#bsd volume 22

[bsd-elle]

Notes from BSD 108

[flowerimiya]

erm what the sigma

[kyouka-supremacy]

from where do you read the manga?

I know this is not what you asked for, but here’s a masterlist of bsd resources I’ve used over the past year. Because every time I join a new fandom I always think “oh, I sure wish there was an all-inclusive masterlist that explained in detail how the material is divided and where to access to it instead of having to dig in myself”. So, this is for you January 2022 Kyotag, and for anyone else who might find this useful! I trust posting this on Tumblr is safe, but please do not share this outside of Tumblr in any way; it’s not for me, it’s for all the people who care to share. Specifically, do not share this on Twitter in any way or form. I will unleash a wild pre-promise Akutagawa after you if you do.

Edit: My biggest thank you to @amythedemisimp, who helped me expand and enrich this list. For your priceless contribution, thank you so much!!! Edit 2: Thank you so much u/barnacleunderthesea for reaching out and sharing new stage play subtitles!!! Check out their BSD English Content Archive here.

BSD resources masterpost

Before visiting any of the websites listed below, make sure to install and activate the uBlock Origin extension and to be using Firefox web browser.

Bungou Stray Dogs Story by Kafka Asagiri, art by Sango Harukawa. The original manga. Ongoing, monthly chapter release.

• MONTHLY CHAPTER FANTRANSLATIONS: translator 1 • Website 1: Official English translation of the manga up to volume 19 / chapter 83 (including all the extra volume contents and omakes) and fantranslations from chapter 84 upwards. It’s my favorite streaming platform for the manga as it grants easy access and download to most of the official translation (the quality is not the best, a sligthly blurry 900×1350px per page, but it is what it is). When visitng on mobile, there’s surges of adds on certain days for some reason, but overall it’s manageable. • Website 2: Official translation up to volume 20 (chapter 88), fantranslations after that. • Website 3: Official translation up to volume 23 (chapter 104), fantranslations after that. Lacks all the additional volumes content (and thus the first page of every volume since it’s in colour). Includes the Japanese raws up to chapter 104, so it’s useful if you need to quickly check the original. Denies download of the pages, and features a watermark. • Website 4: All the chapters fantraslated. Recommending it because it’s always nice to read different translations (and endearing too, at times. You wouldn’t want to miss “Dazai Osamu – Ability: Human Failure”), and because it’s for some reason the only website my university’s wi-fi allows me the access to, so shout-out to it. • Website 5: Raws from chapter 79 up to date. The image quality (1164×1618px) is generally better than the official manga English release.

Bonus chapter 1 • Bonus chapter 2 • Bonus chapter 3 • Bonus chapter 4 • Bonus chapter 5 /// (alt. translation)

DVD omakes

• DVD omakes English fantranslations masterlist • Vol 4 omake English fantranslation • Vol 9 omake • DEAD APPLE DVD omake English fantranslation • Folder with all the avaible omakes fantranslated in Chinese

Wan! Story and art by Neco Kanai. Gag spin-off manga. Ongoing.

• Link 1: Download link of the official English translation of the first four volumes of the manga • Link 2: Chapters 1-22; fantranslation. • Link 3: Masterlist of fantranslated chapters • Link 4: Various misc chapters fantranslations • Link 5: Various misc chapters fantranslations • Link 6: Various misc chapters fantranslations

Gaiden: Ayatsuji Yukito VS. Kyōgoku Natsuhiko Story by Kafka Asagiri, art by Oyoyo. Manga adaptation of a spin-off novel. Currently in unofficial hiatus (?) Gaiden is back!!

• MONTHLY CHAPTER FANTRANSLATIONS: translator 1 • Link 1: Download link of the official English translation of the first two volumes of the manga • Website 1: Fantranslation of all the released chapters

DEAD APPLE Story by Bungo Stray Dogs DA partners, art by Gun_Zi. Manga adaptation of the novel adaptation of the Dead Apple Movie. Completed.

• Link 1: Download link of the official English translation of the four manga volumes • Website 1: Fantranslation up to chapter 13 (discontinued)

BEAST Story by Kafka Asagiri, art by Shiwasu Hoshikawa. Manga adaptation of an alternative universe spin-off novel. Completed.

• Link 1: Download link of the official English translation of the four manga volumes • Website 1: Official English translation. Denies download of the pages, and features a watermark. • Website 2: Fantranslation • Website 4: Raws (1115×1600px)

Dazai, Chūya, Age Fifteen Story by Kafka Asagiri, art by Shiwasu Hoshikawa. Manga adaptation of a spin-off novel. Completed.

• Website 1: Official English translation up to volume 2 (chapter 10) • Website 2: Fantranslation • Website 3: Raws (1115×1600px)

Anthologies Six official anthologies, compilations of gag and slice-of-life oneshot chapters by various authors.

• Anthologies raws and translations masterlist

Novels Ten light novels set in the bsd universe and written by the bsd author that complete, expand and enrich the bsd story.

• Link 1: Folder containing all the nine official English translations of the novels, a fantranslation of Gaiden and a pdf merging novels 1-7 (minus Dead Apple) fantranslated in Chinese. • Link 2: Official English translations of the first eight novels, avaible to read online. • Link 3: Fanmade audiobooks of the first seven novels officially translated in English.

Extra Light Novels

• Gakuen Bungo Stray Dogs (fantranslation (incomplete)) • Untitled Ikebukuro Flagship Animate Store Story (fantranslation) • Kunikida and Katai's Brilliant Days (fantranslation) • The Day I Picked Up Dazai: Side A, Side B  (fantranslation)

Rakugaki Note Collection of bsd illustrations by Sango Harukawa, published in 2016

• Folder link

Anime Five season anime. Watch order is season 1 → season 2 → Hitori Ayumi (OVA) → DEAD APPLE (movie) → season 3 → season 4 → season 5

Streaming site 1 • Streaming site 2

Drama CDs Audio dramas recorded by the anime voice actors cast, released between 2015 and 2017. Some albums feature character songs.

• Drama CDs masterlist

Bungou Stray Radio Web radio for the anime hosted by Yuto Uemura (Atsushi’s va)

• Playlist (missing episode 17) (untranslated)

Welcome! To Uemura Detective Agency Anime vas show hosted by Yuto Uemura (Atsushi’s va) included in the first anime season blu-ray

• Playlist with all 12 episodes (untranslated) • Episode 5 highlights translation

Stage plays Eight stage plays that adapt different anime seasons and novels

• Folder link (mostly translated)

BEAST movie Direction by Kōichi Sakamoto, script by Kafka Asagiri. Movie adaptation of an alternative universe spin-off novel.

• Folder link

Official pages

• Kafka Asagiri's Twitter • Sango Harukawa’s Twitter • Sango Harukawa’s blog • Shiwasu Hoshikawa’s Twitter • Gun_Zi’s Twitter • Neco Kanai’s Twitter • Official manga Twitter account • Official anime Twitter account • Official Mayoi Twitter account • Official stage plays Twitter account • Official Beast movie Twitter account • Official exhibition Twitter account • Official Gakuen Twitter account • Official Wan! serialization site • Official Gaiden serialization site • Official DEAD APPLE serialization site

Other resources

• BSD wiki • Mayoi wiki • BSD-bibliophile • BSD updates countdown • BSD calendar • Interviews masterlist • Magazines Archive • Archive of official art • Megathread of art by Harukawa • Megathread of anime art • Merch archive 1 • Merch archive 2 • Official art scans • Website for manga volume raws, dvd ripoff, op/ed albums and basically everything • @/akutagawaprize, Tumblr archive of official content through 2015-2020 • @/popopretty’s blog for misc translations • Guidebook Gongeroku scans • Masterpost of literature works referenced in the bsd franchise • BSD Honorifics and Nicknames • Every Piece of Information Involving the Book • BSD anime irl locations tour

If you found this list useful, could you consider contributing to the archive? Things it would be nice to add include:

• Good quality scans (>1350px) of the 20th volume of the manga (Sorry. Once again, personal request.) • Wan! official English translations (minus volumes 1-4) • Anthologies official English translations (volumes 1-2) and/or translations of the remaining Anthology chapters (please check the masterlist above, I ran out of links per post) • Anthology 6 raws • English subtitles for the Fifteen stage play • Better quality versions of the stage plays in general (especially Fifteen) • Translations of the Return of the Detective's Good Mood short drama • Translations of untranslated magazines interviews (check out the megazines archive spreadsheet to see what has and hasn't been translated so far) • Scans of any of the Guidebooks (except for Gongeroku) / Genga Collections / Illustration books

If you think something should be added to this list, please do not hesitate to reach out!

LAST UPDATED: 09/01/25

[the-sixth-wheel]

BSD Color Spreads Vol. 1-24

My second collection post! I really admire Sango Harukawa's art, so I just thought I would make a little post to gather all their color spreads in one place. They're very well drawn and fun to analyze as well because of the easter eggs hidden in them. My personal favorite is Volume 15, because the muted color palette along with the jagged cuts give it a look that's very fitting for this arc! It looks almost collage-like?

Here are the color spreads!

Vol. 1:

Vol. 2:

Vol. 3:

Vol. 4:

Vol. 5

Vol. 6:

Vol. 7:

Vol. 8:

Vol. 9:

Vol. 10:

Vol. 11:

Vol. 12:

Vol. 13:

Vol. 14:

Vol. 15:

Vol. 16:

Vol. 17:

Vol. 18:

Vol. 19:

Vol. 20:

Vol. 21:

Vol. 22:

Vol. 23:

Vol. 24:

[thinkeral]

I got volume 22 of BSD today, and this one panel had me cackling.

Kunikida, the sternest man on earth.

(For context, Atsushi was commenting on how his unique outfit was a special uniform to him because of its emotional value)

[sounds-gay-im-in]

ah shit, me too.

Got a new volume of my hyperfixation to add to the collection

[evvwenthome]

My friend consumes so much bsd media for someone who isn't a bsd fan

She has

-read volume 4, 5 and 22

-read volume 1 of 15!

-read my fanfiction

-talked about bsd with me

She has a favourite character too, Ranpo.

And in order to understand who exactly she's talking about, you need to know the code names (she doesn't know any of their names)

Ranpoo = Ranpo

An splanc = Dazai

Skinny jeans boy = chuuya

Omega 3 oils = akutagawa

Thats all she knows.

[knockyasocksoff2022]

BSD Art Style Change?

So, I just got BSD Volume 24 (I read by volume not chapter), and I feel like the art style has changed. Not too much, but noticeably.

At first, I thought I was just used to the anime art style because I hadn't looked at the manga since I read Volume 23 early this year (It's October, I probably read it in January, maybe even December), but then I went and looked back at earlier volumes.

IDK if it's happened so slowly (again people who read chapter by chapter might not have noticed) that I only just noticed, but compared to the first one there are some noticeable differences (in my opinion at least).

I don't have volumes 12 through 23 right now to compare because I lent them to a good friend, but I really do think the art style has leaned more toward the Dead Apple art style.

This is by no means a complain. I LOVE it. It's sooo pretty. And both styles are very unique so both are cool to me, but it's interesting. Am I the only one who feels this way/has noticed this.

FOR CLARIFICATION:

I do think that the style is mostly the same but I've noticed that the lines seem idk how to describe but less like a sharp sketch, at least that's how I always thought of the original art style. Again, absolutely no hate. To me, the eyes and jaws look softer. I know it's definitely not a complete change in art style, but I wasn't sure how to phrase it.

Tagging my mutuals for more opinions:

@kae-rants

@closeted-monster123

@autumnleaf1111

@22-b

@chxrribomb

@bungoustraypups

@wildroserogue

[doctorforks]

Hello^2 ! Questions!

i have to ask, when you draw fyodor, is she small or is everyone and everything around her really big and tall?

Other than the little guys you usually draw, (fyodor, dazai, sigma, nikolai and I haven't seen you draw but you did mention atsushi) do you like anyone else in bsd?

Favourite fem (that's not Fyodor) in bsd?

Favourite arc in bsd? Favourite official art of bsd? Change you liked the least that the anime adaptation did? Change you liked the most?

Favourite au you made?

(points a microphone at you like you're a hotshot celebrity I'm interviewing) how does it feel to have lots of people aware of your existence / interested in your aus? Nice? Nerve-racking?

Not bsd or bsd au-related, but did you have a character you latched onto before meeting Fyodor?

Favourite...spin-off? (whatever official mangas/novels that aren't the main ongoing manga)

What do you usually like to see when searching up bsd fanwork?

Favourite art style used in bsd?

Sorry if they're too much or weird, you can answer like, 3. :]]

I draw fem fyo a little smaller than most because I like projecting my stunted growth and malnutrition onto her, however she is technically much taller than me

I have a hard time choosing favs outside fyodor because theyre all so well written, but I love lucy, ranpo, and akutagawa!!

Lucy!!!

1) Fav arc would be cannibalism; 2) for official art I like the cover for volume 22 but also any art with fyodor (and his feet) on it; 3) least favorite change in the anime would be everything /hj but I really dislike how they adapted dazai’s entrance exam; 4) change I liked would be the addition of fyodor being nailed on a cross

I have no fav aus they're all equally stupid and make me laugh

I feel disappointed I couldn't offer anything more to those interested!

I loved fyodor from first sight, but the other characters were all equally charming to me

I probably like Beast and Stormbringer a lot

I look for my wife fyodor everywhere I go

Fav art style has to be harukawa’s, especially the older lanky style 💜

[play-rough]

8, 21, 22, & 25 for Dazai and Chuuya 🥹💕

🩵❤️‍🔥

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

Dazai- god i feel like I’m so picky about Dazai characterizations and it’s so hard to describe sometimes I’ll just be like NO THATS WRONG‼️ but I guess one thing is when Dazai mentoring ryunosuke is just boiled down to a black and white situation where Dazai was soooo abusive to poor ryu (and i feel like this is a disservice to akutagawas character too), but Iike you have a child raised in a strict mafia environment and then you give that unstable child control over *another child* it’s not gonna go well, and i don’t personally blame either of the children in that scenario 🙄 idk BSD just has a lot of complex situations and I feel like they’re not always handled as such 😌🩵 Wtf this morally grey character is making problematic choices??? Cancel him🚫

Chuuya- when he’s just angry shouty guy who yells and shouts, sometimes I feel like I’m looking at a bad bakugo parody 😭

21. If you're a fic writer and have written for this character, what's your favorite thing to do when you're writing for this character? What's something you don't like?

Ummm for Dazai i like making him break down and cry and forcing him to admit he needs help or attention 🥺👉👈 or sick or just any kind of general vulnerability, and flip side for Chuuya, I love forcing him to admit he’s worried about Dazai or cares about him. My favorite part of Chuuya’s character is that he’s a genuinely nice person, Dazai is just so annoying and pushes his buttons, so I love showing off Chuuya’s softer side and highlighting his protective and caring nature. That scene where chuuya watches Dazai get slammed into a tree by lovecraft x1000000❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to ths character? Something you don't like?

For both of them like I said above im so picky and if you make them one dimensional or even if the vibes are bad I’ll just be like NO THATS WRONG‼️ and close the fic

Something i *like* is pretty much my same answer for 21 ajdhhfhdjs I really only write about what I like reading about so I’m a sucker for vulnerable Dazai and sappy Chuuya BUT for a more specific, ridiculous, self indulgent answer i like when Dazai is written regressed 🥹🩵 or even if he’s baby, just in energy 🥺🩵 Dazai is baby and should be written as such

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

First impressions of Dazai was i don’t even remember him, I read the first bsd book at the library when I was in middle/high school (don’t remember exactly when) and was like eh. Boring. I think it didn’t help that they didn’t have all the books so it was like volume one, three, five, prime numbers only. I think I read soul eater instead lmao. Flash forward to college I had seen bsd characters and i liked the designs, and i had figured chuuya would be my favorite bc he kinda reminded me a bit of Karkat from homestuck (a dear fave of mine at one point) in that angry but actually sweet and kindhearted kinda way.

I was still eh whatever about Dazai, which is crazy because I’ve seen him compared to both Gojo and Reigen in the silly mentor who lost the kids he’s custody of kinda way, and those two are some more faves of mine. Tbh i didn’t solidify him as my fave until we learned of his tragic past because my OTHER favorite kind of character is a rude little bastard, and i was shown the light. Dazai Osamu has the range. He’s like a two for one, which I’m pretty sure he’s a Gemini??? I’m not gonna google and confirm just trust me i think he’s a Gemini ♊️

Impressions now obviously Dazai is my babygirl, my soaking wet cat, my poor pathetic meow meow who has both never done anything wrong and also committed so many war crimes. Chuuya I knew i would like him and I do lmao, close second from Dazai. I think Dazai is pretty much my ultimate fave character of all time…

[leonawriter]

At first I was like "EEYYY, OZAKI KOUYOU MENTION, BSD REPRESENT" and then I read the rest and half-choked, because dude.

Gosho.

GET A MOVE ON, THEN.

The volume this was put into was released in 2002!!! 22 years ago!!!

[gaystims]

Not stim related at all but today we went to town and were in a lot of pain BUT I got BSD mangas (including the one with my favourite cover- Volume 22) and because of this I'm so so happy. Remember that there are good things in the world even if you can't reach them rn.

[the-sixth-wheel]

BSD Volume Covers 1-24

My first BSD related post. Hi y'all! I think the first thing that struck me about the series was the art by Harukawa Sango. Like, it's almost shocking to me how much they've degraded the artistic value of BSD in the anime adaptation. It looks NOTHING like Sango's art (least of all with the annoying fisheye effects).

I get a feeling that BSD might not be a favorite of Bones Studio, because the original material and the adaptation are leagues apart. I wanted to make a sort of collection post for the volume covers of BSD because the art is so beautiful! I think i'll also make a collection post of all the volume color spreads, because those are even better!

Vol. 1 Cover:

Vol 2. Cover:

Vol. 3 Cover:

Vol 4. Cover:

Vol. 5 Cover:

Vol. 6 Cover:

Vol. 7 Cover:

Vol. 8 Cover:

Vol. 9 Cover:

Vol. 10 Cover:

Vol. 11 Cover:

Vol. 12 Cover:

Vol. 13 Cover:

Vol. 14 Cover:

Vol. 15 Cover:

Vol. 16 Cover:

Vol. 17 Cover:

Vol. 18 Cover:

Vol. 19 Cover:

Vol. 20 Cover:

Vol. 21 Cover:

Vol. 22 Cover:

Vol. 23 Cover:

Vol. 24 Cover:

[skkpaws]

manga collection progress :3

wanted to keep record of my manga collecting progress since i’ve decided i actually want to try to collect ! rn mainly focusing on bsd but also jjk or others when i get the chance :D

Notes: bought JJK , HxH, SxF, & Soul Eater Vol. 1 soooo long ago back when I just wanted to collect the first volume of series I like so idk the date. also i tend to buy volumes out of order based on price, the cover, or the contents in the volume just fyi. dates are based on when i have the physical version, not when i order them.

Masterlist:

Bungo Stray Dogs:

Main Manga: 1-6, 15-23

WAN!: 2, 4-7

BEAST: 1-4 (COMPLETE)

Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen: 1 (ENG & JP), 2 (JP)

Gaiden Manga: 1-2 (COMPLETE)

Dead Apple Manga: 1-4 (COMPLETE)

Light Novels: 1-4, 6-8

Jujutsu Kaisen: 0-9, 11, 19

Soul Eater: 1

Soul Eater The Perfect Edition: 1

Spy x Family: 1

Hunter x Hunter: 1

Chainsaw Man: 6

Banana Fish: 1-2

The Girl from the Other Side: 1-2

The Girl from the Other Side Deluxe Edition: 1

Sakamoto Days: 1-2, 4-6, 8

The Case Study of Vanitas: 1, 1-9 (extra vol. 1)

Gokurakugai: 1-2

Given: 1-3

Timeline:

10/14

BSD Light Novel 1 (Dazai’s Entrance Exam) yes i did buy it thinking it was manga volume 1

12/12

BSD Vol. 21 & 23

JJK Vol. 4 & 7

12/13

BSD Dazai, Chuuya, Age 15 Manga Vol. 1

12/16

BSD Vol. 1

BSD Wan Vol. 6

JJK Vol. 0

12/25 (Christmas Gifts)

BSD Beast Vol. 1-4

BSD Light Novel 2 (The Dark Era)

BSD Dazai, Chuuya, Age 15 Manga Vol. 1 & 2 (Japanese Version)

1/7

JJK Vol. 3

BSD Vol. 22

1/13

BSD WAN! Vol. 4

1/27

BSD Light Novel 8 (Stormbringer)

1/29

BSD Vol. 2-6

2/2

BSD Light Novel 7 (Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen)

2/26

BSD Light Novel 3 (The Untold Origins of the Detective Agency)

BSD Light Novel 4 (55 Minutes)

BSD Gaiden: Ayatsuji Yukito VS. Kyōgoku Natsuhiko

3/2

JJK Vol. 9

BSD Dead Apple Manga Vol. 3

BSD WAN! Vol. 2

Banana Fish Vol. 2

Chainsaw Man Vol. 6

The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 1

3/18

BSD Vol. 20

BSD Gaiden: Ayatsuji Yukito VS. Kyōgoku Natsuhiko

JJK Vol. 2

Sakamoto Days Vol. 5-6

The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 2

3/28

JJK Vol. 19

The Caae Study of Vanitas Vol. 1

4/12

BSD Light Novel 6 (Beast)

4/16

Gokurakugai Vol. 1

4/18

Banana Fish Vol. 1

BSD WAN! Vol. 7

BSD Dead Apple Manga Vol. 2

JJK Vol. 8 & 11

Sakamoto Days Vol. 8

Soul Eater The Perfect Edition Vol. 1

The Girl from the Other Side Deluxe Edition Vol. 1

5/11

The Case Study of Vanitas Vol. 1-8

5/15

BSD Anthology Akatsuki, Kanade, Hana, Rin (JP)

BSD Bones Art Book 1 & 2

BSD Vol. 15, 17, 19

5/16

BSD Vol. 16 & 18

5/30

The Case Study of Vanitas Vol. 9

Sakamoto Days Vol. 4

JJK Vol. 6

BSD Anthology 1 Rei (ENG)

7/16

BSD Dead Apple Manga Vol. 1, 4

BSD WAN! Vol. 5

Given Vol. 3

Sakamoto Days Vol. 2

Gokurakugai Vol. 2

[iovetecchou]

I’m gonna go broke over bsd lmfao but unfortunately my sister and I didn’t get a chance to play genshin together (although I think her favorite would be Lisa or maybe Jean) but I’m over here on my Diluc obsession still lol

you are completely valid in your diluc obsession 🤝 but seriously i need to start collecting the bsd manga again.. i gave all of my volumes to my cousin a few years back (big mistake) so now i only have volume 22 (‘:

[thecoffeelovingfreak]

Volume 22 Cover Analysis

Part 1 | Part 2

I'll be jumping right in!

~~~

The Moon:

The Moon is often associated with the rhythm of time, enlightenment, immortality, and the dark side of nature.

Biblically, however, it could also be related to something different.

"In the book of Job 26:9, the Bible reads:

“He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds.”

One of the reasons why God would do so is to protect the moon. The covering was meant to hide the moon from view. In Joshua 10:12, we see God interrupting the normal course of the moon to ensure the battle that his servant Joshua was fighting comes to a successful end." - catholicsbible.com

I think in this context, Joshua would be Fyodor, mostly because Nikolai's coat is also covering him.

- What parts of their minds Nikolai is covering:

Notably, though, it's covering the location of his brain. I'll be using this diagram for this subcategory:

Nikolai's coat and arms are covering the areas that control the initiation of voluntary muscles (3); sensation of muscle and skin (9); evaluation of weight, texture, temperature, etc. (10); sensory association (7); the visual area (1); coordination of movement, balance, and posture (14); eye movement and orientation (12); and a minuscule amount of #6, which controls your emotions.

However #14 is not covered on Dazai. I think (since this area controls movement, balance, and posture) that this symbolizes how Dazai uses the members of the ADA instead of choosing not to or working alone, like Fyodor would do. This is shown here, with how his next move is using a card depicting Atsushi.

The original point I was going to make here, was how this could not only symbolize some aspects of their characters, but could be how the poison would affect them.

- The Blue Moon

"In calculating the dates for Lent and Easter, Catholic clergy indentified a "Lenten moon". Historically, when the moons arrived too early, they called the early moon a "betrayer" (belewe) moon, so the Lenten moon came at its expected time." - en.wikipedia.org

I think this is symbolical of how the moon is underneath Nikolai, meaning he would be the betrayer. To who? The simple answer would be Fyodor, since we know he wants to kill him. But even Nikolai might not be the actual betrayer. I continue this thought in 'The Eye of Providence' category.

The Skull:

The skull depicted between Dazai and Fyodor is a ram skull:

- Ram Skull Meaning

The original meaning of a ram skull was perseverance and leadership. Now, it typically symbolizes occult sciences and devil worship.

I think it could also be related to the Tarot card of The Devil, which I will discuss further in the 'Tarot Themes' category.

- Carnations

The flowers shown with the skull, I believe, look like carnations.

"The carnation symbolizes eternal grief, love, and loyalty. This flower has long been the flower of mourning." - floraqueen.com

Color-wise, I believe the carnations are either dark red or a darker purple.

Purple carnations represent:

"These flowers indicate capriciousness, implying purple carnations usually convey condolence for the unfortunate circumstance. They can also be presented to seek an apology." - floweraura.com

Dark red carnations represent:

"Dark Red Carnations enunciate the profound sentiments of love and affection." - floweraura.com

I'm not quite sure of what those would mean in this context, other than grief and death, but I included it anyway!

- Hair and Leaf

I noticed there is a Japanese oak leaf (as mentioned in Part 1), included with the, what I assume to be hair, coming out of the skull. I'm not going to focus on that here, but it's still something of note.

As mentioned in Part 1, the hair could match Agatha's character design. I'm sure her arc is coming next, and we know almost nothing about her ability, besides its name. And Then There Were None. I think it's name, being depicted with the skull and carnations, could mean she will be a bringer of death.

Fyodor's Card:

Fyodor's card does not appear to be anything, really, except for waves of color. Flip it horizontally, however:

It almost looks like the ocean. The ocean symbolizes power and strength, formlessness, the unfathomable, and chaos. I don't quite know where this would fit in yet, but I'd still like to take note.

It's also possible that it's nothing, we don't know what he has up his sleeve yet besides Chuuya, and I doubt he's his only trick.

The Eye of Providence:

The Color of the Eye:

I noticed the grey eye shown on the Eye.

Which character has grey eyes? Sigma.

The eye in the Eye of Providence is known as the Eye of God.

I think Sigma will play a larger part in the upcoming events of the manga. I also think there's more to his ability and past than meets the eye. What? I'm not quite sure yet, but I do think he's not as much of a simple man as he may appear, especially since his eye is the Eye of God.

Details of the Eye:

I noticed there are details in the Eye, that I could not see before.

- Gears

I noticed there is the shape of a gear surrounding the Eye, along with what appears to be 2 more underneath it.

Gears typically symbolize collaboration, as one gear is useless, and they can only work together. I also think of them similarly to dominoes, since the first one starts moving, which then causes the second to start moving, and so on so forth. Dominoes typically represent goals, but I'm not quite sure where this would fit in.

- Triangles

The triangles appear to be equilateral triangles, which was used in ancient civilizations as the symbol of the Deity.

However, triangles also depict the Trinity.

"The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as being one god existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons sharing one homoousion (essence). In this context, the three persons define who God is, while the one essence defines what God is." - en.m.wikipedia.com

I think this could be symbolic of how Dazai, Fyodor, and Nikolai are in the game, while, even though Sigma is technically in the game, he is not as deep into, or quite aligned with the mental state the other 3 are in. They are the triangle, and he is the Eye of God.

I was originally going to connect the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to each of the three, but I'm not quite sure who would be who.

Where the Rays are Shining:

I think it's important to notice where the rays of the Eye are shining.

Clockwise:

The one on the top shines onto the Moon, which as stated earlier, could represent Nikolai as a betrayer. Picking up the thought from that subcategory, I think it could mean Sigma is the betrayer. His eye is the Eye of God, shining onto/connecting to the moon. To the others, the ones who have all used him, his possible future attempt to kill them, may be seen by them as a betrayal.

The second points to Fyodor's eyes.

The third points to Fyodor's card.

The fourth points to the skull and the carnations.

The fifth points to Dazai's neck, and in turn, his card. I think this could represent how Fyodor's card is more revealed chaos, Dazai's is hidden certainty. It's not much, but I'd still like to take note.

And the sixth points to Dazai's eyes.

Tarot Themes:

- The Moon

The Moon is the 18th card in the Major Arcana.

Upright, it symbolizes femininity, cycles, emotions, and the world of the unconscious.

Since we're only seeing the bottom of the Moon, it's possible that it's being used in the context of what it means reversed: illusion, confusion, and deception. Since the Moon is underneath Nikolai, it's possible he could be deceiving the players in some way.

This statement could be even further proved since The Moon also tells you that everything is not as it seems.

"The Moon tells you that something about a situation or person in your life is not what it appears to be and you need to trust what your instincts are telling you in order to see past this illusion." - thetarotguide.com

- The Devil

The ram skull shown, could be symbolic of The Devil card, which is the 15th card in the Major Arcana.

Upright, it represents violence, vehemence, extraordinary efforts, force, and fatality. This could be representative of what Agatha could bring.

Reversed, it means weakness, evil fatality, pettiness and blindness.

The Devil also tells you that you are feeling trapped or restricted.

"...you may feel as though outside influences or forces beyond your control are restricting you, leaving you feeling powerless and victimised. However, this is the illusion The Devil creates. You are in control of your own destiny and are not bound by anything other than your own attitudes and behaviour. Don’t give up and don’t give away your power. You don’t have to tolerate negativity, criticism, manipulation or abuse from anyone. There are always options and there is always something positive you can do to improve your situation no matter how hopeless things may seem on the surface." - thetarotguide.com

I think this could apply to Sigma's character too, since one of the Eye's rays are planted in the skull.

Aqua Colored, Snow-like Dustings and Grid:

Are most likely from Tanizaki's ability, Light Snow. You can see the luminescent snow around the framed space. You can also see the grid in the framed space, and the luminescent, aqua glow on Nikolai, above the frame. Also, notice how both Nikolai and Sigma appear to be clearer, and almost in a higher quality than Dazai, and Fyodor? I think it's possible that, with Nikolai being pictured under The Moon reversed, meaning illusion and deceit, along with what appears to be Tanizaki's ability at work, that they may somehow, someway, working together. Why, I don't know, but it's possible.

Final Notes:

Notice how Sigma's body is moving toward the future, but his eyes are looking at the Eye. I think it's symbolic of him discovering himself, his ability, and his prowess, almost playing more of a God-like role in the upcoming events.

Based on other theories I've seen, Tanizaki is the most likely to become a double agent or work for another organization, so it's possible that he actually could be working with Nikolai?

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this analysis! Tell me what you think!