The beginning of the summer anime season marks yet another end for a beloved show we’ve been following – Bungou Stray Dogs 3. While we’ve seen quite a bit about how the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia work together in order to accomplish peace in their city, it was understood that was a sort of tenuous balance rather than part of a grand design – an allegiance of convenience forged when a greater threat presented itself. Interestingly enough, we learned that this sort of dichotomy is not only intended and by design, but it’s actually a trichotomy – How could we forget the special ability department that Ango operates?
The armed detective agency discards their president’s order to not engage the port mafia in combat as Fyodor wants them to – after all, because they are unable to change the rules, the only way to succeed is to kill Mori. Most interesting scene of the whole assault is definitely Ranpo’s “battle” against Chuuya – much like Chuuya said, I was pretty certain that Ranpo was unable to fight in any meaningful way. Ranpo’s aim wasn’t to defeat Chuuya though, it was to remove him from the field. That’s the kind of strategy we would expect from the Armed Detective Agency’s brightest mind.
Mori and Fukuzawa meet at an undisclosed location they have always agreed on to settle the conflict amongst themselves without the bloodshed of their organizations on the line to end it. While the tides appear to swing in president Fukuzawa’s favor, Mori gets a solid blow in revealing that he’d likely not prevail in straight on combat against the former bodyguard. When all seems lost and it appears certain the two will fell one another, Natsume, their former sensei appears, the one who had made it possible for the armed detective agency to exist. He appears to be one of Mori’s benefactors as well based on the manner of speech he used when conversing with him. Natsume gives them the idea to use the concealment of the explosion as a pretense to allow Fyodor to believe they have destroyed one another.
Dazai on the other hand is not a man you can keep down for very long. Having quickly understood that the possessor of the cannibalism ability was located inside an armed cave entrance, he instructs Akutugawa and Atsushi to coordinate and find the user. Akutugawa, despite the events that occured at the ending of the second season, still seems eager to prove his worth in a demonstrable way to Dazai. If only things could be so easy, right? It isn’t long before they find the user and make chase. Atsushi mentions that Akutugawa hates him, but I don’t think that has been true for a long time – if anything, their united front against Fitzgerald in the previous season was the true cementing factor for their new friendship, whether he wants to admit it or not.
Their coordination is put to the test once more as they must take on Fyodor’s cohort, who I have dubbed Mr. Midboss. His ability allows him to control the earth and he quickly puts the two of them on the ropes (the fatigue they have taken on from the cannibalism ability has certainly not helped). Donning Akutugawa’s rashumon, Atsushi makes quick work of him and allows his cohort to escape from the drowning pool created by their enemy. Mr. midboss is no more and Fukugawa and Mori have put an end to the cannibalism user, thus removing the ticker on all four of their lives.
But where is Fyodor?
Certainly not in the cave that Mr. midboss was guarding. Commenting how disappointed he was in everyone, Fyodor gets up and walks away…only to get a greeting from the slyest of all sly dogs in the Bungou Stray Dogs universe – Osamu Dazai. What a clever motherfucker he is. I am certain that without his help, nobody would be able to defeat Fyodor. Hilariously enough, Dazai remarks that he has never seen Fyodor so surprised. If you couldn’t laugh at that, nothing can do it. He reveals he made use of Fitzgerald’s assets, specifically the camera technology he purchased that identifies anyone on a camera (Nice privacy violation!! Fitzgerald should work for google!) Fyodor is arrested – but his ability still remains a mystery. The only superficial thing we can take away is that it appears to be related to direct contact.
Dazai seems disturbed in the aftermath. Atsushi and Akutugawa have made a bet to put an end to their conflict six months from now in a no-holds-barred battle. Atsushi is going to shonen train his way to victory, or so he claims. Akutugawa, as a part of the bargain, cannot kill a human being for the six months until then. A mafia member who cannot kill? It’s sure to put his position and reputation into jeapordy. I think Akutugawa has already undergone a pretty significant character development – consider how he responded to Atsushi’s inflammatory remarks about Dazai now versus how he would have responded back in the first season of this show. I think much of it has to do with the recognition he received at the end of the second season.
I don’t think we’ve seen the end of Fyodor. I’ll be back for season 4!
