thememeinator:

Since we’re getting into the final stretch before Dead Apple, I wanted to share my thoughts on something regarding the end of s2/the resulting manga arcs that have yet to be placed in the anime.

I forget if Dazai explicitly states it or not, but it’s heavily implied that SSKK as duo is much stronger than the former SKK; because of the new threat at hand via Fyodor, Dazai needed to assemble a group that would be capable of taking the new enemy down.

Here’s the thing: I don’t think the SSKK combo is any stronger than SKK.  Don’t get me wrong, SSKK is really freaking strong, but SKK was the strategic wrecking ball used to decimate entire organizations in a single night–the proverbial ace in the hole, you might say.

SKK’s strength comes from the sheer amount of widespread destruction that they can wreak in a very small period of time.  Need that building and all the neighboring buildings turned to rubble?  Give them five minutes.  Need that pesky enemy group taken out of the picture?  Give them two.

tl;dr: Chuuya and Dazai always have and always will be an insurmountable force in the amount of sheer destruction they’re able to collectively unleash in a short period of time.  But a new enemy has to be considered.

It’s a very simple inference from the DA trailers that SKK comes into contact with Fyodor at some point–it’s not a giant leap to assume that Fyo’s genius brain either deduces Chuuya’s Ability; hell, he might just witness it.  Regardless, there’s a very good chance that he knows how the inner mechanics of SKK work.  He knows how widespread their damage is, how their carnage is massive.  Multiple times in the manga, it’s shown that Fyodor’s intellect and strategic skills are on par with Dazai’s–they are often able to figure out one another by thinking about the plans that they themselves would make in a situation.  It’s not at all a leap to suggest that Fyodor has planned ahead for a possible reunion of SKK; in fact, it’s very likely that he knews about their team-up against Lovecraft.

But then there’s the other side to consider.  From Dazai’s ending conversation with Hirotsu, it’s apparent that he’s known about Fyodor’s involvement/workings in Yokohama’s underworld for a good while.  He knows that Fyodor is planning something, and he knows that it will very likely be something that SKK won’t be able to handle.

Fyodor knows that SKK’s damage is widespread; therefore, he meticulously uses sneak attacks, such as hacking into the interface of Moby Dick, or using a small group of terrorists to commit acts all across the city.  Even with the high damage output that Chuuya can bring with Corruption, it’s extremely hard to hit a moving target with it.  Dazai knows that the way to beat Fyodor and the other Rats/Angels is not with a nuke, but with a highly refined sniper rifle.

Enter SSKK: the aforementioned rifle.  Alone, Atsushi and Akutagawa have the high damage outputs needed for the mission to defeat Fyodor; however, they each have their susceptibilities and weaknesses.  Having been a mentor to both of them, Dazai knows the ins and outs of both of their Abilities–that Rashoumon is the missing piece to making Atsushi’s Beast an ultra-powerful weapon that can take down specific targets.

Sooooo… long ramble short: SSKK is not “stronger” than SKK–it is just better equipped to take down individual targets developed by a calculated mind.

Sorry if this is a no shit sherlock sort of thing, I’ve just had a lot bouncing through my head and I wanted to jot it down