I did a PE proposal for Fyodor and that one did well for my first one. This is my first proposal on this wiki and before I started, I read chapter 39 of the manga to get a better understanding of Atsushi a lot more because the anime didn't fully adapt chapter 39. But now I'm confident after reading that chapter. Get ready cause this might be long.
What's the Work
Bungo Stray Dogs Is a 2012 monthly manga series written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa. The series is regarded as underrated by many but is very popular in Japan.
The series revolve around characters that are based off of famous people in 20th century or older literature history, and their powers are a reference to those people's famous works. The protagonist, Atsushi Nakajima was kicked out of his orphanage and saved a man named Osamu Dazai from drowning, only to find out that Dazai was trying to off himself on purpose. Dazai and his partner, Doppo Kunikida are looking for a rampaging tiger and the two of them find out that Atsushi was the tiger (thanks to his ability to turn into a wild tiger). After the investigation, Dazai recruits him into the Agency he works for, the 'Armed Detective Agency', a grope of detectives that handles crimes too dangerous for the police to handle. There, he meets many other ability users as they tackle various cases and events taking place in the city of Yokohama. As Atsushi fights and works to earn himself a place in the world, he and his allies fight to protect themselves from their longtime rivals, the Port Mafia and defend the city from outside threats like The Guild, the Rats in the House of the Dead, and the Decay of the Angel.
Who is Atsushi Nakajima? What has he Done?
Main series
Port Mafia Arc
Atsushi Nakajima is a member of the Armed Detective Agency who grew up in an orphanage where everyone there hated him and abused him verbally and physically. He was kicked out of his orphanage due to his ability that allows him to turn into a white tiger. The name of the ability is called Beast Beneath the Moonlight, which is inspired by the real-life Atsushi Nakajima book called Moon Over the Mountain.
Near a river, Atsushi was on the brink of starvation and decides to steal in order to survive. He waits for someone to pass by only to see a man in the river drowning. Atsushi saves the man only for him to be ungrateful because of his attempt at suicide was ruined. As Atsushi is confused, the man offers the boy a bite to eat as an apology for burdening him. The man finally properly introduces himself as Osamu Dazai. Dazai and his co-worker, Doppo Kunikida, are on a job looking for a tiger who lurks in the streets of Yokohama. Atsushi is scared to involve himself in their mission, but Dazai tricks him into thinking there's a buttload of money as a reward for catching a tiger. Dazai and Atsushi head to a warehouse and Dazai deduces that the tiger and Atsushi are the same being. As the moonlight shine through the window, Atsushi transforms into said tiger: However, Dazai uses his ability to nullify the tiger, returning Atsushi to normal.
The next day, Atsushi wakes up in a dormitory and gets a call from Dazai who arranged his living conditions. Dazai claims he is about to die and Atsushi rushes to see what happened to him, only for him to learn that it was another failed suicide attempt. After helping him out, they both meet up with Kunikida, who informs them of a bomber holding a captive at their office. When they make it to the office, Kunikida is pushed into a corner by the bomber and Dazai sends in Atsushi as a distraction. Terrified and nervous, Atsushi ends up going on a personal rant. He understands both he and the bomber have nowhere to turn to. He also urges him to try finding work or another purpose instead of harming others because of his own misfortune. When the bomber is left open, Kunikida restrains him, but the bomber breaks free and turns on the bomb timer. Atsushi is in a panic but comes to a conclusion to lessen the bombs impact by covering it with his body. The bomb, however, does not go off. The bomber, Junichiro Tanizaki, stands next to Kunikida and Dazai who both comment on Atsushi's impulsiveness. Atsushi questions what's going on and Dazai reveals it was all an entrance exam for becoming a member of the Armed Detective Agency. The Agency's director, Yukichi Fukuzawa, arrives and confirms Atsushi passing the entrance exam, though he leaves the final decision to Dazai. Dazai retorts that, if he declines, Atsushi has to leave the dorm with nowhere else to go and since he was designated a military threat, he could possibly be killed, giving Atsushi no other choice but to accept the job.
The Agency receives a call from a client about a group of smugglers, Kunikida assigns the investigation as Atsushi's first mission and orders Junichiro to accompany him; Naomi, Junichiro's little sister, also tags along. Led by their client Higuchi, Atsushi, Tanizaki, and Naomi are led to a closed off ally way. She reveals herself to be a member of the Port Mafia and fires shots at them, leaving Naomi injured and Atsushi scared. Akutagawa comes in and wounds Junichiro leaving Atsushi the only one left standing. As Atsushi attempts to fight back, Akutagawa severs his leg and the tiger within him takes over and battles Akutagawa. Dazai intervenes and takes Atsushi, Junichiro, and Naomi back to the office.
Atsushi later awakens in the Agency's medical ward. with Kunikida seated beside him. Atsushi remembers what happened and asks about the Tanizaki siblings, Kunikida informs him that they are alright. Kunikida tells him that a bounty was placed on his head which is why the Mafia is after him. Atsushi believes that the Agency is getting wrapped up in a dangerous mess because of him and calls Higuchi using her business card and tells her that he is quitting the Agency, urging them to find him alone. Gunshots echo through the town and realizing its coming from the Agency, Atsushi rushes back only to find colleges safe and sound and the Mafia's Black Lizarde group defeated. Crying in relief, Atsushi realizes the true strength of the group.
Atsushi and the Agency's doctor, Akiko Yosano, go on a shop spree and while they're on a train, a member of the Port Mafia named Motojiro Kaji hijacks the train. They split up to find and diffuse the bombs and Atsushi encounters a girl in Komoto named Kyouka Izumi, who attacks him with a sword katana-wielding phantom, Demon Snow. Atsushi thinks he stands no chance against his opponent, but he decides to stand back up in order to save the passengers. He partially transforms his arm into the tiger's limb and bests Kyouka in their fight. As he overpowered her, he asks the girl where he can find the bomb, she reveals the bomb is attached to her to which Atsushi is shocked and looks at her emotionless face in sympathy. Through the PA system, Yosano tells Atsushi that the bomb has a detonator that can disarm the bomb. He asks Kyouka for it and presses it, but the bomb continues to count down. Kyouka pushes Atsushi out of the way and jumps off the train, saying her true emotions not wanting to have any more blood on her hands. Atsushi, realizing her genuine feelings, taps into his powers and jumps off the train and rips the bomb off of her protecting her from the blast.
Kyouka is brought and treated to the Agency infirmary, while Kunikida reprimands Atsushi for bringing in a wanted killer, Atsushi however argues that it wasn't her choice. Kyouka wakes up and asks them for tofu, in return, she'll tell them about the Mafia. After treating her to tofu, she tells them that the man giving order through her phone was Akutagawa.
Outside, Kunikida tells Atsushi to hand her to the military police despite Atsushi's disapproval, knowing that she shall get capital punishment for killing 35 people. Kunikida warns Atsushi not to burden himself with people beyond saving but Atsushi wishes to give her another shot at life like how Dazai did. Before taking her to the police station, Atsushi lets Kyouka spend her last day enjoying things girls her age does and accompanies her. After that, they walk to the police station. Atsushi is worried for her and is suddenly impaled by Akutagawa and gets abducted.
Atsushi wakes up on a cargo ship and is beaten up by Akutagawa. Kyouka soon intervenes, but Akutagawa easily overwhelms her. Atsushi spots Kunikida below to rescue him, while Kyouka sets off a bomb nearby to sink the ship. Kunikida tells Atsushi to jump and leave the girl behind despite how hard it is being unable to save her, but Atsushi firmly decides to give her a second chance and turns back to save her. Akutagawa is about to murder Kyouka until Atsushi comes and saver her and urges the mafioso that they settle their matter at once. In the middle of their fight, Atsushi asks Akutagawa why he was using Kyouka when he alone was strong, Akutagawa responds that Demon Snow is an ability suited for killing and all he did was give meaning in Kyouka's life. Angered by this answer, Atsushi says it is not up to him to decide who is worth living and berates Akutagawa for leading Kyouka down a dark path. Atsushi soon defeats Akutagawa and plunges him towards the sea. As the ship sinks, Atsushi passes out, but Kyouka manages to get themselves aboard Kunikida's boat.
The Guild Arc
In the next arc, Kyouka and Atsushi are roommates and Dazai advises him that it is his job to look after her, which Atsushi accepts. The man who placed a bounty on his head and the leader of The Guild, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, comes to Japan and attempts to make an offer with the Fukuzawa in order to obtain their Skill Business Permit. When that failed, Guild member, Lucy Maud Montgomery, kidnaps Kenji Miyazawa and Atsushi, Junichiro, and Naomi go looking for him only to be caught in Lucy's ability to. When Junichiro gets caught and locked up behind the prison door, Atsushi is overpowered by her ability Anne and tries to escape and get back up only for the doctor that was trapped in the room along with them to stop him and encouraged him to think of an optimal solution. As he earns back his resolve to save his comrades, Atsushi readies himself, but he gets caught by another Anne and dragged into the prison room: However, the door closing was from Junichiro's illusions and Atsushi was clinging onto the door. He grabs lucy with a piece of ribbon and tells her to deactivate her ability or he will drag her together with him to the prison room. When Atsushi lets go, Lucy deactivates her ability and when they all got out of the pocket dimension, Atsushi tries to approach Lucy and apologizes to her, only for her to flee.
During the war against The Guild and the Port Mafia, Atsushi and Dazai were waiting for Naomi and Kirako Haruno to arrive safely. The two girls come out of the train with a kid they befriended. The kid, Kyūsaku Yumeno (AKA Q), appeared with blades on his arm and unbeknownst to him, Atsushi soon gets immersed in a curse, which turns out to be Q's ability. Seeing his companions turn hostile against him, Atsushi defends himself by using his tiger strength; he attacks Haruno and strangles Naomi in the process. Dazai soon returns and tells him to come to his senses. As Atsushi grasps the situation, he realizes that he was the one cursed rather than the other way around and undergoes a breakdown thinking that he should never have been born. After getting rid of the curse, Dazai literally slaps Atsushi back to his senses and tells the lad not to pity himself.
After a couple of circumstances, Atsushi is captured by Francis and is told by The Guild leader that he is the key to finding a special kind off book. Francis also reveals that he captured Atsushi to keep him from being a victim to their plan of incinerating Yokohama, specifically where the Agency and the mafia are based. To do so, Fitzgerald needs Q's doll, which makes Atsushi realize the danger of the plan. Atsushi tells Fitzgerald that him and the Agency shall cooperate in finding the Book as long as he doesn't send Yokohama into a city-wide panic. The The next day agrees to establish a deal, but only with those who are lucky enough to survive.
As Yokohama is in chaos, Lucy stands in front of Atsushi's cell, he tells her to let him out for everyone's sake, but she refuses. Atsushi then tells her to leave The Guild and tries to explain to her that he knows how she feels but she tells him how The Guild is the only thing she has left, unlike him who is blessed with his comrades. She shows her scarred arm that was caused by the painful time she had on the orphanage, to which Atsushi shows his identically scarred abdomen and thereby relates to her story. Though they both experienced loneliness, Atsushi believes that not being able to save everyone in the city is the same as abandoning their past selves. Lucy tries to dissuade Atsushi on the upcoming danger he'll face but Atsushi remains confident and plans to take the doll to Dazai so he can nullify it. Lucy then decides to help him and hands him a parachute, asking Atsushi to save her soon. As she promises to wait for his return, Atsushi jumps off the aircraft and agrees to come back for her.
As he skies dives, he uses his tiger sight to see the current situation and catches the Port Mafia trying their best to keep the chaos under control. The Guild's marksmen, Mark Twain tries to stop Atsushi from going any further. As Atsushi tries to reach out to Q's doll, Dazai intervenes and nullifies the curse by touching the doll. The two of them escape and after Atsushi sees how hard Mafia is fighting to protect the city, he recommends an alliance with them. In the end, the two groups agree to hold a temporary ceasefire between them.
Later, as Ranpo and Dazai plan their next course of action after retrieving intel on The Guild's flying fortress, Moby Dick, Dazai enlists Atsushi to perform a solo infiltration in the Moby Dick. Atsushi is plagued with a negative thought of his orphanage director telling him not to do it, but he accepts the task.
With the help of Junichiro, Atsushi infiltrates the ship and finds a man named Herman Melville, the one who controls the Moby Dick. Atsushi learns that the ship will crash not only in the Yokohama but will create an explosion that will have the Agency and Mafia headquarters be grown zero. Herman directs him where the control terminal is but, on his way, Atsushi is stopped by Akutagawa and the two clashes for a few seconds. Dazai tells Atsushi how to get Akutagawa off his tail which includes Atsushi tosses his communicator with Dazai on the line; as Akutagawa catches it, Atsushi escapes.
Atsushi arrives at Francis' office, who turns out to be the one guarding the control terminal. The two of them battle over the control terminal and Atsushi gets overwhelmed by his power. Before Francis could rip his arm off, Akutagawa comes and further lays his irritable attitude on the boy given how Atsushi is quite oblivious to his strength yet is putting his life on the line to fight. As Francis is occupied with Akutagawa, Atushi sneak attacks him and spouts that true power lies in helping people who struggle in despair, but Francis retorts by saying Atsushi is no different from those people.
After a few escapes and bickering along the way, Atsushi and Akutagawa reach the deck of the Moby Dick and encounter Francis one last time. Before they work together to defeat Francis, Atsushi asks Akutagawa is it's possible to escape his past and the latter replies with a yes. Atsushi then tells Akutagawa that he believes Dazai must have already acknowledged him long ago.
After defeating Francis, the two of them stop the ship from crashing only for someone to hack into the system and reactivate the descending process. Atsushi and Akutagawa try to stop the ship, when Atsushi informs Dazai about the issue, Kyouka communicates with them from the UAV she's in and plans to collide the aircraft to Moby Dick. Atsushi tells her to get ready to escape but Kyouka tells him that is unable to, hence thanking him instead and saying her goodbye upon accepting her fate. Atsushi tries to think of another way to save her before impact, but Akutagawa then grabs him to escape the ship with Herman while the UAV crashes into the airship. Atsushi griefs over Kyouka's fate, though Dazai and Fukuzawa arrive to tell him that Kyouka has passed her exam and became a member of the Agency, in other words, she escaped the UAV before it crashed. Atsushi then rushes to Kyōka and embraces her out of relief, all the while their allies proudly watched from a distance. The next day, the Agency throw a welcoming party for Kyouka and Atsushi apologizes to Naomi and Haruno for hurting them despite being under the influence of a curse.
The Guild Aftermath Arc
After the war against The Guild, Atsushi takes on a case in Ranpo's absence about a man who got hit by a truck, who just happens to be the director from Atsushi's orphanage and is told that the director might have come to Yokohama to find and praise him for his victorious feat against the Guild, greatly conflicting Atsushi. After getting information from Akutagawa, Atsushi learns about the orphanage director's past and was feeling sorry for him and even shows up at his funeral for a little. Dazai comes up to him and advises that, though his director indeed made him experience hell, that hell is what shaped him into the person he is today, meaning that even though Atsushi doesn't forgive the orphanage director for all the pain he caused him, he's grateful for him because he shaped him into the person he is now which leaves Atsushi with in mix emotions of sadness.
The next day, Atsushi and Kyouka go to the cafe and are greeted by Lucy who happens to be annoyed at Atsushi. She hands them a dispatch specifically for Kyouka, which is to deliver a briefcase on a boat to a client. After failing to find the right boat it's on, Lucy confronts Atsushi and reveals having stolen the page that tells which boat it's on. Lucy throws the paper in the water and Atsushi catches it and then drown. Lucy saves him by teleporting him into Anne's room, Atsushi thanks her and admits that he searched for her in the Moby Dick after all.
Cannibalism Arc
The Armed Detective Agency and Port Mafia leaders are infected by a virus that belongs to one of Fyodor's minions and could only be deactivated when one of the host dies before time is up. In the middle of the clash, the Agency receive a message saying Fukuzawa doesn't want them to fight the Mafia and along with Kunikida, Atsushi obeys that order and focuses on locating the virus user.
After learning the location of the base of the Rats in the House of the Dead, the Mafia and Agency work together to capture Fyodor and the virus user, specifically Atsushi and Akutagawa cooperating. They both find the virus user, Alexander Pushkin, but are ambushed by Ivan Goncharov and after defeating him, their allies incapacitate Pushkin but Fyodor isn't found in the base, but Dazai manages to catch him ang get him arrested.
After the conflict, Atsushi and the Agency hold a banquet at a luxury liner given to them by Francis. Atsushi tells Dazai about a deal he made with Akutagawa to where they will have their final confrontation in 6 month and Atsushi accepts as long as he doesn't kill anyone fir the next 6 months.
Hunting Dogs Arc
When the Agency is framed as terrorist, Atsushi plans on clearing their name by using Francis' Eyes of God system. Upon arriving at their base, Atsushi spots Louisa wounded on the floor and tells Kyouka to look after her as he heads straight to help Frances, who is fighting a brainwashed Nathanial Hawthorne that manages to escape. After Hawthorne escapes, Atsushi tells Francis about the Agency's frameup by the Decay of the Angel, but he merely laughs at his accusation. Nevertheless, seeing Atsushi's serious look on his face, Francis deems it impossible to defeat Fyodor in his confinement in a prison called Meursault. Hawthorne's ability suddenly attacks Francis but is saved by the sprinklers system.
Atsushi explains their situation and Francis. The latter agrees to arrange a deal but on the condition that he barrows the Agency's doctor in order cure his subordinate Margaret so that she can kill Hawthorne. Because of that, Atsushi is adamant to accept his terms with Francis and backs away from the deal. Fitzgerald then realizes Atsushi's conditions and brings them to Mitchell, whose comatose condition has worsened. Seeing her status, Atsushi agrees to the deal, claiming that he cannot stand ignoring someone suffering, like how he was in his youth.
Sky Casino Arc
After receiving info about the Decay of the Angel's plans, Atsushi, Kyouka, and Lucy sneak onto the Sky Casino and plan to cooperate with the military in apprehending the real terrorist in order to prove their innocents. When the manager of the casino and member of the Decay of the Angel, Sigma, attempts to fall from the casino in order to sacrifice himself to protect the place, Atsushi stops him and demands to know where the page is, Ango threatens to use extreme methods in order to get Sigma to talk and Sigma agrees to cooperate, claiming that he does not know why he was born after all. Atsushi shows a concerned look on his face about Sigma's negative thoughts and prepares to take him to the surface until Hawthorne shows up shoots Sigma with his blood bullet. Atsushi grapples to save Sigma before getting attacked in the forehead as well. He resists the attack and struggles to hold on to Sigma. Atsushi refuses to let go believing that a person shouldn't be thinking they had no reason to live at the end of their life, but the Sigma appreciates his kindness and let's go of his hand.
Lucy soon jumps off the casino to bring herself and Atsushi to her dimension. As he thanks her, Atsushi tries to shield Lucy from Hawthorne, realizing that the latter connected a thread of blood onto him to enter the chamber. Lucy successfully traps Hawthorne in the room.
Kamui Revelation Arc
Ranpo Deduces that the Hunting Dogs' captain', Ochi Fukuchi, is the leader of the Decay of the Angel going under the allies "Kamui". Ranpo manages to escape through Po's novel and Atsushi choses to stand and fight. Akutagawa comes abord the ship they're on and after a hard time, the two of them defeat Fukuchi and kill him. Atsushi with a look of regret on his face, realizes that he's dead. However, Fukuchi's space time sword goes back into the past and erases Atsushi and Akutagawa's victory against him.
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Resurrection Arc
After the vampire infection ends, Fyodor reveals his true plans, and the airport gets destroyed by the godlike being, Ame-no-gozen. Atsushi tries to find survivors and the only one he found was Fukuzawa. Atsushi is horrified at the fact that Fukuchi's actions were all due to Fyodor's manipulation. Fukuzawa orders him to gather their forces and defeat Fyodor.
One by one, Kunikida, Junichiro, and Kenji are both killed by Ame-no-gozen. Atsushi is in disbelief, horror, and shock that they're dead and is approached by Fyodor. Fyodor bribes him into accompanying him by saying the Agency can be saved by writing on the back of the page. Atsushi sorrowfully accepts his offer as long as his friends are safe, but Fyodor has Ame-no-gozen impale Atsushi in the back. After falling to the ground, Atsushi tells Fyodor that he will give up his life in order to save his allies.
Dead Apple
Atsushi pretty much saved the world in this movie. The film follows mysterious suicides by ability users, but the ability users were killed by their own abilities and a man named Tatsuhiko Shibusawa is behind this. Despite the order of eliminating him, Atsushi believes that it's wiser to take him alive so they can understand what kind of person he is. After learning from Akutagawa that Dazai is "working" with Shibusawa, he refuses to believe it and stands up to Akutagawa for wanting to kill him.
In the middle point of the movie, Atsushi learns the connection between him and Shibusawa and is broken at the fact that the first time he used his ability was to kill a person even if the person was torturing him.
After excepting his ability, Atsushi and his fight against the revived Shibusawa begins and with the help of Akutagawa and Kyouka, he defeats him and prevents Shibusawa's ability consuming fog from covering Earth.
Corrupting Factors
Hear me out, Atsushi in the beginning of the series legit said he was going to steal from someone but looking at it from an orphan perspective it's very understandable because he's living on the streets on the brink of starvation, and he completely subverts the thought of stealing from someone after he saves Dazai from drowning. I mean, he completely subverts it after all the good things he did after that.
He dislikes Akutagawa and usually bickers with him but his dislike towards the Mafioso is justified because the latter tried to kill him and was about to kill Kyouka. Their relationship however has gotten better, and Atsushi has started to respect Akutagawa and when Akutagawa was turned into a vampire, he tried to talk-no-jutsu the guy and was careful on making sure he didn't use all his strength to kill him and when he was aiming for his head, he stopped in time before the killing blow hit.
He did threaten to leave Lucy trapped in her own pocket dimension if she didn't set everyone free but when she deactivator her ability and everyone was alright, he attempts to apologies to her, but she ran away. He also has a great understanding of her and sympathizes with her a lot because of their similar past.
Despite declaring he'll never forgiving the orphanage director for the abuse he put him through, Atsushi doesn't hold a grudge due to the man being dead nor did he think about revenge after getting kicked out of his orphanage. Atsushi also felt sorry for the past he went through and went to his funeral for a little bit. Atsushi was even feeling like something in him was about to burst which would turn out to be a cry, meaning he's thankful for him for turning him into the selfless young man he is today.
When he and Akutagawa killed Fukuchi, you can hear the guilt in his voice in the anime and see the guilt on his face in the manga.
Even though he killed Shibusawa 6 years ago, it was purely out of self-defiance because he was getting tortured. After remembering about it 6 years later, he was horrified that the first time he used his claws was to kill. In the final battle, he kills Shibusawa again, but that man's existence was bringing about the worlds end making it a last resort thing.
Admirable Standard
In a series where majority of the character are morally gray, Atsushi stands out not only as the main character, but as the most good-hearted person in the series. He went from a nobody on the streets to a hero of a city who was even on the front page of the newspapers after the Moby Dick crashed, even though it wasn't his intention. In DEAD APPLE, he pretty much saved not just Yokohama but the entire world from being victim to Shibusawa's ability consuming fog. His actions and words changed characters like Lucy, Kyouka, Sigma, and Akutagawa for the better and he's able to take a person off of a dark path by just sympathizing with and understanding them.
One could argue that Fukuchi is called a world-renowned hero and saved the world from disaster multiple times, but we don't see that, and Fukuchi is an anti-villain obviously. His screen time also isn't a lot compared to Atsushi.
Final Verdict
Ya like sushi? Yea? me to, I'll go with a yes but that's for people down below to decide.