#omg i forgot to tag bsd i hate myself you saw nothing

[maximaxstreasurebox]

BSD Untold Origins: Anime VS Novel (5)

One of the most important parts of Ranpo's character development....... oh boy- This whole post is just writing down the next *checks book* 10 PAGES literally, and I'm not intent to skip anything. Get your popcorn everyone! Put the text in text-to-speech if must lol- The reason I'm about to make my hands suffer from typing bcuz the whole scene hits very differently with Fukuzawa's internal dialogues added on top of Ranpo's world view. I'm sorry it's not really an 'analysis', I just really want to share the reading experience(??) :')

Pages; from 123 to 133 Word count: 2906

Season 4 and light novel spoilers! (literally)

Gifs © @the-chikyuu-times

Episode 1 (Part 1) - (Part 2) - (Part 3)

Episode 2 (Part 4) - (Part 6 soon)

They walked over to a few square seats in the lobby away from the crowd. Ranpo was sitting, albeit sulking, while Fukuzawa was standing right in front of him. Ranpo was fidgeting with his sleeves, so upset he couldn't sit still. Fukuzawa watched him without saying a word. Before long, five minutes of unchanging silence had passed.

"Okay," muttered Ranpo as if he couldn't take the silence any longer. "Get it over with. Give me your lecture. I've been chewed out like this by tons of people at my past jobs, so I know it's coming. I know what you're going to say, too." "You're surprisingly self-aware," noted Fukuzawa, his voice low. "I'm gonna be scolded because I did something wrong, right? If so, then it'd actually make me feel a little better. It's an easy concept to grasp." "...You're right."

Fukuzawa pondered. He wasn't a person who could teach something to this kid. He had always avoided giving guidance to others his entire life. This was the first time he ever regretted that. Fukuzawa had to tell him something. This teenager was at the edge of the cliff, leaning forward. "Tell me about your parents." Fukuzawa made sure to select his words wisely. "Did they say anything about your gift?" "My 'gift'?" Ranpo furrowed his brow. "I wouldn't be having trouble finding a job right now if I had a gift." "Then... Did they say anything to you about your future?" "Uh... My father always said, 'One day, you're going to surpass your mother and me, and you're going to win the admiration of all those around you. But now's not that time. Stay humble and keep your silence. Always be modest. Just quietly observe and don't hurt others with what you discover.' ...Or something like that. I don't really know what he meant, though."

I figured. Fukuzawa quietly nodded. So his father knew, after all. He understood that Ranpo possessed an extraordinary gift. He knew his son had the special ability to observe, remember, and uncover the truth in the blink of an eye. That was why he sealed it away. He didn't want Ranpo to go astray, to ever hurt others and make the world his enemy. His father wanted Ranpo to learn virtue and what's right just like an ordinary person until he had grown up with good judgment and knowledge. He was protecting him, creating a transparent cocoon to protect his extraordinary gift from this strange world. Ranpo's parents raised him like an ordinary child. What an astounding deed that must have been. How difficult it must have been to convince him that the world he saw was normal and nothing he knew was anything other than common sense. But Ranpo's parents did that with their extraordinary minds. What was such a feat, of not extraordinary love? But long before Ranpo had fully matured - far before Ranpo was ready for the world - they departed this life. An immature yet gifted larva was stripped of his cocoon and abandoned.

(im sorry to interrupt but did he just compared Ranpo to an insect? xD)

The palm of Fukuzawa's clenched fists began to sweat. No matter how strong his opponent was, he never experienced fear like this. The larva was without shelter. He was only moments away from being crushed by the outside world. If Fukuzawa didn't use just the right amount of force, then the damage would be irreparable. While hesitant, Fukuzawa finally spoke up. "You... have a gift. A gift to observe and deduce. Nobody has ever figured out my last job. Nobody knew who really killed the president of that company other than you. You're special, Ranpo, and if you so desire, you will become a greater mind than even your parents." "As if." Ranpo immediately shot down the claim. "My parents were amazing. There's no surpassing them to reach the top because they were the top. Neither of them ever told me once that I had a gift, and I believe them." He was stubborn. The protective wall his parents created was thick. That wall protected Ranpo from the world of ordinary people who would fear and fail to understand him, yes, but it was also what rendered him unable to step into the outside world.

"During the play, you were able to guess who the killer was," Fukuzawa continued. "And at that point in the performance, you were probably the only one in the audience who had. I myself didn't know until I finished the script." "Huh?" Ranpo gave a distinctly inquiring look. "Don't lie to me. If I figured it out, surely an adult would have no problem." This discussion was going in circles. He didn't understand others because he didn't think he was special. He didn't think he was special because he didn't understand others, which only confirmed what his parents had told him. It was unyielding logic that fed off each other, and the only way to break through was to shine light on something completely new. Something different. A new factor that Ranpo hadn't even thought of.

"Tell me this." Fukuzawa persevered. "Have you ever thought the people around you were stupid? That they were a bunch of fools who didn't understand a thing?" "..." Ranpo sent Fukuzawa a skeptical glance, and a few moments went by before he answered. "...I have." "That's it. Believe in that feeling. You have a gift, but everyone else is a fool, including me. The reason why you're all alone is because of your talents. Utilize them. There's nothing you can't do." "Don't think you can control me with a few compliments." Ranpo slightly averted his gaze. "My mother told me to never look down on others. Besides, why would only I be special? There are so many people in the city, so why would I be the only special one?" "That's because..." I'm almost there. I can't allow myself to mess up now. The time for decision was near. Fukuzawa wasn't an eloquent speaker. He wasn't someone who could manipulate others with his words. There was only one card left up his sleeve that he could play. Sincerity.

"You were right," admitted Fukuzawa. "I used to carry a sword at my waist. From an early age, I trained at a government-run school of martial arts. I was one of the five greatest swordsmen in the government, known as Goken. I truly thought my sword was for the peace and welfare of the nation... And I killed for that belief." Fukuzawa stared off into the distance. Ranpo carefully observed his expressions. "Assassinations were extremely simple. I had an overwhelming advantage, and not even once had I ever struggled in battle. It started to frighten me when I noticed I was looking forward to my next mission. I no longer knew if I was killing for the country or killing for the enjoyment of it. That was when I decided to permanently lay down my sword."

Fukuzawa remained calm as he spoke. Why am I telling him this? Why am I telling this kid something I've never told anyone before? But the words continuously crawled out of the depths of his heart and poured out of his mouth. "Power must be kept in check. Power that cannot be controlled must be discarded. If you refuse to acknowledge your gift, you are not different from the bloodthirsty man I used to be. You must recognize your talents, especially now that your parents are gone." Fukuzawa yearned to speak more eloquently. He didn't need the ability to fire up an entire crowd, or even the sort of inane flattery that could rouse the populace. All he wanted was to be able to tell a little white lie so that this kid could see the simple truth.

"I get what you're saying, but..." Ranpo scowled hard at Fukuzawa while remaining seated. "But - then tell me. What am I? What were my parents telling me? Make me understand why I'm here - why I'm like this. If you can do that, then I'll believe you." Ranpo was no longer sulking. Instead, he was honestly looking for an answer - something he'd never done before. And Fukuzawa was the only one who could give it to him. "The intermission is about to end. Please return to your seats." The announcement played over the intercom. The few people around started to walk away and head back to their seats, and Ranpo was already looking toward the small crowd. Fukuzawa didn't have much time. If he let his chance go by, Ranpo would probably never seek answers again. "That's because..." Fukuzawa paused midsentence. Anything. Anything would do. He just needed to say something. He had already used the ace up his sleeve: sincerity. He wasn't good at persuading others or speaking eloquently, either. He was even worse at lying. Just then... Fukuzawa suddenly caught sight of the script rolled up in Ranpo's hand. The troupe had given it to him, but he hadn't made it past the first paragraph before getting bored. As if by reflex, Fukuzawa said:

(you're a wizard,harry-)

"Because you're a skill user." Ranpo seemed perplexed. "...What?" "A skill user," repeated Fukuzawa. Even he still wasn't exactly sure what he was saying. "The reason you're special is because you're a skill user. You skill awakened when your parents died. That's... that's precisely it." "A skill user...? Why?" Ranpo's eyes darted about in abject confusion. This was essentially the first time Fukuzawa had experienced something like this in his life. More precisely - he had never spoken so impulsively. "It's all because of your skill. You can see the truth with nothing more than a simple glance. They spoke about it in the play, right? There are people in this world who possess supernatural abilities. And skills don't always make the possessor happy. Yours is the reason why you're in pain and why everyone seems like a monster." "...???" Ranpo was at a loss. He blinked in silent confusion. "You have to control your skill."

Fukuzawa gave thanks to his daily training. He had no idea what he was saying, but his heart was racing, and cold sweat dripped from his palms. Nevertheless, his expression was completely still. It was as if he were reading the newspaper just as he always did. Any hesitation in a fight with real swords could lead to death. The enemy must never get the chance to observe your eyes and predict your next move. That was why Fukuzawa was naturally able to keep a straight face, even if he was feeling anguished or terrified. Put it simply, Fukuzawa was playing cool. "You are a skill user, therefore you're special. To prove that, I'll teach you how to control that skill. You'll be able to freely utilize it with the help of a certain item. And with that item, you will learn how to control this skill that brings you such pain." "...?? A 'certain item'? Like what...?" Leaning forward, Ranpo tilted his head to the side. I haven't thought that far yet. Fukuzawa's eyes wandered around the room in search of a hint. Anything will do. Is there nothing here? There has to be something that can make Ranpo focus. Something... His hand lightly brushed against his pocket. That's it. "This." Fukuzawa whipped something out of his pocket.

"What the...? Glasses?" "It was a gift given to me by a well-known noble in Kyoto." I lied. It was dead stock from the neighborhood general store. "When you wear these, your skill be activated, and you will be able to immediately see the truth. On the other hand, when you're not wearing them, you will no longer care about how foolish those around you are. Here, they're yours." "...Okay..." Ranpo accepted the black-framed glasses as if he had no idea what was going on. "These look like ordinary cheap glasses to me..." He's got that right. "Of course they would, since you didn't even know that skills existed until earlier today." Fukuzawa quietly took in a deep breath. "Uh-huh... So do I put them on?" Ranpo unfolded the temples, then lowered his head and started to put on the glasses when⎯

"Haaah!" ⎯Fukuzawa let out a battle cry, and Ranpo immediately lost consciousness. It was an energy blast, as before, but the scale and directionality were different this time. It was a chi attack normally used in life-and-death battles, but Fukuzawa had utilized it to knock Ranpo out. Even a highly trained martial artist's head would go blank and lose control of their body in the face of such an attack, so a teenager like Ranpo stood no chance. Ranpo was unconscious while still holding the glasses to his face. He collapsed into his chair, and the impact caused the glasses to completely latch around his ears. "...Ah..." A few seconds went by before he regained consciousness. Ranpo stared up at the ceiling, blinking. "Behold. The world is a new place," Fukuzawa said, welcoming him. "Huh...? What just happened...? These are keeping my skill in check...? I don't feel any different, though... Do I...? Do I not...? My head feels kind of funny..."

(im sorry but KJHGDFSVBFJDDGUSHUIF-)

"The glasses have accepted you," claimed Fukuzawa with a profound note in his voice. He wore the expression of an enlightened being living atop a sacred mountain. Deep down, however, he was taken aback by just how outlandish his claim was. "Use these to control your skill. From now on, you are skilled detective Ranpo Edogawa. Use your skill to uncover the truth. Destroy evil hidden in darkness. You can do that, for you are the greatest detective in the world." "I, uh... 'G-greatest detective in the world'?" "Yes. The greatest detective in the world," repeated Fukuzawa as if he were imprinting that thought on a newly born chick's mind. "Isn't it all clear now? The world isn't a frightening place. Everyone else isn't a monster. They're just stupider than you." Ranpo caught his breath. He traced his finger around the glasses' frames as he pondered. "But... No, could it be? So back then, and then, and that time... Everyone was just stupid? They just didn't know any better?"

"Exactly. Listen, Ranpo. The world is full of fools. They don't know how to look at things. They're babies who can't even hold up their own heads yet. Nobody bears any ill will toward you. Do you think babies hate others? Do you think they would try to confuse someone to trick them?" "...No," muttered Ranpo with his head hanging low. "So that one time... And that other time... All the pain I've suffered... But when you put it that way... I see..." Hunched over with a downcast gaze, Ranpo slightly lifted up his head. It was as if he were slowly breaking out of his cocoon. "I see... So that's why. Nobody hates me." "Nobody hates you."

Ranpo suddenly hopped to his feet. His beaming smile stretched from ear to ear. You could practically hear the light bulb go off in his head. "Ha-ha-ha... Ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! It all makes sense! So everyone is just a big baby! Well, of course they are! The world isn't a disgusting place! Not at all! It's just a simple, stupid place!" Ranpo laughed in glee. He stood up straight, virtually radiating with a powerful glow like the morning sun. His expression was brighter than Fukuzawa had ever seen before. Ranpo was overjoyed with his rebirth. Then he declared, "Looks like I've gotta protect these stupid toddlers myself!" Ranpo swiftly turned around and looked at Fukuzawa. "Go back to the theater without me, old guy! I've got something I need to do. I can probably still prevent the murder from happening!"

"...What?" "The killer is going to do what he said he would! That much is crystal clear! So I'm gonna use that to my advantage! Now go! I need you right next to the stage!" Ranpo steadily pushed Fukuzawa forward from behind. Fukuzawa had no idea what was going on. His stream-of-consciousness fib somehow got Ranpo to understand he was gifted a moment ago, but now it felt as if he was far past that. What was going on? The killer was about to strike? "Wait? But if we do that-" "Trust me! Just go!" Ranpo was pushing Fukuzawa even harder now. Losing the initiative, Fukuzawa was slowly pushed into the hall, unable to even fight back. But...if the killer really was about to make a move, wouldn't it be dangerous to leave Ranpo alone?

Just then, the chime signaling the curtain's rise rang. "I can already see it - the enemy's target, their plan! I can see it all! I'll be just fine. Go on ahead. I want you to keep an eye on the audience!" Fukuzawa hesitated. It was wonderful that Ranpo was motivated, but if what he said was true, then that would mean there was a killer lurking in the theater. There was no way trying to thwart the enemy's plan wouldn't be dangerous. He looked at Ranpo's expression. It was strong; it was the face of someone who overcame. He'd overcome colossal walls and broken through the chains that shackled him. That would make this his first job as a new man. Fukuzawa had to trust him. To do anything else would be disrespectful. "All right. Be careful," Fukuzawa said with a nod. "I will!" exclaimed Ranpo, his voice projecting far and wide.

"After all, I'm the one who protects the foolish! I'm the greatest detective in the world!"