Currently Obsessing Over Soukoku

Just call me: Aka. Blog for some u̶s̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ BSD (mostly SKK) "analysis"

[ryuuaka713]

Reaction to That SKK DEAD APPLE MANGA SCENE

Ok, I know the whole SKK DEAD APPLE MANGA PANEL is already old news since it came out like what? Last year in October? But let me just put my thoughts in here because I haven’t got the time to say anything and how much that panel really means to me (College already drains the life out of me so please excuse for my late ramblings ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚).

           But anyway, when I first heard the news about the said manga panel, it is pretty hard to believe that it actually happened. I mean there is no description of their facial expressions when Dazai nullifies Chuuya and how they looked at each other. So, it is only fair that I expected the manga not to reveal their faces, almost similar to the one we have in the DEAD APPLE movie. But even in that movie, I admit, I am satisfied of how the emotions are delivered in the scene without the need for close-ups. That being said, I have to bring up one of my very old “analyses” for the DEAD APPLE scene where I said:

In this scene, where everything is silent and their faces “unseen”, our focus goes to their exchanges. Both Mamoru and Taniyama use their “bedroom voices”, and I think it is appropriate considering that their dialogue contains a deeper meaning in regards of their relationship. In other words, as mentioned before, it may seem like another day of bantering, but with their tone, there is something sincere and intimate in what they are saying. Also, the playfulness in Dazai’s comment and Chuuya’s response hits different compared to their other moments of constant yelling. You really don’t need the close up of their faces in order to see that they are at peace in each other’s company.

This—I wholeheartedly hold unto this! I am satisfied with how both VA’s did their tone in the scene and I’m fine without the facial expression.

           In case your wondering how the LN version of DEAD APPLE handle the nullification scene, it is almost similar to the movie except that there is more description on their voices:

“…Did you use Corruption because you believed in me? You’re gonna make me cry…,” came a calm voice. It was the voice of a man who was supposed to be dead.

Without even showing a hint of surprise, Chuuya responded, “Yeah, I trusted you were too damn crafty and far too stubborn to die.”

The corruption in Chuuya’s body had already disappeared. Dazai had nullified it. He placed a hand on Chuuya’s cheek where it has been punched and smirked slightly. “So this is how you wake Snow White? Kinda violent, don’t you think?”

“Hey, you’re the one who hid that antidote in yer mouth knowin’ you were gonna get punched in the face ,” griped Chuuya, making his disgust no secret.

(These are based on the official English translation).

In short, what Mamoru and Taniyama did in the movie, it is officially the standardize tonality of the scene, and all what the light novel did is emphasize their voices without saying how they look at each other. Needless to say, even though it can be frustrating because we only want to see one glance of their faces, it is a very big Soukoku moment for us, and we could assure ourselves that there is a palpable fondness in their expressions when they face each other.

           And now we have the manga itself!

The panels on the right followed the exact same protocol in both LN and Movie versions. But what really stands out for the manga, of course, is the close up of their faces—not just in one panel but in two, which indicates the exchange of glances. In other words, we have the privilege to see their reactions in two different perspectives! And what a sight it is!

           Gunzi-sensei took long their time and effort in focusing the details of Dazai and Chuuya’s eyes! After all, it is always the eyes that shows the most expression in the character in the BSD world. Not to mention, this is the shot when Dazai made that Snow White comment and Chuuya retaliated. In what is a very playful (somehow flirtatious) and intimate moment, we see them in this expression where both of their eyes just scream “love” (be it of friendship, closest comrades, or lovers). Even though, they are borderline bickering, we know and we can see clearly that this is not the time they are puling each other’s hairs. And it is showing what Soukoku has in-store of their relationship, which is something the public (literally and figuratively speaking) has never seen. It literally lives up to my expectations!

           Chuuya looks down at Dazai with his usual smirk, but it is his eyes and furrowed brows that shows how much he has to struggle his way internally and externally to save his partner. His face is all scratched-up—a fitting view for a prince who had fought a dragon. And when he looks down at him, it shows how his efforts are not wasted. In a way, he is fulfilling his purpose, to which he is then rewarded with a gentle touch from Dazai’s palm. It is satisfying—that’s why he doesn’t swipe his hand away from his face. After all, it is a familiar touch, and it just confirms that Dazai is alive, which means Chuuya is alive as well.

           And Dazai! First of all, I love @nataliaphantomhivesblog​ comment of this panel:

Now Dazai is a very intuitive character, he probably wasn’t that anxious about Chuuya not going through with the plan, but I personally believe that his heart lights up every time he realizes that Chuuya does trust him, when he gets that reassurance that maybe… just maybe Chuuya doesn’t actually hate him and want him dead.

Absolutely! As we’ve said so many times, Chuuya has always been Dazai’s constant companion, and it all started when these two were just boys. Dazai asked Chuuya if he trusted him, Chuuya wants to know why (not saying that he doubted him), and Dazai responds that he decides to continue living. If that’s the case, then the goal for Soukoku is to fight back and continue living—that’s why they are still alive at that point. But it takes real guts place your trust and your life on the hands of the man who desires to die, who is supposed to be dead, and who once disappeared for four years—this is the beauty in what Dazai is seeing. Chuuya may have some conflicted feelings with Dazai, but he will always trust him. That is because he knows Dazai, too much—he knows his motives. Ever since they were fifteen, Chuuya concluded that “the suicidal bastard wants to live”, and it stuck unto him! That’s why Chuuya knew that Dazai is “too stubborn to die”.

           With that being said, that smile on Dazai’s face and those eyes when he looks up at his partner, not only is it a reassurance but also a remembrance—Chuuya directly tells/reminds him why he saved him—because he is “too stubborn to die”, or rather, because he knew Dazai wants to live. And it is possible that this also reminds Dazai of the many times Chuuya fulfilled his role as his proper partner, even before Chuuya joined the PM. So, it only makes sense why Dazai looks at him with the most loving eyes. After all, it is a very beautiful scene.

[ryuuaka713]

Really, Tiktok?

ok, first of all. I am not dead. I didn't do much analysis lately unlike the previous years due to the fact that I have a life and it is slowly killing me.

Second and most of all, I was out of the BSD fandom for quite a while when suddenly I saw @nataliaphantomhivesblog 's post regarding of a tiktok user plagiarizing her analysis.

Honestly, I don't care much for tiktok or any of those social media except for their farcicality. But when it comes to this? I don’t like this.

There is a reason why content creators always put a warning that their works should not be reposted or, the very least, give credit to the original creator. Otherwise, it would be considered as stealing.

I saw that the tiktok user did try putting my name on the post, which is fine, but also not ok because the reality behind my posts and/or analysis is that they are all connected to Natalia's posts. In other words, I am merely reblogging what she said and I am adding my own understanding. And I am glad that there are comments that mentioned about the reblogs and collaborations we did because those were the foundations of our content--it was a back-and-forth discussion. And I can't think of any BSD post that we did where one of us is not mentioned.

We ALWAYS mentioned each other because 1) credits, and 2) we are a team.

Moreover, the fact that the slideshow is the watered down version of her analysis just adds salt to the wound. Yes, our analysis are lengthy for a reason--we want to hit the right points with evidence and explain the evidence rather than give an outline of it. That‘s exactly another reason why this is upsetting--the idea that all of that work, only being cut down with missing points. And the thing is, it is not an easy peasy thing to write about them. I know! I became an insomniac doing those analysis.

I really felt so sorry for Natalia. She is the one who put a lot of effort into these and the reason why I started this collaboration with her is because she did a fantastic job and very on-point. If anything, I owe her a lot. And she definitely deserves more credit than I do since SHE IS THE ORIGINAL.

I am not going to cause any further row with the user. We have enough drama in our lives and I dont want another one in my long list. Whoever they are, they owe Natalia an apology (and it is up to Natalia on how she responds to it).

And if you find any of our discussions interesting and want to share it--thank you! But please! Give us proper credit. And by "proper", I mean look up who is the original creator, and TAKE NOTE of THEIR NAME.

[popopretty]

Hi pretty san. I had a request. Can I have a photo of this page from the manual?☺

Here you go.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

People who think Dazai is going to actually kill Chuuya not only underestimate Soukoku, but also underestimate Fydoor a lot.

Do y'all really think that Fydoor ONLY choose Chuuya as his asset because of his strenght? Because if you think thats the case, you are wrong.

Fydoor choose Chuuya because he is smart enough to detect the emotional impact our redhead has on Dazai.

Just look at Dazai's words when he realizes Fydoor is using Chuuya. He even calls him a bastard for this.

Because this "despicable card" is not just for Fydoor to have physcial power over him, but also to mentally and emotionally toll with Dazai.

Fydoor knows that Dazai will prioritize Chuuya over escaping the prision. Lets not forget that Dazai has prioritized Chuuya over a mission mulitple times.

A clear example of this is in Stormbringer:

Inside Dazai's head, he was planning a procedure to swith to an alternative plan in case Chuuya refused, at a tremendous speed.

Yes...while the whole world was in mortal danger Dazai still took his time to prioritize his partners wellbeing whille trying to come up with another plan that wouldn't affect Chuuya.

Also I just know that if Chuuya wasn't that much of an important person to Dazai, the brunnete would've exploited Chuuya's powers long ago just to get a mission over with.

But he doesn't exploit him. Not only because Dazai cares. But also because they are both equals to one another.

With all this being said, Fydoor is using Chuuya as a possible distraction for Dazai.

Now that Chuuya is a vampire, its likely that Dazai wants to find a way to change him back to normal so that he will no longer be in Fydoor's clutches. (It would also be benificial to Dazai since Chuuya will be on his side if he does turn back to normal.)

With that being said, I think its highly likely that Dazai's current plan is to turn Chuuya back into a human.

Dazai didn't just trap Chuuya and Fydoor there to drown them. He trapped them there to trigger something in Chuuya and make him human again.

And I think its working! Look at Chuuya's eyes in the first pannel and Chuuya's eyes on the second one.

I can't be the only one who is able to spot the difference here. Chuuya's face looks significantly human in the 2nd picture.

Dazai doesn't genuienly want to kill Chuuya. I think that Dazai most likely knew that keeping him confined in that place while triggering Chuuya's emotions with memories of his friendship would make him turn back to normal.

And the only way Chuuya can get out of that confined area is by using corruption. And we all know how both Dazai and Chuuya feel about using corruption so I think thats why Dazai is very apolagetic about all this.

Take note of Dazai's choice of words here: "Its unfortunate that it had to come to this" isn't that a wierd way of wording a goodbye to a friend? I think if Dazai was being genuiene over Chuuya dying then he would say that its a shame that it had to end that way.

But it won't. It won't end. Atleast not yet. Dazai is just sorry that Chuuya is trapped in a situation where he has no choice but to use corruption.

All in all, this whole situation will change their dynamic a lot. Especially now that Dazai was more verbally vulnerable about his dynamic with Chuuya than he has ever been throughout the story.

I cannot wait for the next chapter to see what will happen! Lets keep trusting soukokus partnership and know that these two will get through this one.

[ryuuaka713]

Another thing I should add, albeit it is not completely related is that: if the water really cancels out abilities like what it is speculated, I would say that it stills keep the Corruption theory plausible. If not, then Dazai still is hella good in his tactics because by nullifying the vampire ability, he is able to transmit the “code” in his speech to Chuuya, whatever that may be. There is still hope, guys!!!

And Yes! There are no other things I should add in here. Natalia herself just added some of the best details. And good catch on his diction “It’s unfortunate that it had to come to this”, especially since he didn’t use the word “end”.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

How are all my soukoku fans who read the latest bsd chapter doing?

Not to sound dramatic but these 3 pages were hard for me to digest... In a good way and in a bad way.

First of all, lets take into account what Dazai is saying here because honestly it was very shooking to see Dazai saying something so vulnerable about his relationship with Chuuya.

Dazai admits his connection with Chuuya, he admits how their hearts have reached out to each other multiple times.

Lets process this for a second... Dazai is actually being verbally honest and vulnerable over Chuuya....

I would also love to mention the irony of Dazai literally remenicing on emotional moments he shared with Chuuya before saying that there wasn't any of those moments to begin with... He was mentally contradicting himself here.

Personally, I found the moments Dazai was looking back on really interesting:

When Dazai tells Chuuya that if he uses corruption he will never be able to find out if hes truly human and Dazai telling Chuuya that he doesn't have to use corruption if he doesn't want to. (stormbringer LN)

When Chuuya and Dazai held hands which was basically the start of their partnership. (fifthteen LN and anime)

When Chuuya lets Dazai go when he was restrained in the basement, it was also the first time Chuuya and Dazai had seen each other for the first time in years. (bsd manga)

When Chuuya saves Dazai with corruption. (Dead apple movie, manga and LN)

Dazai telling Chuuya that they have to use corruption to defeat lovecraft. (bsd manga)

Dazai nullifying corruption after defeating lovecraft. (bsd manga)

So all the moments mentioned above are instances when these two connected with far more than just words. Like Dazai himself said, their hearts reached out to each other.

Lets also take note of Dazai's facial expressions. Dazai looks genuienly upset over this, look at his frown and slight pause right after saying goodbye to Chuuya.

Look at his eyes right after he thinks of those moments when their connection went further than just a petty rivalry.

Then theres Dazai's facial expression in that last pannel, that smile is probably the fakest smile i've ever seen adorn on Dazai's face. Its just.... So obviously exaggerated.

Dazai is not taking pleasure in doing this to Chuuya. Towards the end its really clear that this is some sort of act to cover up his emotions since he just revealed a very vulnerable part of him.

For the people thinking that Dazai is genuienly meaning and trying to get Chuuya killed here surely underestimate how strong their bond and partnership is.

I firmly believe that Dazai definetly has a plan or some sort of idea to get Chuuya out of this mess. (take note of Chuuya's face in the first picture and look at his eyes and teeth, he doesn't look like a vampire anymore.)

Maybe...just maybe... Dazai is apologizing to Chuuya because the redhead will have no choice but to use corruption to get out of this. But thats just a small theory from my end.

I may struggle fully trusting Dazai, but I do trust his bond with Chuuya. I know he would never leave Chuuya to die like that, not after everything they've gone through together.

I wonder if my dear friend @ryuuaka713 has any thoughts regarding this, they always have some of the best soukoku takes! :D

[ryuuaka713]

BSD MANGA SPOILERS (CH. 101)

I heard @nataliaphantomhivesblog ‘s call, and I have risen from the grave.

Honestly, when I saw this yesterday via an Instagram story, I immediately jumped into panic mode, started hyperventilating, and cried my ass. No shit! I went, “DAZAI YOU BETTER NOT LOSE HIM!!! FUCK!!! NOT ANOTHER RED HEAD PLEASE NOT CHUUYA!!!”. And then I went through the 5 stages of grief (in no particular order), hopped into twitter and asked another SKK fan friend about it, lose conscious for almost half an hour, and then calmed down (no not really).

But anyways, here I am! I did not respond to this post immediately because I really need to clear my head (and since I’m still in Med school for God’s sake!). So, Natalia, please excuse my delay (*_ _)人 but here it is:

-~- -~- -~- -~- -~- -~- -~- -~- -~- -~-

Where do I begin?

Maybe I should start with this hate that Dazai is going to get or had already get. The biggest problem in here is the fact that Dazai is letting Chuuya “die” or at least suffer. And in such case, now that Natalia mentions it, he’s making Chuuya activate corruption--and thus, putting him in a life-or-death situation. Here’s the thing, for me, I don’t hate Dazai, and honestly, with my head being clearer than yesterday, I want to believe that he has a plan. In terms of Corruption, this is not the first time that these two have been in a life-or-death situation. As a matter of fact, Dead Apple shows probably one of the clearest examples of how SKK communicate in carrying out missions, Chuuya’s activation of Corruption is literally him putting his life on a supposed “dead man”, and could potentially cost both lives. In any case, this situation is no different from that.

Now in terms of Dazai letting Chuuya die... at first, it is baffling! I literally lose my mind when I first found out about it! But looking at the execution of this “death”, it really isn’t the case. First of all, Asagiri spent more than forever in developing Chuuya’s character, and is he really gonna eliminate him by trapping him in a water-sealed chamber? It really doesn’t sit right. If anything, the closest Chuuya has come to his death is whenever he is in Corruption. But here’s the catch, whenever Chuuya is in corruption, Dazai is always there. And guess who do we have in this scene? If Dazai is going to let Chuuya die via corruption, then he’s also gonna follow him somehow, considering that he just admits how they are always closely linked in one way or the other. Which something that Dazai would want, right? Well, we’ve been there before, but in the end, their goal is really to live. So there really is no way that Dazai is really letting Chuuya die. And I think this best explained when we know how Soukoku works.

Looking at the pattern, the first thing we notice in the way how Dazai passes communication and codes to Chuuya is through humor. During the Dragon’s Head conflict, he told Chuuya that he “take some bullets and die, thanks!” This is Dazai’s way of saying that there is an enemy closed by, and the LN clearly says that it is a warning. With that being said, and doesn’t it sound similar to him having that sing-song “Good bye”? And then you have the codes such as “Shame and Toad” and “Lie of the Fake Flowers”, Dazai’s “Good bye” can be seen as a code considering that the real life Osamu Dazai did write a book called “Good Bye”, which is almost similar to the fact that these codes are named after the author’s literary works. And don’t forget, Dazai is speaking through the intercom, and add the fact that Dostoevsky is using Chuuya against him (indicating how much of an influence Chuuya is to Dazai and vice versa), it is only fair for Dazai to say that he is saying “Good bye” to Chuuya in the most joking and perhaps brutal way--that’s his way of tricking the enemy. In short, I’m just saying that, to all the people that believe that Dazai doesn’t care about Chuuya and wants him dead, this my rebuttal. But take it however you like because we haven’t seen the sequel to this incident.

Now, for the main deal.

.... I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT DAZAI REALLY THOUGHT ALL OF THOSE MOMENTS!!!!!

We can say that he is only trying to sell the deal when he said that “there are moments when our hearts reached out to each other”, but what really stands out is the fact that Dazai himself reminisced all those years they have together! Dazai doesn’t need to do that, there shouldn’t be a panel for that because we can see the picture already, but no! Harukawa-sensei give us this luxury!

Now, like I said before, I want to believe that what Dazai is doing is part of the plan. Everything he said can be taken as “scripted”, but those memories he has, I firmly believe that it is genuine! And I am saying this to all the SKK haters who claim that they don’t care about each other at all. Dazai can go ahead and fake being sad, but at some point, while he is speaking, he literally got himself caught up! Those eyes as what Natalia said shows so much vulnerability.

And for Dazai to say that they known each other for 7 years, I couldn’t help but think that within those 7 years, they have that 4 year gap when Dazai abdicated from the mafia. And yet, he still includes those 4 years as part of the years they’ve known each other, as if, Dazai never left... and it is further proof in this panel (same chapter):

It sounds almost similar to the one in SB where Dazai claims that he always thinks of Chuuya day and night. And now this! Nothing has changed! And I can assume that nothing is going to change in that dynamic. I don’t need to list all of those moment as Natalia herself have mentioned them, but regardless which SKK moment that pops first in your mind, there is always a connection. And this is Dazai acknowledging it!

And perhaps, Chuuya did too! Take note the facial expression that Chuuya has while Dazai is speaking--he became... more human... and some people believe that it is possible that whatever Dazai said (and adding that familiar joking tone) may have triggered something insider for Chuuya. 

Of course, we can take that part as nothing more but a romantic thesis. And it is still understandable for some of us to have some doubts in regards to this event, considering that we don’t know what Asagiri has in store for us. But this is all what he have for now.

And I want to point out that this panel is one of the best representation of how SKK is depicted in some of the meta analysis. Dazai’s remembrance of his relationship with Chuuya perfectly fits with the title “Of Bygone Days”--which is the main title of the episode when we get to know more about Chuuya for the first time, and the same name of the real-life poetry book by Chuuya Nakahara. It is in their past that left the audience in wonder and intrigue of who they are, and they all highlight their relationship with each other. And the way how Dazai shows that brief vulnerability before masking it with a joke is similar to how he confessed on liking Chuuya when they were fifteen (he said “I love you” in the 15! LN btw), before agreeing that he finds it ridiculous just to save face. In this case, however, Dazai is saving himself from that vulnerability with that joke because Dostoevsky is listening (whether Dostoevsky can see through it or not, who knows!). So, it is understandable why he would immediately say “nothing” to those years. After all, Dazai is a pretty good liar, and it is easier for him to deal with that lie, especially in that situation. But one thing for sure, is that we know he can’t fool us! That smile did not help brushing off the fact that he thought all of those moment when he really doesn’t need to. It is, Natalia’s words, exaggerated. That is a smile that can’t fool even himself. 

And that brings me to an agreement with Natalia, there is no way Dazai would let him die like this, in addition to the technicality in the writing. We have seen how they birthed a union before even receiving a title in 15!. We have seen how much Dazai thinks of Chuuya and understands his humanity in SB. We have seen how they exchange words that only the two of them can understand in every mission. We have seen how much they knew each other in that basement scene. We have seen how they are still working on the same dynamic when they defeated Lovecraft. We have seen the extent of their trust when Chuuya jumped off from that plane, used Corruption, saved Dazai, and for Dazai to save him back... These are what Dazai has seen and acknowledged! He DID NOT SEE NOTHING! He is aware of this as much as we are aware of this! 

And needless to say, no matter how you see it, it is SKK moment for us!

-~- -~- -~-

If you’ve read this far, thank you so much for your patience! 

<(_ _*)> Thanks~

(Natalia, my dear, thank you so much for the mention (^  3  ^)

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

“Maybe you were worth it, you know? I believe in Adam. I’m grateful for the apology but don't worry about it.”Chuuya opened his mouth to say something but he was not able to put it into words. Like a child who had forgotten his way home, he just stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face.Dazai looked at Chuuya and laughed a little as if he could not help it. Honestly, he’s so fond of him 😮‍💨

Thats actually one of my favorite skk moments from stormbringer! Lets take into account that Dazai rarely ever genuienly laughs and smiles and one of the times he did was because he witnessed Chuuya being in awe about the fact that people care for him....couldn't it be more obvious?

Seriously, if someone claims Dazai doesn't care about Chuuya just throw them the stormbringer light novel because out of all the Soukoku content this is the one where Dazai's fondness for Chuuya isn't hidden and is actually evident.

[ryuuaka713]

Remember that part where Dazai smiled at Chuuya before he battles with the Guiver? You know, the one where Dazai gave him a moment to decide because by using corruption, Chuuya will lose his memories?

Also, do you remember that part when Dazai said that Chuuya is a human because of his dynamic personality even though he doesn't have a proof of it yet? In that part, he also smiled when he said that.

And of course, going back to the battle scene with the Guiver, after Chuuya defeated him, Dazai caught him and even smiled as he made a playful comment.

These are the moments I recall in Stormbringer.

Then you have the ones when they are 22 years old. This includes:

Dazai smiles when he said that he got himself caught and waited for Chuuya to come because it is their reunion, and he "hasn't seen him in a while, and thought he should give him a surprise".

Dazai smiles after he and Chuuya defeated Lovecraft, and Chuuya said "I used corruption because I trusted you".

And finally, Dazai smiles when Chuuya saved him and placed a hand on his cheek saying, "You used Corruption, believing in me? How beautiful!"

Of course Dazai has always been so fond of Chuuya! I would like to think that this fondness stems from the fact that Dazai has seen Chuuya as a boy. He always calls him a child when they are fifteen, just to differentiate that Dazai is raised more mature compared to him (not just their height lol), while Chuuya's character is literally how a boy his age would react--a child. This conflicts with Dazai's own approach and that explains why he is annoyed with him when Chuuya acts impulsively in their first mission.

But it is not until he realized that Chuuya has the responsibility of the "King of Sheep" that Dazai thought that the two of them are no different from each other--they are both children being forced into acting like adults.

And yet, even though they are supposed to be adults, they still act like children around each other. It is interesting how Dazai started to develop his childish antics right when he and Chuuya met. It is as if he is responding to Chuuya's "childish" behavior with the same energy. It is as if Chuuya is somehow influencing him, and isn't that a different view from his initial thoughts about meaninglessness of life?

Chuuya has a strong determination to live, especially when he is trying to solve the mystery of his identity--and as humans, we value our volition to live. Dazai tries to understand the meaning of life. He hasn't figure it out until later when he decided to fight with him, claiming that life and death are part of one cycle and must be seen in a bigger picture. And he knew he should spend those waking hours with Chuuya ("I have a new dog"). It is a big step for Dazai!

That explains his obsession in Stormbringer. But what I found interesting on the way he smiles in those scenes in Stormbringer is that they all hold a heavy meaning. Dazai smiles upon realizing that a "non-human entity" like him could identify what a human is like just based on his partner. He smiles fondly at Chuuya in the last parts of Stormbringer, likely because his self-sacrifice is undeniably admirable. He also smiles because he still sees Chuuya as the boy he meets back when they were fifteen--always acting cool but also have the temper of the child. This is also why he laughs/smiles when Chuuya was dumbfounded by Shelley's reaction--he is reminded of the Chuuya he knew, and also because does agree of Chuuya's worth--after all, he was there to look after Chuuya.

By recognizing their capabilities, this will continue a big role in their trust. And that's exactly why they still hold the same dynamic even after they were separated.

That dungeon scene reminisced their golden years as double black. And it does refresh the roles they play. Nothing much has changed between them! And they continue to prove it by defeating an enemy organization. And even more so, Chuuya verbally admits his trust on Dazai--something that he did ever since they start working together as kids. And Dazai is touched by this gesture, especially when he sees the degree of how far Chuuya is willing to go through danger with his life and trust placed upon his hands--just like how Chuuya made that self-sacrifice in Stormbringer, with the confidence that Dazai will ensure their safety.

With that being said, how can Dazai not smile fondly at him?

TL;DR : It's not just in Stormbringer

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Yeah! Fuck gender norms!! I like Chuuya when he’s got a handful of feminine beauty standards because I think femininity is personally attractive. And also because a feminine, gender nonconforming man is cool!! I adore the idea that it doesn’t damage his masculinity. There’s nothing inherently wrong with being feminine or masculine. As a feminine person myself, I guess I just like seeing a strong character like him share some traits of mine.

Now that I’ve had time to ponder, he really is just feminine to me because I purposefully perceive him as so. My fanon became mixed in with my canon, apparently. I’ve became the very thing I’ve sworn to hate… (I’m half-joking as I say that).

I guess I just like it when people play with gender roles, but without all the icky stuff :D! I’ve been raised to be a feminine girl, and I find joy in being feminine because I want to. My mom’s feminine. My sister’s feminine. My best friend is feminine. And I love the female figures in my life, so I strive to be feminine as well! That’s not to say that all non-men are feminine. I’m just saying that the non-men that matter the most to me are feminine. It’s a source of strength and positive validation for me, rather than a source of misogyny. That doesn’t mean that masculinity or androgyny is bad either :D! I just prefer femininity :3

Ah, and aside from my personal opinion. I did a Twitter poll that got 7 votes (not including mine). Without my 2 votes—that I made so that it would get more interactions—there would be 4 votes FOR Chuuya looking feminine and 3 votes AGAINST Chuuya looking feminine. Maybe I should make one for Tumblr too, to see if people perceive him differently here :o. If I’m not too lazy I might XD

Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my asks Natalia :D!! It was fun to discuss this with somebody. I hope you have a great day!!!! ヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ

I get you!! I also grew around a lot of femenine energy so I know how it feels to be more attracted to it.

And yes!! Him looking femenine does not harm his masculinitity in any way and I stan that.

You should def make a poll here on tumblr, this "Is Chuuya femenine or nah" discourse has been going on for as long as I entered the bsd fandom for the first time so I think it'll be interesting to see which side "wins".

Also, it was no problem answering your asks!! I enjoy them soooo much. Hope you have a great day too<3

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Where their morals stand: Chuuya & Dazai

It's been a while since ive talked about these two but today I was re-reading the double black chapter and theres one specific part that I wanted to discuss.

I always wondered if Dazai had any deeper intentions here. Obviously Dazai is someone who you can never take lightly, especially in his actions.

When Dazai puts the knife on Q's neck, he was putting Chuuya to a test. More specifially—he was testing Chuuya's humanity and moral code.

Whats interesting here was that Dazai would've expected Chuuya to tell him to stop, he wouldn't stand with a neutral face while a literal 13 year old kid who is in the same side as him is about to be killed. Because thats the type of person Chuuya is, hes the type of person who won't stand by senseless killing and torturing.

But although Chuuya and Dazai's dynamic hasn't changed, both of them have defiently changed as people. One for the better, and the other for the worse.

Chuuya is getting consumed by the darkness, although he still holds his emotions and care for people he is close with. He is becoming a lot more cold than before when it comes to incidents like these.

And Dazai knows this, well to be more specific, Dazai found this out because of the fact that Chuuya was unfazed about this kid being potentially killed, especially because of his loyalty to Mori and how Mori would be upset if Q wasn't brought back.

But lets took at Chuuya's reasoning for not caring about Q dying: Q is the constant reminder of his subordinates deaths, he is the one who killed them so Chuuya wouldn’t mind for them being "avenged" by getting Q killed.

So his reasoning behind wanting Q killed is wierdly enough pretty humane. He is pissed that his subordinates got killed and respects their deaths enough to put Mori's orders at risk and let Q get killed.

So although Chuuya's morals have become more questionable than before, and although he is becoming much darker, he still has that human part inside of him who deeply cares and respects people.

After Dazai puts Chuuya to the test, he immedietly stops what he is doing and declares he won't kill Q. His reasoning to not kill Q is because of the following:

On another note, I find it very funny that Chuuya called Dazai a softie for not wanting to kill a literal child.

So.... Dazai didn't kill Q to save.... himself? Actually, this goes much deeper than Dazai just doing it for saftey insurance. Dazai is also doing this for his own sake.

As we know, Dazai is trying to stick to a moral code, Dazai is trying to keep living in the light, and of course killing a kid isn't the way to go on about it.

So he didn't kill Q to save his own mindset, and obviously because he was probably never intending to kill Q in the first place.

Now this makes things much more interesting, doesn't it? Dazai didn't want to kill Q for his own sake while Chuuya wanted Q dead out of respect to his comarades and subordinates.

What are your thoughts on this? I would love to know!

[ryuuaka713]

Natalia! It is been a while since we’ve done this. I’m still currently on hiatus with doing analysis due to college ๐·°(৹˃̵﹏˂̵৹)°·๐ . But I wont miss a beat if it is your analysis because why not ^___^.

It’s been a while since I’ve read the BSD manga, so I have to reread it again. As for the Double Black chapter, particularly in this scene, I just love your observation that one of them is changed for the better and one is changed for the worst. It just shows so much how these two are each other’s foils and we can see more how we see them as individual characters.

Let’s start with Chuuya, shall we? I swear, whenever someone is trying to have a beef with this guy, this scene is the number one reason why people see Chuuya as a despicable character. I can see why, considering that the judgement lies on an adult trying to murder a child who doesn’t even want that ability. In my opinion, this is somehow out-of-the character for Chuuya because he has seen as the older brother figure in an organization particularly when he was in The Sheep. So why would he allow Dazai to “kill” Q? I see two possibilities going on in here:

1)      Similar to what you said, Chuuya just dives more into the darkness of the PM but still maintains his sense of humanity upon mentioning his subordinates. In that case, Chuuya is demonstrating his morality but in a more dubious way; it is obvious that he would protect the civilians in Yokohama at all costs, and by that, he would not hesitate to go one-on-one with an ability user even if that ability user is a child. With that being said, there is a sense that Chuuya is starting to act like PM! Dazai, who overlooks the fact that Akutagawa was a child when he abused him in the process of training him with his ability. In other words, Chuuya recognizes Q as someone capable of killing like him, particularly when they live in the setting called the Port Mafia. It is possible that he may have a sense of pity for Q not wanting to have that ability since Chuuya himself has his own personal dilemma with Corruption, but then again—because Chuuya is “too selfless”, he is willing to overlook Q and have his focus on those who are completely vulnerable.

(Also: Take note that when Chuuya carries Q, he carries the kid on his back. I know I shouldn’t make a big deal about this, but if we are to talk about Chuuya being a completely heartless person, he would have carried Q on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes (like he shouldn’t give a fuck), but he has the decency to give him a piggy-back ride.)

2)      Now, as for the second possibility, now that you mentioned that Dazai is “testing Chuuya”, I also see this moment as when Chuuya is ALSO TESTING Dazai. Chuuya wants to see how far Dazai has changed since he left, and that’s why he provokes Dazai to kill Q. This is also why he calls Dazai a “softie” with a tone that seems to say that he is anticipating for Dazai to drive the blade into the child. Chuuya is so used to seeing Dazai’s brutality that he would not be fazed if Dazai actually sheds blood on someone. And yes! It is ironic that Chuuya would call him a softie because Dazai also undermined Chuuya’s mercy in the past (I made a full analysis on it, so I’m not doing it here again ;;__;). Also, this could be a factor for Chuuya to adopt his partnership with Dazai—knowing Double Black, it is important for the members to know each other by instinct. So, for Chuuya, since Dazai left, so much has passed, and in that situation, he needs to know his partner. And what do you know? Even though he can predict Dazai, this time, he encounters the unexpected, and thus Chuuya has to take note on that. At least, this is the possible reason why Chuuya might have (possibly) been “testing” Dazai in the scene.

Now for Dazai—you know damn well this guy has an ULTERIOR MOTIVE. His reason of not wanting to kill Q may be what he just said. But knowing Dazai, it is not that simple. Perhaps his reason of not killing Q is really to follow the ideal footstep of the side that helps people, or more specifically: what Odasaku would NOT do even if he was PM’s assassin.

And just like what you mentioned, it is possible that he has no intentions to have Q killed anyway. And it brings to our attention that Dazai might have been testing Chuuya’s moral code himself, as what you said. But here’s another question, why would Dazai even test Chuuya in the first place? Chuuya may have tested Dazai’s morality for evaluating his trust and partnership on him, but what is Dazai’s reason? Is it the same with Chuuya? Does he want to Chuuya to divert from the PM as it is implied so many times that Dazai wants Chuuya out of the mafia, even though the chances are slim? Dazai brought up the whole “killing Q” situation in the first place, and he could just honestly skip this theatric when their focus is on the mission. So why bring it up? (Now, I’m curious your thoughts).

And finally:

“Dazai didn't want to kill Q for his own sake while Chuuya wanted Q dead out of respect to his comrades and subordinates.”

Now that is an interesting contrast where it just shows how these boys are morally grey characters. Honestly, Dazai not wanting to kill Q for his own sake can be very much referring to Dazai seeing the practicality in his decisions (albeit dubious), which is ironically to maintain his morality—morality for himself but also for the citizens, since he considers himself a “safety device”. As for Chuuya, his wanting to kill Q for his subordinates is a reflection of his willingness to sacrifice any ounce of himself (life, morality, whatever it is) is also for the sake of the citizens. In short, these boys are fucked up (but we love them).

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONTENT AND I REALLY MISS DOING THIS ♡ ´･ᴗ･ `♡

[xxmonochromaticmindxx-deactivat]

Nakahara Chuuya : Blind Loyalty

One of the many interesting aspects of Chuuya’s personality is his unbending loyalty. And while it could be seen as beautiful and inspiring (and it is, in more ways than one), it is often harmful and misplaced.

I wanted to explore his character more and figure out why he cannot seem to stop pledging loyalty to the wrong people.

Keep in mind that this is only my interpretation of his character based on the information we’ve been given in the manga and the Light Novels. I’m writing this from what I imagine is his way of seeing things and people, not how they actually are.

After thinking about his backstory for some time, I made a list of plausible reasons that could partially explain his behaviour, it goes like this :

- Gratitude.

- Low self steem & distorted perception of self.

- The fear of being alone (due to trauma).

Let’s start babbling, shall we. Firstly we have :

1.   Gratitude :  

From what we’ve seen so far, Chuuya isn’t a sentimental person. He rarely talks about his emotions openly, if ever. He’s emotional yet extremely guarded at the same time.

This is so apparent in Stormbringer where he constantly holds himself back from talking about his issues in a direct manner. He doesn’t even say « Thanks » like other people, he lets his actions speak instead.

He did all the dirty work for The Sheep, he works hard for the sake of The PM, he puts himself in danger to protect the city, he indulges Dazai despite what went down between them. And I can clearly see why.

The Sheep saved him when he was on death’s door. The Sheep raised him, taught him about how the world works and gave him a sense of normalcy. 

The PM welcomed him when he had nowhere to go. Kouyou took him under her wing. Basically everyone in The PM put their lives on the line to keep him safe.

The flags loved him. The flags committed treason for him. The flags gave him physical proof of his humanity and pieces of his past. The flags died for him.

Dazai of all people fought for him. Dazai believed in his humanity. Dazai respected him enough to grant him the freedom to choose his own fate. Dazai never made fun of his identity issues. Dazai never recoiled from the parts that made him inhuman. Dazai never failed to bring him back. Dazai stopped his suicide attempt because the thought of Chuuya dying too was unacceptable. Dazai decided to live after meeting him.

Imagine being told you’re not human only to meet a severely suicidal person who suddenly gives life a second chance thanks to your existence. That ought to leave a permanent mark on your soul.

Mori answered his questions. Mori smiled at him in a genuine way (which he never does). Mori treated him the same way even after reading his files. Mori searched for his real family and gave him a chance to meet them.

For someone who spent their entire life doubting themselves, who struggled deeply with their own sense of self, who were stripped of their humanity, who had absolutely nothing and no one to lean on, all these experienecs must’ve meant a lot, despite the excruciating pain and the losses that inevitably came with them.

Here are two excerpts from the end of Stormbringer that show how grateful Chuuya is :

Without changing his expression, Chuuya said : “No need. My family is the port mafia.”

Chuuya was surely reading something in this sky and looked at it with eyes as if he had realized something. And then he said into the phone : “Boss … I’m really grateful.”

 2.   Low self esteem & distorted perception of self :

He doesn’t look like the insecure type, I know.

Hear me out first.

In Fifteen, Chuuya already knew he was Arahabaki, he knew he was the one who blew up the facility and killed many people as a result. He knew he wasn’t a human being. And do you know what usually comes with such a realization? Self doubt, isolation and alienation.

He obviously stood out like a sore thumb among the other ordinary kids. He had no relatives, he had no memories, he didn’t even know what bread was. The fact that he had the most powerful ability in Yokohama didn’t help either.

Which means that his exposure to the world was primarily through The Sheep’s lenses and how they themselves perceived things. Which also means that they had plenty of time to ingrain the « With great power comes great responsibility » & « We saved you, you owe us, so now you’ll do whatever we ask of you » bullshit in his mind.

Chuuya probably deemed himself unworthy of being one of them, for obvious reasons. He felt hugely indebted to The Sheep for taking him in and couldn’t stand the idea of not giving something just as valuable in return. He seems like the type to loathe the idea of being useless all the while rejecting any appreciation for his usefulness (or rather, not believing he could ever be useful).

An example of that is his answer when Mori praised him for saving the city in Dead Apple :

Another example is his reaction when Shelly said he’s worth fighting for :

So, what did he have that The Sheep lacked? The strength.

He used it to protect them (and gained the sense of belonging he yearned for) and they made sure to keep a tight leash on him, seeing how he was their « retaliation tool » and their « shield ». Seems like a win-win situation on the surface level when in fact it was one party taking full advantage of the other. Chuuya’s obliviousness made it easier for The Sheep to manipulate him more.

Shirase’s inner thoughts in Stormbringer perfectly summed up the way The Sheep saw Chuuya . Here it is :

Their influence on him ran so deep that he thought he was the one who made them betray him. He gave up his freedom -a freedom he’ll never get back- in exchange for their safety. He even hallucinated them insulting him for letting them down while he was being tortured. Any sensible person with a shred of self-respect and dignity in them would’ve let them die for their betrayal. But this is Chuuya, ever so protective and caring.

There’s also the whole situation with The PM that needs to be addressed.

I find it interesting, ironic and logical all at once how Chuuya who valued trust and loyalty above all, was thoroughly impressed by Mori’s warped definiton of what a leader is.

Here’s what he said :

“Being a leader means standing at the top of the organisation, and also being the entire organisation’s slave. If it’s for the survival and prosperity of the organisation, I will happily steep myself in all the dirt. Nurture my subordinates, deploy them where best fitted, use and discard them if need be. If it’s for the organisation, I will gladly carry out all sorts of atrocities. That is being a leader. It’s all to protect this organisation, and this lovable city.”

Mori intrigued Chuuya because Mori was the embodiment of what he could never be : a good leader. He deemed himself incapable of accomplishing such a feat. He could never use people or get rid of them, He’s not pragmatic or detached. He took the blame for The Sheep’s downfall out of guilt (Something Mori would never do) when in reality all he did was pursue something for his own sake, for the first time in his life. He never stopped to consider that maybe, just maybe, The Sheep didn’t want him to be his own person. 

He also never considered that the way Mori does things might not be the only correct way to lead a successful life and that just because he’s not like Mori doesn’t mean he’s forever disqualified from being a good leader.

That’s just how fucked up his self-esteem is.

And it’s quite sad how he got out of a prison just to land himself in another, all for those who failed him. The PM isn’t that much better, he had (and still has) his fair share of suffering there but at least people seem to highly respect him and give him the limited freedom he needs.

3.   The fear of being alone :

Chuuya is outgoing and people-oriented. He works really well in groups and has noticeable adaptability skills.

And after losing tons of people he deeply cared for in very traumatizing ways (The Sheep, The Flags, the six friends in The Dragon Head Conflict, his subordinates and Dazai) it’s fair to assume that this guy is terrified of being alone. And this terror drives him to keep people at arm’s length. Ever since he was introduced in the manga, we never see him working closely with someone else, he has no friends and he’s extremely closed off. Even his facial expressions seem sadistic and detached most of the time. When you look at his past, it all makes perfect sense.

But 

There’s only one exception, it’s Dazai.

Even though Chuuya never seeks Dazai out (unless he’s drunk, the stupid lightweight), he still comes for him everytime his assistance is required, I don’t think we’ve seen 22 year old Chuuya say « no » to Dazai, ever.

This is such a contrast to teenage Chuuya who never yielded to Dazai, who thrived to have an equal partnership and not a master/dog dynamic, who took matters into his own hands most of the time.

I’m going to take a shot in the dark here and say that Dazai’s defection was the straw that almost broke Chuuya, and this loss came with the realization that he’d rather have Dazai with all the trouble and the heartache he brings with him than not have anyone. Dazai is the only friend who managed to stay alive after all, not to forget that he’s the only person who can stop For The Tainted Sorrow from going haywire. Having him die like everyone else will probably destroy whatever’s left of Chuuya’s sanity and he knows it. That’s why he seems less antagonistic and hostile now.

This panel in particular takes on a whole another meaning now. He’s telling Kenji to stay alive because he’s used to witnessing young people meet their demise too early and he doesn’t want another name added to the neverending list.

He’ll put up with Dazai’s shenanigans, he’ll use corruption and face his inner darkness if Dazai asks and he’ll have his back as many times as necessary because no matter how painful it is, it won’t be more painful than being eternally abandonned and alone.

His actions in Dead Apple only serve to prove this point further. Using corruption in that particular situation despite Ango’s warning is the equivalent of saying : 

« I’ll risk my life to save him, he’s never disappointed me. I trust him to bring me back. And if he doesn’t, then I’m okay with both of us dying. I’d rather die than see a world where I lose him too.»

Again, this is all tightly linked to the twisted way he sees himself, how little credit he gives himself and his deep-seated attachment issues. I’ll go as far as to say that this unhealthy attachment is not fueled by love but by fear instead –the fear of losing people- which makes it all the more unshakeable. Fear is the most powerful human emotion after all.

There’s also another possibility we should consider and it’s that he’s fiercely loyal and trustful towards Dazai for he doesn’t want Dazai to experience the pain of betrayal, a pain Chuuya knows all too well.

It’s logical to assume that another part of it is actually him not wanting to stoop as low as Dazai did (and still does, occasionally). He says it loud and clear in Stormbringer when he screams « I’m nothing like that bastard ! ».

“A curse disguised as a blessing” is the perfect way to describe Chuuya’s loyalty I think. It helps everyone around him yet it only serves to hurt him in most cases.

Anyway, this is all I have for today, I rambled way too much. I don’t even know how coherent all of this is (it probably isn’t). So if you stuck around to read this monstrosity ‘till the end, I salute you for your dedication.

If you have anything to add or if you have a different opinion, feel free to share !

Thanks for reading.

[ryuuaka713]

Thank you so much! I read it all the way and you said it very beautifully! I think it is interesting how you explore each of the organizations and even go as far as backing up with context.

also, 

“ I’m going to take a shot in the dark here and say that Dazai’s defection was the straw that almost broke Chuuya, and this loss came with the realization that he’d rather have Dazai with all the trouble and the heartache he brings with him than not have anyone. “

This is so true! And it makes so much sense in regards to why Chuuya reacts with remorse every time he is reminded of the night Dazai left. I also want to add that, as much as his attachment is due to his fear of abandonment, I would say that he does care for Dazai, and I mean not immediately but as time goes by. And we can see it in the way Chuuya looks concerned on Dazai when he gets hurt. It is possible that him caring for Dazai goes hand-in-hand with his fear. I can’t say it is love either, especially “romantic love”.

Your analysis on Chuuya’s character is very similar to how I and @nataliaphantomhivesblog would analyze him and his relationship with Dazai.

And finally, it makes so much sense that Chuuya’s ability is Corruption being that it is the ultimate ability that can we assure to be effective, but the downside to it is that it would kill Chuuya-- a “blessing” in disguise indeed.

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

Soukoku: Oblivious

So, today on tik tok I came across someone talking about Soukoku and they said: "One thought the other didn't care, so he pretended to hate them. The other thought the other hated them, so he pretended to not care." which is honestly such a great view on their relationship and I was thinking about adding onto that.

"One thought the other didn't care, so he pretended to hate them" is literally Chuuya. "one thought the other didn't care" there has never been a particular moment were Chuuya has acknowledged or even thought about the possibility of Dazai even caring for him. Not that I fully blame Chuuya for that, Dazai always expresses his care in a very subtle manner. And another thing that I notice is that the only time that Dazai ever openly expressed his care for Chuuya was in a time were Chuuya had no time to thorughly acknowledge it since he had to make a choice that would affect his view on his own humanity. But in the end, Dazai always pretends he doesn't care for Chuuya, always saying he wants him dead, and the only times were he shows his care is either him being dangerously subtle about it or when Chuuya is in his corruption state.

"so he pretended to hate them." Of course, I don't particulary believe that Chuuya's hatred for Dazai is always fake, there are instances where his hatred for Dazai is very real. But most of the time, its obvious that Chuuya over exaggaretes his words, and he does tend to lie to Dazai at times about his true feelings for him. But when Chuuya is in a vulnerable state, or especially if its a specific moment that im involves him using corruption, you gan tell that Chuuya's feelings for Dazai go beyond hatred. In truth, Chuuya is never afraid to openly express his hatred towards Dazai, even when Dazai isn't around.

"The other thought the other hated them, so he pretended to not care" is exactly like Dazai. "The other thought the other hated them." Now you might be thinking, would Dazai really believe Chuuya's hatred when Chuuya has openly expressed his trust anf care for him? The answer here is yes. Although Dazai is a very smart person who can easily read people, it's different with Chuuya. Chuuya has almost every right to hate Dazai, especially now that he literally left the port mafia without even saying a word. And Chuuya has expressed genuine anger and hatred for Dazai in the past. Dazai views himself as Chuuya's reliability. And he belives that the explanation for Chuuya trusting and caring for him like he does is simply because Chuuya needs him for corruption—which of course is far from the truth but a safe and logical assumption for Dazai.

"So he pretended not to care" Dazai is very good at hiding his true emotions, he has been doing so for years. Hiding his care for Chuuya is beneficial so that he can protect himself but also he can protect Chuuya too, especially to protect Chuuya from Mori or Fydoor or literally any person that Dazai would find as a true enemy who could outsmart him and hurt the ones he cares for. Chuuya can protect himself, but its always better to have that one extra sheet of protection. The other reason he hides his care is to protect his own pride, he doesn't want people to know that he cares fon the one person who "hates" him and for that one person he claims to "hate".

In the end, both of them are aware of their motovations, which is confirmed bu Asagiri himself. But when it comes to feelings, these two are not the best at truly grasping them.

[ryuuaka713]

Natalia! I agree with what you said here! Honestly, I don't know what else to add other than the stuff the two of us have covered multiple times.

"One thought the other didn't care, so he pretended to hate them" --Chuuya!

I agree that Chuuya has a level of hatred on Dazai, but there are also parts where we do see how his hatred is more farcical (a.k.a those empty death threats), which is really the side effect of his partnership with Dazai, Because like what you said, Dazai is just being Dazai. But also, this phrase applies to the fact on how Chuuya can see through Dazai's motives. Like what we said, their intimacy can either be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the situation. And in this case, knowing Dazai too much is very risky. And in Chuuya's case, once he knows Dazai's real motive, it cascaded into the realization that what his partner does is necessary and requires some sacrifices.

An example of that would be his betrayal with the Sheep--Chuuya knows that it is Dazai's doing and realized that it is necessary for Dazai to have the Sheep exile Chuuya in order for him to join the mafia. But in the process, Chuuya got himself hurt. With that being said, we can see how Chuuya considers that Dazai might not have no regard of his well-being and thus retaliated by claiming that he will kill him. Chuuya has every right to hate Dazai, especially when he is always associated with him. However, that hatred goes only to an extent because, as provided by those moments in the anime, manga, and LN, Chuuya DOES care for Dazai. But since they are so familiar with arguing each other, Chuuya goes to the route where he spits insults on his partner. After all, their relationship is consisted of childish bickering and synchronization. Any new feelings introduced can be very awkward, and this is where we see how Dazai functions:

"The other thought the other hated them, so he pretended to not care" --Dazai

Remember that moment in Fifteen (LN) where Dazai said: "We are so compatible! It must be because I love you!" (Or the more literal translation: "Thats what I love about you"). And then Chuuya said: "Ugh, knock it off! Thats disgusting!" And then Dazai just sadly "agrees" with him? Yeah! That scene from the LN is the quintessential example of the phrase above. Looking at Stormbringer, Dazai is very aware of Chuuya's "hatred" on him as they both stand on the opposite sides of the "humanity" spectrum, and even utilizes that anger to give Chuuya the motivation to fight back. I'm gonna say this once again: Osamu Dazai gives a fuck about Chuuya Nakahara. And I agree with what you said about Dazai suppressing his emotions from people as a way to protect them. But I also want to add another element why Dazai pretends not to care about Chuuya.

It goes back to when they were young and they are more used to getting each other's nerves. And that comment he made in 15 is what testifies that any new emotion introduce can be awkward. And just like how Chuuya decides to pretend on hating Dazai, Dazai responds by acting like he doesn't care. I think @leonawriter gives a small analysis on that Lovecraft scene and it said in that post that Dazai never loses his control, and thats why it is easier to deal with Chuuya getting mad at him than introducing anything sentimental, though that doesn't that Dazai never cares. This is very similar what you are saying.

Furthermore, I think the Corruption scene in the Lovecraft episode is something we see the duality in their characters. Chuuya seeing the necessity of using corruption may have been an interpretation for him that Dazai doesn't care for him, and it is ironic since Dazai has always been giving him that choice. In the end, Chuuya knows that Corruption is the last resort and he understands that. But his undeniable trust on his partner is enough to show that whatever he "hate" he has on him--it is very limited. And then for Dazai, the way he jokes around Chuuya and even lies about prolonging the Corruption for 5 minutes only shows how he is use in dealing with Chuuya's anger. But that pride and small smile he has on his face shows that he still cares for him.

Overall, thank you so much for the SKK content, Natalia 😚😚😚😚

[ryuuaka713]

Freeze! ✧ ─=≡Σ((( つ•̀ω•́)つ You’re under arrest for being so lovely. Copy this message to 10 other blogs that you think are beautiful and deserve it. Keep the game going and make others feel beautiful!

Awwww thank you 😘😘😘😘😘😌

[nataliaphantomhivesblog]

"Don't shoot a dead body so pointlessly"

Today I will be discussing the scene from the anime/light novel 15 in which Chuuya kicks Dazai's gun, as suggested by my the one and only: @ryuuaka713 !!!

When I first saw this part in the anime, I didn't really grasp the concept of the scene. Of course, Chuuya kicking the gun from Dazai's hands and basically telling him to not disrespect the dead shows us a glimpse of Chuuya's humanity and where his moral code stands but... Did Chuuya's move impact Dazai in any way?

Well, the answer is yes! (obviously).

Firstly, lets take a look at Dazai's point of view. Dazai was 14 years old when he first joined the port mafia, therefore his view on the world was grim and dark, his view on humans was no exception. I always have believed that Dazai's view on humans was as clouded as Atsushi's, if someone was on the bad side they were bad and if someone was on the good side they were good. Of course, that view changes when he meets Chuuya and Oda. But beforehand, ive always thought that Dazai was the kind of boy who thought that everyone who was involved in mafia and gangs probably indulged themselves with power and homoicde. But Chuuya proved him wrong.

Dazai has always been a mysterious character, what I mean by that is that we rarely ever know how he is truly feeling. But usually when he is around Chuuya his mask comes off for a small moment, in this case Dazai couldn't hide his feelings of shook and amusement.

As its stated in the text, he had an expression of wonder—he was astonished, he was shooked, he was amused. He did not expect a former gang leader and killer to respect the dead. But on a grimer note, this made him realize how cruel and inhuman he is in comparasion to someone who is pretty much in the same position as him and the same age as him, to Dazai this was a wake up call, and this made Dazai's gap from humans to become even bigger, the fact he is reffering to Chuuya, a literal gang leader as an "ordinary boy" speaks volumes on where he believes his own humanity stands, moreover—he feels devoid of his humanity and Chuuya became a walking reminder of that.

Wierdly enough, this scene sort of reminds me of when Chuuya uses corruption and Dazai has to stop him, bringing him back to his roots, to his humanity. But similarly to Dazai, Chuuya feels this sort of void or this sort of reminder that there is a possibility that he may not be human and Dazai is Chuuya's walking reminder of this too.

Thie gun scene wasn't the only time that Chuuya gets frustrated with Dazai's cruelty, especially since Chuuya does see Dazai as human and is aware that Dazai can be more than just an emotionless mafioso.

Similarly to the past scene, Dazai disrespects the dead. In this case he disrespects a deceased mafia executive. And Chuuya reacts violently, punching him across the face and saying the one thing that could hurt Dazai the most, that no one would believe that he is human.

Dazai's face here speaks louder than his words ever will. You can tell that he is hurt. But he wasn't just hurt by Chuuya's words, at least, thats not how I view it. When Chuuya punched Dazai, it made Dazai realize that he crossed the line, that he said something that to someone as human as Chuuya was cruel and inhuman, giving Dazai once again a wake up call that he is lacking his humanity. After the punch, Dazai says "Im human too, you know?" which seems like a desperate way of trying to presuade himself out loud that he is human. The hurt look in his face shows us the realization that he feels that he will never achive his humanity, and that he will be trapped in this sick and twisted mindset forever.

But no matter how Dazai feels about himself, that will never change his complete admiration and appreciation for Chuuya, as a partner and as a human.

Of course, all that changes after Oda's death. But before Oda, it was Chuuya who was indirectly changing Dazai's perspective on himself and humanity.

Andddd thats it for today guys!!! Thank you for reading!!

Ps: I have gotten an overwhelming amount of inboxes so I will be answering them soon, just be patient:)

[ryuuaka713]

Natalia, my dear, You did it again!

Thank you so much for this analysis and the wait is pretty worth it ^___^!!!

At first, I, too did not fully grasp on what happened on that scene when I first watched it. But seeing as how Dazai reacted, we kind of see what is happening in this scene. I agree that this is one of those moments we see Chuuya’s humanity, and I didn’t even realize the comparison of Atsushi’s viewpoint and 15! Dazai’s view on good and evil until you mentioned it it (NICE!!!). And yes, I completely agree with how you said that Dazai would perceive anyone who is involved in gangs to be completely on the side of evil, and thus why he let himself slip into a moment of insanity --all because he is raised in an abnormal environment. That’s why he called out Mori’s bullshit earlier because to him, Mori--the walking personification of evil--knows no remorse (which is not really the case because there are moments where Mori does show signs of remorse). And in addition to that, his fascination towards death make him less of a (”normal”) child, and this extends to why he thinks it is “luxurious” while he shoots the body. His reaction in that scene is a combination of his environment and internal struggles--the two factors that make him disqualify himself from being “human”.

However, I would like to add something, and this would involve the real-life “No Longer Human” (yes, the novel itself by Dazai-sensei). In the novel, particularly in the beginning, the main character expresses his alienation from humans as one of the reasons being: he could not grasp the idea of humans trusting each other while simultaneously act like hypocrites. This characteristic of the main character applies so well with Dazai. What does it got to do with this scene?

Well, Chuuya is the King of Sheep and a Gravity Manipulator, however, he showed a side of his humanity despite the fact that he just rained down bullets on his opponents. This dual nature that Chuuya possessed parallels how the main character from NLH observes everyone around him where they also have dual natures. This explains why Dazai looks at Chuuya in wonder because how can someone who, like you said, has “pretty much in the same position as him and the same age as him” can still be a “boy” unlike him. This makes sense with what you said that this is the moment that Dazai seems to realize that he is “devoid of humanity” since Chuuya is his reminder. 

But at the same time, it catalyze his interest on him. The key word is “wonder”; this whole duality that he found in Chuuya is the beginning of him seeing the interesting sides of human nature. And we see it later with the way he is amused of Oda being a good person while still working for the Mafia. In short Chuuya has been his first wake up call.

Wait, but isn’t Chuuya his opposite? Shouldn’t he hate him more? Then why is it he still hangs out with him? Yes! There is a level of hate and frustration on both parties since they have different perceptions of humanity. But I think, other than the fact that Chuuya is his constant companion and the one who understands his motives, the other reason why Dazai is genuinely interested in Chuuya is because he also realized that his partner also carries a heavy burden himself.

That moment when Chuuya revealed that he possessed the Arahabaki, we can see the actual shock on Dazai’s face. All because he did not expect it, yet at the same time, he should have seen it since he had been observing Chuuya (e.g. he comments about not using his hands as if Chuuya is trying to hide something). This revelation about the Arahabaki is what counterpointed his perception on Chuuya as a “boy” in the previous scene with the dead soldier. And as we later found out, not even Chuuya can verify that he is human (and yet, Dazai already insisted that he is human right when he kicked off the gun). With that being, Dazai realized that Chuuya also has his own internal struggles that involves his existence, the same way Dazai carries the weight of the title of the Demon Prodigy and his struggle to find a reason living. And because of that commonality, he sees this as a form of “hope”--that he is also “human” (this is probably also why he insisted out-loud that he is human when Chuuya punched him in that Dead Apple scene). And of course, his reason living--he willingly teams up with Chuuya and offers his trust.

Overall, Natalia, I really really appreciate all the hardwork you provide!!! You literally brought out some comparisons that even I didn’t realize it. And yes, that Dead Apple scene you provide is a another good example similar to this scene. It really shows how they reciprocate each other:

“ this scene sort of reminds me of when Chuuya uses corruption and Dazai has to stop him, bringing him back to his roots, to his humanity. But similarly to Dazai, Chuuya feels this sort of void or this sort of reminder that there is a possibility that he may not be human and Dazai is Chuuya’s walking reminder of this too. “

without a doubt! This is very accurate and I love how you worded it!

What I love about that scene with the dead soldier is because it shows another proof of how Dazai comes into that conclusion that Chuuya is human. Without this scene, we won’t see how much it impacts Dazai’s reaction, and we won’t see the progress of his mental process in the event when it is revealed that his partner carries the Arahabaki.

Again, Thank you so much, love (〃´∀｀〃)ε｀●)chu♪

(And I look forward to you other analysis  ( ´ ▽ ` )b

[flower-of-darkness]

Soukoku’s love languages

And on day 3537 of me crying over skk because they aren’t real, I’ll share the realization that I got last night at 11 pm after thinking about skk’s love languages :“D

Let’s start with Chuuya’s. 

He would definitely do acts of service and give tons of gifts, because he always takes care of those around him (it’s most prominent in the Fifteen LN, where he took care of all the kids of the Sheep) - and we all know that this man’s wallet is PACKED :D

Next, the love language he wants to receive is most likely touch and words of affirmation, because he never had the chance to be hugged or handled lovingly, and he always needs reassurance that he’s human enough despite the god of destruction bound to his soul.

Give him someone who touches him so delicately and regularly assures him that he’s human, and he would literally have tears in his eyes (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

Now, moving on to Dazai. 

In my opinion, the love language he wants to receive is 100% acts of service and giving gifts, because he lives alone and nobody has EVER taken care of him properly. He even went batshit in that one Wan ep where Atsushi gave him flowers-

Look at his reaction- he didn’t even know how to react when someone was thoughtful enough to buy him gifts :"D Get him someone who would take care of him and thinks about him enough to buy him gifts, and this man would melt. 

On the other hand, the love language he can offer is most likely touch and words of affirmation (I’m actually not so sure about this, so this is only my opinion). We saw how he frequently touches women and praises them, so maybe that’s how he also treats people who are dear to him. Besides this mf is the clingiest person to ever exist so there’s that-

Are you noticing a pattern here? :”D

Chuuya would do acts of service and give gifts as his love language, and he wants touch and words of affirmation.

Dazai would offer touch and words of affirmation, and he treasures acts of service and gifts.

You can interpret this romantically or platonically, but it’s painfully clear how these two are perfect for each other. :”D

[sushishouta]

BRUH IS THIS NEW WALLPAPER MATERIAL OR WHAT ✨

I am losing my mind. Why does this look like some highschool drama poster. Why does this look so hopeful omg.

They’re recreating this i assume but it looks sm happier lol 😂

And yes I got rid of the stage title so u can use it as a wallpaper too but this is for the upcoming Fifteen Stageplay! Please support it.

✨Official site here ✨

[sushishouta]

✨Dazai and Chuuya - Fifteen | Stageplay Cast✨

Casting director costume art director appreciation because I literally am gonna die from the beauty of this

I havent even watched the dead apple stage BITCH lemme ✨B R E A T H E✨

[ryuuaka713]

Bungou Stray Dogs: “I haven’t seen you in a while, after all.” SOUKOKU REUNION pt. 3 (S1, Ep. 10) SCENE / CHARACTER ANALYSIS

(This is the last one, folks!)

Part 1: https://ryuuaka713.tumblr.com/post/655687836076474368/bungou-stray-dogs-after-all-i-am-your-old

Part 2: https://ryuuaka713.tumblr.com/post/658295757141688320/bungou-stray-dogs-i-wouldnt-have-been-a-proper

     First thing I would like to point out in Episode 10 revolving around Chuuya and Dazai is the shift in tonality. Earlier, I mentioned how in Episode 9, there is this tension between the two as they began their cat-and-mouse game. However, that playful rivalry suddenly transitioned into a more violent competition between brawn and brain. But then again, in this same episode where we see the brutality in their nature (and by extent: in their relationship), we also get to see them as this:

This is no other than the infamous “rich girl” scene, and my God—nobody in this fandom would ever forget about it (I mean, how could you ever?? XD). But how did we get from them throwing physical and mental punches, to them bickering like an old married couple/children?

     To begin with, the title of the chapter pertaining to Episode 10 is called “Of Bygone days” – derived from Chuuya Nakahara’s anthology of poems called “Songs of Bygone Days”. I just find this interesting that Asagiri would use this title-reference because not only is it an extension of Chuuya’s debut from the previous episode/chapter, but it also shows how Chuuya, similar to Akutagawa, is one of the main accesses we have to dive into Dazai’s past, which in turn, would show their relationship/dynamic even before it is revealed that they are the infamous Double Black (we know they are partners in Season 1, but we don’t know that they are one of the most powerful and reputed pair until season 2). Chuuya’s taunts and his history with Dazai unravels more of Dazai’s past in the PM where he is not just any member of the organization, but an executive! And in effect, Dazai unravels more of his sadistic tendencies and the extent of his manipulation, showing us what it means to be a PM executive in his way, while also fleshing out the other side of his nature. And with Dazai’s character and attitude mentioned above (and in the previous post), it is only fair that Chuuya would retaliate with the same level of brutality (the environment of the PM is also another factor to that). In short, the title of the chapter focuses on a past long gone and meant to be forgotten because it is painful on both ends, only to be revived by someone who is also very involved with that said past.

     And yet, in the other half of this confrontation, even though the first parts are not the most pleasant, Dazai and Chuuya’s partnership is not only a relic of history, but also a memory. In other words, there is something nostalgic in the midst of that turbulent encounter. This sense of “nostalgia” is what eventually smooths the tension between these two, where we see the other side of that familiarity. And this is represented in one manga panel:

This is the part after Chuuya realized that Dazai was actually the one waiting to harass him (in the anime, Dazai said “It’s a reunion long in the making. A surprise of this caliber is only fair.”). what makes this scene so significant is that it perfectly summarized the more “humane” side of Double Black. Throughout the first half of this episode, we literally see them throwing violence here and there, so to see this side is very surprising. In other words, it literally contrasts their initial actions. The way Dazai looks at Chuuya—he is smiling, but it is a very mischievous smile, accompanied by Dazai’s diction where he calls that cat-and-mouse game/reunion a “surprise”, and subtly telling Chuuya that he “missed” him (“I haven’t seen you in a while”). It all comes off as very playful, which completely buffers out that rough tension they have earlier. And to top it off, I would say that this is the Dazai that Chuuya knew—the sneaky and mischievous mackerel who hides his clues in his jokes, while Chuuya sees through them in the slightest nudge. In a sense, it is also “nostalgic”—seeing once again the face of the old partner like they used to be their “playmate” (I mean, they are, technically!). So, it makes sense that it lives up to the title of this chapter—the bygone days are not just the violence that inhabits in their relationship, but also the more comedic and “lighter” aspects of it.

     Furthermore, it also makes so much sense that we have already passed the turbulent parts of this encounter because, at this point, Chuuya has finally come into that realization—the other reason why Dazai let himself captured and why he waited a little longer is because of his reunion with Chuuya! How did he come into that realization? Well, it all started in this past where we left off:

At first glance, it seems like we are still in the part where they are still fighting with Dazai provoking Chuuya even though he already and successfully did it (Chuuya has already given up and ready to leave, at least in the anime). However, what makes this scene the turning point or the start where the tone changes is the way Chuuya reacted:

How does Dazai’s commentary of Chuuya being “hunted/driven out by the mafia” because of him (Dazai), connect to Dazai’s reason of being there in prison? To begin with, Dazai’s commentary is literally pointing to his own self, so we get a sense that he wants to grab Chuuya’s attention by literally giving out a clue that he is the reason why Chuuya lost his temper. Simple as that! However, there is something eerily familiar in Dazai’s diction.

     “Chuuya hunted by the Mafia because of me” (Manga)

     “Chuuya driven out of the organization because of me” (Anime)

Whether Asagiri did it on purpose or not, Dazai’s comment about Chuuya becoming a fugitive because of him—not only is it similar to what happened to Dazai—but it also eerily parallels to how the Sheep exiled Chuuya despite being the leader, all because Dazai casted a shadow of doubt on him and in the process: Chuuya joined the PM. If that connection were true, then it would make sense as to why it sparked in Chuuya’s mind. And it can be said that Dazai deliberately says it (specifically this way) because he wants Chuuya to pick it up and guess his other/second reason of being there: putting Chuuya in the “hardest dilemma” the same way he meticulously placed Chuuya in a situation where he must join the PM by making the Sheep doubt him.

     However, despite the “impossibility” in that dilemma, if we look into Chuuya’s loyalty, it is obvious that he would do in his power not to make any worse decisions that could make him a traitor of the PM. This is something that Dazai has already predicted (which he did the moment he brought up that letter, he knew Chuuya would not kill him), and his response to Chuuya’s realization verifies it:

In the manga, he says “Yep” so casually like it is something that doesn’t surprise him. While in the anime, he smirks—it’s as if he’s saying that he was right all along, not just how he ends up winning this cat-and-mouse game (in Chuuya’s words, “In actuality, you were waiting to harass me”), but it also refers to how he’s right in his predictions. He’s confident that Chuuya has enough self-restraint to not make any rash choices… in other words, he knew him too much. By putting Chuuya in the “hardest dilemma” that he is very familiar with, he (Dazai) knew his partner would pick up those hints to help him arrive to that conclusion. And Dazai saying that he has been planning this reunion without mentioning the word “reunion” (calling it a “surprise”), it is enough to confirm that he meticulously planned this in the same way he did with that microscope incident in the Dead Apple manga. It is a very dubious process, and that’s why Chuuya reacted with his classical empty threat but not as violently as those punches he did earlier since he understands Dazai’s true intentions:

Chuuya’s reaction in that manga panel before he fell on his knees is the perfect response to Dazai’s mischievous. It is comical (which goes hand-in-hand with the playful element), and the audience can see how that tonality in this scene changed from being serious to comedic, thus replacing the tension with laughter.

     On another note, Chuuya’s reaction also shows a sign of recognition (which I’ve said earlier) as if he just fell into one of his “sick pranks”. That realization is him seeing his ex-partner’s true intentions—Dazai harassing him is a throwback to how they used to spite each other like children. In other words, apart from helping Atsushi, he did all of this waiting and planning because he “hasn’t seen him in a while”. And if that’s the case, then it is possible that Dazai, despite bringing up that letter that nearly pushed his partner into his breaking point, has no objectives in making Chuuya ever betray the PM. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bring this up:

@nataliaphantomhivesblog​ says that this part is an example of Dazai caring for Chuuya. I would say I agree, and I must add that Dazai is being… considerate. Not to mention, this goes back to his prediction that Chuuya would not kill him but rather help him, and then as we see, Dazai will help him in return. If Dazai doesn’t have any sort of consideration in Chuuya’s being, then he wouldn’t even give him that offer nor the hints he dropped from before. Dazai acknowledges the kind of character Chuuya is, and even though it benefits in his end, he gives him that assurance or choice that he would not regret. But of course, considering the circumstance there is the demand for cooperation—and with this, we just got an appetizer of how Double Black works.

     We have already witnessed these two playing the brain and brawn, but another aspect of that dynamic (which is the most highlighted) is their trust for one another.

It is ironic how Chuuya, who has trusted Dazai ever since, is now questioning whether to trust him or not at this moment. But given what happened between them, he has every right to doubt him at first, after all Dazai became a traitor. But what is interesting is that one word from Dazai that he doesn’t lie is enough for Chuuya to rekindle his trust on him. It is subtle but it says so much how Chuuya is very accustomed to him. Just as Dazai acknowledges that Chuuya would not betray the PM and gives him the choice that could not hold him accountable, Chuuya also acknowledges that Dazai would keep his end of the bargain and help him in return. It is reciprocated; and to think that they still have this dynamic even though they haven’t seen each other after four years. This is why in this scene, when Chuuya is exiting, his gestures are nonchalant—like he knows that Dazai is smart to go around his way in the PM (it was his turf!), and he is sure that his partner would make it look like he escaped with the help of the ADA.

     In the manga, another thing I found interesting is that we see a panel of Dazai’s expression where he said that Chuuya is “wrong” about something. Of course, Dazai then tells him how he plans to have a double suicide with a beauty and having him kicked to death by him would not be “fun”. It is somehow for comedic purposes since it is followed by Dazai having that sparkly face. But the subtext in this part holds some meaning; looking at Dazai’s expression, even though we can’t see his eyes, we can still see that small smile on his lips when he started talking about that “correction”. This has become a recurrent motif in their encounter, especially in the Lovecraft episode where Dazai never looks away from Chuuya, and only smiles genuinely when Chuuya is not looking. And in this case, Chuuya has his back on him while Dazai continues to look with that small genuine smile. What does it mean? It validates that Dazai is still very fond of him. And this goes to the way he casually shares his goal of having a double suicide. That commentary is not even necessary since it doesn’t really add anything to either of their plans. But they still find the time to even talk about it briefly (it seems like that they don’t mind prolonging their reunion), demonstrating how Dazai is comfortable in sharing him his personal interest while Chuuya indulges him. If anything, this shows the extent of their intimacy, despite their claims of “hating” each other and being in opposing sides—so it adds more significance to that momentary faint smile before he pulls on that teasing look.

     The boyish look that Dazai is giving Chuuya in that panel above is very similar to that mischievous smile in the beginning. This is the teasing smile Chuuya will always come to associate him with—when Dazai gives that smirk, it is his way of saying that he is right in his plans and predictions. And what do you know? One of his predictions earlier came true:

The little rich girl scene is one of the highlighted moments in BSD, as well as making it at least in the top 10 SKK moments. It confirms Dazai’s prediction (though he reminded Chuuya that he “forgot something”). It is also Chuuya’s way of keeping his end of the bargain (as part of helping Dazai getting the info even though he is already aware where they keep it). This part is obviously meant for laughs; heck, even the comment of Chuuya walking out like a little rich girl in his prediction stands out as the most farcical if you compare it his other claims. But what attracts the audience’s attention is the fact that Dazai actually laughs (to the point he has tears) in the manga. This is a big deal in their relationship! Because for Chuuya to do this impression, we can only assume how much he indulges Dazai’s ridiculous antics and his tolerance-level. And as for Dazai, we can only imagine how many times he had been doing this to Chuuya in the past for him to still remember it and for him to laugh hard about it. And with that being said, the audience got to witness Soukoku in one of their private moments, like seeing two people having an inside joke. It is very childish, and this is a way of telling the audience that they were and are the same children who yell at each other in the grim hallways (or dungeon) of the PM, spouting useless remarks because they have nothing better to do when they are “bored”. It is showing how Dazai and Chuuya are each other’s constant regardless of how much they keep claiming their “hatred”. And if that’s the case, it does justify the smile on Dazai’s face…

     One of my commenters mentioned that one of the things that keep Dazai and Chuuya together is their history with each other. Which is true! But I also want to emphasize the nature of that “history”. It is obvious that Dazai wants to move on from the Port Mafia and never wanting to return, but because of the situation with Atsushi, he must do what is necessary. And yet, even if it is necessary, Dazai still expresses his hatred towards Mori silently and would rather avoid him like the plague. However, with Chuuya, it is different as Dazai even waits for him to arrive. And to top it off, despite the fact that he keeps yelling how much he “hates” him, his expression when he acknowledged that they haven’t seen each other shows that he never once forgotten about his partner and constant companion. And thus, justifying the claim that Dazai cares for him, and even indirectly acknowledging that Chuuya left a significant aspect in his life.

     Even though there is brutality in the beginning, Dazai’s confrontation with Chuuya evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminding them of their rivalry in the past, and their cooperation as the Double Black. By calling this chapter “Of Bygone Days”, it emphasizes the dual and complex aspects of Soukoku’s familiarity with each other, as it may have referred to their violent dispositions in the first part of their encounter. But at the same time, it is referring to how the reunion rekindles their past partnership and trust.

     The creators composed Episode 10 where we initially see both of them at their worst, that way, we can see Dazai and Chuuya’s strengths and flaws as individual characters, understand the weight in their pasts, and it is a proper way to continue from the previous episode. There is a reason why they are called the “devastating rivals”—it is referring to the intense clashing nature that is found within their dynamic, so it is no doubt that their meeting will always meet with violence. Not to mention, their partnership was born in the midst of battle (referring to their fight with Rimbaud) and is solidified after they defeated a gifted organization. It is natural for them; but then, their rivalry can also be translated into those childish bickering. In other words, while Double Black starts with violence whenever they meet, once it subsides, it is replaced with something that eases that tension, whether it be akin to their pettiness or a sense of comfort. In this case, after Chuuya reached his breaking point, the tension worn off and it dawned in him that there was another reason why Dazai get himself captured. This other reason is what symbolized the more “humane” side of their relationship, as we can see how their interactions thereafter are more relaxed and comedic. While at the same time, there is a sense of fondness in the subtext.

     Without a doubt, it is not a simple relationship, nor can this be taken as a romantic one. They hated each other to such degree, but there is no denying that they leave a significant mark in each other’s lives as they always trust each other and recognize each other’s strengths. Their pasts, painful as they can be, are reminders and testaments to why they are rightfully partners.

 ***

 And yeah, that’s the end of that!!!

If you’ve read this far, thank you so much for taking the time, and I’m really sorry for the length of this post   ‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚

I will be on hiatus because of the upcoming semester, but rest assure that I’ll still be around checking SKK stuff in Tumblr (it’s just that I won’t be doing any analysis for the time being until December).

But anyway, thanks for reading my TED-talk

[ryuuaka713]

Bungou Stray Dogs: “I wouldn’t have been a proper partner otherwise”SOUKOKU REUNION pt. 2 (S1, Ep. 10) SCENE / CHARACTER ANALYSIS

This is Part 2 of the SKK Dungeon scene (This is a long one, folks!).

Part 1: https://ryuuaka713.tumblr.com/post/655687836076474368/bungou-stray-dogs-after-all-i-am-your-old

 (I feel like this is more like a Character analysis than a scene analysis)

      Ok, so I keep watching this scene multiple times just to get the hang of it… and for the purpose making this “analysis” because I know we can’t have the dungeon scene without Episode 10 (at least Part 1 of Episode 10). And if there is something I notice in the episode that makes it somehow different from the previous one, it’s the tonality. For comparison, here are shots from Episode 10 and Episode 9:

Yes, the tension is still obvious, but unlike Episode 9 where they play a cat-and-mouse game, Episode 10 (even if that cat-and-mouse game is still obvious) starts with Chuuya literally throwing punches until it escalates to the point where we see Dazai being pinned to the wall while being held at knifepoint. Admittedly, it is more violent, and even a little bit sudden because it seems like we just jumped from them having some roughhousing to this. (But then again, it should not surprise us when we realized that since the first time Dazai and Chuuya met in 15, they were pretty violent with each other).

     Even so, Episode 10 is a very important SKK moment for many reasons including the fact that this is an extension to Episode 9 where we will get the answers for the questions: “Why did Dazai let himself captured and who was he waiting for?” Not only that, but this episode shows more and more about the two characters and their relationship with each other, which reveals an even more complicated dynamic. If anything, the way their dynamic in Episode 10 is set up is that it has to initially show the violent side of their relationship, which is a perfect way to start off because it extends from where we left in Episode 9 with the unresolved tension. So, it is fair for them to “let off some steam” in the process. And in a sense, as the audience (and this may hurt some SKK shippers, but please hear me out): we need to see the violent or this side of their relationship. Why? Because Soukoku is composed of two complicated individuals, and these individuals tend to clash with each other. However, when that subsides, we would be eventually introduced into another side of Double Black: and that is the respect and familiarity they have on each other. When I said “individuals” I mean literally and figuratively speaking. In this scene, we see at least a glimpse of characterizations regarding Chuuya and Dazai; we see them as characters themselves, which provides us a vehicle on the way they respond with each other during this encounter.

     Starting with Chuuya; going back to episode 9, we did know that the reasons why he came in the prison in the first place is to “spite” him and get his answers. And pretty much, that’s what he is doing in this episode! However, there’s another factor, and that involves his history with Dazai.

@nataliaphantomhivesblog​ made a post where she discussed about how Chuuya cares for Dazai, but also, at the same time, she mentioned that Chuuya’s “hatred” towards his partner is more genuine. And one of the things she said is that Chuuya doesn’t want to be associated with Dazai especially since Dazai alienates himself from Humanity while Chuuya wants to verify that he is Human. If that’s the case, then it makes sense for Chuuya to react this way, after all, he starts giving him more severe punches right after Dazai mentions him being his partner (therefore associating Chuuya with him).

Furthermore, this form of “association” or “partnership” is not merely between colleagues, but rather between two people who knew each other like the back of their hands. With that being said, it just adds more insult to injury because, as previously stated, Dazai has been Chuuya’s constant companion to the point that he is very familiar with him. So, when Dazai betrayed the PM—the idea of being associated to the man he grows up with, who is also a “traitor”, would come as overwhelming. Even more so, it adds to Chuuya’s frustrations that when Dazai mentioned their partnership, it is somehow done in a mocking way. So, in a sense, Dazai is “mocking” Chuuya’s statement of their partnership. Only this time, Dazai is referring to Chuuya’s physical prowness and not the other way round.

By acknowledging their partnership, it just solidifies their strong history. So, when Dazai says this, there are already so many layers for Chuuya to consider what he meant. After all, despite that mocking tone, he knew that there is a kernel of truth in Dazai’s words—further adding more insult to the injury. Thus, we can only assume that Chuuya has been affected by Dazai’s betrayal, and it gives him another reason to spite him. Hence why Chuuya wants to “duel with him” and even throws the first punch on him.

It is not just to show that he is physically superior to Dazai (they ALREADY knew that!), and if Chuuya wants to “spite” him, he could’ve just done it without breaking Dazai’s chains like what Akutagawa did. In other words, it is possible that Chuuya (as part of his intentions of spiting him) wants to physically fight Dazai so he can vent out his frustrations on him while Dazai can interject when needed. And that’s why Chuuya doesn’t hold back when he throws the first punch on him, followed by severe blows right after Dazai provoked him with their partnership. It is as if he is being led by his emotions.

But even so, regardless of his rashness and the intensity of his rage, Chuuya still has some self-control left, even with (or especially with) Dazai.

He did not immediately slit his throat because he knew his partner too well that there are somethings involved behind the scenes (I would say, unlike the part where he broke the chains, Chuuya made smart move on not killing Dazai on the spot as we see later). And because of this, along with the fact that they both knew that Chuuya is very capable to commit murder, we finally get the first reason to why Dazai got himself captured: Atsushi.

     In the same shot and panel where Chuuya says/bets that Dazai is able to “see through his next attack”, he is doing it in a sense of mocking Dazai’s capability to predict his moves. Or in Chuuya’s terms, he is having Dazai “taste his own medicine”. (In a way, this is his response to Dazai’s “partner” comment). And this extends to the next phase where Chuuya also mocks Dazai’s generosity.

At first, it may seem as if Chuuya is compassionless in regard to Dazai’s reason of being there in the first place. However, the reality behind this is more complicated. Just as what Chuuya said, he wants him to “taste his own medicine”, and in this case, he is making Dazai experience the degree of his own cruelty to his own subordinates. After all, as we see later in the episode with Akutagawa’s flashbacks, Dazai is merciless in his days in the PM. Furthermore, as we later find out, Dazai also undermined Chuuya’s visible compassion towards other people.

     For instance, in the Dead Apple manga, Dazai told Chuuya that he should be happy that someone died so there was less competition in acquiring the executive seat, to which Chuuya punched him in disgust. Ironically, in this episode, the title of the executive is brought up (but this time, the title went to Chuuya and not Dazai). Chuuya emphasized this part, not only to show how he looks “victorious” in this cat-and-mouse game, but also he is demonstrating the irony in the situation and somehow indirectly using his current position as an executive to do what Dazai did to him when they were sixteen: making fun of his compassion. Looking at this, it makes sense why this scene is very violent since it seems to tap the more intimate and personal aspects of their lives, and thus, just adds more to the tension.

     So how does Dazai respond to Chuuya’s attacks? As Chuuya focuses mainly on his physical strength, Dazai—being true to his role as the strategist—relies on his predictions. And with Chuuya, this is perfectly summarized in his line:

     “I wouldn’t have been a proper partner otherwise, right?”

     Ever since he is captured, Dazai has already done his homework and all that is left is for the others to start moving.

Dazai already knew that Atsushi would get captured after his confrontation with Akutagawa and he knew that the ADA would do everything in their power to get him back (referring the ADA as “they” in the manga), while Dazai got himself an easy access to the files regarding the bounty. In short, all he has to do is to wait and let the scene unfold itself. This detail also applies to his confrontation with Chuuya. As he stated multiple times, he is already familiar with Chuuya’s habits, and because of this, he can easily predict how Chuuya would react. In Episode 10, he physically proved that he was right in predicting him from the moment Chuuya threw that first punch and Dazai keeps dodging his attacks.

     Furthermore, even though Chuuya seems to have the upper hand when he pinned him to the wall, Dazai still is the “mastermind” behind the scenes.

The look that he gave while giving Chuuya the “silent treatment” is an indication that Dazai is predicting that his old partner would mock him for his kindness towards his new subordinate if/when he mentioned his reason of being captured. He knew that Chuuya would unbury his past (as seen on the look in his eyes—no light in the eyes usually means PM Dazai). And just like in the beginning, he waits; he remains silent while Chuuya was mocking—nay, lavishing his “victory” since he already got an answer out of him. However, there is something that Chuuya is missing: Who or What was Dazai waiting for in the start? In other words, just like how he broke the chains without forethought, Chuuya is not careful with his actions since he, at this moment, failed to see Dazai’s other motive. This is what Dazai noticed, and that’s how he drops the information of the letter with a smirk on his face that says “Yeah, ‘luck’ is still on my side” (not on Chuuya’s). It may seem that the tables have turned, but it didn’t.

     Unlike Chuuya’s attack, Dazai’s retaliation is not on the physical aspect, but rather, he taps more into mental or psychological side of his partner just by using the contents of that letter.

Since Chuuya provoked Dazai with his past in the PM and that he also mocked Dazai ability to predict him, it is only “fair” for Dazai to “fight back” where he unravels more of his sadistic tendencies when he was yet in the PM. In this case, by revealing the letter, just as Chuuya exposed Dazai in the beginning, Dazai exposed Chuuya’s vulnerability—his fear and hatred of betrayal. That’s why Dazai refers being “outlawed” as the “worst punishment” for Chuuya; this just proves the irony in Chuuya’s statement earlier:

     “You think you could win just because you knew my moves?”

Then right here, we see Dazai utilizing what he knows about him to get the upper hand of the situation, and even goes as far as predicting Chuuya’s next move!

This makes sense, after all, as mentioned before, there is always a kernel of truth in Dazai’s words, and being Chuuya’s partner, he doesn’t just joke about it. And to add the irony in this claim, Chuuya should have known that in the beginning.

     As the stakes are high for Chuuya, Dazai’s confidence in his prediction is also increasing to the point that he is aggravating him. And yet, Dazai has every right to be because in the end, Chuuya deliberately missed.

     Looking at the overall picture of this side of their dynamic, there is no denying that it is very violent. It only makes sense that this is the tonality of the scene, after all, these are two characters that are part/once part of the PM, and in Mori’s words: “Violence is just one tool of our disposal”. What Dazai and Chuuya demonstrated in this scene is the effect of being raised by an environment full of brutality. Painful as it may, this scene is very significant because it just shows the nature of the organization. Furthermore, it is very significant because it shows the strengths and flaws in each character.

In that case, is this what Double Black is all about? Just violence and nothing else? No, absolutely not. Looking at the nature of their fight, this is not just a mindless “punch your enemy on the face until they bleed”—no, the way Dazai and Chuuya fight each other, as I mentioned many times, reflect on who they are. Chuuya knows that Dazai is physically inferior to him, thus using his strength and his history to get the upper hand. Dazai, on the other hand, knows and predicts Chuuya’s moves/reactions, utilizing it to top him. They are being true to their individual roles, and at the same time, these two different individuals complement each other. What does it mean? It means there is still a sense of familiarity in their relationship regardless of what they are doing. As I mentioned in my other post, their familiarity is a form of their intimacy and partnership. In this case, they know the other’s limits and what could set them off. This works as either an advantage or disadvantage, especially when they are in the battlefield.

However, this hint of familiarity evokes another aspect in their relationship—a side that changes the entire tonality of the scene and it shreds away the tension. This is first seen right before Chuuya exits, Dazai says something that made him stopped in his tracks:

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I should stop right here because I feel like the next part is going to make this post longer than expected (I’m so sorry about that  ‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚).

So yeah, this is part 2 of that SKK reunion analysis, if you’ve read this far, I’m so sorry for wasting your time

In the meantime, I’ll see myself out and work Part 3.

Part 3: https://ryuuaka713.tumblr.com/post/659585189378392064/bungou-stray-dogs-i-havent-seen-you-in-a-while