𝐕𝐈𝐈

ᵐᵃʸ ᵐʸ ᵐⁱⁿᵈ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵇᵉ ˢⁱˡᵉⁿᵗ

[vii0so]

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. . .

Hello, I'm Vii

I write my thoughts, analyse and theorise about BSD (Bungou Stray Dogs). I also may post random stuff here and there.

─────────────✧

I try to type up one long theory/analysis post for each new chapter.

─────────────✧ Don't expect what comes out of my brain to make sense.

[vii0so]

BSD 125.5 spoilers

The gang is back! It's been so long since we've seen them alive.

[vii0so]

[ BSD 124.5 Spoilers ]

Thoughts, Theories and Analysis

Let's start with the most urgent matter, and no, I'm not talking about the monster that looks like Scaldera and had me saying "wtf is that!?" out loud when I first saw it.

200 seconds.

That's 3 minutes and 33 seconds. By the end of the chapter I'm sure those 33 seconds have passed, so 3 minutes.

In 3 minutes, Fyodor will be gone. That certainly doesn't leave much time to destroy the aircraft. But there's always a chance, right?

The bookmark and the book exist so why not miracles too? It's not like it'd be anything new.

Fyodor knows, that when playing any game against an opponent, you must consider every possibility. Forming a plan after taking into account any possible chance of failure is the only way to counter unpredictable variables.

Hence why he summoned the monster. To delay any effort to destroy the aircraft, making it near impossible for his opponents to even grasp a chance at victory.

But what exactly even is this thing? It seems like a version of Ame-no-Gozen but it should be dead now, right? Well, I believe what died was only the ability to manipulate space-time, not the being itself.

It has no life force sustaining it and so is now in its most basic form.

Am I the only one who finds it having hair strange? I thought that the two hairs sticking out looked a lot like Fukuchi's and by extension Ame-no-Gozen's when he used his life force to take form.

It seems like its appearance has been influenced by the form it had previously taken, or I'm overthinking it. The rest of the hair is nothing like Fukuchi's...unless it's taken more than one person's life force and therefore their form before and this current form's appearance has been influence and is a combination of all prior forms it has taken.

─────────────✧

On another note, may Ueda, who was forced to stay alive for 1500 years because of the seal, finally rest in peace.

First appearing in Chapter 123, we only knew them for 4 chapters (or 2, if you merge the second halves (.5) with their first halves), but it was clear that they were suffering, much like many - if not all - of the characters in the BSD universe. Now they are free, no guilt, no regrets, just peace.

Also, is this the first time we've seen someone ascend after death?

I just find it interesting. I thought that maybe because abilities are tied to the soul and Ueda had just basically killed their own ability, that that's why their death was like this...but I'm really not sure.

─────────────✧

So, what will Atsushi and Akutagawa do now?

Well, maybe they'll make the monster destroy the aircraft by guiding it to it, standing near or on it so when the monster goes to eat them it will chomp down on the aircraft instead.

I guess it'll depend on how much control Fyodor has over it. If it gets close to the aircraft, can he will it away quickly enough? If so, they'd have to trick not only the monster but Fyodor too. Maybe covering the the windows.

One thing is for sure, that 3 minute timer isn't getting longer. Whatever happens, I believe it'll all take place next chapter.

...Unless they somehow play the time travel card again. Infinite time glitch. I guess as long as it doesn't become a time loop they'll be fine.

[vii0so]

[ BSD 124.5 SPOILERS ]

Just realised it reminds me of Scaldera from 'The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword'...at least this one can't spit out fire right?...right?

[vii0so]

[ BSD 124.5 SPOILERS ]

Saw the raws...

[vii0so]

[ BSD 124 Spoilers ]

Thoughts, Theories and Analysis

This was typed and meant to be posted the same week the update came out but instead it's been collecting dust in my drafts because I've been busy and haven't had time to continue it. I remember wanting to go more in depth on topics.

Anyway, since the update will be out tomorrow, I'm posting it. Be aware, I haven't checked what I wrote, so if it looks like a point was abruptly stopped or something doesn't make sense it's because of that.

-

Firstly and most importantly, it's not over, nothing ever is with this story. The only thing over is Ueda's suffering and guilt.

This part, Ame-no-Gozen, may be over (or maybe not) but just because a pawn has been captured doesn't mean it's checkmate. Fyodor is still out there, the battle isn't over.

Secondly, Akutagawa did die...I'll explain.

Akutagawa's head was crushed and so he died. In the last chapter I assumed he wouldn't stay dead, just like all the others killed by Ame-No-Gozen who turned into bubbles. Surprisingly, this wasn't exactly the case. Akutagawa never even got to become bubbles.

In one part, Atsushi says the following:

Basically, once the space breaks, all the people trapped inside (the people killed by ame-no-gozen who turned into bubbles, as well as Atsushi and Ueda) will be free and therefore alive.

This is great and I expected it...but something I didn't expect was that on top of breaking the space itself, he also travels back in time to before Akutagawa's death to save him.

The time travel wasn't the unexpected part, the director literally explained that Atsushi could move between past and present in that space, so it was bound to happen.

But if Akutagawa was going to bubble anyway, then once the space was broken he'd be fine again...so why travel to before his "death"?

Also, side note, this may just be me, but I find it interesting that the time travel was shown to us in the form of a static screen...actually, the more I stare at it, the more it looks like scribbling out a scene in pen, which makes more sense too:

Anyway, before I try to answer the "why travel to before his "death"?" let's think about the "what does this mean?".

Time travel is finicky and all authors, stories, and plot conditions make time travel have different outcomes and effects.

There are many ways time travel may work, here are a few:

Creates an alternate timeline, erasing the previous one. -1 +1

Creates an alternate timeline and the time traveler ceases to exist in the previous one but the timeline continues to exist. -0 +1

Rare case that only works under specific narrative conditions: The time traveler was always meant to go back in time and change stuff, therefore the timeline remains the same. -0

The amount of time traveled also makes a difference to the timeline; luckily, in Atsushi's case, it was only minutes.

One common factor about time travel (except in a few rare cases) is the fact that:

Time travel creates alternate / branching timelines.

Let's backtrack a bit:

In an old post of mine, back when we found out Atsushi was the "bookmark" and I tried explaining what that meant, I said this:

Well let's start simple: "What's a bookmark?" It's an indication of where you left off in a story. In a game, you could think of it as a [save] point.

The bookmark would be the only way to progress in a story. The only thing telling you where the 'present' is. Time is divided in three: Past -> Present -> Future Q. Where is Atsushi? A. The present No matter wether he could time travel, or we read chapter 1 again, he will always be experiencing it 'currently'/in 'present time'.

At the time, I myself wasn't sure how to explain it properly and tried to explain my thoughts as best as possible. Surprisingly, I was technically right!

To paraphrase and add a bit:

Atsushi, as the bookmark, represents the present. Time travel is possible because no matter where in time Atsushi is it'll count as present time, just like a bookmark in a book, he marks what page we're on.

Now...I don't know how many of you reading this have ever read any Gamebooks like 'choose your own adventure' or played any Visual Novels with choices and different routes and endings, but I'll be using them as a way to further explain, so I'll try to explain a bit about them.

In a Gamebook, while reading, you are given choices, for example:

In an attempt to find out where the sound came from, you run towards the hall. Just as you enter, you see a lady running down the left corridor, screaming about a ghost. As you're about to follow her, you see a ghost floating down the corridor on your right, towards the garden. Who do you want to follow?

If you want to follow the ghost, flip to page 56

If you want to follow the screaming lady, flip to page 82

You then go to the page, read until another choice appears and eventually reach one of the endings of the book.

A Visual Novel (VN) has the same concept as a Gamebook but is a video game with pictures and music, along with words. Some are more like plays (more dialogue and inner thoughts) while others are more like novels (more descriptions, paragraphs and only necessary dialogue).

One thing in common with both VNs and Gamebooks is the way the reader/player always has to make choices that lead to different situations and/or endings. They're interactive, with branching routes, bad and good endings.

Another thing they have in common is a bookmark.

A Gamebook is an actual book and therefore a bookmark can work with it easily; just put it between the pages to save your place. You choose to follow the ghost and flip to page 56? Ok, the bookmark is now on page 56. You want to go back and follow the screaming lady instead? Sure, the bookmark is now on page 82 as if you never followed the ghost. We control the bookmark to mark where we're up to, what the 'present time' in the story is to us.

In VNs it's slightly different. A choice appears that may branch the timeline? You have to save that instance to a save slot. A few dialogue boxes later you realise you should have picked the other option? You load your save from its save slot and travel back to the option again, like nothing in the other timeline happened, erased.

Both of these examples are great. Visual Novels loading and overwriting save files, therefore erasing that timeline (even if the possibility of it still existed in the branches) and Gamebooks that use a bookmark to mark the present timeline, choice after choice, and jump between them.

Now, when it comes to Atsushi as the bookmark, the similarities can help us understand how time travel was used in this context, and so, we can figure out what happened to the previous timeline.

Placing the bookmark back (loading a save) makes it so anything that happened after that, never happened. Therefore the new timeline becomes the only timeline and the old timeline is erased, overwritten, and ceases to exist.

Even without the bookmark deep dive, just considering the scribbled out effect to show the time travel, it lets us imagine the previous timeline being scribbled out, erased and rewritten.

So yes, in the old (now erased) timeline, Akutagawa died. But that him has now ceased to exist and this him is the only existence.

Also, while the previous timeline was erased, it doesn't change the fact that this is now a different timeline, where Akutagawa never saw the Dazai hallucination as he was never in a near death state by Ame-no-Gozen before being killed. I'm actually a little upset by this...like, don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's alive, but his near death hallucination experience felt like a needed moment of weakness (in a positive he-finally-shed-a-tear way) and weird form of acceptance, and now, the current him never got that.

I guess it makes sense though...if you're only reason to live is to seek acknowledgement by proving yourself through fighting and basically wanting to be told you've fought enough, that your effort wasn't for nothing, that your life had meaning, then why live past it and not accept your death when it's right there? If he lived past that, do you think he'd have the same resolve to live and fight? The reset meant never getting what he wanted, and that was the only way to keep him going.

Also, I think I saw someone mention how Atsushi saw Akutagawa's Dazai hallucination and that's why he Thanos-snapped the timeline. I get that it was probably just a headcanon, but I'm just going to mention it here in case anyone was genuinely confused: Atsushi did not see anything.

Even if Atsushi could magically see other people's hallucinations, there just wasn't enough time. Atsushi looked out onto reality, saw Akutagawa for a second, witnessed his death, and then shouted his name, no indication or enough time for him to see anything.

Anyway, let's quickly talk about where the new timeline starts:

On the left we have the erased timeline (Chapter 123.5) and on the right we have the new timeline (Chapter 124). Both panels are of the same moment.

Akutagawa's left arm still bubbled, it's just that at that moment in the new timeline, Atsushi suddenly appeared from the dead and took Akutagawa's full attention instead.

That's the first difference in the timeline.

---------------------------------------------

So why travel to before his "death"? idk (maybe I knew while writing this all in the start but I didn't write any note for myself)

---------------------------------------------

I was initially briefly confused by this. Was the Ame-no-Gozen we knew actually Tsuki-no-Gozen or was the sword used to remove Ame-no-Gozen's life force Tsuki-no-Gozen?

The answer: The sword used to remove Ame-no-Gozen's life fore: Tsuki-no-Gozen.

It pulled out Fukuchi, who was Ame-no-Gozen's life force, essentially killing it. We can even see Ueda holding the sword and the difference being clearly shown.

[vii0so]

[ BSD 123.5 Spoilers ]

Thoughts, Theories and Analysis

Literally forgot a new chapter was even releasing today but holy shiz today's update was great. I love it, especially this part:

My heart can't take thiiiiis! Would it be strange to say I'm glad we saw Akutagawa cry? Like, I'm happy for him, it's like a weird form of closure / acceptance for him.

He's not dead dead obviously. Just like all the other characters 'killed' by Ame-No-Gozen once this whole ordeal is over he'll retuen.

Honestly, even before the ordeal is over he will return and fight alongside Atsushi (as we see in the look ahead of the anime's last ep). Probably with Ueda's help.

I doubt Atsushi will actually kill Ueda. It's not that I find him too soft to kill, quite the opposite, he can and will kill depending on the situation and the type of person, but Ueda is not a bad person, they didn't want any of this to happen. Ueda is someone who has basically been imprisoned and forced to watch their creations be used for evil. They witnessed one die (destroyed) and now they are witnessing the other one be used for destruction without anyway to stop it.

Thus, Ueda wants to die as a way to free their creation from its fate and themself from this eternity of guilt and suffering in captivity.

To me, this part sounds like a parent who's twin children were turned into weapons of war. They gave them the gift of life only for their life to be turned into a weapon used against anyone the wielder saw fit. Eventually, the parent - seeing one of their children die from wear and the other forced into continuing the same mindless slaughter - can't take it anymore and wishes that they had never brought them into this life.

Random fact: Ame [ 雨 / あめ] means rain and Tsuki [ 月 / つき ] means moon - a reference to the real author's work - and therefore the bsd character's ability - "Ugetsu Monogatari" (Tales of Moon and Rain).

Anyway, back to Akutagawa, how is he seeing Dazai? For Atsushi's case we got the explanation that it was basically created by his mind under the influence of Q's ability. This is then immediately confirmed.

But what about Akutagawa? Even if he had been affected by Q's ability, the mental burden taking effect only now would be strange.

The most likely possibility is some form of the near death effect, where people who are about to die may see their loved ones (usually deceased family members) telling them words of encouragement and things along the lines of "you did well" and "it's time to go" or even the opposite, such as "it's not your time yet".

So after openly thinking that this would mark his end, his mind conjured up Dazai because a part of him remembered what Atsushi told him about.

Honestly, the strangest part of this whole thing for me was the music. Most people probably didn't think about it much but to me it seemed strange.

If he first saw Dazai and then heard him speak I could say that in his state of mind his brain created an auditory hallucination. But the music starts while his eyes are closed, before he even sees Dazai.

"Atsushi could hear his hallucination while he was asleep."

Yes, but Atsushi's "shadow" was created by his mind under the influence of Q's ability, not as a near death 'these are my final moments' brain response.

Maybe I'm thinking into this too much...music is definitely possible if it was a strong factor from a point of time in his life. Does this mean Dazai has played the piano for Akutagawa or that this is a melody that left an impression on him in some part of his life similarly to Dazai? Maybe neither, maybe both, will we ever know, does it mean anything at all? ...yeah, I'm overthinking this.

Btw...am I the only one who wants to know what song was played?

[vii0so]

BSD 122 SPOILERS!

After finally reading the translation, I feel like half my theories just got flushed down the toilet...

Like, what do you mean it was never Dazai? That even the director isn't actually the director? That it's because of the influence of Q's ability - like, what??? (shocked face) Atsushi really does have all this info in his mind (yes and no. I'll try to elaborate in my long post). The door from dead apple has returned and omg so much to think about.

There's still a few things I can talk about when I write up my long post but wow, most of my previous theories will need to be revised.

[vii0so]

BSD Chapter 122 - Spoiler Free

Just saw the raws...I'm surprised (a lot) but will wait until I can actually understand with words rather than just pictures what is happening and then start typing and analysing.

Like, wow, progression and past scenes shown!

[vii0so]

[BSD 121.5] Theory/Analysis

So much to think about, so much to say. Everything in this long post will be as farfetched as it gets, you have been warned, and as always: Spoilers ahead.

...

Well...I didn't even get to write most of the stuff I wanted because I was busy and have ran out of time, so this is just: Ame-no-Gozen's realm (barely) and dot points of what I wanted to talk about...enjoy.

Topics:

Ame-no-Gozen's Realm

My dot points

A few things from my draft post

A few things I would have loved to talk about

─────────────✧

Disclaimer:

I had to research a lot of different and technical topics for this post. I only researched enough for me to try and understand, I'm in no way an expert on maths or science, so expect inaccuracies.

Note: Even though I didn't get to talk much of what I researched, I really did research a ton (even more than for my assignments due recently) so I hope it'll still be relevant later.

─────────────✧

█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

Ame-no-Gozen's Realm

Well, let's start this post off with "The realm of Ame-no-Gozen". It's the first time we're seeing the area in its true form.

At first, I thought "oh cool, a time paradox" then I thought "but what type?". This led me to reading about time paradoxes trying to find one that matched the situation.

Illusory time "-time might itself be a sort of illusion." "-the block time view, in which time is just another dimension like space, with all events at all times being fixed within this four-dimensional "block"." Excerpt from: Wikipedia (Temporal paradox - Illusory time)

"Eternalism" (a philosophy of time) is sometimes referred to as "block time" and is described as a four-dimensional block where the past, present and future are equally real and exist simultaneously.

Sound familiar?

Yep, it's a match!

Now, "Orthogonally", what is that?

In art, the perspective (imaginary) lines pointing to the vanishing point are referred to as "orthogonal lines"

─────────────✧

I thought of writing about how this is a story and therefore everything is already set in stone - existing at the same time - in the same world

─────────────✧

My dot points

These were typed up straight after reading the chapter when it released. I really wish I could elaborate but I'm out of time (the new chapter is releasing in less than an hour).

Some are applicable after my research and some can be slightly altered. There's also more than these that I wanted to talk about and even had a draft post with more info but none had a concrete end to the sections so I'm only showing the one topic.

Dazai knows the past and future

The og dazai (mentioned in beast novel) is THAT Dazai (hallucination Dazai) not BSD Dazai

BEAST Dazai knew the future that would pass God Dazai (switched "hallucination" Dazai to "god" Dazai for me to keep track easier) knows all - Lain exists everywhere

Akutagawa cares awww

Atshushi still calls him Dazai even though he "found out" who he was. So it's Dazai huh...? i have to read previous chaps again

It IS the book but also NOT the book. It's Dazai but also NOT Dazai. It's a version of Dazai that is the book or at least PART of the book. So much to theorise and analyse

It really is referring the LNs! loosing friends SB, Atsushi breakdown B, Dazai knows all B. (B - Beast)

Dazai looks dead...everyone dies in the future or he knows everything and is just normal level Dazai broken

Let's go, Dazai book theory is possible!!! (in a way)

He wears ADA clothes, so is he future Dazai and this is some weird paradox or is it a different Dazai all together

Dazai getting Akutagawa and Atsushi makes sense if he knew the future also beast Dazai leaving them with the knowledge -

Akutagawa remembered sushi after seeing him "die". maybe it's rashoumon's response to the possible death of the tiger??? shock waking him up...idk

(bro i forgot he even forgot him)

sigma's "how did i know that" and sushi apparently being the one with the info lies! God!Dazai is providing them with the info! since they are connected with the book, his knowledge gets passed to them in a way...maybe... maybe

maybe god!dazai can't express himself well because he lost everyone or god!dazai has no emotions (not necessarily but as placement) as he is the book and he lived through the versions of himself. meaning all dazais are connected.

next chap - atsushi uses his claws to shatter the divine beings core

─────────────✧

Random stuff from my draft post:

Things in [ ] are stuff I've typed now as additional info. Anything else was typed I while ago and is copy and pasted from my draft post.

-✧-

So, Dazai is the book...

Yeah, yeah, I know this theory has been around for quite some time but back then we didn't have enough facts. Plus, I don't mean he is the book...more like a part of the book. It's brain? Consciousness?.

Anyway, this chapter finally sold me on it.

Now, as I mentioned in my last long post [BSD 121] we have to think of Atsushi as electricity, the book as a factory and Hallucination Dazai as a backup power generator:

Atsushi and his emotions - the electricity

"Hallucination" Dazai - the backup power generator

The "book" - the factory

[ Then I was going to talk about the example again and tweak it to fit the current situation. ]

More proof that Atsushi's feelings are what dictate the world:

[ Always love having more proof of this. It's obvious but the more we get told "yes this is how it works" the better. There can never be too much confirmation. ]

Dazai and "Dazai"

"Dazai" wears the same clothes as Dazai does in the Armed Detective Agency. This could mean many things but here are two options:

"Dazai" is Dazai from the future. OR

"Dazai"

[ "Dazai" in this case is hallucination Dazai. ]

[ This section was going to be huge...but now it's the smallest. ]

[The following was a random thought I had and wrote. I wasn't planning on elaborating on it. ]

I could be crazy and say that two negatives equal a positive and that Dazai trying to die is happening at the same time as another Dazai, therefore cancelling it out and having him live instead...but that wouldn't be realistic nor do I believe it.

[ In another post, I talked about how Atsushi was always in the present. I thought I could reference it again and elaborate with this new knowledge but never typed much other than the excerpt: ]

The bookmark would be the only way to progress in a story. The only thing telling you where the 'present' is. Time is divided in three: Past -> Present -> Future Q. Where is Atsushi? A. The present No matter wether he could time travel, or we read chapter 1 again, he will always be experiencing it 'currently'/in 'present time'. - Excerpt from my long post: [BSD 119] Theory/Analysis "The Bookmark" and Akutagawa.

─────────────✧ COMPLETED (not really)

Yep...that was all.

I loved chapter 121.5 a lot. I wanted to talk about so many things.

A few things I would have loved to talk about more:

Like how the memories beast Dazai mentions having are probably Hallucination Dazai's and not BSD Dazai's (or maybe both...or all AUs). So the "original" Dazai wouldn't be BSD Dazai but hallucination Dazai.

And the fact that Dazai claims he is part of Atsushi by saying "these are things you know" but in actuality it's probably not like that. and Sigma in an older chapter knowing something and questioning how he knew that (i need to find the chapter again but I'm sure it happened). It's Dazai's knowledge!

And the fact he can hear Atsushi's thoughts!!! Like I wanted to dive into this too but again...no time.

I really hope I won't be too busy this month so I can actually complete the post for the new chapter. (...I'm actually super busy but I'll try.)

[vii0so]

[BSD 121] Theory/Analysis

This chapter was full of things for me to over-analyse and theorise about. As always, expect spoilers, sidetracking and theories that sound farfetched.

Topics:

The (Fake) Page

Fyodor's Fixation on Dazai

The Book and Atsushi's Hallucinations

Rampo

─────────────✧

█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

The (Fake) Page

To start, no...that's not the page.

As I mentioned in my last chapter post [BSD 120.5], this had been a plan from the start by Fyodor, for Atsushi to not question where the page is, by showing an ordinary page and letting him assume it's the page.

Plus, Atsushi was having a mental breakdown due to the situation at the time and couldn't think clearly but do you really think an actual page from the book - a godly item - would tear that easily? No way. It's known as indestructible for a reason.

Fyodor's plan was to break Atsushi mentally. That's what he wanted to see. Atsushi in despair.

Fyodor shows he has the page (tricking Atsushi), says it can bring his friends back (giving Atsushi hope), then tears it up right in front of him (Making Atsushi feel despair and hopelessness, breaking him).

Just look at his thoughts! He lost hope, fell to despair. If he doesn't fight, he'll die, and yet he sees no reason to continue.

Maybe Fyodor needs Atsushi to want to die before he kills him. Maybe as the 'bookmark', that's some sort of activation key for something to do with the book.

─────────────✧

██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

Fyodor's Fixation on Dazai

Originally, I wasn't going to talk about this but here I am.

Fyodor decides to talk about Dazai right after mentioning the back of the page. In this he also mentions the prison, furthering my theory (Section: "The page isn't with Fyodor") that the real page is with Sigma back at the prison.

That was a bit off topic but needed mentioning, since Fyodor chooses to talk about Dazai right after mentioning the page (Yes, I'm saying it twice. Important things must be repeated).

Fyodor has no reason to mention Dazai in this way to Atsushi. If my theory that Fyodor needed Atsushi to fall into despair (...gosh, the more I say that word the more I think of Danganronpa), break him, is correct, then he has no reason to talk like this.

I would understand if Fyodor only talked about or mentioned how he beat Dazai, as Atsushi who views Dazai as all knowing would despair thinking "If Dazai couldn't beat him how can I even try?" (actually...did he already think this in one of the chapters and I forgot?) but Fyodor goes beyond that and mentions enjoying his time with Dazai.

Now, It could be just as they show; Fyodor making Atsushi believe that because of Dazai he will give Atsushi the page as stated with:

But he didn't need to do it like this.

Atsushi probably didn't even mentally register anything Fyodor said other than getting the page. So there really wasn't any reason to say all the Dazai stuff. Just mentioning giving Atsushi the page would have gotten the same reaction.

Dazai is a key figure in Atsushi's life and therefore suspecting emotional manipulation in this case (especially after finding out Atsushi - the tiger - is the book's emotional hearth - the bookmark.)

其は 「根源辺縁体」の　寵愛深き この世の楔

note: ...I spent quite a while stuck on translating this and it's not even part of Chapter 121 (it's 119) so I give up (for now).

I've left the Japanese behind in case I come back to this or in case someone else wants to tackle it (plus I spent way too long getting each kanji with my basic hiragana knowledge and BSD raws that didn't show the hiragana clearly for me to search for the kanji without guessing.)

= ✧ =

Anyway, the current translation ("emotional hearth"), would indicate that Atsushi's emotions play a big role in what happens. Therefore it's a given that Fyodor would emotionally manipulate him to activate some sort of trigger that'll help his plans.

But let's not suspect manipulation for a moment.

Why talk about Dazai?

Well, Dazai is important, "in what way?" I'm not sure, and Fyodor mentioning him right after the page shows that he is a key figure (connected to the book in some way).

Fyodor needs Dazai. Or at least...a version of him.

...I don't know what I'm saying either.

Dazai is 100% involved with the book in some way and Fyodor is aware of this fact.

Dazai is also one of the only people in Fyodor's life that understands him and can have an actual conversation with him. Fyodor has lived a long time. Once you live that long everything is predictable.

I'm sure some of the people reading this must have watched a movie or read a story at some point and thought "the ____ was obvious" wether it was the ending, villain, or something else. This happens because we have seen other media with the same things and therefore can predict what happens.

Now imagine you find a movie, book, game, etc. that isn't like anything you've seen before. It's got the same foundations and yet...you can't predict it. You can guess what will happen but you will never truly know (wow, a lot like me with BSD...I'm getting off topic).

That's how Fyodor feels. Seeing the same old cliche for 2k+ years, nothing new at all.

...Until he meets Dazai.

Dazai is the movie that's nothing like the others. A mysterious person he couldn't predict. Someone similar to himself.

So imagine you find a movie DVD that is the key to a door but also a movie that you've been looking for a long time (something new, unpredictable). You'd be interested, right? That's Fyodor's obsession with Dazai.

It's like being in a time loop and having someone remember with you. (is that even a good example? probably not...)

─────────────✧

████▒▒▒▒▒

The Book and Atsushi's Hallucinations

Honestly, at first I was like "Huh???", then I told myself, "Atsushi figured it out so we as the readers must be able to as well", and so I read it a couple more times and thought "The only thing that makes sense is that it's the book", any other possibility I came up with sounded too farfetched and might as well get turned into an au fanfic instead of a canon theory, so...It's the book.

Now, before I get into why, here's a random fact about myself:

I usually avoid reading other people's theories so that I can have fun theorising (having a mental breakdown/j) on my own without my theories being influenced by others.

That being said, I saw a post of someone being confused about the ending of the chapter and I was curious to see if anybody else thought it was the book like me in the post's comments.

To my surprise, a lot of people thought it was the tiger instead.

So let's start with: "Why is it not the tiger?"

This line is all the proof we need: "You're the tiger aren't you?"

It wouldn't be my style if I didn't try over analysing the raws...so I did!

I tried translating the original Japanese myself and basically got the same result with minor differences, so the [Nine of Cups] translation (shown on the left) is as accurate as it gets.

Since I didn't find anything particularly interesting while translating, here's some random Japanese that appears in the panel:

Anyway, yeah, there's no reason in my mind why it would be the tiger. There's just no way. There's no reason for it to be.

Why would the tiger say this? Why would the tiger not appear as itself? Why would Atsushi be so surprised if it was?

Also, Atsushi is the bookmark, the emotional hearth of the book, why wouldn't the book speak to him?

There's just no way it's the tiger.

Now, that we have that out of the way, let's continue:

The floor during Atsushi's "hallucinations" is usually just the ground/floor itself or a blank space (usually totally black or white).

But this time, the entire white area turns colour (from white to black), enabling us to see that there had been lines there all along.

The lines are most likely a reference to the japanese writing paper:

Genkouyoushi [ 原稿用紙 ] - manuscript paper

There have been references made before. Here are some examples:

A & C : Official Art ✧ B : Volume 18 cover ✧ D : TDIPUD LN Cover

Even though this time the distinct space between square rows isn't present and makes this look more like average grid paper I personally still believe it's a reference to genkouyoushi.

Since Atsushi is the emotional hearth, his emotions matter...a lot.

So let me give you a situation before the next part:

The lights suddenly go out in a factory, signifying that there's no power (electricity).

This factory relies heavily on electricity to function and therefore for emergencies has a backup power generator.

Once the power went out, the backup power generator kicked in, meaning nothing stopped for too long and work continued.

Now imagine:

Atsushi is the electricity in this case.

The Dazai "hallucinations" are the backup power generator.

And the factory is the book / the story we read (BSD)

When Atsushi loses all hope, without any chance at all of recovering, that will be the end of the book as well (Or at least it'll trigger something to do with the book).

Since that can't happen if the world is to continue, there is a fail-safe measure (the backup power generator) that activates when Atsushi feels particularly low (really low) or is in need of guidance away from self-destruction.

So, the book speaks in the image of Dazai - who Atsushi holds in high regard (though I'm fairly sure there's more to the book choosing "Dazai" than this) - as a way to "return the electricity to the factory".

─────────────✧

██████▒▒▒

Rampo

Why is Rampo not mentioned here?

Seriously, what plan are Dazai and Rampo scheming against Fyodor?

He must be safe and working in the background...right?

─────────────✧

██████████ Completed!

I know I said I'd post this "soon"

...and suddenly "soon" turned into almost a month.

85% was written within a week of the chapter's release. But my brain didn't let me think after I tried deciphering Japanese (Kanji and general translation) for this (the translation part I gave up on) and suddenly I couldn't type anymore. I tried coming back to it but I still couldn't type much so I left it for a while.

Suddenly I realised I still hadn't finished it and the new chapter was releasing in a few hours! So I said to myself "leave it incomplete like the last time, or speed write a whole bunch of stuff and just post it".

...I typed faster than I thought I could.

So here it is, actually completed (a round of applause for me! :D)

I hope what I wrote makes sense, some parts may be off-topic(?) as I was in a rush and can't re-read what I wrote right now.

See you all in a few hours when I read the new chapter (or tomorrow if I choose to sleep after reading the chapter instead of immediately starting to type my theory/analysis post like I usually do)

─────────────✧

TLDR:

No, the "page" torn is not the real page. It was only used as an act to make Atsushi lose hope.

Yes, Fyodor is obsessed with Dazai in the way that we find an unpredictable movie without cliches refreshing.

Fyodor's manipulating Atsushi emotionally as a way to activate something to do with the book.

The Dazai "hallucinations" are the "book" and are a fail-safe measure (think more closely to: backup power generator) so that Atsushi - whose emotions affect the world - does not fall completely to despair (which is what Fyodor wants)

Rampo is not mentioned in the people who still need saving/are still alive but he's most likely planning in the background.

[vii0so]

[BSD 121] Short Theory

Just woke up so I'll try to elaborate on this in one of the sections of my usual long post later but until then...the answer is: the book.

The book has been the one talking to Atsushi.

Side note: loved seeing Dazai this chapter! (even if it technically is and isn't him)

See you all soon when I type up my usual long theory/analysis post for today's chapter.

[vii0so]

[BSD 120.5] Theory/Analysis

NOTE BEFORE READING: 90% of this post was written on the day of the chapter's release but got forgotten in my drafts. As I'm too lazy right now to read through and edit, expect things that: make no sense, are worded as if the chapter came out today or recently, stop in the middle of the sentence/incomplete etc. Also for some reason I added stuff not directly relating to the chap...I'm sure I wanted to lead into a bigger point but by now I have no idea what I was going for.

I realised it's almost time for the new chapter and that's how I remembered this was still in my drafts...

So I'm posting it more for me rather than anyone else (which I sort of already do anyway).

─────────────✧

Well well well...it's been another month so I'm here again to put my 2 cents in on this month's chapter.

I'm sure there's no need to say it but the following will contain spoilers for BSD chapter 120.5.

And as always with my long posts...expect me to sidetrack a lot.

This includes a deep dive into Fyodor's title as well.

Today's Topics:

Humanity & Fyodor's outlook

Fyodor's title

Fyodor's humanity

Ability Users & Humans

The page isn't with Fyodor

Thoughts on Fukuzawa's "death"

─────────────✧

█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

Humanity & Fyodor's outlook

Today's chapter gives us a great insight on Fyodor's goal, or at least confirms the one we already knew of and bathes it in a new light. But let's first start with what his outlook on humans is.

"An unlearned outlook befitting of your short lives."

"Your" = humans "Short lives" = human lifespans

This is basically saying: "You haven't lived as long as me so you don't know/understand" Or better yet, "You will never have enough time in your short lives to learn like I did."

Fyodor in his immortal life has seen things, witnessed eras come and go, same with wars. He has had nothing but time to observe humanity and their many flaws.

He believes no one with a short life-span (humans) will understand his learned outlook.

Note: We don't know how old Fyodor actually is. I personally believe that he's over two thousand years old but I only have one small piece of unrelated evidence that supports this. Though, no matter the age, he has lived a long time, that doesn't change.

Fyodor looks genuine in this scene. The look of "acceptance". Accepting the fact that humans won't understand or change, no matter how many centuries pass.

Note: It should be remembered that acceptance does not mean compliance. Fyodor is the perfect example of this.

It honestly feels lonely. Trust me, I don't even like Fyodor but this is just depressing, even for the villain. Imagine your ability has made you pretty much immortal and you watch humanity make the same mistakes, have the same flaws, see them drive themselves to ruin multiple times and no one will ever understand you as they haven't lived as long as you. (Arguably, I'd say Dazai got close)

TLDR: Imagine living forever and watching humans ruin themselves repeatedly and having no one who will understand what you're thinking. That's Fyodor's life.

He lost faith in humanity a long time ago.

Anyway...on a different note (slight backtrack), our boy Atsushi seems to agree or at least understand that "Humanity cannot bear such enormous virtue." Based on his expression here and the panel.

It's like his expression is saying, "Damn, he's right, I've gone through so much to stop this but it's just way too much even for me (an ability user)." or something...idk honestly.

Atsushi is emotionally tuned in with the world so maybe he just saw Fyodor's expression and was like: "holy shi-" again, idk.

"Pure evil"...not like anyone has said otherwise about Fyodor.

His calm yet determined(?) expression when Fukuzawa tells him this shows that he finds what he's doing as necessary and planned.

What Fyodor wants is a world war. Specifically, one that will eliminate all ability users. Instead of getting his hands dirty, it'll be done by humans.

Now, I know that ability users get separated a lot from your every day average human but Fyodor's choice of words shows that he doesn't view ability users as humans at all.

Though, the way he uses the word "humanity" may be more as in those of the greater population, or just "The ones without abilities."

With [One Order] though, does "humanity" include ability users? In theory it should, and yet it doesn't seem that way.

Fyodor believes there will be peace if ability users are gone...Looks like he either has never seen a world without ability users or there's more to this plan than he's letting on.

"What...are you...? I can't possibly see you as human."

Fyodor has never once claimed to be human. Or at least he has never seen himself as human.

And he clearly separates himself from those with short lives (humans) as a different being.

He has been considered a demon throughout the whole series.

Now for my monthly: "Analyse the original Japanese even though I don't speak it."

Today's segment will mostly be my curiosity taking word form, so feel free to skip to the next part or enjoy.

─────────────✧

██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

Fyodor's title

First off, I didn't manage to get the raws to see the spelling of the title. I only heard the spoken Japanese version in the anime, which was "majin".

[ Dazai says it around 12:33 in Season 3 Episode 8 ]

So feel free to interpret it as either [魔神] or [魔人] (both are pronounced as "majin" but have different meanings).

Due to the official translation calling him "conjurer", I thought that maybe it was [ 魔人 ] but the fact that the fan translation calls him "demon", points closer to [ 魔神 ].

Left: Fan translation (DazaiScans) | Right: Official English translation

When you break it down more into individual Kanji, you start to see the difference and similarities.

Both are pronounced as "jin" when in "majin".

[ 魔 ] / "ma" is in both [ 魔神 ] and [ 魔人 ]. And it's from "ma" that we get the more demonic/evil meaning.

So, in a way, even [ 魔人 ] could be seen as "demonic person".

[ 魔 ] / "ma" is in "majin" and "akuma"

Now, when Dazai was called a "demon" he was referred to as "akuma".

As you can see, [ 悪魔 ] is way more serious than [ 魔人 ] or [ 魔神 ] .

This obviously gets lost in translation, as both become "demon".

One instance where Dazai is being referred to as 悪魔 is in the 15 light novel and manga adaptation. For some reason, it's not in the anime.

I'm not here to talk about Dazai's humanity though. I just wanted to show the difference in seriousness of "demon" between the titles*.

*Correction, "Demon" is not Dazai's title. While he has been called as such, his only known title was "Black Wraith" (Kuroi Yuuki - 黒い幽鬼).

Yuuki [ 幽鬼 ] - ghost; revenant; spirit (of the dead); departed soul

Kuro [ 黒 ] - black (as noun) - Kuroi [ 黒い ] = black (as adjective)

So back to the topic at hand!

─────────────✧

███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

Fyodor's humanity

Fyodor being referred to as "majin" instead of "akuma" makes a big difference even if both can be "demon".

In this chapter - as I stated earlier - we see Fyodor talk as if he isn't human. Akuma would refer to a demon - not human, but majin refers more closely to an "evil being", and if it's [ 魔人 ] it can especially be seen as a "demonic/evil human".

Therefore, Fyodor's title shows that he is human, no matter how much he separates himself and the rest of the ability users from the greater human population.

...Wait a minute...just remembered something.

I should have trusted my memory and checked the raws from chapter 120 earlier...it was literally only a month ago and yet I almost forgot Fukuzawa literally used Fyodor's title at the end of the chapter!

So Fyodor's title is [ 魔人 ]

[ 魔 ] for "witch", "demon", "evil spirit"

[ 人 ] for "person"

...Remembering this earlier would have saved me so much time ;-;

I will still keep what I wrote from earlier - my rambling about wether it's [ 魔人 ] or [ 魔神 ] - as I spent way too long on it and don't have enough mental energy to change it.

─────────────✧

████▒▒▒▒▒▒

Ability Users & Humans

(Specifically in the eyes of Fyodor)

Now that we know it's [ 魔人 ], I can analyse further into Fyodor's view on ability users.

In short, Humans are...humans, I won't go into the foolishness and ugliness of humans, because in life there's death just like there's pain in love, it's yin and yang. Basically: where there's good, there's evil.

人類 - mankind; humanity

異能 - unusual power; superpower; ability beyond that of humans

者 - person (rarely used without a qualifier)

I understand 者 as the user in "ability user"

So 人類 vs 異能者 = Humanity vs Ability users.

[Section Incomplete] - I remember wanting to talk about how Fyodor sees himself and then talking about how that shows how he views humanity and ability users. First off, he doesn't care what he becomes or is seen as. He is the type to "willingly become a demon for future peace" (at least "peace" in his eyes). I remember having a plan (in my head) for this section but...by now I've forgotten and are too lazy to continue it.

─────────────✧

█████▒▒▒▒▒

The page isn't with Fyodor

This may sound strange since we see Fukuchi hold the page too but remember: we never saw them actually use/write on the "page" that we've seen. It's basically just a normal piece of paper.

Fukuchi claims the paper he's holding as the page. [Chapter 83.5]

There's no proof of it actually being the page though.

Fyodor offers the page to Atsushi [Chapter 119]

This was Fyodor's plan to show Atsushi that the page is there with them. So that he has no reason to question where the page is.

If you see an apple in front of you, you won't be thinking "I wonder where the apple is" but instead believe that it's right there.

I had a far fetched thought that maybe the page was with Fyodor in the prison and then made to be found by Sigma in the guise of the note claiming he needs help:

When Sigma picks it up, it looks like there are two papers.

And yet, when he shows it to Fyodor there seems to only be a one:

Now of course, this could just be artistic error or even mere perspective but I don't think so. Every detail is usually intentional.

So what's the second paper?

The page.

...possibly

"How did Sigma not realise?" I don't know...Maybe it's been changed to appear as a blank page somehow.

This would tie in with my theory from last update that Fyodor is in a rush to get to Sigma before he wakes up.

Atsushi thinks Fyodor has the page and that he'll have to take it off him (steal it) somehow. He has no idea that the page isn't even close by but instead in Meursault.

A lot of people think "How could Atsushi's day get any worse?"

Well...fight a literal god-like-level being who is controlled by a 2k+ old evil mastermind who wants to get rid of all ability users by manipulating the general public and then never even get the page that you were fighting for because you were being manipulated this entire time and the page was never there...

─────────────✧

██████▒▒

Thoughts on Fukuzawa's "death"

First off, I don't think I've mentioned it in my theories so far but I don't believe that those "killed" by ame-no-gozen will stay dead. At some point, all of them will be alive again with no issues.

Anyway, Fukuzawa's "death" reminded me of Rampo after the "Kamui is Fukuchi" discovery. Is this a sign that we'll see him in the next chapter? ...probably not, but it did feel like a parallel, at least to me.

Also, I know last time I said "maybe next chapter he'll die" but no, this is not the death

Btw, this feels like a parallel to me even if it's not exactly the same:

─────────────✧

██████████ Complete!

Note: The following segment was written around a week after the chapter released.

The moment I finished reading the chapter (a few hours after it released) I started typing this immediately. So I've been writing this on and off for a week now...

First, I was tired IRL, then the next day was busy, and the next and the next and...you get it. I probably wrote most of it on the first day while tired so don't mind if anything makes no sense.

This must be the longest theory post I've written for BSD so far...

Should I stop doing long posts? Would you guys prefer short ones? I try to do one long post per chapter, but I feel like not many people read them, precisely because they're long. I like doing it like this as it's more compact (in my opinion) but if you guys would like me to stop the long posts let me know.

─────────────✧

To the people who actually read this post, if anything doesn't make sense or seems incomplete, it's because I wrote all this while tired (35% with a headache) and whenever i came back to write more I couldn't remember what I was trying to say...

It was in my drafts partially incomplete so since we're expecting the new update soon, I remembered this and posted it.

[vii0so]

[BSD 120] Theory/Analysis

These are my first thoughts on parts of chapter 120. It includes my personal interpretations and theories of certain things.

Warning: Spoilers ahead

█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

1. Akutagawa & "True strength"

In my previous theory, I believed Rashoumon was in control of Aku's body (hence the old speech and clothing choice).

In BSD, abilities are the soul. "True strength" and "within yourself" could point to Rashoumon.

It could be that Akutagawa has inherited the purpose of his ability (Rashoumon). Therefore unlocking its full potential and or memories. Hence the drastic change that Atsushi sees.

The "purpose" stuff was another thing I briefly mentioned in my previous theory. In short: Purpose = job (e.g. the bookmark)

"This blade serves the heavens"

This blade = "I" (Akutagawa/Rashoumon)

The heavens = probably "the book"

"This soul follows the path of righteousness"

This soul = Rashoumon

This would mean: Rashoumon is righteous.

"The path of the knight"

Knight = Protector/Defender

This could mean Rashoumon is the book's protector.

So his purpose could be the book's "Knight", just like Atsushi is the book's "Bookmark".

If we want to say it in book terms, it'd be the book's cover.

─────────────✧

"Idea. Will. All are empty."

This is directed at Akutagawa. Saying that he has no individual thoughts or will, he is just an empty shell.

I believe this can be seen as saying "You're a puppet."

This could mean that the current Akutagawa is like this because his role as the "knight" is needed (A god-level threat to the book has appeared and needs to be dealt with).

Meaning, it could very well be his soul's (Rashoumon's) purpose (the knight) has taken control. Making him a puppet with the only thing moving him being his purpose.

─────────────✧

███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

2. The higher dimension

First off: If we think of the real world where we are, then the BSD universe would be a "lower dimension" to us.

In BSD, the book can change/shape their world and therefore is part of the "higher dimension"

Basically, anything that doesn't follow the law of abilities and/or our everyday normal earth standards, can be considered as a higher dimensional being/thing.

As Fyodor explained: Stabbing a page will "kill" the character drawn on it. No matter how OP they are, they will never be able to perceive our dimension (reality) and therefore will not be able to stop it.

To make it easier: An author can write a story where the mc faces an enemy and dies. The author controlled the story/fate of the mc. The mc would never be able to stop that from happening.

...Actually this example would be closer to what the book does...they are a similar plane of existence but not the same. Fyodor's example is better for Ame-no-Gozen though.

─────────────✧

Let's think of it the other way around to better explain:

In short: if you were to write/draw a character, that character would never directly be able to harm you or interact with you. That's because we're in a higher dimensional plane of existence.

Stories may just be fiction to us but to the characters they are real, just like life for us is real.

When a character becomes aware that there is a higher dimension/they are in a story, they still can't physically/directly interact with our world. The most they can do, is "break the 4th wall" and indirectly interact with the audience (e.g. talking to/looking at the camera/us).

─────────────✧

Random:

The book is a higher plane of existence than anything in the BSD universe. Hence why anything written in it becomes the truth.

Ame-no-Gozen is a lower dimension than the book.

Therefore, if someone wrote Ame-no-Gozen out of existence in the book, it would be considered true and he'd be gone.

─────────────✧

█████▒▒▒▒▒

3. Fyodor's Plane

This entire "plane to board" thing has had me worried since the previous chapter.

I know they want us to think of this:

But it still feels odd. He gets on that, becomes undetectable. Is that what he's really planning to do though?

He says it's not his concern (whether they live or die) but it seems like a definite lie. In one way or another, it matters.

He seems to be in a hurry. It doesn't seem fake, in actuality it seems like he's trying to hide how urgently he needs to leave.

He completely dropped the whole "Dazai wasn't it so I'll just take Atsushi" and switched to "I don't care whether any of you die".

Honestly, he probably decided to drop the "other half" stuff when he realised Atsushi didn't have the same thoughts as the tiger.

And the "idc what happens to you lol" is more like "I need to leave quickly so let's stop here" which shows urgency.

Which means, Fyodor has somewhere to be...and fast.

Okay, this next theory is a long shot even for me, but what if he needs to get to Sigma before he wakes up?

Don't ask me why, I'm not sure. But it sure is something to think about. It's time-sensitive and we're aware that Sigma hasn't woken up yet. It seems to fall into place with the urgency.

─────────────✧

███████▒▒▒

4. Fukuzawa's Survival

This seems like a challenge to battle but Fukuzawa knew there was no way of fighting Ame-no-Gozen. So who is he challenging?

Fyodor.

Yep, Fukuzawa will fight Fyodor...

All the people (including me) that believed Fukuzawa will die at some point in the story, might be right after this battle.

Why does he say it like that?

And why does he look like he hesitated?

I checked the Japanese and it's: 特には (toku-ni-ha)

Which means:

Note: The "ha" (pronounced "wa") is a particle.

Fyodor, what do you mean?! Is it that you care about his survival "in particular" or "not particularly"? (...I should just leave this to those who are fluent in Japanese. I'm overcomplicating stuff again.)

Anyway, I feel like there's more to this than what we're seeing (Or maybe I just forgot something...)

─────────────✧

5. Where's Rampo?

...no, seriously, where is he during all this?

He's probably doing stuff in the background to help fix this situation but we haven't even seen a glimpse of him since Fyodor came back.

Maybe we'll see him during the Fyodor vs Fukuzawa fight.

─────────────✧

██████████ Completed!

TLDR:

Akutagawa is basically Rashoumon right now.

Akutagawa is the book's "cover" (protector/knight)

Higher & lower dimension = Pretty much the same difference between us and any character in BSD.

Fyodor may need to get to Sigma before he wakes up. Hence the urgency to leave the fight.

Fukuzawa might die fighting Fyodor.

[vii0so]

[BSD 119] Theory/Analysis

"The Bookmark" and Akutagawa.

How Atsushi is the bookmark/what it means and why/how Akutagawa is also involved with this + Why I think Akutagawa is acting like this (knightly-medieval) without Bram's influence.

█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

1. "How is Atsushi the bookmark/ What does it mean to be the bookmark?"

Well let's start simple: "What's a bookmark?"

It's an indication of where you left off in a story.

In a game, you could think of it as a [save] point.

Now, IRL, a bookmark is optional. You may just remember the page or fold the corner.

But what if there was no way to remember or fold corners...only the bookmark?

The bookmark would be the only way to progress in a story. The only thing telling you where the 'present' is.

Time is divided in three:

Past -> Present -> Future

Q. Where is Atsushi?

A. The present

No matter wether he could time travel, or we read chapter 1 again, he will always be experiencing it 'currently'/in 'present time'.

"But that's obvious!" But did you realise the meaning?

The bookmark is used to mark the 'present' time of a story.

Atsushi (the 'bookmark') is the protagonist, keeping the story moving and being the indicator of 'present' time.

We could say that it's because he's the protagonist (they are always the centre of the story - the 'present') but I believe that in Atsushi's case, in the case of bsd as a story, he is the protagonist because he is the bookmark, not the other way around.

And while other characters, like our - many times mistakenly confused as protag - Dazai, have had their spotlight moments (e.g.prison arc), it was still centred around people and events Atsushi was in some way involved in (directly or indirectly).

In short: Atsushi/the bookmark is like the sun

Planets orbit around the sun

If the sun's gone, we're gone

If the sun's here, life continues

It's studying the sun that gave us the concept of 'time'. Of course the moon plays a part in stuff too, and I could talk more on it too.

But I won't. I'll just mention 2 points: the moon doesn't revolve around the sun but the planets instead.

I could also say how the moon is/could be Akutagawa with a few theories but I'll be getting off track...maybe in another post.

So back to the Q: "How is Atsushi the bookmark/ What does it mean to be the bookmark?"

Atsushi's ability is the 'bookmark' which in turn makes him it too.

It means that he is needed for their world (the book) to continue. He is 'present' time. The moment he is gone, so is time.

Fyodor saying this (pictures below) as if it's a certain fact that:

The tiger (Atsushi's ability) is the bookmark, not him.

The tiger is a seperate being to Atsushi, or at least has a very different personality (hence why Fyodor was disgusted to witness Atsushi's reaction, so different to his image of the tiger)

Btw, for anyone who may not know: Abhorrent = morally very bad

So just to clarify: Fyodor is saying that the tiger is morally bad and noble (as in elevated ideals/conduct or prideful and arrogant)*.

* Tried to translate the original Japanese for a clearer idea:

Note: I believe the translation above is accurate. It's just that I sometimes like searching for differences in the original language or things that may not translate well into english (double meanings, etc.).

DeepL spit this out:

"That high-steeled and abominable ‘shining tiger’ is only this good."

The original being:

"あの高覺にして忌まわしき「輝く虎」がこの程度の....."

Random fact: 栞 (しおり - shiori) = bookmark

^ The original Japanese for anyone interested.

███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

2. Why and how is Akutagawa involved with the bookmark?

I could simply say: "Obviously they're yin and yang, two halves of a whole, so just like [Beast beneath the moonlight] is the bookmark, [Rashoumon] must be involved and be the bookmark's opposite."

But I'll try to explain with reasoning.

Rashoumon is said to eat through all it encounters, even if that something is space itself.

Sound familiar?

I would also just like to take a moment and mention that Fyodor genuinely seems like he had no idea that Rashoumon could put up a fight with Ame-no-Gozen.

Anyway...

Rashoumon is powerful. Powerful enough to fight against a being that isn't even in the same dimension (plane of existence) as itself. This means that Akutagawa's ability is 'god tier' (world bending/ changing) as well, just like Atsushi's tiger.

Honestly, to me, that by itself proves that Akutagawa is in some way connected to the book, just like Atsushi. If I think of more reasons I'll make another theory post.

I've been trying to think of what he would be to compliment the [bookmark] and have come up with many things, though none of them make sense and there are holes. So I'll have to come back to it.

█████▒▒▒▒▒

3. The reason I think Akutagawa is acting like this (knightly-medieval) without Bram's influence.

Rashoumon

Yes, you read that right. I believe he's acting like this due to his own ability.

Don't know how, can't explain it. Been thinking of how to explain this and Aku's involvement with the book further forever and this whole post has been sitting in my drafts gathering dust for weeks because of it.

So I'll just mention some noteworthy points that may contribute to the reason or not:

Atsushi's tiger is - as Fyodor has hinted at - different, personality/ morals wise. Meaning Rashoumon could also be different to Aku.

Abilities and their users are just two sides of the same coin

Abilities are the soul memory, the users are the body memory

Post Bram's possession, Aku's being could be considered half dead (in a way. Alive > Dead > Vampire > Alive-ish?) and so, that could have triggered his ability to front. Not sure if anyone knows DID enough to know what I mean by that but just think of it like how Atsushi was when he turned into the tiger completely - different - and then returned without any memory of the event.

So Aku still seems like himself (sorta) but the one in control is his ability - Rashoumon.

This would explain Aku not knowing who Atsushi is. Rashoumon could be familiar with the [tiger] but not Atsushi.

The clothes and speech: Most people think it's because of Bram's influence but does anyone even think about how old abilities are? If Fyodor has been alive since before Aku and Sushi were born and likely was aware of their abilities' existence since long before that, then it's likely that the law of reincarnation could apply here.

The law of reincarnation: (Not factual - off the top of my head)

Soul + body = self

Body dies = soul detaches and gets cleansed before rebirth

Reincarnation = (soul > soul + body > born > die > soul leaves body > repeat) x infinity

But because souls house abilities in BSD, it would be:

Soul + body = self divided in half (main self & ability self)

Body dies = soul detaches and gets cleansed, but [ability self] retains it's purpose (e.g. the bookmark) and carries over through rebirth.

Reincarnation = (soul > soul + body > born to fulfil purpose > die > soul leaves body > repeat) x infinity

This means that abilities have been around since the BSD world's existence or - if you'd like to believe the theory I think about a lot - since they were written in to the book.

Which means, Rashoumon taking control and choosing medieval attire and speech isn't unlikely, as they probably haven't been able to consciously use a body themselves since that type of stuff was still the norm.

Anyway, so no, personally I don't believe it's Bram's influence.

██████████ Complete!

I'm so glad I wrapped this up. As I mentioned, this has been in my drafts 80% finished since I made this account but I wanted to finish it before posting. Then I had assignments and had no time.

I probably forgot a lot of stuff I originally wanted to say when I started writing this, but oh well...not everything goes to plan.

While writing, I started overthinking the theory, when it's exactly that...a theory. It doesn't have to be exact with tons of evidence it can be far fetched and messy.

So as we're approaching the end of the month and the next BSD update, I thought: I better post this now. So here it is in all it's dot-point messy glory. I'll appear again when the new chapter comes out.

Btw, haven't had the chance to proof read as I decided to post this in a rush, if something sounded weird or didn't make sense that's why.

Thanks for reading ✦

[vii0so]

[BSD 119] Small Theory/Analysis

What if Fyodor went after Dazai first (other half business), not because of their like-mindedness but instead because he is the one closest to the book?

We know that he's looking for a 'other half'. In my previous theory I talked about how he just wants to use the synergy for god-like power. The truest form of that power, the origin of everything, is the book.

He went after the bookmark because Dazai didn't make the cut.

"Even Dazai-kun was not fit to be my other half."

I theorised in my previous post that it's most likely because he saw that Dazai's other half was Chuuya already, so the puzzle pieces wouldn't fit (synergy wouldn't occur).

This whole time, he wanted Dazai. Not the bookmark - that god-like being in the centre of everything - but Dazai. Atsushi was the last resort in the case that things with Dazai didn't work out.

"In that case, my remaining option for companionship would be you, he who houses the [bookmark]"

So the book hierarchy may look like this:

Dazai > Atsushi >/< Akutagawa (though Fyodor seems to be unaware) > Natsume (wasn't sure where to put this guy as I have many different theories about his importance and involvement with the book.)

[vii0so]

[BSD 119] Theory/Analysis

"Other Half"

I think this ties into the 'opposites/complements'. Fyodor realised Dazai had Chuya and now he's about to realise Atsushi has Akutagawa (Light & Shadow). He is looking for his 'other half' quite literally - the sole being that will complement his existence.

Basically 2 halves that complete each other. Like a jigsaw puzzle (except it's only 2 puzzle pieces that only fit each other).

Fyodor's comment "even Dazai was not fit to be my other half" could be interpreted as this: 2 puzzle pieces that seem almost identical and look like they would fit, but when you try to connect them you realise there are small differences to the shape.

Meaning, the pieces - no matter what - are not meant for each other. In this example one piece has it's perfect match - the only puzzle piece that will ever be his other half: Dazai has Chuuya.

That leaves Fyodor searching...again (seriously, this guy has lived over 2k years and he is still at square 1). So for now I'd like to assume that Fyodor's realisation that Dazai couldn't be his other half happened during the prison arc. Fyodor had been 'testing' Dazai to see if he was fit for the 'other half' role.

Also, in the end (just before Fyodor's "death") where Dazai reveals that he's alive and that Chuuya was never a vampire, Fyodor's shock seems more on point if you think of it as the reaction of realising Dazai's other half was Chuuya this entire time.

Next part will be about Atsushi in Fyodor's endeavour for his 'other half' and how it involves Akutagawa:

"So, why can Atsushi NOT be Fyodor's other half?"

Glad you (nobody) asked!

...First I'll go on small rant on why it's impossible for our lovely 'bookmark' to be the 2k+ old rat's other half.

Enjoy my constantly changing mind's thoughts :)

█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

What's needed to be the 'other half' of anyone?

Synergy

This is the closest and most(?) accurate word to describe the 'other half' business.

In short, 'synergy' is the interaction of two 'anything' that produce a greater effect together rather than apart.

Think how Akutagawa and Atsushi work better and are stronger when fighting together/ complementing what the other needs (Atsushi using Akutagawa's coat/combining abilities is an excellent example of this) rather than when fighting alone.

"So, their abilities being compatible is all they need to be the 'other half'?"

...Well no

Synergy isn't just about abilities, it's about effect.

Imagine you have a fire...ok good, now think of something that would make the flame rage higher - destroy more...do you have it, good

I have no idea what you thought of and it doesn't matter (maybe this whole thing wasn't a good example...). Well I thought of gasoline. You know the "don't add fuel to fire" saying?...ok.

Now think of Dazai and Chuuya for a moment (shouldn't I be talking about Aku n Sushi???)

Hypothetical scenario:

Chuya starts a fire (small, like a campfire or smth).

Then Dazai comes along and pours gasoline where the fire is.

Well...it's interesting right? (you're getting sidetracked!) oh.

Basically that's 'effect' (cause and effect - gasoline and raging fire)

So synergy = effect(a) + effect(b) = cause = effect(c)

(I really hope this makes sense to you who somehow found this)

effect(a) = first half (FH)

effect(b) = other half (OH)

cause = e(a) + e(b)

effect(c) = FH + OH = Best performance, Godly power, and more.

We continue ;-;

I wanted to sidetrack and explain soukoku's synergy/other half bs but I need to get back to our (often forgotten) protagonist and his edgy bf...So off we go!

Ok, finally back on track! ...(did you forget where we left off?)

Here! "So, why can Atsushi NOT be Fyodor's other half?"

███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

2. Fyodor's obsession with the 'bookmark'/Atsushi's ability.

I could be done by just saying: "abusive relationship" but I won't...I'm too far in to stop now.

Let's start by seeing everything right with 'other halves':

Synergy: When they are alone, they are a pebble, but when they're together, they are a dual piloted mecha that in theory can kill a god...In short, they work best when together.

Ability compatibility/harmonisation

Essentially soulmates (the literal tied-together-by- the-soul type): will only ever have this synergy with their other half. Meaning the full potential of their power will never be understood/unlocked unless done with their other half.

Literal other half: basically all I've said above. Their puzzle piece only fits with their other half.

█████▒▒▒▒▒

⋘ ERROR ⋙

⋘ [Brain] is not responding ⋙

⋘ Ｒｅｓｔａｒｔｉｎｇ．．． ⋙

Ok...let's get back to the main Question:

"Why can Atsushi NOT be Fyodor's other half?"

I'll get straight to the point:

There is no synergy

They are not destined/fated

They don't help each other

Fyodor only wants to use him as the bookmark

Fyodor is aware that Atsushi is not his other half (he called Atsushi his "remaining option") but is still forcing it upon him.

You can't force someone to be your other half. It's a soulmate thing.

Fyodor is looking for godly power, not a companion/partner (not meant romantically).

Fyodor won't be able to do what he wants anyway because there is no synergy in play here. (maybe he'll use the 'page' to force it, but it probably won't work. He could also try getting Aku to kill him and then steal his body, but I still don't think it'll work)

And the last and most important point is:

Atsushi has Akutagawa

███████▒▒▒

Akutagawa is Atsushi's other half. Therefore no matter what Fyodor does, he will never be able to fit Atsushi's puzzle piece.

I considered writing down why Aku is Sushi's other half based on their abilities, but maybe it'll be in a seperate post. For now here are the main points:

Darkness and Light

Yin and Yang motif

Like, I'm sure most people are aware, these two might as well be the definition of this motif.

"Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary and at the same time opposing forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts and the parts are important for cohesion of the whole." Georges Ohsawa. (1976). The unique principle : the philosophy of macrobiotics. George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation.

Just realised this is the same as the synergy I was talking about earlier...Oh well, I guess it all ties together in the end! :D

██████████ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ!

Here is the TLDR:

Fyodor is looking for some form of ultimate power, so he needs a 'other half'.

Dazai has Chuuya so Fyodor chose to instead pursue a literal God-like being - The Bookmark: Atsushi.

Atsushi's other half is Akutagawa, so Fyodor can't have him anyway.

Yin and Yang is an important motif in this whole other half business.