BEAST Chapter 17

Friends is the 17th chapter of the Bungo Stray BEAST manga.

Summary
Dazai cheerily tells Oda how he recently handled a dud, much to his joy to have held the bomb. He also shares that he has finished improving the hard tofu he wished to make Oda try; the latter humors how he would eat something that hard, though Dazai himself also has no idea.

Dazai then indicates knowledge of Oda's qualification to a Rookie Novel of the Year Award, though Oda—albeit shocked how Dazai knows such information—claims that his writings for practice just happened to get noticed by someone from a publishing company; he was then asked to write a proper novel, but he is unconfident that he does not have what it takes to convey his ideas. Dazai, however, assures that he already has the necessary tools and urges him to believe in himself.

Oda thanks his words though finds the stranger's assurance unconvincing, leading a downcast Dazai to revert his earlier statements. Oda then tells him that his subordinate is in trouble and aims to prevent any future retaliation from the Mafia if he ever makes it back alive, hence requesting to make a deal with him. Dazai asserts how Akutagawa has a good and that he is not worried for him, promising that the Mafia would not lay a single hand on him starting tomorrow.

Figuring out that Dazai is the Mafia boss after he explicitly mentioned Akutagawa's name, Oda asks why he called Akutagawa into their base and points his gun at him to end their negotiation, leaving Dazai aghast. The latter asks Oda to put away his gun, but Oda declines, more so that he is before the Mafia boss and that the meeting might be a trap.

Dazai's desperation that he did not become the boss out of his own desire falls on Oda's deaf ears, who opts to think of another way to rescue Akutagawa—that is, if he can leave the bar alive. Dazai avows that he has never thought of setting him up. To answer Oda's question earlier why he baited Akutagawa into their base, Dazai responds that it is to protect their world.

Dazai explains that their world is one of a countless number that exist and reveals that they were friends in the original world, having spent time in the bar conversing about insignificant matters until the incident with Mimic that ultimately resulted to Oda's death in the original world.