Doppo Kunikida/Synopsis

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Azure Messenger Arc
Kunikida was preparing for work, as he arrived a few seconds earlier, he waited before entering, but as he entered Atsushi asked for his help and explained that Dazai had eaten some weird mushrooms. Dazai was acting crazy, but Kunikida decided first to do his paperwork. The moment he was done with it, he knocked Dazai as he was annoying him.

Later they went to check an anonymous tip and first went to the hideout of Rokuzō, a hacker informant working for the agency. They work on a serial kidnappings case, and Kunikida enlists Rokuzo's technological skill to find solid leads. Kunikida and Dazai later rescues Nobuko Sasaki from drowning in a tank. Unfortunately, several other kidnapped victims, locked in a gas chamber, perish. Security cameras recording the incident were leaked, an image of Kunikida failing to save the victims published in the newspaper.

On the next day, while Dazai was messing with Kunikida about his ideal woman and having glasses, Kunikida realized something and they called their taxi informant again. In the taxi, Kunikida revealed that the informant was the kidnapper and that he was selling the kidnapped people's organs to the black market. The taxi driver revealed he was being forced into doing this and asked for protection as accidentally he had kidnapped someone from the Port Mafia.

At that moment the Port Mafia started gunning them and Kunikida used his ability to help them get out of the car. Akutagawa then came and started fighting Kunikida, but while fighting police sirens were heard and Akutagawa decided to retreat. Later the taxi driver had given them the place his deals were happening and as they went there, they received a request from their anonymous tipper about a bomb they need to disarm.

At the agency office, the group was discussing the bomb situation and how to deal with it. Ranpo wasn't available at the moment, so they had to start working on solving the situation without him. Kunikida called Rokuzō asking him to try digging up some information on the bomb equipment they found. Later he went into a cafe were Dazai was speaking with Nobuko. As they discussed the bomb, Dazai asked Nobuko about her opinion and she suggested the culprit was related to Azure King. Dazai then tried hooking Kunikida with Nobuko as he was her type and even revealed Kunikida's type to Nobuko, but she thought it was too much.

They received news from Ranpo, as he as done with his case and he told them where the bomb was. Heading towards it, the bomb squad had already found it but weren't able to disarm it. The three of them received calls from Ranpo, Rokuzō and the president. With the new information, they went towards a former defense facility, where they got attacked. Kunikida ended up fighting a man who could put a number on Kunikida and freely control him. As he was no match for him, he saw Dazai struggling with a large man and managed to switch places with him, taking out the man, while Dazai neutralized the other man's ability. Kunikida then recreated the key needed to stop the bomb and they managed to disarm it.

On the next day, Kunikida visited the graveyard, where Nobuko visited him and explained she lied to him, saying that her previous boyfriend had died. As she left, Kunikida was called to the abandoned hospital by Dazai. Unbeknownst to Kunikida, Dazai later has Rokuzo look into Sasaki's claims, leading himself and Kunikida to an abandoned building. When Rokuzo arrives, Kunikida denies the thought of him the Azure Messenger, which Dazai confirms, however, before either he or Rokuzo can clarify the situation, Sasaki appears, shooting and killing the boy.

Sasaki confesses to the kidnappings and murders being her doing. She tells Kunikida she and the Azure King were lovers, and now she takes his place to follow through with his ideals, but with this confrontation, she's tired of killing and living all together, unable to reach those ideals in the first place. Before Kunikida can react, Rokuzo shoots and kills her.

Rokuzo and Sasaki's deaths greatly impacted Kunikida and his view of his ideals. Although he remains true to them, he is constantly haunted by the deaths of those he cannot save, a weight that remains heavy on his shoulders.

Armed Detective Agency vs. Port Mafia Arc
While at a mission, Dazai jumped in the river to commit suicide and then met Atsushi. Kunikida then came yelling at him, but Dazai made him pay for their dinner. While eating, they introduced themselves and Kunikida explained their mission was to capture a man-eating tiger. Upon hearing that Atsushi attempted to run, but Kunikida stopped him. Atsushi explained that the tiger attacked the orphanage he was in and he then got kicked out of it, and now the tiger followed him in the city. Dazai then gave Kunikida a note and went with Atsushi to capture the tiger.

Later that night, Kunikida came to the warehouse where Dazai had mentioned the tiger will appear and had brought some more agency members with him. There Dazai explained the tiger was Atsushi and wanted to welcome him in their organization, which shocked Kunikida as it wasn't Dazai's decision at who joins them.

On the next day, Kunikida found Dazai and Atsushi and again got angry at Dazai. He then explained there was a bomber at their agency office and they all went there. As they were wondering what to do, Kunikida lost to Dazai on rock-paper-scissors and had to confront the bomber, but as the bomber knew who he was, he made Kunikida keep his distance and was careful about his ability. Dazai then made Atsushi face the bomber and act as worthless human and as Atsushi did, Kunikida saw an opening and using his ability took out the bomber detonating device and then knocked the bomber.

Kunikida then got in an argument with Dazai, which gave a chance for the bomber to escape and activate the bomb. As Kunikida was struggling with the bomber, Atsushi decided to sacrifice himself and cover the bomb with his body. But as the bomb didn't explode, it was revealed all to be an act and test for Atsushi, who was then accepted into the agency by Dazai's recommendation.

At a bar, the group was talking and Atsushi ended up guessing each person's previous jobs. He guessed that Kunikida was an office worker and Dazai corrected him being a math teacher. Then they got a call for a client and went back to the office. As Dazai made a move on the client, Kunikida took him in the other room and beat him up. After listening to the client's job, Kunikida gave it to Atsushi and Junichirou and then warned him that if he sees a man named Akutagawa, to run away.

When Atsushi woke up after Akutagawa's attack, Kunikida was next to him reading his notebook. Kunikida explained that Naomi and Junichirou were fine. Kunikida looked calm, but Atsushi noticed his notebook was upside down and as he told him, Kunikida stood up in shock explaining that in the worst-case scenario they get attacked, he will take down the mafia with variety of techniques. Atsushi realized Kunikida was nervous and thought the situation was serious. He decided to leave the agency, so it doesn't get attacked, but the agency still got attacked.

As they were gunned down, Atsushi arrived to see how Kunikida took down the last member of the attackers. The agency had easily dealt with the attack and Kunikida was angry at how much money that will cost them to fix all the damages. Another member reminded him it was his turn to go around with gifts and apologize to their neighbors, which annoyed Kunikida as that was the worst-case scenario he imagined.

While cleaning up their office, Kunikida receives a client request of a murder case, which Ranpo Edogawa accepts. Kunikida and the other Agency members shower him with some praise for his highly dependable deduction skill, upon which Kunikida tasks Atsushi to accompany Ranpo for the case.

The following morning, Atsushi is worried that Dazai has gone missing, but Kunikida, Ranpo, and Kenji Miyazawa all think that he has merely gone off on his usual excursions. Tanizaki, having fully recovered thanks to Akiko Yosano's "treatment", volunteers to help him search for Dazai. Kunikida inquires about his treatment, to which Tanizaki relives the experience in horror. As Ranpo advises Atsushi to have a keen sense for danger, Yosano arrives and spots Atsushi alone in the office, indicating that Kunikida and the others have left the room.

Later, Kunikida reprimands Atsushi for bringing to the Agency Kyōka Izumi, a mafia assassin wanted for 35 murder cases. Atsushi thinks that she is merely being exploited for her ability to commit such atrocities, but Kunikida tells him that abilities do not necessarily bring happiness to their users, much like Atsushi himself. They soon visit Kyōka in her room, and Kunikida immediately interrogates her regarding the mafia. Kyōka tells them that she shall spill information if they treat her to Tachibana Temple for tofu.

Kunikida leaves the expenses to Atsushi, who ends up having his money thinned out due to Kyōka's appetite. She then explains that she was taken in by the mafia after getting orphaned and has since used her ability for assassination missions. Moreover, they find out that the voice giving instructions through her phone is Akutagawa.

Outside, Kunikida asks Atsushi to hand her to the military police despite Atsushi's disapproval, knowing that she shall get capital punishment for killing 35 people. Kunikida advises him not to let someone else beyond saving into his boat lest they drown together, after which he heads back to the Agency to file his report.

While the Agency is busy working with a request from a ministry officer, Tanizaki informs Kunikida that Atsushi has been kidnapped by the mafia. Though Tanizaki suggests they save him, Ranpo reasons out that the Agency is not Atsushi's bodyguards nor did he go to the Agency for protection, logic which Kunikida thinks is right. Tanizaki argues with Kunikida, upon which Naomi Tanizaki brings in Yukichi Fukuzawa himself to make a decision. In the end, the President puts all work on hold and orders the Agency to help bring back Atsushi within three hours.

Eventually, they find a lead on the vehicle that abducted Atsushi, only to learn soon after that the suspects have been killed. Fukuzawa and Kunikida then turn to Ranpo's help; though initially reluctant, the detective deduces that Atsushi has been taken at sea. The President tasks Kunikida to retrieve Atsushi as soon as possible.

Kunikida soon arrives at the sinking cargo ship and demands Atsushi to jump to his boat. However, Atsushi is hesitant to leave Kyōka behind. Noticing this, Kunikida tells Atsushi that failing to save others is a grim reality that they sometimes have to face, admitting himself that he, too, has failed numerous times in his profession. Nonetheless, Atsushi turns back to save Kyōka. Later, after Atsushi defeats Akutagawa, he and Kyōka jump off to the boat, upon which Kunikida commends Atsushi for a job well done.

In the aftermath, Kunikida leaves his fellow members to play with Kyōka at the office, though he has tried to stop them. He soon reports to Fukuzawa about the girl's criminal activities and identity. Kyōka asks Fukuzawa to let her stay in the Agency, but Kunikida tries to reject her request. In the end, the President allows her to stay, much to their surprise.

Minoura and his subordinate later arrive to hand them a request, and he suspiciously notices the girl in kimono. As Atsushi improvises a story about her origins, Fukuzawa tells the officer that Kyōka is his granddaughter, at which Kunikida and the others get dumbfounded. As the police officers leave, Kunikida and Atsushi learn of Kenji's hometown and their rural systems.

As Kunikida skims through the police's request, he tasks Atsushi to give the case a try himself together with another Agency member. Later, he unwittingly learns from Tanizaki that Atsushi went with Kenji and worries that someone simple-minded like Atsushi might not pick up how too peculiar Kenji's methods are. In the end, Kunikida is relieved that Atsushi realizes how Kenji cannot be used as a model to learn from. He then tells Atsushi about Kenji's ability and how it works.

The Guild Arc
Dazai informs his fellow Agency members that the bounty on Atsushi was assigned by the North American gifted organization known as the Guild, which Kunikida perceives to be an urban legend. However, Tanizaki rushes in and tells them that the Guild has arrived at their office. Their leader, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, wishes to buy the Agency to acquire their skilled business permit, but Fukuzawa refuses.

The following day, Kunikida and the others learn that the Guild has most likely made their move, including the vanishing of a Port Mafia-affiliated building overnight and the disappearance of Kenji, who saw the visitors out the previous day. Kunikida tasks Tanizaki and Atsushi to locate Kenji, while he and Dazai head out to discuss the issue with the President.

Later, Kyōka is given a mission by the Agency, during which mafia executive Kōyō Ozaki arrives to eliminate Atsushi and retrieve Kyōka. Kunikida and Kenji later arrive to flush out the mafia reinforcements, revealing that they have been notified through Kyōka's phone after it rang. As the Agency gets in a standoff with the mafia, two Guild members arrive along with four more other members. In the end, the Guild members overwhelm all the forces, including Kunikida and his subordinates.

Yosano later treats Kunikida and Atsushi. As Fukuzawa arrives to inquire about their conditions, Kunikida apologizes for failing to prevent the mishap, after which the President heads out. Not long after, Kunikida updates Fukuzawa on the situation, upon which the President has Kunikida relay the message that they are to assemble at the Bankoudou Hall. He soon hears that Fukuzawa may be under attack, and Atsushi, who passes by, suggests they help him at once. To appease his worry, Kunikida demonstrates to Atsushi how he knows the President can easily defeat his attackers.

The Agency convenes at the Bankoudou Hall, where Dazai explains their strategy. To make up for their numbers, they shall split into various teams: one defense team and two offense teams. Kunikida is partnered with Tanizaki as one offense team; Dazai is paired with Atsushi as another offense team; and Fukuzawa, Ranpo, Yosano, and Kenji comprise the defense team. Dazai then finishes with their main objective which is to keep their base hidden as possible, after which Fukuzawa declares that they must survive the three-way ability war.

The mafia eventually comes up with a strategy of using the Agency clerks as bait for the Guild, particularly for Steinbeck and Lovecraft. Upon learning of their tactic from Chūya Nakahara, Fukuzawa tasks Kunikida and Tanizaki to attend to the clerks immediately. Upon the President's advice, Kunikida informs Tanizaki that open conflict with the Guild is imminent, heading out afterwards to save the clerks on time.

As they encounter the two Guild members on the road having trapped the clerks' escape vehicle, Kunikida emerges from Tanizaki's snowfall behind Lovecraft and shoots the two Guild members. As Steinbeck inadvertently loosens his grapevines' grip on the clerks' vehicle, Tanizaki rescues the clerks and directs them to flee to a nearby passenger train. Kunikida holds Steinbeck at gunpoint to stall some time for the clerks to escape. However, Steinbeck anticipates this line of thinking and uses his grapevines to rid him of his pistol. He advises Kunikida on the predictability of oversimplifying situations, which the detective says he shall take note of.

Using the same advice to his advantage, Kunikida pulls out a notebook page from his pocket pre-written with "pistol" and manifests it to shoot at his restraints. He then attacks Steinbeck and hurts his grapevines – which also harms Steinbeck in the process – and quips that oversimplifying situations indeed make one's actions predictable. Kunikida chides the Guild for committing atrocities in foreign countries, though Steinbeck quotes Fitzgerald that such actions simply must be done.

In that moment, Kunikida notices Lovecraft stand up behind him, seemingly unscathed from his earlier gunshots. He asks Tanizaki to activate Light Snow for cover, but Lovecraft's tentacles immediately capture the two detectives. While they are restrained, Steinbeck locates the two clerks through his grapevines, successfully preventing their escape. Kunikida lashes out and questions their means, to which Steinbeck responds how moralists like them would never understand their work.

Provoked with how the Guild puts Naomi in harm's way, Tanizaki uses Light Snow on an oncoming truck driver to have it crash onto Steinbeck and Lovecraft. Upon doing so, Kunikida and Tanizaki are released from their restraints and successfully retreat to the woods.

Later, after Atsushi gets abducted by the Guild, Kunikida approaches Dazai at the Agency balcony and shows a handprint blotch on his neck, asking Dazai what the situation is all about. Soon after, Kunikida is restrained by the Agency members. As he begins to weep bloody tears, Kunikida sees a woman in white kimono and tells Dazai and the others that the curse has begun.

After the incident, Kunikida tries to cheer the unenthusiastic Dazai, wondering why he keeps complaining despite recently saving Yokohama together with Atsushi. Dazai explains how he feels off with the next assignment given to him by the President regarding Atsushi's plan on their next course of action. Fukuzawa enters, and Dazai updates him about the arrangement of the secret meeting with Mori.

As Fukuzawa leaves, Kunikida gets surprised on Dazai's assignment, more so because he is the one planning the meeting. Dazai informs him that he has been tasked with such mission because he is formerly from the mafia, causing Kunikida to collapse out of shock. Later, Kunikida accompanies Fukuzawa to the secret meeting, which ends with the two parties declining to form an alliance.

Later, Kunikida is among the other Agency members who proudly witness Kyōka pass her entrance exam. Eventually, Kunikida and the other Agency members welcome Kyōka as their newest member. He later approaches Atsushi and Kyōka and scoldingly imparts them with various pieces of advice as their superior, especially not to tarnish the Agency's reputation and not to do anything they will regret. Yosano soon grabs and urges him to tell them what he truly wished to say, to which Kunikida complements them for a job well done in saving Yokohama. Yosano then drags him away, asking him to drink with her.

The Guild Aftermath Arc
Following the battle with the Guild, Kunikida fiercely performs his work unlike his drained Agency co-members. The next day, he and the others locate a gang that ransacked Café Uzumaki, in which Kunikida and Atsushi take out the armed guards in their supposedly secure hideout.

Later, Kunikida finishes his day's perfect schedule and sets out to the subway, ignoring everyone else's requests that might deter him from catching his train. Though Dazai is bent on obstructing him, Kunikida chooses to board the train for the sake of work. He spots a man handing a briefcase to a young girl and recalls Tanizaki's earlier report of someone handing a bomb-rigged case to others and detonating it. Kunikida immediately retrieves the briefcase, lets it detonate outside, and contacts the police at once. He assures the girl that help is coming, but she insists that they catch the culprit.

Though initially at odds with each other, they end up going along the tracks, where Kunikida notices bombs along the tracks and recognizes such modus operandi, upon which he soon finds Aya strapped with bombs. From behind, the culprit attacks him, ties him up, and rids him of his notebook, later revealing himself as Shōsaku Katsura, whom Kunikida arrested two years ago. As Katsura spouts his grudge towards him, Kunikida remotely materializes a stun grenade and pins him down.

Kunikida finds out that the signal for disarming the bombs on the tracks sets off the bombs on Aya; in the end, he chooses to disarm the bombs on the train tracks. He embraces Aya as the bombs go off, but Katsura finds them unscathed later on. Knowing that Yosano is at the site at such time, Kunikida reveals detonating the earlier grenade to notify her. As Katsura is arrested, Aya implies that she fancies Kunikida, but, since she does not pass his criteria for a spouse, he rejects her.

Later on, Kunikida and Atsushi visit Katai Tayama to have him look into Moby Dick's control terminal that was previously hacked, but Katai confesses that he is unable to use his ability due to a feeling of unrequited love with a woman he "encountered" recently. Atsushi suggests they find the woman so Katai can confess to her, but Kunikida and Katai are against it; nonetheless, Katai seeks their help into finding the woman. The next day, Kunikida catches Higuchi spying on them amidst the ongoing ceasefire between the Agency and the mafia. To their surprise, Higuchi asks to tell her everything about the woman on the photo they are looking for.

The three search for the woman, and Katai soon catches up to them. They eventually find the woman coming out of a laundromat, after which Katai and Higuchi chase her. In the end, they learn that the woman is Gin, Akutagawa's younger sister. As Katai gets rejected, Kunikida and Atsushi give him some time to recover, as Kunikida knows that he will get back to work after he resolves the turmoil in himself. Kunikida also remarks how beneficial it will be if Katai ever returns to the Agency.

Plot
Kunikida aids to stop Akutagawa from further attacking Tanizaki and reveals that him and the hostage are actually members of the Armed Detective Agency and reveals that the whole event is sort of a recruitment test for Akutagawa. After the whole chaos, they went down to the café on the first floor of the building. Noticing how Akutagawa has not said a word after the event and continously glares at Tanizaki, Kunikida tells Akutagawa to say something and tells him that he completed the test, hence, Tanizaki is his superior. However, Akutagawa just glares back at him. Kunikida and Tanizaki have a mental conversation about Akutagawa.

After some time later, Kunikida wonders why a certain man hasn't arrived yet since they have to start the meeting. Akutagawa's order is delivered to him, however the waitress trip on it. Just as the drink is about to be spilled, Akutagawa unleashes his Rashomon. At the same time, Kunikida is ready to grab his gun thinking that he is going to behead the waitress using his ability. He then recalls to himself the rules in order to become a member of the agency and he and Tanizaki has the assignment to determine with absolute certainty whether Akutagawa gets the job. He then wonders why the man they're waiting for recommended Akutagawa. Just then, the man who is Sakunosuke Oda arrives at the cafe. Kunikida immediately approaches Oda and firmly asks the reason why he is late.

After Oda arrives, Kunikida tells him that the rookie he referred caused a bit of an uproar and orders him to do something about it. He then questions Oda the reason of him being late to which Oda says that he got stuck with a conversation with an old lady. Kunikida sighs and tells Oda that respecting elders is fine but being three hours late to work is a problem and if this is the case, he should excuse himself. Oda responds he did excuse himself however, no one in the agency takes him seriously. Kunikida responds that maybe the reason for that is he is difficult to read and advises Oda that if he wants to leave, he should show an unpleasant face. After Akutagawa say thanks to Oda for finding him at the riverbank, Kunikida additionally adds that Oda has a habit of unable to ignore any orphan he finds to which Oda replies that it doesn't have any reason to it.

Suddenly, Akutagawa attacks Oda however Oda manages to stop the attack using the spoon he holds. Kunikida is shocked to see what happened and asks Oda's hand to check if it was okay. However, Oda just hands him the curry he ordered. The two continues to attack each other. At the same time, Kunikida orders Akutagawa to stop it and even though Oda's ability is powerful to train him, he should not cause rukus inside the café and instead do it at the training room. Akutagawa responds that no matter where it is, it is meaningless unless his combat skills are honed. Kunikida then asks who is the mortal enemy of Akutagawa to which Oda reveals it to everyone. Kunikida questions Akutagawa if he wants to find his sister through the detective agency, stating that the agency can read through intels however finding a certain person sure won't be easy. Just then, Naomi stands up and reveals to Akutagawa that they can find his sister with the help of someone. Kunikida and everyone else agrees.

Together with other agency members, Kunikida approach Ranpo to ask for help in finding Akutagawa's sister. Later on, when Akutagawa and Miyazawa face a problem regarding the destroyed crops and informs the two of them who is behind the illegal dumping and reveals that it is a industry-leading pharmaceutical company in the world of mass-produced pharmaceuticals. He then later sees Akutagawa and Kenji bonding at the ricefields. Back at the agency, Kunikida arrives and was asked the status of the illegal dumping case. Kunikida states that the case has been wrapped up and that the men who dump the waste gave the company right away and all that is left to get a warrant. Akutagawa curiously asks the reason why the criminals confessed that easily. Kunikida replies that no one in the city wants to anger Kenji. Kunikida then follows his statement by asking Akutagawa is he is ready for Kunikida's favor and tells him that he will appoint him to the disciplinary committee.

Kunikida who has heard of the approval card had decided already what to ask of Akutagawa. The next day, at 6:30 a.m., Kunikida arrives at the agency dormitory and arrives at Akutagawa's front door. Kunikida then yells and orders Akutagawa that it is time to leave for work. Kunikida is then shocked to see Akutagawa being up already and asks him about his breakfast and Akutagawa responds that he doesn't need it. Kunikida insists and says that breakfast is a fundamental part of each day and skipping it will hinder his performance.

Upon arriving at the agency office, Kunikida then orders Akutagawa that he'll memorize the protocols of work behavior and introduces their first case for that day which is to expose child trafficking. Kunikida then glances at the child who is a witness of the kidnapping and tells Akutagawa about him and to properly question him since the child is only two years old. Rather than asking properly, Akutagawa grabs the child and forces him to speak and threatens that he will drop him if he doesn't speak. Kunikida interrupts and stops Akutagawa.

The next day, Kunikida is looking for Akutagawa but can't find him anywhere. Tanizaki asks him what is the problem. Kunikida replies that Akutagawa escapes from his paperwork. Tanizaki then points Akutagawa's location to which he is hiding under a desk. Kunikida asks him what he is doing under the desk to which Akutagawa replies that he is hiding from Yosano-sensei since her condition is for Akutagawa to be healed 40 times. Akutagawa agrees however Yosano used a meat cleaver and chainsaw. Kunikida then talks about their work and that they are behind schedule. Akutagawa replies that the culprits are in the next room. Hearing this, Kunikida rushes to see that the criminals have been captured.