The following article contains spoilers for Bungou Stray Dogs Chapter 65, "Dreaming of Butterflies" by Kafka Asagiri and Sango Harukawa.
Bungou Stray Dogs follows the Armed Detective Agency, a group of talented super-powered individuals, as they attempt to keep the city of Yokohama safe. Some members of the staff, such as clerks Naomi Tanizaki and Kirako Haruno, do not have any special abilities, but the majority of agency members use their abilities to combat crime in the city and oppose their rivals, the Port Mafia. However, the organizations will occasionally collaborate in the name of Yokohama, taking down even bigger enemies in order to protect their city.
While these abilities are common in the world of Bungou Stray Dogs, some theories suggest that the power an individual is born with may not be the same throughout their lifetime. One theory contends that abilities shape who a person becomes, or that people shape the development of their abilities. Subconsciously or not, the characters endowed with power may influence their abilities through their life experiences or personality. Atsushi, Kunikida, Yosano, and Dazai are four characters who may be examples of this.
The Abuse and Trauma That Atsushi and Yosano Experienced May Affect Their Character's Abilities
In Bungou Stray Dogs, one of the newest members of the Agency, Atsushi Nakajima, possesses the ability "Beast Beneath the Moonlight." This enables him to change into a white tiger, totally or partially. This can take the appearance of a sizable full tiger or something as simple as Atsushi's face having tiger stripes and pupils. This idea is supported by the fact that Atsushi regenerates thanks to his ability.
His extreme regenerative powers allow him to heal wounds and amputations almost instantly, but some Bungou Stray Dogs fans wonder if this is due to Atsushi's past. He spent his childhood in an orphanage, where he was physically and emotionally abused by those tasked with his care. It's possible that the tiger's regeneration abilities developed in response to this trauma, ensuring Atsushi's safety and protection. So the theory that the character's past and trauma can affect the character's abilities is completely reasonable.
Similarly, trauma may have also had an impact on Yosano Akiko's "Thou Shalt Not Die." Yosano, who was just 11 years old when the Great War began, spent a lot of time on the front lines fighting before the ADA. He worked as a student surgeon for the military. Yosano was employed by Mori, the Port Mafia's current leader, to demonstrate to the military that powers could be employed as weapons of war during this conflict.
However, this failed when Yosano had a mental crisis after witnessing a number of soldiers perish as a result of the trauma of the conflict combined with the use of her power. According to this theory, Yosano was originally able to heal minor wounds. As a result, the condition that causes one to need to be on the verge of death in order to be healed may be a result of the stress collected from witnessing so many deaths. It can be said that the abuse and trauma that both Atsushi and Yosano experienced affected their characters' abilities.
Dazai and Kunikida’s Personalities May Influence Their Abilities
While Atsushi and Yosano's trauma may have subconsciously influenced their abilities, Dazai Osamu and Kunikida Doppo have strong personality traits that may have hampered the development of their powers in Bungou Stray Dogs. "The Matchless Poet" by Kunikida revolves around his notebook. To use his ability, he must write the item he wishes to manifest in his notebook, but it is unknown why he must use this book.
It may represent Kunikida because of his admiration for the book's author or because of how significant the notepad is to him. There are pages and pages of his beliefs, goals, and objectives. This notebook serves as a representation of both Kunikida as a person and his ability since it shows how his ordered and solid demeanor seems to have transferred to his talent.
Although Dazai's past is still unknown, what has been revealed suggests that "No Longer Human" may be a protection mechanism. In his younger years, he belonged to the Port Mafia, and it is obvious that he has never trusted anyone in a very long time. Working among adult criminals in a risky group that could have betrayed him at any time, Dazai grew up always having to watch his own back. His "No Longer Human" is always in effect, and this might be a defense mechanism. Since Dazai has never truly felt safe and is constantly on guard, doing research, and plotting to keep himself safe, it seems as though the power has been taken to protect him.
Therefore, Were the characters in Bungou Stray Dogs endowed from birth with abilities that just so happened to fit who they are as individuals, or were those abilities developed in response to those personalities? Both seem to be true; a skill fit to its user improves character overall, but external factors like everyday life or past experiences are certain to have an impact on a person. Characters' abilities and other characteristics would be impacted by their lives and personalities.
