The Heartless Cur, With Heart Ablaze

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

where do you think sskk would go for their honeymoon?

honestly, I don't see sskk going somewhere for a honeymoon. they'd probably just each ask for a few weeks off of their work and spend as much time together as possible. their honeymoon is dragging each other around yokohama to go to their favorite restaurants and see gardens and walk alongside the pier and sleep in late. :)

I forgor to post this here 😭

Nakajima Atsushi...and the slow steps it takes to fully believe in yourself. A lot of stories have the main character go through some deep monologue that ends with a boost of bravery and "I still have a long way to go"/"even if I fall I will get up again" message by the end, and that's not a bad thing at all. However, with atsushi it's so important to have a deeply wounded character who selfishly wants to hide and survive slowly take the steps needed to believe in his own heart.

A lot of people criticized atsushi for being too cowardly and whiny to be a protagonist, they remind me of the people in my life who rush me into "getting better", wanting him to develop at a pace faster than he can manage. but to me it's comforting to know that he acts like most of us. We are always afraid and full of doubts in life, sticking to much easier routes and bsd doesn't immediately condemn you for it. It's comforting to know that these slow, staggering steps are both normal and achievable, that you can find confidence at your own pace.

Thank you atsushi for being the main character ever.

I don't have words for them 😔

Now you hang from my lips like the Gardens of Babylon.

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)

Random quickly drawn Akutagawa doodle inspired by, you guessed it, chapter 121.5

The panel where his eyes grow lighter and lighter as he realizes who he is, who Atsushi is, and how much Atsushi means to him just as Atsushi dies to save him, is honestly magical

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 hope the person who made the post “Oda was holding Dazai's face in his last moment so that his ability could nullify his own and wouldn't have had to go through his dead twice” knows the thought haunts me every day