Sigzai

Sigzai is the slash ship between Sigma and Dazai Osamu from the Bungou Stray Dogs fandom.

Manga
Dazai and Sigma meet in Chapter 95 when Dazai and Fyodor fall to the ground and out of their cells via Nikolai’s ability, though before then, Dazai knows of his existence and also the fact that Sigma has no past self (amnesia), and he is confused at the concept of him being a threat. They don’t speak much of meeting at first as Sigma is ‘just an assistant’ for Nikolai. He is merely in the background for a while, since Fyodor and Dazai are injecting their lethal dosages, but it’s clear that Sigma thinks Dazai is odd for finding joy in doing such a thing with a blush and a smile. At the ending of Chapter 96/97(?) is when Dazai chooses Sigma as his tool in the jail break instead of one from the selection provided to him on silver platters.

In Chapter 98, Dazai basks in the freedom of not being in his cell, and ballroom dances with Sigma who repeatedly questions him, ‘why did you choose me?’. In this same chapter it becomes clear that Sigma believes Dazai is untrustworthy and just like those that have used him before, and dislikes the fact Dazai chose him as a tool when he wishes to not be controlled by anyone anymore. While this isn’t explicitly stated to Dazai, he must notice the glares and the hostile behaviour, and deems that Sigma is interesting and promises to get him out of the prison alive.

Starting in Chapter 101, after the declaration that Chuuya is going to be on Fyodor’s side as a team, Dazai begins to unveil some of his plans and his secrets to Sigma- for example the fact he is communicating with Ango, and how he plans to exterminate Fyodor. Absentmindedly, Dazai also comments in his head that Sigma strikes him like an Atsushi-esque character. Like many before him, Sigma is astounded by Dazai’s abilities and smarts, evident by his reaction to finding out how he’s communicating and getting information, and by gaining control of the security room undetected all while floundering and seeming more stupid than anything.

Sigma truly sees Dazai as something inhuman, though not necessarily in a sense that he is the likes of a demon, but in a ‘superhuman’ way. Dazai tells him that no one, not even he, can go past the knowledge of mere human beings; he can only know what there is to know, he is not all knowing, and this may help add some hope to Sigma in weighing the possibilities of winning against Fyodor who is just the same. No one is superhuman, even with abilities. Just a half-chapter later, Chapter 105.5, the two become serious when Sigma expresses his doubts in himself, and expresses to Dazai that he must not be worthy of the truth of his plans, and that’s why he has acted how he has, all fun and games. Though, this thinking is immediately shut down in an odd show of awkwardness from the usually neutral Dazai, scratching his head and saying he simply didn’t think that Sigma would be able to understand; not because he is dumb, but because he has been used in the past and that may make it difficult.

Despite the fact it’s revealed Dazai does have some true intention of using Sigma for his ability, to find Fyodor’s plans, it’s not taken in an evil way like what has been shown before by Fyodor, since Sigma can recognise that Dazai is doing all of that to also help the agency. Sigma then thinks back to the times he has been used, seemingly confused at the idea that Dazai is not merely using the agency, and the agency is not merely using Dazai. To add even more confusion, after initially assuming the worst out of Dazai’s intentions, it’s admitted that the second reason Dazai chose him is because Fyodor and/or Nikolai would have made sure he stayed silent if he hadn’t. Effectively saving his life despite there being other tools that would have been useful with merely defeating them.

It’s in the end of Chapter 106 that, again, hope seems lost, but this time for the both of them- since Fyodor manages to escape his own drowning sequence started by Dazai with help of Chuuya, commencing his own inside of the elevator that they had just entered with the plan to leave the prison and help the agency. Dazai ensures that Sigma gets pushed under the water, at first taken as a threat, but quickly proven to be protective when the water that was filling up around them burst into flames above by the odd liquid on the wall found before by Dazai touching there.

The latest chapter made just before this wiki is being written, Chapter 106.5, shows how the two work together. Sigma slowly loses air underwater, going perfectly according to Fyodor’s plans. Mixing together the anxiety of drowning, the fear of fire, the pain from the lack of oxygen, and the hope that came with seeing the flames dissipate- a chance for air, Sigma went to rise up above the water and take a much needed gasp for air. It doesn’t quite hit him why Dazai pulls him back down, the reasonable fragility of his trust in Dazai showing in the fact he immediately thinks he’s stupid for deeming the man trustworthy, until they meet eyes and it must click. The flames didn’t go out due to the water, it was due to the lack of oxygen that had been consumed by those flames, and one breath above the water in the carbon contaminated air would cause an instant death. Ending the chapters off until June 2023, Dazai uses Sigma’s small pistol and jumps off his shoulder into the dangerous outside to break into the elevator wires and causes it to malfunction, sending the doors open, the water out, and safe air back in. This also triggers another sequence, one that starts to eat away at the wires holding the elevator up, and the box falls to its side. Before Sigma can fully slip to the bottom, Dazai bends his knees and puts his hands on Sigma’s back, claiming he promised he’d get Sigma out alive before using his entire weight from his feet to shove Sigma forward and out of the elevator right before its collapse. The last thing Sigma sees is Dazai with a smile descending down, the words ‘I leave the rest to you’ the last words said.

Quotes
“You and I have a promise, I said I’d bring you back alive.” - Dazai to Sigma, Chapter 106.5

“I leave the rest to you.” - Dazai to Sigma, Chapter 106.5

Fanon
Sigzai first became popular after Dazai chose Sigma to ‘use as a tool’ and detoured from Nikolai and Fyodor. Free from his cell, Dazai had danced with Sigma down the halls while Sigma became increasingly agitated at Dazai’s lack of care considering the severity of their situation. From then on, people became interested by yet another ‘annoying character x annoyed character’ ship in the fandom. Despite their seemingly ‘agitate to agitated’ dynamic, in the short time they have so far shared, Dazai has made an effort to help Sigma feel some worth, and to gain trust again after losing it by acts from Fyodor; each time he has thought Dazai to be just the same, he is proven wrong, and it introduces a more welcoming and deep feeling to their building relationship that many enjoy.

While the ship was considered since their first interaction, some shippers of Kunikida/Dazai (or, Kunikidazai) took notice of their dynamic due to its stated similarities in Chapter 105, and events in Chapter 106.5 made it blow up in popularity by the entire fandom- most likely due to a panel that looked a lot like them about to kiss, or having done so even just for some air, which is still being debated and fuelled by confusion as to why those panels looked how they did.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Dazai Osamu/Sigma tag on AO3

Gallery
Chapter 106.5 translations provided by: @darkestjay.868 and @_bsd_edits on Twitter.