Yugi Muto was a shy guy at Domino High School. He had very few friends, and spends most of his time on puzzles and games. For the past eight years, he had been trying to solve the mystical Millennium Puzzle. As he's about to finish it, he encounters problems with bullies and power-abusive figures. Once he unlocks the power of the Puzzle, he can finally stand up against them.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole: Honda is a member of the beautification club at the school. Instead of bullying Yugi like his manga/second series counterpart, he was trying to help Yugi get his puzzle box back. For some reason, he was beat up along with Jounouchi.
- Asshole Victim: Ushio. He beat up Jounouchi and Honda twice, tried to force Yugi to pay him, and then beat him up. Honestly, he got what he deserved.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Despite that Jounouchi bullied him and even accuses him of intentionally hiring Ushio to beat him up, Yugi stands up to Ushio for him and calls Jounouchi his "friend". Realizing Yugi's kindness is a strength rather than a weakness, Jounouchi goes out of his way to find the final piece of the Millennium Puzzle he threw into the reservoir.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Ushio is punished for trying to cheat.
- Dirty Old Man: Yugi's grandpa comments on Anzu's breasts being bigger.
- Establishing Character Moment: For the main cast:
- Yugi is very meek and loves games.
- Jounouchi is brash and picks on his (future) friends.
- Honda is boastful and likes Miho.
- Anzu is tough and stands up for Yugi.
- Miho is ditsy and loves getting attention from guys.
- Yami Yugi is menacing and turns games into Shadow Games.
- Fixing the Game: Ushio claims that Yami Yugi fixed the Shadow Game. It's never explained if this is true or if Yami Yugi was very lucky with his cards.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: Yugi's wish on the Puzzle was to have friends.
- Kick the Dog: Jounouchi throws one of the most important puzzle pieces of Yugi's Millenium Puzzle into the water. He makes up for it later.
- Luminescent Blush: This happens to Jounouchi after declaring himself and Yugi friends.
- Mind Rape: Ushio is left mentally scarred after the Shadow Game.
- School Bullying Is Harmless: Jounouchi wasn't trying to hurt Yugi, at least in his point of view. He was just trying to help Yugi stand up for himself and fight back.
- Technicolor Eyes: Yami Yugi's eyes are purple with red "flames" at the bottom. Most of the time afterward his eyes are just red.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Subverted with Ushio. Yes, he "took care" of Yugi's bullying problem, but he demanded that he be paid for something Yugi never wanted to happen.
