Doppo Kunikida/Relationships

Armed Detective Agency=


 * -|Hunting Dogs=


 * -|Others=

Yukichi Fukuzawa
"A true master can throw his opponent from any position. But I have never successfully felled my teacher. There is no possible way… that he would lose to some random rabble."

- Kunikida on Fukuzawa's proficiency and capability

Kunikida, like the others, respects the President. Though it is unknown how they first met each other, Kunikida and Fukuzawa grew to have a harmonious relationship at work. They have a mentee–mentor relationship, considering that he acts as Fukuzawa's second-in-command in the Agency and learns fighting techniques from him.

Kunikida considers Fukuzawa a master in all styles of martial arts and knows how the President has managed to uproot various evil schemes and uncover a number of conspiracies. Kunikida also claims that the President's stare can bring "blood spewing out of the eyes of several little girls instantly". He also recalls how he has never defeated his mentor in martial arts despite having proficient physical prowess himself, indicating how he puts his belief in Fukuzawa's capabilities. Outside work, Kunikida and Fukuzawa play in a small tatami room near the office, at which Kunikida admits to still be far from defeating the President.

As Fukuzawa's second-in-command, Kunikida is often entrusted by the President with different responsibilities. As such, Fukuzawa once instructed Kunikida to carry out Osamu Dazai's entrance exam, leaving it to Kunikida's prerogative to observe and examine Dazai's character whether he is fit to join the Agency. Kunikida is also assigned by Fukuzawa to kill Dazai should he sense any sign of wickedness in his character. Furthermore, Kunikida apparently knows crucial information from Fukuzawa, including the location of the Bankoudou Hall that the latter has told very few people about.

Despite being one of the Agency's first members, Kunikida has a faint idea of how Fukuzawa founded the Agency, admitting that he has never gotten the chance to ask him about it. Specifically, Kunikida merely heard secondhand that the Agency was established roughly a decade ago by the President after "something happened around then". Moreover, given the level of responsibility he holds, Kunikida often apologizes to the President in times of failure, even getting startled when the President asks about their condition.

Osamu Dazai
"That man is the worst. He ignores my orders, randomly disappears during work, is obsessed with suicide, flirts with every woman he sees, refuses to do physical labor, and is downright lazy. He is clearly unfit for society. He wouldn't make it three days at another job before being kicked out. […] However, as a detective, he has exceptional talent. He will undoubtedly become the top detective at our agency within the next few years."

- Kunikida's assessment of Dazai in his entrance exam

Kunikida is Dazai's partner in the Armed Detective Agency. When they first met, Kunikida is very skeptical about Dazai, especially after being told that his past ledger has been thoroughly and almost suspiciously cleaned and that his ability is a rare nullification skill. Hence, throughout his entrance exam, Kunikida kept a watchful eye on Dazai despite thinking how the carefree man cannot possibly have sinister plans.

However, along the case involving the Azure Apostle's messages, Kunikida apparently finds out that Dazai may be the Azure Apostle or even the deceased Azure King himself, only for Kunikida to see through this act and successfully deceive the real Azure Apostle. Kunikida even went to muse on Dazai's talents and how he could not have asked for a better partner than Dazai.

Despite their boisterous partnership, Kunikida and Dazai grew to share a mutual trust towards each other, quite apparent during cases in the field. Even during their first time as partners in the Agency, Kunikida's instincts especially during combat complimented Dazai's, such as when they respectively fought a blond man and a big man. After figuring out that they had to switch foes, it merely took calling out to each other to signal and acknowledge their similar plan, resulting to their victory. In the anime, Atsushi witnesses Kunikida and Dazai collaborate together, who then praises their complementary dynamic.

As a result, Kunikida and Dazai turned into the most talented duo in solving tough cases in the Agency, holding a record of having solved the most difficult cases since Dazai's entrance to the Agency. People who do not know their contrasting personalities usually thought they make a perfect pair. After all, Kunikida's rigid strictness and Dazai's carefree attitude appear to be one of the causes of their usual banters. However, though Kunikida is often annoyed with Dazai's gimmicks, Kunikida believes in himself that Dazai is one of their sharpest detectives, once musing that going up against the Port Mafia without Dazai is quite unthinkable.

Atsushi Nakajima
"Get up! How long do I have to keep saving your hide? Being stabbed should be nothing to a man-tiger."

- Kunikida reminds Atsushi of his distinct strength

Kunikida is initially skeptical of Atsushi upon his arrival, as shown when he scolds Dazai for spending his money on him and his proposition for Atsushi to join the Agency. Their ideals also clash a couple of times when Kunikida discourages him from trying to save Kyōka Izumi, telling Atsushi that he can't save everyone (most likely based on past experiences rather than strict ideals).

However, Kunikida earns Atsushi's respect most visibly after saving Kyōka, with Kunikida remarking how Atsushi did a great job. They would then develop a professional rapport compared to their initial relationship, and Kunikida would appear to act as Atsushi's superior in the Agency. As such, though Kunikida would instinctively bombard Atsushi with reminders and lectures, he would nonetheless appear proud of Atsushi's efforts and even compliment him and his fellow agents for their successful performance.

Over time, Kunikida would become Atsushi's mentor in martial arts, advising Atsushi not to overly depend on his ability and that he himself is weak compared to his strong tiger. Moreover, during the Decay of Angels' terrorism plot that separated the Agency from one another, Atsushi became distraught at the situation, especially worried for Kunikida turning up missing after he sacrificed himself. Upon reuniting, though Kunikida is visibly neutral, Atsushi embraces Kunikida out of relief and confirmation that he is alive, an indication of how much Kunikida and Atsushi developed a deeper bond through their experiences.

Ranpo Edogawa
"We'll be counting on you, Ranpo-san. […] Truly, the ideal detective—no, in fact, the ideal ability user."

- Kunikida praises Ranpo's deduction

Kunikida respects Ranpo like the other Agency members. He first found out about Ranpo not having an ability when Dazai first told him about trying and failing to nullify Super Deduction; Kunikida was initially doubtful of Dazai's claim, but once he got an explanation, Kunikida finally understood how even Dazai was blown away by Ranpo's deduction skills.

From then on, Kunikida presumably rode along the pretense that Ranpo is an ability user despite knowing that he is not, and he would often praise Ranpo's skill and even goes far as to describe him the "ideal ability user". In turn, Ranpo would take delight from Kunikida's and the others' compliments, with Kunikida taking and even agreeing to Ranpo's jeers.

Through time and various crises, their rapport further grows as with their fellow members. During the President's affliction with the Cannibalism virus, Kunikida would gain support from Ranpo several times: once asking him to compose himself and issue his orders as their acting president and another time asserting that Kunikida is their noblest and strongest agent whom the enemy aimed to break first.

Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
Kunikida and Tanizaki have worked on various missions together, notably during the three-way conflict when they are partnered as one of the Agency's offense teams and on the wake of the Yokohama fog incident, during which they attempted to rendezvous with a Special Division for Unusual Powers agent.

Another instance of their collaboration is on the eve of Atsushi's entrance exam. Wanting to make Dazai undergo the trouble of hiring someone like he once did, Kunikida planned a secret ruse with Tanizaki and later Naomi to manipulate their acting roles during the exam. Kunikida knew Dazai's skills in weaseling out information from their co-workers, so he decided to choose the Tanizaki siblings whom he believed were the best choice to be his partners in crime. In the end, when Dazai turned out to have anticipated their ploy, Kunikida ended up treating Tanizaki to a pub as an apology for having him act as the entrance exam bomber rather than Dazai.

During the Agency frameup, Kunikida eventually entrusted Tanizaki with finding the true culprit behind the terrorism plot before sacrificing himself, displaying how Kunikida has a certain level of trust in Tanizaki.

Akiko Yosano
"In the Agency… 'critical condition' is the same thing as bearing no injuries."

- Kunikida tells Katsura of Yosano's importance to the Agency

Kunikida and Yosano, after Ranpo, appear to be the first members of the Agency. Like the other Agency members, Kunikida has a distinct level of fear and repulse towards Yosano's "treatments", preferring not to get injured to avoid such treatment. Nonetheless, being subject to the doctor's healing from working in the field, Kunikida owes much to Yosano, firmly believing that being half-dead means being fully healthy in the Agency. He is also familiar with Yosano's schedule, possibly as with the others'; he once let a stun grenade explode as an emergency call to Yosano, whom he knows is within the vicinity. In turn, Yosano arrived on time and healed Kunikida and Aya Koda, showcasing how they know each other's habits.

Befitting a true subordinate, as the acting president on the run during their frameup, Kunikida willingly accepts surrender to the Hunting Dogs in exchange for sparing Yosano's life. Though this earns Saigiku Jōno an opportunity to listen to Kunikida's heartbeat and sense a feeling of relief from the situation—thereby questioning his ideals—Kunikida did not let his ideals go to waste and eventually sacrificed himself for Yosano and his comrades to escape the Hunting Dogs.

Later, Kunikida remains faithful in Yosano and her capabilities in restoring his amputated arms back. He further asserts how the Agency can always rely on Yosano when one gets wounded and, in addition, in Ranpo when the enemy takes them on, believing in the individual skills and abilities of one another.

Kenji Miyazawa
Kunikida is well aware of Kenji's personality and how his ability works. Furthermore, he knows how peculiar Kenji's working methods are, considering how Kenji came from a rural village and is unfamiliar with the city's urban dangers.

Kunikida is notably surprised and concerned upon knowing that the rookie Atsushi worked with Kenji on a case, remarking how Atsushi, being the simple-minded person he is, would simply follow everything Kenji does along the process despite how eccentric Kenji's approach is. Nevertheless, albeit citing Kenji a bad example for Atsushi to learn from, he and Tanizaki regards Kenji as an accomplished detective for cracking various tough cases.

Kyōka Izumi
"Your Mafia ties aren't an issue, and we could certainly keep you busy… but it's still an awful idea. This world of ours is not so lenient."

- Kunikida initially discourages Kyōka to stay in the Agency

Kunikida was initially rejecting towards Kyōka as a Mafia deserter and assassin in seeking refuge in the Agency, even instructing Atsushi to hand her over to the military police for her crimes. He also firmly asked Atsushi not to save those he cannot save and advised him not to take anyone else in his one-man boat, lest they both sink along the process.

Against all odds, after Kyōka passed her entrance exam, Kunikida becomes kinder towards her as a higher-up in the Agency, albeit bombarding her and Atsushi with tons of advice and reminders like usual. Nevertheless, he appeared proud of Kyōka's efforts for passing her entrance exam and even complimented her and her fellow agents for their successful performance that also saved the city.

Later, while on the run during the Agency frameup, Kunikida dissuaded Kyōka from returning to the hostage situation site in saving Atsushi, fearing that she would only get caught by the military police or the forensics team. With Kyōka's insistence, however, Kunikida allowed her to save Atsushi and even entrusted her with a page from his notebook written with glue and putty in case of emergency, illustrating how Kunikida has developed his rapport with Kyōka in contrast to his initial perception of her.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa
"''I know my own skills and not even I would dare try to fight him."

- Kunikida giving Atsushi information about Akutagawa

Katai Tayama
"''If only he'd return to the agency, it would certainly makes things tad easier."

- Kunikida about Katai

Rokuzō Taguchi
"''Rokuzō's father is gone and nothing is going to change that. That's why somebody needs to look out for him - keep him in line when he acts out. And I just happen to be in a position to do it. It's a matter of convenience."

- Kunikida shares his relationship about Rokuzō to Dazai

Takekoshi
He is an acquaintance of Kunikida.