda saw, how confused and lost everyone were. The world they knew didn't exist anymore.

🍛 If the world 'exist' can be said about fictional world and characters.

🍛 Oda saw other ghosts. Andre Gide, a person, dressed in a winter coat, Shibusawa Tatsuhiko and others. Oda was sure, that there was more ghost. They were almost invisible. But, he was sure, that they were here.

🍛 Other ghosts wasn't very talkative. Oda didn't try that hard in making a small talk.

🍛 And Oda was thinking. He remembered every book he has read. He thought about every time characters has died or suffer. It didn't make the author a bad person for writing these books. It didn't make readers bad people for liking these books.

🍛 Oda still feel sadness. Sadness for kids' death. Sadness for other characters.

🍛 But, despite everything, Oda can't bring himself to be angry.

🍛 It wasn't anyone's fault. Not theirs. Not readers'. Not author's.

🍛 And then, one day, he felt an entity's gaze on him.

_____________

It was staring.

It wasn't blinking.

Its presence felt suffocating.

Oda was on his guard. He wasn't sure, if this thing was human.

Maybe, it was a demon. Or a god, that made them self-aware.

One thing was clear.

Something real was looking at them.

Oda's ability never showed him any danger. But, he wished that the imposing entity will disappear.

Right now, it didn't do anything. But, for how long it will be that way? How long it will be passive?

And can they fight against it?

Oda wonders if he can do anything against it. Anything to protect others.

And then, time resets.

And he, once again, was a fourteen-year-old assassin, captured at S&K Corporation.

__________

When they start feeling your presence

🍛 The Entity is gone. No more heavy gaze on them.

🍛 At least, for now, Oda can rest. As much as his situation allows him.

🍛 He heard the noise from the other room. The Bodyguard has arrived.

🍛 This time, there were someone else with the bodyguard. Oda can feel two people entering the room he was held in. The second one wasn't dangerous. The second one was simply watching. And they were... Interested? In him?

🍛 The second one was like an open book. Oda could feel their emotions as clear as day.

🍛 Bodyguard and Second One left together. And Oda, once again, heard, how Detective proved Secretary's fault. And Oda, once again, killed the secretary.

🍛 Oda felt, that he needed to do it. But, this time, he didn't want to do it.

🍛 When Bodyguard ripped off the sack, that was covering Oda's face, Oda saw Bodyguard, dead Secretary, and a person, who, for some reason, became in a light blob and were floating above them.

🍛 Apparently, they had the strangest ability ever. At least, among abilities Oda knew about.

🍛 Oda didn't even stop his gaze on them. Just another person.

🍛 Oda, once again, was taken in by police.

🍛 Oda saw Bodyguard and Strange Ability User again, when Bodyguard tried to find information about 'V'.

🍛 Strange Ability User were, once again, were curious about him. And worried about Young Detective.

🍛 And they were floating above him and Bodyguard.

🍛 Okay, why they still were a Light Blob? For what reason? What exactly this ability was for? To be cute? To be able to float? To allow others feel their emotions?

🍛 Oda decide not to ask. It's none of his business.

🍛 The strange day was over. And then time 'resets again'. Oda 'woke up' standing on his front porch. And Dazai, bloodied and wounded, was laying on his front porch. And, for some reason, Strange Ability User were there too. Still as a Light Blob.

🍛 Light Blob lowered themselves and settled on Oda's head.

🍛 Oda had an urge to throw them off. But, right now, he needs to take care of Dazai's wounds.

🍛 And then Oda heard a whisper that came from Light Blob.

"so sorry..." "why..." "him..."

🍛 And sadness. Sadness. As pure as a mountain spring. Like they were... grieving.

🍛 Light Blob... Were they really a human? Or, were they The Entity in disguise?

🍛 Maybe, Dazai knew something about them? Well, there are some time, before he will wake up.

🍛 With Light Blob on his head, Oda carries Dazai into his house.

🍛 Light Blob talked from time to time.

"Oda" "funny" "dangerous, but" "still try to help"

🍛 Okay, when few years? yesterday? Oda called them cute, he was joking. But... They are sounding adorable.

🍛 When Dazai woke up, Oda saw, that his friend looked shocked, angry, sad and happy at the same time. Oda pointed at the Light Blob and asked.

"Dazai, do you know, who are this? This Light Blob sounds adorable."

______________

Their talk was long. Dazai told Oda about everything he knew about The Entity.

And about thinking, that The Entity was evil.

Oda, after getting some answers about The Entity/Light Blob, was silent. Once again, it all was connected to them been fictional characters. Oda looked at Light Blob. At The Reader.

Oda has been thinking about it before. When he was a ghost on empty streets of Yokohama. Oda knew what he should tell Dazai.

"I don't think so, Dazai. We may be fictional characters. But, reading a book about a fictional character with a sad past doesn't mean, that The Reader enjoys suffering. Or, you don't think, that there's nothing interesting in us, except our suffering."

___________

🍛 Oda learned to enjoy Light Blob's company. Oda talked with them from time to time.

"Hey, Blobby, want to go for a walk?"

"Maybe, I should add more spice? What do you think, Blobby?"

"Don't be afraid of Dazai. I knew, that soon he will stop distrust you. He will see, that you aren't evil."

🍛 Oda encouraged Dazai to spoke to the Entity, but Dazai refused to do it. At least until their poker game.

🍛 Then came a run in with "48".

🍛 When Dazai and Oda were trying to escape, the Light Blob were floating ahead. Lighting their way. Dazai compared them to a guiding light.

🍛 Little Light were worried, when Dazai was poisoned.

🍛 Little Light was amazed by his fighting skills. And not even once they were disappointed, that Oda didn't kill anyone.

🍛 And when Dazai and Oda came to bar "Lupin" for the first time, the Light Blob was floating above them.

🍛 Oda thought, that it would be nice, if three of them, Dazai, Light Blob and him, spend time together.

🍛 And time reset once again.

🍛 Dazai, Oda and Ango, once again, met in bar "Lupin".

__________

There was sorrow in Dazai's and Ango's eyes.

They felt, that there is nothing they can do to change the outcome.

Little Light were trembling. They were sad.

"Why [||||||||||||] no one deserves it!"

There was sorrow in Mori's eyes.

"I am sorry, Oda-kun. If this time it could be different, I would choose another path. They like you. And I don't want Voice to be upset. They are... precious to all of us."

Little Light were still sad.

"Oda [||||||||] don't deserve it"

Oda felt Light Blob sadness, when he was visiting Katsumi, Shinji, Sakura, Yuu and Kousuke.

"[||||||||||||] don't deserve it"

Oda felt Little Light's sympathy towards Gide.

"No one deserved it..."

Little Light were crying with Oda, when the van with orphans inside was blowed up.

Little Light were trying to stop Oda together with Dazai.

"Please [|||||||||||||] stay..."

Little Light were crying, when his battle ended. They were crying for everyone, who were hurt by this conflict.

"People live to save themselves. It's something they realize right before they die, huh...? He was... right..."

Once again, Oda died in Dazai's arms.

Oda again was a ghost. Just like before the time reset.

And he heard the voice.

"sorry" "poor kids, poor Oda, poor everyone" "if only I can"

"Oda. If only I could do it, I would make sure that everyone would stay alive. I am so sorry. I wish... You were alive... That they were alive... That your dream came true..."

Oda feels like he was embraced by someone warm and nice. Oda feels something wet on his shoulder.

[In reality, your tears drop on LN's pages.]

Oda's words were warm. He heard, how Dazai called you 'Guiding Light'. Fitting name.

"Guiding Light, don't be sorry. It's not your fault. You are a good person. I wish, we could talk more..."

__________

🍛 Oda, as a ghost, was, once again, observing others. He saw, how Armed Detective Agency slowly come to see you in a good light. How last members of the Mafia accept you as a normal person.

🍛 Oda and other ghosts saw, how new people joined forces to find a way out of the fictional world. A way to you.

But then, one day, the purple moon shined above Yokohama.

And one day, the purple moonlight embraced Sakunosuke Oda.

_______________

When you installed BSD Mayoi Inu Kaikitan

___________

They saw Purple Moon above them. You got an SSR card. BSD Cast were waiting. They were curious about whose card you got.

R,R,R,SR,R,SR,SR,SR,R...

And, finally, SSR...

New one...

But, no one of the characters, whose SSR cards you don't have, felt, that it was their cards.

Purple moonlight fille the room.

They heard your voice.

"Wow! Oda's card! Neat!"

Purple moonlight faded.

Oda Sakunosuke, man, who died four years ago, was standing there. Alive.

__________

🍛 Yosano ran a check-up on Oda. He was fine and well, just a little bit dizzy.

🍛 Dazai and Ango didn't leave Oda's side. They wanted to make sure that their friend is really here.

🍛 Oda was glad to be alive. This way, he can help others to find a way to your world.

🍛 But, for now, he will enjoy your company.

🍛 Oda didn't do much with his cards. He is more interested in where you 'throw' the marble.

🍛 If you have his card in a team, he will use his ability and 'throw' the marble for you. Because of that, you will always have 100% clear stage.

"Why Oda's cards are so pretty?"

"Okay, Oda, let's win this Boss Battle."

"It seems, that I can win Oda SR card in this event. Well, tome to clear some stages.

🍛 Oda (and then Shibusawa with Gide) was helping with adding new cards (new characters) in game. With his ability, he managed to help to add other 'ghost' characters in the game.

🍛 One time, Oda was approached by Natsume Soseki. He asked Oda if he wants to help him and Poe to write new Seasons to add in game. Natsume explained, that Seasons were written like Diary Entries. Oda promised to think about it. He feels, that observing you make him feel better. He wants to know as much as he can about you. About a real person. Maybe, his dream can become a reality.

🍛 He wants to try to write about your world. About real people. About real you.

🍛 Oda is waiting for the moment he will meet with you. He wants to discuss so many things with you. Finally, his conversations will stop to be one-sided.

___________

You got another note in the Gift Box.

Some Gold. And a note.

"Hello, [Y/N]. I hope, that you are alright. Hey, do you have any book recommendations? Will like to discuss literature with you while eating curry. Oda Sakunosuke"

You smile and open Oda's card in Character menu. You pat Chibi Oda's head.

"I might recommend something to you, Oda. Hope, you will like my recommendations. And, I like the idea of eating curry with you."

You didn't notice, that Oda's sprite nodded and smiled.

[miaitzia]

I don't think Ranpo doesn't want to save because he knows Atsushi would be ok,he literally says it himself Atsushi is alive FOR NOW.He KNOWS Atsushi won't be ok yet still stays silent until Fukuzawa urges him to do deduction.

Neither it's out of jealousy or personal beef.In untold origins,he said people are likable and wants to save them.Sure, generally i think he's a low-empathy person and he would always put people he loves above strangers' lives.But that doesn't mean he has zero care for them.Anyways my point is,i don't think he'll be so reluctant to help them without valid reasons and don't forget Kyouka was with Atsushi too,Ranpo does look like he's fond of Kyouka when they first met.

In this panel,Ranpo seems to have a logical explanation but Fukuzawa shuts him down quickly.idk but it makes him look more like some toddler throwing tantrums randomly since we don't get to hearing his reasoning.Ranpo probably didn't try to argue furthermore because he knew Fukuzawa won't change his mind anyways(like in doa arc).

My theory is that he does't want to put ada in danger and no the danger I'm saying here isn't port mafia, it's the guild.Without Atsushi,guild wouldn't come to Yokohama.And ykw? He's right.The whole event of guild arc is disastrous, Yokohama almost got destroyed,even Naomi and Haruno get put in danger......