rewatching @/scattered-irises' gameplay of the yugioh wdc game as iv is,,, bringing a certain feeling of bittersweet starting from the middle up to the end bc unlike in the anime (where iv didn't manage to become the champion of wdc for obvious reasons)
to be specific, i meant the couple of scenes where iv had gradually gain the realization of how his "real" self is seen as "teasing, ruthless, someone who preys on the weak, etc." by other characters who were either his loved ones or those who had straight beef with him, from there you could see the few scenes where he seems to reflect on his loved ones' and the other ppl's perspective on him and said a few lines from the game starting with; "why do i act so spitefully, tormenting the weak?"
second line: "no, it's fine, i stopped thinking deeply a long time ago"
finally: "otherwise, i wouldn't be able to do something like that..."
seeing these lines being stated by him, you can clearly see how he looks remorseful and guilty for all the bad deeds he has done to others (against his will) for the sake of his family when he said those lines before quickly brushing it all off and moving on
i also noticed that in the wdc game, on the other hand, when you play as him and become champion of wdc, it's not like the other characters' usual and typical endings of cheering and being happy for their well-deserved victory that comes with successfully occupying the spot as wdc's champion— ig you could say that in a way, when iv faced off against shark and won against him, you'd usually expect celebrity duelists who had already become champion to js move on and go on with their lives like it's nothing
but iv's ending when you become wdc's champion, he made a wish for ryoga's name to be clear off of any foulplay and admitted it towards the whole entirety of heartland's citizens watching that ryoga's apparent foulplay in the past was all orchestrated by him and i personally believe that in iv's eyes, this is his way of showing ryoga js how deeply he felt guilty and remorseful for what he had done to him as well as the incident with ryoga's sister, revealing a genuine side of him to the boy who saw him as the one who got him kicked(?) out from dueling and also the one who had caused his sister to be hospitalized
i liked that this somehow showed ryoga that the person he thought iv as, was never truly him at all, and while yes he did do some bad deeds but they weren't done out of some malicious fun but were all for the sake of his family (specifically for tron's sake), but even then, iv admitted his faults and took accountability out of his own free will and ig in his ending, he even sacrificed his own career by disappearing from the public eye in order to get away (or maybe to atone for his sins and deal with the remaining guilt on his own?? yet he looked relieved at the same time as the majority of the burden he was feeling was lifted when mr. heartland granted his sole wish) and purposely cutting(?) ties with his family until then?
hmmmmm i'm not so sure anymore... everything i've said so far is already obvious enough to everyone who watched or played his route,, i js feel like rambling my thoughts bc i didn't expect to get hit in the feels like this..... (｡•́︿•̀｡)
(he looks so relieved hereee🥹🥹🥹)
