Doppo Kunikida/Relationships

#### Yukichi Fukuzawa

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 go 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

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

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 the Angel' 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

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

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, on 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 regard Kenji as an accomplished detective for cracking various tough cases.

#### Kyōka Izumi

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.

#### Saigiku Jōno

When the Hunting Dogs were dispatched to pursue the framed Agency members, Kunikida and his team were caught by Jōno and Tetchō Suehiro, who almost succeeded in neutralizing them. At some point, Jōno instructed Tetchō to kill Yosano, to which Kunikida surrendered in exchange for sparing her life. Jōno listened to Kunikida's heartbeat and became intrigued by how he felt a sense of relief amidst the dire situation, surmising how Kunikida must be confined within his ideals until the day they run out, during which he would be freed.

Kunikida was later challenged and conflicted, but he immediately accepted in himself that ideals alone shall not save the Agency and that they must face reality. Nevertheless, he ended up sacrificing himself for the sake of upholding his ideals and letting his comrades escape to safety.

While hospitalized, Kunikida was visited by Jōno, who praised his talents during his sacrifice that yielded him injuries and an incapacitation rather than death. Claiming to hold him in high esteem, Jōno proposed to have him acquitted alone; in return, he invited him to join the Hunting Dogs and chase down the remaining Agency members. Naturally, Kunikida refused his offer, musing that Jōno would know from his heartbeat that he shall never betray the Agency.

#### Katai Tayama

It is unknown how Kunikida and Katai first met, but they have known each other for nearly a decade. When Katai was nearly assassinated by an underground hitman during the so-called Great Cyber War, Kunikida apparently helped him move to the neighboring city. From then on, Kunikida would visit him in his apartment and remind him to do his chores, though Kunikida would end up doing them for him instead. Kunikida would also casually share his daily work experiences such as his investigation on the Azure Banner Terrorist Incident with Katai, who would then think how working in the Agency is quite challenging.

During one of Kunikida's cases that involved a client being pursued by an elusive stalker, Katai ended up locating the perpetrator using his ability. This, alongside various other tasks Katai accomplished with efficient success using his ability, caused Kunikida to invite him to join the Agency. Kunikida admitted to Katai how much he wished for and often encouraged him to see the outside world beyond his futon, though Katai would refute his claims with his own set of ideals, a feat Kunikida could not repudiate. Nonetheless, Katai later accepted Kunikida's request and joined the Agency, much to Kunikida's relief. Katai's traits as a recluse remained, so Kunikida became embarrassed by this.

At one point, during an extended shutdown, Kunikida noticed Katai's absence for a week and went back to the office to get him out, only for Katai to ask him why he arrived. Kunikida realized that Katai had a spare key made and sent it to a Chinese restaurant to have some food sent over, having holed up in the office living on deliveries. Kunikida described Katai then as sheer genius rather than being a mere homebody.

The both of them apparently remembered the date when this incident happened, which later became a hidden message from Katai to Kunikida during the Cannibalism strategy that he is alive. Kunikida noticed from the surveillance video that Katai was not wearing Yoshiko when Fyodor shot him, surmising that Katai must have worn a bullet-proof futon and is therefore still alive. Amidst the difference in both media, it illustrates how Kunikida and Katai share a strong bond that persists even until after Katai left the Agency.

As such, Kunikida is quite familiar with Katai's personality and character, aware of Katai's favorite futon Yoshiko, how his ability works, and how he detests people involved with the Mafia and the underground. He also knows that Katai apparently cannot talk with women, rebuking Atsushi's suggestion that Katai talk with the black-haired beauty he "encountered" and confess his feelings, claiming that such act might even kill Katai.

In this case, when Katai decided to confess to Gin, despite knowing that he would be rejected, Kunikida later realized that doing so is Katai's way of clearing his thoughts in order to properly help the Agency in their operation—testament of how Kunikida is acquainted with Katai's line of thinking from their years of friendship. Moreover, Kunikida greatly praises Katai's prowess and believes that things would get easier in the Agency if ever Katai returns.

#### Rokuzō Taguchi

About three months prior Dazai's entrance to the Agency, Kunikida hired Rokuzō as an information broker after he was caught hacking into the Agency's information archive. In return, the Agency decided not to hand over the logs as incriminating evidence to the police, an arrangement Kunikida remarks to be a symbiotic relationship.

Since then, Kunikida took upon him the opportunity to look out for Rokuzō and keep him in line when he acted out. In general, Kunikida and Rokuzō shared casual banters when they worked together. In times when Kunikida would reprimand him, Rokuzō would retort if he is his father as a subtle quip, though Kunikida firmly admitted in himself that he cannot ever be his father.

Beneath this professional curtain, Kunikida believed himself to have as good as killed Rokuzō's father after he tipped off the police with the Azure King's hideout during the Azure Banner Terrorist Incident, which ultimately resulted in five detectives—including Rokuzō's father—and the Azure King to get caught in an explosion set off by the latter. This led Kunikida to think that Rokuzō had a grudge on the Agency, surmising that the adolescent may have hacked into the Agency database out of revenge.

Hence, it was not unthinkable for Kunikida that Rokuzō might have been the Azure Apostle bent on exacting revenge on the Agency, though he appeared cross by how Rokuzō's resentment reached. This would, however, be dispelled after Kunikida and Dazai discovered that Rokuzō was not the Azure Apostle but Nobuko Sasaki. Upon Rokuzō's death, Kunikida became greatly distraught and vented out his rage on Dazai, who gave his loaded gun to Rokuzō that soon allowed the latter to kill Sasaki with. In the anime, Rokuzō appears to deliberately shove Kunikida out of the way from getting shot by Sasaki,

#### Tetchō Suehiro

Together with Jōno, Tetchō proved to be a formidably adversary to Kunikida and the Agency while on the run. When Tetchō prepared to cut down Tanizaki and Kenji, Kunikida rammed their car to Tetchō, asserting that he shall never leave a single soul behind as he swore by his ideals.

Nevertheless, as Kunikida and the others escaped in a chopper courtesy of Chūya Nakahara on orders of Ōgai Mori, Tetchō hanged on the chopper in pursuit. As a result, Kunikida jumped off and landed on Tetchō, calling him a fool for thinking that he would abandon his ideals. Kunikida then materialized and exploded a hand grenade on the both of them, with Kunikida using Tetchō as a shield to survive the blast.

#### Aya Kōda

Kunikida first met Aya when he save her from a bomb attack at a subway station. The latter eventually insists for them to look for the culprit much to Kunikida's rejection of the idea afterwards telling Aya to leave the work to the police.

He eventually gets dragged by Aya's scheme and agreed to work with her for the investigation. During their investigation, he often corrects Aya's way on addressing him. They are eventually cornered by Shōsaku Katsura on their investigatio which causes Aya to be used as his pawn on his scheme against Kunikida. During the course of actions, Kunikida eventually saves Aya.

At the aftermath, Kunikida rejects Aya's confession stating that she did not meet the requirements for his spousal plan.

### Neutral

#### Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Kunikida first encountered the Port Mafia attack dog Akutagawa while interrogating the taxi driver responsible for the serial disappearances of Yokohama visitors. Despite being familiar with the infamy and danger of his opponent from countless rumors, Kunikida engaged him in combat, witnessing Akutagawa's offensive ability firsthand. When police later arrived, Akutagawa called off the battle, which left Kunikida overwhelmingly injured.

About two years later, Kunikida would tip off the newcomer Atsushi with a photo of Akutagawa, instructing him to flee on site if he ever encounters the mafioso. Kunikida also admitted that he would not even wish nor dare to fight him, possibly out of his experience from their past encounter.

### Enemies

#### Shōsaku Katsura

Kunikida once arrested Katsura two years ago for trying to blow up a school with refined illegal explosives. During the arrest, Kunikida muttered statements about ideals to Katsura over and over again causing the latter's resentment to Kunikida's words later on.

Their second encounter was when Kunikida was attacked by Katsura on a subway station. Eventually, Katsura expresses his hatred towards Kunikida and his ideals, vowing to erase them. At their meeting, Kunikida is then faced with a challenge that will test his ideals orchestrated by Katsura. Soon after, Kunikida shows his true ideals by not letting anyone die before him and outsmarting Katsura's plan eventually making the latter accept his defeat.

### Romance

#### Nobuko Sasaki

Kunikida first encountered Sasaki in an abandoned hospital as the 12th "victim" of the Yokohama serial disappearances. Upon her conjecture that other people were trapped in the building, Kunikida dashed and attempted to free them, only for a poison gas to be set off to kill them. Alongside Dazai, Sasaki held back Kunikida from getting affected by the gas and asked him to let them go. After the incident, Sasaki would become one of their witnesses to the case.

Kunikida appeared almost vulnerable in Sasaki's midst, with Dazai subtly nudging at Kunikida's apparent attraction towards her. At the start of the investigation, through Kunikida's narrations, he would admit that he was not jealous of Sasaki staying at Dazai's place, though it is strongly implied that he is. Kunikida apparently felt relieved when Dazai clarified that he stayed in another room away from Sasaki's; Kunikida later even invited her to stay at his own place for her safety, insisting that he had no ulterior motives whatsoever.

Moreover, Kunikida described Sasaki to be beautiful and became taken aback upon learning that her ideal type is a man of ideals who would devote himself to everything, much like Kunikida himself. When he chanced upon her at a cemetery, Kunikida complimented how she looked "even lovelier in a kimono". He also tried to comfort her by finding the appropriate words to say upon finding out her significant other had died, only to retort with what he deemed as foolish, simple, and stupid words.

Later, Kunikida became conflicted by how he feels towards Sasaki and with her identity revelation as the Azure Apostle. He pleaded for her to stop after she shot Rokuzō, but she asked him who she must be pointing her weapon at, a question that ultimately stumped Kunikida. When Rokuzō eventually shot and killed her, Kunikida became plagued with the question on why Sasaki had saved him back at the abandoned hospital from the poison gas when she had every chance of finishing him off cleanly.

He soon arrived at the conclusion that she simply had no interest in a world where criminals were killed for their crimes but merely wanted to finish her deceased lover's plot. In the end, Kunikida turned his rage towards Dazai for indirectly killing Sasaki through Rokuzō, only to be refuted by Dazai who warned him not to succumb into his ideals, lest he would be consumed by them like what happened to the Azure King.

Kunikida greatly regretted Sasaki's death, admitting to recall "a trace of her smile" in his mind. This death would seem to haunt him when Kunikida became affected by Q's curse at least two years later during the three-way conflict. Throughout the curse, Kunikida apparently spouted how much he "cherished her life so much because he sought the ideal world".