two fights against eldritch monsters: sskk and skk
bsd chapter 128 vs chapter 31
the first fight naturally comes to mind while reading the recent chapter, since for the second time in the manga we get a lovecraftian monster. side by side comparison shows us some of the pages are based on the same layout and even more references, especially between Atsushi and Chuuya.
in both fights it's only one person from the partnership fighting, but with help from the other, since it takes the both of the two to use corruption / black tiger. (i wonder if Akutagawa was admiring Atsushi like Dazai admired Chuuya).
while corruption drains Chuuya, Atsushi's tiger powers act vice versa. they both use ungloved hands to use their abilities.
i like how Chuuya is calmer (when he's conscious, before using corruption) and Atsushi more enraged. of course part of that is bc Atsushi's fighting against Dostoyevsky.
skk's fight in ch 31 was their first fight after not talking for 4 years; sskk's fight is (one of the) final fight(s) against Dostoyevsky. the parallel fight is just another proof of sskk's partnership having fully formed.
it reminds me of when skk acted like they wanted to kill each other in front of Dostoyevsly (Meursault) – a strategy earlier used by shin soukoku in front of Fukuchi (bsd ch 87).
some other thoughts:
Atsushi's wearing Akutagawa's jacket and Chuuya got rid of his signature one.
both chapters mention works of the real life authors: in ch 128 Dostoyevsky mentions Atsushi's Light, Wind and Dreams; in 31 Dazai and Chuuya bicker about which tactic would be better, which are named after real Dazai and Chuuya's works.
the fight in ch 31 was against the Guild and in 128 the Guild is fighting on their side.
skk's fight started bc they had to get Q. to think about it, their and Dostoyevsky's abilities are both about mind control.
