Atsushi - Blog Posts

bungo kirby part 1

i used some references, the one i used for dazai was by mellon_soup

IMAGINING AKUTAGAWA WITH ATTACHMENT ISSUES AFTER ATSUSHI DIED IN FRONT OF HIM (or vice versa)

God I know they suck at actually communicating their feelings with words and instead die for each other, but I can't get the possibility of Akutagawa being majorly effected by Atsushi's death enough to where he can't bear to leave Atsushi alone, out of my head

(side note: I think Akutagawa should join the Agency. We already know from beast he'd make a pretty decent detective)

I know Akutagawa's terrified of losing Atsushi. And Atsushi had to die to save him for him to even realize that 🙏 Asagiri you wizard I love how you write Sskk's relationship

But like, just imagine an Akutagawa trailing Atsushi around like a lost dog (one could almost say...a stray dog) on his days off or Akutagawa constantly checks up on him and calls him or just like small little, caring things like that. Akutagawa with the realization of how much Atsushi means to him

Also, speaking of sskk clinginess; sskk reunion

Asagiri is most likely going to do what none of us expects with however he approaches the sskk reunion, but oh my goodness every new chapter that drops changes my ideas for how it'll unfold

I wonder if they'll talk. If they'll hug. They should probably hug. And talk. They really need to talk atp

And you know they're going to argue. But not a real argument, the kind of sskk argument that they only do to talk about their actual problems

Ohhhh there's just so many layers to sskk and I don't know if I can pluck them all apart. And right now I'm really just wondering about the what ifs of their changed relationship

(I'm absolutely PINING for a chance of Atsushi asking "do you hate me?" which makes Akutagawa have to answer with his current/future character growth)

Look at his face. Look at his sorrow

The absolute most solemn look I've seen on Akutagawa, where he realizes Atsushi wasn't just some beast he could kill. Atsushi wasn't just an obstacle or a test, because Atsushi is human

Akutagawa sees that in him

I have no idea how Asagiri is gonna handle the end of the six months deal, knowing him it's going to be what literally no one could've expected, but the premise really interests me now. It always did beforehand, but still, now we know more about how Akutagawa feels about Atsushi. And Akutagawa doesn't know it yet, but Atsushi witnessed his past and trauma. They're bonded, connected and understand each other on yet another level now

And genuinely, I don't think Akutagawa can kill Atsushi

Atsushi asked "why did you save me?"

Akutagawa wondered "why did you protect me?"

And that's just...sad

It's sad that they're so doubtful of the other's feelings. Atsushi doesn't feel like he deserves to be loved, and although he's connected to Akutagawa and they have a trust that runs deeper than words, I think he's scared that Akutagawa doesn't care for him, and he doubts and doubts and doubts

We don't know the full canon reason on why Akutagawa saved Atsushi, but we know it's because he *cares*, but Atsushi doesn't know that yet

I don't think that Atsushi doubts Akutagawa's strength or abilities, or his capacity to care for others. I think Atsushi doubts how lovable he himself is, he thinks he's not worth loving, not worth anything

And it's similar with Akutagawa, he probably thinks whatever he feels towards Atsushi is one-sided, and maybe he even fears that Atsushi hates him (although he obviously doesn't 😔)

They've been abused and traumatized emotionally so much that I think it's hard for them to realize how much they care for and about each other

I'm sure there will eventually be a chapter or two where Atsushi and Akutagawa can finally talk, and I can't wait for that because it'll really show their combined perspective on who are they are together

God they're so in love

Asagiri why do you do this to me

They should kiss

Look at his face. Look at his sorrow

The absolute most solemn look I've seen on Akutagawa, where he realizes Atsushi wasn't just some beast he could kill. Atsushi wasn't just an obstacle or a test, because Atsushi is human

Akutagawa sees that in him

I have no idea how Asagiri is gonna handle the end of the six months deal, knowing him it's going to be what literally no one could've expected, but the premise really interests me now. It always did beforehand, but still, now we know more about how Akutagawa feels about Atsushi. And Akutagawa doesn't know it yet, but Atsushi witnessed his past and trauma. They're bonded, connected and understand each other on yet another level now

And genuinely, I don't think Akutagawa can kill Atsushi

I absolutely love the sskk (fic) dynamic where Akutagawa loves Atsushi yet he doesn't tell him due to fear

He holds in his feelings because of fear of rejection, fear of Atsushi hating him for loving him and losing Atsushi. Fear of losing the only person bathed in light in his life. Fear of losing his equal because of three words

I just think it's a beautifully tragic take on their romantic relationship, where Akutagawa loves Atsushi but he can't say it because what if Atsushi doesn't requite his feelings? Considering fanfiction though, Atsushi 100% loves him back, but yk

Akutagawa has experienced more loss in his life than anyone should, and the inner monologue of him being so scared to lose Atsushi or disgust Atsushi with his real feelings would make a great oneshot/fic

Seeing Akutagawa deal with alienating feelings like love for Atsushi is always so interesting to me

So like

Akutagawa is in love with Atsushi

If you took this out of context this would genuinely look like an enemies to lovers romance manga scene 🙏

Also Harukawa wrote an illustrator's note (I think it's at the end of volume 5?) about how she draws eyes, and how she portrays the character's current growth, personality and aspect on the world through their eyes

Akutagawa's eyes have almost always been dark, the representation for how dark his life and character is

But Atsushi brings light to them

In chapter 121.5 where Akutagawa's eyes grow wide as he sees Atsushi die, it's not just a show of how shocked Akutagawa is, it shows how Atsushi lightens Akutagawa's eyes, how much he's affected him for the greater good. Atsushi brings out a new side to Akutagawa

His eyes are incredibly light as he recalls his memories and gets hit by Atsushi's death that wasn't even just a death, but a death to save him. To protect him

Because Atsushi thinks Akutagawa is worth protecting

So just, like, I really love how chapter 122 not only shows Atsushi finally seeing Akutagawa's past and fully understanding Akutagawa's trauma and even relating to him, but it also shows how Akutagawa truly feels about Atsushi (although the "and then..." definitely left us on a cliffhanger)

I love them

Atsushi saw Akutagawa's past. He learned about Akutagawa's trauma. He knows how Akutagawa was treated, how he was taught, what he was put through.

He understands Akutagawa now

He fully sees Akutagawa for his humanity now

Atsushi has seen Akutagawa's darkest, most vulnerable side now

And that's just so...

I can't even put it into words oh my God, their relationship is so complex and heartfelt I'm screaming

I have a feeling that Akutagawa doesn't mind Atsushi seeing his past, seeing him at weakest, lowest point

I think their trust runs deeper than that

Also Akutagawa isn't alone anymore. Nor is Atsushi, because they have each other. Akutagawa has someone who knows and tells him he isn't weak, Atsushi has someone who can be by his side and save him. I feel like without each other they aren't complete

tell me about your favorite of your wips. >:)

uhhh

I have a lot I'm fond of and my favorite one is going to be kept a secret because I want to reveal nothing about it until I actually finish writing chapter one 😔

Anyways, one of my other favorites is my wip "I picked the petals, he loves me not"

It's a hanahaki sskk au, where Akutagawa starts coughing up flowers due to a crush on a...certain someone...

But yk, with his lung condition and all that, the hanahaki will probably kill him in like a month or even less

And the hanahaki strikes while Atsushi and Akutagawa are heading back from a mission and then Atsushi gets all worried bc wtf people don't just start vomiting petals everywhere and then Akutagawa has to brush it off like "it's nothing weretiger" when it's very clearly not nothing 😔

Atsushi goes to Ranpo for advice and Ranpo tells him about hanahaki and how it all works. So now Atsushi's determined to save Akutagawa, and saving him requires Akutagawa to confess his feelings to whoever he loves (I wonder who that could be 👀)

Chaos ensues

Also I've had this idea for like at least a year now but my snail of a brain is just like "I'll get to it later"

Also the title is a lyric from the song You're On Your Own, Kid by Taylor Swift

tell me about the as we dance in the pale moonlight fic :000 from the ask game

That's the most boring WIP I have lmao 😭 but sure :D

It's a fluffy, kinda indulgent, oneshot I'm writing where Atsushi and Akutagawa simply just spend a night together. And, can you believe it, they end up dancing in the ✨moonlight✨

Idk I just love the idea of sskk dancing together but with no music and like, it's just *them*, together. It's peaceful and I love peaceful sskk

Here's a snippet (and no I don't know how to get italics on Tumblr 🙏 bear with me and my asterisks);

Akutagawa watched his red blood swirl down the drain of the sink, the pain from his injuries stinging lightly. He quietly sighed and looked in the mirror.

His black and white hair was messy, his skin was paler than usual and the bags under his eyes weren't helping with his tired appearance.

Akutagawa had gotten back from a mission, bloody and bruised, and gone to the bathroom almost immediately to wash his wounds and bandage himself up. 

He heard a knock on the door, before a voice spoke up.

"Ryuu?"

Akutagawa felt the corner of his mouth twitch up. Hearing Atsushi's voice made his muscles relax. He loved being able to come back to his apartment and Atsushi was there to greet him. 

"Yes, weretiger?" He answered back, turning off the tap and drying his hands on a towel. 

"Are you alright?" Atsushi, on the other side of the door, creased his eyebrows as his tiger-honed ears caught the sound of the water shutting off. He knew it was inevitable for Akutagawa to have been injured someway or another, that was just the nature of ex-vampire's job, but it didn't mean he wouldn't *worry.*

"I am fine," Akutagawa reassured in his weary voice. He unspooled the bandages and wrapped them gently around his raw, but now clean, wounds. 

Atsushi let out a small sigh of relief, he couldn't help it. After a few quiet moments, Akutagawa swung open the door with a loose tendril of Rashomon and was greeted with the sight of a very concerned weretiger.

The white-haired detective immediately assessed Akutagawa's bandages and how bad they appeared.

"Weretiger, I said *I am fine,*" Akutagawa repeated, knowing what was crossing Atsushi's mind.

He cupped Atsushi's face in his hands and looked his boyfriend in the eye, Akutagawa's silver glare turning soft as he met the weretiger's upset gaze. 

"You don't *look* fine." Atsushi grumbled, leaning into Akutagawa's calloused yet lithe touch. 

~~

Yeah I have no idea what the heck that even is, it's definitely not my best work 😭

Also anyone seeing this post can ask me about my other WIPs I'm very lonely and want to talk about writing 😔

In chapter 162 of Wan! Akutagawa gets a heatstroke and then Atsushi brings him to hospital and it is just the cutest thing ever

HE PIGGYBACKED AKUTAGAWA 😭

I love them sm, also Atsushi stayed at the hospital until Akutagawa woke up<3

Atsushi caring about Akutagawa is adorable

So I was reading Wan! on mangadex earlier, and I got to chapter 166. I noticed this panel had two very interesting typos

I know mangadex isn't an official translation ofc, and maybe it was on purpose, but they spelled homicide as homocide. Considering the homo undertones of like, all of Bsd, maybe it was just the translators poking fun at the word lmao, but idk

Howdyy, What’s your fav bsd character? :3

Hello! :]

Omggg that's a tough one

I love a lot of the characters but if I had to pick just one, I'd say Akutagawa. He's been my favorite for like, ever, and he's just so amazing

He can be blunt and cold and rude but also he's written so well with his bloodlust and struggles and how he's still not purely evil in the end. I love everything about him 😔

My other favorites are definitely Atsushi (he's so sassy and strong but also a cinnamon roll like cmon he's perfect, I love him), Adam (the most underrated bean is existence, I would die for Adam), Nikolai (he's so crazy and wild, yet somber, idk I just love his whole vibe as a character), Dazai (I know how basic this is but I will never not love Dazai, he's such a pivotal and deep character, his angst turns me into a waterfall), Chuuya (who doesn't love Chuuya 🙏 he's loyal and strong and such a fun and emotional character aaa I love him), Higuchi (she's definitely one of my comfort characters, I love her in Wan! bc she adds a great lighthearted touch to everything), Kyouka (she's so underrated, she's so adorable and resilient and honestly I love how she was written) and Bram (he's so stoic and literal, I just love him. I totally didn't cry when he died. I'm not crying you're crying)

Help that ended up long. But yeah, there's some quick summaries on my favorites in Bsd :>

Why is Atsushi bending over in front of Akutagawa

Talking about this scene where Atsushi and Akutagawa had to fight Ivan

Okay, first off, this is actually such an underrated moment for Sskk's development. It's the first time they use Kokko Zessou (the Singularity of Rashomon [more like rasHOMOn] and Beast Beneath the Moonlight) and Akutagawa and Atsushi learn more about each other as people, plus this is right before they make the six months promise. I really love seeing sskk together where they can actually talk, and don't just fight

And second of all, WHAT IS THIS FACE ATSUSHI??

he looks so into it 🙏

What in the home of sexual is that look, Atsushi 😭 it's already kinky af for Rashomon to wrap around his neck like that AND THEN ATSUSHI REACTS LIKE THAT

Also I'd like to mention Akutagawa is unusually gentle with Rashomon when he uses it on Atsushi

God they're so in love

Drew Atsushi (a redraw of an art by Gun_Zi for Dead Apple)

If This Was a Movie by Taylor Swift fits sskk and I would like to say why 🙏

If anything, it fits them double now, due to chapter 121.5, and it would *so* be from Atsushi's pov after Akutagawa died in their fight against Fukuchi, but it could also be from Akutagawa's pov

"Last night I heard my own heart beating

Sounded like footsteps on my stairs

Six months gone and I'm still reaching

Even though I know you're not there" THAT IS SO SO THEM 😭 like it just fits Atsushi's mourning after Akutagawa died (and the six months lyric is just perfection)

"I was playing back a thousand memories, baby

Thinking 'bout everything we've been through

Maybe I've been going back too much lately

When time stood still and I had you" Atsushi reminiscing and thinking back to the fight with Fukuchi is very well described with these lyrics 

"Come back, come back, come back to me like

You would, you would if this was a movie

Stand in the rain outside 'til I came out"

Just the whole entire song is so similar to them. The pain, the loss, the heartbreak. Everything Atsushi regrets, everything that haunts him about Akutagawa's death. All his hopes that Akutagawa could come back (thankfully he did but then l m a o Atsushi had to go and die •-•)

Sskk makes me unwell I love them so much 😔 anyways I was just obsessing over this song and realized it fit sskk to a painful degree lmao 

List of songs by Taylor Swift that fit Bsd characters and relationships bc why not;

Fyolai - I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

Fyodor - Dear Reader

Dazai or Ranpo - Mastermind

Soukoku - All You Had To Do Was Stay

Shin Soukoku - invisible string

Shin Soukoku - Enchanted

Shin Soukoku - Treacherous

Shin Soukoku - Midnight Rain

Yosano - mad woman

Chuuya - Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

Shin Soukoku - Haunted

Shin Soukoku - Ours

Soukoku - happiness

Soukoku - Cornelia Street

Soukoku - I Knew You Were Trouble

Shin Soukoku - Sparks Fly

Shin Soukoku - Timeless

Dazai - Antihero

Akutagawa - Breathe

Soukoku - I Almost Do

Shin Soukoku - Back to December

Ranpoe - But Daddy I Love Him

Dazai - Clean

Shin Soukoku - Come Back...Be Here

Atsushi - Clara Bow

Shin Soukoku - Call It What You Want

Shin Soukoku - Delicate

Atsushi - The Archer

Soukoku - Death By a Thousand Cuts

Kyouka - Daylight

Tachihara - epiphany

Shin Soukoku - I'm Only Me When I'm With You

Soukoku - Forever Winter

Soukoku - Fifteen

Soukoku - Hits Different

Soukoku - High Infidelity

Soukoku - Getaway Car

Akutagawa - mirrorball

Soukoku - Gorgeous

Shin Soukoku - Lover

Gin - Soon You'll Get Better

Shin Soukoku - Glitch

Soukoku - I Bet You Think About Me

Atsushi - I Hate It Here

Shin Soukoku or Soukoku - I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

Sigma - my tears ricochet

Shin Soukoku - If This Was a Movie

Akutagawa - I Forgot That You Existed

Kyouka, Atsushi or Yosano - Innocent

Soukoku - Is It Over Now?

Shin Soukoku - Jump Then Fall

Soukoku - King of My Heart

The Armed Detective Agency - Long Live

Shin Soukoku - Last Kiss

Shin Soukoku - Love Story

Atsushi - Mean

Dazai - marjorie

Kyouka - Never Grow Up

Shin Soukoku - Our Song

Ranpoe - Paper Rings

Soukoku - Style

Atsushi - seven

Shin Soukoku - "Slut!"

Shin Soukoku - Sweet Nothing

Soukoku - Sad Beautiful Tragic

Soukoku - Say Don't Go

Shin Soukoku - This Love

Ranpoe - the lakes

Fyolai - tolerate it

Atsushi - Tied Together With a Smile

Soukoku - The Story of Us

Soukoku - The Way I Loved You

Shin Soukoku - Untouchable

Soukoku - Wonderland

Yosano - Would've Could've Should've

~~

Well that ended up longer than I expected. And I'm probably forgetting some lmao

Y'all know that emergency contact trend on YouTube with that "I'm just an ordinary girl" song? 😭 I was imagining if Atsushi did it, with Akutagawa as his emergency contact. The videos that do the trend show clips of whoever the emergency contact is doing silly stuff like "oh look at how unserious my emergency contact is" and then Atsushi would just be like "my emergency contact is blowing up a police station again<3" with the following clip

Friendly reminder of that time when Atsushi saved Akutagawa from dying by body slam/grabbing him and then Akutagawa proceeded to use Rashomon to keep Atsushi safe as they crashed through the window in each other's arms

You know

Sometimes I just love to read a happy sskk fic

Like, I love when their relationship is angsty or messy or complicated, because that is how it is! But sometimes the hurt gets too painful and I adore how tragic they are but I need happiness

Sskk may not be the softest ship, but it's so refreshing to just read a fic where things are...peaceful. There's no miscommunication, there's no death, there's no tears or despair. It's the aftermath, where Atsushi and Akutagawa have learned to love each other without fear

Where they're together and they're happy, where they can wake up next to each other and walk around the city together and give each other goodbye kisses that aren't actually goodbye

When everything's okay

And sometimes, things are so happy it makes you sad anyway. It makes you sad that Sskk is happy together because you know it isn't true, so while it soothes your soul with the fortune, it also reminds you of canon Sskk and how many doors that they can't walk through

I truly do love the heavy, angsty Sskk fics with all the heartbreak and anguish and forbidden, confusing love that they have with each other. But the fics where they're together, and they have sweet nothings shared between each other is also so wonderful, where things are soft and magical and it's all okay still have a place in my heart

I love the perspectives of their relationship from both sides

it’s “we need more ptsd rep!!!” until it’s atsushi nakajima.

i’ve seen so many takes where people have called his flashbacks annoying or repetitive and it makes me SO UPSET. it’s almost like he’s severely traumatized, what did you expect???

i personally think he and the portrayal of his trauma were written extremely well, considering ptsd can be a constant thing.

anyway i love atsushi and he deserves all the love and happiness in the world 😁

Help imagine married sskk 😭

Atsushi: Ryuu honey can you do the dishes

Akutagawa: I already did them last night

Atsushi *with his hands on his hips*: I did not get stabbed by Amenogozen to save you just to have a lazy husband. Now go do the dishes

Like there's not even much of a joke here I just love what married sskk in their happily ever after would be like. They'd be so imperfectly perfect, and also it'd be funny to see them bicker, especially with their pasts

I absolutely looooove your sskk posts, thank you for writing about them and analysing them so well. You’ve helped me understand them so much more❤️

For the ask, what are your favourite fics for them👀

I see so many people analyze Bsd characters and relationships (they're all amazing), glad I can contribute with some sskk analysations :> (I do do other analysations ofc, but they're mostly in rants to my friends about Bsd characters 😔)

I read a lot of fanfiction (it is the backbone of my sanity<3) so I skedaddled over to Ao3 to get a list of my favorite fics/oneshots for this ask :D

I won't go into detail about every oneshot/fic on this (bc then we'd be here all day lmao) so please read the tags of the fics once you look them up<33

~~

The Air we Breathe - by GiftedEcho

I love you more when you never hide your heart - by wowie_me

Weak Inhibitions - by StickyRice_94

i can taste it in your tears - by Sorry_I_Panicked

trapped in grief - by illiterate_hermit_crab

surprise birthday, birthday surprise - by space_ace00

all is finally quiet - by auroraheart

i want to be somebody to someone (somebody to you) - GhouliGhost (this fic is locked so only people with Ao3 accs can read it)

vienna waits for you - by nemui (ribbonelle) (this fic is locked so only people with Ao3 accs can read it)

The Last Time - by Nqnameiiis7

Love me all night long - by Funky_Unravel

In this darkness, light me - by Funky_Unravel

A Christmas Night of Firsts - by GojosFunkyBitchGlasses

(Zoo)Keeper of My Heart - by GojosFunkyBitchGlasses

Hushed secrets (keep the heart at bay) - by Funky_Unravel

Smile for the Camera! - by SadDetectives

If Our Love's Insanity (Why Are You My Clarity) - by BuryYourDoves

the memory of your name - by Sorry_I_Panicked

Broken Record - by illiterate_hermit_crab

I Say, Take Me Out! - by Thunderbirds_and_Lightning

i was lost within the darkness (but then i found you) - by EmeraldEclipse

~~

Sorry the list is kinda short 😭 I've read a lot more good fics and oneshots but these were some of the ones I found in my bookmarks (also I read on Ao3 for quite a long time before I got an account because I didn't really have any reason to get an account until I wanted to start posting [yes I'm an Ao3 author], so there's a lot of lost fics that I read but can't find again 😭🙏 it haunts me to this day)

Also if anyone seeing this post has any sskk fic and/or oneshot recs (even if it's your oneshot fic or oneshot lol), please comment bc I need more sskk content in my life :]

And I'm sorry there's not much angst on this fic and oneshot list, I can never find enough sskk angst 😔

Oh and here's some of my sskk works! (yes I will be shameless and put them here muahahaha);

My Heart Didn't Start Until I Met You - by MikayuuMouse

The Ring Reminds Me of You - by MikayuuMouse

Wrapped Up Like a Present - by MikayuuMouse

Shin Soukoku Oneshots— Open For Requests! - by MikayuuMouse

(I promise I'm gonna update the Requests sskk book soon 🙏🙏)

And thank you, anon, for asking this so I could share of Ao3's lovely sskk works with the Internet :> please support the authors and their wonderful fanfiction! (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

I WILL NEVER GET OVER BSD X TAYLOR SWIFT THINGS 🙏 they're always so good 😭

reputation by Taylor Swift

Shin Soukoku from Bungo Stray Dogs - My take on how the album reputation by Taylor Swift represents SSKK with each song with a bonus perspective.

1) ...Ready For It?

Perspective: Akutagawa

Lyric/Quote: "I see nothing better, I keep him forever, Like a vendetta" & "I know I'm gonna be with you, so I'll take my time"

2) End Game

Perspective: Akutagawa

Lyric/Quote: "I got a bad boy persona, it's what they like, you love it, I love it too 'cause you my type, You hold me down and I protect you with my life" & "You've been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks"

3) I Did Something Bad

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "This is how the world works, You gotta leave before you get left"

4) Don't Blame Me

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "For you, I would cross the line" - "My name is whatever you decide, and I'm just gonna call you mine" - "And baby, for you, I would fall from grace"

5) Delicate

Perspective: Akutagawa

Lyric/Quote: "My reputation's never been worse, so you must like me for me" & "Sometimes when I look into your eyes, I pretend you're mine, all the damn time"

Bonus from Atsushi's perspective: "Handsome, you're a mansion with a view"

6) Look What You Made Me Do

Perspective: Akutagawa

Lyric/Quote: "I don't trust nobody and nobody trust me" & "The role you made me play of the fool"

Bonus: "The old Taylor can come to the phone right now, Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead"

7) So It Goes...

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "You know I'm not a bad girl but I do bad things with you" & "But when you get me alone, it's so simple"

8) Gorgeous

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "There's nothing I hate more than what I can't have" & "'Cause you're so gorgeous, it actually hurts"

Bonus: "You should take it as a compliment that I got drunk and made fun of the way you talk"

9) Getaway Car

Bonus: Dazai/Chuuya

10) King Of My Heart

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "You are the one I have been waiting for" & "My broken bones are mending"

11) Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Perspective: Akutagawa

Lyric/Quote: "I, I loved you in spite of, Deep fears that the world would divide us" & "And say, say that we got it, I'm a mess, but I'm the mess that you wanted"

12) Dress

Perspective: Atsushi/Akutagawa

Lyric/Quote: "Even in my worst times, you could see the best in me" & "Everyone thinks that they know us but they know nothing..."

13) This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Bonus: Dazai to Ango

14) Call It What You Want

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "My castle crumbled overnight" & He built a fire just to keep me warm"

Bonus: "My baby's fit like a daydream"

15) New Year's Day

Perspective: Atsushi

Lyric/Quote: "But I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared, and you're turning away" & "Please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere"

Bonus: "You and me, forevermore"

I really like how you talk about sskk, do you have any reviews about them?

It's super obvious that I love Sskk, and it's true, I do, I'm completely enamored by the ship and I love their relationship dynamic so much (I love Bsd for a plethora of reasons, such as the individual characters, plot, abilities, depictions of mental health, etc, not just sskk ofc, but sskk has always been something that's interested me a lot and it's my favorite ship) so I'd love to give some reviews!

I won't be able to name every reason or review on this ship lol I just have too many, but I'll try to list some of my favorites

I don't ship Akutagawa nor Atsushi with anyone else besides each other, because to me they're soulmates. I adore their symbolism of the yin and yang, Akutagawa being the yin (evil with a bit of good) and Atsushi being the yang (good with a bit of evil). I think they have a very unique duo concept while still fitting as the next generation of Double Black/Soukoku

Also I'll never get over how much they actually like and respect each other. They might bicker and argue, but they've only fought like, twice. The first time was their first meeting and they fought because they weren't personal enemies, they were organization rivals. Then the second time was Atsushi desperately trying to save Kyouka, and people seem to forget that in the beginning Atsushi didn't know his own strength. Until he became an Agency member he wasn't able to control his ability, and he couldn't even remember transforming

A *huge* thing for a view on Sskk's relationship is circumstance. In the main series of Bsd, Atsushi is told to stay away from Akutagawa because he's a Port Mafia member. He isn't told about Akutagawa's personality or who he is as a person, because why would he? He's simply the enemy (at that point in time). Basically, the whole reason they were so adverse to each other was because the only information they were given about each other was to hate each other

Akutagawa never truly hated Atsushi for who he *was*. He was told to dislike Atsushi, along with every single other Agency member. Akutagawa has said he doesn't hate Atsushi twice, once in the manga where he said "I only hated you for your good fortune," as he was jealous of Atsushi and how Dazai treated Atsushi. The second time was in the 55 Minutes light novel

I kinda rambled a lot, but all in all, Atsushi and Akutagawa have never *personally* hated each other. It's all circumstance. Look at BEAST, when Akutagawa and Atsushi meet, they meet at a cafe and have no idea who the other actually is. They get along easily and enjoy each other's company, relating to each other and talking comfortably. It just goes to show that they might clash but in the end, they go so well together and support each other

So that's my review on how they actually don't hate each other lol

I think Akutagawa does respect Atsushi, and vice versa. I think their relationship is something similar to "I wish you never came into my life, because now I can't live without you,"

It's fairly obvious that Atsushi mourned Akutagawa and replayed his death many times in his head after Akutagawa died at Fukuchi's hand. Atsushi might call Akutagawa annoying but he missed him, and even was able to quote Akutagawa's last words back at Akutagawa before dying for him. Atsushi even canonly feels safe around Akutagawa, because he trusts Akutagawa. He trusts Akutagawa won't try to (seriously) hurt him nor kill him (at least until the six months are up)

(actually, regarding that for a second, I highly doubt the promise will actually go through. Or at least they'll pretend to want to fight, and then one of them is going to fold and admit that they don't want to do the death match. They would [and did] literally both die for each other, they're not killing each other any time soon)

Anyways

Their trust runs deep, even if its unspoken. Akutagawa is basically completely vulnerable without his coat/Rashomon, yet he gives it to Atsushi because he *trusts* Atsushi to use Kokko Zessou (the Singularity of their abilities) properly

Also in Wan!, which is to some extent canon btw it's confirmed to just be an alternate chibi universe, Atsushi stalked Akutagawa for a bit to see if he truly wasn't killing anything and then proceeded to comically see Akutagawa not even kill a mosquito. So after he sees that Akutagawa is true to his word he buys some pork buns for Akutagawa and gives them to him as a gift. Akutagawa splits open the bag with Rashomon and takes the food and I just found it really sweet that Akutagawa took the food that Atsushi bought for him. I know it's just Wan! and it's all silly, but idk it warms my heart that he didn't just throw out the food that Atsushi got for him 😭 (btw this is Wan! episode 4/chapter 66) (and even if I'm wrong about Wan!'s canonical credibility, this is still one of my favorite sskk moments and I don't really take it that seriously lol)

Also, Akutagawa has stated that his reason to live is to get Dazai's validation, to have Dazai admit that he is indeed strong and worthy (in BEAST his reason for living was to find Gin). Akutagawa even says he doesn't fear death, but he fears dying before proving himself to Dazai. The thing is, I think Atsushi could become his new reason to live (I know how cheesy this sounds 🙏). Atsushi 100% recognizes Akutagawa as strong and capable, and I just really think that protecting Atsushi and fighting alongside him could be Akutagawa's new reason to live (or at least, *a* reason)

Also another point of how much Akutagawa trusts Atsushi (whether or not he wants to admit it) is that he told Atsushi about his lung condition. Akutagawa is obsessed with power because of how Dazai trained (abused) him. He wants and needs status and to be feared, Atsushi even calls him out for "killing just to look powerful". Why would he keep his lung condition a secret? Because sickness is *weakness.* He despises being seen as weak or defenseless, but with Atsushi? He knows Atsushi won't ever think he's weak. So he tells Atsushi (and inadvertently Fukuchi) about his lung disease, trusting Atsushi with the information

Okay so these are (some) of my reviews on their canon relationship and why I think they're so perfect for each other, and ofc I had more reasons and opinions about sskk (I swear I'm normal about them 😭), it's practically an endless list

Also I love every single depiction I've seen of domestic/no abilities au sskk. I know their relationship isn't necessarily soft, but it could be. The look Atsushi gave Akutagawa before turning into bubbles was very soft.

As a romantic couple, they would be wonderful for each other. They're literally the perfect balance, and I think it would be a healthy and loving relationship just with some (weightless) arguing. That's just their personalities lol

And I think no matter what universe they're in, they're still going to be connected to each other. In BEAST when Atsushi enters the cafe, Akutagawa takes immediate note of him although he looks comparatively normal. Akutagawa senses his strength and notices him. I think even if in a world where they've never met, if Atsushi walked past Akutagawa one day,Akutagawa would turn around to look at him, and vice versa. They're very intertwined and I adore that part of their relationship

Oh, and I'm not saying it's odd or specifically special that Atsushi cares about Akutagawa, after all he's kind and cares about many people like Kyouka, Dazai, Kunikida, Ranpo, etc. But Atsushi has *extreme* trust issues so the fact that he trusts Akutagawa along with caring about him really shows how different their relationship is. Also it goes to show that Atsushi doesn't view the world as black and white, and doesn't only like the "good guys" and hates the "bad guys". Atsushi cares about Akutagawa despite all of Akutagawa's sins and debatable flaws, because he *likes* Akutagawa. And Akutagawa caring about anyone ever is pretty unusual lol. Atsushi, Gin, and his friends from the slums who died might be the only people he actually gives a damn about (he hates Dazai)

Also I do think they have the potential to become canon, it's unlikely due to a bunch of different reasons (such as Bsd isn't a romance manga/anime), but if it did become canon, it would just make a lot of sense. Seeing them navigate their relationship together while also dealing with Fyodor, Amenogozen, The Book, etc and their own internal struggles would be extremely interesting. I just know Asagiri would write it wonderfully

Dear Lord I talk about them too much 😭 anyways thank you sm for asking this and I hope you like my reviews<333