Mikado Ryuugamine

Mikado Ryūgamine (竜ヶ峰帝人, Ryūgamine Mikado) is a childhood friend of Masaomi Kida and the primary male protagonist of the series. He is later revealed to be the creator of the Dollars.

Characteristics
Mikado is a polite, soft spoken boy, who at times can be quite childish and naive. This is likely a result of his small town upbringing; as he moves to Ikebukuro he is amazed and overwhelmed by the sheer size and energy of the city, and thus himself feels small and insignificant. He was bored of the average life he previously led, and moved to Tokyo in search of adventure. To he himself, he feels that his name (which translates as "Emperor of the Dragon Peak") sounds odd and childish, but it seems that some people think it is special or just okay, like Walker and Erika.

Despite his personality, he is shown to have a pretty strong will, and he does have moments where he speaks his mind, which is one of the reasons Masaomi admires him.

As he often acts like a child, Masaomi feels he has to stay around Mikado and help him out, since he would not be able to manage on his own. While Mikado envied Masaomi for his exciting life (for most of the series he is unaware of Masaomi's affiliation with the Yellow Scarves), Masaomi ironically envies Mikado's innocence and his ability to lead a quiet, happy life.

As the series progresses, Mikado gradually becomes more and more assertive, and becomes able to accept the chaos that life throws at him without trying to run away.

As shown in the light novels (and to a lesser extent, in the manga as well) Mikado has a much darker side to his personality. While he doesn't show it fully until the end of Volume 6, this darker half of Mikado was hinted at in various events throughout the light novels. The first example being the confrontation with Namie where Mikado voices his utter disgust with Namie in his mind while still keeping his timid personality on the outside. He also states that, no matter what the situation or who is involved, Whatever action or decision MIkado makes must also benefit himself in some way (in other words, self preservation and self satisfaction trump all). This, by extension, means that almost every aspect about Mikado's life wether it be friends, family, or even the Dollars, are merely tools he uses to keep his life more interesting.

While in this Mindset, Mikado is much more ruthless and manipulative than he appears to be and is very capable at using intimidation to reach his goals. While it may initially seem like Mikado has a split personality, it is theorized by Aoba that the colder version of Mikado is his real personality while his timid side is the fake one.

Background
Mikado grew up in the small town of Saitama, and led an unexciting life that he grew bored with. People often commented that his name sounds like that of a manga character, and he wished that his life was more like a manga, with more unusual and exciting events. When he met his childhood friend, Masaomi Kida online, Masaomi would always tell him stories about the excitement of his life in the big city. Eventually, when Masaomi decided he would be going to Raira Academy in Ikebukuro and invited Mikado to go with him, Mikado happily accepted, hoping to find a more exciting life.



It is also known that he created the online group the Dollars as a middle schooler. He created the group with some of his friends as a joke, but shortly after they created the group, the group began to grow at an alarming rate, with people joining whom none of the creators had sent invitations to. This was the work of Izaya Orihara. The creators, unaware of this, were afraid of the group which was spiralling out of control, and all of the creators except Mikado left the group, leaving him as the only remaining creator and the sole leader.

Mikado then became class representive along with Anri Sonohara. He also learned about Mika Harima, Sonohara's missing friend.



Mikado regularly joined a chatroom with the handle "Taro Tanaka," where he chatted with "Kanra" and "Setton," who in real life were Izaya Orihara and Celty Sturluson, respectively. It was mostly from Kanra that he learned about the gangs and incidents in Ikebukuro, including about rumours of human experiments carried out by Yagiri pharmacy.

After meeting Mika personally and seeing the scars on her neck, he confirmed Anri's previous suspicion that Harima Mika's disappearance had something to do with the human experimentation rumours. After he was attacked by people who worked for Yagiri pharmacy, he revealed that he was the leader of the Dollars, calling a Dollars meeting and using their numbers to confront Yagiri Namie, the director of the pharmacy.

When the Yellow Scarves started hitting members of the Dollars on suspicion that they were in league with the Slasher, instead of fighting back Mikado decided to try and disband the Dollars in order to keep people from getting hurt. However, the Dollars, particularly Kyohei Kadota's group, showed him that the Dollars were more than just the online group he started as a joke a long time ago, adding that as they were already invisible, they could not "disappear" even if their leader asked them to. He eventually decided that it was okay for the Dollars to exist, and brought the group back.

Dollars/ Mika Harima Arc
Mikado moves to Ikebukuro by invite from his friend Masaomi Kida. He waits for him at the train station. Then Masaomi meets him. They go out of the station, and check out town. Later they meet Kyohei's gang. They talk about who should you not make contact with. Like The Dollars, Simon, Shizuo, and Izaya because two of them are super strong, and Izaya is really dangerous. Then they run to the sidewalk right next to the highway to see the mysterious Black Rider.

When Mikado goes to his apartment he chats online with users "Kanra", and "Setton" on a chatroom site. His chat name is "Tarou Tanaka". He talks about when he saw the black rider. Setton tells him its a creepy rumor, and it was probully a street biker. Kanra doing the oppitise of Setton tells him that it is real, and says it has no head, but can move without. Which when Mikado goes to bed he gets creeped out, and asks himself why Kanra has to say that.

The next day Mikado goes to Raika Acdemy for his first day of school. He sits there silenty,but super tired. Then notices Masaomi was tired too,but dosen't know why. Then he goes to class. He says his name worring that people would make fun of it,but no one does. Then he sees Anri say her name. She turns, and makes Mikado think she was looking at him. She was really looking at the seat behind Mikado. The day after that the teacher asked who wanted to be class representives. Anri did do it, and asked for any male people to do it with her. Mikado thought about it. Then he notices she was looking at him. So he did it because he likes her.

After school he walks with Masaomi around town. Then Masaomi thinks that Mikado is getting scared of the city, and tells him that he must overcome his challages. Then Mikado later sees Anri being bullied. Mikado thinks up of ways to save her. One way is where he jumps in and tells them to stop,but he rejects to do that because there was a gangster with the bullies at the time. Then diecides he'll walk in saying it weird that they meet up right there,and walk away with her.

He hears a voice behind which belonged to Izaya Orihara. Izaya walked with Mikado in the place where Anri was being bullied,and Mikado watches Izaya scare them away. Then they talk with Izaya. Izaya says he met the person he wanted to. Which Mikado thought it was him. Instantly a trash can hits Izaya. Then Mikado sees Shizuo Hewahjima come in. When Shizuo said his name Mikado gulped. Mikado then remembers Masaomi saying to never piss those two off. Mikado gets more scared from that.

Then gangsters come in saying they are The Dollars. Mikado sees one gangster hitting Shizuo in the head which made Shizuo pissed off. So Mikado sees Shizuo's brutal stregth. When Izaya tries leaving he saw Shizuo throw a vending machine at him. But Simon catches it.nad made Mikado wonder if Simon could fly. He turned to Anri,and saw her shaking. When Masaomi said "Mikado! Time to spilt!" She grabbed Anri's hand and ran with her.

Then the next day when Anri,Mikado, and Masaomi walk home Masaomi talks about the love traingle they are forming. Mikado didn't say anything. Then Mikado saw Masaomi starting to hit on Anri. Then Mikado says to stop. Then Mikado almost confesses his love for Anri. Then Masaomi tells him that's egough talking about that. then Masaomi tackles Mikado down.

Later in the day they go to a park and eat icecream. Then they talk about Mika Harima. When Anri says that Mika was a stalker Mikado spitted out his icecream all over her face,and apolizes. Then Mikado thinks she was a stalker,but he changes his mind. Then when Mikado was walking home he heard the black rider. So her ran to it,but he bumped into a girl with a scar on her neck. She screamed "Save me!". He then saw that the Black Rider was chasing her.

So he grabbed her arm and ran with her to his house. Then he suggests to her that she should go to the cops. But she refuses. Then when she fell asleep he calls Masaomi over to ask him what to do with her. Then Masaomi thinks that he is lying,and thinks that Mikado might be dating her.

The next day Mikado goes to school worring about the girl. Then Masaomi tells some guys in the class about Mikado,and the girl with a scar on her neck,but they believe it bogus. Later on Mikado,and Masaomi go up to the roof to see if Ryo Takiguchi is a part of the dollars. Masaomi does ask him straight out,and Mikado yells at him that is not nessisary that Masaomi would do that. Ryo tells them with no hesitation. He says that he is in the Dollars,and most members say they are really in the Dollars say they are in the Dollars. Then he says its not really a color gang.

Later Mikado,and Anri are about to go home when Ryo walks up to them and says that Masaomi is in a big dissgustion with the other student council members,and he's not going to walk with them to home most likely. Then when Mikado and Anri go outside Masaomi yells at them from a window of the school. He says to Mikado to take care of the fine chicka.

Mikado said a lie to Anri about him and Masaomi meeting some Russian girls the other night. Then when they were at the gate of Raika one of Anri's bullies,and her boyfriend were in their way,and they yelled at them. Then the bullie's boyfriend tried beating up Mikado for being friends to Izaya,but The black rider,and Izaya beated him up,and scared the bullie away.

When Mikado was walking home the black rider,and Izaya were following him. Then Mikado yelled at them and said why they are following him. The Black Rider told her name "Celty Sturlstien",and said to be wanting her niece that was with him. but Mikado knew it was an lie.

Celty then told him the truth. She said that the girl may have her head,and she is an Dulluhan. Then when they got to Mikado's house Mikado askes her what's inside her helmet,and she show him. He smiles,and says he needs to tell the girl that they are coming before Celty,and Izaya may go in. mikado go's in,and sees that she is not there.

Then he gets pinned down by two Yagiri pharmsucical workers. They asked him where the girl was was,but Mikado told them he didn't know. The men threatend to kill Mikado right there. Luckally Izaya barges in to save Mikado from his doom. The worker run away when Celty comes in.

Mikado thought about the Dollars, then the girl with a scar on her neck, Yagiri Pharmacueicals, Seiji Yagiri,and Celty. Then he pulls his chair out and mgets on his computer. He goes to the Dollars website,and types down the password "BACCANO". Then Izaya figures out that Mikado is the leader of the Dollars.

Then when it was night Mikado goes out to a street,and meets with the owner of Yagiri Pharmacideicals. It was Namie Yagiri, Seiji Yagiri's older sister. Then Mikado askes her about Seiji,and mika Harima. Namie rejects anything he asks then said he shouldn't be in the underworld.Then when Mikado digged through his pocket for his phone Namie tries sending her men after him. but Mikado finds it,and says " You are right. I shouldn't go in the underworld. And I shouldn't do stuff on my own. but That's why I realie on NUMBERS!"

He presses a button on his phone,and other people phones rang. He tells Namie that he owns the Dollars,and walks off. Then he smiles when Celty come in and takes care of the workers. but then Seiji runs at him with a knife,and yelling at him where his love is. But Celty gets in the way. The tries to knock Seiji out, but the girl screams stop. Then tells them all that she was Mika Harima.

The next day Mikado goes to school. When it was about lunch Masaomi tells him about the Dollars meeting,and the black rider really not having a head,and Mikado only says that he dosen't get a word Masaomi is saying. Then Mikado goes to the roof of the school to find Masaomi hitting on Anri. So he kicks Masaomi,and says sorry to Anri. Then he eats lunch with her.

Saika Arc
In the beguinning Mikado was at school. Then he askes Anri if she wanted him to give the teacher her notebook for her,but Anri refuses. Then after school he walks with Masaomi,and Anri. Masaomi tells him about how Takashi Nasujima was going after Haruna Niekawa one time.

In the chat room he notices a person named Saika was spamming their chat. Then in the chat Kanra pulls up that there's a slasher in Ikebukuro. Then he says that the yellow scarves were in town too. Then they say the slasher attacked a Raika girls the other night. Mikado thinks it's Anri and is about to go but Kanra in privite mode tells him its not Anri. But Mikado goes ahead and checks. He goes to the police office and picks up Anri.

He walks with her for awhile. Then he walks away saying to be super careful for now on. Then later he gets on the chatroom,and Saika is back on spamming. He dosen't know what's up with Saika. In the end of the Arc he meets Anri in the hospital after she had a little run in with the slasher.

Yellow Turbans Arc
At first he helped Anri out of the hospital,and Masaomi was really excited to see her again. Then Mikado yells at him for hitting on her. The next day he notices that Masaomi is acting strange. Then he talks to Ryo about how's he going. Later when he's walking home Masaomi ran off somewhere without them. Mikado wonders what's up with him.

The next day Masaomi acts even stranger around Mikado. Then when they are walking home they see Ryo,and told him to be careful because the Yellow Scarves are going after the Dollars. The next day Mikado is informed by Masaomi that Ryo got attacked by the Yellow Scarves. So during the evening Mikado goes to Ryo's hospital room saying sorry to him about what happend.

Then Ryo said it's okay,and asks Mikado if he was in the Dollars. Mikado jumps up yelling I'm not. Then Ryo said to calm down. Later at night Mikado meets Kyohei,and Kyohei offers him a soda called "Red Snake". Then they talk about recent events. Then Mikado asks Kyohei if he's in the Dollars. But Kyohei only says to stay away from them,and leaves.

The next day he sees Seiji, and Mika on a bench. Then Seiji called him over. Mikado walks up to them. Then Mika asks him about how's Anri going. He says the andswer "She going good." Then Seiji leaves saying to be careful of the Yellow scarves. Then Mikado wonders what should he do to the Dollars.

When he goes home he reads the Dollars log. It turns out that Anri is being chased by the Yellow Scarves. So when he reads that he tells everyone to help her. Then they do,and because of that incident Mikado disbands the Dollars,and shutting down BBS. Then he wonders in his bed if he made a good disition. Later into the night Celty comes at his front door.

Mikado andswers and says that he discarged the Dollars to protect Anri. But Celty told him that she didn't come for that. She wanted to tell Mikado the truth about his friends. She tells him anri had control of the Saika blade,and Masaomi is the leader of the Yellow Scarves. Mikado gets in shock,and asks Celty if he can see them. So she allowed it. Before they went he heard that Anri ran out into the night for some reason after seeing Shozuo wounds from being shot two times in a row.

They go into the night driving around. Then Celty stops to see Simon. Then when she came back she typed to Mikado if he was ready of what's going to happen even though it might be really ugly,and Mikado accepts. So they drive to the Yellow Scarves hideout to see Anri with the Saika Blade, a bloody Masaomi,and the Yellow scarves teaming up with Horada.

Then Horada orders his men to finsh off Mikado, and the other. Surpirsely the Yellow Scarves Battle each other. Then Mikado notices that Kyohei caused it all. Then Mikado,Kyohei, and the others surround Horada. Then when Masaomi punches Horada he falls down. Mikado hold him up,and tells him to wake up. Masaomi does wake up,but then gets out cold again.

Mikado then goes to Masaomi hospital room seeing that he is alive and okay. Then Mikado meets Anri at school,and notices that Masaomi left Ikebukuro. Then in the chat a man named Bykura joins,and Saika not a spammer anyone. Then Mikado notices Byukura is Masaomi,and tells him to come on more often. In the end of the Arc Mikado brings back the Dollars.

Differences between LN, Manga, and Anime

 * In the anime they meet Kyohei,Saburo,Walker, and Erika when they bump in to them in the street,but in the manga Mikado meets them at the manga shop.
 * They never ask about the Dollars to Kyohei in the light novel, and Manga.
 * Seiji does talk to Mikado about Mika in the manga, but never happens in the anime becuase Seiji ditches school in the anime.
 * In the manga there's a picture of him thinking of Anri killing Masaomi when he thought she was a slauker.
 * In the manga there was no gangsters coming in the battle of Shizuo and Izaya, and in the light novel Simon dosen't catch the light post Shizuo threw.
 * Masaomi is not with Mikado as much in the manga than the anime.
 * In the LN, and Manga there was no gangster with Anri's bullies.

Light Novel
Light Novel specific spoilers about this character per volume/chapter.

Volume 01:

Volume 04: Mikado is watching the news just in time to see Celty being chased by Kinnosuke Kuzuhara on screen. He is slightly worried but knows that Celty should be able to handle it. He logs on to the chatroom and Kanra posts a link to a website. When Mikado clicks on it, he sees a wanted poster for Celty with a 10 million yen reward for her capture, the ones who put up the reward being Yadogiri Shinning Corporation. Mikado briefly wonders if he should mobilize the Dollars to help but decides that they probably wouldn't be able to do much in this situation and may actually even draw more attention to Celty than the wanted ad already did.

The next day, after the opening ceremony for the new year, Mikado and Anri are approached by a new student named Aoba Kuronuma. The two of them are quickly overwhelmed by Aoba's hyperactive personality and they are persuaded (forced) into giving Aoba a tour of Ikebukuro since he was new to the area. Mikado and Anri then meet up with Erika and Walker for advice on showing someone around since neither Mikado or Anri are very talkative. Erika and Walker agree and even offer to accompany them while they show Aoba around.

The next day, shortly after the trio gets together, Mikado is suddenly threatened by a small group of former yellow scarves members out for revenge. Before things get too serious, however, Kyohei and the gang ride in and pull Mikado, Anri, and Aoba into the van. Mikado notices the Orihara twins also in the van but has not time to question it as Togusa begins speeding away on the road. Mikado looks out the window and sees several members of a biker gang called Toromaru riding after them. Kyohei apologizes for dragging them into this. Several hours into the chase, Celty pulls in along side the van along with even more Toromaru members, explaining that they were after the ten million yen reward. After recieving some unexpected assisstance from Kinnosuke Kuzuhara, the group continue to get chased by Toromaru until they come to an overpass. Celty tells the others to run away while she holds the gang at bay. Kyohei and Togusa drop everyone off several blocks away before the two of them drive back to help Celty. Mikado and the others run back despite being told to get the police but find Igor and Ruri Hijiribe beating up the Toromaru members while Celty, Kyohei, and Togusa watch in awe. A few days later, after things have finally quieted down, Mikado and several others take part in the hotpot party being held at Celty and Shinra's apartment.

Volume 05: In the chatroom, Mikado is pulled into private chat with Kida. Mikado asks Kida what the problem was. Kida tells Mikado not to go out during golden week as well as to make sure no one finds out his connection to the Dollars or that he's even a member at all. Kida goes on to say that Dollars is in danger but isn't sure what the reason is. Mikado is confused but agrees to lay low, trusting Kida's judgement (in reality, this was Izaya trying to manipulate Mikado by posing as Masaomi).

The next day, after a student counsel meeting, Mikado and Anri are approached by Aoba who wanted to go on another tour of Ikebukuro since their last one was interrupted by Toromaru. Mikado, remembering Kida's warning, tries to turn Aoba down so that he could look up info on what was endangering the Dollars. Mikado states that he can't go with Aoba, saying he had some urgent business. Upon hearing this, Aoba began to (not so) subtly flirt with Anri about accompanying him. Anri is oblivious to Aoba's advances but Mikado panics and says that he will show him around but can't go at night, saying it gets too crowded during golden week. Aoba and Anri agree to meet the next day.

Later, at his apartment Mikado starts asking on the chatroom about anything that might have happened to the Dollars. Kururi and Mairu point him to another website which contains a news report. Mikado learns that several members of Toromaru were attacked in Saitama and beaten severely to the point where many of the were sent to the hospital. Along with several burned and destroyed motorbikes, Mikado notices the word DOLLARS spray-painted over Toromaru's logo on a wall in the background of a picture.

Mikado as the founder, feels responsible for the incident and wonders what he should do. Mikado then gets a call from Izaya. Having no one else to turn to at the moment, Mikado talks to Izaya for advice on the matter. Izaya mentions the captain of Toromaru, Rokujo Chikage, is in town looking for revenge and suggests that Mikado simply quits the Dollars but Mikado denies that option almost immediately. Izaya takes this as a sign that Mikado is more attached to Dollars than he initially expected and deduces that Mikado is worried that the Dollars are getting out of control. Izaya also states that even though Mikado wants to solve the issue, he is actually excited about the whole situation. Mikado doesn't entirely deny this and Izaya ends the conversation by offering his help should Mikado need it, hinting at ulterior motives in the process.

Mikado tries to think of a plan to resolve the incident but keeps drawing a blank. The feeling of excitement begins to swell up in Mikado at the recent turn of events but he pushes it out of his mind. Someone then knocks on Mikado's door and it is soon revealed to be Aoba. Before Mikado can ask what is happening, he notices several thuggish looking individuals wearing blue standing behind Aoba. Wearing the same cheerful yet eerie smile, Aoba tells Mikado to come with him.

Mikado, Aoba, and the rest of the delinquents arrived at an abandoned factory warehouse. Aoba asks Mikado if he was looking into the incident in Saitama. Mikado confirms that he was but is shocked when Aoba casually admits that "We did it." the thugs who accompanyed them began to chuckle when Aoba gave his confession. Aoba states that it was revenge for chasing everyone halfway across the city several months ago. He also goes on to say that although they attacked Toromaru in the name of the Dollars, Aoba and his group also go by the name Blue Squares. As Mikado abosrbed this information, his cell phone, along with everyone else, began to ring with a message that Rokujo Chikage was attacking Kyohei and his gang.

Ignoring the message, Aoba offers the role of leadership over to Mikado. Mikado is perplexed at the offer and suspects an ulterior motive. Aoba explains that he wouldn't be the leader of the Dollars but specifically of the Blue Squares who would act as a special unit that only answered to him. Mikado tries to turn him down, saying he wouldn't get involved in something like that. Aoba then asks why Mikado is smiling if he didn't want what was offered.



Volume 06: picking up where Volume 05 left off, Mikado tries to deny Aoba's statement but can't get over a strange sense of joy that emanated from the bottom of his heart. Mikado then realized that Aoba was correct but he didn't know why he smiled in the first place. As several thoughts swirl around in Mikado's head, Aoba draws attention to the countless messages left by other Dollars members. Mikado tries to stall for time but Aoba brings up the meeting with Anri they had set up the day before. Aoba makes subtle threats towards Anri which causes a sudden surge of "black emotions" to well up in Mikado which he pushes to the back of his mind. The two are interrupted by Celty's ringtone echoing through the warehouse. Having been spotted, Celty explains that she was watching to make sure nothing bad happened and told the others to continue as though she weren't there. Before Mikado or Aoba can question her further, several Toromaru members also rush in, recognizing Aoba and his gang as the ones who attacked them. Aoba calls Mikado "Captain" which causes the Toromaru members to turn their attention towards him. Celty takes Mikado onto the back of her motorbike while Aoba and the Blue Squares hold off Toromaru.

Celty explains the situation to Mikado as they meet up with Anri and Akane who are surrounded by members of the Awakusu. Before the can speak, even more Toromaru members arrive demanding they hand over "The Kid" (Mikado). The Awakusu take it as a threat against Akane and begin to fight the Toromaru members, telling Celty to take Akane to a safe place. Celty transforms her motorbike to a horse and carriage to accommodate the larger passenger count and the four of them ride away to a parking lot halfway across town.

Mikado takes a moment to sort out all that's happened and realizes that Aoba's goal is probably to take control of Dollars and use him as a figure head. As Mikado thinks of a solution, he gets another disturbing text message on his phone. "Nakura" posts a picture of one of Rokujo Chikage's girlfriends, Non, eating with Rio Kamichika and several others. He goes on to suggest that the Dollars kidnap them to try and threaten Toromaru into calling off their attacks on Dollars. Without Thinking, Mikado rushes off to the cafe where they were seen with Anri and Vorona chasing after him.

Mikado arrives just as Non, Rio, and their friends are about to be kidnapped. He tells the others to stop as a fellow member of the Dollars but gets insulted and kicked as a result. The men shove the girls into the back of the van and drive off, leaving a few of their friends (including Hiroshi), behind to finish Mikado off. As they beat down on him, Mikado doesn't feel fear but another surge of "black emotions" that he felt earlier as he falls unconscious. When Mikado comes to, he sees Anri dispatching the rogue Dollars members with Saika. Mikado is ashamed at his helplessness as Anri helps him up. Mikado gets another message, saying that the kidnappers are on their way to stop Kyohei and Chikage at Raira Academy. Mikado and Anri head off while Vorona tails them silently.

At Raira, they can see Kyohei and Chikage fighting off in the distance and the kidnappers and the girls approaching slowly in their van. As mikado turns around, he sees Vorona appear out of nowhere and attack Anri. Anri tells Mikado to run but is stunned by Vorona's flash bomb. Mikado is left on the ground while Anri and Vorona run off to continue their fight. Mikado is frustrated at being glossed over like that as he waits for his vision to return. When it does, he sees Shizuo standing over him with Vorona's motorbike on his shoulder. Shizuo looks Mikado in the eyes and declares that he's resigning from the Dollars, saying that he wasn't going to be part of a group that was low enough to resort to kidnapping high school students. The "Black emotions" returned, this time aimed at himself for being so useless at such a crucial time.

After the fighting has ended and the victims were rescued, Mikado sees Non and Chikage limping away on the sidewalk. Mikado runs up to them and apologizes as the leader of the Dollars. Chikage appreciates the gesture but can't believe that someone as ordinary as Mikado could possibly be the leader. Although it wasn't meant as an insult, for someone like Mikado who strives to live an un-ordinary life, it was the last push he needed to go over the edge. Mikado crumples down and cries at all that's happened.

The next day, Mikado calls Aoba and the Blue Squares back to the old Warehouse to settle their agreement. He explains that the direction Dollars is heading isn't right. He knows that he can't set rules for the Dollars since that goes against what the Dollars were made for. Mikado decides to opt for the next best thing: power. Mikado says that if Aoba and the Blue Squares offer him their strength, then they can use him however they want. Mikado pulls out a sheet of paper and a ballpoint pen to make the agreement official. Aoba is perplexed but walks over to sign the paper anyway. Just as Aoba sees that there is nothing on the paper at all, Mikado jabs the pen into Aoba's hand, piercing it all the way through, the blood splattering all over the paper. Aoba looks Mikado in the eyes and sees nothing but a cold, contemptuous glare staring back. Mikado states that regardless of what Aoba planned to do to him, he still put Anri in danger by drawing her into the conflict with the Dollars and Toromaru. As his first order, he demands that Aoba "Stomach the full wrath of his anger."

Before the other Blue Squares can react, Aoba tells them to back off. Aoba meekly agrees to Mikado's terms, realizing that Mikado isn't going to back down...or release his grasp, until he did so. As Aoba swears loyalty, Mikado does a complete 180 in his personality and reverts back to his usual cheerful self, yanking the pen out of Aoba's hand and proceeding to expertly bandage up the wound he left. Aoba whispers in his heart that both he and Izaya had underestimated Mikado and mentions that he has "Far from shown his true character."

Volume 08 : Mikado realizes that, while there are idealists like Kyohei and his group in the Dollars, there are several others (thugs, gangs, etc) that would exploit the name of the Dollars to further their own reputations like those who went rogue during the Toromaru incident. Mikado decides to perform a "Cleansing" where he chases down those specific groups that are dragging down the name of the Dollars and "expelling" them from the gang (i.e. beating them up and banning the from the website). He even starts an "invitation only" section of the website for people who he feels he can use for this purpose. After several members are banned, Mikado gets word of another rogue member by the name of Adabashi Kisuke who burned down Ruri Hijiribe's house under the orders of Yadogiri Jinnai.

Mikado, Aoba, and the Blue Squares look for information on him and they warn Celty and Shinra. They say that Shinra may be in danger because he was caught on camera several months ago leaving Kasuka's apartment just before Ruri and Kasuka were revealed as a couple and that Adabashi is targeting those who may be connected to Ruri. This information arrives too late as Celty and the others find a bloody and beaten Shinra on the floor of their apartment. Finally managing to corner Adabashi and his followers, Mikado and the Blue Squares confront them about what they've done. Adabashi attacks Mikado, injuring him severely but Masaomi arrives in time to save Mikado from getting killed. Before they can exchange greetings, Mikado pours gasoline on Adabashi as he tries to get up. Mikado then calmly lights adabashi on fire, causing the stalker to run out of the building they were in and into Tokyo bay. Masaomi is shocked at Mikado's cruelty and yells at him for it. Mikado simply brushes him off, telling Kida to "mind his own business."

Mikado shows his colder side much more in volume 08, going so far as to break the promise he made with Anri about not talking about their secret identities until Kida returned.

Volume 09: Masaomi and Anri get worried by Mikado's recent behaviour so Masaomi tries to private chat with Mikado but Mikado refuses. Then leaves the chatroom.

Volume 11: It is not for certain but in one of the pictres in that volume it shows Mikado running.

Trivia

 * His mother's name is Hiromi (ひろみ) while his father's name probably read as Ryūgamine Tatsuya (竜ヶ峰竜也) as read in usual way since there's no official romanization for his parents' name.
 * His given name's kanji usually read as Teijin instead of simply Mikado.
 * His hometown is in Saitama.
 * He ranked 1st in Raira Academy's entrance test, tying with Anri. Anri has developed a small admiration for Mikado because of this, although it is not noticed much.
 * He's born with 2982 gram weight.
 * His favorite subject is IT when his least favorite subject is P.E. as he states that he's weak at sports.
 * His favorite quote is "Supreme rule of life is to adapt without compromising," the words of a German Philosopher, Georg Simmel.
 * He has the same name of the European version of pocky.
 * Baccano!: A man simply known as the photographer who appears in the very first volume of Baccano appears to live in the apartment right next to Mikado's. The ending of the first volume takes place in present day ikebukuro as the photographer returns from his vacation in New York.
 * His password for his Dollars account is "baccano", as can be seen in the Anime
 * Fans believe that Mikado went crazy in the Light Novels.
 * He sang Gakuen Tengoku in the rapping CD.
 * He is the protonigist in the Durarara!! manga.
 * He is an major charater in Saika, but not main.