Amidst all the flashy fights and operatic character drama, Bungo Stray Dogs' story is a simple one with an inviting promise of experiencing the lives of these characters in a beautiful but dangerous city. Each season brings a new villain, and with that new threat comes an opportunity for enemies to become allies, but as the story progressed, one object appears to be where all eyes are aimed.
In Season 2, as The Three-Way War between the Agency, the Port Mafia, and the Guild was in full swing, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald revealed to Atsushi that they were in search of a book. A single volume - the only one of its kind - was hidden away in Yokohama, and Francis was willing to destroy the entire city just to find it. Well into Season 3, more was revealed about the book, namely the power that the book holds, yet it has never been seen in the story up to this point. But with Season 4 now upon us, that book is now front and center and its power will undoubtedly have major consequences going forward in the new season and beyond.
What Does It Do?
In Episode 33, "The Masked Assassin," Dazai confronts Fyodor Dostoevsky regarding his plan to eliminate the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia. It's all so that he can clear a path towards reaching the same book that Francis sought in Season 2, but this time the audience learns what the book does.
It is a single volume in which whatever is written becomes reality and by that logic, supposedly a blank volume to be written in. According to Francis, it is indestructible, hence his brazen plan to incinerate Yokohama to clear a path to find it among the rubble. Both Francis and Dostoevsky nearly destroy the city and its Gifted groups in order to attain it, but why?
Why The Villains Seek The Book
For Francis, it is quite a personal matter. Francis mentions that his daughter is deceased which has made his wife Zelda stricken with grief. So, he intends to use his immense wealth and the strength of his soldiers to take the book by force and bring his daughter back to life. An understandable aim sullied by methods and lack of care for life.
On the flip side, once Fyodor comes into the picture, he reveals that his pursuit of the book is born out of a twisted form of justice. He wishes to eliminate the Gifted from the world and the dangerous power that they possess. While he lacks the resources and manpower of Francis, Fyodor was cunning and nearly crushed his opposition by making them fight each other.
Atsushi's Role In Things
The first time that the book is officially mentioned in Season 2, Francis says that Atsushi is pivotal in locating the book, calling him the "Tiger Beetle... a goalpost." Unfortunately, this is never elaborated on by the end of Season 3. It was even revealed at the end of Season 1 that the contract put out on Atsushi was orchestrated by Francis to acquire him, making Atsushi seem far more important than just his ability.
Ever since before the series began, Atsushi has been pursued by groups who were seemingly just interested in his ability to turn into a tiger. While not originally part of the manga, the film Dead Apple shows that the villain Tatsuhiko Shibusawa had experimented on Atsushi, which triggered their ability. He even called Atsushi's gift "the envy of all gifted."
Bungo's author, Kafka Asagiri, conceived of the original film's premise and story, suggesting this could bear some significance down the line. The anime has made a habit of adapting the manga, but also the light novels, making something of an ultimate version of the story. Atsushi's ability might seem like it's just turning into a tiger, but his power has proven stronger each season.
The Decay of Angels
The fourth season is finally upon us, and things are looking rough for the main characters. At the time of writing the first episode is scheduled to air tomorrow and the conflict focuses on a city-wide manhunt for the Armed Detective Agency after they are framed for murder. But it's not any ordinary framing, as the terrorist group The Decay of Angels has acquired a page from the book.
If the book can rewrite reality, then the newest trailer for Season 4 implies that the enemy has literally made the members of the Detective Agency commit the murders. And if that's the case, then it will be the toughest challenge yet to prove their innocence and avoid falling prey to the military's Hunting Dogs.
This season, perhaps more than any previous, will illustrate just how earth-shattering the book's power could be if in the wrong hands. The spinoff manga Bungo Stray Dogs: BEAST is suggested to be an alternate reality created via the book. BEAST takes place in an alternate timeline wherein Atsushi and Akutagawa's roles were reversed and Dazai was a much darker character.
There's so much that isn't known about the book yet, even in the ongoing manga, but if a single page can bring about Season 4's chaos, it's a miracle the book hasn't destroyed the world yet. Bungo Stray Dogs continues to raise the stakes each season and with any luck, it'll only get better from here.