#bsd theory

[sorcerersandskillusers]

Spoilers for Chapter 114.5

This confirms that Dazai is literally the only person who can kill Fyodor since he would nullify the possession. Which makes the "You can't kill me line" way funnier because Fyodor was really thinking

"please for the love of god do not be the one to kill me"

[literatureloverx]

Hii! I'm new here, but I'll just get to the point. I want to know your opinion about something

I've heard a lot of people saying that Dazai would cheat on his partner. I know it's not true, but I just wanted to know your opinion about it

Have a nice day!

I do like people who just “get to the point”. ♥️ First of all, welcome to the family! Second, I don’t think so at all.

Dazai is not a bad person. The only scenario where I could see him being unfaithful is if he were afraid of emotional intimacy (which I think he would be) and tried to push his darling away. Though, even then, I am not sure he would actually go through with it.

Given his self-sabotaging and self-destructive tendencies, it is possible, but whether he would genuinely cheat or merely create the illusion of it is open to interpretation. His desire to distance himself from his darling would likely stem from his idealised view of them, believing he doesn’t deserve them because he sees himself as tainted.

However, in my opinion, Dazai genuinely wants to improve because he is exhausted by the constant emptiness he feels. Let’s say he has a darling who fills that void inside him—would he truly want to let them go? I believe he would only push them away under specific conditions, such as self-sacrifice, driven by the need to protect them from the inevitable consequences of being involved with him—both because of his dangerous life and his internal struggles.

That being said, considering how Dazai thrives on manipulation and control as well, even if he were to push someone away, it might not be purely self-sacrificial. It could also be a subtle test, a way to see how much they are willing to fight for him. (I somehow love how hypocritical he can be. The poor man is so stuck—please, someone shake him and tell him, “We can do this together.” 🥺 He is so lonely.)

Though, I think this is an extreme scenario, one where he is 100% invested in someone, particularly romantically.

I hope this answers your question. Have a nice day as well! ♥️

[caldera1000-7]

Second time I've ever seen Akutagawa apologise was before he was supposed to "kill" Atsushi here.

I like how out of all the known generations of duos in BSD, SSKK/Shin Soukoku (I still don't like this name for them as a more yin-yang sounding one sounds more suitable.) they harbor the least amount of hatred toward each other at least after some time, or are just more likely to end up being the "successful" duo. Especially considering that one interaction in Beast... They could get along without even fighting.

With Fukuzawa and Mori its like they're on complete opposite ends, they in the past and now do not get along.

With SKK/Soukoku/ Dazai and Chuuya, they haven't gotten along but could work together when they had to. They still have an amount of hatred in their complexity, or just could never work as "friends" after everything that has happened or during all that has, despite the trust that has built upon years of working together.

Then there's Akutagawa and Atsushi... At first it was confusion, then hatred from Akutagawa, then Atsushi firmly not liking him, to Akutagawa understanding, to Atsushi still being confused but not completely firmly disliking/getting along with him through their team-ups and the fight with Ivan despite their verbal clashes during that time. To Akutagawa being there on that battle with Fukuchi when Atsushi was alone, to the trust that built for the battle as comrades for that one time in that second they needed to defeat Fukuchi.

I don't know what they are now, and I await the day they become friends even if it happens when one of them dies. But they definitely had more of a journey of understanding and not liking views, of jealousy, of defeat, of strength of self, of willpower, of survival, of trust, and of life and death.

Asagiri really makes some interesting and well-written character duos.

[iamthemess]

Wanna know what else I'm obsessed with?

It's Natsume. Lots of people forget about him or never even really noticed him. but I did and he is honestly the most unsettling character to me.

He is constantly around Dazai, watching throughout 15 and dark era and he spies on the agency/Dazai? in the present timeline too.

He appears around PM Dazai all the time unless he is with Mori or Chuuya but not Odasaku. He watched the lupin trio.

It's not just the watching, it's the interfering. He gave Oda that book, that book that made Oda who he is and in turn made Dazai who he is.

Was Mori really the only one who made the decisions about Oda dying? Why was there no other choice unless it was a part of a bigger plan?

He put Mori in a prime position where he would be called upon to treat the old mafia boss, where he could learn and understand that the city was falling apart. For a lot of that time the person giving him orders was Natsume.

Natsume was the one who hired Fukuzawa to be Mori's body guard.

Natsume was the one who made the detective agency a possibility.

He is the one who put Mori and Fukuzawa in charge of opposite organisations. What else did he do?

How did Mori find Yosano? Where did Dazai come from? How did the guild know about Atsushi?

Time and time again Natsume shows up to create a chain of events leading up to creating a perfect pair who could cause devastation and/or save the city.

He started with Mori and Fukuzawa, Mori who would continue this line of succession by creating soukoku, Dazai and Chuuya. Mori even quotes something Natsume told him. "only diamonds can polish diamonds."

Dazai, with Natsume possibly guiding him, goes on to find his own diamonds to be polished and creates Shin soukoku.

Everything that has happened can stem from Natsume, a character we rarely see and isn't outwardly stated as important. What is he hiding?

[bluemooniegif]

Soukoku's first meeting could not have been written more perfectly. Allow me to explain

A quick note on the manga panels: these are fan translations from BSD Bibliophile. At one stage they refer to Dazai as 'the youngest boss in Mafia history,' and the executive meeting as 'a meeting of five bosses.' This is just a stylistic choice! All of the panels shown here are from chapters 8 (volume 2), 10 & 11 (volume 3)

I love this scene more than life itself, because it is literally the PERFECT introduction to Chuuya, his character, and his relationship with Dazai. Let's talk about it!

First: some context. Dazai seems to be in a bit of a predicament- he's walked right into a trap set by the Port Mafia, an organisation that we don't know much about at this stage in the story. What we do know, and what we can observe, is this:

Dazai is a former executive, and appears to have walked into the trap on purpose

He is now being held in a room that Akutagawa describes very negatively- the fact of being here is dangerous

Dazai reveals that Akutagawa was once his subordinate, and that he thought very lowly of him at the time. He claims to still think of him this way. Akutagawa has a violent reaction to this.

This is a PERFECT example of 'showing, not telling' within a story. Rather than making a bunch of asides, describing what Dazai and Akutagawa are feeling and why, Asagiri & Harukawa have plopped us into the middle of a rather awkward reunion. I feel like I've walked into my friend's Christmas dinner and am now witnessing family politics unfold real time. It's like watching a car crash.

Now, we move between settings a bit, jumping around to watch Yosano DESTROY Kajii, Atsushi rescue Kyouka, and subsequently be injured and kidnapped by Akutagawa. We watch the Agency fall into disarray when Fukuzawa demands that everyone go looking for Atsushi- interesting, considering that Dazai is IN THE BASEMENT OF THE PORT MAFIA RIGHT NOW.

I've had lots of discussions and arguments about the meaning and significance of this. I won't delve too deep into it for now, but the way I see it is this: something the ADA is really REALLY good at is splitting up Mystery-Inc. style and working to solve cases etc., together, but apart. Dazai is also something of a stray dog (... cat), regularly wandering off and reappearing of his own accord. He's been with the ADA for several years at this point, and they would understand the way he operates well. Even if there's no indication whether he explicitly told anyone what he's doing or where he's going (which honestly, does that matter, when Ranpo would know immediately anyway?), we can safely assume that this is more or less a regular thing for them.

Anyway, back to the point. the Agency is not fazed by Dazai's disappearance... and neither, for some reason, is Dazai. He stands chained to the wall in the PM's basement- the same one, we discover later, where he's brutally tortured countless victims and traitors, and he's humming a little tune to himself, smiling, totally relaxed. We as the audience know he's pretty unflappable, and Akutagawa's expression when he sees him confirms this, too.

But. BUT. This doesn't last.

With the ADA descending into chaos, we switch perspectives back to Dazai again. He's bored at this stage, and thinking to himself that they must be searching for Atsushi soon (an indication that he was riling Akutagawa up earlier, btw) when he hears it: A voice that makes his resolve crack. A look of panic on his face that, at this stage, we haven't seen yet.

He turns, and we see Chuuya for the first time! He's got this strange smug look on his face, something deeply vindictive. Here's a current mafia executive, and he's so happy to see Dazai chained to the wall of their Torture Basement that you can't help but wonder... is there something that Dazai did to him, personally, that makes him feel this way? Or is this guy just so deeply involved with the PM that the fact Dazai left is like a personal slight against him?

Now, we don't really have long enough to truly panic over this predicament, because almost immediately these two fall into their old habits. Dazai isn't PLEASED, but he isn't afraid. He goes right into bantering with Chuuya, who surprisingly meets him right in the middle. Their regular dynamic shines right through: it's quick-witted quips, inside jokes, and knowing looks. It's this odd relaxation in their posture. In all of this, we have an acknowledgement of what they were, and evidence to suggest that they still are... whatever that thing is. Whatever you wanna call it: partners, boyfriends, best friends, buddies. That much is up to interpretation; the only undeniable fact is that they once knew each other better than themselves, and still do.

Then, the fight. This, to me, comes across as more of a way to display how powerful they both are individually: Chuuya punches concrete so hard it shatters in several places, Dazai snaps his fingers and breaks out of handcuffs.

We have front-row seats to what is in my opinion one of the best action sequences in early BSD, not just for what physically transpires, but what it tells us: they deeply understand each other on multiple levels. They're constantly predicting each other's moves, and they know where each other's weak spots are.

But there's also been a lot of growth. Dazai surprises Chuuya a few times, and vice-versa. Despite their apparent closeness, it's still clear that they haven't been together like this for a long, long time.

Then, they reach checkmate. It appears as though Chuuya has won, and we're fed some more Dazai lore- he was the youngest executive the PM ever saw.

This is how Chuuya remembers Dazai. Again, I want to remind you that this is the first time so far we're seeing PM-zai, and he is worlds away from the Dazai we've grown to know so far.

Though Chuuya seems to have driven Dazai into a corner, the roles are quickly reversed when Dazai claims to know something about a meeting between all five of the Mafia's executives. Chuuya quickly realises this is one of his 'predictions,' further proving the depth of their mutual understanding.

With hindsight, we know just how big a deal a meeting of this scale is, and knowing a certain stormbro (who I won't reveal just in case of spoilers) will be there makes me lose my mind, personally. It clearly affects Chuuya, as well, which was undoubtedly Dazai's goal.

With the power balance disrupted again, they quickly fall back into that same bantering dynamic. The volatile nature of their relationship is so perfectly portrayed within this short scene that it actually makes me sick, I genuinely don't think it could have been more perfect

Anyway. Chuuya has realised, at this stage, that Dazai had multiple goals when he allowed himself to be kidnapped, and one of those was to piss Chuuya off (which is something I think he could've managed even if Chuuya wasn't physically there). This, in turn, pisses Chuuya off, especially when he realises the predicament Dazai has left him in- let him escape, or the Mafia suffers. A test of loyalty, Chuuya's greatest weakness. Do you understand why I am tearing my hair out and howling at the moon??? This is fucking insanity.

And then, the final moment! The part we all know and love! Not only does Chuuya choose to err on the side of caution, allowing Dazai to escape- he also leaves with the repetition of another inside joke. And Dazai laughs- he looks genuinely happy, too.

That is all. I'm gonna go cry now ಥ_ಥ

read this original thread on twitter

[snowyleopardess]

Okay, am I fucking losing it??? Because it looks like Akutagawa has STRIPES ON HIS CHEEKS.

LIKE A TIGER. DID AKUTAGAWA GET POWERS AND/OR CHARACTERISTICS FROM DRINKING ATSUSHI'S BLOOD.

BECAUSE HOLY FUCK

Ps I wasn't the one to originally theorize this, this post was:

[featherstorm2004]

So, we've finally found out what role Atsushi plays with the book and we now know he is the book mark. Which suggests there are other characters who are part of the book, and I've seen people speculate on what Dazai might be because well...he's Dazai.

But I offer you this what if Akutagawa is also part of the book.

That could explain why he and Atsushi are able to create such a strong singularity and it could also explain why in beast Dazai chose him and Atsushi to be the only people who'd know the truth of their world. So, I argue that Akutagawa is the pen of the book, the one who takes an active role in shaping the story, after all Atsushi has always been an extremely passive protagonist only reacting to things that happen to him in the story, so it would make sense that he'd be the bookmark.

However, Akutagawa has always been an active protagonist constantly seeking out his own story, determined to grasp it with his own hands so realistically that would make him the pen as he actively tries to shape the world around him.

And Dazai? why not have him be the author the person who wields both the pen and bookmark.

[unicornpopcorn14]

//Bsd 117

.

FUCK OKAY SO.

What if the ADA gets gooped one by one?

What if all of them disappear but Atsushi (and ofc Dazai)?

What if this is what leads to the "Just the two of us?" Line

BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE ELSE LEFT???

[thelesbododo]

I really like the idea of the book being in Dazai's possession or at least him having some sort of attachment because the idea of Chuuya being being the vessel for the god of destruction and Dazai having a book that's sole purpose is to create is just something that I find so appealing

[sylviealexandria]

It’s kind of a strange thing—Dazai, Akutagawa, and Kyouka all dislike dogs. At first, I figured it was just a Port Mafia thing. Maybe something to do with their situation pre-mafia (that's probably true, too). But since bsd loves its symbolism, I thought of something else.

Dogs stand for hope, loyalty, and unconditional love—everything these three have been taught to reject. To them, trust gets you hurt, devotion is a trap (except towards the mafia), and love is just another weapon in someone else’s hands. Their walls weren’t built by choice; they were built by the people who came before them.

Dazai taught Akutagawa, and Akutagawa taught Kyouka. A cycle of cruelty, passed down like a rule. Maybe their mentors convinced them that "dog-like" traits were impossible for people like them. Or worse—that kindness was a weakness they couldn’t afford.

And the irony? Back when Dazai still had Oda and Ango, before everything fell apart, his toast was "to the stray dogs." Poor Dazai. The only place he ever felt love was the one he could never return to.

[russ14n-r0ul3tt3]

*pulls heart shaped lollipop out of my mouth and points it at you* when akutagawa came back in the last few chapters, he didn't remember anything like who atsushi was. so, if kenji, tanizaki, kunikida, and fukuzawa are alive, what if they don't remember anything either?

[sorcerersandskillusers]

*SPOILER WARNING CHAPTER 112*

Something is really off about Fyodor's death in the manga

Having just read the latest chapter, I noticed something really weird with Fyodor death scene. It all comes down to Dazai's reaction.

Before Fyodor "death" we see Dazai being all smug and gloating about what Fyodor missed, very typical of his character in general.

But then his mood suddenly shifts completely

He suddenly becomes very sombre, no triumph or gloating, this could be him regretting having to kill Fyodor, but the next few panels make me think there's more too it then that.

Look at Dazai's expression here, the way he seems so suspicious of the hand

I don't think we've ever seen Dazai's eyes like this, they are blank white, it's almost like his mafia eyes but colour inverted. This is not the face of someone who just beat their greatest enemy, or someone mourning their loss, It looks like Dazai is unsatisfied, I can't quite describe it, but there is something more in those eyes.

After Fyodors death Dazai is uncharacteristically quiet and Chuuya even points it out, again, nothing about this says "we won!" it feels like we still lost somehow.

So why would Dazai not want Fyodor dead? While it could be because he was sad to lose the only person who thought like him, while that's possible, I want to explore another idea.

Death did not stop Fyodor.

Dazai could have killed Fyodor when he had him cornered in the cafe if he wanted to, or have someone else kill him so he doesn't break his promise to Oda.

But he didn't, he let Ango arrest him instead, even though Dazai knew what a threat he was, why?

It all comes down to this.

The only way Dazai can counter Dostoyevsky is when he's right there in front of him. So now he's dead, Dazai can't read his actions any more. It's like he's fighting a ghost, all the plans Fyodor will have laid in case he died will be 10x harder to uncover and stop since it's much harder to fight an invisible enemy.

Remember that Dazai did not order the piolet to kill Fyodor, Bram did, and Dazai admitted to not having any say in that deal

.

I don't have any final point here, I just wanted to vent these thoughts. Does Fyodor quoting jesus on the cross mean he's going to come back in three days? What's going on with Sigma? I have way more questions than answers and it's driving me nuts

[fvedyetor]

ok i may make a longer/better post depending on what happens in tomorrow's chapter but i want to get this bit out before then:

i think fyodor is heading back to france to get sigma

"ultra high speed aircraft" for what. for what else other than to go back to france and get sigma.

fukuzawa says fyodor will use it to escape and hide away while the rest of the world has its war, and fyodor himself does say it's time for him to go sleep but. hes gotta go back for sigma first.

at first i was confused because fyodor never seemed to get the book? like he said he was trying to? and then he was getting fast airplane which would be unneeded for book-searching because he's already in yokohama but... im sure things will make sense eventually. and-

fyodor is a known liar and gaslighter and sadistic tease. we must remember this when analyzing his character. like so:

asagiri has implied sigma's character is very important in some interviews. no way he isn't opening his eyes again. and fyodor is known liar so he could definitely be just saying this to divert attention from sigma so none of his secrets get out.

although we don't know the full scope of fyodor's ideas and plans, sigma does. and if the ada has any chance of defeating fyodor once and for all, they would likely need sigma.

fyodor may have created gozen and planted all the seeds for his war, but he needs to tie up all loose ends. which includes sigma.

this is risky though!! because dazai and chuuya have discovered "fyodor's" dead body and with their intelligence they could at least determine that that's a result of fyodor's true ability and that dazai is the one who needs to kill fyodor once and for all.

and where is dazai? meursault. and where is sigma- fyodor's last loose end-? meursault. going back to get sigma is risky.

i don't think fyodor will get to france in tomorrow's chapter, given that last chapter was left off with fyodor standing between 2 gozens and atsushi about to attack to get the page he supposedly has (i dont think he has a page).

it's also important to note that we haven't seen atsushi and akutugawa's exchange from the anime cliffhanger. that scene had 1 gozen and just atsushi and aku focused on that gozen. it seems fyodor will be gone by then. so he will at least get on the plane soon.

though also bones likes to change stuff from the manga so i cant make any solid predictions regarding that >:(

ANYWAYS i dont think we'll see sigma in the next chapter, and we won't see him until fyodor goes to pick him up or asagiri gives us more fyodor backstory through sigma's ability. but i do think fyodor will be heading to france, and relatively soon.

tl;dr sigma is sleeping and fyodor says he's gonna sleep too so he's going back to france to get sigma for a sleepover

[caldera1000-7]

(I think this was originally posted/drawn by Dazai_9 on Instagram.) This art I've been looking at it then got a random thought... Dazai was "saved" by Oda/joining the agency. Atsushi was "saved" by Dazai. Kyouka was "saved" by Atsushi. In this image its very obvious to see Akutagawa wasn't "saved." I didn't think much of it till the quote rang in my head: "People live to save themselves."

(Although we could say maybe Atsushi was helping in his growth and possibly somewhat saving him - now that I think of it maybe Akutagawa's path is him saving himself. He was the one who sacrificed himself for Atsushi or because he came to know the value in another's life at that moment truly afterall. This was a decision of his own. And it seems Dazai and Atsushi were just giving the pushes and slight guides for him to have gone in this direction.)

[minimafioso]

Pan, France, Verlaine and Meursault

Today's dumb BSD theory

Meursalt's prison layout could have been based on Pan's notes about Verlaine considering a lot of the design seems to specifically counter a gravity user (The water??) The cells are similar to Rimbaud's Ability, illuminations

TL;DR Get Chuuya outta there

[ideasnstuff]

Clock + phone + Tower (books) + safe

He looks amazing but he is the only one who is not wearing the matching outfits.

It seems the prison fit.

I think this might be the Order of the Clock Tower....

Also... I do think Chuuya and Dazai are not playing the same game.

And Fyodor knows this.

Chuuya might be an informant or a spy.

Later I'll explain why.

Bro knows something.