Atsushi Nakajima|BSD

Kanji
中島 敦
Rōmaji
Nakajima Atsushi
Also Known As
For appellations, see Relationships
Namesake
20?cb=20211114124837 Atsushi Nakajima (Japanese novelist and short story writer) [2]
Personal Information
Status
Alive
Gender
Male Male
Birthday
May 5[3]
Age
18[3]
Height
170 cm (5'7")[3]
Weight
55 kg[3]
Blood Type
AB[3]
Likes
Chazuke, cats, chameleons, Yokohama[3]
Dislikes
Himself, the orphanage he used to live in[3]
Professional Information
Ability
Beast Beneath the Moonlight
Reference
Moon Over The Mountain (Short story by Atsushi Nakajima)[note 1][2]
Occupation
Detective
Affiliation
Armed Detective Agency

Atsushi's traumatic past affects much of his daily life, and he is tormented with nightmares, flashbacks, and the internal monologue of the orphanage director who abused him.[5][12][13][14][15][16] He has a severely low sense of self-worth and is somewhat naïve, which causes him to initially feel helpless when confronted with dangerous situations. When paralyzed in guilt and/or fear, he has difficulty reacting or understanding what to do.

He also tends to react strongly and believe things at face value, trusting others' judgment above his own and even abandoning his own instincts.[17] For example, when learning of the ¥7 billion bounty on his head, he became convinced that he was putting the Agency at risk. He felt intense guilt and decided to leave, believing it will keep the Agency from being targeted. All things considered, Atsushi cares deeply for his fellow Agency members and for the well-being of civilians, especially during dire situations.[18] On various instances, Atsushi would not hesitate to help and save others, even those he has never met before. One notable example is Dazai, whom he saves from "drowning" during their first encounter, albeit with some inhibition initially.[5] During his secret entrance exam where he was faced with a simulated bomb threat, he used his own body to cover the bomb and shield the other members, also people he had never met.

He has a strong sense of morality, which also directly stems from his upbringing. He believes his worth in life depends on his ability to protect others and has an aversion to the abuse of one's power and to preventable deaths.[13][15][20] He even tries to help even his enemies at times and would often feel sympathy for most of them, as seen through his interactions with Kyōka,[13][21] Lucy Maud Montgomery,[1] Sigma,[22] and even Fukuchi during his supposed death. However, Atsushi still experiences paralyzing fear of fighting alone and often needs a companion to aid him in battle or at times save him in order to feel confidence.[24][25] When faced with the possibility that he alone was to fight Kamui, the primary mastermind behind the global terrorism plot, Atsushi initially felt frightened after being threatened by Kamui to cut off his head. The weight of his actions deciding the world's safety and the Agency's revival further fueled the pressure Atsushi carried, even admitting that his solitude at that time surpassed that of when he was in the orphanage.[24] Hence, after Akutagawa arrived to aid him, Atsushi felt a sense of assurance, knowing that he is not alone anymore.

Although still struggling with his self-esteem mostly due to the words of the late orphanage director, Atsushi gradually improves his confidence and sense of self. He continues to be strengthened by several missions and the clashes against the Port Mafia, Guild and the Rats in the House of the Dead,[10] among others. His will hardens in these tough situations, and he becomes steadfast, reliable, and intensely caring. As Akutagawa mentioned based from their various clashes, when pushed to adverse situations, Atsushi comes back as a "more bothersome enemy".

Atsushi has light gray hair, pale skin, and is of average height with a slim build. He has segmental heterochromia, consisting of purple on the top half of his iris and yellow along the bottom curve of his pupil. His hair is short and swept forward in loose spikes with a lock left long on the right side of his face. This uneven style is the result of bullying he suffered at the hands of other orphans in the orphanage, and he never fixed it.[4] Additionally, he has a prominent black streak in his hair.
After he joins the Armed Detective Agency, they issue him a white button-up with the sleeves pushed to his elbows from Doppo Kunikida,[6] a loose black tie from Akiko Yosano, black pants from Yukichi Fukuzawa,[7] black fingerless gloves from Ranpo Edogawa,[6] suspenders from Kenji Miyazawa,[7] and a long black belt from Osamu Dazai.[6]

When he transforms into a partial tiger, his eyes become tiger-eye-like, and he develops fangs. If more drastic, his limbs turn into into a tiger's, and his tail emerges.[8] When he finally develops considerable control over his ability, he can transform fully into a white tiger with black stripes and retains the tiger's gold eyes.

Beast Beneath the Moonlight (月げ下っか獣じゅう,, Gekka-jū?) gives Atsushi has the ability to transform into a white tiger.[3] At first, he doesn't seem to have much control over the transformation, likely due to the fact, or caused by, his unawareness of his state as an Ability user.[5]

After becoming an official member of the Agency and under the influence of All Men Are Equal, he gains more control over his transformations - as shown during his second fight with Akutagawa, when he breaks the transformation on his arms to escape.