One Thing I Would Love To See Happen In The Future Of Bsd Is Sigma And Mushitaro Meeting. They Would

The conversation between Atsushi and Dazai in this chapter is so important, because this is clearly not Dazai, at least not the real one. The real Dazai is still in Mersault, almost on the other side of the world, this version that Atsushi is talking to is just the same hallucination from the last chapter, a fragment of Atsushi's subconscious taking the form of someone he trusts, respects and admires to give him the information he needs to move forward, even if it is information that he already knows but does not have enough confidence in himself to follow. The conversation at the end of the chapter is not only about the dimension of Ame-no-Gozen, but also about Atsushi himself and his relationship with his past. In order to reach the core of Ame-no-Gozen, Atsushi must learn to navigate between the past and the future, both in the dimension of the divine being and in his own history. I believe that from this, Atsushi will be able to discover more about the tiger and about his own past, perhaps find out something about his parents, and about his connection with the book and Fyodor, but for that to happen he needs to let himself confront his past, and understand (or accept) his place and role in this world.

The urge to draw western frobin

the thing is not only akutagawa regaining his memories by having atsushi throw himself to save him like he did, but also that akutagawa's eyes have never been more clear

Thinking abt young Shakky

One thing I've been struggling to articulate is how meaningfull the “now we're even” line is to sskk. Because I believe it's really so poignant even beyond it's meaning of “returning the favor”. With sskk, it's always been a fight to surpass, to get the upper hand, to prevail. Always trying to come first before the other, always trying to win over the other. Akutagawa literally tells Atsushi “defeating you, that alone is my meaning”, and Atsushi too says “I have to become stronger [...] that is what I must do to deny Akutagawa's strength”. It's fight for supremacy: for Akutagawa first of all, since he feels like the only way he has to gain his validation to live is by the way of proving himself to Dazai through defeating Atsushi; but it's a matter of triumphing over the other for Atsushi, too, for whom doing good equates to it being okay for him to keep living, and for whom doing good often came in the form of defying evil, evil that Akutagawa so perfectly embodied. It's always been a fight to prevail, it's always been a “either you, or me”. Coexistence for them was simply unthinkable.

But now Atsushi knows better. He's grown to recognize Akutagawa's value, and to appreciate his sacrifice. Most importantly, he concluded that they don't need to fight for supremacy anymore; now that he aknowealdges Akutagawa's humanity and respects him, he can finally think of the two of them as equals, peers. That's the “even” there is to it: they've finally found their common ground. Aid, support, look after one another: it's not about trying to get in front or surpass the other anymore, but rather, stand side by side. And it gets me so emotional.

For those who haven't seen it yet, the official translation is already on mangadex!

MangaDex

Bungou Stray Dogs - Ch. 122 - That Which Pushes Us Forward - MangaDex

Read Bungou Stray Dogs Ch. 122 "That Which Pushes Us Forward" on MangaDex!

Bsd chapter 122 - translation

(this translation may be incorrect, so if you read this remember to check the official translation! This post only has the pages with dialogue, also, read from left to right)

Dazai: Think about it. It's what people do to remember the past.

Atsushi: H-here is... the agency?!

Dazai: Physical distance doesn't matter in the fourth dimension.

Dazai: To get from point A to point B on this sheet in the quickest way... what should be done?

Atsushi: ? Go in a straight line, of course...

Dazai: Normally, but we are in a higher dimension.

Dazai: Just do it like this.

Dazai: It is possible to intercept all the places here... and attack the origin point, which is ame-no-gozen.

Atsushi: Will you do the same with me?

Dazai: If you understood, let's fly.

Dazai: Focus.

Atsushi: Dazai-san! You...!

Dazai: Just look...

Past Dazai: I want to recruit you for the Port Mafia

Akutagawa: Jinko...

Akutagawa: Why did... you protect me?

Dazai: I want to recruit you for the Port Mafia

Akutagawa: Why am I... remembering this now?

Akutagawa: I just... hated... this world that let my street friends die for nothing.

Akutagawa: I wanted revenge... for being born into this world.

Dazai: If you're ready... I'll give you what you want.

Akutagawa: What I want? Are you... able to give me a meaning to live?

Dazai: I am.

Atsushi: Akutagawa...

Dazai: It's taking too long to activate your ability! You won't survive like this in the organization!

Akutagawa: I didn't feel any pain. Dazai-san was the one who gave me a meaning to live. But...

Akutagawa: ...He disappeared without any explanation

Akutagawa: And when we met again, he had a new subordinate.

Dazai: "My new subordinate is much better than you"

Akutagawa: Jinko! Jinko! Jinko! Jinko!

Akutagawa: Feeling humiliated and resentful… I feared I would never be accepted. This motivated my heart. And I bet everything on the tiger's execution.

Akutagawa: And then.. then...

Akutagawa: Fool... go now

Dazai: We arrived.

Dazai: The true body of the god is beyond this door.

Atsushi: Where are we?

Atsushi: It's big. And it's completely sealed…

Atsushi: It doesn't work, it's too heavy. It doesn't even move.

Orphanage director: You stupid brat. No one will save you.

Orphanage director: You don't deserve to live.

Dazai: I can only get you this far.

Atsushi: Thank you. I couldn't have gotten this far alone.

Dazai: I was the one who called you to the agency. Who brought you into a dangerous world. It's the least I can do.

Atsushi: No. You are not Dazai-san.

Atsushi: Because of the nullification ability… he couldn't become an illusion and talk to me. And you sometimes… didn't behave like Dazai-san.

Atsushi: You thought I wouldn't listen to you… if it wasn't in this form, didn't you?

Atsushi: You're right…

Atsushi: Director. When your illusion disappeared… I started seeing Dazai-san. Then…

Director: It was… the only way.

Director: I don't have… the right to talk to you. That's why…

Atsushi: You are just a shadow… created as a consequence of Q's ability.

Director: Yes. The real me is already dead. But…

Atsushi: Enough. I don't want to talk to you.

Atsushi: It's no use. It's not moving at all. But… if I don't defeat the god behind this door, everyone will…

Poor Whitebeard, he doesn't deserve to be surrounded by so many crazy people

Just because I've seen a few people complaining about Dazai "knowing exactly what was gonna happen from the start" I just want to point something out

Dazai didn't know what was going to happen, he had 0 control over the situation, all he did was trust in Ranpo and the ADA.

The point of it all, or at least how I've interpreted it, is portraying just how much he's grown to admire and love the agency. His faith in his "allies" gave him enough confidence to let them handle it, funnily enough Dazai had barely any hand in the planning of it at all!

He put together what each person was scheming by watching the events play out, and don't forget he had Ango communicating with him all the while.

I have no issue with anybody upset over this, I just thought I'd put my take out there. I think the subtlety of Dazai's growth sometimes causes it to go unnoticed, his redemption plays out in small moments like this, hidden beneath much bigger actions.