scratch that ✦ kunikida doppo

SCRATCH THAT FAQ + THANK YOU

Starting off this chapter normally instead of in Story Writing Mode.

Hi everyone! Reece is here yet again. All of you are probably wondering what the hell is happening, and why scratch that is receiving an update after two years, and it's because...

My writing sucked.

Let's be honest here. I was 15 when I started scratch that, and my writing skills were not the best! They were understandable, sure, but I absolutely sucked at following plots and whatnot, making a story "realistic" enough for a fan-fiction, and things like that. I'm revisiting the story now that I've finished high school (and also writing a new one!) and filling in the plot holes I left behind. As much as it would make sense to simply rewrite the chapters, I feel the story would not be the same. So, I've decided to leave it and do this instead!

Here's how this is going to work. I'm going to list a chapter as well as key points in that chapter, and answer as many questions as possible. Any further questions can be commented under the TITLE HEADING of that chapter section! Don't worry, I'll add a comment so you can add onto it.

As one would expect, this chapter WILL contain spoilers. Please make sure you have read scratch that in it's entirety! Thank you for your continued support. Let's begin!

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𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊 - 0 (comment here!)

Let's start with some questions I've seen in the comments.

-Is our--the reader's--ability just a slightly altered version of Sigma or Ango?

Yes! Did I know that while writing? No! When this chapter was written, little to nothing was known about both Ango and Sigma's abilities. Sigma was introduced only a year before I began writing. Not much was known about his ability yet, so I didn't have that as a reference. Looking back now, they are very similar, yes.

The main difference is the information that is received is time-sensitive. If it is not transferred elsewhere (notebook, someone else, etc.) it will be forgotten.

The ability was hard for me to come up with as well. My only excuse was that I was 15. If I had to come up with an ability now, it would be much more difficult, especially with how many unique abilities the cast has. I needed something practical, slightly overpowered (fanfiction. come on) and slightly unique!

Also, who is Pakunoda? Please enlighten me!

-There's no way we just left the mafia like that. Right? Right?!

Mayyyyyybe! Past me didn't think that far, but present me has an excuse! Sit tight for this one.

As we all know, Dazai was a previous Port Mafia executive. In other words, he saw everything. He saw us. He heard from his sources before word got to Mori, and he got to work before Mori could. He made sure that nobody could touch us, had our name cleared in the same way his was, and had an amnesia-inducing gift user erase her knowledge of Dazai ever existing to her.

Why did Dazai do all of this, you may ask?

If you have finished the book (or the first few chapters), you'll learn that we were once partners with Chuuya. Dazai, the all-seeing, saw this, and made it part of his mission to have us protected, on Chuuya's behalf. It was a way to thank both of us for taking care of each other!

The timeline is as follows. Reader joins mafia about 6 months before Dazai leaves and is a low ranking member, Dazai leaves mafia + Chuuya, Reader starts to get noticed by higher-ups, Chuuya and Reader are put on a mission together, they work closely as Dazai is in hiding, And about 4-6 months before the start of the anime the Reader resigns from the Mafia. It's about 2-3 months before the reader meets Dazai and Kunikida at the cafe.

-We didn't even go into hiding after we left the mafia?! Hello?!?!

My bad!!! As I said, 15!

I'm reading through comments as I wrote this. A user (lxdy_fxrina) commented that "They'd expect us to hide, so don't". I really like this idea! I also like the idea that we just couldn't retain the information we received (see above), so we weren't a huge threat. In the same way that Oda was likely not seen as a threat, because even though he was in the mafia, he did not kill until the ability singularity incident.

I cringe at my old writing sometimes. Did this show tell me nothing?!

That's all for chapter 0. Please comment on the title thread if you have any more questions! All other comments can be placed elsewhere :)

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𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 - 1 (comment here!)

"I know who you are, ex-mafia"

Dazai said this line in order to trigger the release of our amnesia given to us by the ability user mentioned in the prologue explanation. I also just thought it was funny. 83 comments, you guys are amazing!

But wouldn't us realizing the amnesia make us say something?? Nope! Personally, I wouldn't even realize. That's why Reader didn't realize either!

I think this was it for this chapter. Once again, comment anything amiss above!

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𝖆𝖉𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓 - 2 (comment here!)

I can't think of anything for this one. Maybe about the whole Oda situation's similarities... Can you tell I was re-watching season 2? I was grieving! Same with Kunikida and Sasaki's situation. I read that novel multiple times during the making of this book so I could write Kunikida in character as best as I could (Dazai's Entrance Exam is written from Kunikida's POV!). I religiously studied his interactions with Sasaki, since we found out she was the closest thing to his ideal, and he was likely in love with her. Crazy things I do for stories.

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𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 - 3

-Ermmm... Isn't this just Atsushi's Entrance Exam with some slight changes?

Yes. I'm not even denying it. Tanizaki has been put through it. He needs a raise.

Speaking of, the whole cover-the-bomb thing that Atsushi does, I totally threw it in. I want Kunikida to secretly remember us when he sees Atsushi doing it in the future. Isn't that cute? Tell me it's cute!

I also want Reader to be an older sibling figure to Atsushi. Mainly because I want that for myself.

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I think I saved the story from here on out. Please reply here with any more questions and concerns!

Thank you so much again for all of your continued support on this story. The 34.8k reads, the 1.3k votes, and every hashtag ranking I've received (As of October 7 2024) are beyond incredible. It is my Wattpad pride and joy, and the reason I keep writing on here. Seeing every comment, vote, add to a reading list, and every other bit of interaction always brings a smile to my face and brightens my day. I will never take any of you for granted. Thank you.

-Reece