Doppo Kunikida/Synopsis

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 his fellow Agency members. 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.