Bsd Atsushi - Blog Posts

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

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

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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 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

I saw in a recent post of yours that you think sskk was supposed to happen or will happen (I don't remember exactly). I was really curious about this, could you elaborate? Seeing sskk happen would be a dream!!!

I don't remember everything fully (as I found this information out like two years ago) but Asagiri once said in an interview with Harukawa (the interview was with fans, I believe?) that in the original drafts of Bsd, and not just "character design" drafts but drafts of the plot and character personalities, Atsushi was supposed to be female

Some people try to debunk this with "but Atsushi's beta design wasn't female" but who said Harukawa had *drawn* female Atsushi in the drafts? Who said Atsushi didn't have multiple beta designs and they released the one closest to the final one? I really think just because we have Atsushi's beta design doesn't mean we've seen every single aspect of Asagiri and Harukawa creating Atsushi. Plus, once again, what if female Atsushi never existed in the drafts long enough to be illustrated? Character designs aren't just "one quick draft, one final character," like look at Spy x Family's manga, in the manga bonuses the author shares his drafts of his characters and I remember for his character Fiona he had like 10+ designs before deciding on her final look

Anyways, back to the subject of sskk, in the interview Asagiri said that Atsushi was supposed to be a female and that Akutagawa was going to fall in love with Atsushi (I'm pretty sure. And even if he didn't say that, if Atsushi and Akutagawa were a girl and a boy *everyone* would be interpreting it as romantic). Atsushi and Akutagawa are supposed to represent the yin and yang, a "perfect balance", so I think if Atsushi was a girl it would be a better balance bc they'd be opposite genders

Akutagawa falling in love with Atsushi, whether male Atsushi or female Atsushi, is and was entirely plausible. Enemies to lovers isn't just a trope in fanfictions, it's in all types of media. I think it was in the original drafts that Akutagawa was supposed to fall in love with Atsushi and that would start conflict within himself (being in love with an Agency member, being in love with his rival, etc) and he'd have character growth surrounding his emotional development. I do believe Asagiri said or at least implied that sskk (with female Atsushi) was going to be canon, and just said that Akutagawa would definitely fall first

Bungou Stray Dogs isn't a romance manga or anime, just check the genres, but there is *some* romance in it (such as Margaret and Nathaniel, Higuchi having a crush on Akutagawa [Akuhigu should burn tbh], and Francis has a wife, Zelda, but irl Fitzgerald's wife was named Zelda so idk if it really counts). Basically, romance isn't the main focus of Bsd, but it can definitely have romance in it, including something involving Atsushi and Akutagawa

Now, if you pretended Bsd was a romance manga, and then looked at sskk, there would definitely be some romantic undertones poking out. Even if it's not "romantic", there are still plenty of romantic manga or other media that use similar tropes to what sskk has done. Take self-sacrifice for example, that's been used a lot to take two character's romantic relationship to a new level (with the utter devotion to one another and all that). Sskk has all the means to become canon, it's just Asagiri who decides if it does or not

I personally really hope sskk ends up canon, it would not only make sense but also be good for Atsushi and Akutagawa because Atsushi (somewhat, bc he's slightly moved on from the orphanage headmaster but not necessarily the orphanage itself) has the mentality "I don't deserve to be loved", and Akutagawa has the mentality "I don't deserve to love". So if they started dating they would just be a very good couple and it would be definitely non-toxic. Name the last time Akutagawa *voluntarily of his own will* hurt Atsushi? They have an insane amount of character development, chalking their relationship up to what they were like when they first met is just kinda ridiculous

So, in regards to your anon ask, Asagiri did say sskk was originally supposed to be canon (and for all we know he still ships it, which I could see), and I genuinely think sskk has the possibility to be canon one day

And talking about the female Atsushi aspect of the original Bsd drafts, it makes sense because look at Atsushi now. He's not necessarily feminine but he acts much more in touch with his emotions and acts a lot less "macho" than many other male main characters. I'm not saying guys can't act like Atsushi, but I'm just saying Atsushi is written very not-stereotypically and if you changed him to female he would act the same. Plus Atsushi's tiger, Byakko, is female, maybe Asagiri never changed Byakko's gender but he changed Atsushi's

Hope this clears things up! (⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)

Red (Sskk's Version)

A little sskk comic/manga redraws inspired by the song Red by Taylor Swift<33

The grey Atsushi is my favorite tbh idk I think his expression is really silly

Here are some images of the bite in case anyone wanted a refresh on just how gay this entire scene was<3

Oh also I'd like to mention that Akutagawa was noticably gentle when biting Atsushi, he usually grabbed his victim harshly and unhinged his jaw to take a chomp, but with Atsushi he was pretty delicate. I guess even in his vamp state he didn't want to hurt Atsushi

Okay so we all know that Atsushi must've replayed Akutagawa's death and final words like a million times in his head,

But what about the bite?

I know Akutagawa biting Atsushi while he was a vamp was after Akutagawa's death, but still, Atsushi had ample-ish time to think about it

I love how Akutagawa bites Jouno, Higuchi, etc all on their shoulder but when it's *Atsushi*, Akutagawa pulls down the collar of his shirt and bites him on the neck

There's no way in hell that Atsushi *didn't* think over that moment a bunch (the romantic tension was insane in that scene)

The fact that Akutagawa's lips and mouth have canonly come into contact with Atsushi's bare skin is something that I hold dearly in my heart

But really though, if sskk ever addresses the bite thing it's going to be so awkward, I love it 😭

First Akutagawa dies to save Atsushi, then he gives Atsushi a hickey in the middle of the war, and now Atsushi just died to save Akutagawa. How have they not kissed yet

Can we talk about how *safe* Atsushi and Akutagawa feel with each other

How much they're connected to each other is actually insane

They have innate trust with each other (Akutagawa even gave his coat to Atsushi), and they're comfortable with each other, it's wonderful

I think the best depiction of canon "domestic sskk" per se, is in beast

The direct passage from the beast light novel is:

"They continued to shoot the breeze for the next few minutes or so. Both boys shared small yet profound experiences that their colleagues would never be able to understand or even empathize with. The two of them could just be kids, something they seldom did around others.

'This is the first time I've ever been able to talk to someone like this,' the white-haired boy said with a chuckle."

They can relate to each other so strongly, they're opposites yet they feel intertwined. God they have such a well written and like at this point really romantic relationship

I really like how beast can show us a new perspective on sskk (among other things in the Bsd universe), comparing their first meeting in the main series to their first meeting in beast is kinda crazy. When Akutagawa nor Atsushi has the prior information of who they work for, they can get along. In a world with no abilities, no Mafia, no detective agency, they would know each other so well

Also, I'm sure Akutagawa has smiled more than twice in the series, but both most memorable times he's smiled they were both directed at Atsushi (one smile was the one he gave Atsushi while he told him to run before dying, second smile was in beast, shown in the picture above)

It's like Atsushi brings out the best of him, and vice versa. They're just so *perfect* for each other 😭

I will always love their parallels and similarities, their relationship balance is a perfect representation of the yin and yang

Atsushi knows he can't bear to live without Akutagawa. Akutagawa knows that Atsushi is the only person he's ever met who really, truly understands him. And no matter how much they're in denial about how they're a lot more than just "rivals", they still scream each other's names when one of them gets hurt, because they both *care*

Akutagawa is definitely going to go feral in the next chapter or so oml

By the way, Atsushi has an official mayoi card in Bungou: Tales of the Lost where he's the tarot card The Fool

Okay so we all know that Atsushi must've replayed Akutagawa's death and final words like a million times in his head,

But what about the bite?

I know Akutagawa biting Atsushi while he was a vamp was after Akutagawa's death, but still, Atsushi had ample-ish time to think about it

I love how Akutagawa bites Jouno, Higuchi, etc all on their shoulder but when it's *Atsushi*, Akutagawa pulls down the collar of his shirt and bites him on the neck

There's no way in hell that Atsushi *didn't* think over that moment a bunch (the romantic tension was insane in that scene)

The fact that Akutagawa's lips and mouth have canonly come into contact with Atsushi's bare skin is something that I hold dearly in my heart

But really though, if sskk ever addresses the bite thing it's going to be so awkward, I love it 😭

First Akutagawa dies to save Atsushi, then he gives Atsushi a hickey in the middle of the war, and now Atsushi just died to save Akutagawa. How have they not kissed yet

Yk, with the eventual sskk reunion, them hugging is 100% a real possiblity

Right after Ranpo and Poe kidnapped Kunikida from the hospital and brought him back, Atsushi literally leaped and hugged Kuni

I think he'd hug Akutagawa when he sees him again (or maybe vice versa if Akutagawa really is that emotional now)

Both sides of sskk can't even deny their feelings now, it's amazing development

If we ever do get blessed with a sskk hug in the future, I will have a heart attack from happiness

I have "fanfic writer" in my desc but I don't even post about my works oml 😭

Anyways here's an old sskk two part oneshot I wrote;

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60111337

It was where Atsushi and Akutagawa were sent on a "mission" by Dazai to a nightclub and then romanticisms happen (because of course they do). it's a smut/fluff

His brain: I love you

His mouth: consider us even. Away with you, you fool

Made some sskk fanart to cope with chapter 121.5, as one does

Don't mind me still trying to find a style of digital art that I like 🙏

Specifically talking about this panel, okay one, I really hope Bones doesn't fuck this whole scene up. Atsushi better "die" as graceful as hell, they messed up so badly with Akutagawa's death 😭

But also I'm excited to see what the eventual season six brings with this scene (although season six is like more than a year away) because hearing this scene and watching it move is going to amaze me all over again

Also, Akutagawa has said that he doesn't hate Atsushi (source: 55 Minutes), and then there's this. The gayest cherry on top in existence and I love it. He's worried and concerned about Atsushi, he's *desperate*

This panel shows how Akutagawa truly is on the inside. He's not a vampire, he's not a killer, he's not a knight at this moment. He's simply Akutagawa Ryuunosuke and he's watching the boy he loves die for him. He's being hit with all of his emotions and memories at once while making a new memory; one that will live with him forever even if Atsushi comes back

It's just

So insane to see Akutagawa like this for once

God this chapter is amazing

I'm screaming crying and throwing up for the millionth time since 121.5 dropped because Akutagawa *cares* about Atsushi. Atsushi, the person who sees him for who he is, the person who understands him without words, the person who makes him feel like he's worth something. He cares about him.

Here's a sskk Spotify playlist I made if anyone wants it

Random, but I love this panel in chp 121.5

Atsushi is so pretty

In the manga, his eyes are beautiful and in the anime it's in color so you can see his homochromia I love it 😔

Simple little panel recreation I drew in honor of chapter 121.5

I love semi monochromatic drawings so I decided on making everything b&w besides his eyes

Still screaming about chp 121.5 by the way like what the hell (I love that chapter)

Did I add a teensy itsy bitsy blush to Atsushi's face? Maybe :3

i drew this like a week ago after watching the entire first season of bsd so here's the boy :D

also thanks to my friend that's obssessed with this show for sending me photos at midnight so i could draw, you're awesome :D

After everything that happened in this arc, I think we can all agree that Fyodor is the BIGGEST Atsushi hater of all time

A detail that I always found curious in bsd is how in fifteen Dazai needs to consciously activate his ability, but in the current time of the story he doesn't. At first I just thought Dazai had trained his own ability to the point where he could keep it active all the time, but Dazai's ability doesn't really seem very important to his work in the mafia, because we only see him using No Longer Human a few times during the light novels that take place during the time he was in the Port Mafia, so I don't believe this was something trained by Dazai, but rather the effect that All Men Are Equal has on him.

We know that Fukuzawa's ability is a suppression ability that influences the abilities of ADA members, allowing the agents themselves to adjust and control their powers, so it makes sense that joining after the ADA, Dazai made No Longer Human always be activated, so he couldn't be affected by abilities attacks even if he was caught by surprise.

The fact that the agents themselves can adjust their abilities with the help of All Men Are Equall made me think about the other ADA members, and how they are affected by Fukuzawa's ability. In Yosano's flashback, it's never said that she can only heal people with fatal wounds, and when Yosano refuses to heal Tachihara's brother (who Mori says is not seriously injured) she says that she doesn't want to heal him, not that she can't, so I believe that after everything Yosano went through in the war and with Mori, she herself chose to only be able to heal people who were almost dying, so she doesn't feel like she was reducing the value of the lives of those she heals, and so that others detectives of the agency understand the value that their lives and wounds have, and don't end up like the soldiers in war.

In Kenji's fight against Tetchou, we have a flashback of a conversation between Kunikida and Atsushi, and Kunikida says that Kenji's ability is driven by his anger, the angrier he gets, the more powerful he will be, however, his hunger can calm him, and I wonder if that might have something to do with Fukuzawa's skill. Kenji is a very calm person, and Kunikida says that this prevents his monstrous strength from coming out, so creating a way to calm him down so that his ability doesn't go out of control may have been Kenji's own choice when he joined the agency.

Kunikida only using his ability in his notebook of ideals may also have been his own choice. We know how connected to his ideals Kunikida is, and he says that all of his future and ideals are written in that notebook, so it makes sense that he would want his ability, an important part of his life, to be in his notebook too. On the other hand, All Men Are Equal could be the reason why Kunikida can only create objects the size of his notebook, but I can't see a specific reason for this choice.

I don't see many ways in which Fukuzawa's ability can affect Tanizaki's Light Snow, other than limiting the area in which he can use his ability. We know that Tanizaki can be very aggressive if provoked, so the fact that his ability can only be used at a short or medium range may be to prevent him from doing more damage than necessary when angered.

I believe all of these assumptions make a lot of sense, based on what we've seen of the influence of Fukuzawa's ability on Atsushi (forbiding him from fully transforming into a tiger, and from losing his mind while using his ability) and Kyouka (allowing her to control Demon Snow without her phone), and I really hope this topic is explored at some point during the manga.

I hate that that was the first thing I thought when I saw that Atsushi panel

i fully expect Atsushi to permanently lose his leg at some point

Just some sskk angst 😋

I just love contrasting skk/sskk dynamics in fic like, they're so fun to read I need more.

Like gimme Dazai and Chuuya who have spent the last few years spiting eachother for fear of this thing between them that refuses to die no matter how much hurt and resentment they throw at it.

And then one day they realize they're watching Atsushi and Akutagawa slowly work through their issues and grow closer like a pair of magnets eroding away at all obstacles between them.

Sure, they're awkward as hell about it. The landscape of Yokohama suffers their growing pains with them, but everyone can see them gaining terrain until it's commonplace to see one waiting for the other outside their workplace or to spot them sitting together in some random fire escape.

Through it all, skk watch them with this sort of awe-pride-envy that eats them up inside in both a good and bad ways. Chuuya grins a little to himself when Akutagawa makes it a thing to introduce Gin and Atsushi, Dazai indulges Atsushi's planning of a first date that ends up going so very wrong it's funny. Deep, deep down they both wonder what might have happened if they had made the effort.

Now, if it's the other way around it's even more hilarious. Bc you have skk who grew back together like a fungus after Dazai reappeared. They've both matured a lot and lost a lot, so now it's a lot easier to let themselves be and enjoy the time they have, because in Yokohama you never know. Their relationship somehow strongarms the city into peace because now they're partners again and it's a little terrifying.

And in the meanwhile, Atsushi and Akutagawa watch and kind of simmer in all the pent up rage that they have, not even necesarily at skk (although there's the Akutagawa and Dazai situation) but just at the world in general.

It may be a bit more noticeable in Akutagawa, but Atsushi too still has so much rage within himself. Because of the past, and the divine being, and everything. It's the kind of rage that they can't direct at anyone else, —because no one else would understand, because they only want eachother in some twisted way, because they're both livid at themsleves for having feelings for the other— so they give it to eachother and they're damn right insufferable about it.

And somehow the skk situation makes it worse? Like what do you mean Akutagawa drops by Chuuya's office and Dazai is sitting on the desk, boucing a rubber ball off the wall and humming whle Chuuya finishes his work? What do you mean Atsushi comes back from some errand to find Dazai curled up with Chuuya on the ADA couch? Asleep, to boot.

There's a gala and skk dance together like they've been going to ballroom classes the whole time, and Atsushi gets so irritated that he gets drunk and Akutagawa ends up carrying him home gagged with Rashomon.

Idk I think its a fun dynamic. Kind of like the ultimate punishment of having to watch what you can’t have be rubbed in your face.

Ofc in both cases the couple that actually has their shit together ends up nudging along the one that doesn’t.

Long live happy endings but also truckloads of angst.