From here on out I will start these posts with these little animated gifs with my Animal Crosiing avatar, at the very least as greeting.
After this post, episodic arcs takes a break and comes back after Shadi's arc...the first 3 volumes in these posts will be around 8 parts, two of them will be in updating old post while the rest is 6 brand new posts...
I'm glad, the manga analysis updates on the first 7 volumes is finally starting to pick up the previous pace when I started and midway through, it's still not as fast as before, but the pace is certainly becoming more steady...it's good news after being on hiatus for so long because specialized course...
But the "job" is still a concern for me, so I'm trying to keep going as fast as I can.
Poor Yugi, always getting punched, in this arc is twice, I say Yugi, because even though Dark Yugi is taking over, but it's Yugi's body taking the blow... it was quite the punch too, he went almost flying, the whole "not your playground", despite Yugi's body gets bit taller when Dark Yugi takes over, but doesn't change Yugi's body is still pretty short (I mean though Yugi had grown taller in Battle City and Memory World arcs, there are panel shots, when you only see his hair, it's still pretty funny when it happens).
This must have been noticing weird about this "little brat", specially from Hirutani, counting the fact it is odd in these kind of circumstances to challenge someone to a game, then Dark Yugi reveals there is a "hidden time bomb" at their feet, while standing over a wheel rubber for a reason...besides those following Hirutani are quite dumb though...
I'm glad, the manga analysis updates on the first 7 volumes is finally starting to pick up the previous pace when I started and midway through, it's still not as fast as before, but the pace is certainly becoming more steady...it's good news after being on hiatus for so long because specialized course...
But the "job" is still a concern for me, so I'm trying to keep going as fast as I can.
Plot Summary:
Chapter 8 - The Poison Man
It starts with Yugi hanging out with Jounouchi and Honda, Jounouchi is guiding them somewhere while they ask, Jounouchi speaks about the rumours of a store and it's owner that sells shoes, including rare shoes, Jounouchi is wanting to buy specific shoes, they go through some alleyways to go this store called "Junky Scorpion", they enter the store, the owner of the shop wears streetwear style, these specific sneakers Jounouchi wants are muscle sneakers, there is one model of muscle sneakers selling in this store, the shop owner claims this is very rare that collectors would do anything including murder...Jounouchi insists in wanting to buy them, so the shop owner challenges Jounouchi to a little game, using the scorpion hanging in his necklace, he puts the scorpion on the shoe Jounouchi wanted, if Jounouchi wants the sneakers so bad, then he has to show guts that he is willing to get these sneakers by putting his feet on the shoe with a scorpion inside, Jounouchi puts then removes his feet, the shop owner reveals the scorpion he put on the shoe was a fake one...Jounouchi was able to get his shoes, they left the store and about to go to a fast food restaurant but they were ambushed by three guys and stole Jounouchi's new sneakers then left, Yugi and the boys were starting to recover, Jounouchi and Honda wanting revenge did go after their ambushers, Yugi asked permission to tag along and try not to get in the way, as they allow it, they found the ambushers and Jounouchi and Honda effortlessly beat them up and got the answer that the shop owner have been swindling people for profit, the boys decided to go to the shop owner the next day, as they went separate ways, Dark Yugi took over, he challenged the shop owner to the same game as Jounouchi, the differences are the shop owner added a real scorpion (his pet) and Dark Yugi to make the shop owner participate he added coins with new conditions that Dark Yugi has to pay 100,000 yen for each coin in the shoe, they take turns, the shop owner grows impatient for his greed and makes a dangerous move trying to kill his scorpion pet with a knife, making a hole in the shoes, however his hand got stuck, his pet was alive and it stings him for trying to kill him, he went to the hospital and Yugi brought the sneakers to Jounouchi without remembering anything when Dark Yugi took over.
Chapter 9-10 * The Cards With Teeth
The chapter begins with the introduction of a trading card game that has been growing popularity, Magic & Wizards (licensed version: Duel Monsters) in Kame Game shop explained by Yugi and his grandpa to Anzu and Jounouchi, as Sugoroku shows his most treasured card given by a friend which happens to be considered one of the most powerful and rarest monster card, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, they were interrupted by one of their classmates, Seto Kaiba, who happens to be quite rich and huge a Magic & Wizards card game collector, he tries to buy Yugi's grandpa Blue-Eyes White Dragon through lot of extremely rare cards, but no success, gets out of the store angry...
Next day, Yugi brings his grandpa favourite card with his grandfather permission, Kaiba noticed and asked if he could see the card again and holding a bit, however he swiftly traded with a fake one and give that one to Yugi, to Kaiba's dismay Yugi noticed it was fake and he call out to Kaiba after school waiting for him and to give it back, however Kaiba refuses and hits him, Dark Yugi takes over and challenges him to a shadow game duel, the illusions produced by the shadow game gives a realistic image that Kaiba feels inspired by the game, the duel went back and forth until Kaiba summoned Yugi's grandpa Blue-Eyes however the card didn't follow Kaiba instructions because it wasn't rightfully his and self-destructs, Dark Yugi uses a magic card to ressurect Blue-Eyes, wins the duel and gives Kaiba a penalty game "Sensation of Death" and leaves with Yugi's grandpa card.
Chapter 11-12 * The Wild Gang
Yugi, Honda and Anzu noticing something odd about their class, Jounouchi is not at school, so Yugi decided together with Anzu and Honda to find why Jounouchi has been absent, they try to go to his home to discover that Jounouchi haven't been home for two days, which gets them even more concerned about him, as they search for him, Yugi is the first to spot Jounouchi that he is with a gang from another school, Yugi and the others tried to reach him but in vain to a point one of the members of the gang punched Yugi in the face, Jounouchi pretends didn't see anything or that he doesn't know his friends, Anzu and Honda calls out on Jounouchi, however he continues ignoring them, so Anzu and Honda takes injured Yugi to a park, as Anzu takes care of Yugi's injury, they're wondering as to why Jounouchi is acting this way, Honda tells the story about Jounouchi was once a delinquent and part of a gang when he was in middle school with Hirutani, Yugi doesn't give up on Jounouchi and believes in him, that inspired Honda and Anzu to continue believing in Jounouchi, they try to find out the reason for Jounouchi's recent actions, to find out in their usual hang out something happened between Jounouchi and the gang, one of the the guys that were half-conscious revealed that Hirutani blackmailed Jounouchi into joining the gang, however since they didn't follow through the conditions with Jounouchi being in the gang for one of them punching Yugi, he rebelled and Hirutani plus the rest of the gang that were conscious went to their hideout to punish Jounouchi "misbehaviour", Yugi and the others become more worried about his well-being and start their search for their hideout, Yugi uses a little of millenium puzzle power and Dark Yugi takes over to arrive Jounouchi already unconscious, so Dark Yugi challenges the gang and their leader to a game, by outsmarting them they get all unconscious and goes back to the puzzle, with Yugi holding Jounouchi and him waking up relieved and moved seeing Yugi came to pick him up with his friends.
Key Points:
This scene around two panels ensembles is very interesting, those who already knows the story, it's very familiar, Blue-Eyes White Dragon not attacking Dark Yugi/Atem happens 3 times, the first time we see is this scene, one in Duelist Kingdom and Memory World Arc, it's curious because it makes me wonder how much the author had planned exactly or knew was going, different opponents too, this one against Kaiba → puppeteer using Kaiba's deck → mind-controlled Priest Seto by Akanaden...
Anzu trying to help aiding Yugi's wound, this won't be the last time though.
In this Panels Ensemble, looking at the panel on right, it is the important part, all objects surrounding Dark Yugi, specially close to the guy that knocked out by Jounouchi, all the water raining on Dark Yugi (hey, it will give Yugi a cold, geez, Jounouchi will probably will have it too but he got it worst with shock) will be tools to create a "game weapon" basically....
Chapter 9-10 * The Cards With Teeth
The chapter begins with the introduction of a trading card game that has been growing popularity, Magic & Wizards (licensed version: Duel Monsters) in Kame Game shop explained by Yugi and his grandpa to Anzu and Jounouchi, as Sugoroku shows his most treasured card given by a friend which happens to be considered one of the most powerful and rarest monster card, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, they were interrupted by one of their classmates, Seto Kaiba, who happens to be quite rich and huge a Magic & Wizards card game collector, he tries to buy Yugi's grandpa Blue-Eyes White Dragon through lot of extremely rare cards, but no success, gets out of the store angry...
Next day, Yugi brings his grandpa favourite card with his grandfather permission, Kaiba noticed and asked if he could see the card again and holding a bit, however he swiftly traded with a fake one and give that one to Yugi, to Kaiba's dismay Yugi noticed it was fake and he call out to Kaiba after school waiting for him and to give it back, however Kaiba refuses and hits him, Dark Yugi takes over and challenges him to a shadow game duel, the illusions produced by the shadow game gives a realistic image that Kaiba feels inspired by the game, the duel went back and forth until Kaiba summoned Yugi's grandpa Blue-Eyes however the card didn't follow Kaiba instructions because it wasn't rightfully his and self-destructs, Dark Yugi uses a magic card to ressurect Blue-Eyes, wins the duel and gives Kaiba a penalty game "Sensation of Death" and leaves with Yugi's grandpa card.
Chapter 11-12 * The Wild Gang
Yugi, Honda and Anzu noticing something odd about their class, Jounouchi is not at school, so Yugi decided together with Anzu and Honda to find why Jounouchi has been absent, they try to go to his home to discover that Jounouchi haven't been home for two days, which gets them even more concerned about him, as they search for him, Yugi is the first to spot Jounouchi that he is with a gang from another school, Yugi and the others tried to reach him but in vain to a point one of the members of the gang punched Yugi in the face, Jounouchi pretends didn't see anything or that he doesn't know his friends, Anzu and Honda calls out on Jounouchi, however he continues ignoring them, so Anzu and Honda takes injured Yugi to a park, as Anzu takes care of Yugi's injury, they're wondering as to why Jounouchi is acting this way, Honda tells the story about Jounouchi was once a delinquent and part of a gang when he was in middle school with Hirutani, Yugi doesn't give up on Jounouchi and believes in him, that inspired Honda and Anzu to continue believing in Jounouchi, they try to find out the reason for Jounouchi's recent actions, to find out in their usual hang out something happened between Jounouchi and the gang, one of the the guys that were half-conscious revealed that Hirutani blackmailed Jounouchi into joining the gang, however since they didn't follow through the conditions with Jounouchi being in the gang for one of them punching Yugi, he rebelled and Hirutani plus the rest of the gang that were conscious went to their hideout to punish Jounouchi "misbehaviour", Yugi and the others become more worried about his well-being and start their search for their hideout, Yugi uses a little of millenium puzzle power and Dark Yugi takes over to arrive Jounouchi already unconscious, so Dark Yugi challenges the gang and their leader to a game, by outsmarting them they get all unconscious and goes back to the puzzle, with Yugi holding Jounouchi and him waking up relieved and moved seeing Yugi came to pick him up with his friends.
Key Points:
****Chapter 8 - The Poison Man****
Right off the bat, the chapter begins with these three hanging out, it's nice to see these kinds of hints that since the event from the wicked b*tch, they hang out often...I like that Yugi is in the middle, something to note, Jounouchi character design is getting closer to the "current Jounouchi design" we know and most familiar with, Honda doesn't go through much evolution.
Can I say how Honda throws his common sense is pretty funny? one of these examples we and as to why he is actually creeped out by cringy, embarrassing and silly stuff, the fact he is very awkward but his common sense is usually funny, when they arrive the store and see the name of the store..."Junky Scorpion", Honda comments how the name of the store is too weird, I'm actually I'm with him, doesn't imply anything unless the store sells "used" stuff...but the logo though, the design is fine but 😑, doesn't imply anything of what the store wants to sell...
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Air Muscle sneakers, that's what he wanted, as Yugi said they are really popular but are super expensive, the shop owner say they are incredibly rare and you can't find them anywhere, that's not the problem, they are in shoes stores with brand but these sneakers are just expensive, so not everyone has it for it's expensive price, in my honest opinion I think they are kinda ugly, my favourites are always skater shoes.
It's irritating this guy puts on display and says is not on sale...what the heck...obvious there is something fishy, these kinds of shoes isn't rare, just really expensive...
This shop owner makes claims and rumours about shoes fanatics willing to kill over sneakers, nah, I doubt it...that just "publicity" to emphasize how "rare" is, they are just expensive shoes, it even get on Jounouchi's nerves asking if he is selling them or not, the shop owner challenges Jounouchi to a game to "test" his guts...
Now the bit that matters, that being the "little game" to "test" Jounouchi's guts, in this moment the shop owner claims the scorpion is more than just a mascot, but he has real scorpion with real poison, puts the scorpion in the one of "incredible rare air muscle sneaker" shoe, it's more or less, Jounouchi risking his life for a shoe, so Jounouchi plays along and put his feet on the shoe and pass the "test", to after the shop owner reveal that the scorpion he put there was fake but he does have a real scorpion...but doesn't change the problematic part of the shop owner to make up lie that encourages someone to risk their life for a freaking shoe...
This is one of those moments I love how Honda comments sarcastically emphasising as base on his common sense mixed with his own sensitivity about levels of embarrassment, I always have a laugh, here is some of his premium quotes from Honda about Jounouchi risking his life for shoes and how he is behaving in the street...:
"No one will forget the guy who risked his life for a pair of shoes!"
"You're not a little kid, y' know...even little kids don't skip like that...It's embarrassing to walk with him..."
This is what I meant that he can get easily embarrassed by something cringy as Jounouchi is doing right now...I just laugh so hard at his comments sometimes, this is some of the examples while Yugi being a cinnamon roll, he is just really happy for his friend being so happy to get what he wanted so badly...this panel ensemble is pretty funny itself xD.
Poor Yugi always getting punched, however I noticed that the guys who ambushed them, they were lighter on Yugi than Jounouchi and Honda, probably because Yugi looked like a little kid while Jounouchi and Honda looked tough and with some experience in street fighting.
Panels Ensemble on the Left, the first panel, the sequence, Honda calling for Jounouchi while Jounouchi worried about Yugi, Yugi just expressing how we express a slight pain with "ow ow ow", even though Honda considers Yugi as friend and comrade, but Jounouchi and Honda is implied that they go way back and that includes street-fighting, while Jounouchi seeing Yugi who looks like a kid and is a cinnamon roll, he asks if he is okay, then Jounouchi complains that he could only walk on those shoes for 2 blocks ( 😂), Jounouchi apologizes to Yugi for getting involved in this, from these moments on, Jounouchi becoming more protective of Yugi, Honda still haven't got there but will be soon, Anzu was already protective of him (she risked her life in the Burger World chapter in attempting to protect Yugi without second thought from the fugitive criminal with gun), remember in later posts around Duelist Kingdom arc and Battle City, the gang become quite protective of Yugi to a point of sheltering a little, Dark Yugi is on the list of being overprotective as well, for now he acts as protective spirit guardian.
Panels Ensemble on the Right, it implies Jounouchi and Honda are the kind of people who hold a grudge, Jounouchi is for much longer, Yugi bit by bit trying to step up in growing asks to accompanying them because deep inside Yugi wants to work on his self-esteem.
Here is into more into Jounouchi and Honda in terms of strength of character and their own honour conduct when comes to street fighting, they prefer to come up clean from the front while comparing to the attackers that attacked from behind as cowards...Honda starting to get more protective of Yugi as well by Honda saying to Yugi to leave the fighting to him and Jounouchi...
It's pretty noticeable that they aren't just skilled at street fighting but also very strong, specially Jounouchi, it can get bloody...Yugi is just impressed by seeing them fighting in action, which makes me always wonder how these two were defeated by Ushio, it's possible Ushio had experience and has dojo training, I say this because by putting into account the Ushio in YGO 5D's works at the public security bureau (police), it's possible that Ushio was stronger than them then...hmmm
I almost feel sorry for the guy who is crying over his broken nose...
The broken nose guy reveals as to why they don't have them and the shop owner set up the whole thing, revealing that the shop owner hire them to steal Jounouchi's shoes, Yugi quickly concludes the shop owner is swindling people, hey Yugi, knows these kind of terms, for me they are the worst kind of resellers, I already can't stand resellers in general and scalpers (specially when comes to video games and gaming systems), it seems Yugi can't stand them as a gamer, he must have seen those kinds, since it happens rather often when comes to games, I can see that (understandable, Yugi 😩), in this case Dark Yugi taking over is almost immediate.
As for the shop owner...you can tell what he was saying was all an act and lies, honestly the swindling for me doesn't sound logical business method, it has too many holes, specially in modern age, because here is, if you pay like for absurd amount by reselling to then later stole them then resell it to another person, this method could have worked in older days of the past, not when in modern days there is a lot shoes stores and see sneakers in better prices...
From the Carnival Games chapter's antagonist, we come to see that some don't seem to notice initially that there were was a change in Yugi's body, but I think the shop owner was slightly surprised, but didn't care, however since Dark Yugi expressed knowing he knew the shop owner secret swindling...
Since I have already explained the rules of the game in the plot summary of this chapter, I'll go straight to the point, so as we see, the shop owner starts to grow impatient due to his greed and having to be able to pick one by one coin at a time and wants to find a way to get all at once, his case in controlling his greed isn't too far off from Ushio, however this time around the shop owner actually asked permission of any kind to get more coins was allowed, Dark Yugi said was fine...then shop owner used a knife in attempt to kill his scorpion pet to get more coins, this game was all about patience and controlling your greed, also the risks that comes with trying to kill something you can't see, in this case a poisonous scorpion inside a shoe, the chances of a scorpion to be alive is higher if taking into account that most animals in their sense of danger and defensive is more precise than humans and the poisonous scorpion being less likely to be dead, as Dark Yugi brought up, what shop owner did was a dangerous move, for wanting get all the coins at once made him get his hand stuck in shoes and also suggested to the shop owner if his scorpion pet is truly alive (this is indications that Dark Yugi is aware based on what I wrote as to why would be more likely to be alive than dead).
As it was confirmed later, now my wonder, the scorpion is inside the shoe, is a scorpion this small? or is a scorpion species that is pretty small? I went ahead and researched, there is many of different sizes, now which species is this one likely? it has to be small to fit in there...it's amusing is how the inside of a shoe was drawn, it looks pretty spacious...I'm with Dark Yugi on this one, if he had any love for his pet, it would take by turns with once coin at a time...it would take longer, so the winner of this game would have been unclear as he said...he got stung.
So here is the thing, Yugi explained based on Jounouchi confirming what Yugi said to him ...(this will be amusing):
"Whaa...when you woke up, the sneakers were in your hands and the owner was being taken to the hospital for a scorpion sting?!"
According to the drawing of the panels, this is the next day at school after Yugi explained what happened, apparently Jounouchi and Honda were about to beat up the shop owner for swindling them, however what I find the most interesting here is that Yugi woke up and the shop owner was being taken to the hospital, so how that even happened?
My guess is Dark Yugi called the emergency from the phone of the store, possibly waited them to arrive, once they would enter, Dark Yugi would go back to the puzzle or Yugi's mind (I still can't say it until we get to Shadi's arc, for now just the pendant/puzzle (Dark Yugi really is a softie for the most part), because there is some complications), Yugi asleep or unconscious then Yugi adds more to his explanation:
"I don't know why but...there's a hole in these sneakers..."
Jounouchi presumed that Yugi got his sneakers on his own, he is "half-right", technically it was Dark Yugi taking over Yugi's body, so he is half right and take the hole in the sneakers as a battle scar and use them...save up as memoir, Jounouchi, when it rains or gets wet, it's gonna be a pain, while to Honda thinking that none of this makes sense, I don't censor him for the most part in this case...
****Chapter 9 & 10 - The Cards With Teeth****
This is when it was first introduced the TCG that become famous worldwide as much as in the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe as in the real world, ironically funny and amusing...
So in the western license of the series is called Duel Monsters, but the original name in the manga and even in Dark Side of Dimensions is "Magic & Wizards" not Duel Monsters, I think very few people know about this, when Takahashi-sensei designed this card game was more or less inspired on Magic The Gathering, which is another worldwide famous TCG, but as anyone who have played, the rules and concept is similar, but mechanics wise actually differ (I have played some PC games versions of Magic The Gathering), but since Magic & Wizards in name is similar to Magic The Gathering and so is it's concept, so in order for the adaptation to be commercialised the anime and the card game to the western audience, came with the name "Duel Monsters" as we see in the anime main series and spin-offs, while the "real-life" version is Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, amusingly enough.
It's pretty obvious in the manga that the author is a gamer specifically inclined towards tabletop and board games and othered that aren't digital for the most part, even nowadays he still designs games with his own studio, "Studio Dice", despite being produced his games usually in Japan his games, but doesn't go outside of Japan, sadly.
I find pretty sweet how even Anzu is slightly interested, Jounouchi is intrigued and interested, Anzu actually becomes more of a casual player, while Jounouchi gets super invested in it...
Yugi is very good at explaining in a way that is easy to understand, however when I want to get at with this panels ensembles, it's where Magic & Wizards (Duel Monsters) and Magic The Gathering is similar, I'll quote Yugi's explanation about this game (it's gonna be long) followed up by Sugoroku (Yugi's grandpa), Jounouchi then Yugi again:
Yugi: "It's a Trading Card Game...You know, a game where you trade cards! You play with two people. You each stake one card, and the one wins takes both. The game is set up so the players are both wizards. They use their cards to cast spells or summon monsters to fight! The cards have different attack and defense strengths. The person who loses all of their life points loses the game."
Sugoroku (Yugi's Grandpa): "Of course there are strong and weak cards!"
Jounouchi: "But with so many cards you could never collect them all!"
Yugi: "I've heard of a fan in America who sold his house just to buy one card!"
This is when I will point out where Magic & Wizards (Duel Monsters) and Magic The Gathering in concept is two players as wizards that can cast spells and summon monsters, both the monsters has ATK points and Defense points, also there is the Life points is when it gets a little different, but the mechanic is when both games become distinctive and different and how you summon monsters is different, the main phase 1, Battle Phase, Main Phase 2, the rules are different during these phases...
Now that I got through the technical part of the card games (which is rare for me to do so), now going into the story, the narrative and character story, everyone who reads the manga and knows the anime, that this card game becomes the main method of battles throughout the story, instead of miscellaneous games as it is for most of the first 7 volumes, that when comes back again, it becomes very rare to see such DDM (Dungeon Dice Monsters) and Shadow RPG, the doubts that many people have about this story, did Takahashi-sensei, planned from the beginning? Not really, his whole intent at the beginning was about diverse of games, there is rumours or some facts that was the editors of the publisher company to push the card game, because it was popular, that is mostly true...however there is one thing that people are missing here, even without the editors or popularity of the card game in the manga, it was inevitable to eventually become the main focused game in the story, because of one character...as Sugoroku about to show his favourite card...
The way emphasises Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Kaiba, it implies a lot of things in regards to the connections.
Introduction of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card since it's a relevant card in the story, it's interesting that Sugoroku as he points it out that this card is so overpowered that they stopped production, which means is extremely rare, it's later revealed around Death-T that it actually exists only 4 Blue-Eyes White Dragon over the world, as we see here Sugoroku owns one of them.
Introduction of Seto Kaiba (Kaiba Seto), to be honest, I'm not fan of this character, despite few points I agree with him but his arrogance and snobish attitude always kinda of ticked me off, at least his over the top personality compensates as a comic relief sometimes, however I have to admit that he is one of the most influential characters in the story and what made Yu-Gi-Oh! being mostly about card game, as I pointed out in the previous key point, even if the card game wasn't this popular, it would still be mostly about card game because of one character, the character in question is Kaiba, as we go along this chapter analysis, furthering my point with some interesting facts about his character...also the implications of his being good-looking but something dark within.
When Kaiba enters the store he says:
"What's this...? welll, well... so this game store is your family's, Yugi?"
Jounouchi and Yugi bought and so did Anzu, however the curious part is what Kaiba said when he entered, from the sound of it, Kaiba did sometimes bought games in this store, as for card games might be a little different, the sentence makes it sound that he was surprised, something tells me that he already knew, also ignored everyone else and talked to Yugi...
As this panel ensemble in terms of interaction, this continues, Yugi recognised as being one of his classmates, so we know he is in 1-B class, Kaiba says hello to Yugi, then asks if Yugi or they play Magic & Wizards (Duel Monsters), since the "You" can be used as singular and plural, we can't be really be sure if was to Yugi only or Yugi and the others, but from how Kaiba ignored the others and greeted Yugi, this says that he only asked Yugi and Kaiba did kept eye on him for awhile in interest before interacting with him since Yugi could be one of those talented gamers that holds no interest in competitions (which is technically true), Jounouchi kinda interferes their interaction and excited that he plays too and invites Kaiba to join their group, Yugi doesn't answer to Kaiba question, Jounouchi kinda answer for Yugi...
Kaiba's reaction to be invited to join their group...
"huh...? Join your group...?!"
There is a snobish sound to it, as if they are not a "worthy company", he too shows no interest to be in a "group" or could be said "social group" (I do understand him not having interest to be in "social group", I have a rather cynical view on this, I may want friends, but "social group" sounds insincere and not genuine plus for the sake of socialising, which to me always feels hollow and shallow), even though they invite him out of good will and want to be friends with him, but Kaiba doesn't see that way, I would say he is cynical about it but based on his big ego and arrogance.
In this key point with these two panels ensembles, this interaction alone is based on how Kaiba's character based on a real story, it's pretty amusingly funny too, more specifically the panels ensemble on right.
In Panels Ensemble on the Left, following the sequential order of these interactions, to describe the whole interaction of this panels ensembles, more or less he is saying to Jounouchi (this time is him, since he was the one who intervened when Jounouchi invited him to joined their group) that he would have to be in his league and asks to see his cards and then throws his cards and makes a very toxic "elitist" and snobbish statement that sometimes found around veterans fans who are "elistists" when the things they enjoy for a long time and looks down on newcomers and claim to be on a national level, it's impressive that Kaiba represents very well these kind of people we see in every fanbase..., so is kinda relatable if we see in this perspective.
In Panel Ensemble on the Right, this is where I want to focus on, specially this Kaiba line:
"Come back after you've collected at least 10 000 cards, heh heh..."
For starters I want to point out Jounouchi's reaction is very funny and Yugi being the mediator in telling he will play with him, aaww the birth of their hilarious interactions into the future, specially towards the end of Duelist Kingdom and onward. 😆
Now getting to into this line in specific, there is a real story behind which influenced in creating his character, Takahashi-sensei tells this story in those introduction text written by the author we see in mangas in Japanese manga is Volume 17, US Viz Media in "Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist Volume 10", in the Viz Media 3-in-1 Edition is Volume 6 (which represents volume 17 following the Japanese structure of volumes), summarising it was told by a friend of his that happened to him, his friend met someone who plays collectible card games and asked this person to play, however the person said the same statement as in this line I have quoted of Kaiba, this is how Kaiba's character was created, it's incredible how a real-life story told by his friend experience inspired Takahashi-sensei in creating this character that became so well known, who is so influential to the story, without Kaiba, I think the story of the manga would have been very different, at least it's flow would, probably to what Takahashi-sensei intended initially with his battle games concepts which is consisted mostly the first 7 volumes...so yeah, Kaiba is a very important character.
Then Kaiba interested in buying the cards from Sugoroku store, it's a bit weird though because he asks if he has good cards, when in the previous key point that when you buy packs, it's random, it may come strong or weak cards, unless Kaiba is used to buy cards individually instead in packs...takes an interest in front of Sugoroku, hmmm, I wonder...
This kinda reaction is similar, even though this is the first time we see in the manga, but it repeats in the prologue of Battle City when it came to the Egyptian Gods Cards, during this time Kaiba was much more power-hungry than we see in Battle City in comparison when he organised the tournament to get the god cards, it seems he was quite shocked or is shock in a different sense? Once we get to Death-T arc, I'll discuss this better... however he does say in his "inner monologue" that he never saw one...hmmm.
I find interesting is his most pinning questions were how he got this card and what is doing here, Sugoroku noticed his "hungry eyes" for the card...
Just so you are aware despite Kaiba calling Sugoroku "Old Man!", he doesn't know his name, but still rude, in Japan they say usually like this with honorifics "Ouji-san", so not really rude, at least not in Japan for the most part with the "-san" honorific.
Moving along, this is the aluminium briefcase that he brings a lot around and even uses as a weapon, from how huge is this briefcase, I would guess is close to 50 000 cards or more, Kaiba being Kaiba, he is willing to trade all these cards from his briefcase that he carries almost everywhere (I mean how many times we saw him carry this aluminium briefcase, the answer is most of the time), so for Kaiba this was a pretty big deal for him, Sugoroku understood that, also having all these cards in a aluminium briefcase full of these cards...someone who seems to buy them individually and very rare ones too, this pretty much implies he is pretty wealthy.
The initial gang are very shocked to a very funny degree, specially seeing a briefcase this thick full of cards, as Sugoroku refuses for not trading his Blue-Eyes card for thousands of rare cards, shocks them even further (so funny xDD), Kaiba isn't surprised as if he understands the real reasons since is a card so rare and powerful they stopped production, while Sugoroku is not for the reasons Kaiba may think...
This will get long, in fact keys points focusing on this arc and the next one will be pretty long in comparison to "The Poison Man" chapter, because the arcs sometimes get bigger and this one is the first when a arc is not episodic for one chapter, instead is an arc for two chapters but some is much longer.
This is Sugoroku response to Kaiba's proposal, quoting him:
"Ho ho...Kaiba, isn't it? I have a good reason to hold onto it...It's not just because it's a strong card. An important gamer friend of mine from America gave me this card...This card is as important to me as my friend! I could never give it up! It's the same with the common cards...If you really treasure something, it grows a heart of it's own, just like this card! So take good care of each and every card in this trunk, Kaiba! Then you'll find the true strength of this game."
The "heart of the cards" message in the dubbed anime and even in the anime originally is similar to the dub one, but in the manga, I think it hits a bit different in the manga here, the way he describes of how you hold to a gift from a friend or family of yours who are important to you, also how you get attached to books, video games, tv shows, movies, etc that we love and take care of it becomes to have a personal and special meaning to our lives, because it gives you memories of good times or how much it help you as escapism during rough times that had a role in finding true strength, even if is subconsciously, Sugoroku is more or less saying that Magic & Wizards has these elements in what makes it special to even have a small following in Japan (which will get bigger later), so what I'm trying to say is that the anime didn't do enough justice about the main message that was trying to be portrayed here, because when we think about "the heart of the cards" is not really clear and instead makes into a rather cheesy message of cards that think for themselves, while here is about more the special personal value that something has for you.
Kaiba may look like he didn't get it, I would say he understood it as a general gist of it...Jounouchi moved by Yugi's grandpa speech, now as to add up, Yugi points out a tidbit of info about his grandpa records:
"Even without using a rare card, Grandpa has never lost a game!"
So this is interesting, you can tell from how he expresses he looks up to his grandfather a lot, if we think back about the using the gold box was the millennium puzzle and the pendant itself as his grandpa "memento" even though he is alive 😐, since the who got the puzzle was his grandpa and hidden in a shelf, I think Yugi saw it as the ultimate challenge and for his own independence and "coming of age", as we can see that is still something he has to work on it.
Lastly, I want to mention about Sugoroku's friend from America, with this alone shows Sugoroku is well travelled man and as later in the series such DDM arc and prologue of Memory World, then as for this friends, if we look at the photo that Sugoroku shows to Kaiba who was the original and previous owner of the Blue-Eyes card, we have seen him in the filler arc of the anime after Duelist Kingdom to lecture his granddaughter Rebecca (who is the national champion of America), to some extent I consider that filler arc, it's one of the good fillers of the series to be honest (the first Big Five arc, I don't like the Noah arc...a lot of it doesn't make sense) but in the manga we never got to know the name but the filler episode where his friend appears as his name being Arthur, I think this is probably canon.
Here it is Yugi still "teaching" Jounouchi on how to play, but as we see, Yugi basically had no effort in winning here, it's one of those moments that Yugi makes it look easy, you're not seeing his true potential, talent and intellect if there is no real effort from Yugi, so Kaiba misjudges quite incorrectly Yugi true abilities:
"[Inner Monologue: Heh... what a low level duel...] The elementary schoolers at the national tournament are stronger than them!"
"[Inner Monologue: Heh... what a low level duel...] The elementary schoolers at the national tournament are stronger than them!"
Kaiba's assessment to their abilities is half-right(Jounouchi) and half wrong(Yugi), Jounouchi is still learning with almost no progress, so you can't measure the person ability properly of someone who is winning when the one who is always losing still doesn't know how to play properly while the other who is winning is putting no effort, that's Yugi, a hidden gem fast learner who makes things look easy...Kaiba's thoughts and comment is what a very "elitist" and "snobbish" would say and needs to work on judgement skills without being clouded by ego and arrogance...
This scene overall, I'm not gonna quote but is only one, the expressions and reactions is the most important during this interaction between Yugi and Kaiba, Kaiba give a cringy fake smile and saying a corny line saying it was fun watching them playing ("having fun looking down on them"), Yugi initially was pleased, then Kaiba expresses his guess that Yugi may have brought the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in his bag, Yugi response was immediate:
"Well, that's my bag, but..."
Yugi was quick to notice something was off and even further questioning Kaiba of how he knew he brought his grandpa's card, that "sweat" in the Panels Ensemble on the Right in the inferior corner to the right as he asks and informed him that he begged his grandpa and wouldn't use in a battle...Yugi was creeped out and suspicious for Kaiba guessing correctly that he brought his grandpa's card.
In summary of how Kaiba tries to convince that he couldn't sleep from excitement since he saw that card, he was moved by Yugi's grandpa words and asks Yugi to see it one more time, Yugi ponders for a little (yes, he does, I cut this part so I could put the panels ensemble on the left), then Yugi accepts it, but the fact he ponders shows he is suspicious but gives the benefit of doubt...that's how Yugi is, he doesn't fully trust the person but is willing to give the benefit of doubt, so don't mistake him as being too trusting...there is a difference between true trust or even too trusting and giving a chance of benefit of doubt.
In Panels Ensemble on the Left, it's further evidence that is pretty much the case, it's after Kaiba switch with a fake version of the card and "giving it back", Yugi looks at the card for awhile, from the expression he noticed something, Kaiba thinking he fooled Yugi and that his plan went perfectly (Of course, Kaiba 😒) and he says to Yugi in having fun, Kaiba is leaving but Yugi is looking at him, to the close-up panel, Yugi did noticed something and was not good (he noticed in one glance it was fake), then Jounouchi calls to him to play a rematch, then Yugi acts a little airhead and accepts, this is what I meant that he makes things look easy because he does it like is the most natural thing in the world and acts a little as an airhead when he never was...
This is the scene, also one of the problems I have with Kaiba after many of my re-reads of this manga towards Dark Side Dimensions movie, my outburst in full will be in thoughts and observations...that sometimes his actions contradicts a lot on how he measure Yugi real abilities to a point ticks me off, well, thinking back about his character development, he is pretty much a contradictory individual either way...competitive and prideful nature of his doesn't bother me most of the time until specific moments...when it gets a little or too overboard...I guess this shows signs that he is a pretty unstable person...
Focusing on this moment, it seems many people overlook this part, when I think this is very important regarding Yugi true abilities and smarts (who is capable of way more), Kaiba is very surprised that Yugi was waiting for him and laughs awkwardly (lol...this is a rare sight coming from him) and awkwardly asking if Yugi is going home (I wonder why so tense, Kaiba? 😊), he is "considering" Yugi being suspicious of him, when Yugi asks to give his grandpas card back, Kaiba was very shocked that Yugi realised...(see what I mean contradictory? "considering" Yugi may have noticed to complete shock...), Yugi explains as to why he didn't say anything because their classmates were watching, he didn't want to create a ruckus (I think he was cautious due to his dangerous experience with Kokurano, that guy almost killed Yugi with intent to kill him), Kaiba attempts to deny it as Yugi gives the final blow that he can tell the difference between fake and the real thing, Kaiba went from "ugh..." to plain denying it that he didn't do it (he was probably pissed Yugi figured it out)...
We're closer to the end of this arc, I'll start with quoting Yugi calling Kaiba out in giving his grandpa's card back:
"You must know! You have to know how important that card is to my grandpa! If I don't keep my promise and give that card back, I'll break grandpa's heart!! I can't do that to him! He's my grandpa! I can't betray him!"
What Yugi says here, it has a lot of meanings behind it, as to how Yugi is expressing his determination in not hurting his Grandpa's feelings, it's not just because that card was a gift from his grandpa's important friend, making the card very important to his grandpa, but also the fact as I mentioned before and in a certain post, Yugi since very young, due to his father job overseas was always absent, the closest he had to a role model before he could interact with Dark Yugi was his grandfather Sugoroku who taught him about games and his love for games was a huge influence from his grandfather, as few key points before he also admired his skill as a gamer, his grandfather is a very important figure to him in his life.
The another thing, involving this scene about the card and break his grandpa's heart, most people would interpret "the heart of the cards" theme in the series in a cliche manner, for me the ones interpreting this way are the ones being cliché in interpretation since many shows has this kinds of messages and is being executed the same way but do it subconsciously and unintentionally besides the dub doesn't help and well even the series doesn't explain that well but the manga if you put into account Sugoroku explanation previous key points as to why that card was important and didn't relate to rare or power values but personal value that reminded of his friend, when you treasure something and eventually it gains personal value, so the whole "hearts of the cards" thing that's more the anime writing in general since was targeting the general audience to sell cards.
As for quoting Kaiba when he responds to Yugi demands to retrieve his grandpa's card:
"What about my feelings? Before you complain about your grandfather why don't you try believing in your friend?"
Kaiba...I don't know if is Kaiba acting like a spoiled child as if he is receiving unfair treatment or if he is trying to manipulate Yugi like you try to manipulate a child...I would say pitiful attempt at manipulating a "child", asking to "believing in his friend", who acted like a jerk the day before that they weren't friends and next day...act friendly out of self-interest, Yugi noticed that too when Kaiba asked him if he brought the card and if could see one more time...even Yugi was creeped out...Yugi just given Kaiba the benefit of doubt, a optional chance to earn his trust).
I guess this always implies that Kaiba misjudges Yugi due to his child-like appearance and demeanour, however Yugi is very smart which is usually easily overlooked, the other thing...that's a secret after Death-T, considering this now...maybe he treated Mokuba this way sometimes is a possibility...hmmm.
Kaiba using that aluminium briefcase to hit Yugi in the face when Yugi tried to call him out again...how many times did Yugi get hit in the face? unfortunately this won't be the last...poor boy 😢.
I find interesting, clearly Dark Yugi waited for Yugi to confront Kaiba in a tactful way to having to demand to retrieve his grandpa's card following his principles, the nice way option was aggressively denied by Kaiba, Dark Yugi step up and will do it "not-nice" way using shadow game to retrieve back the card, also interesting this is when we see that Dark Yugi may half initially think he is "other yugi" and half spirit guardian, he calls Sugoroku as grandpa like Yugi but then again Jounouchi calls Sugoroku in similar and more informal way ("gramps"), or something subconscious had seen him as grandpa too when he still had his memories when the millennium puzzle was still in pieces...who knows.
I wonder again how Dark Yugi this time called Kaiba...honestly, it's not Yugi knew Kaiba's home address besides it was when they were leaving the school entrance...it's in school that the game is happening, unless Dark Yugi chased Kaiba and challenged him there...that's the only logical explanation.
As for for Kaiba perspective and his inner monologue after Dark Yugi warned him that this duel will be a little different from what he had before and that he will see when the game starts...on the surface it may seem Kaiba didn't noticed the "sudden change" in Yugi's demeanour or should I say the "Yugi" is not the same Yugi he knows, but Kaiba's arrogance and overconfidence plus convinced he is invincible, so he is not caring if he is the same Yugi or "other yugi", this kind of attitude happens rather often from Kaiba with many of his opponents and how he treats others too not surprising (it's amusing to me sometimes as much it ticks me off - Kaiba for me is one of those characters that I don't dislike them but neither like them - Snape from Harry Potter is the same way too for me).
Kaiba was pretty shocked seeing the "little different" from what he sees warned by Dark Yugi, Kaiba was not just shocked...(it's funny seeing Dark Yugi with such a smug and satisfied expression of "causing" a shock to Kaiba that he probably expected...).
I find this scene very amusing, Dark Yugi says the penalty game on who loses the game is "know death" not actually dying, another way to name it is "sensation of death", this is rare for Dark Yugi point out what the penalty will be, usually he never tells but he opened an exception to him...does it relate with the "heart of the cards" as way to teach him to value his cards and not stealing other people cards that holds personal value to them, maybe, because for Yugi not bringing his grandpa's card would break his heart, it must be in that sense.
The most amusing part in this Panels ensemble, it's the panel in the inferior corner to the right...I'll quote Kaiba, his true thoughts after seeing the cards being materialised in a shadow game duel:
"heh...heh ha ha ha ha...This is good! I'm glad I took your challenge! This is the extreme game I've been looking for!!"
I find this reaction of his very amusing but has important elements to it, it went from shock as we see in the key point above this one, to excitement and exhilaration that he felt glad that he took his challenge, this duel has a huge influence on Kaiba that is kinda off the charts, inspires him into designing and inventing devices of high tech and also an unhealthy obsessive competitive rivalry with Dark Yugi (that sometimes, honestly ticks me off a lot when it gets annoying and over the top), it's funny too that this very duel has such an huge impact on Kaiba and something to consider this duel kinda shapes the story (this is why I keep saying in this post and another one, whether with due to the editors requests or the popularity or without neither, we would see a lot of card games battle of this TCG, it was just inevitable)...
Taking into account that in Takahashi-sensei interviews about Kaiba's special connection with the Blue-Eyes, Duelist Kingdom scene similar to this one, I don't think Duelist Kingdom wasn't expected to start quite quickly right after Monster World arc...it's even possible that the author didn't intended to repeat in Duelist Kingdom or that point yet, however I'm sure the Memory World version was intended from since the early scripts of the storyline, in form of a general idea where the story would be taking, however the execution is where it may differ, similar logic must apply in Duelist Kingdom, based on the patterns we see in the first 7 volumes, starts with episodic arcs, here we see the first appearance of smaller arcs (consisted of two chapters), then comes bigger arcs (Shadi's arc) then comes back episodic arc mixed with smaller ones, the big arcs comes back, then episodic arc then smaller to big, with different games, Kaiba in some big ones and not present in some, it was probably in this pattern that Takahashi-sensei.intended.
Now the series is over, we see is not the case in at least 70%, because the different games and bigger arcs with no card games or different card game we see from most of the series is in smaller amount, the episodic ones, small arcs while the big ones you can count in one hand...Shadi's arc, Monster World, DDM and Shadow RPG (Memory World arc with one full card game battle (Yami Bakura "spy" VS Yugi).
Getting back to the subject of "heart of the cards" based on what Dark Yugi answer as to why this Blue-Eyes White Dragon didn't attacked Dark Yugi:
"Kaiba, you still don't understand the true meaning of this game. That card won't attack me...because your soul isn't in that Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
As to the main reason as to why the card didn't attack, I could put into consideration of how much the card game was intended to be part of the main story...if we put the lore and worldbuilding of Yu-Gi-Oh! universe, I do think lore and worldbuilding was intended but not take over most of the series like it did.
Whether taking consideration or not to what happens later in the series, we can't forget that Dark Yugi used a magical artefact to create this shadow game with cards being materialised and this materialisation is technically an illusion too created by the shadow game, patterns wise, it always seems as a magical artefact can detect emotions in objects like we see in Dark Yugi's shadow games that reflects his "enemies"/"evil doers" intent to pressure them to reveal their true nature and intent, I think similar logic can be applied here, even more strengthened that these cards had a role and connection to the millennium items...
Continuing Dark Yugi explaination...
"To my grandpa that card was more than a collectible. The card was torn between it's fate to destroy and it's loyalty to grandpa's soul. It chose to destroy itself as the only way to fulfill it's duty."
As I pointed out, the emotions in objects or in something by treasuring them that creates personal value is detected or perceived, as for cards think on their own...as Kaiba is in disbelief...of course in real life is not the case, but in this story as it been presented so far with these different shadow games, later meeting other millennium item wielders, in Yu-Gi-Oh! universe has it's own lore and set of rules in magic and in this case it deals with ancient magic from magical artefacts for the time being, it seems they thinks think somehow on their own.
This begs to question does this card game was always intended to be connected to the millennium items?
For the most part, yes, I think so, if we look overall even so far, Takahashi-sensei takes a lot of inspiration in ancient games into modernising them in some way (the game Dark Yugi inspired from the dice in ancient egypt was "astragali" and used a normal modern-day dice), reminding ourselves of his reference through Ishizu in the prologue of Battle City that the Thoth tarot cards was based on Book of Thoth, from this logic and patterns, we can conclude it was very likely it was intentional this connection between the card game and the millennium items, the intended execution may have been a little different, some changes can happen when creating a story.
This part...I'm unsure if this penalty was a good idea or not, specially with how he lives intensively his card game...(I mean he was willing to trade all his super rare cards for the Blue-Eyes White Dragon...), even for me this "sensation of death" is quite intense psychologically, if we were to compare to the ones so far at this point, I think the director-san and the fugitive criminal were more intense however these are much dangerous, the director-san was getting dangerous ideas...(filming an actual killing...dude...is he a psycho or something?), the curious thing that with Kaiba is a little a different aftermath, but is because Kaiba has it's own reasons...
It's only a nightmare and illusion, but is on the intense side, to punish someone for theft...Dark Yugi could have gone a little lighter on this one...the wake up from nightmares is not good at all, if was intense like this one, someone may be too scared to go to sleep or think of the nightmare for a whole week (it happened to me a few times and to a friend mine quite frequently) and as someone who tries to prevents to have nightmare before going to sleep since I dislike them so much for these reasons, so in this case, I can sympathise with Kaiba.
****Chapter 11 & 12 - The Wild Gang****
The scene it's in the 3rd page first panels, the information we get from Honda about Jounouchi record history school life is pretty interesting...:
"We gotta solve this mystery! You guys might not believe me, but in all of high school, I don't ever remember Jounouchi skipping class! He always gets an A+ in P.E. Of course he flunks on everything else!"
So Jounouchi didn't ever skipped high school so far, which means maybe it had in middle school, from the sound of it is a shocking matter to Honda, who seems to know him the longest in the group, also despite Jounouchi seems to play around a lot, this time around in high school he has been quite diligent in not skipping class, which is curious too, next detail is an amusing one that Jounouchi always gets good grades when comes to P.E. (Physical Education, the athletic/sports subject), which makes sense since it has been clear that he is pretty athletic (with Jounouchi's talent in fighting), then gets funnier and concerning that he fails in the rest of the subjects, so he must be one of the students that has to re-take the test from the sound of it...
Continuing with the scene, according to Honda that even himself haven't heard what has been going on with Jounouchi, also the tidbit detail about the growing friendship between Anzu and Jounouchi that the school feels kind of lonely due to his lively personality and go with Honda suggestion to visit his home, the fact Honda knows where he lives implies he knows him for much longer, likely before high school.
As it can be read and observed, the man with his feet wearing boots on the table (it's basic Japanese manners, leaving outdoor footwear at the entrance), Honda confirms to his friends it was indeed Jounouchi's father, also that Jounouchi hasn't been at home for two days.
Regarding Jounouchi's father, this is the only time we have a glimpse of him, it's pretty obvious that he is alcoholic, from he just behaved throwing a alcoholic drink like that to the door thinking it was to his son, needless to say that Jounouchi has it very rough, apparently violent at times...toxic environment, according to Honda, his father has been like this forever, at this time we didn't know exactly how long but in early chapters of Duelist Kingdom, it was like this since his childhood...(what other reason could his parents split up if not for his father had been like this to a point his mother left her son behind...) and with he has been like this "forever".
Another highlight I want to give to this scene about Jounouchi's father, specifically him with his footwear on the table, we see something similar in Duelist Kingdom...when Jounouchi was ready to face Bandit Keith in the semi-finals, Bandit Keith was doing this position and attitude too before his duel against Jounouchi, the way Jounouchi interacted with Bandit Keith then in Duelist Kingdom may summarise how his interaction with his father usually is...this part alone further confirms it, it's pretty terrible.
To be honest, I'm surprised that the social assistance and security still hadn't done anything or very little about this, however Jounouchi has special permit to have part-time job by the school due to his familial situation...
Also this kinda explains about his grades, in no way this kind of environment help anyone to study, so he would have to go study in the library, I guess...but it's not that simple, specially with him having a part-time job.
They find Jounouchi, more quickly spotted by Yugi, however noted by Honda, he is hanging out with a gang from Rintama High School, from the sound of it, it's a school full of problematic teens...
Here is a moment from Yugi in this scene that may be easily overlooked, but always bugged and left me a feeling kinda uncomfortable from how he refers the "Rintama Gang" for a long time that I didn't know why, now look at it again, I see what bothered me...starting by quoting Yugi line speaking to Jounouchi:
Yugi: "Why'd you skip school, Jounouchi? Why are you with people like them?"
It's fine seeing Yugi expressing his concern about Jounouchi skipping school and who he hangs out with in terms of bonding quality time as friends, understandable, refer whom Jounouchi hangs out with, being the bad rumoured Rintama students as "people like them" sounds pretty rude coming from Yugi, also sounds jumping to conclusions before knowing them, even as the readers reading the first time, it would feel rude being first time getting to see these characters we know nothing yet and rumours is not always true, I don't know if is the translation, I don't think so because it could have been worded better like "why are you with rintama students/gang?", would do...I say this since is rare seeing Yugi being kinda rude... (it's similar to a friend, family or romantic partner asking «why you're hanging out with people/someone like "them"/"her"/"him"/"that"»).
To further prove it, words like these can hurt the mentioned receiver "people like them"...like the "beanie boy":
Beanie Boy: "...people like them? does he mean us? You know that kid, Jounouchi?"
The "beanie boy" mentioning "people like them? does he means us?", the way Yugi phrased it did ticked beanie boy off and as kinda hurtful and rude..., then asks Jounouchi if he knows him to confirm something and also to beanie boy, Yugi looks like a little kid despite being a high schooler...(the uniform is what helps for the most part to not mistake him for a elementary schooler xDD).
The other thing is if Jounouchi should have answer yes or no if he knew Yugi...
This is when we're introduced to Hirutani, this character appears in two small arcs (the ones that consists of two chapters), this one and another that comes after Death-T arc, he is very important for the early stage of Jounouchi's character development, since he is connected to his past and lingering connections too, also I do find him a pretty interesting character (too bad he didn't appeared in more arcs).
Also nothing new...teens around underage to be smoking...as for Honda reaction, he was pretty quick to recognise Hirutani and in his inner monologue that he saw Jounouchi with Hirutani before...hmmm.
Hirutani: "Heh...Jounouchi, you're too nice...Don't tell me at Domino High you let kids like that follow you around. You should have come to Rintama with us from the start."
Hirutani to him, despite Yugi wearing his high school uniform, he perceives Yugi not just in appearance like a kid also behaviour wise "you let kids like that follow you around.", someone had his pride hurt when Yugi refer his gang as "people like them" so to indirectly bite back...
As Yugi persists in convincing Jounouchi to come back to their group...beanie boy getting more ticked off and and reconfirms that Jounouchi said he didn't know him...I wonder what he means by that to reconfirm himself, Jounouchi still keeping trying to "ignore" and not saying anything...I ask again should have Jounouchi said that he knew Yugi...hmmmm...
I wonder how many punches did he get in the face? or being hit in the face intentionally? poor boy, just because he was a little rude...doesn't mean you have to punch them in the face.
The beanie boy as bite back from "people like them" tells Yugi who could talk to Jounouchi...the punch was unnecessary though...however it's kinda curious how he means the next time he sees his face, he will cut off that hair and feed to him, at first you would think this is because that bases from gang of delinquents and bullies...but is it just that?...Yugi's hair usually stands out.
Honda and Anzu straight to Yugi, Jounouchi still trying feigning ignorance...I ask again should he have told him if he knew Yugi or not...? (I will keep making this rhetoric question for awhile, I am more or less implying that he should have said something among the lines that he knew him..., because the beanie boy asked if Jounouchi knew Yugi to confirm something).
Anzu immediately calls out to Jounouchi for "feigning ignorance" and did nothing to protect Yugi or saying anything and even pretending he doesn't know Yugi, she doesn't say these words but her telling him as the worst and couldn't believe the way he is behaving, that includes Honda...but they were indirectly implying the "feigning ignorance" behaviour...notice that beanie boy didn't punch the other two, only Yugi due to his persistence and the "people like them", yet Yugi still calling him...
I ask the same rhetorical question, should have Jounouchi confirmed to beanie boy that he knew him...?
Quoting Honda explanation about how he knows Jounouchi and what he knows about him regarding his past:
"You see, Jounouchi...was in a gang in middle school. There was a time when he lived to fight with gangs from other schools...some times even high school gangs. He had a long record...they almost sent him to jail...that's when he was with Hirutani. I mean now we hang out all the time, but I really used to look up to him. He used to look out for the younger guys...and he never beat up on weaker dudes...but I can't understand it...what's his deal...? maybe he's not coming back..."
What Honda says here, it's pretty interesting and informative regarding Jounouchi, we have the confirmation that he knew Jounouchi since middle school and he was in Hirutani's gang, also looked up to him, look out for the younger ones and didn't fight those who were weak (could be considered as weak by "gang" standards, that is), this says that even when he was a delinquent, he was someone with his own integrity and principles, the most interesting part to me how he was almost sent to jail, according to Japan penal system that I researched, is mostly like any other penal system countries...if you're a minor, first goes through a family court but if the case is too severe, then gets to general court treated like an adult...I'm surprised he wasn't sent to a training/correction institution/school, he may had before if he was almost sent to jail...
This is some indications that Yugi faith in their friendship at this time bases from the millennium puzzle and his wish to this magical artefact...we all know that even Dark Yugi later points it out to Yugi, that his friends he made was from his own effort in Battle City, even though this is also seeing him very slowly becoming confident and his self-esteem starting to increase (it was very low for a long time), but Yugi isn't realising his own growth bit by bit, he may not be fully aware but this moment is more him believing in Jounouchi's friendship than the puzzle giving that friendship that he believes it bases from...
The fight is 5 VS 1, we see Jounouchi being well versed in street fighting, however you see Jounouchi usually doesn't block attacks but dodges instead, so he is more focused on agility and strength, defense is where it lacks, it fits his personality right, Jounouchi is not a patient individual, blocking would require patience and good resistance, also being 5 vs 1, so not good at all as Jounouchi thought, plus these are guys Hirutani picked up, so he would be close to Jounouchi's and his own level I guess (to make it easier to control his own henchmen while not taking risks of a member try to overtake his position), since Jounouchi was at a huge disadvantage, he was successfully hold down.
For quite awhile from here on about this chapter, we're getting into lore of the series, in particular about the millennium puzzle and possible limitations, this is the first time we see Yugi using this power of the millennium puzzle/pendant, it happens again in Duelist Kingdom when they were looking for Jounouchi like this case too, it makes one wonder...you see, it usually starts with Yugi using this power in this case then Dark Yugi takes over, however in Duelist Kingdom, Yugi's intuition senses something is going on with Jounouchi, so Dark Yugi uses this same power about finding the location of the person they are looking for...looking through the other millennium items if they have similar powers, they do but in different methods, one is by reading minds (millennium eye), by "pointing" (millenniun ring), seeing the future locations, present and past (millennium tauk), collecting intel from someone's brain as they control them (millennium rod), etc...you get the point.
It's nice to see that Yugi faith in Jounouchi ignited Honda and Anzu faith in Jounouchi, this can considered his beginning as the guide of the gang, he has always been unaware of his own potential as leader, when thinking through, in a way he is the leader of their group without noticing it, since he is the mediator (trying to stop when they're arguing) and guide plus inspiring others to become better person, these are some characteristics of a leader that he had potential to be...though he doesn't realise it even in Dark Side of Dimensions...simply probably he holds no interest, even though he does it naturally, since his friends give a lot of importance to his opinions and also as more of a decision maker.
So Honda pointed out as based on how many years he have known Jounouchi and reignited faith in his friend suspecting that there must be a reason he is hanging out with Hirutani...
so went ahead to investigate "J'Z" which is some bar in a alleyway and looks like a shady place too...one of the gang members exit the bar to make errand ordered by Hirutani (let's refer him as "errand boy" for now, because we never get the names of the gang members except it's leader), they start tailing behind, Honda is closer confident that he can easily take the guy, Yugi and Anzu for their safety, there was gap distance away, so they can watch quietly behind..., then Honda take him on...Yugi is impressed while Anzu is just watching as class rep she must have known that Honda and Jounouchi got into fights constantly.
Honda starts demand normally, then the errand boy was easily taken provokes the guy (starting to sweat, idiot), then resorts to agressive threat if he doesn't speak up (well he knock a guy out and send him to a hospital if he wants to, Honda was one of who beat up dudes in Poison chapter until they bleed and broke noses...), it seems to be rather common thing to threat someone by giving death threats...so in the media too...it happens a lot 😒.
To summarise what the errand boy explains to him
****Jounouchi was blackmailed by Hirutani that they would beat up the students, specifically younger ones if he didn't join their gang, also another way of saying nothing bad happens to them if he joins the gang...****
We can guess that they have been keeping their word during these two days until beanie boy punched Yugi, however he punched after confirming if Jounouchi knew Yugi or not, Jounouchi answer to beanie boy was that he didn't knew Yugi.
This is what I mean keeping making a rhetorical question if Jounouchi should have said if he did knew Yugi or not...all of this seems to imply, if Jounouchi said he did knew, maybe beanie boy wouldn't have punched him...Jounouchi is only slightly at fault, because it was pretty obvious Jounouchi did knew Yugi if Yugi kept calling him, so they didn't really kept their word anyway, which is why Jounouchi is pissed at beanie boy for punching Yugi.
Now mentioning beanie boy, he said something funny and amusing of note:
"What'cha thinkin' about, Jounouchi? You rather playing house with starhead?"
So beanie boy noticed that Jounouchi knew Yugi, his perception of Yugi is also kinda curious, Yugi's hair clearly stood out for referring him as "starhead", as for "playing house", first appearance wise to beanie boy he looked like a child despite he was wearing his school uniform, there is also other meaning, because "playing house" usually who plays it are girls, boys too, but is more common being girls, so to beanie boy, Yugi looks bit feminine or his voice being high-pitched to beanie boy...Jounouchi had this perception of Yugi before in the first chapter, I don't think it is the only thing (but there is other thing I will approach it later after Shadi's arc...), so yeah, there is some toxic masculinity.
This is when Jounouchi punches beanie boy and after seeing him surrounded by 5 Hirutani's "henchmen", as we have seen Jounouchi's eyes when he is serious there is a certain fire in his eyes, that is supposed to mean coming from a "street fighter" as we see comics and manga pretty commonly, that Hirutani bring the eyes of a fighter
"Heh heh...Jounouchi I'm glad you're finally getting the old look back in your eyes...too bad for you that it's aimed at us. HOLD HIM DOWN! JOUNOUCHI NEEDS AN ATTITUDE LESSON!"
To me, Hirutani has always been an interesting antagonist, too bad he only appears in two arcs, despite be quite the jerk and more, but you can see he definitely has good leadership skills.
Regarding the eyes Hirutani speaks of in Jounouchi from old days from the time when he was a full delinquent (that was almost sent to jail), it gives indications possibly with Ushio he didn't went all out because the "delinquent Jounouchi" wasn't there, but a goofy student but had some fights in the streets here and there.
Yugi and co. now knowing the full situation, came to look for him...
Something interesting he speaks of, Hirutani speaks of a change of scene that being "the torture chamber", someone watches lots of violent movies and tv shows about mafia, criminals and gangsters *rolls eyes*, because is such a cliché name for the mentioned place, you would think is in some private room in the place called bar J'Zs (something like that)...he could be a little creative with the name or author, I don't know, because it could be a character trait in mimicking whatever movie or tv show he watches and thought as cool...who knows.
Here is another "trivia fact" about Rintama students if you will, from how Honda reacts to them, tells his friends to not enter and he can fight, but he is still nervous of fighting, as I have pointed out before, Hirutani picked them to be part of his "gang", so they would be skilled in fighting and have enjoyment, also it seems Rintama in general is like this from the sound of it according to how he expresses his concern when comes to the school Hirutani comes from.
This interaction between Hirutani and Jounouchi is quite interesting, we see Jounouchi hanging with his hands tied and took quite a lot kicks and punches...poor him, however I find it curious is Hirutani's comment on seeing Jounouchi hanged with his hands tied....:
"heh heh...I like this view, Jounouchi."
This comment of his might have lots of meanings such taming a wild beast or a rebel in the gang, manner of himself disciplining Jounouchi, or something else 😗...
While Jounouchi acts cheeky by insulting Hirutani as red-butt boss monkey, in other words a boss with a short-temper that gets easily competitive and irritated(pfft).
Hirutani continues:
"Jounouchi...You've been like that since middle school! always acting like you were my equal! still nothing could stop us when we were together...even some high school gangs were afraid of us. We had plenty of people working for us...but the one thing I never managed to do...was teach you this...I am the boss. You'll always be second-in-command."
This gives a bigger scope of how Jounouchi was at the time when he was a delinquent, some parts of him hadn't changed him when comes to challenge those at the top of the hierarchy and treat as their equals, we see still see these attitudes from him with Ushio, Kaiba (the most common case), Bandit Keith, Dark Yugi but between them is friendly and comradery, Mai as well after his duel with her too, Yugi is kinda mix bag, sometimes he relies on Yugi's advice while sometimes as if he is kinda a "less skilled version" of Yugi and Dark Yugi as the "more skilled version", so yeah, it bothers me quite a bit...
Other trivia bits regarding his delinquent days, even high school gangs did fear him and Hirutani and seems back then their gang was a lot bigger than the present days, according to overall story Hirutani has been wanting increase his turf, however from how he is expressing this in how previously they were more dangerous as a gang, it makes it sound as if they lost their turf after some incident...my bet would be when Jounouchi who was almost sent to jail...and he wasn't the only one, may have been the whole gang he was in or most of it.
Starting from the Panels Ensemble on the Left, I find interesting that Jounouchi points out to the gang and the readers that he has good memory to a point that he can remember how many times each of them hit him...that's impressive (maybe that's how he gets away with passing the year, he studies hard for the exams to pass the year), also the trait that he is someone he holds a grudge, which he still has even later, we see he is still quite like this but around Dark Side of Dimensions he has quite matured from this, but the "hold a grudge" is still a little bit there.
After Hirutani told 3 of his members to shock after Jounouchi kicked one of them who also hold a stun gun (it was mean to be 4 stunning him, still mean and cruel with 3), when Jounouchi started to be stunned/shock to the point of screaming, it seems Yugi kinda heard it and looks at the puzzle and asking for it's help (subconsciously and half-aware in asking help from the spirit of the puzzle/Dark Yugi...who knows).
It seems in millennium puzzle for it to work you have to touch your hands like Yugi is holding, Dark Yugi in Duelist Kingdom does the same.
The curious part, this magical ability is used 3 times in total I believe, the first two times is consciously, like this time and Duelist Kingdom, the last one is in Memory World Arc is subsconsciously, with a slight tingle from his millennium puzzle, Pharaoh Atem senses his friends in his Memory World.
Also we got the confirmation from Hirutani that he knew he hang out with this "little brat", for the time being for us reading not seeing any reaction from Hirutani not seeing or sensing the "change" in "Yugi"/"little brat", it's one of those characters that may look like he didn't notice, but in his next arc indicates that he did noticed, it's low-key but he furrowed an eyebrow (xD, it's there...that kind is sarcasm or intrigued :p).
The Lore elements starts being touched here, while he is preparing the game, like the metal thing and takes off his millennium puzzle and hangs it in a specific location, this is the first time we see him separated from the puzzle while he takes over, so we can easily conclude once the Millennium puzzle is with Yugi hanging on his neck, Dark Yugi takes over but he can separate him from the millennium puzzle and still be taking over Yugi's body..., however there might be some boundaries to this, it will be later be approached.
At this moment we see Dark Yugi resourfullness in action, from how he uses his surroundings to be tools into becoming a game, he more or less uses his smarts and creativity with the intent to outsmart his enemies.
I really didn't like when Dark Yugi did made these "bets" about if they win the game, they can take his life...for real, just don't even if you're 99.9% sure you're going to win, this is someone's else body, life shouldn't ever been taken lightly...there comes a time he stops doing it, I think is after his duel with Kaiba in Duelist Kingdom (remember he did these "bets with Insector Haga, player killer "Darkness"), this shows that duel deeply affected him that he had lot of personal growth to do but for sometime he didn't want to admit it until Mai called him out on it ( yeah the duel, Dark Yugi VS Mai).
I have to say, this shows one of the reasons why Hirutani is a leader of a gang, he is actually smart, he understood the main reason he was over a wheel of rubber and his intent to create this "bomb", I would say what he said is "one" of the switches, because we can't forget when Dark Yugi set up with his millennium puzzle and the metal "stick" into holding an arm of the "knock out" guy with a stun gun. But you see in the Panels Ensemble on the Right, the first panel from the right, Dark Yugi was actually surprised he figured out most of his plan, yes, "most", probably with the thought "oh, he is not dumb, actually kinda smart", let's say he is an enemy not to be taken lightly (I like this character as a villain, too bad that he appears only in two mini-arcs).
Then Dark Yugi says they didn't find "the switch", at least the switch himself set up by resources around him after he was hit and his millennium puzzle, Dark Yugi said it was about to activate now...Hirutani figured out the switch slightly late (still not bad, yes, Hirutani actually really smart), the drops of water comes more at the "knockout guy" face by the the millennium puzzle hanging while being being rained on...also Hirutani remembers what Dark Yugi sneakly did after being hit...it was all there...the funniest part has to be when the "knockout guy" starting to wake up, then Hirutani yells "D-Don't Wake Up!", that will wake him up even more 😂.
We have these little hints that Hirutani may be smart and mostly figuring out Dark Yugi's plan, still impressive, he figured out the real switch right before it woke up, therefore slightly late to act on it 😛, but needs to control that arrogance and confidence a little more and learn how to be more cautious would do.
There few more things to take note, as the "switch" was on, remember after he was hit and set up "the game/time bomb", Dark Yugi was on top of a rubber car tire, conveniently, as we know...rubber is very resistant to electricity, even thunder to an extent, but this is something most people knows, or else he wouldn't have set up a rubber tire close by.
Next up, when Yugi's friends, Anzu and Honda arrives, Dark Yugi wasn't taking over, Yugi was already holding Jounouchi with his millennium puzzle, it may not be visible in these panels ensembles above, so for further proof, look at the next key point:
As we can see, Yugi was already with his millennium puzzle when Anzu and Honda arrived, I can have lots of guesses how this happened, after the gang being knock out by Dark Yugi's time bomb, Dark Yugi left the rubber tire, pick up the millennium puzzle, remember Jounouchi was hanged with hands tied, Dark Yugi untangled the ties and came back "inside the millennium puzzle", if you will, this shows interesting details, when Dark Yugi is taking over, for the "normal Yugi" be back, Dark Yugi needs the millennium puzzle to be changed back to Yugi, so these are some indications, on how is changed back to Yugi, it's more or less Dark Yugi going back "inside" the millennium puzzle.
Good Thing is the Next Post will start on Shadi's Arc that when I discuss about this a LOT (it will be divided in three parts...it's too important).
See Ya Next Post!!!
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